BALANCING OF SCALES: THE DYNAMICS OF U.S.-KAZAKHSTANI RELATIONS DURING G. BUSH JR. AND B. OBAMA PRESIDENCIES

This article presents a chronological overview of Kazakh-American relation dynamics in the period of G. Bush Jr. and Obama’s administrations – periods with principally varying perspectives on the region including Kazakhstan. The authors have aimed at showcasing the change in the priorities of the American foreign policy in relation to Kazakhstan – from a partner in war against terrorism, joint oil projects to the role of a transitionary state between the U.S. and Afghanistan. At the same time, it is not appropriate to claim that Kazakhstan was merely participating in bilateral relations. The authors highlight dividends that Kazakhstan received as a result of collaborating with Washington.

Research on Chinese Influence on Western Fashion Based on Fashion Magazine from 1970 to 1979

The decade of 1970s was a peak of Chinese influence on Western fashion. This article was intended to reveal the categories and design characteristics of Chinese-influenced clothing with classified statistical method based on collecting a total of 295 sets of designs presented during 1970-1979 from four fashion magazines. The underlying reasons for the popularity of Chinese-influenced clothing on western fashion were also analyzed and summarized. The research results showed that the Chinese-influenced clothing included three categories: outdoor daily clothes, indoor home wears and evening dresses, presenting neutral, romantic and luxury respectively. The popularity of Chinese-influenced clothing was mainly a result of some national and international factors, including anti-fashion aesthetics in the western society, the normalization of Sino-American relation and the development of Hong Kong trade.

An Anglo-American Dilemma

The people of Britain will soon vote on Britain's terms of entry into the European Economic Community, Although the consequences of that referendum will be highly significant, it is difficult to predict the outcome of the balloting. It is possible, however, to anticipate what some of the consequences will be if the British accept the renegotiated terms of entry.For Britain, Community membership may entail diminution of her own sovereignty; a weakening of the valuable Anglo-American relation; the creation of a neutralist, an tt-American Third Force; and a dislocation of the British economy. Each of these must be very seriously evaluated before the vote is taken, before the die is cast.