"Asia and Africa today"
- is a scientificl monthly journal (in Russian)
of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Included in Russian Science Citation Index on
WoS platform, and EBSCO Publishing.
ISSN 0321-5075. Published since July 1957.

 

 "Asia and Africa today" № 5 2011

 

Azia&Afrika 05 2011-s 

 

 Top Problem

REVOLT IN THE ARAB WORLD: SEEDS AND SPROUTS

ECHO OF THE ARAB REVOLUTIONS by N.I.Petrov.
Keywords: Arab world, revolution
How do the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries - Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan - view the latest events in North Africa? What is their reaction to these events? This topic was the subject of a round-table discussion at the Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Russia. Asia and Africa Today magazine is publishing an account of these discussions in this issue.
The participants of the round-table expressed the unanimous opinion that these events testify to changes in the worldview of the population of the Arab countries. Millions of people long for better life. In order to prevent similar developments in the future, the European Union countries and the USA should provide much more generous aid to poor countries, so that they could overcome backwardness and improve life of their citizens.

TURKEY AND THE EVENTS IN THE NEAR EAST by I.I.Ivanova, PhD (History).
Keywords: Turkey, Near East, Arab revolutions
After the Turkish Justice and Development Party came to power in 2002, the country has achieved significant success in strengthening its status of a regional power. The article analyzes the role and the position of Turkey with regard to the revolutionary events in the Arab world.

AFRICA AND THE REFORM OF THE UN by A.Yu. Urnov, Dr.Sc. (History)
Keywords: Africa, United Nations, Security Council, African Union
Africans have always considered the United Nations to be the most important instrument of protection and promotion of their interests in the international arena and aspired to use it as much as possible.
The article deals with the project of reforming the United Nations and the Security Council, which was initiated by Third World countries. The African states are particularly concerned with the diminishing of the UN’s role as the main international body responsible for global peace and security. Military actions of the USA and their allies in the former Yugoslavia and Iraq were carried out ignoring the Security Council and the UN. Africans have a good reason to believe that such disregard of the Charter of the United Nations is a threat to their interests.

 

 Policy, Economy

RUSSIA AND THE GULF COUNTRIES: INVESTMENT COOPERATION by L.V. Shkvaria, Dr.Sc. (Economy).
Keywords: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), foreign direct investments (FDI), Russian-Arab investments, Arab capital
The article discusses the investment cooperation between Russia and the Gulf countries in 2000-2010, the main direction of its development, as well as certain problems in this sphere. The author examines the efforts which Russia and the Gulf countries are undertaking in attempt to solve these problems. The paper also investigates various factors which determine the character of this cooperation.

THE CONFLICT IN COTE d’IVOIRE:

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN COTE D’IVOIRE by O.A.Kolobov, Dr.Sc. (History); M.A.Osminina (Nizhniy Novgorod State University).
Keywords: Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Western Africa, elections, Alassane Ouattara, Laurent Gbagbo
The situation in the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire was unique: the country had two presidents. The world community was divided on which of them should lead the country.
The EU and the USA took the side of president-elect Alassane Ouattara and demanded that the former president Laurent Gbagbo retires from his post. The Western press called the situation a «deadlock». The authors analyze the origins of the diarchy.

THE REPUBLIC OF COTE D’IVOIRE: FACTORS OF ELECTORAL CONFLICT by V.R.Filippov, Dr.Sc. (History).
Keywords: Africa, Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, general election, political conflict
The events which have recently shaken the Black continent have made the world community ponder over the possible global consequences of political destabilization, armed conflicts, and escalation of violence in the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Europeans, in particular, are horrified by the perspective of waves of refugees from destabilized countries. The most obvious consequence of this threat is rapid growth in xenophobia and popularity of the extremely right political forces.

THE SUDANESE ABOUT SUDAN AND NOT ONLY… by E.A.Elkina (Institute for African Studies, RAS)
Keywords: Africa, Sudan, Мо Ibrahim, civil society
The article introduces readers to the personality of Mr. Mo Ibrahim, a billionaire and a patron of art, the founder of the largest monetary prize in the world. The author sets forth the views of Mr. Mo Ibrahim on the processes taking place both in Sudan and in the African continent as a whole.

MODERNIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN CHINA by I.V.Smerdov, PhD.
Keywords: China, higher education, campus
More than 25 million students study in China’s institutes and universities. Higher education is no longer a privilege of the elite. It is now generally accessible. The article gives an analysis of the modernization of Chinese higher education institutes over the last 10 years. Living conditions on campuses are also improving. New campuses are being built. It is curious that the number of fast-food cafйs, snack bars, small shops, and Internet-cafйs on campuses and nearby is growing. The life of Chinese students has become better and brighter due to various entertainments ranging from computer games to beer drinking parties.

