The European Union – Japan Strategic Partnership in the Contested Global Order. External Relations of the EU in the Context of Economic, Normative and Security Framework

The aim of this article is to review the strategic partnership of the European Union-Japan in the context of the changing global order, exploring economic, normative and security dimensions. This leads to wider reflections allowing us to theorize international relations with regards to the concept of strategic partnerships. The research question concentrates on what the foundations of the strategic partnership between the European Union and Japan are, and how it answers the challenges in the three above indicated fields. The hypothesis is formulated from the perspective of strategic partnership theory. Methodologically, the work is based on the analysis of primary and secondary sources, as well as on qualitative methods implemented in the form of semi-structured interviews. The key findings reveal that the changing global order and international environment have pushed both partners to create a strategic partnership that has spilled over from economic relations to the normative, political and finally security fields.

EU-Russian Relations and the Eastern Enlargement: Integration or Isolation

Initially, in the first half of the 1990s, Russia’s plans to include the countries of the former Eastern bloc within the EU were not seen as a threat to its interests. Furthermore, in the context of NATO’s enlargement, some Russians regarded them as an advantageous alternative. Russia is aware that the EU enlargement with the Central and Eastern European states resulted in a present increase in the number of EU members supporting close trans-Atlantic relations. Moscow’s fears of further EU enlargement were softened due to a dispute that continues to grow within the Union, regarding the rationale and limits of further enlargement, primarily for the Balkan states, Turkey, and the CIS states. Moscow expects that the reluctance of European societies towards further enlargement will inhibit this process. The external relations dimension of the European Union's enlargement to Central and Eastern Europe has received surprisingly little attention despite the fact that in the long‐term the issues it raises may be far more important than those currently dominating the debate. Nowhere is this more likely to be correct than about Russia, for which the EU's enlargement poses a risk of increasing isolation from the rest of Europe. The danger of creating a new dividing line across Europe is widely recognised, and the challenge, therefore, is to find ways of ensuring that Russia can be fully integrated with Europe while almost certainly remaining outside the EU Itself. This article focuses on relations between the EU and Russia and addresses three fundamental questions: how Russia has responded to the prospect of the EU's eastern enlargement; the specific issues arising from expansion, and the kind of long‐term relationship that could develop between Russia and an enlarged EU.

9. Foreign Policy

This chapter examines theories and approaches involved in foreign policy analysis. Foreign policy analysis (FPA) is concerned with the study of the management of external relations and activities of nation-states, as distinguished from their domestic policies. The chapter first explains the concept of foreign policy before discussing various approaches to foreign policy analysis. It then evaluates the arguments of major theories by using a ‘level-of-analysis’ approach that addresses the international system level, the nation-state level, and the level of the individual decision maker. It also presents a case-study on the Gulf War to illustrate how insights from various approaches to foreign policy analysis can be brought together. The chapters ends with reflections on Donald Trump’s foreign policy and a discussion of how FPA theories have combined domestic and international factors.

Reflection of Corporation Social Responsibility in Supporting of Saudi Health Care Sector through Covid 19 Pandemic

Current study aimed at highlighting reflections of CSR and its role in supporting healthcare system in KSA during COVID 19 pandemic. Quantitative approach was employed through utilizing an online questionnaire distributed on total of (97) individuals within KSA hospitals which included managers of public relations, external relations or marketing in Saudi governmental or private hospitals within Saudi hospitals. Results of study indicated that the main hypothesis was accepted, and it was seen that CSR has the ability to positively influence and support the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia during COVID 19. Among the chosen dimensions of CSR (Reputation, Ethics, Social Orientation and Profitability), it appeared that ethics was the most influential aspect that has a main role in supporting and backing up the healthcare system in KSA during the pandemic, and this concept helped in supporting the Saudi healthcare system during the breakout of the pandemic from collapsing. Study recommended increasing the awareness of social responsibility among organizations in order to increase the relationship between stakeholders (organizations) and the community.

