International Activities Research Articles

Профессиональная коммуникация экспертов-гуманитариев стран СНГ: основные геополитические векторы и предпочтительные форматы

Difficult and controversial, with setbacks, the process of reintegration of the CIS countries is largely failing in the humanitarian sphere. Humanitarian communications in the field of education, science, culture, art, etc. have long remained on the periphery of the attention of political elites of the new independent states, or the elites even deliberately hampered them. Only in recent years, due to the revealed high conflict potential of the factor of value-based orientation of the population (“identity wars”) and the increasing incidence of cultural clashes, this component of integration started to be included in the Russian political discourse. The article is devoted to the study of professional communications between experts in the field of humanities from six CIS countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. The study is based on the expert survey conducted jointly by the International Non-Profit Association of Research Companies “Eurasian Monitor” and MGIMO University. Based on the experts' responses, the Communication Orientation Index (COI) was designed, which allowed to identify priority geopolitical vectors of interaction for the countries under consideration. According to the COI values, some of the CIS countries included in the analysis have similar communication profiles. Russia and Belarus demonstrate a high degree of self-orientation (however, Belarus also shows orientation toward Russia). Armenia and Azerbaijan are more oriented toward the EU and North America. Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are located between these two poles. Among the factors influencing the COI values, the authors emphasize the role of the financial factor. According to their conclusion, the creation of funds like Russian Science Foundation, designed to finance international research projects and activities in the Northern Eurasian region, is one of the most important conditions for developing professional communication between specialists in the field of humanities in CIS countries.

Strategy on China in the Foreign Policy of Germany: Correlation of Values and Interests

The article addresses the preparation and context of Germany’s China Strategy. It aims to analyse a complicated process of reaching consensus in regard to China via intraparty debates in German coalition government. The authors examine China’s leadership and official reaction to the statements by German government, to the UN documents and visits and contacts of German officials with their counterparts in Taiwan and Hongkong. German government and Bundestag documents as well as those of the Federal Foreign Office were used as primary sources. The Chinese Communist Party documents, the Chinese leaders’ and foreign policy officials’ statements and speeches, the UN reports were also analysed. The authors highlight close and complicated interconnectedness between different economies in the world. All international actors are required to reach a compromise between national interests (including protection of sovereignty and security) and pragmatic goals of business development and the state of livelihoods. Consideration of counterpart’s interests, security issues and unacceptability of escalation are the conditions for achieving mutual understanding between two countries.

Specifics of Bilateral US-EU Relations under J. Biden Administration

The article is dedicated to current state of affairs and perspectives of institutionalization of US-EU relations. Due to different international and domestic political reasons, after the 2020 the two sides declared a rapprochement. The US is likely to re-main the most influential center of power of the current system of international affairs. Due to the process of European integration, the EU acquired an ability to behave as an international actor and the US’ global partner. An ambitious bilateral agenda includes not only pragmatic goals, but a long-term intention to cooperate. Institutions of bilateral relations are supposed to build strategic partnership regardless of concrete political situation. The period from 2021 to 2023 were favorable for such efforts, because of the White House retreat from the isolationist foreign policy. The article explores different formats of cooperation between the US and the EU with special focus on high level co-operation. Interparliamentary connections between the US Congress and European Parliament play a special role in institutionalizing the relations. Special attention is paid to the new frameworks of executive branch cooperation, such as Council for Trade and Technology, as well as a number of Strategic Dialogues on different topics. Institutionalization of bilateral relations is aimed at consolidation of economic and technological resources for strategic confrontation against China.

The Anatomy of Foreign Policy Crises

Reviewed edition: H. Kissinger. "Crisis". Moscow: AST, 2023. 512 p. The book presents a retrospective analysis of the international situation and the specifics of the political decision-making process in the context of escalating military-political tensions. The publication includes declassified transcripts of telephone conversations of US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger during two crises – the 1973 Arab-Israeli War (the Yom Kippur War) and the final US withdrawal from Vietnam in 1975. A distinctive feature of the collection is its documentary-memoir character, combining the memories of a direct participant in the events described by H. Kissinger, a documentary account of what happened, illustrating the vicissitudes of two crises and an expert political assessment of the international situation and actions of the parties to the conflicts under consideration. This comprehensive approach is particularly interesting due to the fact that the author considers the events of the Arab-Israeli and Vietnamese crises in the broad context of domestic and foreign policy circumstances, as well as in the context of the global geopolitical confrontation between the United States and the USSR.

