Iran

2020 ◽  
pp. 113-134
Author(s):  
Amin Saikal
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Its Region ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Middle Power ◽  
Bargaining Position ◽  
Islamic Republic Of Iran ◽  
Geographical Position ◽  
The Republic

The Islamic Republic of Iran is described by some pundits as a “middle power,” or as an influential regional player, without whose cooperation not many Gulf and Middle Eastern problems can be satisfactorily addressed. The republic has achieved a level of power and resource capability to be able to impact geopolitical developments within its region and beyond, in support of what it regards as its national interests. The country’s economic and hard and soft power, along with its size, geographical position, culture, and riches drawn from oil and gas, are taken into account in this respect. It is therefore able to affect events, positively or negatively, in its neighborhood, and to deal with major powers from a bargaining position at bilateral and multilateral levels.

scholarly journals CONSIDERATIONS ON THE POLICIES OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO ACHIEVE NATIONAL INTERESTS IN ITS NEAR ABROAD

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (72) ◽  
pp. 312-331
Author(s):  
Sergiu ȘARAMET
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Economic Sanctions ◽  
Russian Language ◽  
Military Operations ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Near Abroad

The policies of the Russian Federation in its near abroad have been constantly changing. Taking into account this consideration, it is important to know what were thedetermining factors that influenced the policy orientation of the Russian Federation in the pursuit of national interests in those areas. In this context, are analyzed the policies through which the Russian Federation projects national interests in its near abroad such as “hard power”, which include military operations (the involvement of Russian troops as“peacekeeping forces” in the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Tajikistan; stationing of large units and units on the territory of the former union republics; economic sanctions, etc.). In tandem with “hard power” policies, the Russian Federation also uses “soft power” policies (promoting the Russian language and culture, strengthening the presence of the Russian Federation in the information space, supporting the Russian diaspora).Keywords: policies, national interests, “hard power”, “soft power”, economic sanctions, military operations.

scholarly journals Foundations of Turkish Claims in the Eastern Mediterranean

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 472-486
Author(s):  
Pavel Andreevich Gudev
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Law Of The Sea ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Paradoxical Situation ◽  
International Court ◽  
Maritime Disputes ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Republic Of Cyprus

The Eastern Mediterranean is becoming a new region of interstate confrontation and clash of national interests. This is largely due to the discovery of oil and gas reserves, the development of which is becoming possible with the existing technology. The Republic of Turkey has a special position regarding this maritime region. The paper analyzes those bases - historical, political and legal - that determine Turkeys current policy with regard to maritime delimitation and the settlement of maritime disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean. Particularly, it is shown that Turkeys policy in the region continues to be based on the approaches that were announced by Turkey during the I-III UN Conferences on the Law of the Sea (1958, 1960, 1973-1982 respectively), which have remained unchanged up to now. This position, as regards both the outer limits of the territorial sea, the legal regime of islands and the delimitation of the continental shelf, continues to define the essence of the controversy between Turkey and other countries of the region, including Greece and the Republic of Cyprus. At the same time, it is shown that there is a set of circumstances that significantly limit the prospects of solving these interstate contradictions within the framework of international judicial instances, including the International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The conclusion is made that, for both Turkey and Greece, the most acceptable option would be to work out a model of settlement, which would not imply the obligation of its immediate implementation. Particular attention is paid to the ideological and practical framing of Turkish claims within the framework of the Blue Homeland doctrine, developed by a number of retired Turkish officers. It shows how Ankara uses the ideas of pan-Turkism and neo-Ottomanism to justify its claims to vast maritime spaces. The distinctive feature of this doctrine most likely is its anti-American, anti-NATO and anti-European orientation. There is a paradoxical situation when certain ideas enshrined in this concept directly correlate with the interests of the Russian Federation.

scholarly journals Iran’s Soft Power Tools in Kyrgyzstan

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-31
Author(s):  
Elena G. Garbuzarova
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Politics ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Persian Language ◽  
Power Tools ◽  
The Republic

