Cultural Ties Research Articles

Do Larger Economies Trade More? Evidence from India

International trade contributes significantly to a country’s economic growth at various stages of a nation’s development. Trade promotes competition and results in a more efficient allocation of resources and, hence, higher efficiency. Trade also encourages technological progress, technology transfer across countries, and development of new products, to name a few. This paper has two objectives- 1) To examine various trade theories on how trade impacts an economy’s growth, and 2) To analyse the trade data for India’s leading trading partner countries, and examine consistency of such data with predictions of the “Gravity model of trade”. Various trade theories are explained – the “Ricardian model of trade” (19th century) also known as the “Comparative Advantage Theory”, “Heckscher-Ohlin Model” (1920’s), also called the “Factor Proportions Theory”, “New Trade Theory” (NTT) by Paul Krugman (1979), “New-New Trade Theory” by Melitz (2003) and the “Gravity model of trade” by Tinbergen (1962). The predictions of the “Gravity model of trade” are tested for India using the 2021 data of the country’s leading export and import partners. The data shows the top three trading partner countries for India are the US, the UAE and China. These countries are large economies and hence consistent with the predictions of the Gravity model. Bangladesh is India’s 4th largest exporting partner – which is explained by the historically close cultural ties between India and Bangladesh facilitated by common language and borders. Overall, we can say that India’s trade data is consistent with the predictions of the Gravity model. India trades more with larger economies and those countries that are in close proximity in terms of cultural ties and distance.

TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERREGIONAL HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TIES OF BASHKIRIA WITH CHUVASHIA IN THE 1990s

The article is devoted to the analysis of cultural, social, political and economic ties between Bashkiria and Chuvashia in the 1990s.
 
 The purpose of the research is to study the experience of interregional interaction during the period of republics formation within the Russian Federation on the example of relations between Bashkiria and Chuvashia.
 
 Materials and methods. The peculiarity of this topic is the chronological coverage concerning modern Russian history, in this regard, the materials of the study are mainly represented by periodicals (regional newspapers and official journals of state authorities), as well as archives of liquidated authorities. The research methods are the historical-system method, the historical-comparative method, the principle of historicism is used as the basis of the work.
 
 The scientific novelty is manifested in the introduction of new materials from archives into scientific circulation, as well as in consideration of relations between Chuvashia and Bashkiria through a historical prism in the unity of cultural, political and economic spheres, which is expressed in the term “historical and cultural ties”.
 
 Study results. The author analyzes the first agreement between Chuvashia and Bashkiria in the post-Soviet period “On Cooperation in Socio-Economic, Cultural and Spiritual Spheres” dated April 25, 1991. The “Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation” dated 1994, which had not previously appeared in the studies, was studied. The joint measures on preserving cultural, political and economic ties between the state authorities of the republics are considered and the vectors of relations development are outlined.
 
 Conclusions. The analysis of historical and cultural ties revealed an increase in joint cultural and political events, with a decrease in the activity of economic relations in the second half of the 1990s. The main reasons for the reduction of interregional trade and the consequences of these processes are outlined.

Престижное оружие, конское снаряжение и воинский убор эпохи Великого переселения народов на Боспоре Киммерийском

The symbolic role of prestigious weapons, horse tack, and “military” costume as the owner’s social level marker is well known. Moreover, the artefacts of “ceremonial” military dress and horse tack form reliable markers of cultural ties and military-political orientation of the ruling elites in ancient societies. Prestigious weapons were made by order or took as spoils of war. Furthermore, “ceremonial” weapons and horse tack were diplomatic gifts and appeared in symbolic investiture of barbarian “kings.” This article addresses the finds originating from Cimmerian Bosporos and dated from the Great Migration, or the Hunnic (last third of the fourth to the second third of the fifth century) and Post-Hunnic Periods (second third of the fifth to the second third of the sixth century): swords, scramasaxes, helmets, shields, horse tack, and “military” costume parts. They meet with parallels both in the Empire and the Barbaricum. Simultaneously, the attire in question misses important artefacts like T-shaped brooches of the Roman administrators of higher ranks and barbarian “royal” gold bracelets with widened ends. Generally, in the case of Cimmerian Bosporos, military aristocratic culture from the Great Migration Period featured two traditions associated with the great powers of antiquity, the Romano-Byzantine and Iranian ones, with the first predominant among the number of finds. The Eastern Roman Empire’s sphere of military and political influence in the Ponto-Caucasian steppes extended very far, as long as the area controlled by the Sabiroi Huns inhabiting the North-Eastern Caucasus. However, political and, accordingly, military influence of Sassanian Iran in Caucasus is attested by written sources, where it is also confirmed by striking finds of prestigious weapons. This way, Cimmerian Bosporos appeared at the crossroads of these two military traditions of the great powers of antiquity.