Externalisation of Asylum Policy in the UK after Brexit

The article explores the approaches and tools the UK disposes of to address an increasing number of asylum seekers and illegal migrants in a post-Brexit environment. The study is based on legislative and regulatory acts regulating the UK’s asylum policy, as well as international agreements and action plans that enable the externalization of the asylum policy. It is shown that it took the UK a rather short time to put in place a reformed legal framework to incorporate the most restrictive migration-related terms in Europe. The development of the concept of a “Third Safe Country” passing through which automatically places an asylum seeker onto the Unacceptable category provoked their criminalization and led to a nontransparent asylum system with virtually insurmountable barriers to entry. The externalization of the UK asylum policy was implemented through traditional readmission agreements, the number of which grew rapidly during the period under review, and through new tools, for example, the Rwandan Plan which allowed the UK to redirect refugees to Rwanda. It is concluded that despite the ambiguity of the plan it creates a legal precedent, which threatens developing countries of increased migration burden against the background of little resources to overcome migration crises.

The Effect of International Actors on Public Support for Government Spending Decisions

Abstract Does the intervention of an international organization in domestic politics render policy change more popular? While voters may ultimately care only about policy outcomes, the involvement of international actors often seems to lead to resentment. Still, citizens may have greater faith in the wisdom of international actors than in their own government. As others have argued, a well-respected international actor might provide a cue, especially for voters considering controversial policies like spending cuts. We test this argument in a novel pre–post experimental panel study conducted in Spain. We find that citizens become less opposed to unpopular spending cuts when informed that they are required by an international institution. The effects differ, however, across the two organizations that we test: They are stronger for the European Union than for the International Monetary Fund. Our findings lend support to studies arguing that the endorsement of specific international organizations can help push through otherwise unpopular policies.

Legal Issues and Countermeasures in the Application of China’s Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas

The Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs), as a type of area-based management tool, plays an important role in protecting the marine environment and marine ecosystems from the threats posed by international shipping activities. China has large areas that could be applied as PSSAs. However, there are potential problems in the application process, especially in terms of proposal applications and the implementation of routing measures. These problems include the lack of a coordinating body for applications, disputes over the application area, restrictions on relevant protective measures, and changes in the content and procedures of the application. In terms of implementation, these include the lack of domestic legislation on alignment measures, the lack of a clear implementation entity, the imperfect enforcement system, and the lack of technical support. Subsequently, through the analysis of the successful experience of existing particularly sensitive sea areas, solutions to the problems in the application of particularly sensitive sea areas in China are proposed. These solutions include establishing communication mechanisms with neighboring countries, carefully selecting the application area, improving domestic legislation on alignment measures, improving the law enforcement system, and improving law enforcement technology. These targeted recommendations will clear the way for the application of particularly sensitive sea areas in China.

The Relationship Between Financial Development and Logistics Performance Index: A Panel ARDL Approach in Emerging Markets

The term "emerging markets" refers to countries that are undergoing economic and financial development. As financial development progresses in these nations, the capital available for international trade and the expansion of logistics infrastructure grows as well. This increased capital enables the financing of international trade activities and facilitates the execution of necessary logistics operations efficiently and effectively. Additionally, with enhanced financial development, it becomes easier to secure the capital required to improve logistics infrastructure and make it more functional. In this study, analyses are conducted using the Panel autoregressive distributed lag method in emerging market countries to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of financial development on logistics performance. The results reveal that increased access to financial institutions and markets positively affects logistics performance in both the short and long term. Among financial variables, the depth of financial institutions exhibits the strongest long-term influence, suggesting that a stable financial system is crucial for logistics efficiency. These insights provide valuable guidance for decision-makers aiming to strengthen logistics infrastructure and trade capabilities. By recognizing the role of financial development in supporting logistics performance, policymakers can craft strategies that support sustainable economic growth through improved logistics processes.

