Good Neighborly Relations Research Articles

Features of the US Foreign Policy Towards the Central Asian States

The article examines the features of the US foreign policy towards the Central Asian states in the post-bipolar period. The imperatives and constants, as well as the transformation of Washington’s Central Asian policy, have been characterized. It is shown that five Central Asian states have been in the focus of American foreign policy over the past thirty years. In the process of shaping the US foreign policy in Central Asia, the presence of significant reserves of energy and mineral resources in the region was of great importance. Therefore, rivalry for Caspian energy resources and their transportation routes came to the fore. In addition to diversifying transport and logistics flows and supporting American companies, the US energy policy in Central Asia was aimed at preventing the restoration of Russia’s economic and political influence, as well as countering the penetration of China, which is interested in economic cooperation with the countries of the region. During the period under review, the following transformation of mechanisms and means of Washington’s policy in the Central Asian direction was observed: the policy of “exporting democracy”; attempts to “nurture” the pro-American elite; striving to divide states into separate groups with permanent “appointment” of leaders; involvement in a unified military system to combat terrorism; impact on the consciousness of the population in order to destabilize geopolitical rivals; building cooperation on a pragmatic basis due to internal difficulties and external constraints. Central Asian states sympathized with the American course because of their interest in technology and investment. At the same time, these states in every possible way distanced themselves from the impulses of “democratization” from Washington. Kazakhstan was a permanent regional ally of the United States, to which Uzbekistan was striving to join. The second echelon in relations with the American side was occupied by Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. A feature of the positions of the Central Asian countries is the maximum benefit from cooperation with Washington while building good-neighborly relations with Russia and China, which is in dissonance with the regional imperatives of the United States. In the future, the American strategy in Central Asia will presumably proceed from the expediency of attracting regional allies and stimulating contradictions in order to contain geopolitical rivals in the region.

CENTRAL ASIA ON THE WAY TO CONSOLIDATION: POST-PANDEMIC PERIOD

Now Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are experiencing a new stage of cooperation. This is evidenced by the recent events taking place in the two states. Changes in the vector of Uzbekistan's foreign policy with the coming to power of Shavkat Mirzeyev can be considered a "new starting point" for these countries. We will pay special attention to further strengthening the centuries-old friendship, good-neighborly relations, strategic partnership and mutual trust with the Central Asian States. This is a priority of our foreign policy. The complex conditions of the pandemic have once again demonstrated how we are interconnected. This article discusses the issues of integration of the Central Asian region, in particular Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The article provides an analysis of post-pandemic research, namely on the economic and political circumstances of the region and their interaction in the pic of the COVID-19 pandemic and actions towards economic recovery and their prospects for influencing the future of the region. The article also analyzes the articles of foreign researchers Anette Bohr, James Grant and Ariel Cohen about Central Asia.

Economic Integration of the Visegrad Four and Ukraine in the Context of Historical Narratives and Global Challenges

The article reveals the historical preconditions for the development of economic integration of Ukraine and the Visegrad Four from the standpoint of challenges relevant to the region of Central and Eastern Europe. The co-existence of the Rus’ people (ancient Ukrainians) with the Czech, Polish, Hungarian and Slovak ethnic groups is outlined, highlighting the significant events. They are presented in the context of building good neighbourly relations through overcoming contradictions. V4 is considered as an association of new political and economic order within the framework of European integration processes. The routes of economic integration of Ukraine and V4 have been assessed, revealing that this process is mainly limited to import operations and excludes real sector of the economy. A concept is developed for the V4+UA economic space, specifying the creation of a regionally integrated machine industry with fragmented production within a global-scale network and high added value.