Professor Mykhailo Stanchev is 70: The Career of a Statesman, Scholar, and Diplomat

The article is dedicated to the life and work of Professor Mykhailo Stanchev, who has recently celebrated his 70th anniversary. In the form of a memoir, the author tells about Professor Stanchev’s first steps in academia, his student years at A. Gorky Kharkiv State University (now V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University), and his early interest in Bulgarian studies. The main focus of the article is on Stanchev’s research work, in which he continued Kharkiv University’s long tradition of historical Bulgarian studies. His candidate’s thesis, dedicated to the role of youth organizations in the development of Ukrainian-Bulgarian cultural ties, was completed under the supervision of the prominent Soviet Bulgarist, professor of Kharkiv University H. M. Popov. Stanchev’s fellowship at Sofia University ‘St. Kliment of Ohrid’ in 1988-1989 took his research to a new level. A milestone in Stanchev’s academic career was the defense of his doctoral dissertation on “Dr. C. Rakovsky – Statesman, Politician, and Diplomat (1873-1941)” at the Institute of History of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The article considers Stanchev’s ties with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, of which he was elected a foreign member in 2013, and his service as research director of the Marin Drinov Center for Bulgarian and Balkan Studies at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University and editor-in-chief of “The Drinov Collection,” which publishes materials of the international Drinov Readings held recurrently at Kharkiv National University. For his academic work, Stanchev has received the honorary award “For Services to the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences”, as well as the Drinov Gold Medal and Ribbon. Stanchev’s achievements in other areas, particularly government and diplomacy, are also discussed. Stanchev was elected deputy of the Kharkiv City Council and chaired the international department of the City Executive Committee, which was created on his initiative. In this position, he contributed to the development of Kharkiv’s international relations and helped attract foreign investment to the region. The article further touches on Stanchev’s service as first secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and head of the Department of Balkan Countries. Stanchev made a significant contribution to Ukrainian-Bulgarian relations as a temporary chargé d’affaires of Ukraine’s embassy in Bulgaria and political adviser, for which he was awarded the Golden Laurel Branch of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria. In conclusion, the author expresses hope that Professor Stanchev will continue pursuing shared academic projects with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Analysis of the Similarities and Differences between The Assassin Nie Yinniang and the New Taiwanese Films

Director Hou Hsiao-Hsien's film The Assassin Nie Yinniang diverges from the conventions of the New Taiwanese Cinema movement, blending black and white with color tones to reflect the emotional and thematic nuances of its protagonist, Nie Yinniang. stands apart from typical martial arts films by de-emphasizing elaborate combat scenes and instead focusing on ambiance and an exploration of loneliness. The film depicts a journey of conflicting ideologies between righteousness and personal emotions, as Nie Yinniang transitions from an assassin adhering to Taoist teachings to a woman entangled in familial affections and personal values. While the film maintains technical elements and filming techniques characteristic of the New Taiwanese Cinema, its thematic divergence focusing on individual subjective expression sets it apart. Unlike the movement's societal reflections, the film delves into personal narrative, exploring the internal conflict of its central character amidst cultural and familial ties. The Assassin Nie Yinniang thereby embodies a unique departure from the thematic trajectory of the New Taiwanese Cinema while maintaining some of its stylistic elements.

Evaluation of local tourism in Iran

This study evaluates local tourism in Iran, focusing on domestic travel. The initial analysis explores the broader role of tourism in Iran's economy and society, alongside an introduction to the country's tourism infrastructures. The study then examines the correlation between local tourism patterns and consumer price and gasoline indices. Surprisingly, the findings challenge the hypothesis, revealing a strong positive correlation (0.84) between the "number of local travels" and the "price index for consumers," as well as a correlation coefficient of 0.68 between "number of local travels" and "gasoline price." However, these correlations do not establish causation. The research identifies additional factors influencing local travel, including lifestyle changes due to migration from villages to cities. Cultural ties and financial considerations also contribute, with a significant percentage (73.4%) choosing to stay with friends and family, reducing travel expenditures. In conclusion, the study suggests a more nuanced understanding of local travel motivations. Future research should explore factors such as intra-country migration, stress indices, environmental pressures in metropolitan areas, marketing strategies, and tourist attraction advertising on local travel trends.

