Military Action Research Articles

Architectural spatial distribution and network connectivity characteristics of ancient military towns in Southwest China: a case study of Qingyan Ancient Town in Guiyang

AbstractDue multiple influences, such as Tusi, Tunpu, and minority culture, Tunpu military towns in Southwest China have unique historical and cultural heritage. At present, the ancient Tunpu military towns are not widely known internationally. In order to understand the layout characteristics of Tunpu military buildings in southwest China since the Ming Dynasty, the spatial distribution and military attributes of Qingyan Ancient Town, a typical military town of Tunpu culture, are studied by using Thiessen polygons, fractal theories, and complex network methods. The findings indicate that architectural spaces in the six districts have high spatial self-similarity and low spatial complexity and are distributed in clusters primarily impacted by natural factors and supplemented by humanistic factors. The architectural space networks of the six districts have high stability, low vulnerability, poor balance, and high connectivity. They reflect its interior architectural layout, which is based on close cooperation between villagers and military, taking into account trade and cultural life. Differences in the functionality of buildings lead to differences in the connectivity of the spatial network of buildings; the hierarchical, graded, and differentiated characteristics of architectural spatial network connectivity are influenced by both nature and society. Non-military functions all serve or are subordinate to military functions. The spatial network connectivity of traditional settlement architecture reflects the interaction between nature and society. By studying a Tunpu military ancient town in the southwest, we can better understand the historical military activities, cultural connotations, social changes, and historical background of traditional settlements. The historical planning of the defence of traditional settlements both contributes to its cultural heritage and as an important reference and inspiration for modern planning and management.

The Release of Convicts from Imprisonment for their Participation in Military Actions

The paper analyzes the problem of discrediting the institution of pardon through the mass release of convicts from criminal liability (from serving a sentence of imprisonment) to participate in military operations and the risks of unfavorable development of the criminal situation created as a result of this practice. There is a need for proper legal regulation of the exemption from criminal liability of persons for their participation in military activities. The point of view is defended that it is more preferable to adjust the provisions of criminal law institutions (postponement of serving a sentence or parole), rather than the constitutional and legal (primarily) institution of pardon. It is indicated that it is possible to reduce the risk of recidivism by fixing some restrictions on the application of the rules on exemption from liability for convicted persons (for example, specifying specific articles, the conviction of which will prevent release, and/or regulating the actual serving of part of the sentence differentially, depending on the category of crime). It is noted that it is necessary to exclude the practice of releasing from punishment persons who have committed the most socially dangerous acts: murders with aggravating circumstances, intentional infliction of serious harm to health, rape or violent acts of a sexual nature (especially against minors), etc. It is recognized impossible to create a legal mechanism that makes it possible, on the one hand, to quickly reinforce the military with persons serving sentences in the form of imprisonment, and on the other hand, to exclude the possibility of their committing crimes both during military operations and after their termination.

Military social harm: An agenda for research

This article presents a critical framework for understanding the harms produced by military institutions. Assessments of military harms are undertaken across the sociological study of the military, ranging from public-facing military issues to more inwardly directed research conducted by entities with vested state interests. Building upon and advancing the available scholarship, we introduce the concept of ‘military social harm’, drawing on criminological perspectives that situate harm in a broader range of social and political contexts. This term serves as a tool to explore the pervasive and varied impacts of military activities on society, illustrated through an examination of British military compensation as reparation. This example reveals how compensation regimes weaken a holistic approach to reparation, by undermining elements such as a right to truth or efforts to prevent recurrence. We propose an interdisciplinary research agenda for studying military social harm, aiming to challenge and extend existing scrutiny of military institutions and their accountability mechanisms, thereby engendering a fuller understanding of the direct and indirect costs of retaining and deploying military power.

