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2010 Asia and Africa today

 

CHINA-JAPAN: THE ICE HAS BEEN BROKEN by A. Semin, Ph.D (Policy).
Keywords: China, Japan, USA, East Asia
The period of significant warming in relations between China and Japan - the most powerful economic powers in Asia has come into being in 2006. For the first time Tokyo and Beijing have reached an agreement on building the “strategic and mutually beneficial relationship”. With the active participation of China conditions are maturing for restructuring the entire system of international relations, which might cause the changes in the geopolitical triangle Japan - China - United States. By analogy with the Washington’s ongoing policy of «engagement» of China in global affairs, Beijing is purposefully building a policy of involvement of Tokyo into political cooperation with China on a wide range of issues. Nevertheless some serious contradictions remain, both in political and cultural spheres. The article investigates the complexity and prospects for better rapprochement between the two Asian giants.

THE WORLD ECONOMY: RESTORATION AND POST-CRISIS DEVELOPMENT

ECONOMY OF AFRICA: CHALLENGES OF THE POST-CRISIS DEVELOPMENT by L. Fituni, Dr.Sc. (Economy) (Part 2, part 1 was published in № 8, 2010).
Keywords: Africa’s economy, post-crisis development
The real sector of Africa’s economy, on the whole, endured the global economic recession better than the financial crisis. Production shrank mainly in the export- oriented and enclave industries, while those producing for the domestic markets, especially, those consumer-oriented, maintained a steady, though much slower growth. If the current trends continue, Africa is expected to enjoy generally favorable middle- to long term economic prospects. The future economic development may be supported by external factors, including the global chase for natural resources, availability of capital funds, and preparedness of the international community to look for new, more productive forms of economic partnership and particularly for cooperation in developing the wealth of the continent’s raw materials.

CHINA: EXCHANGE ON THE RISE by I. Vakhrushin, Ph.D (Economy).
Keywords: China, stock market, global crisis
The article investigates the particular qualities of the stock market of China, which is characterized by a high concentration of ownership in the company’s capital. The characteristic feature of the financial market of the country is playing The bank credit and the government bonds are playing the dominant role in financing the national economy. At the same time despite its 20-year history the Chinese stock market remains mainly closed to foreign investment.

50 YEARS OF “THE YEAR OF AFRICA”

Rogerio Herbert, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau in Russia.
The statement delivered at the enlarged meeting of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Africa dedicated to the 50-th Anniversary of the of the Year of Africa.

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: NEW FORMS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY by B.B. Runov, Phd (Economy).
Keywords: innovation, investments, Sub-Saharan Africa
At the beginning of the XXI century the countries of Sub- Saharan Africa have begun to pay great attention to the reorganization of the forms of economic activity bearing in mind the latest achievements of modern science and technology.
The creation of a framework for the development of domestic scientific and technological potential, training of qualified and skilled personnel, commercialization and implementation of the results of national scientific-research institutions are the most important conditions which should be respected to adopt the region economy to global change.

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA: THE SQUATTER’S “LIVING POLITICS” by D.A. Zelenova, Post-graduate student.
Keywords: South Africa, shack dwellers, anti-eviction struggle, grassroots, communities of resistance
This article is focused on the life and struggles of the squatters’ communities in contemporary South Africa. The author argues that for the past 15 years the life of many poor people in South Africa has become worse and harder.
Living in informal settlement is always a challenge, but despite very hard conditions, catastrophic poverty and devastation, the shack dwellers create their own positive experience of struggle and autonomy. Based on author’s field research in Durban and Cape Town, the article examines different aspects of struggle of the shack dwellers in two cities. The author has studied the so-called “living politics” of the shack dwellers movement in Durban and the struggle of the dwellers in Cape Town, examining their forms of governance and organization. The elements of decentralized governance and participatory democracy are seen as a challenge to the modern western democracy and the tendency towards centralization of the state power.

DEFICIENCY OF WATER - THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE

CHINA-RUSSIA-KAZAKHSTAN: HOW TO COMMAND WATER? by S.G.Luzyanin, Dr.Sc. (History) and E.I.Safonova, PhD (Economy).
Keywords: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, deficiency of water The problems connected with a condition of water reserves and distribution of waters of the transboundary rivers of Russia, China, Kazakhstan and of some other neighboring countries are investigated. Water shortage dictates the absolute necessity of international cooperation in both Far Eastern and Central-Asian regions in the field of
ecology.
The authors considers some aspects of ecological, legal and political problems of «water strategy» of those three
states.

TRANSBOUNDARY MIGRATION

THE INDIAN DIASPORA: CLOSE LINKS WITH THE MOTHERLAND ARE PRESERVED by N.B. Galinisheva.
Keywords: the Indian diaspora, its influence on Indian economy, remittances
The article deals with the analysis of reasons, peculiarities and problems of forming the Indian Diaspora in period of British colonialism and in the Post-Colonial Period. The author also draws reader’s attention to distinctive features of the contemporary Indian Diaspora and its influence on Indian economy. The article presents the statistical data on the number of non-residents of Indian origin in the world as well as the volume of their remittances during 1990-2009. The Indian Diaspora is considered in India as the conductor of its interests abroad and the natural basis for further extension of Indian economic and cultural influence.

ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT: IS THIS A GOOD TIME FOR DISPUTES? by L.M. Isayev.
Keywords: The League of Arab States, Palestine, Israel, Iran
The author has completed the comprehensive analysis of the last Arab League Summit that took place from 27 to 28 March 2010 in Sirte (Libya) showing contradictions arising within the organization. These were issues of the first priority: the relationship with Israel in light of expansion of the program of building Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem, the problems of reforming the Arab League etc.. Due to League’s increased contacts with non-Arab states (primarily Turkey and Iran) members of the summit have reviewed a draft treaty submitted by the Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa, who has suggested to create “the Arab Neighborhood Zone”. Issues proposed for consideration at the Extraordinary Summit of Arab League in October 2010, are also analyzed.

THE ELITES OF TURKMENISTAN AND THE CLANS OF THE CENTRAL ASIA: DIFFICULTIES OF MODERNIZATION by A.V. Grozin, PhD (History).
Keywords: the Central Asia, clans, elites
The features of formation and functioning of modern elites in the post Soviet Central Asian Republics are analyzed. One of the characteristic features of the Central Asian elites consists in preservation of their clan structure. At local level these clans have proved to be more effective machinery than the state. At the same time one should understand that it is not because they are really so effective but because the current political systems established in new Central-Asian Republics have too many shortcomings to put it mildly. As a result, power tribal groups does not strengthen the state, on the contrary it undermines the state. «Kirghis revolutions of clans» in 2005 and 2010 and «interclan war» in Tajikistan in 1992-1998 testify to that.

RUSSIA AND THE EAST

HALF A CENTURY OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION by S.Vanthanuvong (Laos), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
Keywords: Laos, Russia, the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations
The history of development of relations between the USSR, Russia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic is narrated. The current stage of the Lao-Russian cooperation in the political, economic and cultural spheres is of special interest. The author specifies affinity of approaches of Moscow and Vientiane concerning formation of multipolar and fair system of the international relations, struggle against terrorism, and on necessity of strengthening of multilateral dialogue and economic ties between the Russian Federation and Laos.

FUGU - THE NATIONAL CLOTHES OF GHANA by N.V.Nem- chenko.Keywords: Ghana, a fugu
This is about the traditional outwear clothing of citizens of Ghana - a fugu. A fugu in Ghana is not only a kind of clothes. It serves as a decorative background for a designation of communal signs, codes and the values transferred from generation to generation. A fugu is worn by for rich and poor, men and women, young and elderly, by Christians, Muslims
and animists.

RUSSIAN PALESTINE by A.A. Kryukov.
Keywords: Palestine, the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, Sergievsky Compound
In the Holy Land for many decades in the public mind there is the phenomenon of «Russian Palestine» - scientific, cultural and spiritual presence of Russia. Much credit for this belongs to the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society (IOPS) created in XIX century. By 1917, to the IOPS in Palestine land area belonged more than 270 hectares. In Soviet times,
Russian ownership in Palestine has been squandered: some objects passed into the ownership of the Russian foreign («white») Orthodox Church, some others were sold to Israel by Khrushchev. In 2005, President V. Putin raised the issue of returning Russia Sergievsky Compound (part of the former Russian complex in the heart of Jerusalem). At the end of December 2008 Sergievsky Compound was finally transferred to Russia.

AN INCREDIBLE STORY OF AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER by Appolon Davidson, Dr.Sc. (Hitory).
Keywords: Soviet intelligence officer in Africa
This article is about the life of Dmitry Bystroliotov (1901-1975), a Soviet intelligence officer, about his adventures in the Sahara desert and the Congo in the 1930s. Some information about Bystroliotov and about his trip emerged many years after his death, in the 1990s. But even today much of the story remains mysterious. Bystroliotov’s first publications - although a mystery too - appeared in our journal in 1963. We continue the story on the basis of what has come to light since then.

THE LITERARY SEMINAR IN DJAKARTA by V.A.Pogadaev, PhD (History).
Keywords: Russian-Indonesian literary connections
The article describes a seminar devoted to the Russian- Indonesian literary communications held in February 2010 in the network of celebrating the 60 anniversary of an establishment of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Djakarta.

KOREAN LANGUAGE IN SAKHALIN by Pак Son Y.
Keywords: the Korean language, Sakhalin, Diaspora
In clause is narrated about modern Korean Diaspora in Sakhalin, numbering nearly 30 thousand persons. Sakhalin Koreans aspire to preservation of their identity, language and traditions. On the island the Korean schools operate, the newspaper is published, there is also TV programming and radio broadcasts in the Korean language. The Korean Republic, from its part, takes an active part in financing the projects aimed at preservation of traditional culture and distribution of the Korean language.

THE KOLKATA NOTES by M. S. Kalandarova, PhD (History).
Keywords: Kolkata, Western Bengal, India
The Kolkata Notes records the author’s impressions of the study tour in Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, capital of the Indian state of Western Bengal and it’s one of the country’s biggest metropolitan city. The article recalls the city’s historical past and describes its recent situation - economy, trade, lifestyle,
culture, education, etc.

WORLD WAR II: THE SOVIET UNION AND THE EASTERN COUNTRIES by U.V. Chudodeev, PhD (History).
Keywords: World War II, The Soviet Union, the countries of the East
To celebrate the 65-th anniversary of the end of the World War II the Institute of Oriental Studies has published the monograph «The USSR and the countries of the East during the Second World War» (V. Naumkin). Moscow,
2010).
The authors analyze in detail the relationship of the USSR with China, Japan, Iran, Turkey and other Eastern countries in the period before and during the Second World War.

“MUAMMAR GADDAFI” by N.I. Petrov.
Review of the book of famous Russian orientalist A.Z.Egorin (M., Institute of Oriental Studies, 2009, 464 pp.).

Summary