State Of International Relations Research Articles

Armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine as a threat to the collective security system

The Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine has changed the entire security environment, which will have long-term threatening consequences for the entire collective security system. The issue of forming an effective system of collective security is relevant not only for the international community, which is explained by its absolute importance in maintaining international law and order, but also for Ukraine in order to restore its state sovereignty and territorial integrity in countering Russian armed aggression. The purpose of the article is to clarify the essence of the collective security system, to analyze the activities of the most influential international security organizations (UN, NATO and OSCE) since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war and to assess their ability to end this war, to formulate problematic issues regarding the functioning of the existing collective security system, and to argue for the need to build a new collective security system with a definition of Ukraine's role and place in it.
 The conclusion of the study is that the modern system of collective security should be understood as a state of international relations that excludes violation of the general peace, threats to the security of states and peoples, and counteraction to acts of aggression, implemented by joint efforts of participating states at the global or regional levels.
 The collective security system is usually implemented through the activities of the UN, NATO and the OSCE in maintaining international law and order. However, in the context of numerous conflicts, including the Russian-Ukrainian war, there are more and more complaints about the activities of the UN, in particular the UN Security Council as the main body responsible for maintaining international peace and security. At the same time, the role of the UN should not be minimized, as the documents adopted by it are important for improving the collective security system and the international mechanism for bringing the aggressor state to justice. Despite the significant resistance of the Russian Federation, the UN, NATO and the OSCE strongly condemn Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine and continue to provide our country with comprehensive support.

On Qualification of the Phenomenon of Hybridism of the Use of Force and the Problem of Interference in Internal Affairs of a State

The purpose of this article is to eliminate methodological discrepancies in the definition of the problem of “hybrid” use of force and the possibility of using this construct when interfering in the internal affairs of states. In any conflict situation, the behavior of states in moving towards their national goals can be explained through how they do combine and synchronize (as it is often defined at the present time — «hybrid») the use of means of compellence and coercion available to them. In general, conceptually «hybrid war» can be described as “the synchronized use of multiple instruments of national power, specially selected to obtain mutually reinforcing effects on specific vulnerabilities across the entire spectrum of social processes. The substance of the modern security environment has led to an increase in the number of areas of conflict of interests of actors, the complexity and dynamism of conflicts, and the unpredictability of their outcomes. The formation of the practice of attribution of international responsibility, and the development of the international institutions supporting it, took place gradually and, ultimately, led to such a development of the international security environment, which made an appeal to «hybridity» to promote national interests in the process of political competition of social groups or individuals with divergent interests for power inevitable. The problem of terminology is one of the main obstacles to a clear understanding of the operation of the «hybridity» construct in political competition. The active use of the definition «hybrid» by propaganda in combination with the terms «war», «threats», «hostilities in the gray zone», «operations», «tactics», «competition does not turn into a state of war» political discourse, since these terms are almost never linked to the definition of the desired state of international relations by the state leadership. And if we are talking about the outcome of the collision of interests of actors in competition or conflict, then this desired result is «historically» defined by the term «victory». Thus, the definition of the substance of «victory» is a necessary initial point to onset analyzing the possibilities of turning to any of the instruments of national power in a «hybrid» confrontation.

Policy of international organizations on information security

The article is devoted to the study of the problem of international information security. It is part of overall international security. International information security is a state of international relations that excludes a violation of global stability and threats to the security of states in the information space.Information threats are a new challenge to international peace and security. Therefore, for effective counteraction, it is necessary to adapt to modern realities. Since international organizations are created to unite the efforts of states to achieve certain goals, they (organizations) must also adapt to changes. They must transform their policy in the field of international security and, in particular, in the field of information security. Accordingly, the subject of this research is the transformation of the policy of international organizations in the field of information security.International organizations are adapting to new threats in two directions:1) transformation of the structure of the international organization itself;2) transformation of the security policy of international organizations.The transformation of the security policy of international organizations can be divided into internal and external.The internal transformation of the security policy of international organizations presupposes a reorientation (or additions) of their goals of activity. If earlier, speaking of global security, they meant only military-political security, today it is also food security, climate security, space, energy and information security.External transformation of the security policy of international organizations presupposes close cooperation with regional organizations, departments and governments of states (according to the level of communication) in the field of information security.Defending its information interests, each state must take care of information security. The strengthening of the Ukrainian statehood also requires the same. A balanced state information policy of Ukraine should be formed as an integral part of its national security. And also as a part of socio-economic policy in accordance with the priorities of national interests and threats. From a legal point of view, it is based on the principles of a rule-of-law democratic state and is implemented through the development and implementation of relevant national doctrines, strategies, concepts and programs in accordance with applicable law.