OS ASPECTOS SOBRE A LEGITIMIDADE DA AÇÃO POLICIAL MILITAR E A RESPONSABILIDADE JUDICIAL: UMA ANÁLISE DA VIOLÊNCIA INSTITUCIONAL E DA IMPUNIDADE

The present study aimed to analyze aspects related to the legitimacy of military police actions and judicial accountability, focusing on institutional violence and impunity. The research begins by examining how the legitimacy of police actions is constructed and perceived by society, and it further investigates the legal consequences of police actions, especially when they involve abuse of authority or excessive use of force. In this context, it highlights the importance of assessing the legal and ethical boundaries of military police actions and the role of the justice system in holding these actions accountable. For the development of this study, a bibliographic and qualitative methodology was adopted. The analysis was based on existing literature on the topic, including legislation, academic articles, theses, dissertations, and other relevant documents. This approach allowed for an in-depth understanding of the historical, cultural, and institutional processes that influence both police conduct and the judicial system's response in cases of institutional violence.The results indicate that, in many cases, there is a gap between what is established by law and the actual practices on the streets, particularly regarding the use of force and abuses committed by certain security agents. It was observed that impunity in specific cases of police violence generates a perception of distrust in society toward the institutions responsible for enforcing the law, which directly impacts the legitimacy of police actions.

War, art, and sanctions: social network analysis on the NACP’s databases of sanctioned Russian individuals and art collectors

AbstractUntil March 2024, Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) was tasked with maintaining databases of individuals sanctioned for their support of Russian military action in Ukraine and monitoring works of art owned by these individuals to prevent their being sold in violation of sanctions. The present study gathered data from the NACP’s War & Sanctions and War & Art databases through a combination of web scraping and API requests. These data were then examined using measures of network analysis (including degree centrality, eigenvector centrality, and clustering coefficient), which allowed the visualisation and statistical analysis of the network of Russian elite. This research is the first that has conducted scientific analysis on these datasets. Investigation determined that the social network of individuals in the upper strata of Russian society is vast and moderately centralised, with over a dozen clusters around influential Russian oligarchs, politicians, and celebrities. It also determined that art collectors have a more central role in this network than non-collectors of art. The network exhibits a clear presence of hubs and nodes with high degree centrality and a high degree-betweenness centrality correlation, indicating that information can flow quickly and efficiently. However, the network’s dependence on a few key individuals could constitute a vulnerability, with the extraction or isolation of these figures potentially disrupting the network’s function and coordination. This research also identified inconsistencies in the imposition of sanctions, creating grey areas that could allow the continued trade of cultural goods, potentially bypassing international restrictions.

From Lithuanian Riflemen to Forest Brothers: Research on the Development of the Local Military Structure

The article analyses the Thorn Company, a partisan unit that operated in northeast Lithuania, and the link of its partisans with the previously established societal tradition of self-defence and armed activity. The author seeks to reveal the extent to which the partisans belonged to the pre-war Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union and protective squads of small towns and villages which were formed during the uprising of 1941 as well as their participation in the divisions of public and auxiliary police which operated in 1941–1944. The research was carried out using analytical, inductive and statistical methods. The tradition of armed resistance and self-defence had been maturing in the territory of the future area of activity of Thorn Company (Zarasai regional district, Salakas village area). This tradition had been developing ever since the fights for independence in the early part of the twentieth century. Even then the local population who formed a squad of saboteurs actively assisted the Lithuanian army. The mindset of armed resistance to invaders was shaped, their skills of armed fighting were improved, and a framework of self-defence was taking shape. The memory and traditions of freedom fighting were nourished and passed on to the younger generation throughout the two decades of Lithuanian independence in the riflemen’s squadrons, which operated in the Salakas village district. This tradition determined an active role for riflemen from Salakas area in the anti-Soviet June uprising of 1941, and in their participation in policing units during the period of Nazi occupation (the latter activity was determined by anti-Soviet rather than pro-Nazi convictions). The military activity tradition shaped in the context of the above mentioned events was also alive in the postwar period. Throughout the whole period of the military company’s existence, its backbone was made up of fighters who gained fighting experience in riflemen’s squadrons during the independence period as well as in the Naziperiod police and self-defense divisions. Many ff them served in earlier military formations of earlier periods, and thus presumably cherished a certain collective mindset, made up of patriotism, belief in the possibility of restoring Lithuanian sovereignty and a deep anti-Soviet disposition. They must have been inclined to think that the gun was a reliable means of survival, and armed fighting was the most suited form of relating to the occupiers.

