Strategic Interests Research Articles

Environmental conflicts in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation in the field of energy, economic and environmental security

The subject of the article is the provisions of strategic planning documents in the field of ensuring national, environmental, energy and economic security, as well as the provisions of strategic planning documents dedicated to the Russian Arctic. The purpose of the work is to study the above-mentioned documents, identify environmental conflicts consisting in their provisions and develop proposals for their resolution and prevention. The methodological basis of the study is based on the system of methods, means of cognition and logical techniques, in the process of work general scientific, private and special methods were used. Such as synthesis, analysis, deduction, analogy, induction, formal legal and others. The relevance of the research topic is indicated by the fact that the Arctic plays an important role in ensuring Russia's strategic national interests in such areas as the economy, transport, environmental protection, defense, and a number of others. Many aspects of Russia's national security depend on the state of the environment of the Russian Arctic, as well as on the implementation of economic activities on its territory, therefore, the resolution and prevention of environmental conflicts concerning this region is an important and urgent task, since without a balance of interests in this area, both the sustainable development of the Russian Arctic and preservation of its unique natural environment seems unlikely. The paper concludes that in order to resolve the main law-making environmental conflict that takes place in the strategic documents under consideration, it is necessary to exclude from the list of threats (challenges) to economic and energy security such a factor as redundancy of requirements in the field of environmental safety and the increase in the costs of their implementation. In turn, in order to ensure a balance of interests in the implementation of nature management and environmental protection in the Russian Arctic, it is proposed to use the best available technologies, as well as the natural and ecological framework of the territory.

Repercussions of the regional strategic balance on the international powers in the Middle East

The strategic balance in the Middle East is one of the most important topics that have captured the attention of researchers and thinkers. That was due to the potential and capabilities that this region possesses and could have a significant impact on international strategic interests and thus on international and regional balances. The Middle East region witnessed many equilibrium formulas, each of which was an expression of the circumstances and variables that prevailed in the region.
 Hence the importance of studying the regional and international powers in the Middle East and the most important pressures facing those powers, especially the great powers represented by the United States, the Russian Federation, and China, and their attempts to achieve a strategic balance in the region.
 The research sought to deal with the following problem:
 What did the strategic balance look like in the Middle East after 2003, and what regional and international powers were able to impose their will on the region?
 The research was divided into three chapters, in addition to an introduction, conclusion, and conclusions reached by the researcher. The first chapter was devoted to the theoretical framework of the concept of the Middle East and the strategic balance, while the second one was devoted to studying regional balances and their reflection on the gains of international balances of power. The focus was on the regional powers that are major players in the region, represented by Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. Finally, the third chapter dealt with the repercussions of regional balances on international competition in the Middle East.

중국과 주변 접경국 간 경제 관계를 통해 본 북·중 경제 관계 평가

This study poses the research question, “How would North Korea-China economic relations, which have traditionally been evaluated from a bilateral perspective, be different if they were evaluated from a multilateral standpoint with one of China’s bordering countries?”. Based on analysing of economic relations, including foreign trade between China and its 14 bordering countries and foreign direct investment in China’s 13 bordering countries, this study examines North Korea-China economic relations from a multilateral viewpoint. In conclusion, North Korea-China economic relations are seen to be based on the homogeneity of “socialism” and the strategic management of North Korea risks for China’s “core interests” and North Korea’s strategic interests of regime stability and economic development. Compared to the economic relations between China and its other bordering countries, the analysis does not reveal any differentiating factors that make the DPRK-China economic relationship a unique economic relationship based on the traditional bilateral relations of blood ties and nepotism. Rather, China has reaffirmed that it prioritizes its core interests in expanding economic ties with its bordering countries.
 Under President Xi Jinping’s third term, China’s internal and external projects, including the Belt and Road Initiative, a comprehensive version of the country’s open door policy, have gained more momentum under the umbrella of great nation building. Economic relations between China and its neighboring countries have entered the “do-or-die” phase. However, North Korea-China economic relations are still at the stage of dawangyanghui (韜光養晦) and are likely to continue their quiet cooperation for the future. China’s embracing of North Korea, despite the current international political and the economic situation can be interpreted as a management decision to minimize risks to its core interests based on socialist homogeneity.
 In response to the changing international political and economic environment, China has moved away from the traditional blood brotherhood and hammer-and-sickle relationship with North Korea to develop a new, forward-looking relationship with the DPRK that is in line with the current international order. Therefore, it is necessary to objectively and comprehensively evaluate the economic relationship between North Korea and China from the perspective of a multilateral relationship as one of the bordering countries facing China, rather than the traditional, unique relationship.

