No 3 (2014): Middle East: Geopolitics, Energy, “Arab Spring”

The article considers peculiarities of the political situation in the Middle East (the end of XX - beginning of XXI century), examines the changing balance of power and geopolitical aspirations of different international actors in the region. A special attention is paid to the «Arab spring» and its consequences for the regional international relations.

The article analyses regulation of new constitutions of Tunisia and Egypt adopted after shocks of the «Arab spring», which restore constitutional state institutions of these countries. Special attention is devoted to new constitutional regulation, which change the character of the state system and the political regime as well as to problem to secure Islam and Shariat at basic laws of these countries.

The article considers the Middle East policy of modern Germany, taking Turkish vector as an example. The foreign EU policy in the Middle East, as a whole and cooperation of modern Germany with Turkey in attempt to join the European Union are examined. Attention is given to the modern crisis and difficulties that stand on the way of cooperation between the two states.

This article analyzes the migration policy of Spain in the context of immigration processes from Morocco through the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, which are the territory of the European Union. The problem of immigration to the cities is one of the most serious in the relationship between the two countries.

The article analyzes the main approaches developed by American analysts in research centers - the “think tanks” and universities of the United States, concerning the role of Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean in the context of the events taking place in the region at the moment. Despite the fact that there is no consensus on the future role of Turkey as an ally of the United States and NATO in the region among American experts, the need for the direct involvement of the White House in the resolution of regional conflicts is not in doubt and is determined by strategic interests of the USA in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

The article covers the basic mechanisms of Russian-American cooperation in the Gulf region, as well as the factors contributing to the aggravation of competitive struggle between two superstates are distinguished. The role of the region’s Gulf states in the energy policy of the United States and the Russian Federation was defined. The sense of the energy factor was considered as an instrument of «hard power» in foreign policy.

The UAE have been diversifying its exports and gradually becomes oil independent country. During past years oil and oil products dominated in the The UAE’s export. Nowadays, significant part of export and re-export is a wide range of goods. The UAE have developed transport infrastructure that makes country especially important as transport and economic hub. The article provides an analysis of the current situation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) foreign trade.

The author analyzes India’s national security from a religious position. In her opinion, sectarian violence passes into the category of strategic global problems. The huge attention should be paid to the role of religion in the frame of strategy of national security. The religion role must be attended to a huge attention in national security strategy in the multi-religious countries, such as India.

The article examines the relationship between Morocco and Russia in political, economic, trade, investment, military and cultural spheres in the 2000s. The author analyzes the existing bilateral cooperation between Moscow and Rabat and the multilateral relations within the «Deauville Partnership» as well.

This article discusses the historical aspects and current state of Turkish-Israeli relations. As you know, relations between the countries, which were for a long time at the level of strategic partnership have been revised, and diplomatic contacts collapsed. In this regard, using the comparative historical approach, the author analyzes the ideological and political problems of modern bilateral relations in details, as well as determined the impact on them of destructive factors - the Arab- Israeli conflict and the Iranian nuclear program.

The Middle East and North Africa region remains the epicenter of world political processes, drawing attention of the main world powers. Thus, the Arab spring has become an important factor for social and political transformation of the region, and at the same time signaled the necessity for the experts in Arab studies to review the existing approaches in their research. Russian scholar Vladimir Aleksandrovich Isaev, in his turn, believes that the most urgent problem in Arabic studies in Russia today is the lack of inflow of younger experts, which will inevitably lead to its decay - and, consequently, cause problems for Russian policy in the region.

Significance of the findings and scientific generalizations, which were made by the the leading Russian scientist of Korean Studies Natalia Bazhanova, goes far beyond the Korean issues. It is of great interest for both the expert community, and for a wide range of readers. Analysis of the political and economic development of the DPRK allowed Bazhanova highlight the characteristics of authoritarian regimes and non-market economy, and to see how they affect the foreign policy and international relations. Natalia Evgen'evna has made a great contribution to the development of historical science. She was the first who introduced into scientific use unique documents on the history of the Korean War of 1950-1953, allowing to understand the causes, course and consequences of the conflict. Bajanova proved itself as a political scientist, analyzing and forecasting the development of the international situation on the Korean Peninsula, making constructive proposals aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear problem. The works of Bazhanova dedicated to Russian-Korean relations are very significant. Her conclusions on the current development of relations between our two countries are especially valuable, as well as on international multilateral cooperation in the matter of a Korean settlement. Natalia Evgen'evna was the author of monograph, publicistic books and papers devoted to the many countries of the world, including the United States, France, Italy, China. She put her exceptional talent to the study of these topics. The works of Bazhanova characterized by internal logic, depth and light, have “transparent” style of presentation.