The article examines the use of “soft power” tools used by Iran in relation to Kyrgyzstan. The analysis of the evolving fundamental concepts of Iranian foreign policy in Central Asia allowed us to trace a shift in the Islamic Republic’s international priorities in the region. Objective logic prompted the Iranian leadership to move from “exporting the Islamic revolution” to the pragmatic model of pursuing its national interests. Iran has consecutively incorporated soft power tools into its foreign policy activities in Central Asia. Given the pressure from the sanctions imposed by the United States, Iran attaches particular importance to improving the effectiveness of its soft power in order to expand cooperation horizons with the outside world. By the end of the 20th century, Iran’s leadership had already laid the foundations of its cultural diplomacy in the region, which mainly served to promote influence through the export of cultural values. The Iranian approach to soft power in world politics is based on the principles of reciprocity between different civilizations and peaceful coexistence of all countries and peoples. Through the Persian language, philosophy, literature and poetry, Iran influences the population of the Central Asian region, mainly the peoples sharing certain features with the Turkic-speaking world. Iran’s cultural and educational activities in Kyrgyzstan have demonstrated noticeable dynamics: the spread of soft power of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Kyrgyzstan is carried out through cultural institutions and educational projects. Despite the fact that Kyrgyzstan is culturally more inclined towards the Turkic world, the experience shows that Iran’s cultural values also find support among the population of the republic.

scholarly journals Iranian Risk-Oriented Service Contracts as a Mechanism for Attracting Investments in the Oil and Gas Sector

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 40-47
Author(s):  
A. S. Mal’tsev
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Evolutionary Development ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Service Contracts ◽  
Depth Study ◽  
Transnational Companies ◽  
Islamic Republic Of Iran ◽  
Oil And Gas Companies ◽  
Oil And Gas Sector

The article contains an overview of the mechanisms for attracting production and technological investments of transnational companies in the development of hydrocarbon deposits and a detailed analysis of the national experience of the Islamic Republic of Iran in this area. The results of the analysis of the evolutionary development of four generations of Iranian service contracts showed that the mechanism developed by the Iranian government made it possible to restore oil production in the country to the peak levels of the 70s of the last century and at the same time to ensure the protection of national interests from the withdrawal of excess income by investors. It is argued that in the near future, the Russian hydrocarbon industry will continue to develop new projects together with foreign oil and gas companies. During the research, analytical and graphical methods of comparison and generalization were used. The need for further in-depth study of the Iranian experience in the development of the hydrocarbon sector and its application in the oil and gas sector of the Russian Federation, taking into account the structural features, has been proved. The study may be of interest to specialists from federal authorities with the aim of developing the Russian energy sector and ensuring the protection of national interests.

The Belt and Road Initiative: Goals and Challenges

2020 ◽  
pp. 167
Author(s):  
Adnan Khalaf i Hammed Al-Badrani ◽  
Hind Ziyad Nafeih
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Power Lines ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Ancient Silk Road ◽  
Main Engine ◽  
The Belt And Road

The Belt and Road Initiative is an initiative to revive the ancient Silk Road, through networks of land and sea roads, oil and gas pipelines, electric power lines, the Internet and airports, to create a model of regional and international cooperation.       It is essentially a long-term development strategy, launched by the Chinese president in 2013 to become the main engine of Chinese domestic policy and foreign diplomacy and within the framework of the soft power strategy, to enhance its position and influence in the world as a peaceful and responsible country.   The study includes identifying the initiative and setting goals for China, as well as the challenges and difficulties that hinder the initiative.

Korea’s Soft Power as an Alternative Approach to Africa in Development Cooperation

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyu-Deug Hwang
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Development Cooperation ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
Middle Power ◽  
Global Power ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
Rise Of China ◽  
The Rise Of China

* The first version of this paper was presented at the Fifth European Conference on African Studies (ecas 5), which was held on June 27-29, 2013 at iscte-iul Lisboa, Portugal. I am deeply grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their very helpful comments on the previous drafts. This work was supported by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Research Fund of 2014. The rise of China as an emergent global power in gaining access to energy and mineral resources is one of the main factors for reinforcing Korea’s aid to Africa. Although Korea recognizes the limits of searching for ways of furthering its ‘resource diplomacy’ based primarily on economic pragmatism, the Korean government has strived to utilize foreign aid as a tool for soft power. Korea’s perspective is to play a bigger role in addressing global issues as well as to aspire in becoming a middle power, in the sense that it is not regionally influential in spite of its growing powers. Given that middle power diplomacy tends to pursue a norm-based approach and also provides knowledge and/or ideas relevant to a unique niche that it finds important, it is characteristically soft power-oriented. Taking into account the non-material or ideational factors as well as material ones, constructivists in the field of international relations (ir) recognize the power of ideas, norms, institutions, and interests, which contain the core elements of what Nye calls soft power. In this context, this paper attempts to illuminate some of the important questions as to why and how Korea has endeavored to focus on developing its soft power strategy toward Africa in the new millennium.