CHINGIZ AITMATOV AND KAZAKH THEATER ART

The article touches on the topic of creative contacts of the writer Ch. Aitmatov and Kazakh theater art. Works of Ch.Aitmatov and his life path are closely intertwined with the Kazakh land. The place where the writer was born - the village of Sheker, was located next to the Kazakh village called Zhuala. In his works, events often occur on Kazakh land. The topic of good neighborly relations between the two fraternal folks is closely reflected in his works. Famous Kazakh writers, particularly M. Auezov, played a signifiant role in popularizing of Ch.Aitmatov. Therefore, we can say that the writer Ch.Aitmatov is in close and deep connection with the Kazakh land and people. The writer’s relationship with the people of the Great Steppe, which began in childhood, subsequently expanded. He was in close contact with famous people and was friends with creative teams. Thus, Ch. Aitmatov is one of the most popular authors of the Kazakh theater scene.

China's Good Neighborhood Diplomacy in South Asia (the cases of Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan)

In the contemporary world using of rigid methods of external policy increasingly loses its effectiveness. The popular concept of "soft power" is fully consistent with China's traditional strategy towards the outside world and it has received here a comprehensive and specific implementation in the country's political course. Meanwhile, the official line on the development of friendly and good-neighborly relations in the foreign policy of the People's Republic of China was clearly outlined during the era of Deng Xiaoping's rule and has been consistently developing since then, receiving new impulses for this. A peaceful and stable environment is seen as one of the key conditions for the country's development. Taking into account the traditional competition between China and India, Beijing's success in maintaining bilateral relations with the countries of South Asia is of particular interest. The article examines the mechanisms of «soft power» used by the PRC in relation to the neighboring states of South Asia (Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan) within the framework of Beijing's declared «good neighborhood diplomacy». The author analyzes its implementation by the cases of four areas of interaction: infrastructure construction, trade and investment, political contacts, humanitarian assistance and the spread of cultural influence. In each case, the Chinese policy towards Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and India is sequentially examined, the most significant initiatives are explored, and the factors that hinder and help in the implementation of these initiatives are identified. The author comes to the conclusion that the very idea of «good neighborhood diplomacy» is rooted in the Chinese foreign policy tradition, but its implementation faces a number of both internal and external factors.

Kultura w programach Jerzego Giedroycia

The article aims to present the cultural matters from Kultura Paryska (Paris-based Culture) in the context of the cultural-creative function of the media and media strategies of cultural diplomacy. Kultura Paryska was published in 1946-2000 as a periodical of the Institute of Literature in Paris, its creator and editor was Jerzy Giedroyc. Due to its program distinctiveness (the stake in contacts with the country) and high publicity effort, it was perceived as a centre of political thought pursuing the independence ideals through the concepts of good neighbourly relations between Poland and Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus and Germany in the conditions of geopolitical changes in Europe after the dissolution of the USSR and German reunification. The programme articles were written by Juliusz Mieroszewski, Jerzy Stempowski, Bohdan Osadczuk, Leopold Unger, among others. Giedroyc paid attention to the balance of political and cultural content in the issues of the magazine, and what is more important, he let authors from Ukraine, Lithuania and Belarus to publish in the magazine. He was the originator of a series of chronicles, including ones concerning Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, Germany, and press reviews, which were the basic source of information about the lives of emigrants and life in their abandoned homelands. Giedroyc, through Kultura, pursued a strategy of influencing public opinion by combining political and cultural matters because he was convinced that in this way he would contribute to the rejection of stereotypes and make it possible to learn about common history and culture.

Страны Центральной Азии в условиях афганского кризиса

The Taliban’s (terrorist organization banned in Russia) victory in Afghanistan creates new threats and challenges to the countries of Central Asia. At the same time, the attitude of the Central Asian republics to the new government is significantly different. While Tajikistan is not yet ready to establish ties with the Taliban, Uzbekistan, interested in economic projects with Afghanistan, aims to develop good-neighborly relations with the Taliban. In the context of the aggravation of the situation on the southern borders of the CIS, cooperation between Russia and the countries of the region in the field of security is strengthening, which increases its role in Central Asia. Having carried out the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, the United States does not abandon its attempts to gain a foothold in the region, seeking to involve the Central Asian countries in solving their problems. At the same time, proposals are being put forward that may create additional difficulties for the Central Asian republics.

