Strategic Security Research Articles

Critical materials as key factor providing efficiency in energy engineering

"The energy transition should be planned with critical materials in mind to avoid unforeseen delays. This planning relates to both supply and demand aspects. Better public data are needed regarding the capacity to ramp up mining of primary materials in the coming years. Also, the potential of innovation to avoid or minimise use of critical materials needs to be better understood. This paper will assess how the growth of different types of energy (including nuclear) will put critical materials at the centre of the energy transformation at the international level, with the objective of highlighting the criticalities related to the sector and of identifying how technological developments and innovation can positively reduce geopolitical risks. For Europe’s ambition to deliver the Green Deal the access to resources is a strategic security question. The EU’s open strategic autonomy in these sectors will therefore need to continue to be anchored in diversified and undistorted access to global markets for raw materials. The paper also presents a case study of the exploitation of Romania natural resources."

Strategic Development As An Effective Tool In Building Strategic Security Competencies

Strategic Security Competence is a superior ability that relies on exploring, exploiting, and coordinating strategic resources, organizational expertise, and effective organizational practices to encourage the development of the military's work in a unique and unparalleled manner. In light of the results of the study, the study recommended the need to strengthen the Baghdad Operations Command from the development of planning as the central pillar of strategic development through systematic strategic decision-making, as well as the adoption of the following mechanisms: setting goals and objectives and drawing programs and tactics to establish security in Iraq. Also, to choose the appropriate alternatives in a way that enhances its strengths and pushes it to avoid its various challenges

Brief Synopses of New Arabic-Language Publications

Brief Synopses of New Arabic-Language Publications

President Biden's administration towards the quality of democracy and the rule of law in Poland

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim is to analyze and evaluate the attitude of the American administration to the issue of compliance with the principles of democracy and the rule of law in Poland in the context of the war in Ukraine.
 THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The main question is whether the war in Ukraine influenced the approach of President Biden’s administration to the issue of the quality of democracy and the rule of law in Poland? The analysis is carried out in the perspective of the concept of quality of democracy. The author interviewed American researchers and used the method of analyzing the content of text sources.
 THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The first part covers a theoretical framework for the quality of democracy and the rule of law. The second part presents a synthetic presentation of the main elements of the dispute in Poland around these values. The next two parts cover the approach of the American administration to legal changes in Poland affecting the quality of democracy and the rule of law.
 RESEARCH RESULTS: The war in Ukraine silenced American criticism of Poland. This is because the US strategic security interests take precedence over other values and interests. However, when the war in Ukraine is over, this problem may return and weigh heavily on Polish-American relations, especially if Democrats remain in power.
 CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The political and legal dispute in Poland concerning the quality of democracy and the rule of law contributes to the international discussion on this topic. In the mainstream Western literature, there is a serious criticism of the actions of the Polish authorities, sometimes conducted without taking into account the weaknesses of contemporary liberal democracy. The illiberal trend in Poland and other countries in the region, especially in Hungary, fuels criticism of these actions.

Strategic security of the enterprise: approaches, features, mechanism, and problems of provision

In today's world, under the current geopolitical situation and current trends in the development of the world economy, the ability to ensure their own strategic security is the most important condition for the survival of enterprises. The purpose of the study is to formulate the specifics of «strategic security» and develop the mechanism of strategic security of the enterprise under the conditions of the developing economic crisis. The work presents the author's definition of the concept of «strategic security» and highlights its features. Based on the studied models, the main stages of the strategic security mechanism of the enterprise are formulated and their characteristics are provided. The range of problems of the mechanism implementation within the strategy or strategic plan of the company is determined. The focus is on the security environment since the beginning of the large-scale war started by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in February 2022 as well as the changes it has undergone since then. The author prognosticates trends in the development of Ukraine's security environment in the post-war period based on the identified sources of the main threats to the national security of Ukraine, as well as vulnerabilities, advantages, and opportunities for the development of the state and society in the new conditions. It is also predicted that sources of the main threats to the national security of Ukraine in the post-war period will undergo transformation. The author claims that a timely identification of existing and projected threats to national security, vulnerabilities, strengths of the state and society, and their opportunities to further protect national interests in the conditions of a certain security situation, when along with an account of trends in the development of the security environment, provide a foundation for determining the strategic goals and priorities of state policy in national security. The research results give grounds to conclude that the main strategic goal for Ukraine in national security is the development of sufficient domestic capabilities as a basis for ensuring its own security and resilience. Keywords: national security, national resilience, risks, threats, vulnerabilities, state policy, hybrid aggression, war.

