Abstract ▼

The author carries out comparative analysis of the national security strategies of Russia (2009) and the United States (2010), to show how they serve in the reproduction of the two states’ incompatible national identities. This incompatibility is the main cause of Russia and the United States’ inability for real rapprochement, including the most recent attempt during the period of the adoption of these documents. The theoretical framework of the analysis is David Campbell’s performative theory, which considers foreign policy (including the adoption of foreign policy documents) as the central practice in constitution and reproduction of national identity. The analysis of the United States and Russia’s identities and their foreign policies shows that they are incompatible in many respects, which makes the two powers see each other as a threat in a globalized world. The conclusion of the most recent national security strategies’ comparative analysis in relation to values, threats and means is that they are only a new stage in the process of this incompatibility reproduction. The real rapprochement between Russia and the United States will become possible only when they find a way to establish a common identity, based on a common view of some external threat.

Abstract ▼

Cities and local communities are becoming more independent from central government authorities in international scene. Decentralization has enabled local communities to act independently on the international scene. This is one of the reasons why local communities have become important partners of central government authorities in international affairs. Many state problems have local origin and local communities are important agents in solving these problems. Sharing experience among cities from different countries has strengthened their position at the national and international level. Local communities have instruments to strengthen their position at the international level. In the cities strategies for acting at the international level, the development of public diplomacy is an important element. The position of public diplomacy in such strategies depends on the state constitutional system and available resources of the cities. Constraints and opportunities for the development of cities’ public diplomacy are much determined by their relationship with higher levels of state hierarchy. Mutual interests of different levels of state hierarchy and willingness to join efforts are the key factor that influences the development of cities’ public diplomacy. On the other hand, cities have got capital, experience and knowledge which are important for solving global issues. That is why cities are recognized as an important partner at the global level. International organizations are developing partnerships with cities and transnational city networks. These are some of the reasons why central governments are forced to include cities in foreign policy activities. In such circumstances, cities and local communities are very active in the development of their public diplomacy. This is especially important for the cities that generate a large amount of local incomes. Public diplomacy is an instrument that the cities use to promote themselves on the international level and thus generate more income.

Abstract ▼

This paper discusses Islamic authors’ attempt to set foundation to an Islamic economics as an alternative to the global market economy and Europe’s liberal economic theory. It focuses on principles, notions and practices of Islamic states and business circles of which the economic systems and policies are based on the Koran and the Sharia. A section of the paper analyses Islamic criticism of secular and humanistic ethics of human rights in Europe and relevant counterarguments. Discussing different definitions of Islamic economics by Islamic theoreticians the paper suggests that this variety of definitions testifies that there is no such thing as Islamic economics.

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This paper examines the strategic rationale behind the strengthening of relations between India and Iran in recent period, as well as potential problems in relations with USA, caused by them. Namely, as India’s global profile has strengthened during recent years, its relations with the United States have improved. Given the culmination of decade-long conflict between the U.S. and Iran, India will have to walk a fine line between these two forces. This article explores the factors that favor strengthening India’s relations with Iran, as well as the factors that favor the preservation of strong relations with the U.S.