Territorial claims of Armenia to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918-1920

On May 28, 1918, the first democratic parliamentary republic in the Muslim East was proclaimed – the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), which from the first days of its existence relied on the principles of democracy and equality of people , granting all citizens of the country the same rights, and eliminated racial, national, religious, and social inequality. ADR sought to establish good-neighborly relations with all states of the region. However, in order to enforce its territorial claims to Azerbaijan, Armenia further expanded the boundaries of the massacres of the local population in the territories of Karabakh, Zangezur, Nakhchivan, etc. The article provides detailed information about Armenia’s groundless territorial claims to Azerbaijan in 1918-1920.

Научная дипломатия как приоритет государственной политики в Арктике

The article considers the phenomenon of science diplomacy as a new form of coop-eration between states to solve global problems in the Arctic. Currently the Arctic region is one of potential geopolitical platforms which the leading world powers focus their special attention on and develop national strategies of its exploration. In the new «Fundamentals of State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Arctic» the development of science and technology for the exploration of the region in the view of enhancing international cooperation is one of the main tasks in the field of Arctic development. According to the authors of the study, science diplomacy should become one of the main tools contributing to strengthening cooperation and reducing the conflict intensity in the region. Special attention has been paid to estimation of the extent of conflict and its dynamics in the region. The article is based on a quantitative study of the relationship between the use of scientific and diplomatic practices and conflict intensity in the Arctic. The methods used in the study are event analysis and content analysis, which made it possible to conduct covariance and correlation analysis of variables. As a result, the model of the relationship between science diplomacy and conflict intensity in the Arctic region was created. The authors came to the conclusion that the use of scientific and diplomatic practices in the Arctic contributes to reducing conflict intensity in the region, strengthening good-neighborly relations with the Arctic States and achieving the goals set in the updated framework of state policy in the Arctic.

Central Asia: Involvement Of Afghanistan In Regional Development Processes

The article observes the contemporary processes of forming a system of good neighbourly relations in Central Asia with the participation of Afghanistan and increasing the potential for regional development. The article maintains peace in Afghanistan is not only an important factor for sustainable development in the region but also an opportunity to intensify trade and economic cooperation with European countries in Asia to ensure the integration of transit and transport opportunities. It is noted that Uzbekistan supports the further intensification of multifaceted cooperation with Afghanistan and the prompt establishment of peace and stability in the neighbouring country, the restoration of its economic and transport infrastructure.

ESTONIANS IN THE SOVIET EVACUATION IN THE SOUTH URALS DURING WORLD WAR II

The mythologization of history and presence of unexplored aspects in the history of Estonia during the Second World War period prevent the establishing good-neighbourly relations and partnership between Russia and Estonia. Estonians’ life in the evacuation in the Urals is a ‘blank spot’ in the historiography. The article is based on the archival documents and sheds light on the situation of people evacuated from Estonia to the South Urals in the period 1941-1944. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of the evacuees’ composition is provided. The difficulties of Estonians’ adaptation in the Soviet rear are elicited. It is concluded that Estonians had the same problems as all evacuees in the USSR. Besides, their situation was worsened by the linguistic barrier, the level of poverty in the Urals in comparison with Estonia, impossibility to lead traditional work, the ignorance of the Soviet laws, the abhorrence of the Soviet system among parts of the evacuees. The problems arising between the locals and Estonian evacuees were caused by the differences in everyday practices and historical and cultural traditions, and not the national or religious identity. The short-term stay of Estonians in the Urals could not lead to cultural or linguistic assimilation.

