Vaccine diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic on the example of the Republic of Serbia

The global COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented in scale and scope. The COVID-19 vaccines have not only become an indispensable weapon in the fight against the pandemic but also served as a sign of the technological and scientific prestige of the countries that developed them. While the term "vaccine diplomacy" is not new, it may have become much more relevant in times of global pandemic. The aim of this research is to analyze the vaccine diplomacy of China, the EU, and Russia towards Serbia during the global COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the study also presents Serbia's efforts to engage in its own vaccine diplomacy at the global level. The novelty of this research can be seen in a comparative analysis of the efforts of the "vaccine diplomacy" of the EU, China, and Russia towards Serbia. In addition, this research also presents the results of the survey data on Serbian citizens and their perceptions of foreign aid received during the pandemic. It can be concluded that the Chinese and Russian medical aid to Serbia were very well received by the Serbian government, government-aligned media, and the Serbian public. Concerning the aid of the European Union, it was neither significantly advertised by the media, nor was the Serbian public perception significantly changed in the favour of the EU. At the same time, the Serbian government engaged in vaccine diplomacy of its own, to strengthen the ties with Yugoslavia's former allies from the Non-Alignment Movement.

Transformation of the U. S. National Strategy for Counterterrorism during the presidency of Barack Obama

Tracing the evolution of Barack Obama's National Strategy for Counterterrorism is relevant for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, foreign policy and globalist trends were the reason for coming to power of the next president-isolationist Donald Trump. Secondly, many experts believe that the current administration of the White House pursues a successive foreign policy course namely in relation to the concept of B. Obama. And ultimately, consideration of the factors that affect the transformation of foreign policy strategy, and its counterterrorism component in particular, may contribute to forecasting similar processes under other administrations. The conclusion is made that Barack Obama preferred multilateral cooperation over unilateral coercive course; and the vector towards harmonization of relations with the Muslim world triggered the revision of the “struggle against terrorism” paradigm of George Bush Jr. B. Obama’s administration declared the transition from the concept of preventive strikes towards the concept of “smart power” and “leading from behind”, which manifested in the course of anti-terrorist operation in Syria. The author notes that the activity of Barack Obama in countering international terrorism is characterized by the departure from the tactics of conducting large-scale and costly wars of George Bush Jr. to joint targeted counterterrorism operations.

Assessment of the goals of the Russian Federation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization given by French researchers

The subject of this research is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the goals of the Russian Federation therein. This article aims to fill the gap in French historiography and analyze the goals of the Russian Federation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization through the prism of French researchers. An overview is given to the assessment given by French authors to Russia’s goals in this organization at the stage of its foundation, establishment and development, as well as the overall goals of the Russian foreign policy in post-Soviet space and Central Asia. Special attention is given to the security and energy issues, as well as the growing influence of China and the United States in Central Asia. The relevance of this work is substantiated by the analysis of French research dedicated to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the goals of the Russian Federation therein, which is carried out for the first time. For article leans on the monographs and articles by the French historians, political scientists, and experts in the area of international relations dedicated to foreign policy of the Russian Federation in the early 1990s – late 2000s and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The conclusion is made that according to the majority of French researchers, the Russian Federation uses the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to strengthen its positions in Central Asia, as well as on the international arena.

On the environmental history of chemical munitions disposal at the bottom of the Baltic Sea: “Nord Stream” projects

