"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" № 10 2012

 

Azia&Afrika 10 2012-s

 

 Top Problem

YUAN ON THE WAY TO A WORLD CURRENCY? by V.P.Andreev, PhD (Economy), part 1

Keywords: China, USA, world currency, international trade

The financial and economic crisis of 2008-2009, аaccompanied by instability of the world’s leading currencies - the U.S. dollar and the euro, significantly accelerated the awareness of the international community of the need to reform the international monetary system and to increase the number of reserve currencies used in international payments.

The BRICS’s countries, particularly Russia and China, are playing the most active role in promoting and implementing this ideas. The article analyzes the measures taking by China to turn the yuan into an international currency and to increase its role in international payments.

PROCESSES OF DIFFERENTIATION OF DEVELOPING COUNTIRES AND A NEW ARCHITECTURE OF WORLD ECONOMY by L.L.Fituni, Dr.Sc. (Economy). Article 1

Keywords: global economy, development models, developing countries, BRICS, multipolarity, catch-up theories of development

The article is one of the first attempts to research the BRICS phenomenon as a unique case of global leadership in catch-up development and to build it into the framework of existing mainstream theories of global growth and transformation of the existing models of global economic development.

 

 Policy, Economy

AFRICA: IMPLEMENTATION OF “THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS” by I.B.Matsenko, PhD (Economy), Part 3. (Part 1 and 2 in “Asia and Africa today”, 2012, № 7 and № 8)

Keywords: Africa, the Millennium Development Goals, poverty, economic growth

The article focuses on the implementation of “Millennium Development Goals” (MDGs) in Africa, adopted in 2000. The main target of MDGs is eradication of extreme poverty (in the period between 1990 and 2015 to half the share of population with income less than 41 руб. per person a day). It is noted that Sub-Saharan Africa seriously lags behind in achieving this goal from other developing regions.

In the third and final part of the paper the author focuses on the problems of health care and prevention of infectious diseases.

DISTURBING ASSAM by K.A.Likhachev (St. Petersburg)

Keywords: India, Assam, Bangladesh, Bhutan, ethnic separatism and Islamic extremism, terrorism

Another inter-communal conflict between Bodo people and immigrant Muslims in the most densely populated north-eastern state of Assam shocked India in July-August 2012. Seven states of North-East India are a traditional hotbed of instability.

Various unsettled conflicts and contradictions between local ethnic groups, economic problems and open borders with neighboring countries caused preservation of separatist sentiment and increased tension in this region of India.

REVOLT IN THE ARABIAN WORLD: CROPS AND SHOOTS

AL-QAEDA AND THE “ARAB SPRING” by D.A.Nechitaylo, PhD (Political Science) Part 2. (Part 1 in “Asia and Africa today”, 2012, № 9)

Keywords: Al-Qaeda, Arab spring, revolt

“Arab Spring” has seriously changed the political situation in the region and created new opportunities for Al- Qaeda and affiliated with it organizations. But in such countries as Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen calls for democracy, fair elections etc. contradict ideological basis of Salafis, who regard democracy as “a form of idolatry”.

In the final part of the article the possibility of Al-Qaeda to influence the situation in Libya, Syria and Algeria are analyzed.

TURKEY AND AFRICA: THE DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATION by S.V.Kostelyanets, PhD (Political Science)

Keywords: Turkey, Africa, political contacts, economic relations, Islam, education, peacekeeping

In January 2012, the 7th International Turkish - African Congress took place in Khartoum, Sudan, under the title of “Multi-Dimensional Struggle for Africa: The Future of Turkish - African Relations”. The author, who participated in the forum, considers various aspects of the Turkish-African relations and explores the key milestones of Turkey’s modern policy towards Africa and the potential of the Turkish-African cooperation. According to the author, it is difficult to find a sphere of relations in which this Middle Eastern country wouldn’t have produced ??some kind of initiative addressing African countries and wouldn’t have met with reasonable success.

JAPAN-NORTH KOREA RELATIONS: PROBLEM SPOT by V.A.Grinyuk, PhD (History). Part 2. (Part 1 in “Asia and Africa today”, 2012, № 9)

Keywords: North Korea, abduction of Japanese subjects, “Pyongyang Declaration”, six-sided talks

The author explores the issue of bilateral relations between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Japan. V.Grinyuk draws attention to the fact that nuclear and missile programs of North Korea are not the only obstacles which prevent establishment of diplomatic relations between that country and Japan. There is still one more important problem, that is the problem of abduction of Japanese subjects by North Korea’s secret services.