State legal regulation of the hotel and restaurant complex in the system of development of the national economy

The main objective of the article was to study the key aspects of the state legal regulation of the hotel and restaurant complex in the system of development of the economy. The subject of research is the state legal regulation of the hotel and restaurant complex. Based on the results of the conducted research, the key elements of the state legal regulation of the hotel and restaurant complex were considered. In order to achieve the stated objective, a hybrid documentary-based methodology was used, which combined analysis and synthesis in the treatment of information; selection of factual material and data based on the normative framework; descriptive-statistical analysis. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that, in the changing conditions of today’s world, the further development of the hotel and restaurant industry requires an increase in the competitiveness of these companies in the national and world tourism market, both on the part of the companies themselves (their owners) and on the part of the State. It is definitely concluded that this task can only be achieved with the introduction of effective legal support in this area of strategic interest.

Initiating data-as-a-service adoption in water utilities: A service design approach

Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) can help facilitate the successful adoption of innovative digital solutions by water utilities. However, little is known about the processes used to adopt this model, including the initial challenges and required utility maturity factors. This study engaged diverse stakeholders through a service design approach to support water utilities in evaluating their suitability to adopt DaaS. The findings demonstrate an innovative method by which both DaaS providers and utilities can better analyze their needs and strategic interests, and those of the people they serve. In so doing, they can co-create mutual trust needed to tackle complex water policy challenges.

Historicising Foreign Powers’ Intervention in the Nigeria–Biafra War (1967-1970)

The fratricidal war between Nigeria and Biafra ended some over five decades ago. But the lessons learned are not yet forgotten. This article attempts to historicise the role of foreign powers in the Nigeria–Biafra war of 1967-1970. Most scholars erroneously refer to the war as the Nigerian civil war, but historically it was a war fought by two “independent” countries – The Republic of Nigeria and Republic of Biafra, for There was a Country, as Achebe puts it (2012). Over the years the raison d’etre of foreign powers’ intervention in the war has not been properly contextualized. This work, then, sets out to historicise and deconstruct the determinant factors and the role played by foreign intervention in the war. The article employs both primary and secondary data to achieve its objective and reveal the national interests and foreign policy objectives – as expressed in economic, strategic and political objectives – that were factors in the foreign powers’ intervention. The fallout from the 1963 and 1964 general elections is a relevant initial cause of the Nigeria-Biafra war. The article intends to analyse and interpret the political thought processes that generated foreign intervention, and suggests that, should there be another implosion that leads to a repeat of 1967-1970, the foreign powers that politicians usually rely on for aid and assistance can be expected to respond in line with certain patterns of economic, strategic or political interest, to the detriment, needless to say, of the Nigerian people.

From natural gas to green hydrogen: Developing and repurposing transnational energy infrastructure connecting North Africa to Europe

This paper studies the economic and regulatory conditions for the implementation of large-scale projects of production and transport of green hydrogen from North Africa to Europe. The EU has shown a remarkable interest in importing hydrogen from North Africa, to reach climate commitments while compensating for the reduction of gas imports from the Russian Federation. The idea to import green hydrogen from North Africa stems from the potentially low costs of production thanks to the abundance of solar energy and land in desertic areas, and to existing export infrastructure. The paper analyses the cases of Egypt and Algeria and finds that Algeria has a potential cost advantage in transporting green hydrogen to Europe thanks to an overcapacity in its existing gas infrastructure, which could be repurposed. By contrast, Egypt is more competitive in the generation of renewable power, a key input of green hydrogen, thanks to a regulation that attracts investments. Overall, both countries are cost competitive in a similar way, although production of renewable energy is still insufficient to make export infrastructure to Europe viable. Based on their regulatory and political economy differences, the paper suggests ways for the EU to adopt a differentiated approach of cooperation with Egypt and Algeria, which suits their strategic and commercial interests and contributes to boosting their production and transport potential.