Bases on the example of Baltic Region, the question is raised on the conservation of water resources in the context of environmental history and international cooperation. Special attention is given to the threats and risks of anthropogenic interference in the zones of chemical weapons disposal at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The key goal of this research lies in comprehensive assessment and approach towards the problem of negative human interference into the natural environment of the Baltic water area. The article considers the instances of the emergence of a direct threat of environmental disaster, as well as a range of factors that reflect the consequences of postwar historical events. Assessment is given to the actual risks of the emergence of high level of threat to hydrological resources and adjacent territories. The novelty of this article consists in examination of the danger caused by chemical munitions disposal in the Baltic Sea in the context of construction of the “Nord Stream” and “Nord Stream – 2” export gas pipelines. The conclusion is made on the high risk of depressurization of submerged ships with chemical disposal due to inadvertent operation in the water area and neglect of the regulated environmental norms and standards. The authors note politicization of the environmental assessment of activity of the curators of the “Nord Stream” project; indicate their scrupulous compliance with the international environmental standards and territorial planning of construction in hazardous zones. The authors consider the impossibility of elimination of the negative impact of distribution of harmful substances in the Baltic Sea; however, note the possibility of minimizing the risks and maintaining the stability of the inland sea in the conditions of further anthropogenic exploitation.

Russia and the peculiarities of settling international conflicts in the XXI century

Being one of the world's leading powers the Russian Federation is the “constructor” of the modern world order, as well as the beneficiary of the modern system of international relations; therefore, peacekeeping holds the key position in foreign policy of the Russian Federation. Russia's contribution to the development of peacekeeping activity and settlement of military conflicts not only designates the role of the Russian Federation in international relations, but also characterizes the capability of the entire international system to face against military conflicts. This substantiates the relevance of studying the degree of participation of the Russian Federation in peacekeeping operations and settling military conflicts. Comprehensive analysis is conducted on the actions of the Russian Federation aimed at settling military conflicts. The conclusion is made that the Russian Federation can be engaged in settling military conflicts using traditional combat operations in most escalated part of the conflict. The capabilities and restrictions of the state form the role of the Russian Federation in settling military conflicts as traditional powerful, which in fact does not allow acting autonomously to the exclusion of other states or as a part of coalition to avoid severe diplomatic and reputational losses. Such narrow focus is justified by the current state of affairs and is not a constant at all times. For more active and full participation of the Russian Federation in settling international conflicts, it is feasible to develop the soft power components of peacekeeping activity, as well as evade the attempts of conduct peacekeeping operations outside of large intergovernmental coalitions.

Inclusive security architecture in the Middle East: peculiarities of functioning and Prospects for expansion

This article explores the prerequisites for the creation and peculiarities of functioning of the inclusive security architecture in the Middle East. This system of ensuring and maintaining peace was established by Russia, and currently includes two cross-regional Middle Eastern powers – Turkey and Iran. The author analyzes the potential of involving new actors — Saudi Arabia and Israel – into the functioning of the security architecture. The article employs the method of SWOT-analysis for determining the advantages and disadvantaged of the inclusive security architecture in the Middle East, as well as outlining the major threats and capabilities of the system. The novelty of this research lies in giving definition to the concept of “inclusive security architecture”; assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the inclusive security architecture created by Russia in the Middle East; outlining the major threats and vulnerabilities of the system, as well as the potential attraction of new actors therein. The author also highlights the peculiarities of the key five pairs of conflict relations in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia — Iran, Saudi Arabia – Turkey, Saudi Arabia – Israel, Israel – Iran, and Israel – Turkey), the nature of which Russia should take into account within the framework of long-term planning. The conclusion is made that in the future, the inclusive security architecture may become one of the key pillars of peace and security in the Middle East, and gradually mitigate the conflicts in this region.

Public diplomacy of the Slovak Republic: concept, establishment, and development

This article analyzes the process of establishment and development of public diplomacy of the Slovak Republic. The author provides certain definitions of the term public diplomacy, as well as discusses the formation of public diplomacy of the Slovak Republic and its concept after declaring independence. Analysis is conducted on the development and implementation of public diplomacy of the Slovak Republic abroad at the present stage. The article consists of the three sections: the first explores the general concept of public diplomacy; the second analyzes the establishment and development of public diplomacy of the Slovak Republic; the third demonstrates the implementation of public diplomacy in the Slovak Republic in the current context. The problem of public diplomacy is currently relevant and subject to extensive analysis. With the course of time, public diplomacy has been playing a significant role in foreign policy of the Slovak Republic, and thus, a crucial factor in its international life. The author’s special contribution consists in examination of the materials of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. Methodological framework is comprised of systemic approach, as well as general and private scientific methods, such as analysis, synthesis, comparison, and historical method. The scientific novelty of this research lies in the comprehensive approach towards the analysis of public diplomacy in the Slovak Republic and its evolution.