Reframing urban development politics: Transcalarity in sovereign, developmental and private circuits

This paper develops the idea of transcalarity to reframe analyses of urban development politics. Our analysis starts from African contexts but is relevant to, and in conversation with, experiences on other continents. Accounts of the politics of urban development have rarely benefitted from the experiences of African urban settings. Characterised by relatively weakly resourced municipalities, informality of the urban setting and of the state, and highly transnationalised forms of governance, African experiences may seem to stand out as profoundly different from those which have informed dominant theorisations of urban development politics. And yet, it is across the African continent that a substantial portion of the world’s new, future urban areas are being made, providing strong grounds for theorising urban development politics starting from the diversity of experiences across the continent. Evidence from current research and long-term observations in three African urban contexts (Lilongwe, Accra and Dar es Salaam) indicate that inherited conceptualisations vastly overestimate the resources and agency of municipal government in many urban contexts and omit the enhanced institutional interests of national actors in urban development. Also, the range of international actors considered has been analytically restricted or mischaracterised, as global sovereign and developmental actors play a powerful role while significant private sector interests may not be very international. More generally, ‘circulating’ processes and actors might not be ‘external’ as, especially in relation to developmental and sovereign circuits, these are often embedded in and contribute to shaping emergent transcalar territorial networks co-ordinating investment in different contexts.

O fenômeno do digital, o poder das gigantes da tecnologia e os desafios regulatórios no Brasil

This article aims to critically reflect on the digital phenomenon as a manifestation of the formation of a new global and informational capitalist system, centered on the information paradigm. In this context, the presence of private actors stands out, mainly from the sector of large technology companies (big techs), who compete for spaces of power with public institutions traditionally conceived as sovereign political arms of the nation state. The general objective aims to demonstrate the power of new international actors and the harmful effects that the lack of regulation of their activities brings to society as a whole and democracy. To this end, the work is developed in two moments, the first referring to the emergence of the new informational capitalism, a fact that enables an exercise of power that is sometimes refractory and undemocratic with an ethical and moral foundation in affirmative philosophy, a circumstance that triggers strong power disputes, as well as new regulations in Brazil, a topic covered in a second moment. At the end, a conclusion will be made, where regulatory proposals will be presented as a matter of public policies specific to governments with democratic institutions. The qualitative nature of the study allows the use of a hypothetical deductive approach using a monographic procedural method, and a bibliographic and documentary research technique. The academic and social importance of research is highlighted in addressing a subject very dear to the principles of sovereign autonomy of people, especially when taking into account that such research is carried out to think about public policy strategies that allow guaranteeing the effectiveness of fundamental rights of citizens.

Assessing the Proposed Designation of Nusa Penida and Gili Matra in the Lombok Strait as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA)

Abstract The Lombok Strait, located in the Indonesian Archipelagic Sea Lane (IASL) II, serves as an international shipping route and is also crossed by ferries between Bali and Lombok Islands. The potential increase in international shipping trafBic could pose a threat of marine pollution due to shipping activities, such as ship accidents and operational discharges from ships. There are two areas in the Lombok Strait that have been designated as national marine conservation areas by the Indonesia government, namely Nusa Penida Island and Gili Matra Island. The rich marine biodiversity of the Lombok Strait, especially in Nusa Penida and the Gili Islands, should be protected from the threats posed by international shipping activities. This study aims to assess the necessity of designating the Lombok Strait as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA). The newly established routing systems, TrafBic Separation Schemes (TSS) in the Lombok Strait, can be adopted as Associated Protective Measures (APMs) within the designation of a PSSA. Risk assessment was implemented to demonstrate the exposed risks of international shipping activities that could threaten the marine ecosystem and evaluate the effectiveness of the TSS as an associated protective measure. Based on reviews to meet at least one of the criteria for designation as a PSSA, Nusa Penida and Gili Matra have its the signiBicance of its ecological, socio-economic & culture, and marine trafBic characteristics. The total annual frequency of ship collision is 3.32E-03. In conclusion, the implementation of TSS as the existing APM has proven effective in reducing the risk of ship collision in Lombok Straits by 60.3% compared to frequency ship collision before TSS.