The Stateless Tai Lue in Chiang Kham

The Tai Lue in Chiang Kham have been of interest to scholars since the publications of Michael Moerman, an American anthropologist from the University of California in Los Angeles, in the 1960s. The most notable pieces concern ethnic identity since Moerman focused on both the internal and external relations of the Tai Lue. Later scholars and graduate students focused on tourism among the Tai Lue, due to the revival of their history and the construction of their ethnic identity. However, the issue of statelessness among them has still not been examined, even though countless numbers of Tai Lue still live without Thai citizenship. Therefore, this article deals with the issue of stateless Tai Lue in Chiang Kham, based on our fieldwork in 2013-2015. We find that the consequences of the creation of modern nation-states and Thailand’s strict national security policies have led to a lack of citizenship among countless numbers of Tai Lue in Chiang Kham, despite their exceptional service to Thailand’s national security during the Cold War. Keywords: Tai Lue, Stateless, Displaced Thai, Citizenship

Economic and political aspects of foreign trade in the scientific legacy of Ivan Vernadsky

The article provides a historical digression on I. Vernadsky's development of foreign trade concepts, and considers its most significant factors, in particular the economic ones (freedom, mutual benefit, measure of needs, strength of economic law) and political ones (geopolitical influence, consolidation). The purpose of the article is to reveal the significance and relevance of I. Vernadsky’s views on the economic and political aspects of foreign trade and assess the scientist's contribution to the development of conceptual foundations of foreign trade based on historical sources. The theoretical basis of the research is the multi-directional application of the concept of foreign trade and the interpretation of foreign trade policy as a tool for successful economic development. The historical and economic methods of analysis, and the problem-personified approach to the study of the history of economic ideas are used. The author applies the tools of systematic approach for the layout of the studied by I. Vernadsky tools for the government’s activities in the field of customs policy and foreign trade. It is shown that I. Vernadsky was critical of the interpretation of an objective, and equivalent exchange and put forward the idea of the urgency of its participants’ needs, emphasizing the subjective nature of any exchange operations. At the same time, the scientist condemned the violent nature of external relations and exchange. Emphasis is placed on an important place in the study of foreign trade issues by I. Vernadsky – the influence of both economic and non-economic factors, in particular the nation’s level of education the and its connection with the level of trade. Also, in the article are highlighted the attitude of I. Vernadsky to the relationship of peoples, which is determined by the ratio of the size of their foreign trade. In return, asymmetry in trade can trigger the operation of the law of counteraction, which demonstrates the scientist's position on trade wars and their inevitability in the event of violence, expansion and robbery. It is emphasized that I. Vernadsky’s liberalism and policy of free trade in the issue of foreign trade should be implemented in conditions of low taxes and tariff duties. High duties not only minimize the mutual benefit of the parties in foreign trade, but also, according to the scientist, set up producers of individual countries against each other. This leads to a foreign policy confrontation between the two countries and international tensions. I. Vernadsky’s research of foreign trade issues in the XIX century is also relevant for the beginning of the XXI century, in particular, the idea of the importance of preventing neo-protectionism, trade conflicts and wars.

Outstanding Discoveries of Mongolian Historians and Archaeologists: Excavations of the Sar’dag Monastery

Mongolia is rich in a unique cultural heritage presented by a variety of discovered artifacts that continue to amaze now. Among them, it is quite deservedly possible to include the findings discovered by a complex group of researchers on the ruins of the Sar’dag monastery, which was one of the earliest and largest Mongolian monastic complexes, the de factor center of the religious and political life of the Mongols. The review provides an overview of the works included in the collective monograph “The Sar’dag monastery of Undur-gegen Zanabazar: the Centre of artistic creativity”, published under the editorship of Sampildondovyn Chuluun, the Academician of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences. This work is the result of six years of archaeological excavations conducted by a large scientific team in 2013–2018. The results obtained made it possible to restore the structure of the monastery complex, opened new, previously unknown pages of the activity of Undur-gegen Zanabazar. The artifacts found indicate the existence of wide external relations of the Mongols of that period with foreign countries. Articles on the preservation, restoration and digital documentation of found artifacts are of great scientific interest and relevance. In general, the results of the conducted works provide a new rich source material for a more in-depth study of the history of Mongolia of the period under consideration.