Ladies Figure Skating as an Element of Russian Soft Power in the International Arena

This article examines Russia's growing attractiveness around the world through the prism of its athletic performance. With the beginning of the new millennium, Russia's status in the sports world is attracting great international and scientific attention. Over the past three decades, in the context of the geocultural paradigm of the development of the global world, the process of shaping the humanitarian dimension in world politics has clearly emerged. Humanitarian problems are of particular importance in modern international relations. Their solution depends on the state of international relations, the level of their tension and conflict, as well as the involvement in this process not only of official representatives of states, but also of representatives of the general public, including the sports community. Sport is a global phenomenon. At its best, it has the ability to bring people together regardless of their background, upbringing, religious beliefs or economic status. In a positive manifestation, sport serves as a tool for intercultural cooperation, aimed at peacemaking, overcoming conflicts and achieving intercultural dialogue. As such, sport is widely recognized as an important source of soft power resources for any international actor. This is especially true for modern Russia, since one should not forget that sports victories are associated today with the strength of the state, its authority and image on the world stage. The key research object of this article is figure skating as a sports component of the “soft power” arsenal of modern Russia. Using the sport of women's figure skating as an example, the article explores how Russia uses soft-power tools of influence in the intersecting arena of politics, sports and foreign policy to consolidate regional and global hegemony through a combination of different strategies. These include regular successful hosting and participation in major sporting events; development of national sports content; a positive cumulative rating in international competitions compared to other contenders for international influence. The article argues that in the modern world, sport is an instrument of political influence with a powerful potential and capabilities. It identifies shortcomings in the development of the Russian potential of such a sport as figure skating, examines possible prospects and highlights the main directions for a more fruitful use of figure skating as a tool of diplomacy and “soft power”.

2000–2020: twenty years later, where are we in terms of the unity of international law?

Twenty years have passed since the author's delivery in 2000 of the general course of public international law at the Hague Academy of International Law, titled ‘The Unity of the International Legal Order’. That course was designed to combat the all-too-common idea that international law was in the process of ‘fragmentation’. It did so by developing a theory focused on the existence of and tension between two forms of unity in the international legal order: the formal unity (concerning the procedures by which primary norms are created and interpreted, and their non-compliance adjudicated) and the material unity (based on the content of certain norms of general international law, peremptory norms). Twenty years later, the time is ripe to revisit this theory to determine the extent to which it is still valid as a framework for the analysis of international law, particularly as an increasing number of ‘populist’ leaders very much seem to ignore, or voluntarily deny, the validity of some of the key substantial principles on which the international legal order was re-founded within and around the United Nations in 1945. When confronted with the factual reality of the present state of international relations as well as with the evolution of the law, one can conclude that the validity of the unity of the international legal order is unfailingly maintained, and that its role in upholding the international rule of law is more important now than ever.

New Frontiers, New Actors, New Rules: Global Commons, Human Rights, Business. How to Improve Judicial Cooperation and International Development

The state of international relations and the effort of international public actors and non-state entities to adopt new rules to govern their relationships by balancing human rights protection, human development and economic business growth is at stake. The creation of new legal frameworks to introduce innovative concepts and to regulate the interaction among traditional and innovative actors is not an easy task: it demands from States and International Organizations a proper determination and patience to preserve original legal features while advancing different notions and operational tools to found special regimes and disciplines which could be mutually and complementary reinforcing. The contribution aims at debating legal concepts, different stakeholders, renewed procedures that have emerged in the global scenario and that need for appropriate and applicable international rules for a challenging governance.