Banking research in the context of digitalization: On the transition to ecosystem business

Subject. This article discusses the tools and mechanisms for the transformation of international and Russian banking activities aimed at forming a competitive model for the functioning of a modern bank in the context of digitalization of the economy. Objectives. The article aims to develop a model for the transition of banking activities to an ecosystem business. Methods. For the study, we used analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, generalization, abstraction, and modeling. Results. The article offers certain tools that involve the formation of a model for the transition of banking activities to ecosystem business in the context of digitalization. The proposed methodological development takes into account the review of the conceptual foundations of the banking system formation and the analysis of current trends in its functioning in the world economy. Conclusions. The digital transformation of the Russian banking system can lead to the introduction of new technologies, the creation of new banking products (including para-banking and non-banking services) and their successful promotion to the market, attracting new customers and expanding the scope of services provided, improving sources of financing and reducing costs, managing risks and negative impacts on the banking system and the economy as a whole, as well as achieving sustainable development goals and supporting the Russian economy.

Mycotoxin concentrations in rice are affected by chalkiness, grain shape, processing type, and grain origin.

Mycotoxins such as aflatoxins (AFs), fumonisins (FBs), zearalenone (ZEN), and deoxynivalenol (DON) pose a risk to public health due to their carcinogenic potency (AFs and FBs) and anti-nutritional effects. The hazards associated with mycotoxins are accentuated where food management practices, control, and regulatory systems from farm to plate are sub-optimal. Information on the frequency of these mycotoxins in rice commercialized in markets in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) is limited. The current study examined AF concentrations in 527 rice samples collected from 54 markets in five SSA countries. Grain quality characteristics, processing methods, and origin of samples were contrasted with toxin levels. In total, 72% of the samples had detectable AFs levels (range = 3.0 to 89.8µg/kg). Forty-seven percent (47%) of the samples had AFs above 4µg/kg, the European Union maximum level (ML), and were evaluated for cooccurrence with FBs, ZEN, and DON. Total AFs and ZEN cooccurred in 40% of the samples, and 30% of the positive ZEN samples had concentrations above the ML of 75µg/kg. Total AFs did not co-occur with FBs and DON. Multivariate analysis revealed that length-to-width ratio (p < 0.0001), mixed variety for width (p = 0.04), and chalkiness (p = 0.009) significantly influenced aflatoxin concentrations. Slender grains had higher AFs concentrations than bold and medium grains (p < 0.0001). Possible strategies to mitigate mycotoxin contamination in rice include improving grain quality traits and practicing proper drying and hermetic storage before and after milling. These findings provide valuable insights for both domestic and international actors in establishing and strengthening regulations and management systems to mitigate rice mycotoxin contamination.

Keeping Peace in Troubled Times: Perspectives from Different Disciplines on War and Peace, edited by Nina Käsehage. Springer, Cham. XV, 266 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56038-5

The book comparatively analyzes past, present and possible future war and crisis situations. In doing so, the authors pay special attention to the nature of global conflicts and international actors, which international organizations and diplomacy of different countries are working to overcome. The book also examines the complexities of relations between governments of small and large states, NATO, the UN, intergovernmental and regional organizations, CSOs and transnational corporations, which despite their interdependence are still far from sustainable development. The authors discuss various issues of diplomacy, international relations theory, Eurasian politics, the European Union, international organizations, threats and challenges, global civil society, religion and culture as they relate to peoples in a complex world.

Paradigms of Georgia's Transit Potential in the Context of Contemporary Global Challenges