MODERN TECHNOLOGIES TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION

Civilized humanity should strive to live in a society based on justice, prosperity and humanism. At the present stage of globalization, achieving this goal requires the rational use of existing natural, civilizational and institutional resources. Population is a phenomenon that defines everything to which everything is connected. The growth of the world population is closely related to the development of technology, causes it and is affected by it. Using modern technologies, it is possible to adequately meet the growing needs of people for food and other livelihoods. The following are important for ensuring Georgia's strategic security: diversification of the economy, reasonable reduction of economic dependence on neighboring countries; more efficient use of the country's transit function; Use the real prospect of becoming a candidate country for EU membership; Accelerate the integration of the country's economy with the West, Asia and all other civilized countries.

Thinking the Unthinkable: Indonesia’s Search for a Reliable Partnership with the US or China

The rise of China stipulates the changing of global architecture on power relationship. Many argue that China attempts to dethrone the United States as a single, unchallenged power in international relations. As this situation continues to develop, China seems to be unpredictable in exercising its foreign policy, specifically at the regional level of Asia Pacific. The uncertain circumstance and fear of losing its power, force the US to interfere the region with a noble motive of safeguarding the other states from Beijing’s aggressive moves. Many countries builds strong connection with China to boost their economic development while at the same time trusting the US more than anyone else in this world for their security, including strategic military cooperation. Among many countries, Indonesia stands in that dilemmatic situation where she needs to capture all opportunities from her growing neighbour and accommodate her traditional security partner. This research aims to unveil Indonesia’s preference on determining a reliable partner for its foreign policy given two available options of the US and China. If Indonesia, in the future when the regional rivalry intensifies, has to select one of them as its primary partner, who will Indonesia choose? This research argues that Indonesia will lean to the US in maintaining its security affairs in the region. This argument base on the findings that in traditional context, US has been very close to Indonesia and until today, its close ties remain. Second, that China’s aggressive moves in the region impedes Indonesia to conduct positive relationship with China in strategic security context. This research applies positivist approach with qualitative methods in which data collection is conducted through literature review and observation.

A Conflict or War Impediment Strategic Approach: Perception Games, Deception Hypergames, and Deterrence in Global Politics

This article enhances the use of the applied game theory and hypergame theory in global politics and strategic security studies. It suggests first a (Deception Hypergame Model of Inter-state Conflict) where conditions of certainty and uncertainty, perception and deception are considered within a conflict/war impediment perspective. While inferring an interconnectedness of (Initial Stability in the Powers Conflict and Deterrence Relation) in the international system, we develop a (Deterrence Entanglement Law) second that can be applied effectively to inter-state conflict cases to preclude the (present/future) conflict or war possibility given that the balance reached might be relative, outright, or incomplete, as proven under this theoretic-strategic approach.

Improving the production efficiency of high rank coal bed methane in the Qinshui Basin

There are abundant high-rank coal bed methane (CBM) resources in China, accounting for one third of total CBM resources. Its efficient development and utilization is of great significance to guarantee the national energy strategic security, diminish the hidden danger of coal mine production and reduce carbon dioxide emission. In order to solve the "four lows" problem (i.e., low effective utilization ratio of proved reserves, low productivity targeting ratio, low single-well production rate and low development profit) restricting the development of high-rank CBM industry in China, this paper deeply analyzes the core problems restricting the development of high-rank CBM. Based on this, several new methods of production control, area selection and evaluation are put forward by taking multiple measures, such as paying the same attention on theoretical research and technological research & development, carrying out laboratory research and field test in parallel and conducting large-scale construction and benefit development simultaneously. And the following research results are obtained. First, the geological difference between CBM and coal mine, the difference in reserves recoverability, the adaptability of engineering technology and the scientificity of production are the main factors restricting CBM development effect. Second, "Four-element" production control theory, methane-leading engineering transformation method and methane-leading production control theory are proposed, which provides guidance for the development of a series of technologies for the efficient development of high-rank CBM. Third, in practice, the control degree of quality reserves is increased from 32% to 80%, the success ratio of development wells is increased from 60% to 95%, the average single-well daily gas production of vertical wells is increased by about 1100 m3, the drilling cost of horizontal wells is reduced by 50%, and the operation cost per cubic meter of gas is reduced by 24%. In conclusion, the established technology series for the efficient development of high-rank CBM actively promote the efficient CBM development in the Qinshui Basin. The yearly CBM production of PetroChina Huabei Oilfield Company is expected to reach 20 × 108 m3 in the middle of the "14th Five-Year Plan", which promotes the strategic development of CBM industry in China.

