Uzbek economic reform actions do not include politics

Significance Currency exchange liberalisation starting with a 100% devaluation on September 5 is the first substantive domestic policy reform of Shavqat Mirzioyev's presidency. A year after becoming interim president, Mirzioyev has made bold moves on foreign policy, modest but significant steps towards economic liberalisation and little or no political reform. Impacts Power struggles will be played out behind closed doors. Citizens already appear grateful to Mirzioyev for making life less tough. Although Mirzioyev is courting foreign states, none will come to his aid in a domestic crisis.

Significance Biden and Republican President Donald Trump, seeking re-election, are already sparring over US-China policy; this and other differences over foreign policy will mark the candidates’ campaigning. Impacts Biden would reduce US tariffs on China, favouring more targeted tariffs, but still push for Chinese economic reform. He would increase US attention to the Asia-Pacific, and work with China on North Korean denuclearisation. The next president will likely have to trim US defence spending and commitments overseas. Biden will refer to the Obama administration’s record as evidence of his fitness to govern.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleksandr D. Dovhan ◽  
Oleksandr M. Yurchenko ◽  
Juliana O. Naidon ◽  
Oleg S. Peliukh ◽  
Nataliia I. Tkachuk ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop the Counterintelligence Strategy as a conceptual document in the field of state security of Ukraine, identifying current security threats to Ukraine, which global landscape has been significantly transformed since the adoption of the Law of Ukraine “On Counterintelligence”, is substantiated. It is proved that the provisions of such Strategy should determine the current and projected counterintelligence environment via a set of the following elements. The nature of real and potential threats in the process of implementing state foreign and domestic policy course determined by Ukraine. Sources of such threats (individual states and their intelligence agencies, terrorist organizations, transnational organized crime, etc.). Features of the identified encroachment objects of foreign intelligence agencies, terrorist and other criminal organizations, including transnational ones. Long time strategy treats like COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach During the past decades of the XXI century, intelligence has become a crucial tool in the system of determining and implementing the foreign policy in international relations. Modern realities confirm that this political and legal phenomenon directly affects the formation of the foreign policy course of any state, the development of its geopolitical strategy and defense doctrine. Possessing a powerful apparatus for obtaining primary information, fulfillment of government orders for monitoring, evaluation, analysis, forecasting and modeling of possible scenarios of global- or regional-scale events and processes, special services take an active part in perspective and current foreign and domestic policy implementation. Findings Thus, based on the state security paradigm, which cannot be defined in the absence of threats and ensured by their complete elimination, since negative factors for state security objects will always exist, the ensuring of its development requires first of all creation of the conditions under which threats will not be able to limit its development. That is why it is necessary not only to minimize the impact of such factors on vulnerable objects, but also to create a certain “immunity” to their impact, i.e. the ability of the state security system to function effectively in spite of the negative impact. Thus, maintaining the ability to function in terms of the existing threats is the most important area of practical activity for the state security protection, as well as ensuring the legitimate interests of the state. Originality/value During the paper decades of the XXI century, intelligence has become a crucial tool in the system of determining and implementing the foreign policy in international relations. Modern realities confirm that this political and legal phenomenon directly affects the formation of the foreign policy course of any state, the development of its geopolitical strategy and defense doctrine. Possessing a powerful apparatus for obtaining primary information, fulfillment of government orders for monitoring, evaluation, analysis, forecasting and modeling of possible scenarios of global- or regional-scale events and processes, special services take an active part in perspective and current foreign and domestic policy implementation.


Subject Cuban COVID-19 response. Significance As Cuba sends hundreds of health workers abroad to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, infection numbers are rising at home. ‘Medical internationalism’ is the humanitarian flagship of Cuba’s foreign policy, but the country’s health system faces an uphill battle against the spread of the virus. Cuba's economic crisis is worsening and a return to an emergency economy looms large. Impacts Cuba’s foreign medical missions will expand further, with the WHO likely to seek assistance in Africa, as it did during the Ebola crisis. Reduced tourism has seen 16,000 would-be entrepreneurs in Cuba’s emergent private sector turn in their licences -- more will follow. The state’s capacity to confine the infected and mobilise workers may help it respond to the crisis, but resource shortages pose problems.


Significance The decree reflects President Shavqat Mirzioyev's committment to an economic reform process -- a major task in the face of structural and institutional rigidity. Economic change has not been matched by political reform, despite some improvements to law enforcement. Impacts The reform process is at risk of being slowed or halted by the combined forces of inertia and vested interests. The practice of directing credit to favoured insiders will continue to disadvantage others in the private sector. Beijing's Belt and Road initiatives will be supported by Uzbekistan's increasingly collaborative government.


Subject Prospects for US foreign policy to end-2019. Significance President Donald Trump will return to Washington today after a ceremonial and commemorative visit to the United Kingdom, Ireland and France this week. The visit went off largely without incident, and in that sense it was successful. However, for the remainder of 2019, the Trump administration will grapple with various foreign policy challenges after some setbacks this year. That will matter electorally, since Trump is already campaigning for 2020 and his administration's agenda frequently fuses foreign and domestic policy.


Author(s):  
David M. Webber

Having mapped out in the previous chapter, New Labour’s often contradictory and even ‘politically-convenient’ understanding of globalisation, chapter 3 offers analysis of three key areas of domestic policy that Gordon Brown would later transpose to the realm of international development: (i) macroeconomic policy, (ii) business, and (iii) welfare. Since, according to Brown at least, globalisation had resulted in a blurring of the previously distinct spheres of domestic and foreign policy, it made sense for those strategies and policy decisions designed for consumption at home to be transposed abroad. The focus of this chapter is the design of these three areas of domestic policy; the unmistakeable imprint of Brown in these areas and their place in building of New Labour’s political economy. Strikingly, Brown’s hand in these policies and the themes that underpinned them would again reappear in the international development policies explored in much greater detail later in the book.


Keyword(s):  

Significance It sides with Beijing in areas that invite Western criticism, both global matters and Chinese domestic policy. It is more circumspect on China's neighbourhood ambitions, as it has other countries' interests to consider. Impacts Russian-US relations may involve greater dialogue but will not improve dramatically in coming months. Overt Russian support for more aggressive Chinese moves against Taiwan is improbable. Beijing may gain greater scope for coercive activities if Russian-US tensions rise in Europe.


Significance The three parties successfully negotiated a coalition agreement with a strong emphasis on modernising Germany’s economy. Throughout the negotiations, the parties presented a public image of stability and harmony, yet several divisive issues will test the new government's stability and effectiveness. Impacts The composition of the new government will make it harder for Berlin to win approval for the EU-China Comprehensive Investment Agreement. Chancellor Olaf Scholz will seek to prioritise more unity at the EU level when it comes to foreign policy decision-making. The spread of the Omicron variant will slow economic recovery and potentially delay the transition to a greener economy.


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