scholarly journals Biological and Phylogenetic Analyses Suggest that Two Cryphonectria spp. Cause Cankers of Eucalyptus in Africa

Plant Disease ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 87 (11) ◽  
pp. 1329-1332 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Roux ◽  
H. Myburg ◽  
B. D. Wingfield ◽  
M. J. Wingfield
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South America ◽  
South African ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Eucalyptus Grandis ◽  
Its Region ◽  
South African Isolate ◽  
Dna Sequence Data ◽  
The Republic

Cryphonectria cubensis is an economically important pathogen of commercial Eucalyptus spp. Differences have been reported for disease symptoms associated with Cryphonectria canker in South Africa and other parts of the world, and recent DNA-based comparisons have confirmed that the fungus in South Africa is different from that in South America and Australasia. During a disease survey in the Republic of Congo, Cryphonectria canker was identified as an important disease on Eucalyptus grandis and E. urophylla. In this study, we compared Congolese and South African isolates of C. cubensis using DNA sequence data and pathogenicity under greenhouse conditions. The β-tubulin and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences show that C. cubensis in Congo is different from the fungus in South Africa and that Congolese isolates group most closely with South American isolates. Furthermore, pathogenicity tests showed that a South African isolate was more aggressive than two Congolese isolates. We conclude that two distinct Cryphonectria spp. occur in Africa and hypothesize that the fungus in the Congo probably was introduced into Africa from South America. Both fungi are important pathogens causing disease and death of economically important plantation trees. However, they apparently have different origins and must be treated separately in terms of disease management and quarantine considerations.

Geo-Thermo-Mechanical Modeling of Pre-Drilled Wellbores to Extract Geothermal Energy from Subsurface to Produce Cleaner Energy for United Arab Emirates

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ubedullah Ansari ◽  
Najeeb Anjum Soomro ◽  
Farhan Ali Narejo ◽  
Shafquat Ali Baloch ◽  
Faiz Ali Talpur
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Mechanical Model ◽  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Thermal Recovery ◽  
Abandoned Wells ◽  
Single Well

Abstract The middle eastern countries including United Arab Emirates (UAE) have enjoyed the energy production from hydrocarbon resource for a very long period. Indeed, now various countries in this region has shifted to alternative resources of power generation with cheaper and cleaner sources. Geothermal is the top of the list among those sources. Therefore, this study presents an ultimate model converting abandoned oil and gas wells into subsurface geothermal recovery points. Fundamentally, this study offers a geo-thermo-mechanical model of abandoned wellbore which can help in developing an optimistic geothermal energy not only from subsurface thermal reserve but also from abandoned casing and pipes installed in Wellbores. In this approach the source of heat is thermally active rock formations and the metallic pipes that are present in wellbores drilled through hot dry rocks. In the model the already drilled wells are incorporated as medium of heat flow in which water in injected and brought back to surface along with thermal impact. The results of this study revealed that, at the depth of 6000 m of high temperature wellbore the temperature is above 85°C and at this temperature the metallic casings further rise the reserve temperature thus the conversion of water into steam can be processed easily. Moreover, at high depths the stability of wellbore is also issue in high temperature formation, so mechanical model suggests that injection of water and conversion into steam in already cased wellbore can sustain up to 6 MPa stress at around 100C. Thus, the geo-thermo-mechanical model of wellbore will illustrate the possibility of converting water into steam and it will also reveal the average amount of heat that can be generated from a single well. henceforth, the thermal recovery from abandoned wells of UAE is best fit solution for clean energy. The abandoned wells are used as conduit to transport heat energy from subsurface by using water as transport medium, as water at surface temperature is injected in those wellbores and let thermal energy convert that water into steam. Later the steam is returned to surface and used as fuel in turbines or generators.

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