Methodological Preparation and Pedagogical Mastery in the Process of Strategic Management Teaching

The strategic security environment is characterized by high dynamism and growing unpredictability, and it is obvious that every member of society needs to be able to understand strategic problems, both individually and supranationally, and to be able to make informed strategic decisions that will ensure the achievement of certain education goal – the transfer of knowledge between adolescents and older generations. The relevance of the study is in connection with the successful achievement of the objectives of individual and collective military training, and specifically the training in Strategic Management, as well as in connection with the successful acquisition of the officer’s profession. The subject of research is the relationship education-pedagogical mastery-strategic management, while the object is a part of the methodological pedagogical approach implemented in the Strategic Management academic subject on the example of the National Military University of Bulgaria. In this regard, the paper presents exhibition and demonstration of some of used good teaching practices and experience.

High-Efficiency Iron Extraction from Low-Grade Siderite via a Conveyor Bed Magnetization Roasting-Magnetic Separation Process: Kinetics Research and Applications.

Upgrading and utilizing low-grade iron ore is of great practical importance to improve the strategic security of the iron ore resource supply. In this study, a thermal analysis–infrared (IR) analysis–in-situ IR method was used to investigate the reaction mechanism and kinetics of Daxigou siderite. Experiments were conducted using a conveyor bed magnetization roasting process (CBMRP) to investigate the magnetization of siderite. Multi-stage magnetic separation processes were adopted to extract magnetite. The results show that simultaneously the iron carbonate in siderite decomposes, and magnetite is formed between 364 °C and 590 °C under both inert and reducing atmospheres. The activation energy of the magnetization roasting reaction is 106.1 kJ/mol, consistent with a random nucleation and growth reaction mechanism. Magnetization roasting at 750–780 °C for approximately 3.5 s in the CBMRP results in a magnetic conversion rate of >0.99% of the iron minerals in the siderite. A beneficiation process of one roughing, one sweeping, and three cleaning processes was adopted. A dissociation particle size of −400 mesh accounting for 94.78%, a concentrate iron grade of 62.8 wt.%, and a recovery of 68.83% can be obtained. Overall, a theoretical and experimental basis is presented for the comprehensive utilization of low-grade siderite.

О проблемах современного образования. I. О концепции современного научного образования

The article formulates the fundamental principles and the concept of modern scientific education in general. It is emphasized that only after formulating the goals of education in full it is possible to proceed to the discussion of various technical proposals on the methods of teaching, which are the vast majority of discussions. The article proposes and analyzes a systematic approach that combines various disciplines of secondary and higher education with a unified goal and structure. It is emphasized that a mandatory facet of the educational process, in addition to the student and the teacher, is the state, since a significant part of education is funded by the civil society, and as an investor it has the right to take care of his interests and investment results. Properly structured education is an important factor in the success of public administration (regardless of who is currently in power), and moreover, a factor in the strategic security of the country, the prosperity of descendants and even the survival of the civil nation as a whole. The most important task of education, according to the authors, is to give students the practice of critical analysis in the process of solving real practical problems and making the right life decisions (to the best of a student's abilities). And such a structuring of educational processes is possible! The knowledge (and disciplines) required to achieve the stated goals is analyzed. The features of teaching are discussed: informatics and natural sciences; mathematics and scientific thinking in general; history and culture in general. The ultimate goals of education are defined and analyzed. The second article will be devoted to the technologies of contemporary science education.

BRICS in a world at crossroads?

