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GEOPOLITICA ISSN 2009-9193 Vol VII n. 1/2018 – Indice e abstracts

Articoli

  • Dopo la «fine di Eurasia»: dobbiamo aver paura della Russia? Una lettura critica della riflessione geopolitica di Dmitri Trenin sulla Russia post-sovietica
    CORRADO STEFANACHI – Università degli Studi di Milano
    TITLE:
    After the “End of Eurasia”: Should We Fear Russia? Dmitri Trenin and the Geopolitics of Russia in the Putin’s Era.
    ABSTRACT:
    In his 2002 renowned work The End of Eurasia Dmitri Trenin made two intertwined points. Firstly, he affirmed that Russia and Eurasia were no longer synonyms, and they would not go back to being so in the foreseeable future. That is to say that Russia had definitevely lost its quality as the center of gravity of the Eurasian continent, and that Moscow had no other option than integrating into Western Europe and the Euro-Atlantic community. Secondly, Trenin argued that the Russians should not regret the loss of Eurasian empire since – in the age of globalization – geopolitics (i.e. territory and its resources) no longer features as a fundamental source of power, security and prestige. This article observes that in Trenin’s latest works the picture has become much less clear: while reiterating that Eurasia is not destined to resuscitate, Trenin admits that Russia is back as one of the three major independent poles of power (along with the US and China) in “the transcontinental, transoceanic system which is emerging in the northern hemisphere”. He also affirms that the challenge mounted by Putin’s Russia to the pax americana is a serious one, and that geopolitics (i.e. Russia’s spatial resources and characteristics) helps explain why this is the case.

    KEYWORDS: EURASIA; RUSSIA’S FOREIGN POLICY; DMITRI TRENIN; GEOPOLITICS.
  • La questione dei rapporti inter-etnici e inter-religiosi nell’assetto costituzionale del Kazakhstan
    Alessandro Lundini – IsAG
    TITLE:
    Inter-ethnic and inter-religious issues in the constitutional order of Kazakhstan.
    ABSTRACT:
    One of the main challenges facing Kazakhstan after the 1991 declaration of independence was to define and regulate inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations in a highly fragmented society. The government promoted a “Kazakhstani identity” aimed at building a model of civic and secular identity, able to protect the rights and freedoms of every single ethnic group or religious confession. In this strategy, the Kazakh ethnic group is the engine of the development of the new independent state and is strengthened by the new post-independence demographic balances, which see it as a majoritarian ethnic group. The article aims to analyze the constitutional norms in the field of nationality and religious politics, comparing them with the political attitude assumed over the years by the Central Asian state. The desire to implement these guidelines is confronted every day both with the need to defend the model of cohabitation from extremism and terrorism, and with a changed social context, in which the Kazakhs take on an ever stronger role every day. From a future perspective, the Kazakhstani model of coexistence will have to deal with the needto maintain this balance, in a very different social and demographic context.

    KEYWORDS: KAZAKHSTANI IDENTITY, MULTICULTURALISM, DIALOGUE OF CIVILIZATION.

  • Il Pakistan e il dilemma dell’organizzazione del territorio: centralizzazione o autonomie provinciali?
    Francesco Brunello Zanitti – Università di Firenze e Università di Siena
    TITLE:
    Pakistan and the territory organization’s dilemma: centralization or provincial autonomies?
    ABSTRACT:
    Since 1947 Pakistan’s leadership is involved in the matter of Federation’s administrative organization. In fact, there is a debate between those who prefer a decentralization and the reinforcement of administrative units and those who want centralization, using religion and Urdu language as tools to unify Pakistan’s areas, which are plural according to an ethno-linguistic point of view. This discussion has taken relevance since the Seventies, due to the secession of the East Pakistan (Bangladesh). However, still today it is an important question, a source of periodic tensions and a relevant aspect particularly during election campaigns. This article intends to analyze the topic of Pakistani territory’s organization, using as reference points Federation’s history, the peculiarities of an area characterized by ethno-linguistic pluralism and the Constitution of 1973 with the Eighteenth Amendment of 2010. The latter is today a legal basis that legitimizes requests of autonomy. It’s an important aspect in particular after the July 2018 elections.