IMPACT OF CASHEW GRAFTED PLANTS ADOPTION ON PRODUCTIVITY AND HOUSEHOLD WELFARE IN BENIN

In Benin, cashew nuts represent a socio-economic and strategic interest for farmers and the government. New technologies, such as grafted plants, have been introduced to improve this crop's productivity. This study used the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method to assess the impact of adopting cashew grafted plants on land productivity and farm household welfare in Benin. Data were collected from 200 cashew farmers, including 57 adopters and 143 non-adopters of grafted plants. The results revealed that the improvement in cashew nut yield due to adopting grafted cashew plants varies between 231 and 242 kg/ha respectively for Nearest Neighbor and Kernel matching algorithm. Nevertheless, this adoption requires important investments that contribute to increasing agricultural expenses. The results also revealed that grafted plants positively and significantly cashew income and total household income. Grafted cashew plants adopters have an additional 73 755 CFA per hectare cashew income. Total household income also improved by 110 000 CFA per hectare. However, the increase in income needs to be sufficiently large to reduce the proportion of poor among adopters significantly. These results prove that increasing cashew nut production in Benin and improving farmers' welfare will require developing cashew nut planting materials capable of boosting cashew nut productivity. To this end, implementing and diffusing grafted cashew plants throughout the territory requires significant investments to improve cashew productivity and farmers welfare.

НОРМАТИВНО-ПРАВОВА ОСНОВА ЗДІЙСНЕННЯ ЕНЕРГЕТИЧНОЇ ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЇ УКРАЇНИ

The article is devoted to the retrospective analysis and assessment of the current state regulatory and legal basis of energy transformation as a process of direction dynamics of the energy policy of Ukraine. Periods classification of the energy transformation of Ukraine has been developed, based on the temporary effect of the relevant legal framework in the field of energy policy, determined by the peculiarities of the internal energy course and the existing factors of external influence: the 1st post-Soviet period (1990—1996): the first stage (1990—1994); the second stage (1994—1996); II stabilization period (1996—2006); III early European integration period (2006—2013); IV latest European integration period (2013—2023): first stage (2013—2017); the second stage (2017—2022); the third stage (approximately 2022—2023); 5th early post-military period (approximately 2023—2050). It was established that such regulatory and legal framework for the implementation of Ukrainian energy transformation based on previous multi-term concepts, programs, and energy policy strategies was developed separately, reacting mainly to current intra-industry problems and, at the same time declared, did not take into account or insufficiently regulated not only the energy itself but related relations with them. It is proposed to form the provisions of the latest post-military Energy Strategy based on: cross-industry harmonization and synchronization of sectoral programs of related spheres of the economy; through consideration of the best foreign practices, Ukraine's international obligations and its strategic national interests in sustainable development; increasing energy efficiency of the national economy and establishing an energy-saving mentality in Ukrainian society; economically justified development, first of all, of those industries where there will be a permanent decrease in the share of imported of fuel and energy resources; regulation of new and strengthening provisions regarding existing energy-related relations of a European integration nature.

The Policy of the United States towards Russia after the Aggression in Ukraine: Striving for a Permanent Weakening or Readiness to Rebuild Cooperation?

The article analyses and evaluates the United States’ reaction to Russian aggression in Ukraine in the context of US strategic interests. The main research problem is contained in the questions: What are the main goals of the US response to Russian aggression in Ukraine? Is the United States striving to weaken Russia permanently? Is it possible to rebuild US cooperation with Putin’s Russia? The main hypothesis is that the direct goal of the USA is to prevent Russia from winning the war in Ukraine and rebuilding its military potential, and its long-term goal is to maintain the dominant position of the USA and the West in the world. The US wants to convince both Russia and China that the undermining of the basic principles of the international community and the dominant American position in the world will meet with a strong response. If Moscow positions itself as the enemy of the West, it will be in the interest of the United States to weaken Russia permanently, ensuring that China does not take advantage of it. On the other hand, a positive change in Russia’s foreign and domestic policy would favour the recovery of cooperation and a gradual withdrawal from sanctions.