العلاقات الدولية في الإسلام: نحو نظرية معاصرة أكثر واقعية

This study aims at: First, examining the various opinions of the traditional theory of foreign relations from the perspective of the true Islamic religion, which historically was a reflection of the periods of the Islamic Conquests, and the reality of conflicts between the Islamic State, throughout its ages, and its enemies. Second, developing a realistic and a more adequate theoretical framework that consists with the current assumptions and concepts of international relations; but without contradicting with the principles governing the external relations of Muslim States in the past. It was not within the aims of this study to contradict jurisprudential opinions or develop others. Rather, it is an attempt to provide a better and more realistic understanding to the relations between Muslims, and other countries and societies; then, formulating the various opinions that we describe here-for the purpose of study only- as non-Traditionalism, within a framework through which the external behavior of Muslim societies or states can be interpreted from the perspective of the real teachings of Islam, not only normatively, according to the rule of "what should be; but also realistically, according to the contemporary circumstances and developments; so that any conflict between the Old, which had its legal and logical justifications, and the New, that requires more practical assumptions, will be resolved. The study has shown that some of the views of the traditional theory, specifically the division of the World into two domains, and the consideration of fight as an organizing principle of foreign relations in Islam, are not realistic. In addition, the Quranic texts that deal with this issue indicate, clearly, that peace is the legal basis for these relations. Accordingly, five general principles underpinning the contemporary Islamic theory of international relations have been defined, namely: The unity of the World on the basis that Islam is a global religion; peace is the principal that governs and regulates these relations; building forces for deterrence; and using power (force) in certain cases, specifically for self-defense, defending home/country and religion; and finally rejecting preemptive wars. Key Words: International Relations in Islam, War and Peace, Traditional Theory, Contemporary Theory, Preemptive Wars. تهدف هذه الدارسة إلى: أولاً، مراجعة آراءِ النظرية التقليدية الخاصة بالعلاقات الخارجية من منظور الدين الإسلامي الحنيف؛ والتي كانت تاريخياً انعكاساً لفترات الفتوحات الإسلامية، ولواقع النزاعات بين الدولة الإسلامية في مراحلها المختلفة، وأعدائها من الدول والإمبراطوريات المنافسة. وثانيا، بلورة إطار نظري واقعي وملائم ينسجم ومعطيات العصر ومفاهيمه؛ ولكن دون أن يتعارض مع القواعد الحاكمة لعلاقات الدولة والمجتمعات الإسلامية الخارجية في السابق. ولم يكن من أهداف هذه الدراسة مطلقاً، مخالفة اجتهادات فقهية أو استحداث أخرى؛ وإنما هي محاولة لتقديم فهم أفضل، وأكثر واقعية، للعلاقات بين المسلمين، وبين غيرهم من الدول والمجتمعات؛ ومن ثم صياغة الآراء، التي يمكننا وصفها هنا –لأغراض التمييز فقط-بالغير تقليدية، في إطار يُمكن من خلاله تفسير السلوك الخارجي للدولة من منظور الدين الإسلامي، ليس قِيَميّا وفق قاعدة "ما يجب أن يكون" فقط،-كما هو شائع في معظم أو ربما كل الدراسات التي تناولت هذا الموضوع المهم-، وإنما أيضاً واقعياً، وفق ما تفرضه الظروف والمستجدات المعاصرة؛ بحيث يُزال أي تعارض بين القديم، الذي كان له ظروفه ومبرراته الشرعية والمنطقية؛ والمستجد، الذي يتطلب طروحات أكثر عملية. وقد أظهرت الدراسة أن بعض آراء النظرية التقليدية، وتحديداً الخاصة بتقسيم العالم إلى دارين، واعتبار القتال أساس حاكم ومنظم للعلاقات الخارجية في الإسلام، ليست واقعية. كما أن النصوص القرآنية التي عالجت هذه المسألة، تشير بوضوح إلى أن السلم هو الأساس الشرعي لهذه العلاقات. وعليه فقد تم تحديد خمسة مبادئ عامة تقوم عليها النظرية الإسلامية المعاصرة للعلاقات الدولية، وهي: وحدة العالم على أساس أن الإسلام دين عالمي؛ والسلم كأساس حاكم ومنظم لهذه العلاقات؛ وبناء القوة للردع؛ واستخدامها في حالات محددة، وهي الدفاع عن النفس والدين والبلاد؛ ورفض الحروب الوقائية. كلمات دالة: علاقات دولية في الإسلام، السلم والحرب، النظرية التقليدية، النظرية المعاصرة، حروب وقائية.