Thematic Priorities For Sustainable Development of Ukraine-Romania Cross-Border Cooperation (The Case Study of Chernivtsi Region)

This paper seeks to investigate sustainable cross-border cooperation (CBC) as a distinctive model of interstate collaboration, embedded in the neighboring borderland regions of two or more countries. The focus of the research revolves around the establishment and further development of geostrategic, economic, cultural and scientific capacity of the Ukrainian-Romanian partnership as a fundamental construct in ensuring and strengthening the stability, security and cooperation in Europe. This research highlights Ukraine’s aspirations to establish, develop and diversify bilateral good-neighborly relations with Romania both regionally and internationally. The main objective is to elucidate Ukraine-Romania cross-border cooperation initiatives, inasmuch Ukraine-Romania CBC has been stirring up considerable interest in terms of its inexhaustible historical, cultural and spiritual ties. Furthermore, the similarity of the neighboring states’ strategic orientations grounds the basis for development and enhancement of Ukraine-Romania cooperation. The authors used desk research and quantitative research to conclude that Ukraine-Romania CBC has the impact not only on the EU and on Ukraine multi-vector foreign policy, but it also has the longer-term global consequences. In the light of the current reality, the idea of introducing and reinforcing the importance of Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) sounds quite topical and relevant. This research considers a number of explanations for Ukraine-Romania Cross-Border Cooperation as a key element of the EU policy towards its neighbors. Besides, the subject of the research is considered from different perspectives in order to show the diversity and complexity of the Ukraine-Romania relations in view of the fact that sharing common borders we are presumed to find common solutions. As the research has demonstrated, the Ukraine-Romania cross border cooperation is a pivotal factor of boosting geostrategic, economic, political and cultural development for each participant country, largely depending on the neighboring countries’ cohesion and convergence. Significantly, there is an even stronger emphasis on the fact that while sharing the same borders, the countries share common interests and aspirations for economic thriving, cultural exchange, diplomatic ties and security, guaranteed by a legal framework. The findings of this study have a number of important implications for further development and enhancement of Ukraine-Romania cooperation. Accordingly, the research shows how imperative are the benefits of Romania as a strategic partner for outlining top priorities of Ukraine’s foreign policy.

Розвиток українсько-угорських дипломатичних відносин у кінці ХХ століття

Diplomatic relations are considered to be a decisive factor indicating the level of good neighbourly relations between the states in a particular region. For that purpose we consider the analysis of the diplomatic relations between Ukraine as an independent state and the Republic of Hungary – with a special shift on the events during the period from 1990 to 2000 – to be vital for the understanding of the present and future relations between these two nations. The study aims at providing a brief overview of the establishment and development of the international relations between Ukraine, the largest European country and one of its seven neighbours, namely, Hungary. Similarly, it includes information on the background events underlying the significance of these relations as well as describes the changes in the character of the relations between the two aforementioned states. According to the objectives of the research, we used general scientific and special research methods that provided a holistic approach to solving the problem, namely, methods of critical analysis and synthesis, comparison, generalization and analogy. It may be concluded that the beginning of the 90s witnessed almost perfect-like Ukrainian-Hungarian diplomatic relations whereas the 21st century revealed certain problematic issues. However, both the Ukrainian and Hungarian governments and their people have always strived for a friendly partnership, establishing and strengthening their relations.

Reflections on Odor Management for Animal Feeding Operations

Most animal feeding operation owners recognize that they need to manage odors from their operations as part of their social relationship with their neighbors and local community. That was not always the case. Odors, whether pleasant or unpleasant, can evoke strong emotions and physiological responses. Odors from animal feeding operations are normally considered unpleasant and offensive if strong smelling and smelled often or for long periods of time. Animal feeding operation owners need to be aware of their odor emissions and the impacts the odors have on their neighbors and community. Good neighbor relations and effective communications can help identify odor problems and communicate what is being done to manage them. Odor management research and education includes odor basics, key processes including generation, emissions and dispersion, impacts, community and neighbor relations, and numerous mitigation practices. Animal feeding operation owners considering practices to reduce odor emissions or their impacts need to weigh the costs, expected effectiveness, and how the practice fits into the overall operation. Policymakers need science-based information to make informed decisions that balance the concerns and needs of neighbors and the community and the businesswomen and men that own and operate the animal feeding operations. This paper provides a broad overview of animal feeding operation odors and odor management.

