Myths of Multipolarity: The Sources of Brazil's Foreign Policy Overstretch

In this article, we provide a framework to analyze the foreign policy overstretch of middle powers, that is, their recent tendency to expand foreign policy goals and ambitions beyond their capabilities. We propose that overstretch results from the interaction of permissive international environments and the collusion of domestic actors to produce foreign policy myths. These myths, in turn, justify unsustainable swelling of foreign policy expenditures until they are shattered. After laying out our theory, we test it against the case of twenty-first-century Brazil. First, we document how interest groups logrolled to foster and capitalize on a “myth of multipolarity,” which, once entrenched in elite discourse and public opinion, resulted in a tangible overgrowth of foreign policy. Second, we show the extent of overstretch across four indicators—number of embassies, participation in peacekeeping operations, membership in international organizations, and aid projects overseas—using the synthetic control method to compare Brazil with a plausible counterfactual.

Introduction: The Pursuit of “Integration” and “Robustness” in Japan’s Peacekeeping Policy

Here we will present two research questions: first, why did Japan suddenly discontinue a quarter-century history of troop contribution to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs) in 2017; second, is there any possibility of resuming large-scale military deployment. Hypothetically, we will argue that Japan’s retreat from South Sudan in 2017 should be regarded not as the revival of old anti-militarism but as a recent tendency of reluctance among the Global North countries, concerning the personnel deployment to the UNPKOs. Since the start in 1992, Japan had deployed only the limited personnel contribution under the strict constitutional ban. To overcome this situation, Japan had tried to trace the global trends of “robustness” and “integration”: the former encourages more proactive use of arms for peacekeepers to remove obstacles for the UNPKOs, while the latter promotes peacebuilding-like military roles along with the cooperation with civilians. In the late 2010s, however, Japan could no longer accommodate the recent international trends, mainly due to the increasing insecurity in the UNPKOs today. Likewise, the other Global North countries had also become hesitant for the personnel contribution to the UNPKOs. We will argue that Japan’s retreat falls in the common trend among the Global North countries.

Сurrent state of artificial reproduction of chum salmon in Primorye Region

Results of 4 salmon hatcheries operation in Primorye Region are overviewed. Dynamics of chum salmon producers return to the rivers is presented for 4 last years. Recent tendency of shifting the peak of return from middle October to late September — early October is noted both for the rivers flowing into Peter the Great Bay (Barabashevka) and for the rivers of central Primorye (Verbnaya and Milogradovka). High percentage of producers aged 2+ was observed in the hatchery rivers in some years (32.9 % in the Barabashevka in 2019, 31.0 % in the Verbnaya in 2020, 37.8 % in the Bezymyanny in 2020). Interannual fluctuations in the number of producers return are possibly caused by malfunctions of hatcheries. A problem of water supply to the hatcheries is considered. Expediency of temperature control at hatcheries is shown. Data on release of chum salmon juveniles in the last decade are presented for each hatchery: the number of juveniles released, the average weight of juveniles, and the timing of release. Total release to the Barabashevka River was 119.29 . 106 juveniles, to the Ryazanovka — 114.24 . 106 juveniles, to the Poyma — 49.43 . 106 juveniles, to the Narva — 6.02 . 106 juveniles, to the Brusya — 3.11 . 106 juveniles, to the Verbnaya — 69.66 . 106 juveniles, to the Milogradovka — 1.00 . 106 juveniles, to the Lidovka — 1.71 . 106 juveniles, to the Bezymyanny — 69.45 . 106 juveniles, and 2.00 . 106 juveniles each to the Kievka and Margaritovka Rivers.

TRANSDISCIPLINARY AS A VECTOR OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH

В последнее время наблюдается тенденция трансформации проблематики, возникающей в общественно-исторической практике, из проблематики частной, конкретной в комплексную, меж- и трансдисциплинарную. Место объектов изучения гуманитарными и естественными науками постепенно, но вполне заметно занимают развивающиеся системы. Вещи, раньше казавшиеся монолитными и неделимыми, как правило, предстают теперь внутренне расчлененными и организованными. Простое, цельное уступает место сложному, системному. Все больше исследований носит трансдисциплинарный характер, которые идут сквозь границы многих дисциплин, выходят за пределы частных наук, что следует из смысла самой приставки «транс». Эта многогранная сложность существует не сама по себе, она «открывается» в ходе человеческой деятельности и обусловлена тем или иным ее состоянием. В этой связи для гуманитаристики в интеграции с естественными науками открываются возможности более глубокого изучения реальности. There has been a recent, tendency for the transformation of the problematics, which manifests itself in socio-historical practice, from a concrete problematics into a complex, inter- and transdisciplinary one. Tre developing systems are gradually taking tre place of subjects studied by tre humanities and natural sciences. Things that previously seemed monolithic and indivisible, as a rule, now appear internally dismembered and organized. The simple and holistic gives way to the complex and systemic. More and more research of a trans-disciplinary nature go beyond the scope of many disciplines and limits of individual sciences as the meaning of the prefix «trans» presupposes. This multifaceted complexity does not exist on its own, it is «revealed» in the course of human activity and is conditioned by one of its states. In this regard, the humanities open up opportunities for a deeper study of reality in integration with the natural sciences.

