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2014 Asia and Africa today

REGIONAL SECURITY

US-CHINESE RIVALRY IN ASIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR ASEAN by E.S.Martynova
Keywords: US-Chinese rivalry, ASEAN, territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas
The rise of China, rapid economic growth and increasing of foreign policy influence as well as strengthening of military power of this country has resulted in escalation of the USA- China rivalry, especially in the East Asia. The new Chinese leadership has introduced more dynamic and assertive policy in the region which includes denigration of US strategy of
«return to Asia». Obama’s absence at the APEC summit in Indonesia has brought Chinese comments implying that the Washington plans in Asia Pacific region are unreliable.
Rise of tension in the East China Sea has concerned the South East Asia because some countries of the region have territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea. This process undermines the unity of ASEAN which members have not succeeded yet in achieving consolidated position.
SOUTH CHINA SEA, INDIA’S «WINDOW» IN ATR by N.B.Lebedeva, PhD (History)
Keywords: China, India, Asia-Pacific, South China Sea, ASEAN, disputed territories, navy
The paper examines the main aspects of the Indian Eastern politics - a geographically peripheral country to the Pacific, but already taking active part in the Asia-Pacific region (ATR). The important “window” of India’s eastward advancement became the South China Sea, not so easy region because of territorial disputes between littoral states. It was for a number of different reasons that India found itself in the heart of those disputes.
The author shows the evolution of participants’ positions towards disputes, Washington’s efforts to build anti-China front, main consequences of tense in the SCS, new integration trends. It presents Indian role in these obstacles, and also opportunities and perspectives of India’s accession to the APEC and other multilateral cooperative structures.

REVOLT IN THE ARABIAN WORLD: CROPS AND SHOOTS

EGYPTIAN COUP D’ETAT: EXPERIENCE OF ECONOMETRICS ANALYSIS by L.M.Issaev and A.V.Korotayev, Dr.Sc. (History)
Keywords: Egypt, Muhammed Mursi, army, Foreign Exchange Reserves, Stock Indexes
The article is devoted to the events in Egypt which took place in the summer 2013. The authors examine the economic policy of the Islamists and that of al-Biblavi Cabinet which replaced the Islamists. The paper shows that the coup d’йtat of July 3 was preceded by a serious preparatory work to attract foreign investments into the country. It means that the events of summer 2013 were premeditated. Moreover it was against the backdrop of Egyptian crisis that manifested itself the split between the Arabian monarchies: Qatar, on the one hand, and Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates on the other.
NEW LIBYA: THE THORNY PATH… TO WHERE? by K.V.Meshcherina
Keywords:    new     Libya,     parliamentary     elections, «Somalization», tribalism, terrorism, Libyan jails
This article analyzes the political situation in the new Libya after the first parliamentary elections held after the overthrow of the former leader of the country.
The author describes the main processes in the country related to the transition period: the strengthening of separatist sentiment, tribalism and tribal hatred, division of oil fields, terrorism and the central power crisis. The article also provides an outlook on the future of Libya, its desired path to democratic society.

FROM “ASIAN TIGERS” TO “AFRICAN LIONS”
EMERGING POWERS IN AFRICA: MOZAMBIQUE CASE by T.L.Deych, PhD (History), V.A.Usov, PhD (History)
Keywords: Mozambique, Africa, emerging powers, BRICS, China, India, Brazil, aid, trade, investment, infrastructure, companies, projects
It is the second paper devoted to the “emerging powers” policy towards the separate African countries. In the first paper (“Asia and Africa today”. 2013, № 7) we wrote about China, India and Brazil activities in oil-rich Angola. Now we analyze these states relations with another Portugal-speaking African country - Mozambique. Although China has become an engine for Mozambique economy development, Indian companies are also very active in this country. And, of course, Mozambique is in priorities of Brazil African policy. In XXI century Brazil has expanded its economic and cultural cooperation with Africa, and Portugal-speaking countries have found themselves in the focus of its attention.
INTEGRATION TRENDS IN ASEAN BANKING SECTOR: PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES by E.Yu.Arapova, PhD (Economics)
Keywords: ASEAN, ADB, banks, united banking area, integration, investment, financial liberalization
The article is devoted to the shaping of a single banking space of the ASEAN countries, process which is taking place both “from below” and “from top-down”. The main goal of the analysis conducted by the author is to reveal prospects for the formation of an integrated or partly-integrated banking area in the region by 2015.
SADC TRIBUNAL: THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE by A.E.Koneva, A.M.Solntsev, PhD (Law)
Keywords: Sub-regional economic communities in Africa, SADC, international courts, human rights, international law
Protection and promotion of human rights probably couldn’t be regarded as one of the main activities of SADC.
However through a short period of its existence SADC Tribunal has considered a number of human rights cases which motivated SADC member-states to make a decision to suspend its activity. This article analyses the first human rights case examined by the Tribunal which became the reason for criticism against its activities. Furthermore, the article gives the legal assessment of the decision of SADC member-states to suspend the functioning of the Court of the Community.
GUANGDONG PROVINCE AS A LOCOMOTIVE OF CHINA’S ECONOMY by J.M.Shiganova
Keywords:China, Guangdong, regional policy, FEZ, problems of the development.
Nowadays China is a «world factory», which provides the global economy with consumer and industrial goods. However, a more detailed study of the Chinese economy demonstrates that it is Guangdong province which makes the main contribution to the country’s GDP. During the reform years it turned into a region with a high-tech manufacturing and developed agriculture.
The specificity of the economic reforms in this province was the development of the export-oriented manufacture and creation of free economic zone (FEZ).