ҚАЗАҚСТАНДАҒЫ МӘДЕНИ ТУРИЗМДІ ДАМЫТУ НЕГІЗДЕРІ

Мақалада туризмнің шығу тарихы, тарихи қалыптасуының кезеңі, туризм индустриясының дамуы, қазіргі ахуалы талданды. Казақстан мемлекетінде туристік қызметті оңайлатуға және дамытуға бағытталған бірнеше іс-шаралар ұсынылды, туризмді дамыту жолында экономиканың басқа да салаларының дамуына қосымша әсер етуі қарастырылды. Қасиетті де киелі жерлер тарихы, мәдени қарым-қатынасы әрі құнды жәдігерлер мен артефактілер талданды. Өнер жетістіктері, мәдениет табыстары, тарих тағылымдарының, ата-баба мирасының маңыздылығы туралы ой қозғалып, оны қорғау, қастерлеу өскелең ұрпақтың міндеті екені айтылды.Қазақстанда туризмнің әр түрін дамыту перспективалары туристік ағынды тікелей көтерумен қатар, мәдени туризм тұтастай алғанда өңірдің туристік дамуына, сондай-ақ әлеуметтік жағдайдың жақсаруына, жаңа жұмыс орындарын құруға және инвестициялардың ағынына елеулі үлес қосатындығымен расталады. Осыған орай, мақалада мәдени туризмнің әлемдік экономикаға әсер етуінің аспектілері, белгілі бір мақсаттағы экономика туралы, сондай-ақ туризмнің осы түрімен айналысатын кәсіпорындар қызметінің ерекшеліктері зерттелетін болады.

TÜRKİYE’NİN BALKANLARDAKİ YUMUŞAK GÜCÜ - KOSOVA ÖRNEĞİ

States have important effects on each other, factors such as history, language, culture, belief, geography, and common history are the main components that provide this effect. During the Ottoman period, a large Turkish population lived in the Balkans, the Balkans was very important for the Ottomans geopolitically. The young Turkish Republic embarked on reforms within the country after the War of Independence, failed to maintain sufficient connections and soft power in the Balkans during the Second World War and the Cold War, but the situation changed after the Cold War. With the disappearance of the Soviet threat and Türkiye's desire to pursue a more active foreign policy, the Balkans once again became very important. The Balkans has a dense Turkish population, is Türkiye's open door to Europe, and is closely linked to Türkiye by common historical and cultural ties.
 In the study, Türkiye 's efforts to increase its soft power in the Balkans after the Cold War was examined. While examining the study, the example of Kosovo, one of the most fragile countries in the Balkans, will be detailed. In the study, it is aimed to evaluate the results of these efforts by considering the policies implemented by Türkiye to be effective in the Balkans after the end of the Cold War, the activities of TIKA and Yunus Emre Institute, and Türkiye's soft power in Kosovo / efforts to increase this power.The policies implemented by Türkiye have made significant contributions to the stability of Kosovo, especially the Balkans, and to the development of mutual education, culture and social ties. This situation has had important consequences for Kosovo's integration with the Western alliances, and it is an indication that Türkiye uses its soft power policies as an effective tool in the Balkans.

Temporary or Permanent Peace? Analysis of the Multi-lateral International Game behind the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict from a Realism Perspective

Territorial disputes have always been a sensitive focus in international politics. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan and Armenia broke out in large-scale wars in an underdeveloped area of only a few hundred thousand square kilometers, which lasted for almost a century. Thousands of soldiers and civilians died and thousands were displaced. In early September 2023, in the latest battle between the two countries, two soldiers were killed and one injured, which aroused widespread attention and concern from the international community. Against the background of tense situations, major powers such as the United States and Russia began to intervene in an attempt to calm the dispute. However, both sides still blamed each other and resolutely safeguarded their territories and rights. This crisis involves not only the people of the two countries but also the interests of neighboring countries. Both Turkey and Iran have important strategic interests in the region and have close historical and cultural ties with Azerbaijan and Armenia. The situation is changing, and what time is left for this game is only more complex dilemmas and people who are miserable. Based on the theory of international relations, this article attempts to analyze from a realist perspective why Azerbaijan and Armenia have been in a state of conflict for a long time. It also explains the occurrence and evolution of the conflict between the two countries and finally comments on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The study of this incident is conducive to a clearer understanding of the historical changes in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the far-reaching impact of the conflict between the two countries on regional and international relations.