ANXIETY SYNDROME IN PREGNANT WOMEN WITH OBESITY AND GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS

Introduction. Over the past three years, the population of Ukraine has faced chronic stress due to ongoing military actions within its borders. In current conditions, psychoemotional disorders in patients with somatic pathology are often underestimated, with physiological states being confused with pathological anxiety. This oversight can lead to ineffective treatment, worsening patient conditions, and negative prognoses. As a result, the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety syndrome, particularly in pregnant women with both obstetric and extragenital pathology under chronic stress, is a pressing issue in modern obstetrics. The purpose of this study was to assess the presence of anxiety syndrome in pregnant women of the Kharkiv region with obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus during martial law. Materials and methods. To achieve the objective of this study, 85 women aged 24 to 39 years were examined at 30–42 weeks of pregnancy. The main group consisted of 63 pregnant women with obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus, further divided into three clinical subgroups: the first group included 24 women with gestational diabetes mellitus, the second group comprised 16 women with pre-pregnancy obesity, and the third group consisted of 23 women with both gestational diabetes mellitus and obesity. The control group included 22 women without somatic or obstetric pathology. The GAD-7 questionnaire was used to assess the overall level of anxiety. Results and discussion. All participants answered the questionnaire with scores of 2–3 points, indicating significant anxiety levels, as total scores reached 14 points or higher. Notably, the average anxiety scores in the groups with gestational diabetes mellitus, obesity, and gestational diabetes mellitus with obesity were similar—16.5±2.3, 17.9±1.8, and 17.6±2.5, respectively— and were significantly higher than those of the control group, which averaged 4.4±2.6 (p < 0.05). Thus, all women in the main group (63 pregnant women) exhibited clear signs of anxiety, including irritability (95.2%), restlessness (79.4%), inability to relax (74.6%), and anticipation of dreadful events (66.0%). These symptoms were more pronounced in women with obesity compared to those with gestational diabetes mellitus without obesity. Conclusion. Under martial law conditions, pregnant women with comorbidity of gestational diabetes mellitus and obesity exhibit a significantly higher level of anxiety compared to women with a physiological pregnancy, although the latter also experience anxiety disorders, but to a lesser degree. Assessing anxiety disorders in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and obesity using the GAD-7 scale enables timely detection of these issues, even remotely. This facilitates appropriate referrals to specialists such as psychologists, psychotherapists, or psychiatrists, and allows for the early initiation of necessary therapy.

Systematic Review of Machine Learning and Deep Learning Techniques for Spatiotemporal Air Quality Prediction

Background: Although computational models are advancing air quality prediction, achieving the desired performance or accuracy of prediction remains a gap, which impacts the implementation of machine learning (ML) air quality prediction models. Several models have been employed and some hybridized to enhance air quality and air quality index predictions. The objective of this paper is to systematically review machine and deep learning techniques for spatiotemporal air prediction challenges. Methods: In this review, a methodological framework based on PRISMA flow was utilized in which the initial search terms were defined to guide the literature search strategy in online data sources (Scopus and Google Scholar). The inclusion criteria are articles published in the English language, document type (articles and conference papers), and source type (journal and conference proceedings). The exclusion criteria are book series and books. The authors’ search strategy was complemented with ChatGPT-generated keywords to reduce the risk of bias. Report synthesis was achieved by keyword grouping using Microsoft Excel, leading to keyword sorting in ascending order for easy identification of similar and dissimilar keywords. Three independent researchers were used in this research to avoid bias in data collection and synthesis. Articles were retrieved on 27 July 2024. Results: Out of 374 articles, 80 were selected as they were in line with the scope of the study. The review identified the combination of a machine learning technique and deep learning techniques for data limitations and processing of the nonlinear characteristics of air pollutants. ML models, such as random forest, and decision tree classifier were among the commonly used models for air quality index and air quality predictions, with promising performance results. Deep learning models are promising due to the hyper-parameter components, which consist of activation functions suitable for nonlinear spatiotemporal data. The emergence of low-cost devices for data limitations is highlighted, in addition to the use of transfer learning and federated learning models. Again, it is highlighted that military activities and fires impact the O3 concentration, and the best-performing models highlighted in this review could be helpful in developing predictive models for air quality prediction in areas with heavy military activities. Limitation: This review acknowledges methodological challenges in terms of data collection sources, as there are equally relevant materials on other online data sources. Again, the choice and use of keywords for the initial search and the creation of subsequent filter keywords limit the collection of other relevant research articles.