As the centuries pass, global civilization continues to evolve, fostering the progress of globalization processes. Consequently, contemporary society witnesses the increasing convergence of social, economic, political, and demographic processes, which amplifies the significance of international economic activities among nations. Throughout the stages of civilizational development, trade and transportation relations between states have been of paramount importance. In today’s context, this is even more pronounced, as the transportation of goods, transit, and customs procedures serve as mechanisms for shaping economic, social, and political relations among nations. Furthermore, they support developing countries in establishing themselves within regional and international trade markets. Georgia is no exception. Historically, it was a significant part of the Silk Road, linking East and West, facilitating the exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas. The strategic location of our country at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia plays a vital role in regional and international transportation and trade. Georgia acts as a key connector, bridging historically distinct Europe and Asia. Thus, Georgia’s transit corridor emerges as a crucial element of regional and international transport and trade networks. The primary aim of this scientific work is to determine Georgia’s importance as a major transit country in the context of significant socio-economic developments of recent years. The subject of this study is the current state of Georgia’s transit potential, including goods transported via transit and the role of the TIR carnet system in these processes. The object of research is Georgia’s transit corridor and its geo-economic realities. Georgia is actively developing transit infrastructure to further enhance its role as a regional and international transit hub. Its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, combined with ongoing infrastructure projects and efforts to improve transport connectivity, positions Georgia as a leading player in transit development. The country has established connections with neighboring states – Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey – as well as with major trading nations such as the United States, China, and Eastern European countries

‘No longer what you used to be’: Renegotiating relations between de facto states and their patrons

The dependence of de facto states/breakaway-territories on external patrons is well-established, but we lack detailed knowledge of the dynamics of these hierarchical relationships, including opportunities for client agency. Through a comparative study of two patron–client relationships that had reached a crisis point, this article examines how the weaker client responds when at odds with its patron. Drawing on original data, including archival sources and interviews, it provides a bottom-up analysis of the relationship between Serbia and Republika Srpska after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement and between Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh immediately after the 2020 war. The out-of-equilibrium behaviour presents an opportunity for analysing the underlying mechanisms of patron–client relationships. In both cases, the crisis resulted in deep mistrust of the patron, but the de facto states were unable to sever links. They were constrained by a lack of reliable alternative supporters, continued patron dependence and powerful ethno-nationalist narratives. Non-recognition added to the client’s weakness, yet we still find clear examples of agency: external supporters were courted, and patrons were pressured through obstruction or appeals to its domestic forces. What resulted was a renegotiated, less hierarchical relationship. The article adds to our understanding of patron–client relationships, including those involving non-sovereign entities where an effective patronage monopoly still exists. It contributes to the existing literature with typologies of patron–client crises and client strategies for reclaiming autonomy, and with detailed empirical evidence of client agency and constraining factors, and by demonstrating the potential leverage of some of the weakest international actors.

Healthcare access in humanitarian settings: Mobile services successes and limits in Afghanistan

With an ever-increasing number of humanitarian emergencies being declared around the globe, identifying effective methods to provide healthcare access to affected communities is all the more relevant to health practitioners. Mobile health services have been widely implemented by international and national actors to reach underserved communities in humanitarian contexts. Nonetheless, little rigorous evidence exists on the effects of such services. Our work contributes to filling the knowledge gap by studying the role of mobile health teams (MHTs) in Afghanistan after the institution of the Taliban De Facto Authority in 2021. We conduct correlational and quasi-experimental analysis of country-wide survey data and matched with geo-localised information on MHTs and their related service delivery points (SDPs) – at least in part of the country – from WHO and UNICEF. Our findings show mobile services enhance recent access to health care by about 11 percentage points (about 14% over comparison) based on our preferred model. We also identify a decreasing effect of number of MHTs and SDPs on healthcare access. Our results indicate that higher number of mobile services do not necessarily translate to better access, although strong differences exist between underserved and better served areas within the country.