Russian toolkit for settling international conflicts and peculiarities of its application

As the successor state of the former superpower USSR, the Russian Federation retains its high status of the “guarantor of peace” for the entire international community due to a range of political, military and economic means, currently being on of the few “police states”. The role of police states is important to such extent that no major conflict can be settled without their participation or approval. Such status of Russia is being maintained by its military power, as well as a number of political privileges. Alongside any police state, Russia has developed its own strategy for interfering or settling the international military conflicts using the existing toolkit. This defines the relevance of analysis of the current state of the Russian range of means and tools for suppression and settlement of the conflicts. The goal of this research consists in examination of the the means available to the Russian Federation for settling military conflicts, as well as in the analysis of the state and prospects of their use in peacekeeping campaigns of the Russian Federation. It is worth noting that the Russian Federation as the successor state of the Soviet Union, and one of the members of the nuclear club and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, retains and extends the range of tools for handling and settling military conflicts, from the preventive tools of cultural-diplomatic influence such as Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (commonly known as Rossotrudnichestvo) to high-tech military weapons, which have no analogues among the overwhelming majority of participants of international relations. The presence of such rich arsenal testifies to strong peacekeeping potential of the Russian Federation; however, the currently observed inclination towards the priority of coercive tools can severely undermine the ability of the Russian Federation to settle international military conflicts.

Current trends of international cooperation in the area of education on the example of Spain and Russia (due to implementation of the joint degree program between Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and University of the Balearic Islands)

This article explores the cooperation of Spain and Russia in the area of education due to implementation of the joint degree program between Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia and University of the Balearic Islands). The study of the bilateral dialogue within the framework of educational policy and outlining its prospects is relevant since Spain is the strategically important partner for the Russian Federation. Analysis of the potential of university cooperation between the two countries at the present stage is also necessary for expanding the presence of Spain and Russia in the humanitarian sphere abroad, and creating a positive image of both countries among foreign partners. The novelty of this research lies in the detailed analysis of the joint Master’s program and postgraduate education implemented between Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and University of the Balearic Islands), its current state and development prospects, as well as the challenges faced in the process of implementation of this project. It is noted that the joint degree program between the Russian and Spanish universities are an integral part of their cooperation in the sphere of education. The author establishes that the difference in academic degrees in the Russian and Spanish systems of education remains a crucial and unresolved issue, which obstructs the bilateral partnership in this area.

Possibilities of revising the modern world order

The object of this research is a polemical question within the theory of international relations – the transformation of world orders. The author believes that this work is a compromise in the long-lasting scientific dispute on the principles of the end of one world order and the beginning of the new world order. Description is given to the current world order of international relations, its characteristics and reference points. The key goal of this research consists in theoretical substantiation of various aspects of the possible shift of the current world order. The article indicates certain untenable aspects of the current world order, and outlines the possibilities of its revision from the perspective of the three fundamental theoretical paradigms of international relations. The goal is set to arrange the anarchically disparate representations on the system of international relation, and derive a comprehensible, uniform structure, which also defines the novelty of the conducted research. It is claimed that since the end of the World War II, the international relations have existed in the form of Yalta-Potsdam system, which at this point indicates the three world orders, including since dissolution of the Soviet Union. Emphasis is placed on the issue of hegemony of the United States and the idea of unipolar world striving for multipolarity. The author’s special contribution lies in comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon under consideration, which incorporates numerous articles of the reputable publishers and experts who have already dealt with the difficult theoretical problem in the theory of international relations.