Beyond Respect and Beneficence

Thomas E. Hill, Jr. breaks with two conventional approaches in moral philosophy. Hill eschews the recent tendency to focus either on duties or on virtues, and instead emphasizes the importance of moral attitudes. And Hill specifically steps outside the usual framework of Kantian ethics by developing and defending the importance of a moral attitude besides respect and beneficence, namely the attitude of appreciation. To appreciate something is to recognize and respond appropriately to its value as something worth attending to, observing, admiring, cherishing, or the like, for its own sake. The attitude of appreciation is especially important in personal relationships, although it includes recognizing and responding positively to the distinctive features possessed by many sorts of things, not just persons.

Innovative Rural Entrepreneurship in Chile

Successful policies seeking to promote rural entrepreneurship require a conceptual model consistent with the features of rural spaces and free of stereotypes of entrepreneurship as being only technologically sophisticated. The objective of this essay is, first, to argue that rural areas can be fertile ground for entrepreneurial activities in middle-income countries such as Chile and, second, to discuss policy options to achieve the goal of encouraging a more innovative entrepreneurship in rural areas. The scientific literature on entrepreneurship and the definitions, types and roles of entrepreneurship in development are reviewed. The literature on the location of entrepreneurship is summarized to understand the drivers of observed territorial differences in entrepreneurial activity. One conclusion is that rural areas face a (seemingly) adverse economic geography for entrepreneurship, although there is a recent tendency for amenities-led growth. We then present the geography of rural entrepreneurship in Chile. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the rates of entrepreneurship in Chilean rural areas are high, although presumably of a limited growth potential under current conditions. Nevertheless, this entrepreneurial base provides a stock of knowledge from which a greater sophistication could be reached, and we discuss potential policy approaches to stimulate more innovative rural entrepreneurship. In the case of Chile, available policy options are coherent with the recently enacted National Rural Development Policy. A systemic, amenity-based approach gives middle-income countries opportunities for the development of more innovative rural entrepreneurship through territorial policies that provide local public goods and improve living conditions.

The “Techno-Turn” of China’s Official Discourse on Nationalism

This article explores a recent tendency in the official Chinese discourse on nationalism—the government more actively employs Chinese achievements in science and technology to boost national pride and regime legitimacy. This “techno-turn” focuses on China’s construction of megaprojects, its active role in international techno-economic business, and its development of cutting-edge scientific research and technologies. This transition in the official discourse on nationalism contains several rationales along material, policy, and ideological dimensions, and uses sophisticated propaganda tactics. It also faces constraints and challenges—some derived from conflicts with reality, and others derived from internal logical imbalances. The turn marks a new stage in the development of contemporary Chinese nationalism, in which official nationalism absorbs elements from popular nationalism. This ideological transition may influence both Chinese domestic and international politics—it may lead to China’s more confident engagement in international affairs, but may also generate uncertainties in relations between China and the West.

Too much of a good thing: When transitional justice prescriptions may not work

Transitional justice developed as a pragmatic concept prescribing a set of mechanisms to be used by societies or countries experiencing systematic periods of armed conflicts or emerging from authoritarian regimes characterised by egregious violations of human rights or humanitarian law. While relative success stories of its utilisation have been recorded, questions have been raised regarding the recent tendency to prescribe transitional justice for societies which have not or are yet to undergo any transition. Through its lack of success in Nigeria and debatable effectiveness in Uganda, the article shows that transitional justice mechanisms are not a cure-all. While it does not contend that there is a perfect notion of transitional justice, the article proposes that transitional justice mechanisms must be designed from the ground up, with the victims at the centre of the process. While transitional justice is a global project, this article argues that its success can be achieved when its applicability and administration take into account the contextual and indigenous focus with a move towards localising its mechanisms.

A brief review of innovations in the education system and teaching languages to marine engineers

Trends in entrepreneurship education have been the focus of this research. Numerous recent trends have included the expansion of entrepreneurship education across primary, secondary, high, and higher schools. The increase of the implementation of the new teaching approach in education programs and teaching activities worldwide and the growth of entrepreneurship education across all the levels within educational systems are also mentioned. Entrepreneurship education is believed to be one of the most appropriate approaches that encourage students to develop useful professional skills that could be helpful both in everyday life and career. Thus this paper aims to review the general knowledge base regarding the recommendation by reporting the reasons activated the interest in entrepreneurship in education, as it is a kind of innovation in professional non-economic education and is not popular among school teachers and university lecturers. The authors underline that multidisciplinary teaching techniques are becoming more popular as they explore a recent tendency of universities to create a new curriculum for entrepreneurship and innovation activities for professional subjects. The paper begins by considering so-called Clip-thinking researches as this specific mindset is thought to be one of the urgent reasons that make it necessary to work out the entrepreneurship approach in teaching. It then considers some literature that can be used in teaching English both everyday and professional, the design and construction of which is identified by the demands of Clip-thinking peculiarities. Then the researchers inform why and how entrepreneurship approach should be implemented in teaching professional English for Maritime engineers and how the creation of such activities can be ‘successful’. There is also presented a list of pedagogical approaches to be used in the classroom and in outclass activities. The goals of the above mentioned educational approach are enlisted as well.