Book
Neo-Classical Realism in European Politics: Bringing Power Back In
In the final chapter of this volume Tatiana Romanova and Elena Pavlova bring a Russian perceptive on neoclassical realism. The country largely missed out on the first five decades of international relations theory due to a doctrinal focus on Marxist explanations. But after the fall of communism Realism has, according to the authors, swiftly acquired a central role in Russian IR studies. The authors argue that neoclassical realism is less used as a theory than as a tool to guide policy - and that, in this sense, neoclassical realism will be strengthening its positions. In what that to many (at least western) readers will be a genuinely new insights the authors point out three issues, which, according to them, shape the realist thinking in Russia: the authority of the state, personified in the strong president ; geopolitical and identity orientation; and the peculiarities of Russian interests articulation. They examine how these three categories manifest themselves in various realist discussions on the three key issues for Russia (polarity, national interests and neighbourhood). Romanova and Pavlova conclude that the popularity of neoclassical realist thinking and its future potential in Russia is provided by foreign-policy practice, not by academic studies.
The article deals with the processes of building the information society and security in the CIS in accordance with modern conditions. The main objective is to review existing mechanisms for the formation of a common information space in the Eurasian region, regarded as one of the essential aspects of international integration. The theoretical significance of the work is to determine the main controls of the regional information infrastructure, improved by the development of communication features in a rapid process.The practical component consists in determining the future policies of the region under consideration in building the information society. The study authors used historical-descriptive approach and factual analysis of events having to do with drawing the contours of today's global information society in the regional refraction.
The main result is the fact that the development of information and communication technologies, and network resources leads to increased threats of destabilization of the socio-political situation in view of the emergence of multiple centers that generate the ideological and psychological background. Keeping focused information policy can not be conceived without the collective participation of States in the first place, members of the group leaders of integration - Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Currently, only produced a comprehensive approach to security in the information field in the Eurasian region, but the events in the world, largely thanks to modern technology, make the search for an exit strategy with a much higher speed. The article contributes to the science of international relations, engaging in interdisciplinary thinking that is associated with a transition period in the development of society. A study of current conditions in their relation to the current socio-political patterns of the authors leads to conclusions about the need for cooperation with the network centers of power in the modern information environment, the formation of alternative models of networking, especially in innovation and scientific and technical areas of information policy, and expanding the integration of the field in this region on the information content.
This special publication for the 2012 New Delhi Summit is a collection of articles by government officials from BRICS countries, representatives of international organizations, businessmen and leading researchers.
The list of Russian contributors includes Sergei Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia, Maxim Medvedkov, Director of the Trade Negotiations Department of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, Vladimir Dmitriev, Vnesheconombank Chairman, Alexander Bedritsky, advisor to the Russian President, VadimLukov, Ambassador-at-large of the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry, and representatives of the academic community.
The publication also features articles by the President of Kazakhstan NursultanNazarbayev and internationally respected economist Jim O’Neil, who coined the term “BRIC”. In his article Jim O’Neil speculates about the future of the BRICS countries and the institution as a whole.
The publication addresses important issues of the global agenda, the priorities of BRICS and the Indian Presidency, the policies and competitive advantages of the participants, as well as BRICS institutionalization, enhancing efficiency and accountability of the forum.