‘Well, our goal is to achieve sustainable quiet and security for our people’: Negotiating calls for ceasefires in the Gaza war of 2014 in mainstream English news media by Israeli spokespersons

In this study, we examined how calls for ceasefires were negotiated by Israeli spokespersons in mainstream English news media during one instance of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: the Gaza War of 2014. Recent scholarship in peace studies has begun to examine how ‘peace’ and ‘violence’ are variously constructed to advance vested positions. We extend this focus through a discursive psychological examination of another ostensibly desirable outcome in conflicts, namely ‘ceasefire’. Findings show that the desirability of ceasefires and their negotiation is closely bound to the management of stake and interest by both media persons and Israeli spokespersons. The latter neither explicitly rejected nor accepted calls for ceasefires. Instead, they downgraded ceasefires in favour of other versions of cessation of conflict, framed as ‘sustainable peace’. This allowed for the non-acceptance of ceasefires while, paradoxically, justifying ongoing and further military actions in Gaza. Together, these findings point to the relevance of psychological practices of justifying, managing stake, and avoiding seeming committed to violence in talking about conflict and peace. Findings are discussed in relation to research in peace and political psychology, and implications for the ongoing attacks on Gaza.

Sociopolitical Impacts of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict on Poland, Germany, and Turkey: A Comparative Analysis of National Responses and Public Sentiment

Abstract: The Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022 and represents the biggest military action in 21st century Europe. However, this conflict did not arise out of the blue. The conflict is the culmination of many centuries worth of social and political factors. Like in any war, the effects of it have not only been felt in Ukraine and Russia but also in its neighboring and more distant countries across Europe and beyond. This essay will focus on the sociopolitical impacts of the conflict on three key countries: Poland, Germany and Turkey, exploring the specific ways in which these nations have been affected both socially and politically by the ongoing crisis. This paper explores the impacts of the conflict on wider European countries, analysing how the war has affected the sociopolitical structures of Poland, Germany and Turkey. Poland has demonstrated a closer alliance towards the West to protect itself from Russian aggression, resulting in strong humanitarian support for Ukraine and public solidarity towards Ukrainian refugees. Germany has shifted its long-standing foreign policy to adopt a similar anti-Russian stance, creating public concerns with regard to being drawn into the war. Turkey has a unique perspective, appeasing both the West and Russia as it relies on both to maintain its domestic socioeconomic situation. This analysis provides insight into the wider European sociopolitical response to the conflict.

Isolation and identification of the dominant bacteria from the soil contaminated with hydrocarbon

The aim of this research to isolate and determine the most dominant bacteria in soil contaminated by hydrocarbons. Commercial, industrial, and military activity, largely in the 19th and 20th centuries, have led to environmental pollution that can threaten human health and ecosystem function are the major sources of energy for industry and daily life that cause environmental contamination during various stages of production, transportation, refining and use. Four samples of contaminated soil were collected from Al-Amriya Gas Filling Factory in November, 2023 sampling of depth (0-15 cm) then all samples transported to the laboratory. Results revealed that dominant isolates are Kocuria rosea, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These isolates identified depending on morphological cultural, gram stain, microscopic features, biochemical tests, and VITEK2 compact