The cross-roads that have been crystallized by global positions on the war in Ukraine reignite the Cold War. The West is united in asserting, sometimes crudely, its geopolitical positions in international affairs. It has over the past decade and a half decided to bring Russia into West’s fold in defence of a US - anchored western international order. Russia has also decided to fight back and assert itsindependence from this order. In the process, the west has threatened the strategic security of Russia and Russia has also flouted the national sovereignty of its western neighbours that the West tries to use to bring Russia into submission. The expansion of NATO westward, like its expansion south with the invasions of Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya is not an innocent expansion of a regional body but an extension of a highly problematic security complex in defence of Western dominance of the world order.

The use of cotton gene pool in the selection process

Cotton growing is the most important industry that determines the strategic security of the country. Scientists of the "Agricultural and Melon Industry" LLP consider their genetic collection to be unique, since the cotton plants collected in it have the widest range of economically valuable qualities. There are groups of cotton with different types of branching, with different heights of the main stem and shape of the leaf, with different types of seed pads, with capsules of various shapes and sizes, with different resistance to pests and diseases. It is important that the collection "works" for practice. Its use in the breeding process made it possible for the first time in world practice to create and regionalize new high-yielding medium-fiber varieties of cotton with a short growing season Pakhtaaral-3031, Pakhtaaral-3044, Maktaaral-4005, BTM-4047, Atakent-2010, Bereke-07, Maktaaral-4007, Maktaaral-4011, Myrzashol-80, Maktaaral-4017, Maktaaral-5027. The use of the collection in further scientific work opens up great opportunities for creating new varieties and lines of the most important crop, which is cotton. Research on the cotton gene pool is currently being carried out in the direction of maintaining their viability. The effective use of the cotton gene pool depends on the scale and depth of assessment of its quality, with the strategic objectives of cotton growing and the level of organization and efficiency of the breeding process. The cotton varieties that occupy the area were bred on the basis of hybridization of varieties and subspecies of Y. Hirsutum L., which unites their potential for resistance to abiotic stress factors.

Influence of Country Project Risks on the Strategic Security of Innovative Aviation Projects

Influence of Country Project Risks on the Strategic Security of Innovative Aviation Projects

Node Replication Attack Detection in Distributed Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor network (WSN) is an emerging technology used in emergency scenarios. There are a number of possible threats to WSNs because they use unsupervised IP addresses. Securing networks with unattended sensors is a real challenge nowadays. Sensor nodes lack power and storage, making them incompatible with normal security checks. It will be vital to make advancements in sensor network architecture and protocol design. There will be more vulnerability to attack if there is a lack of security. Especially, one key attack is node replication which induces the sensor node to acts as an original node, collecting data from the network and sending it to the attacker. In dynamic WSN, detecting an assault is difficult to find replica nodes. Therefore, this paper proposes a Strategic Security System (SSS) to discover replica nodes in static and dynamic distributed WSNs. It is mainly focused on enhancing detection accuracy, time delay, and communication overhead. The present system includes Single Stage Memory Random Walk with Network Division (SSRWND) and a Random-walk-based approach to detect clone attacks (RAWL). The proposed system has less memory and better detection accuracy.

Information Traceability Model for the Grain and Oil Food Supply Chain Based on Trusted Identification and Trusted Blockchain.

The grain and oil food supply chain has a complex structure, long turnover cycles, and many stakeholders, so it is challenging to maintain the security of this supply chain. A reliable traceability system for the whole grain and oil food supply chain will help to improve the quality and safety of these products, thus enhancing people’s living standards. Driven by the trusted blockchain and trusted identity concepts, this paper constructs an information traceability model for the whole grain and oil food supply chain, and it describes how contract implementation and example verification are performed. First, an information traceability model framework of the whole grain and oil food supply chain is established based on the survey and analysis of the grain and oil food supply chain. Second, trusted identification, blockchain master–slave multi-chain storage, and trusted traceability mechanisms are designed. The trusted identification mechanism is used to track the data information of the whole grain and oil food supply chain. The blockchain master–slave multi-chain storage solves the problem of miscellaneous information caused by many links in the whole grain and oil supply chain, while the credible traceability mechanism ensures the credibility of information collection, storage, and transmission. Finally, based on the data flow, the model operation process is analyzed. Using the information traceability model, the grain and oil food trusted traceability system is designed and developed with the Hyperledger Fabric open-source framework, and a case study is conducted to verify the system. The results show that the model and system constructed in this study solve the problems of low data security and poor sharing, which exist widely in the traditional traceability mechanism, and enable the trusted uplink, storage, processing, and traceability of multi-source heterogeneous information in the lifecycle of the whole grain and oil food supply chain. The proposed system improves the granularity and accuracy of grain and oil food traceability, and provides support for the strategic security of grain stock.