 

 Point of View

AFRICAN CONFLICTS AND RELIGIOUS RITUALS (CIVIL WARS IN LIBERIA AS AN EXAMPLE) by T.S.Denisova, PhD (History)

Keywords: Liberia, conflict, religion, Poro and Sande

The article describes the role and influence of traditional beliefs and practices, as well as a special relationship with the “invisible forces” on the attitudes and behaviors in Liberia. Thus, some violence, and especially violent behavior of the militants participated in the Liberian wars which have to do with traditional rituals and spiritual symbols of the past. Many war veterans thought quite honestly that it was the gods and spirits who ruled them in their actions.

 

 Political Portrait

NARENDRA MODI - A RISING “STAR” OF INDIAN POLITICS by V.P.Kashin, PhD (History)

Keywords: India, Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party, Vishva Hindu Parishad, Gujarat, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

The article tells about Narendra Modi - one of the most brilliant and influential politicians of modern India. Charismatic personality and, according to popular magazine India Toda, .the best Chief Minister of an Indian state in 2006 and 2011.

Narendra Modi is considered to be a top contender for the post of Prime-minister from the opposition National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

 

 Foreign Expert Opinion

ROLE OF SPORTS IN KENYA’S FOREIGN POLICY by Paul K.Kurgat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Republic of Kenya, and Alice J.Kurgat

Keywords: Kenya, sports, politics

The paper provides an international relations perspective of the role of the sport as a potential factor in Kenya’s foreign policy in post-colonial Kenya. It notes that sport has diplomatic value and can serve important political functions. Contemporary Kenya is able to constantly produce world class sportsmen and sportswomen breaking world records and winning medals in the Olympics and other sport events.

The paper outlines the nature of sport and lists instances in which Kenya’s sporting prowess has manifested itself since the 1960’s. It relates Kenya’s sporting achievements to her foreign relations and it also notes famous and wealthy sportsmen in Kenya.

 

 Post-Graduate Column

CHINA. WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND ONE CHILD POLICY by Y.O.Rikker (Chita)

Keywords: China, gender identity, birth control policy

The 20th century was the century of rapid development of China. Significant changes in the economic sphere, resulted in an equally significant changes in the social sphere too. The economic reforms that began in China in the late 70s made the country one of the leaders of the world’s economic development. That had a significant effect on the position of women in contemporary Chinese society.

However, the author notes that the “one child policy” operating in China since 1978 have had negative social consequence.

 

 Pages of History

THE KOREAN WAR by A.Y.Urnov, Dr.Sc. (History). Part 2 (Part 1 in “Asia and Africa today”, 2012, № 9)

Keywords: agreement on Korea in 1945, South Korea, North Korea, the United States, China, the United Nations

The article focuses on the division of Korea into two states - North and South. The author analyzes the historical context that led to partition of a single state and factors of the Cold War, which forced both countries to wage devastating war in 1950-1953. Particular attention A.Urnov is paying to analysis of the role played in that war by the U.S., the USSR and China.

 

 Culture, Literature, Art

TESTAMENT OF NAGUIB MAHFOUZ by V.N.Kirpichenko, Dr.Sc. (Philology). Part 1

Keywords: Egypt, literature, Naguib Mahfouz, “Dreams of the Rehabilitation Period”, “Echoes of an Autobiography”, surrealism, Sufism

The article tells the story of creative work , moral and philosophical ideals of one of the pillars of modern literature of Egypt, Nobel Prize winner - Naguib Mahfouz.

 

 Travelings, Meetings, Impresions

SCHISTOSOMIASIS. BETTER NOT GET SICK by V.A.Snatenkov

Keywords: diseases of tropical Africa, tourism, security

The author traveled to more than 130 countries and knows a lot about the dangerous diseases of the tropics. Poisonous snakes, spiders, crocodiles and lions scare many people. But the most dangerous of all are microscopic, nearly invisible creatures, united by a common name - parasites. The author makes recommendations to future travelers in distant countries on how to deal with possible misfortunes that threaten health.

 

 Book Review

AFRICA AS IT IS SEEN BY MILITARY INTERPRETERS by N.I.Petrov

Book review of the A.N.Ivanov and O.I.Teterin’s book “In Egypt and Zanzibar (1960-1966). Memoirs of Soviet military interpreters”. M., 2011.

This book is about little-known aspects of life and work of Russian specialists in the “Black Continent”.

 

Summary