THE IMPACT OF PHOSPHORUS WEAPONS DURING A FULL-SCALE WAR

Due to military actions, there is destruction of Ukraine's ecosystems, deterioration of sanitary and hygienic indicators of drinking water, air, and soil. With the onset of full-scale war, the negative impact of harmful and dangerous substances (the use of chemical, phosphorus bombs, and other weapons) prohibited by the Geneva Convention leads to unforeseen consequences for the environment of Ukraine. The purpose of the study is to analyze injuries resulting from the action of white phosphorus of various types of phosphorus weapons, namely explosive weapons with a wide area of effect, mines, ammunition, long-range missiles; artillery, mortar shells, various types of grenades in the conditions of russian aggression against Ukraine. The following methods were used in the work: content analysis, comparative analysis, and systematization of the researched material. Research of scientific publications by domestic and foreign scientists using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases for the period 2001-2023 was conducted. Phosphorus munitions such as WP are known for their high effectiveness in combat operations, but also lead to serious injuries, both traumatic and post-traumatic psychological changes. White phosphorus (explosive bombs) causes burns of human body tissues upon contact with burning material, as well as burns of the upper respiratory tract due to inhalation of smoke or gases emitted during combustion. The article analyzes the regulatory framework prohibiting the use of phosphorus munitions in armed conflicts. Clinical cases of gunshot combined injuries of limbs with massive soft tissue defects, gunshot fractures, and the presence of multiple foreign bodies of metal density due to the use of phosphorus munitions are considered. An analysis of scientific research by foreign scientists on this issue was conducted. The article provides algorithms for providing first aid due to the action of phosphorus munitions, as well as methodological recommendations of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 506 of March 20, 2022) for providing medical assistance at the prehospital stage in case of phosphorus munition injuries, burns, enteral poisoning, exposure to white phosphorus in the eyes.

The Impact of Relationships Within Combat Units on Post-Deployment Suicide Risk

Multiple deployment factors may affect suicidality in combat veterans. The relationships between combat deployments and suicidality are complex and not completely understood. Studies of stress in the military and psychological effects of military actions are mostly focused on stressors relating to combat operations. However, many studies suggest that interactions within combat units affect post-deployment psychiatric conditions, suicidal ideation, and behavior. The goal of this article is to review and discuss how relationships within combat units may influence post-deployment suicide risk. Studies of the relationships within combat units are generally focused on two aspects: unit cohesion and harassment/abuse. Considerable evidence suggests that service members who report strong unit cohesion have a lower risk of post-deployment psychiatric disorders and suicidal behavior. Studies examining deployment sexual and non-sexual harassment and abuse have found that combat veterans who experience harassment and abuse during deployment are at heightened post-deployment suicide risk. Sound post-deployment social support and the efficient treatment of psychiatric disorders may mitigate the suicide risk associated with adverse relationships within combat units. Improvements in units’ cohesion and the prevention of harassment/abuse during a military deployment are necessary to reduce post-deployment psychiatric pathology, including suicidal behavior.

Attitude of human rights defenders to the phenomenon of feminization of the army

The feminization of the army is part of the objective process of feminization of society. The military realities of Ukrainian society point to the need to involve women in military service as full-fledged subjects of military activity. However, there are many obstacles and prejudices on the way to achieving gender equality and combating discrimination in the army. Therefore, the article presents the results of considering this issue from the perspective of representatives of women’s human rights organizations. Empirically, the study is based on a series of semi-structured depth interviews, which made it possible to assess the prospects and challenges on the way to feminization of the Ukrainian army from the perspective of actors.The results of the study have shown that the increase in the number and importance of the role of women in the army takes place in a context shaped by the activities of government agencies, international organizations, the public sector, business, media and socio-political events. Representatives of women’s human rights organizations note that the state should play a key role in implementing gender policies, but currently, its involvement is insufficient or, in some aspects, absent altogether. The participants of the study also highly appreciate the role of civil society organizations in combating gender inequality; as such, organizations study the experience of women in the army, promote their contribution to military affairs, conduct educational activities, promote legislative changes, engage in advocacy and even provide material support.Ukraine’s army is gradually feminizing and the situation of women in the military is improving: the number of women in the army, including in combat and leadership positions, the existence of public discourse on women in the army, the absence of restrictions for women in the army at the legislative level, and the consideration of the needs of women in the military, as exemplified by the adoption of anatomical uniforms and the development of special protection for women. However, there are also many challenges that prevent women from joining the army or complicate their service: the condemnation of women soldiers and veterans by certain members of society, sexism in various forms, paternalism, violence and discrimination in the army itself, the lack of effective mechanisms to counteract them, and the conservatism of the military leadership, which is reluctant to make changes.