THE FRANCISCAN MISSION IN HALYC IN THE 13TH CENTURY: HISTORY AND LEGEND

The article examines the issue of the possibility of establishing a Franciscan mission in Halych, one of the capital centers of the state of the Romanovychi dynasty in the 13th century. The outlined issues are somewhat indirectly presented in the historiography, as well as little reflected in contemporary sources. At the same time, the Minorite historical tradition, based on an uncritical reading of the sources, dates the appearance of the Friars Minor in Halych to 1238, linking the foundation of the convent with the person of the Kraków prince Bolesław the Shy. Many other Franciscan legends about the arrival of the Minorites in Rus' in general and Lviv in particular also define the 13th century as the time of the beginning of missionary work here. While analyzing the political and religious circumstances during the 13th century, it should be noted that despite the activity and stability of the contacts of various ruling princely and royal dynasties in Halych with the Roman Curia, there is still no direct confirmation of the functioning of the Franciscan mission here. At the same time, the socio-economic, cultural, and political-religious ties of medieval Halych with the countries of Latin Europe are well represented, both in written and archaeological sources. Therefore, it is pretty likely that in the capital center of the Galician land, there were separate missionary centers for followers of the Latin rite. Mainly among them, merchants, groups of burghers (perhaps the German community), and mercenary knighthood, who needed the spiritual protection of the Catholic Church, should be singled out. It is possible that in the 13th century, along with other missionary clergy, the Franciscans were also involved in this process.

"There is no store in Tarda again..." Some remarks on the functioning of rural communities in south-western Mazury on the example of Bartężek, Tarda and Winiec

This article describes the economic and socio-cultural transformations experienced in recent decades by the communities of three villages, Bartężek, Tarda and Winiec, located in the western part of the Warmia-Mazury province. The immediate cause of these changes was the political and economic transformations that took place in Poland after 1989. However, the aftermath of the specific, and often predominantly negative, effects of these transformations are seen in the contemporary history of the region and its inhabitants; in particular, the challenge faced by the newly forming Polish state to domesticate, incorporate and unite – both administratively and economically, as well as (most importantly!) symbolically and culturally – the areas of the so-called Recovered Territories with the rest of the country. The great experiment, which was the formation of a new and modern society (in intention) of the Northern and Western Territories, was not successful everywhere. The localities and their inhabitants featured in the work are examples of this. Objective factors, mostly unemployment and transportation exclusion, which afflicted and partly continue to afflict the residents since the early 1990s, overlapped with the lack of sufficiently strong social and cultural ties binding the group together and with the inhabited space. The result of this process was a rapid exodus (if not flight) of primarily young people in search of income and a new place to live. This exodus determined the social and cultural condition of the described villages today, and perhaps many similar ones in the region. The article, using ethnographic detail, reveals the backstage of the economic and social collapse of the villages mentioned and the communities that comprise them, and points to the socio-cultural and symbolic causes of this process.

Bilingualism’s Influence on Individual’s Cultural Perceptions

This study aims to investigate the link between bilingualism, identity development, and language development is examined in this research study. It underlines the contrast between bilingualism and language acquisition and defines bilingualism as the usage of two languages within a linguistic community. The investigation of early and late bilingualism looks at how culture affects bilingualism. Additionally, it explores the idea of identity, taking linguistic and cultural ties into account. The study uses a case study design and a qualitative methodology with bilingual subjects. To collect data on language origins and cultural impressions, surveys and interviews are used. The study focuses on language development, responsibilities in the household and at school, and the cultural and linguistic identities of the participants. The purpose of the study is to comprehend how culture affects identity development, language learning, and bilingualism. In general, it advances knowledge of the complexity of bilingualism and its effects on both persons and societies.

An Evaluation of the Trade Outcomes between Taiwan and Malaysia under the New Southbound Policy (NSP)

Upon assuming office in 2016, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s administration revitalized the Southbound Policy (SP), rebranding it as the New Southbound Policy (NSP). While both the SP and NSP share a common objective — to reduce Taiwan’s heavy reliance on the Chinese market — the NSP, unlike its predecessor, places a dual emphasis on enhancing economic ties and concurrently spreading Taiwan’s soft power across the designated markets. Despite being one of the target markets under the NSP, Malaysia did not consistently experience a surge in the proportion of Taiwan’s total trade volume as a result of the policy. This paper aims to assess the performance of Taiwan-Malaysia trades in the context of NSP initiatives and elucidate how the soft power that Taiwan has implemented in Malaysia since the 1950s contributed to such an outcome. The trading outcomes between Taiwan and Malaysia indicate that Taiwan did not receive substantial support from the entities it targeted with its soft power initiatives. This suggests that the China complex within the Chinese ethnic population in Malaysia is challenging to uproot due to their historical and cultural ties with China. Keywords: New Southbound Policy, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, soft power