History of formation and development of the consular service

The article examines some key points in the development of the consular institute and the improvement of the legal framework aimed at regulating relations within the relevant sphere of international activity. The history of the consular service is analyzed from ancient times, hostile to the very presence of a «foreign element», to the modern era, concerned with the issue of codification of related legal fields; special attention is paid to the era of the Middle Ages and early modern times as the most fruitful chronological segments from the point of view of the development of fundamentally new norms, practically formalized in the specific conditions of the prevalence of trade and maritime relations. The author cites a number of fundamental documents that became a kind of “substrate” for the formation of the system of consular law in the modern sense of the word: the mysterious Amalfi Table (an amazing monument, probably, from the end of the first millennium AD). The system of consular law in the modern sense was shaped by the mystery of the Amalfi Table (an amazing monument probably from the end of the first millennium), numerous bilateral conventions between sovereign states, elevated to absolute status by the Westphalian system of international relations, Latin American regional “pacts” dedicated to defining the exhaustive range of functions of consular representatives, and, finally, the universal Convention on Consular Relations, created by persistent efforts and under the auspices of the symbol of the new international order – the planetary United Nations. In conclusion, the author expresses the view that the consular service has gained a unique position in the modern international political kaleidoscope; no matter how paradoxical it may sound, the frantic whirlwind of global life in the twenty-first century highlights the success of defending the interests of a state directly “on the ground” by consistently upholding the legal rights of ordinary citizens and legal entities. In other words, an objective indicator of the level of development and practical, rather than declared, effectiveness of a country’s diplomatic service is not limited to the functioning of its highest level – the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Embassy; all these indicators are clearly evidenced by the performance of consular offices.

Saving Russia. Neorealist Theorists and the Interpretation of the Kremlin’s International Policy according to the Actor-Network Concept

The Russian-Ukrainian war of 2014–2024 and the destructive role of Russia negatively affects regional and global aspects of the life of peoples and states. It has created a threat of serious chaos in international relations. Russia’s aggressive policy has caused a crisis in world politics that even the great powers of today cannot overcome. The return to a new Cold War and the outbreak of a major war in Europe threatens the entire modern international system with dangerous turbulence. The purpose of the study is to analyze the concept of effectiveness and the role of influential international actors in the modern Russian-Ukrainian war in the field of actor-network theory. The research methodology is based on the principles of science, objectivity, historicism and the basic conceptual and theoretical provisions of the study of world politics and international relations. Actor-network theory was introduced by Michel Callon and Bruno Latour in the second half of the 1980s. In accordance with this theory, relations between participants are determined by the network itself and are marked by the intensity and orientation of the network of interactions. In the sense of international relations and world politics, this means that they are under the strong or even decisive influence of powerful international actors (big powers and flexible interstate coalitions). Russia is seen as one of the most influential international players or “core of localities” that interact. Accordingly, other influential international actors are very cautious about the complete break of relations with Russia; they do not consider the possibility of its complete defeat in the aggressive war against Ukraine. Such a position was reflected and substantiated in various theoretical approaches, examples of which are the ideas of neorealism representatives such as John Mearsheimer, Farid Zakaria and Henry Kissinger.

Artificial intelligence in respiratory pandemics-ready for disease X? A scoping review.

This study aims to identify repeated previous shortcomings in medical imaging data collection, curation, and AI-based analysis during the early phase of respiratory pandemics. Based on the results, it seeks to highlight essential steps for improving future pandemic preparedness. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Reviews for articles published from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2021, using the terms "imaging" or "radiology" or "radiography" or "CT" or "x-ray" combined with "SARS," "MERS," "H1N1," or "COVID-19." WHO and CDC Databases were searched for case definitions. Over the last 20 years, the world faced several international health emergencies caused by respiratory diseases such as SARS, MERS, H1N1, and COVID-19. During the same period, major technological advances enabled the analysis of vast amounts of imaging data and the continual development of artificial intelligence algorithms to support radiological diagnosis and prognosis. Timely availability of data proved critical, but so far, data collection attempts were initialized only as individual responses to each outbreak, leading to long delays and hampering unified guidelines and data-driven technology to support the management of pandemic outbreaks. Our findings highlight the multifaceted role of imaging in the early stages of SARS, MERS, H1N1, and COVID-19, and outline possible actions for advancing future pandemic preparedness. Advancing international cooperation and action on these topics is essential to create a functional, effective, and rapid counteraction system to future respiratory pandemics exploiting state of the art imaging and artificial intelligence. Question What has been the role of radiological data for diagnosis and prognosis in early respiratory pandemics and what challenges were present? Findings International cooperation is essential to developing an effective rapid response system for future respiratory pandemics using advanced imaging and artificial intelligence. Clinical relevance Strengthening global collaboration and leveraging cutting-edge imaging and artificial intelligence are crucial for developing rapid and effective response systems. This approach is essential for improving patient outcomes and managing future respiratory pandemics more effectively.