A Magyarországon tartózkodó belső ukrajnai menekültek nyelvhasználati szokásai és nyelvi attitűdjei

The armed conflict in eastern Ukraine since 2014 has escalated into the Russo–Ukrainian war that broke out on February 24, 2022, leading millions of Ukrainian citizens to decide about leaving the country and seeking temporary and, in many cases, permanent shelter abroad, including in Hungary. The threat to their existence posed by the military actions, the general mobilisation of men aged 18–60, and the economic downturn have led to a significant increase in the number of Ukrainian citizens leaving their homeland behind. At the same time, it is also important to highlight that the mobilisation law banned men of military age from leaving the country as of February 25, 2022, so that men who left the Eastern Ukraine region have predominantly found temporary shelter in the Western part of the country, including in Transcarpathia. At the same time, many men who were not obliged to mobilise because of a medical condition (e.g., disability) or family status (e.g., having at least three children) and who still had the right to leave the country also decided to go abroad. Their numbers are, of course, negligible compared to the number of women and children, who have left Ukraine. On the basis of the results of an online questionnaire survey conducted among internally displaced Ukrainians currently residing in Hungary, the paper aims to show how the Russian and Ukrainian native speakers of the data, having been exposed to a language environment with which they are completely unfamiliar, have developed language usage strategies and attitudes towards their mother tongue, Hungarian, and the various intermediary languages used during everyday communication. In the first part of the work, the migration processes that developed in the context of the war and the measures taken by the European Union in response to them are presented. The second part provides general information on the distribution of respondents by place of residence in Ukraine and by place of residence in Hungary, as well as other sociological indicators. The next section describes the respondents’ language skills and characteristics. This is followed by a presentation of respondents’ opinions on their attitude towards Hungary, the Hungarian language, learning the Hungarian language, and the possibility of returning to Ukraine. The paper also includes comments from respondents in the form of narrative texts, which help to provide a more balanced picture of the statistics.

ROLE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS IN ENSURING LIQUIDITY AND STABILITY OF THE CURRENCY MARKET OF UKRAINE IN THE CONDITIONS OF MILITARY CONFLICT

In the conditions of military actions, liquidity of the currency market is of critical importance for the financial stability and security of the state, which stipulates significant relevance of the issue of instruments of liquidity provision. The research aims to identify the influence of the instruments of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) on the liquidity of the currency market of Ukraine within the context of long-term military conflict.The methods of regression analysis, correlation analysis, and analysis of variance were used in the study to determine the leading factors that influence the liquidity of the currency market in Ukraine in the conditions of military conflict.The study of the liquidity of the currency market through the prism of linear regression reveals the relation between the core economic indicators and the level of liquidity of the currency market during the military conflict. The model with a coefficient of determination 0,774 was found to effectively describe 77,4% of liquidity variability, underlining the significant influence of such factors as central bank policies and macroeconomic conditions. Significant coefficients for central bank interventions (1,7867), regulatory measures (59,8199), volume of international aid (-1,5684) and inflation (-99,9780) indicate their influence on the liquidity of the currency market in the conditions of military conflict. The influence of regulatory measures with a correlation of 0,59 is especially important.The article emphasises the necessity for minimising dependence on external financing and inflation control through monetary measures to ensure price stability. Further study perspectives involve consideration of the influence of digital currency of central banks on the liquidity of the currency market.