Deliberate disproportionate policy outcomes and regulating deforestation in Queensland, Australia

AbstractThis paper analyses the strategic interests that inform deforestation policies in Australia, and the variance in policy selections over time. A theory of deliberate policy disproportionality is used to analyse 20 years of regulatory reform in Queensland, focusing on the Vegetation Management Act (VMA) 1999. Application of the framework to this case suggests that political executives were prone to deliberately adopt (dis)proportionate policies as a strategic response to either manage or capitalise on stakeholder support or opposition to any proposed legislative change. The high variance in (dis)proportionate deforestation policies is attributed to how political executives respond to claims made by competing constituencies regarding the costs versus benefits of successive reforms. During key reform phases, policy under‐reaction was the norm, and political executives intentionally limited the scope and effectiveness of the VMA 1999 due to perceived impacts on the agricultural sector. Political executives were highly responsive to the emotional investment of rural constituents and averse to introducing policies that required difficult trade‐offs. Elections offered strategic opportunities for delivering more proportionate policies that balanced public environmental benefits with economic impacts, as evidenced by a conditional deforestation ban introduced between 2004 and 2012 and reinstated in 2018.Points for practitioners Variance in Queensland's deforestation policy over time can be attributed to the intentional decisions by political executives to limit or expand the scope of regulations as a strategic response to stakeholder expectations. Political executives were responsive to the costs versus environmental impacts/benefits of any deforestation reforms, but prone to policy under‐reaction when the priority was managing the emotive reactions from rural constituencies. More proportionate regulations, such as the partial deforestation ban of 2004, aimed to balance environmental benefits with compensation for landholders but were only implemented when electorally beneficial. Stakeholders have a significant influence on disproportionate deforestation policy design and governments will need to manage competing claims to deliver more durable policy outcomes.

Theater of India-China strategic rivalry: The Indian Ocean

The strategic importance of the Indian Ocean is increasing in the world in general and in India’s sub-continent in particular. The Indian Ocean is world’s third largest water body on the surface of the Earth and has increasingly become an area of contention between India and China. As their power, interests, capabilities, and economy increases, the competition between the two Asian giants also increases. This competition has the potential to endanger the stability of the region, which is significant for all key players in the region. This article presents the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, gives an overview of India’s strategic interests and China’s growing ambitions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), analyzes the current power dynamics and gives recommendations on how India should approach and prioritize this strategically significant region.

Indonesian National Defense Strategy in the Asean Region of the 21st Century Based on Defense System and Security Population Demography

Given its strategic position between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Indonesia has a very significant strategic interest and role in shaping the ASEAN Region. The proximity of Indonesia's position to one of the main conflict flashpoints in the ASEAN Region, namely the South China Sea (LCS), makes Indonesia vulnerable to spillover effects arising from various possible incidents and conflicts in the region. To safeguard its interests, Indonesia must be able to play its strategic role in ensuring a stable, safe and peaceful ASEAN Region during conflicts of interest of other countries in the region. To advance Indonesia's national interests in the region, diplomatic steps taken by Indonesia must be complemented and supported by strategic steps in the defense sector. Indonesia has long adhered to the Total People's Defense and Security System (the Universal People's Defense and Security System, hereinafter referred to as Sishankamrata) as the basis of its national defense policy. Sishankamrata contains core values ​​and principles that guide the formulation and implementation of Indonesia's national defense policy. Sishankamrata is embodied in the doctrine, strategy, and posture of Indonesia's national defense As a strategic defense concept, Sishankamrata must remain relevant and suitable to deal with a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous strategic environment (VUCA), while at the same time contributing to the advancement of Indonesia's national interests.

