"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" № 1 2014

 

 

Azia&Afrika 01-2014

 

 Top Problem

А NEW SPIRAL OF THE EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION by A.M.Vasiliev, Academician of RAS, D.I.Vinitsky, our correspondent in Egypt
Keywords: Egypt, June 30 revolution, Mohammed Mursi, the Muslim Brotherhood
After his election, Mursi said that he is the President of all the Egyptians. However, his actions clearly demonstrated tendency to monopolization of power, to the birth of a «new Pharaoh». The opposition accused Mursi and the AMB in Islamization of the country, in failure to perform their pre-election promises and in the inability to run the country, which was the cause of economic and political crisis in Egypt.
As to the author’s opinion, Egyptian society will be developing in accordance with the generally accepted democratic principles. And the army will continue to take an active part not only in the implementation of defensive functions, but also in ensuring the security of the state and the protection of its external and internal national interests in the broadest sense.

INDIA. THE ELECTION RACE HAS BEGUN by V.P.Kashin, PhD (History)
Keywords: India, parliamentary elections of 2014, Narendra Modi, Gujarat, Bharatiya Janata Party
The article analyses results and peculiarities of the elections in Gujarat, which appeared to be a rehearsal of the parliamentary campaign in 2014. Chief Minister of the state Narendra Modi won this competitive election campaign. The success improved his political rating and his chances to become Prime Minister of India being a representative of the conservative Bharatiya Janata Party.

 

 Policy, Economy

ENERGY SECURITY OF ASIAN COUNTRIES - NEW ROLE OF FOREIGN INVESTMENTS by A.A.Rogozhin, PhD (Economics), M.V.Matyukhin
Keywords: investments, oil and gas industry, Asian countries
The paper gives an analysis of a new, fast-growing phenomenon in international economic relations - use of investment in oil and gas assets abroad by a number of Asian countries as a means of ensuring their national energy security. The causes of interest of Asian countries and their national oil companies in investments in overseas oil and gas assets as well as the objectives that guide countries receiving investment from Asia into their oil and gas industry are analyzed. An assessment of overseas investment the oil and gas industry by China, Japan, India, South Korea and Malaysia is given.

END OF PIRACY OR JUST A PAUSE? by E.A.Elkina
Keywords: Somalia, piracy, failed state, rebuilding a nation
Piracy in the Gulf of Aden has practically ceased. At the same time the main cause of piracy - disintegration of statehood in Somalia - is still there. Internationally recognized government controls with the assistance of the African Union forces only part of the territory. His rival - the extremist Islamist group Аl-Shabaab has been displaced from the main cities, but continues to control the countryside in South and conduct terror attacks in Somalia and abroad. If there is no economic, political and social regeneration of Somalia, a new explosion of piracy is not excluded.

CHOICE OF ZIMBABWE by V.G.Shubin, Dr.Sc. (History)
Keywords: Zimbabwe, ZANU-PF, MDC, R.Mugabe, M.Tsvangirai
In August 2013, Robert Mugabe was sworn in as the President of Zimbabwe. Success was achieved not only by him alone, but also by his party - the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front ( ZANU-PF). Thus ended the period of joint rule of the country by this party and Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC).
This period was characterized, on the one hand, by the gradual rise of the economy and political stability, and on the other - by constant disputes about the preparation of a new constitution, under which presidential powers were severely limited.

THE AUSTRALIAN «GREEN» AND FOOREIGN POLICY OF AUSTRALIA by N.S.Skorobogatykh, PhD (History)
Keywords: environmental movement, Australian Green Party, foreign policy of the «Green»
The Australian Green Party, or just «Green» takes its origins from the environmental movement and its actions against the construction of a dam on the Franklin River in Tasmania in 1980. The image of party is also associated with its demand to prohibit nuclear weapons tests in Western Australia. Nowdays the “Green” assigns greater democratic tasks. The party’s policy covers a wide range of issues: environmental protection, social movement, issues of social justice.