Magnetic Properties and Washability of Roasted Suspended Siderite Ores.

Steel is one of the most important industrial materials, which mainly comes from the smelting of iron ore. In view of the huge steel consumption every year, the exploitation of vast reserves of siderite ores is significant for improving the self-sufficiency rate of iron ore resources and ensuring the strategic security of the iron and steel industries. This paper investigated the influence of temperature, time, and other parameters on the magnetic properties of roasted siderite ores using the method of suspended roasting and analyzed the washability of roasted ores under weak-magnetic-field conditions using the magnetic separation tube experiment. The findings of the study explained the iron phase transformation process, i.e., FeCO3 was transformed into Fe3O4 by suspension magnetization roasting. Furthermore, the saturation magnetization of the roasted ore increased in due time at a constant temperature range of 550–750 °C and a roasting time of less than 5 s. It also increased with increasing temperature and constant time. The roasted ore achieved the best magnetic characteristics after roasting at 750 °C for 5 s. After low-intensity magnetic separation, the iron grade of the concentrate changed to 55.12%, with a recovery rate of 90.34%. The study results provide a reference for the development and application of siderite suspension magnetization roasting technology.

The Strategic Security Engagement between the African Union and the European Union in Conflict Management in Africa: The Challenges

This article uses a qualitative research approach comprising of descriptive analysis and extensive desk review to carry out a critical analysis of the strategic security engagement between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) in addressing the challenges associated with conflict and other complex security threats facing the African continent. The findings and conclusions of the article suggest that; although the EU security engagement supports the broader AU security framework, challenges such as selective funding, non-accountability in the disbursement and utilization of funds, excessive over-reliance, and dependence of the AU on external actors in addressing the various complex security threats facing the continent still exist. Therefore, addressing these challenges will require a symmetric and multidimensional cooperation and responses between these two actors driving the process for efficient impact.

RE-THINKING OF NATIONAL SECURITY IN THE AGE OF PANDEMICS

The magnitude of COVID-19 pandemic caught the world off guard. Therefore, strategic anticipation in policy making, exit strategy out from COVID-19 environment, and strategic impact of the pandemic for international, regional, and national security in post-COVID-19 world will be the most important issues in the foreseeable future. Increasingly complex and complicated strategic security environment of the beginning of the 21st century will be characterized by further global and regional instability in failed and/or failing states, and regional crises and conflicts. Moreover, global security environment in post-COVID-19 world will finalize transition from unipolar, the United States dominated global security framework – legacy of post- Cold War settlement after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991-into multipolar global security order with China, Russian Federation, India and other actors who will be increasingly challenging the United States and the West politically, economically and militarily. Post-COVID-19 global security environment will be further challenged by decreased ability of international organizations, such as UN, OSCE, EU, and others, to address urgent and simultaneous security threats and challenges, therefore, the role of the state will increase bothinternationally and domestically. However, since numbers of states are rather weak in terms of social cohesion and institutional capability- these states will be increasingly vulnerable to maintain effective institutional framework in order to address security challenges of the post-COVID-19 world. Moreover, these security challenges will specifically target small states due to the fact that small states are heavily dependent for their own security and defence arrangements on politically powerful and militarily capable global actors, therefore, small states will become increasingly vulnerable to address their political, social, economic and military challenges. The threat of terrorism, illegal migration, conventional military conflict, organized crime, cyber threats, CBRN threats, conventional arms control (CAC) issue, further development and control of nuclear weapons, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction- these are just a few domains of global and regional security, which will remain of utmost importance in post-COVID-19 world. Subsequently, defence, security and law enforcement institutions will face substantial legal, operational, moral, and institutional challenges in post-COVID-19 security environment. These challenges will include the limits of recruitment, standing operational procedures (SOP), rules of engagement (ROE), morale of personnel, and other relevant domains. Moreover, possibility of open involvement of active and former members of defence, security and law enforcement institutions into internal political affairs of a state will significantly increase.