The Case for Neutrality: Understanding African Stanceson the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The war in Ukraine is impacting most countries in the world. Economically, prices of goods and services are rising and manycountries around the world are experiencing energy crises that can be linked to the war in Ukraine. Politically, fracturesare appearing in long-established political structures with many countries around the world deciding on how to respondto the war in Ukraine based on their political, economic, and strategic interests. Surprisingly, Africa is generating a lot ofattention due to the stance of several notable countries – including some seen as key allies of Western countries. Contraryto expectations that most African countries except those ruled by despots would follow the West in condemning and puttingpressure on Putin to end the war, many African countries chose to stay neutral without condemning Russia or supportingresolutions to put pressure on Putin to end the war. This article has explored not only the role of neo-imperialism in shiftingpolitical alliances away from the West as well as a key factor fostering neutrality, but also other factors. It has made use ofUN resolution voting patterns as well as statements made by African leaders as lenses through which the stances of Africanleaders can be understood. The article “The Case for Neutrality: Understanding African Stances on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict” by Olayinka Ajala is translated and published with permission of the author and и Journal of Military and Strategic Studies, where it was originally published in English (Journal of Military and Strategic Studies (2022), vol. 22, iss. 2). Available at: https://www.mapleleafnavy.com/index.php/2023/02/16/journal-of-military-andstrategic-studies-volume-22-issue-2/.

Examining US Strategic Interests in South Asia: A Decade-Long Study of Triangular Relations (US-Pakistan-India) in the Post-Cold War Era

This study is devoted primarily to the security priorities of the US towards South Asia in the post-Soviet decade of the 1990s. Indeed, the world witnessed the end of Cold war with the demise of Communist USSR. The United States, therefore, nourished more enthusiastically its inherent desire of a ‘New World Order’. For this purpose, South Asia again became a ‘land of desire’ for Washington to consolidate its preponderance in the strategically vital region of Asia. The research, therefore, delves into a decade long post-cold war security environment of South Asia by analyzing the US policies towards India and Pakistan. The study uses a qualitative methodology that includes a systematic review of existing literature and primary sources, including official documents and statements to identify the important factors that have influenced US strategic partnerships in South Asia and concludes that contemporary Indo-US strategic partnership has its roots since the end of cold war.

“Out of Area”: The Involvement of Non-Local Powers in Lycian Affairs between the 5th and the 4th Centuries BC / „Poza obszarem”. Zaangażowanie zewnętrznych potęg w sprawy Licji między V a IV w. p.n.e.

The discovery of yet another stater in the name of an Anatolian karanos struck in Lycia, in this case of the Lydian satrap Autophradates (after ca. 370 BC), has induced the author to a reappraisal of the participation of different hegemonial powers from outside in internal Lycian conflicts between ca. 430 and 360 BC. Occasionally, Athenians and Spartans as well as the Persian overlords of the region themselves made use of various rivalries among local dynastic clans to protect their own strategic and political interests in the general area.

Integration Strategies for Sustainable Positioning of Shipping Companies in the Maritime Trade Market System

Introduction. The maritime transport of individual countries, operating in a single space of the World Ocean, determines the tasks and problems of creating standard requirements for the reliability of cargo flows and system security of operation. This significantly differentiates the conditions for the development of maritime transport as a subsystem of the global maritime transport market between its individual structures, on the one hand, and national maritime transport complexes, on the other. This is what determines the expediency of various integration processes in the system of the maritime trade market.
 Aim and tasks. The study examined the role of integration technologies in the global maritime trade market and the analysis of the development of the country's maritime transport complex in relation to its real needs for participation in integration processes, as well as possible strategies for integration principles and finding ways to implement such strategies in the activities of the country.
 Results. The study resulted in the identification of three approaches to the forms of integration in the maritime trade market. The first form includes the processes of creating the gross national product based on the international division of labor, when the global sectoral equilibrium is achieved by combining the technology of producers of one country with the resources and territory of another state. The second form of integration is the M&A strategy for the further development of shipping companies and other enterprises of the maritime complex. The third form is the interaction of individual maritime transport enterprises in intermodal connections. The implementation of all the above forms of integration is in line with globalization trends in the socio-economic development, achievements of technological progress and strategic interests of shipping companies.
 Conclusions. The development of maritime transport in terms of integration characteristics and technical priorities reflects the principle of sustainability. At the same time, activities are separated in the system of achieving a balance in the state of the main components of the transport services market according to the criteria for optimizing the investment flow. The latter necessitates a constant search for optimization of the fleet's carrying capacity and cargo terminal throughput. The main thing is to study the optimization of development from the perspective of both macroeconomic and business structures.

STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY, SECURITY DILEMMA AND THE INTERPLAY OF INTERESTS: RUSSIA, CHINA AND THE US IN THE ARCTIC REGION SINCE 2014

The Northern Pole's polar ice is melting at an alarming rate due to climate change, significantly impacting the region's strategic landscape. The potential for economic growth and increasing security competition has led Russia, China and the US to ramp up their politico-military activities in the region. This research paper uses a qualitative method that explores the changing geopolitics of the region through a structural realist approach to examine the strategic interests and opportunities of these three countries in the Arctic. The study sheds light on how climate change has affected the region's geopolitical and geostrategic effects and how these countries compete for influence in the area, leading to mounting concerns and policy shifts. The paper shows how Russia takes a realist approach; China enhances its influence through a developmental approach, while the US tries to increase its power to counter the influence of Russia and China in the region. Additionally, the paper explains how the interplay of interests in the region is associated with the offence-defence balance and security dilemmas resulting from the neorealist behaviour of these states. Bibliography Entry Mushtaq, Shireen, Uswa Sharif and Rida Fatima. 2023. "Strategic Opportunity, Security Dilemma and the Interplay of Interests: Russia, China and the US in the Arctic Region Since 2014." Margalla Papers 27 (1): 67-81.

THE THEME OF THE HEART IN THE BYZANTINE TRADITION, RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CULTURE AND RUSSIAN PHILOSOPHY

The article is devoted to the problem of cardiognosia as the leading one for Russian theological-philosophical and secular religious thought. A special place in Russian (especially in religious) philosophy is occupied by the theme of love and the heart. The main question that we pose in this article is whether the domestic cardiognosy has remained in line with purely Byzantine religious philosophy, or whether our tradition has found an original approach to the study of the heart. This problem is quite relevant due to the fact that modern Russia has often been compared with the Byzantine Empire, such comparative studies have been found for the third decade in various historical, cultural and philosophical studies. The study of the topic of the heart also falls into the piggy bank of spiritual and moral values, to the preservation of which the strategic interests of modern Russian society are addressed.
 Russian Orthodox culture reveals the theme of the heart in the ascetic tradition of asceticism, and Russian religious philosophy calls the heart the key to understanding the mentality of the Russian person. Modern researchers focus on the integrative function of the heart. Russian Russian Orthodox culture acts as a bridge between Byzantine traditions and Russian philosophy, and modern Russian philosophy considers the heart to be a place of synthesis of science and art culture.
 The results of the article can be applied in the framework of the creation of the concept of spiritual and moral development and education of the personality of a citizen of Russia.

Strategic interaction between Russia and US in Syria: a game theoretic analysis from 2014-2022

The strategic interests of Russia and the US clash in the Syrian conflict. Moscow’s policy in Syria aims for the Assad government to remain in power, whereas the US policy seeks to bring a regime change in Syria by toppling the Assad government. The competition and cooperation between Russia and the US in the Middle Eastern region are quite complex and reflect a tussle for regional dominance. A game theoretic analysis is conducted for the interaction between two great powers to examine the strategies opted by both players in the case of the Syrian civil war. This paper analyses the role of Russian and American regional policy objectives in Syria from 2014 to 2022. This study considers the cause-and-effect relationship in the regional supremacy of Russia and the US and studies them as independent variables. The conflict in policy goals of both powers in the Syrian conflict is taken as the dependent variable. The methodology applied in this paper is game theory because it explains cause-and-effect phenomena in a systematic and detailed manner. The game between Russia and the US is to achieve maximum foreign policy objectives in Syria, which is concluded as a zero-sum game from 2014-2022.