    KEYWORDS: PAKISTAN, CONSTITUTION OF PAKISTAN, 1973, EIGHTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF PAKISTAN, ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS OF PAKISTAN, CENTRALIZATION, DECENTRALIZATION.
  • Analisi e confronto delle politiche di aiuto allo sviluppo di Cina e Giappone nell’Africa sub-sahariana e loro applicazione pratica nei casi Angola e Mozambico
    Alberto Belladonna (IsAG), Massimiliano Porto (Kobe University)

    TITLE:
    Analysis and comparison of China and Japan’s development aid policy in Sub-Saharan Africa and their implementation in Angola and Mozambique.

    ABSTRACT:
    Since 2000, Sub-Saharan Africa has recorded high growth rates of GDP. In order to keep this growth pace and be definitely included as an active player in the globalized economic order, Sub-Saharan Africa still needs foreign investment. Given that some investments are not profitable for private investors, the Official Development Assistance (ODA) from donor countries acquires a key role for the development of Sub-Saharan Africa. Historically, Western countries have been the main donor countries to Africa. However, Japan and China play today a key role for the development of the continent providing new resources and a different aid model. This paper analyzes the main characteristics of Japanese and Chinese aid models and how they are carried out in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    KEYWORDS: OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, JAPAN, CHINA, TIDAC, FOCAC.
  • Gongos in china: Government in Disguise or NGO in Action?
    Liew Ting Ting – National University of Singapore
    ABSTRACT:
    The notion of a government-organized non-governmental organization (GONGO) is paradoxical and ironic to many who views it as a tool of authoritarian regimes. However, does this necessarily mean that GONGOs are less effective in protecting human rights than traditional NGOs? Using the case of China, the biggest non-democratic state in the world, this paper seeks to explore the role and effectiveness of GONGOs. With reference to various GONGOs that operate in China, this paper concludes that GONGOs can actually be even more effective protectors of human rights compared to traditional NGOs due to their closer relations with the government and greater pool of resources which allows better organizational functioning. These GONGOs generally play the role of service providers in partnership with the government and not against it. This conclusion has great implications on and refute the dominant Western liberal ideals of how NGOs should protect human rights independent of – and oftentimes against – the state. Nevertheless, while one witnesses the benefits of GONGOs, it remains a question of whether they will stifle the civil society in the long run.

    KEYWORDS: NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO); GOVERNMENT-ORGANIZED NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (GONGO); HUMAN RIGHTS.
  • Prospettive dell’ordinamento singaporiano: il delicato equilibrio fra autoritarismo, stabilità sociale e pragmatismo economico
    Giacomo Guarini IsAG Sapienza Università di Roma
    TITLE:
    Perspectives of the Singaporean system: the sensitive balance among authoritarianism, social harmony and economic pragmatism.
    ABSTRACT:
    This paper offers a general introduction of the Singaporean system which takes into consideration both the basic geographical and geopolitical factors on the one hand and some of the most peculiar elements of its legal system on the other hand. A brief introduction is given about the relevant strategic importance of the geographical position of the country nowadays and also in its main historical developments. It is also made a description of the figure of Lee Kuan Yew, in order to show the deep influence that his political commitment has given to the country in the last decades. The aforementioned elements offer a basic frame to describe some of the most peculiar elements of the Singaporean legal system. Firstly, some elements of constitutional law are shown, especially with regard to the central role of the Parliament. Then, some focuses are given about how the authoritarianist and paternalists attitudes of the political establishment have their wide influence in different areas of the juridical sphere. On the other hand, it is shown how the political establishment encourages economic freedoms with a pragmatic approach in order to keep the high economic standards of the country. Finally, some reflections are made about the possible perspectives of the Singaporean system taking into account both the internal and international main ongoing changes. In particular, on the one hand it is taken into consideration the hypothesis of a real democratic improvement of the present Singaporean political system; on the other hand, it is considered the possibility that the present status quo is substantially kept, even if apparently under new forms and expressions.