 

 Foreign Expert Opinion

INNOVATIONS IN JAPAN AND JAPANESE-RUSSIAN COOPERATION by Akira Imamura, Minister, Embassy of Japan in Russia.
Keywords: Japan, innovation, competitiveness, Japan- Russia cooperation
Energy conservation and eco technology, new materials and nanotechnology, robotics, life science, communication technologies are listed among top priorities for innovation development in Japan. Author names socio-economic and other factors as major stimulus for Japanese innovation.
In November 2010, leaders of Japan and Russia expressed their intention to develop partnership in all fields. In various spheres of innovations successful steps towards further cooperation are being taken.
Japan received support from Russia after the unprecedented earthquake and tsunami in March. Creation of an advanced social system is planned in the course of rehabilitation of Japan in which the role of innovations is supposed to be significant.

 

 Post-Graduate Column

CHINESE-AFRICAN RELATIONS: ACCELERATION OF COOPERATION by A.Ch.Mokretsky.
Keywords: China, Africa, cooperation, globalization
In recent years, Chinese-African relations have been undergoing the phase of active development, both in political and trade and economic spheres. Chinese companies have made significant progress in the implementation of the “go abroad” strategy in Africa –the official foreign economic policy of the PRC.
While providing more financial assistance and investments in African countries, China at the same time is fully aware of the need to analyze and overcome obstacles that arise in the way of Chinese-African dialogue, as well as of the importance of persistent efforts to put that dialogue on a more solid and stable basis.

 

 Our Partner – Rossotrudnichestvo

THE FIRST SOVIET HEBREW DICTIONARY by A.A.Kryukov, Director of the Russia Culture Center in Tel Aviv.
Keywords: the USSR, Israel, Hebrew-Russian dictionary
In the early 1960s, when there was a short period of rapprochement between Russia and Israel, a number of books about Israel were published. The publication of the first Hebrew-Russian dictionary in the USSR in 1963 was a significant event. The preparation and publication of that dictionary was certainly a heroic accomplishment of Felix Shapiro – a real enthusiast of researching and teaching that language.

 

 Religion, Beliefs, Cults

MATHURA, THE BIRTHPLACE OF KRISHNA by V.P. Kashin, PhD (History).
Keywords: India, Mathura city, Krishna
The article is dedicated to the problem of Hindu- Muslim relations in India. The situation in the city of Mathura is taken as an example. The former Muslim rulers many times destroyed the temple of divine Krishna and built a mosque on its site. The Hindus suggest relocating the mosque to another place.

 

 Culture, Literature, Art

TAKASHI MURAKAMI – A SPIRITUAL LEADER OF OTAKU by E.L.Katasonova, Dr.Sc. (History).
Keywords: Japan, Takashi Murakami, otaku, pop-arts
Shortly before the recent catastrophe in Japan our permanent author E.L. Katasonova published in our magazine a number of materials devoted to apocalyptic feelings in Japanese mass culture (see “Otaku: for and against” in № 2, 2010 and № 1, 2011). Presently scientific and mystical fantastic world of otaku subculture, which has replaced military themes, is being represented in thousands of volumes of popular manga and great amount of anime.
In the current issue we continue the discussion of the topic and discuss the artistic career of Takashi Murakami, one of the spiritual leaders of Otaku and a pioneer of Japanese pop-arts.

NATIONAL POETS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA by N.I. Ni, PhD (Philology).
Keywords: Republic of Korea, literature, poetry, national poets
As a result of the division of the Korean peninsula in 1953, South Korea lost a number of eminent poets and writers - natives of the North. Later on new poets became popular. These young writers have exerted strong influence on literary process. The article is devoted to creative works of some of the most popular Korean poets.

 

 Travelings, Meetings, Impresions

LIFE AND DEATH ON “THE ROOF OF THE WORLD” by M.Zaharova.
Keywords: Tibet, Dalai Lama, China
Tibet is a mysterious and inaccessible to many people corner of our planet. It is shrouded in many legends, separated from our world by almost impassable mountain passes and complicated entry regulations, and hidden from our sight behind a veil of clouds.
M.Zaharova shares her impressions and observations of monastic and secular life in Tibet. The author also touches the painful question of relations between the Tibetans and the Chinese authorities.

 

 Book Review

INDIA IN COMPETITIVE STRUGGLE FOR AFRICA by T.L.Deich, PhD (History).
The review of the book by V.A.Usov «India and Africa between the two millennia. The past, the present and the future” (M., 2010).

 

Summary