MAIN FEATURES OF CHINA-KAZAKHSTAN ECONOMIC INTEGRATION


 
 
 
 Kazakhstan is the largest and most developed state among Central Asian countries, with rich base of natural resources. In its foreign policy, Kazakhstan places the development of good-neighborly relations with China on the first place. In turn, for the People’s Republic of China, Kazakhstan is the second largest trading partner after Russia and the biggest hub for further transportation of goods, which has big positive effect on economic relations between these two countries. The Chinese factor is constantly operating for the foreign policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This paper studies economic integration and main features of trade and economic cooperation in China- Kazakhstan relations.
 
 
 

Ensuring and protecting the rights of national minorities in the Visegrad countries (on the example of Slovakia)

The main research objective of the study presented in this article was the ethnopolitics of the Slovak Republic, one of the V4 countries, namely the legislative base and the institutional ensuring the functioning of a system of protection of the national and ethnic minorities’ rights. Slovakia is one of the postsocialist countries that has made the transition to democracy on the way to joining the European Union. The country’s authorities conducted a series of reforms in the ethnopolitical sphere in accordance with European standards. An ethnopolitical picture and separate ethnopolitical challenges in the Slovak Republic are similar, especially in the border areas. Thus, the main goal of the ethnopolitics of Slovakia is to secure the rights of all minorities, interethnic tolerance and ensure the intercultural dialogue. Representatives of national and ethnic minorities in the Slovak Republic have a number of rights and opportunities, directly dependent on citizens whether they can organize themselves and use existing mechanisms for the benefit of their own community. In addition, the state's ethnopolitical strategy provides bilateral cooperation with the homelands of individual minorities. The bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Slovakia is one of the examples. Bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and the Slovak Republic in the field of protection and ensuring of minority rights is based on the work of the Intergovernmental Slovak-Ukrainian Commission for National Minorities, Education and Culture. The recommendations of the commission are an important tool for constructive dialogue between Slovakia and Ukraine, ensuring good neighborly relations.

Bezpieczeństwo w społeczności lokalnej w kontekście przejawów demoralizacji nieletnich

The purpose of this article is to attempt to show the importance of interpersonal relations and selected examples of social pathologies in local communities in the context of the determinants of manifestations of juvenile demoralization. A thesis has been put forward about the impact of the local environment on the demoralization of juvenile pathological features, and positively on the disposition of minors as a result of a sense of security through experiencing positive relationships in the immediate environment. It has been verified based on the results of empirical research carried out with a survey method, using the technique of surveying pupils in primary and junior high schools in Białystok and Rzeszów, based on an electronic questionnaire. From an analyses of the survey results, it can be concluded that the pathological behaviours in their local environment experienced by minors motivated them to demoralizing behaviour. The factors that had a significant impact on illegal behaviour by minors were the negative features of the immediate area, such as the occurrence of crime and other punishable acts, including fighting, drugs, violence as well as vacant and dense buildings. Demoralizing behaviour was also stimulated by the possibility of meeting youth gangs in vacant buildings and looking for hiding places in dense buildings. On the other hand, the positive features of the local community, in the opinions of minors, defined as good neighbourly relations, respondent’s recognition, cooperation, trust, life and a willingness to provide assistance did not incline them to criminal acts. Diagnosing the motivation of the young generation to behave both positively and negatively can contribute to the development of prevention and prophylaxis programs intended to improve the level of safety.