The Future of Frontiers

Many leading environmental and security concerns now facing the international community may be traced to the frontiers, that is, the areas historically outside of national jurisdiction including the deep seabed, outer space, Antarctica, the atmosphere, and some argue, cyberspace. From climate change and cyber attacks to the associated challenges of space weaponization and orbital debris mitigation, solutions to all of these issues have at their root some form of regulation over the frontiers, sometimes — though not always accurately — called the “global commons.” Yet the amorphous legal concept of the common heritage of mankind (CHM) that has in part governed some of these spaces since the 1960s is increasingly under stress. Governance is transitioning away from consensual United Nations-centered multilateral treaties to regional and bilateral accords. These burgeoning regime complexes are being influenced by the multipolar state of international relations, advancing technology, and resource scarcity. Environmental and security challenges are proliferating as a result of governance being in flux. This Article makes an original contribution by comparing and contrasting some of the principal issues facing these frontiers of the international community, analyzing how and why existing governance structures are often failing to adequately meet global collective action problems with special coverage on cybersecurity and Internet governance, and proposing a new way forward incorporating lessons from successful regimes as well as the interdisciplinary scholarship on polycentric governance. Multi-stakeholder collaboration is imperative in order to avoid tragedies of the global commons. But this requires recognizing the realities of international relations and crafting nimble twenty-first century governance structures that are both responsive to the titanic geopolitical and technological changes underway, and that promote sustainable development and cyber peace.

Mapping of ukraine’s international relations during the ukrainian revolution (1917-1921)

As part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the events of the Ukrainian revolution, a series of historical reference maps «Ukrainian revolution. 1917-1921» have been developed. The purpose of this article is to highlight the mapping features of origin and formation of the national diplomatic service; disclose the state of international relations of the independent state of Ukraine at all stages of the events in 1917-1921 in a series of historical reference maps «Ukrainian revolution. 1917-1921»; justify the choice of mapping indicators and symbols. Main material. As part of the events devoted to the Ukrainian revolution’s 100th anniversary, a series of historical reference maps «The Ukrainian revolution. 1917-1921» has been developed. The series consists of four editions: «Ukrainian Central Rada», «Ukrainian State (Hetmanate)», «Western Ukrainian People’s Republic», and «Directory», covering the main stages of the Ukrainian revolution development. The maps of the series show different aspects of revolutionary events and national state formation - political forces, military action, international relations, science, education, culture, etc. The maps are popular scientific publications for educational purposes. They contain wide textual and illustrative materials in addition to cartographic images. The article highlights the national diplomatic service’s formation and beginning of mapping features, which is implemented on the maps of this series. Individual maps for each of the four stages of the revolution show the international relations and diplomacy status of the young Ukrainian state: international agreements and treaties, diplomatic representation (embassies, consulates, diplomatic missions), and more. The content of international relations and diplomacy maps, their designing features are presented, the mapping indicators and symbols choice is justified. The thematic content of maps is shown on the political maps of Europe and America. The cartographic method of information transfer made it possible to display the typing of countries on the map which have different types according to the historical situation on different maps. The map «Ukrainian State (Hetmanate)» shows the location of foreign diplomatic institutions on the Ukraine capital’s plan, which is a certain evidence of the Ukrainian State’s stability during the kaleidoscope events of Ukrainian revolution. Conclusions. Thus, the series of maps «Ukrainian revolution. 1917-1921» refl ects the formation of Ukrainian national diplomacy at all stages of the Ukrainian revolution. Cartographic images revealed information about the fi rst steps in the development of the diplomatic service of Ukraine. Separate maps for each of the four stages of the revolution show the state of international relations and diplomacy of the young Ukrainian State. Features of designing the maps content are considered, mapping and symbols indicators used to create cartographic works of such subjects, are substantiated.

Alteration of the system of international relations under the influence of informatization

The article analyzes the impact of informatization on the state of international relations.

