Economics and politics of “old confrontation” in the New Arctic

The modern Arctic is becoming the strategic space and area of competition of many powers, the arena of political confrontations between Arctic and non-Arctic states. Arctic research has moved from the sphere of science to the sphere of geopolitics and geoeconomics and is of strategic importance in the system of national security. Climatic fluctuations in the Arctic have increased the availability of hydrocarbon, biological and other resources, and improved ice conditions in the water area of the Northern Sea Route. The study analyzes the Arctic policy of Western European and North American countries in the conditions of the “New Arctic”. An overview of strategic documents on ensuring the spatial development.

India and China at the Crossroads: The Imperatives of Reworking India’s Strategy

Any discussion on India- China relations is incomplete without mentioning that today the center of gravity of the whole world is slowly shifting to Asia. Besides, one-third of the world's population lives in countries, bordering the Indian Ocean. The security environment is uncertain and great power transitions are taking place. India and China both are aspiring powers in Asia, however, with a certain degree of asymmetries in their power and strength. In the eighties, both the economies were of the same size but today the Chinese economy is way ahead and most global supply chains run through it. China is the world's manufacturing superpower and with its technological expertise, its military expansionist ways, and its distinct footprint in India's neighborhood, both land and maritime, all make it a serious force to contend with. Over time, the relations between the two neighbors have been a cause of grave concern. The interests of both India and China intersect. They have expanding geopolitical horizons and earnestly strive for 'strategic space' in the same region. The present essay reflects upon the relations between India and China that have been oscillating from cooperation to competition and from confrontation to conflict. Further, an attempt is made to focus on the challenges that are galore and the potentiality of reworking India's China strategy.

From Imperial Port City to Logistics Hub: The Production of Strategic Space in Djibouti (1859–2020)

This article examines what I call the production of strategic space, or the process whereby a particular place, the Republic of Djibouti, and its capital, the port city of Djibouti, became strategically valuable to different states over time, including the French Empire, the United States, and China. Throughout the period from 1859 to the present day, Djibouti’s strategic value has fluctuated as states reacted to different political and economic contexts. These events constantly shifted state interests, re-configuring their conceptions of the importance of Djibouti’s territory. As a result of this process, spaces within Djibouti became strategic relative to other spaces. In particular, the port has been more important to the French authorities and other outsiders than the desert hinterland, which was treated mainly as a useless wasteland. The various authorities organized space within Djibouti to reflect these government priorities, which had a profound impact on its inhabitants’ mobilities, economic opportunities, and political freedoms. The ordering of space within Djibouti reflected state interests, exposing the relationship between geography and power, strategy and spatial organization.

Strategic space autonomy for EU political and security goals. Evolution of organisational capacity

The aim of the article is to analyse European space policy as a unique and innovative undertaking established within the European Union in order to acquire its strategic space autonomy. European space policy evolution, as well as its implementation and space assets being at the EU disposal, are key enablers of the EU space autonomy. The main assumption of the article is that the EU pursues a strategic autonomy in space because it is indispensable to achieve a strategic autonomy in almost all the realms including security and political ones. That is why European space policy was introduced and a key space programmes including Copernicus and Galileo were initiated. As a result, the EU joined the group of space-faring powers as an influential global player that makes an additional considerable contribution to the structural changes in the outer space governance. A qualitative approach used to analyse this topic should lead to several findings. A strategic space autonomy, which is crucial for the EU to perform its multiple roles, could be grouped into three functional levels: institutional, systemic, and military.

Devolution, Urban Autonomy and Local Governance in the Cities of the SADC

This article considers the links between urban autonomy and the constitutional and legal powers, functions and responsibilities of urban local government in countries of the South African Development Community (SADC). It evaluates SADC cities’ constitutional status, their operational, functional and financial autonomy, their collaborative and strategic space and the different accountability structures to which they answer. It further reflects on structural and political challenges to effective urban autonomy in the region and suggests ways in which it may be better enabled, so as to equip the cities of the SADC for the role they must play in pursuit of targets in the New Urban Agenda and UN Sustainable Development Goal 11.

Main Trends of Military Space Activity at the Modern Stage

The article defines the legal aspect of the use of outer space for peaceful purposes. The political and military decisions of the USA aimed at domination in space and space forces creation are analyzed. The notion strategic space zone is defined. The main directions of leading foreign countries and Russia’s military space activity are revealed.

Extending influence on social media: The behaviour of political talk-show opinion leaders on Twitter

Social media, especially Twitter, has become a strategic space for those users who try to extend their influence in the digital environment. This work focuses on opinion leaders who participate in political talk-shows. The aim is to analyse the use and the thematic agenda proposed by these actors on Twitter during electoral periods. The Twitter profiles of 20 opinion leaders (journalists, media editors and experts) of four Spanish television channels are examined. A quantitative content analysis is used on 2,588 tweets disseminated during the November 2019 general election campaign in Spain by them. Results show differences between the different types of actors who make up the sample. Journalists use Twitter to express their criticisms and reinforce their community of followers, especially using interaction and humour. Media editors are more neutral and promote their personal brand through the promotion of their media companies. Experts inform and analyse political news more than journalists, although they also criticise and respond to citizens’ comments. Regarding the subject agenda, messages on electoral results and media content predominate. Thus, the data shows how opinion leaders take advantage of Twitter to freely show their opinions, especially negative ones, and boost dialogue with users.

The Sea as a Legal and Strategic Space

Chapter 1 serves as an introductory chapter, exploring the idea of the sea as a legal and strategic space. The concepts of freedom of the seas and sovereignty of the sea dominated the legal debates about the ownership of the seas. In wartime these concepts clashed as neutrals demanded freedom of the seas while belligerents claimed the sovereignty of the sea. The chapter explores the means to control the seas, in particular, blockade, the right of search and capture, and the rule of 1756. When Great Britain reassessed its strategic position in the mid-nineteenth century, it was John C. R. Colomb who emphasized the importance of imperial defence and the protection of trade in a future maritime conflict. The discussion on the effectiveness of economic warfare brought strategic and legal considerations together since both were concerned with the ability to control the sea.