Cluster Dimensions of the Space of a New Residential District of Ukrainian ‘Post-Socialist’ City

The article presents research material devoted to new dimensions of the spatial organization of residential areas of Ukrainian “post-socialist” city. He is currently faced with the challenges of military actions aimed at destroying the urban environment of Ukrainian cities. Residential areas of the micro-district type of the “post-socialist” city are mostly built on the basis of the postulates of functionalism. In the theory and practice of urban planning, they did not foresee the vulnerability of objects of necessary and social infrastructure. The criteria of centrality, as focus of concentration of functions of the spatial organization of the city, are currently being transformed into criteria of dispersion. Functional zoning acquires the multiplicative nature of multidimensional functional zoning. Fractal urbanism methodology assumes local freedom and global cohesion of individual urban planning elements. New exponential organizational structures with innovative digital technologies create “breakthrough” models of development. One of which is the urban planning cluster. The new residential area “Levada-2” in the city of Poltava (Ukraine) is presented, which demonstrates the latest approaches in the cluster organization of living space.

Aktywność G. Juliusza Cezara w Hiszpanii w latach 60-tych I wieku przed Chr.

In the sixties Caesar visited the Further Spain twice, first as quaestor (69–68), then as governor (with the rank of proconsul) in 61. Both stays are extremely important from the point of view of Caesar’s career and the activities carried out in the province. The author of the article examines Caesar’s activities in Spain: both his military actions and his administrative and financial activities. He looks at Caesar’s political connections, both those that brought him to Spain and those he managed to establish in the province.

The Ustica Tragedy in 1980 Italy: War in the Mediterranean?

On June 27 1980, during the night, a civil airplane (DC-9 Itavia) flying from Bologna to Palermo in Italy blew up and disappeared into the Mediterranean Sea next to Ustica island. All 81 passengers on board died. The most complete inquiry conducted by Judge Rosario Priore concluded in 1999 that the DC-9 accident “occurred following military interception activity”. It did not, however, identify any guilty party. In 2007 Francesco Cossiga, who was Prime Minister in 1980, declared that the DC-9 was mistakenly shot down by a French missile, so leading to the reopening of the case with new international information requests. More recently Giuliano Amato, a PSI leader and Prime Minister in 1992, partially confirmed Cossiga’s words, speaking about a NATO covert action aimed to strike a Libyan aircraft (because of the alleged presence of Qadhafi on board) which was hiding itself under the Italian civil airplane. More than forty years after the events, however, we still do not know exactly what the reasons underlying the tragedy were and which countries were guilty and the Ustica tragedy is still one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of Italy. The aim of the present paper is not, of course, that to reach a complete conclusion as to who is directly to blame for the tragedy. As an international historian, the aim of the author is instead to turn back to the events of that time trying to put together the many pieces of the puzzle and to provide a plausible international framework for the tragedy. It is not possible, in fact, to isolate what happened in Italy on June 27 1980 from the patchwork of international tension of that time (from Afghanistan and Iran to Middle East, North Africa and Malta just to mention the main arc of crisis) as well as from the traditional dual track of Italy’s foreign policy, the Atlantic one and the Mediterranean one. Keywords: Ustica, Italy, Libya, War, Cold War

Cluster Dimensions of the Space of a New Residential District of Ukrainian ‘Post-Socialist’ City

The article presents research material devoted to new dimensions of the spatial organization of residential areas of Ukrainian “post-socialist” city. He is currently faced with the challenges of military actions aimed at destroying the urban environment of Ukrainian cities. Residential areas of the micro-district type of the “post-socialist” city are mostly built on the basis of the postulates of functionalism. In the theory and practice of urban planning, they did not foresee the vulnerability of objects of necessary and social infrastructure. The criteria of centrality, as focus of concentration of functions of the spatial organization of the city, are currently being transformed into criteria of dispersion. Functional zoning acquires the multiplicative nature of multidimensional functional zoning. Fractal urbanism methodology assumes local freedom and global cohesion of individual urban planning elements. New exponential organizational structures with innovative digital technologies create “breakthrough” models of development. One of which is the urban planning cluster. The new residential area “Levada-2” in the city of Poltava (Ukraine) is presented, which demonstrates the latest approaches in the cluster organization of living space.