Where Is International Relations Going? Evidence from Graduate Training

Recent debates about the state of International Relations (IR) raise the possibility that the field is losing its theoretical innovativeness due to professional incentives to churn out publications. Yet the claims made about IR far outstrip the availability of empirical data. Important assertions derive from a handful of examples rather than systematic evidence. This paper presents an investigation of what gets taught to doctoral students of IR in the United States. I find, among other things, that the type of research most frequently published in IR journals differs in systematic ways from the type of research taught to graduate students. In turn, this raises important questions such as whether certain types of valuable research face a relative disadvantage when it comes to getting published in the first place. The evidence also points to the partial separation of IR from Political Science in the United States. Further, it casts doubt on the growing practice of using Google Scholar to measure research influence. A new metric, which I call the Training Influence Score (TIS), supports the analysis.

МІЖНАРОДНИЙ ПРАВОПОРЯДОК: ДО ПИТАННЯ ВЛАСТИВОСТЕЙ (ТЕОРЕТИЧНІ АСПЕКТИ)

The article deals with one of the theoretical aspects of international legal order issues – the question of its properties. The author summarizes the doctrinal views of international law and regards the basic properties of the phenomenon of international legal order as its ability to act as system complexity, dynamism, orderliness, the reality and legitimacy of actions of subjects. The author notes that there is a common position in the doctrine, according to which the international legal order is a system. However, he notes that the difference in views on the international legal order as a system consists in the components the researchers include in its composition; the author examines two theoretical approaches. The complexity of the international legal order is determined from the standpoint of the number of its elements and components, as well as the number of their connections. This opinion highlights the fact that the predominant role is played by the quantity of links between elements and components, and indicates the international legal order capacity for permanent changes under the influence of the relevant internal and external factors. The dynamism of the international legal order is characterized from the point of capacity for the development and modification. It is stated that the state of the dynamics is effected by several circumstances. The author concludes that this international legal order’s property as a dynamism is one of the qualities that characterizes its condition as a system. The orderliness of the international legal order is considered from a consistency point, the interaction of parts of the whole, due to its structure. The author notes that the ordering of the international legal order displays its internal relationships and emphasizes its status as a system. The reality of the international legal order is characterized from the point of objectively existing phenomenon. The author concludes that the allocation of the international legal order of reality as one of its properties is intended to emphasize the status of one of its most important components - the state of international relations. Separately, the author considers the question of the legality of actions of subjects of international law, which are discussed in the doctrine from the standpoint of the conditions necessary for its maintenance. The author points out that in the general context of the properties that characterize the international legal order, it can be considered as an aspect wich together with other characterizes the state of the international legal order.

International Relations As A Field Of Study In The Canadian System Of Higher Education

AbstractThe research presents an attempt to investigate the current state of international relations as a field of study in the context of higher education system in Canada. It contains a general overview of the field of study, focusing predominantly on the role and function of the given academic discipline. The scientific investigation covers the issue of short historiographic review of the development of international relations as a separate academic discipline and an independent field of study at the universities of Canada since it provides better understanding of the international relations evolution as a discipline in Canadian system of higher education. It gives information on the origins of international relations discipline in Canada and first higher education establishments, which provided professional training in the international relations field. The article reviews the official normative documents in the sphere of higher education in Canada, such as Major Field of Study Classification and Classification of Instructional Programs, being theoretical basis of our analysis. The research results can be used to outline the place of international relations major among the diversity of functioning academic majors in Canada. The research also turns to the profound analysis of the information about the offered instructional programs, dedicated to professional training of international relations specialists at the universities of Canada.

The New World Order in the Post-Communist Period

Mongolian Journal of International Affairs Vol.3 1996: 12-16

IR scholarship in Poland: the state of the discipline 25 years after the transition to democracy

The paper discusses the state of International Relations (IR) in Poland. In the first part, it shows IR’s history, institutional conditions, and its level of internationalisation, particularly the influence of Polish scholars working in the West on the development of the discipline. In the second part, it offers a systematic empirical analysis of IR articles published from 2007 to 2012 in Poland’s top seven IR and political science journals concerning the areas that IR scholars work in, the theories and methods they apply, and their geographical areas of interest. The findings show that a descriptive approach dominates and that there are significant deficiencies in both the methodology (particularly quantitative methods) and the theory of IR. However, the Polish community of IR scholars is aware of these weaknesses and is undertaking organisational efforts aimed at improving the quality and status of IR scholarship in the country.