FINANCE OF IRAQI KURDISTAN: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS by N.Z.Mosaki, PhD (History)
Keywords: Iraqi Kurdistan, banks, insurance companies, stock exchange, middle class
Prior to establishment of Kurdistan (IR) in 1992 on the territory of Iraq (Southern) which marked the beginning of «free Kurdistan», all financial and credit institutions were branches of Iraqi banks. The author describes the process of creation and development of banking sector of Kurdistan. He emphasizes that, despite some increase in bank transactions, this process has not yet acquired a broad scope.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF CELLULAR COMMU- NICATIONS IN AFRICA: KENYAN OPTION by N.F.Matveeva
Keywords: mobile phones, mobile innovative technology, Safaricom, M-Pesa
Africa currently holds the leading place in the world on the annual rate of growth of the number of mobile phone subscribers - 20% in the last five years. At the end of 2012 there were 735 mln mobile subscribers in Africa, against 400 mln in 2009 and 2 mln in 1998. On estimation, by 2016 this figure will reach 1 bln.

CHINA: TALENTS FOR SCIENCE by Ju.V.Puga- chenko, Saint-Petersburg State University
Keywords: China, higher education, returned scholars, programs for foreign researchers
An important condition of the successful integration of China into the world market of educational services is a strong teaching staff of Chinese universities. That is why the Chinese government pays so much attention to the return of those graduates and teachers who left the country years ago. The government invests considerable funds to create for them favorable environment that helps realize their full potential.

 

 Scientific Life

MBA IN THE DEPTH OF WESTERN AFRICAN CULTURES by D.M.Bondarenko, Dr.Sc. (History) and A.G.Teslinov, Dr.Sc. (Technical Sciences)
Keywords: Benin, Togo, Ghana, tradition and modernity in African cultures, African business, professional education, symbols, games, development management
The article tells about the expedition of a group of managers from the post-Soviet states to Western Africa in October-November 2012. The expedition organized jointly by the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the “DBA-Concept” Scientific and Consulting Group, was led by researchers including the article co-authors. The expedition’s aims were both educational and research: diving into the worlds of African cultures, its participants searched and found in them parallels with their own professional and life experience which were to accelerate their further career and personality progress in the future.

 

 History Pages

50 YEARS OF THE REVOLUTION IN ZANZIBAR by S.V.Beloshapko
Keywords: Zanzibar, Tanzania, revolution
The article gives a short overview of the 1964 Revolution in Zanzibar that led to the fall of the Sultanate and formation of the People’s Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba. The topics of the article cover Revolution’s immediate results and consequences - social, economic and political, as well as the peculiarities of the revolutionary events. The article touches upon the Revolution’s great relevancy for the future prospects of Tanzania as a federal nation as well as for understanding current political landscape in Zanzibar.

 

 Culture, Literature, Art

THE PROHIBITED NOVEL OF NAGUIB MAHFOUZ by V.N.Zarytovskaya, PhD (Pedagogical Sciences)
Keywords: Arab literature, Naguib Mahfouz, “Children of Gabelawi”, prohibited literature, Islamists and literature
The article is devoted to the most significant work of Nobel laureate Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz - the parable novel “Children of Gabelawi”. The author traces fate of the novel which was prohibited for half a century, describes and analyses the reasons for which it was sharply criticized by the most radical supporters of Islam.

ASCENDING NARAYAMA by E.L.Katasonova, Dr.Sc. (History)
Keywords: Shohei Imamura, Japanese cinematography, «Ballad of Narayama», «Eel»
This article is devoted to the creative activity of the most famous Japanese filmmakers, a representative of the Japanese “new wave” Shohei Imamura, who has twice won Palme d’Or prize of the International Film Festival in Cannes. The author exams in details “The Ballad of Narayama”, “The Eel” and other movies of I.Shohei.

 

 Travelings, Meetings, Impresions

TAJ MAHAL: MIRACLE IS DIYING by I.V.Karava- nov, PhD (History)
Keywords: Taj Mahal, India, Shah Jahan, Yamuna
The famous Taj Mahal in Agra, India recognized by right as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. In 1983 he was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Recently, however, the Indian experts are sounding alarm: white marble symbol of beauty, grace and perfection may disappear from the face of the earth in the next few years.

 

* Summary