Иран и страны ССАГПЗ: между противостоянием и диалогом

The article examines the development of relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Iran’s strained relations with the Arab monarchies of the Gulf are often perceived as their natural state. This implies that a hidden or overt conflict based on deep ideological, political and cultural contradictions is the backbone of the entire complex of relations between Iran and its neighbors in the Persian Gulf. However, in reality, the situation looks different. Thus, the current attempts of Riyadh to unite other GCC members against Tehran are only partially successful. While the UAE and Bahrain authorities actively support anti-Iranian steps and rhetoric of the Saudi leadership, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar show considerable interest in maintaining at least neutral good-neighborly relations with Tehran. At the same time, while Doha’s desire to develop a dialogue with Iran is largely forced and is due to the fact that without Iranian support, the country can be completely isolated, the interest of the Omani and Kuwaiti leaders in maintaining good relations with Tehran is defined by much deeper, historically determined motives. Moreover, over the past decades, periods of sharp cooling in relations between Iran and all the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf region have alternated with active mutual attempts to develop a model that could ensure sustainable cooperation between Iran and the GCC. Under these circumstances, it makes sense to talk about the existence of at least two conflicting trends in Iranian relations with the GCC countries. On the one hand, the understanding that maintaining a certain level of stability in the Persian Gulf requires establishing good-neighborly relations pushes the leadership of Iran and the GCC countries towards a constructive dialogue. On the other hand, the regional ambitions of Iran and Saudi Arabia inevitably lead to periodic clashes between the two countries in their struggle for influence in the Middle East, inevitably involving other GCC countries in this struggle. The American presence in the region, as well as internal contradictions between the GCC members are additional factors determining specifics of Iran’s relation with the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf.

Self-Supply of Food for the Red Army on the Eastern Front in the Second Half of 1918

This article discusses how the Eastern Front’s Red Army solved the problem of food provision through self-supply, which was carried out by soldiers and the regimental command using requisitions and purchasing products from the local population. The emergence of this method was due to the inability of the front and army command to fully provide troops with provisions, as a result of which the leadership was forced to partially impose this task on the local regimental command, which often treated the organization of procurement and fight against soldier robbery rather carelessly. Nevertheless, food quality for the Red Army improved, as evidenced by the decrease in the number of marauding fighters. This was also facilitated by army command measures to improve the level of soldier discipline. In the article much attention is paid to the evolution of the population’s attitude to the procurement activity of soldiers and the regimental command. Despite the fact that initially the peasants rather negatively perceived the presence of the Red Army in the countryside, subsequently residents of villages began to show greater interest in cooperating with the troops, providing them with food, both on a voluntary and a monetary basis. This policy was favored by the army command, aimed at regulating procurement operations and maintaining good neighborly relations with the local population. Moreover, other means of obtaining food are listed, such as capturing enemy storage facilities at stations and in cities.

ВОЛОДИМИР-ВОЛИНСЬКИЙ РАЙОН ВОЛИНСЬКОЇ ОБЛАСТІ: ТУРИСТИЧНО-РЕКРЕАЦІЙНІ РЕСУРСИ ПРИКОРДОННЯ

The article shows that the growing role of local governments provides a rationale for effective regional programs for the development of natural and economic territorial systems, so it is necessary to conduct in-depth historical and geographical research, inventory of resources, determine its uniqueness for optimal location of major economic activities and preservation of the natural environment. It is substantiated that cross-border cooperation promotes the effective use of the potential of cross-border territories for wider cooperation, promotion of good neighborly relations, improving the ability to attract foreign investment. The analysis of spatial differentiation of natural, historical-cultural, social-economic tourist- recreational resources of the border district of Volyn oblast was performed. It is proved that preserved natural complexes: a combination of lakes, forests, dense hydrographic network, diversity of plant communities, faunal richness, favorable ecological situation, variety of architectural objects, including urban complexes of ancient cities, sacred objects of many religions, preserved traditions, features of local color, determine the unique nature of the Volyn border, create favorable conditions for the development of international and domestic tourism. As a result of systematization and generalization of results of geographical researches created a map of available tourist and recreational resources of the area. Taking into account the available conditions and resources of the territory, the most expedient types of tourism in the district have been identified: excursion, ecological, green, agritourism, religious, pilgrimage, ethnographic, for restore strength on nature, which are in demand among wealthy middle-class, what provides an opportunity to get acquainted with historical monuments, folklore, traditional crafts, and handicrafts.