    KEYWORDS: SINGAPOREAN LEGAL SYSTEM, DEMOCRACY IN SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE’S BUSINESS MODEL
  • Geopolitica e diritto: il caso colombiano
    Nicola Fatone – IsAG
    TITLE:
    Geopolitics and Law: a case study from Colombia.
    ABSTRACT:
    The recent peace deal after the long negotiations between the government and the FARC-EP lead the Colombian nation to reach the formal achievement as to be a proper State. The actual homeland territory control is no longer limited by a relevant insurgency militia, and this put the legal power in the condition of attempting a real developing process within the public society and institutions. Referring to Colombian political history, we could observe a permanent cycle of conflict and State strengthening as a constant pattern, because of a certain legacy concerning social, economic and political issues, still ongoing since the State foundation in the early XIX century. The chance to trigger an incisive shift from this path is strictly related to the recent, complicated crisis decades that made the State itself uncertain. If a real change would successfully cease the internal conflicts permanently, it will pass through the solution of past divisions and a solid State spreading a shared legal culture.

    KEYWORDS: STATE-BUILDING PROCESS, TERRITORY AND CONFLICT, COLOMBIAN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS/ DEAL
  • Da Khomeini a Khamenei: la Guida suprema e la politica estera iraniana
    Claudia Candelmo – Sapienza Università di Roma
    TITLE:
    From Khomeini to Khamenei: the Supreme Leader and Iranian foreign policy.
    ABSTRACT:
    The contribution explores the role of the Iranian Supreme Leader in the framework of foreign policy activities implemented by the Islamic Republic of Iran. In particular, the article examines the institutional role of the supreme leader, the characteristics and powers of this important organ, and focuses specifically on how, albeit not having the main powers in international affairs, the supreme leader contributes to shape Iranian foreign policy. In this connection, one of the main issues that will be dealt with is the noteworthy interaction that exists between the supreme leader and the President of the Islamic Republic, as guaranteed by the Constitution, as well as by practice. In light of this background, the article timeframe spans from the Islamic revolution of 1979 to present times, putting particular attention on most recent events and looking, among the others, at the role played by the Supreme Leader in the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, concluded in 2015. The article will highlight that, although significantly shaped by the prominent role of the Supreme Leader, Iranian institutional asset as well as its foreign policy are everything but a monolithic asset, and the President plays a strong role in this respect. In this connection, the relationship between the two figures, their political proximity and synergy, play a key role in identifying concerted actions of the powerful Iranian nation within the international community.

    KEYWORDS: SUPREME LEADER; IRANIAN FOREIGN POLICY; PRESIDENT OF IRAN.
  • I rapporti tra Helsinki e Mosca e l’avvicinamento della Finlandia alla NATO
    Rodolfo Bastianelli
    TITLE:
    The relations between Helsinki and Moscow and the finnish rapprochement toward NATO.
    ABSTRACT:
    This essay aims to illustrate the foreign policy of Finland toward Soviet Union first and Russia then. The first paragraph describes the relations between Helsinki and Moscow from 1918 to the outbreak of second world war, the strange alliance with Germany and the political consequences of the defeat in the conflict against Soviet Union in 1941-44. The second paragraph is focused on the problematic relations with Moscow after the second world war, the Helsinki’s particular neutrality status in the years of cold war well reassumed under the term “finlandization” and the re-orientation of finnish position after the collapse of Soviet Union and the emerging of a new geopolitical scenario in the Baltic and Scandinavian region with the more assertive Russian foreign policy adopted by Vladimir Putin in these last years. For the historical part, the sources that has been university thesis and U.S. diplomatic documents recently declassified. For the more recent political developments, the sources are articles from monthly and weekly magazine and comments of finnish politicians on possible NATO full-fledged membership.

    KEYWORDS: FOREIGN POLICY OF FINLAND, 1918-2016, RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND FINLAND.