RUSSIA-TURKEY RELATIONSHIP: SUMMARI- ZING THE PAST YEAR’S RESULTS by S.A.Kham-dokhov, our own correspondent in Turkey
Keywords: Turkey, Russia, relations, politics, economics, culture
The article is a brief overview of the recent developments in Russia-Turkey relationship, including results of the 4th
meeting of High-Level Cooperation Council of the two states held in St. Petersburg in November 2013. The article deals with some differences between Ankara and Moscow in estimating the developments of situation in Syria and Egypt. The author gives some examples of the mutual investments, banking interaction, culture and humanitarian cooperation.

RUSSIAN-INDIAN COOPERATION IN THE SPHERE OF ENERGY by S.A.Baranov, PhD (History)
Keywords: Russian-Indian relations, strategic partnership, economic cooperation, energy
The author depicts main aspects of bilateral interaction: assistance of the Russian specialists in constructing Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamilnadu and in building pipelines in India; the equipping of a number of the Indian hydropower and thermal power plants with the Russian machinery; participation of the Indian side in the Sakhalin-1 Project; liquefied natural gas supplies to India etc. The great significance attributed to the sphere of atomic energy, which is one of the key components of privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India.

INSTITUTE OF ORIENTAL STUDIES: CONFERENCE OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS by M.A.Pakhomova
Keywords: oriental studies: tradition and modernity, methodology, scientific heritage
However through a short period of its existence SADC Tribunal has considered a number of human rights cases which motivated SADC member-states to make a decision to suspend its activity. This article analyses the first human rights case examined by the Tribunal which became the reason for criticism against its activities. Furthermore, the article gives the legal assessment of the decision of SADC member-states to suspend the functioning of the Court of the Community.

WHO KILLED JONAS SAVIMBI? by S.A. Kolomnin
Keywords: Savimbi, war in Angola, reconciliation in Angola, UNITA, FAPLA, MPLA
The article reveals the details of the destruction of Jonas Savimbi, the head of UNITA - the Angolan opposition movement. For many years he was its leader and the commander-in-chief of FAPLA. Savimbi’s very survival in Angola was viewed as an incredible accomplishment, and he came to be known as «Africa’s most enduring bush fighter» given assassination attempts, aided by extensive Soviet, Cuban, and East German military troops, advisors and support, that he survived.
The Angolan civil war ended only after the death of Savimbi, who was killed in an ambush on February 22, 2002. The article contains an interview with С.К.Uala, the General of Angola Armed Forces who led the military operation on the elimination of Savimbi.

IBRAHIM EL SALAHI AND HIS TREES by T.M.Gavristova, Dr.Sc. (History)
Keywords: Ibrahim el Salahi, African modernism, calligraphy, tree, Sufism
The article considers the work of Ibrahim El Salahi, one of the founders of African modernism. His solo exhibition was held at the London Tate Modern Gallery since July 3 till September 22, 2013 with great success. The focus of the article’s author - one of the most important components of the painter’s creative works, his «trees», and a cycle created in the first decades of the XXth century. Their images reflect the spiritual quest of the artist, his attitude to the world outside. The article traces the origins of the artist’s work and its gene substratum.

SOURCES OF CHINA’S MODERNIZATION by Y.M.Rusakov, PhD (History)
The book “The Fall of Monarchy in China” by Yu.V.Chudodeyev, PhD (History) covers a remarkable historical event, the fall of monarchy that had existed more than 22 centuries. The author traces the formation and evolution of Chinese imperial-monarchic system which dominated for a long time in East Asia, spreading Chinese civilizational influence in neighboring countries, up to the Xinhai revolution in 1911-1912. This event triggered a new sequence of upheavals which eventually brought into existence the Chinese People’s Republic, current economic reforms and rise of New China.

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