The Innovative Response of Cultural and Creative Industries to Major European Societal Challenges: Toward a Knowledge and Competence Base

In this paper we highlight the importance of culture, cultural heritage and creative industries (CCI) in current European policies in relation to a number of societal challenges, and how the CCI are called to innovatively respond to such challenges. We distinguish four main societal challenges to which the CCI can strategically respond and significantly unlock the potential for innovation and smart growth in the EU. These societal challenges are addressed by four main pillars of the CCI, namely: (1) Europeans’ creativity, cultural diversity and values; (2) European identity and cohesion; (3) European employment, economic resilience and smart growth; and (4) Europe’s external relations. We address each societal challenge from the CCI perspective, indicating how the CCI can provide innovative responses to such challenges and enable strategic crossovers through networking and collaboration, but also referring to some criticalities. We further discuss how this CCI capacity needs public support and provide an overview of how this is undertaken via the main EU, national and international policies, with a focus on the latest trends.

Vertaistoiminnan muodot ja merkitys päihde- ja mielenterveysjärjestöissä

Artikkelissa tarkastellaan vertaistoimintaa päihde- ja mielenterveysjärjestöissä. Tutkimusaineisto koostuu kahdesta kyselystä. Ensimmäisessä kartoitettiin paikallisten päihde- ja mielenterveysyhdistysten (n=187) ja valtakunnallisten järjestöjen (n=28) johtajien käsityksiä vertaisuuden merkityksestä niiden toiminnassa sekä niissä tuotettavia vertaistoiminnan muotoja. Täydentävää aineistoa kerättiin järjestöjen työntekijöille (n=61) ja vertaisille (n=75) kohdistetulla kyselyllä, jossa tarkasteltiin vertaistoiminnan merkitystä, siihen liittyviä tehtäviä, vertaisten roolia ja asemaa sekä heihin kohdistuvia tukitoimenpiteitä ja tuen tarvetta.Vertaistoiminnalla oli keskeinen merkitys päihde- ja mielenterveysjärjestökentällä. Sen painoarvo kuitenkin vaihteli. Vertaistoiminnan merkitys oli suurempi ja siihen liittyviä toimintamuotoja oli enemmän suurilla toiminta-alueilla toimivissa yhdistyksissä. Sen painoarvo korostui etenkin ennen vuotta 1986 perustetuissa yhdistyksissä.Vertaisten rooli ja tehtävät hahmottuivat hieman eri tavoin työntekijöiden ja vertaisten itsensä näkökulmasta.Työntekijät korostivat vertaisten roolia järjestöjen asiakastyössä ja konkreettisessa auttamis- ja tukitoiminnassa, kun taas vertaiset itse näkivät roolinsa laajemmin myös järjestön ulkosuhteissa ja yhteiskunnallisina vaikuttajina. Aineiston vertaisista kolmannes oli kokenut uupumusta tai väsymystä toimiessaan vertaisena. Järjestöissä on tärkeää taata sekä vertaisten oman orientaation huomioiminen toiminnan suunnittelussa ja kehittämisessä että tarvittavat resurssit vertaisten tukemiseen. AbstractThe forms and importance of peer support in substance abuse and mental health organizations The study examines peer support in substance abuse and mental health organizations. The study is based on two sets of data. Information on the importance and forms of peer support provided was collected by a questionnaire sent to local (n=187) and national (n=28) non-governmental organizations in the fields of substance abuse and mental health, addressed to the CEO or chairman of the board. Supplementary data on the roles and tasks of peers as well as their need for support in their own work was collected by a questionnaire sent to the personnel (n=61) and peers (n=75) in these organizations. Peer support had a central role in both substance abuse and mental health organizations but it differed in different kinds of organizations. Peer support had a stronger emphasis and was more common in organizations operating in larger cities. Also, organizations founded especially before year 1986 had a stronger element of peer support in them compared to younger organizations. The peers’ roles and tasks were perceived somewhat differently by the personnel and the peers themselves. The personnel emphasized the peers’ role in the organization’s customer work and practical help and support related tasks, whereas the peers themselves perceived their role more broadly, including in the organizations’ external relations and in advocacy work. Every third of the peers who answered the questionnaire had experienced fatigue or exhaustion in their work as a peer. The results highlight the need to consider the peer workers’ own orientation and expectations in planning peer support in substance and mental health organizations, as well as the need to provide sufficient resources for supporting the peers’ well-being and coping skills in their work. Keywords: peer, peer support, NGO, substance abuse organizations, mental health organizations