RUSSIAN POLICY IN POST-SOVIET SPACE: MILESTONES AND CURRENT STATUS

The paper examines the main trends in the development of bilateral relations in the post-Soviet Eurasia and is characterized the evolution of Russian foreign policy in the post-Soviet space using historiosophical and comparative research methods. Formulated periodization of Russian policy toward the region , taking into account the geopolitical , foreign , domestic economic and domestic factors. Current state of Russian policy towards neighboring countries and the prospects for improving its performance are analyzed in the article. The author identifies the main problem areas of the current state of international relations in the region and identifies opportunities available to Russia to strengthen the integration processes. Concludes that , without abandoning the appeal in a number of cases to the general traditions common historical experience accumulated over decades or even centuries of living together within a single state and remains an important resource in Russian politics , Russia needs to position itself as a state, able to provide its partners those preferences and assistance ( financial, informational , educational services , etc.) , which they need , and who expect to get - usually without good reason - other centers of world politics . Offers practical guidance for experts, politicians , managers and representatives of public organizations.

Theory or Practice? The State of International Relations in Poland

The subject of this article is the state of the discipline of International Relations (IR) in Poland. In the communist era, IR was an arena of ideological confrontation. The political science approach was based on Marxist ideology. The transformation after 1989 can be described as a transition from real socialism to common sense realism, and hence an approach that is practical, but lacking in more far-reaching theoretical reflection. The closure of this gap is inevitably a slow process. However, it has been possible to sense some creative spirit within the discipline recently, as is attested by the publication of a series of major works by Polish and foreign authors, initiating a debate on the condition of IR and the establishment of the Polish International Studies Association. However, the state of the discipline in Poland will require a raising of the level of teaching at Polish universities, not least through a fuller account being taken of research methodologies and theories.

A pós-graduação em relações internacionais no Brasil

Este trabalho trata dos programas de pós-graduação em Relações Internacionais no Brasil, cujo número tem crescido de forma expressiva, passando de dois, na década de 1980, para oito, em 2008. Em sua primeira parte, são abordados a evolução, o crescimento e as políticas de indução para a criação e a consolidação dos programas na área. A segunda parte trata da avaliação desses programas pela Capes e busca mapear, de forma aproximativa, a situação da área com relação ao fomento à pesquisa na Capes e no CNPq.

Introduction: Social Science Matters

Knowledge in general has been identified as the fundamental resource determining the capacities of societies to master the challenges ahead of them. Population growth, poverty, global inequality and the state of international relations are some of the core issues identified by the comprehensive ‘Japan Vision 2050’, published by the Science Council of Japan. These topics resonate closely with the central fields of concern for many working in the social sciences; however, the ‘Principles of Strategic Science and Technology Policy’ are conspicuously silent about their particular potentials for shaping the society of the future. In order to explore the significance of the social sciences for politics, economy, science and society in Japan, The German Association for Social Science Research on Japan hosted a conference on ‘Social Science Matters’ in November 2006. Specialists on Japan from different disciplines and regions highlighted issues such as university reforms, quality-control standards, science management, the practical applicability of social science intelligence and other questions of importance for the future relevance of the disciplines, both in national as well as in larger contexts. While we are convinced that ‘social science matters’—probably more than ever—why, to whom, and what kind of social science actually matters in Japan is still an open question.

One Hundred and Thirty Years of Central Bank Cooperation: A BIS Perspective

With the insight of 130 years of history, this paper tries to answer three questions: how did changing international monetary and financial conditions shape the targets and tools of central bank cooperation? What factors influenced its intensity? Did a structured organisation, such as the BIS, make a difference to its effectiveness? We show that while central bank cooperation through history was ultimately directed to ensuring monetary and financial stability, the conception of these objectives, the relationship between the two, the balance in their pursuit, and the strategies followed evolved over time reflecting changes in the monetary and financial environment as well as in the intellectual climate. In turn, the intensity of central bank cooperation was influenced by the state of international relations, the prestige and degree of autonomy of central banks and the technical nature of the issues requiring cooperation. We also argue that the BIS made a material difference, at least when conditions allowed.

The State of International Relations in Northeast Asia

The State of International Relations in Northeast Asia