“This expulsion is explained in many ways”: Ottoman Greek Orthodox internal exiles during the Great War (1914–1918)

AbstractThis article investigates the Ottoman Greek Orthodox internal exiles, focusing on the deportees’ experiences and the intricacies of their agency during the Great War (1914–18). It does so by examining deportees’ understudied ego-documents, taken either from the collections of the Centre for Asia Minor Studies in Athens or from family archives. Organized into labor-battalions or housed in open internment camps in town quarters, the inland exiles were deported to secure the rear front and homogenize the country, but their deportation was characterized by local influences and inconsistencies. Several of the Greek Orthodox exiles managed to survive and maintain their cultural ties by exploiting such inconsistencies, either by selling their skills or by resisting exile through solidarity, desertion, and resistance.

Critical Analysis of “Divided Nation” Model Applications to China-Taiwan: A Case Study of Germany’s Annexation of Austria in 1938

Scholars have argued that “divided nations” (i.e., countries that have split into separate political entities) have distinct characteristics in the international system, and this model has been applied to China-Taiwan relations. Yet, despite ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and historical ties, the current state of cross-Strait relations does not resemble classic cases of the “divided nation” model such as East and West Germany, North and South Vietnam, or North and South Korea, not least because power asymmetry is a major feature of the relationship. China’s largely one-sided demands for “reunification” with Taiwan share more similarities with Germany’s approach to Austria in the 1930s. Both are cases of an aggressor state seeking to annex the territory of a smaller, sovereign neighbor based on a revanchist ideology that stems from perceived notions of “national humiliation” by outside powers and ethno-nationalist ideas of a shared blood community. Germany’s annexation of Austria in 1938 was the result of overwhelming German military power and political decision-making in the dictatorship of the Third Reich rather than ethnic, cultural, or historical ties. Germany’s invasion and occupation of Austria and the transformations of German and Austrian national identity after 1945 show that the “divided nation” model is contingent on historical and ideological subjectivities and not objective, scholarly analysis. Scholars of cross-Strait relations should approach the subject without reference to this model and instead focus on the political struggle between Chinese authoritarianism and Taiwanese democracy on the question of Taiwanese sovereignty in addition to Taiwan’s pivotal role in the great power conflict between the United States and China.

The linguistic and cultural aspect of color in the Kalmyk and Korean languages

This article discusses the semantics and symbolism of primary colors in Kalmyk and Korean traditional cultures. The subject of our research is the content of the basic concepts of color terms in the linguistic picture of the world of Kalmyks and Koreans. Linguistic and cultural analysis of color terms in the languages under consideration allows us to determine the universal and specific features of the linguistic picture of the world, which represent the historical, cultural, social experience of two peoples, accumulated as a result of their development. The research material is proverbs and stable expressions of the Kalmyk and Korean languages. The study of basic colors in these languages is based on the theory of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, which symbolize opposites that are closely related to each other. A comparative analysis of Korean and Kalmyk material identified and revealed valuable information related to the mentality, traditions and customs of these peoples, and showed the important role of color in the linguistic picture of the world of the two peoples. Color affects the social, religious, moral, emotional and interpersonal relationships of people. Despite the fact that each nation has its own way of seeing the world in its own way, analyzing various phenomena of the surrounding reality, the analysis of the material made it possible to establish that the worldview of the two peoples in terms of spiritual and moral values indicates their related cultural ties. The author examines in detail the power of the influence of color on the worldview of different peoples through the language of folklore, which will bring a fresh perspective to this area. The following methods were used in the study: comparative, comparative-typological, structural-semantic, comparative-historical, etymological and the method of complex conceptual-semantic analysis.

Foreign Languages and National Identity Issues

Foreign languages have always occupied a prominent place in Russia and Russian culture. Despite the apparent isolation from the outside world, Russia has always been closely connected with this world. And not only through obvious trade and political relations, but also by spiritual and cultural ties. The first significant reason for the spread of foreign languages in society was the adoption of Christianity, which brought not only a new faith, but the Greek language along with theological books. The entire subsequent history of the formation and development of the country, all the key historical epochs and events in Russia are in one way or another connected with the problem of the outside world, primarily with the European one — even in those cases, quite frequent in Russian history, when this world was rejected, criticized and was considered a necessary evil, from which it was preferable to fence off with some kind of curtain. Over time, all new foreign languages spread in society, sometimes even entering into conflict: Latin with Greek in the theological field, German with French in the political field, French with English in the literary field. In certain historical periods, for example, in the first half of the 19th century, foreign languages even supplanted the native in a certain social environment and became a reason for unrest regarding the loss of national identity. And sometimes, such as during the Soviet era, these languages were deemed “dead languages”, serving solely as a tribute to tradition and a tool for reading. However, they always retained their important role, opening up new horizons for the Russian people and connecting them with the outside world.

WESTERN EURASIA: THE SEARCH FOR A REGIONAL SECURITY PARADIGM

The paper analyzes the circumstances of the formation of a new security paradigm in Asian countries (former Soviet republics - Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan). The twilight of bipolarity, unfortunately, did not open a new qualitative page in the system of regional security. Global socio-economic transformations and political upheavals have added to political instability and uncertainty. Against this historical and political background, Russia's war against Ukraine became a bifurcation point for such a region as Western Eurasia. The relevance of the research topic is determined by the international political processes that are taking place today in the territory of the former Soviet Union. The security format of the former republics of the Union is traditionally considered mainly in the regional - post-Soviet geopolitical context. Therefore, when analyzing the foreign policy features of the region, one should take into account the fact that the Asian republics were part of the USSR for a long time. At the same time, the process of the collapse of the Soviet Union did not fundamentally change the specific status of Russia in the Eurasian “Heartland”. For a long time, Russia and the southern republics of the former Soviet Union were bound by ties of common imperial history, culture and values. However, the fact that Asia has been under the political roof of the Russian Empire for many years has determined the paradigm of Russia's paternalistic attitude towards the countries of the region and for many years defined the framework of the regional security paradigm. Regional political processes are an urgent problem in the system of researching processes and phenomena in the post-Soviet space, causing a clash of different points of view and practice. The focus of the research is the problem of the past and present in the countries of Asia (former Soviet republics) as international regional actors and the determination of possible prospects for the development of their foreign policy scenario. The purpose of the study is to clarify the role and place of Asian countries (former republics of the USSR) in the process of forming a new regional security paradigm from the moment of the beginning of the active phase of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. The object of research is Western Eurasia as a modern regional phenomenon of geopolitics. The subject of the study is the foreign policy of modern Asian countries (former Soviet republics) in the conditions of the formation of a new paradigm of international relations and the growing competition of world actors in the region (USA, EU, China, Russia).

Analysis of the Similarities and Differences between The Assassin Nie Yinniang and the New Taiwanese Films

Director Hou Hsiao-Hsien's film The Assassin Nie Yinniang diverges from the conventions of the New Taiwanese Cinema movement, blending black and white with color tones to reflect the emotional and thematic nuances of its protagonist, Nie Yinniang. stands apart from typical martial arts films by de-emphasizing elaborate combat scenes and instead focusing on ambiance and an exploration of loneliness. The film depicts a journey of conflicting ideologies between righteousness and personal emotions, as Nie Yinniang transitions from an assassin adhering to Taoist teachings to a woman entangled in familial affections and personal values. While the film maintains technical elements and filming techniques characteristic of the New Taiwanese Cinema, its thematic divergence focusing on individual subjective expression sets it apart. Unlike the movement's societal reflections, the film delves into personal narrative, exploring the internal conflict of its central character amidst cultural and familial ties. The Assassin Nie Yinniang thereby embodies a unique departure from the thematic trajectory of the New Taiwanese Cinema while maintaining some of its stylistic elements.

Preventive Legal Services for Kinship Care: Reducing the Need for Foster Care with Family First

This study examines the implementation of preventive legal services for kinship families within the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) service array. A university research team, contracted by the Title IV-E agency to evaluate the FFPSA programs, interviewed legal staff and kinship caregivers to understand how the provision of preventive legal services impacts the prevention-related needs of families. Findings suggest that the provision of free legal services can prevent children in kinship families from entering foster care by enhancing access to the services needed to ensure youth have legal membership in families that maintain their cultural and community ties. Future implementation should consider preventive legal services in the prevention service array, and how the referral mechanisms and systems of support surrounding kinship families can coordinate to ensure that more children can remain with their families.