On November 20-21, 2013, the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences hosted the international conference "Changes on the Geostrategic Map of Asia and North Africa at the beginning of the XXI Century". The conference was attended by scientists-orientalists from research centers and higher educational institutions of Russia and a number of countries near and far abroad.

About 30 participants made presentations. A wide range of issues related to the dynamically changing situations in Asia and North Africa and the priorities of the main problems and threats on these continents were discussed.

Opening the conference, the chairman of the organizing committee A. M. Khazanov said that one of the important tasks facing the scientific community is to understand the profound changes in international relations of the late XX-early XXI centuries, which radically transformed the picture of the world.

The task of the scientists is to identify the main factors that caused the redistribution of roles and regrouping of key players in the geopolitical configuration of forces in the international arena and in the new international order. In this regard, researchers will have to consider the following questions: what are the causes, dynamics and possible consequences of the establishment of new centers of power of the EU, China, India, Brazil as players; what is the role of borders in modern world politics, what is the reason for the complication of the nature of conflicts after the end of the cold war, etc. Without understanding these issues, it is impossible to give a reliable forecast of the development of the world community in the coming decades.

The biggest changes on the geostrategic map of the world in recent decades, the speaker noted, occurred in these regions. The aim of the conference is primarily to provide a theoretical understanding of these changes and to answer the many questions that researchers face.

The conference participants were greeted by the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors. Director of the Institute of Information Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences V. Ya. Belokrenitsky. In particular, he said that an important task of Orientalists at present is to study the factors that caused radical changes in Asia and North Africa at the beginning of the XXI century, including the influence of external forces on the situation in these regions.

E. F. Guliyeva (MGPU) in her report "Strategic Aspect of India's policy in BRICS: Information confrontation with the United States" noted that over the past decade, India has been striving to expand contacts with the BRICS countries. This is a matter of concern for the United States, as these countries are the world's fastest - growing economies. The United States conducts informational and psychological operations to discredit the BRICS, aimed at an international target audience and directly to the BRICS countries.

The second direction is dominated by the Sino-Indian contradictions, the authoritarian nature of the regimes in Russia and China, the lack of democratic freedoms in Russia, China, South Africa, and India, and the plight of Tibetan refugees in India.

The speaker believes that the Indian information policy was not prepared for such information attacks, jeopardizing the reputation of their own country and the BRICS as a whole. According to the speaker, information management should be the first priority in the framework of strategic plans, aimed at developing information and communication channels of BRICS for further cooperation between its participants and promoting a positive image of BRICS in the world.

A.V. Demidov (Russian Foreign Ministry), in his report "From soft Power to controlled chaos", analyzed the strategies often used by the United States and other Western countries to change regimes that they do not like. Since the mid-1990s, the United States has adopted a strategy of "controlled chaos" - exerting a systemic destabilizing effect on a particular country, group of countries or region. This strategy is used to hit the state and military-political management systems of the "victim countries", paralyze economic activity, and create an imbalance in their social and spiritual life. A. V. Demidov analyzed in detail the methods used in the strategy of "controlled chaos".

According to the speaker, in foreign policy terms, the super-task of implementing the strategy of "controlled chaos" is to weaken the international positions of the Russian Federation and China, which are considered by Washington as obstacles to world hegemony. The report provided practical recommendations for possible counteraction to the application of the above strategy in Russia.

S. A. Tuleubaeva (Evraz.national In her report "The Middle East and North Africa: new Challenges and ways of development", L. N. Gumilyov University, Astana) noted that against the background of Westernization and globalization, interest in culture, philosophy, medicine, sports, cuisine, and clothing of the peoples of the East is not fading, but is reviving and increasing. Today, all over the world there is a surge of "oriental" themes in all these areas (oriental restaurants, medicine, fashion). Halal standards and products are increasingly recognized in the world, including among the non-Muslim population.

E. D. Gulmadova (Dip. acad. In her report "The role of the demographic factor in the development of the national economy on the example of India", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation concluded that the economic development of India in modern conditions is determined by two factors: human resources and technology. This ensures the sustainability of the economic growth that India has demonstrated over the past 10-15 years. Referring to the opinion of a number of economists, the report argued that it is densely populated countries with a large working population that have a competitive advantage and can become new economic centers. The demographic factor - a large population exceeding 100 million people-has become decisive for the inclusion of countries in the BRIC group.

According to E. D. Gulmadova, the demographic factor has a dual impact on the socio-economic development of India. On the one hand, it is negative, in the form of widespread poverty, high unemployment, when the annual growth of the working-age population puts a strain on the state labor market. On the other hand, India has managed to create new dynamically developing export industries in a relatively short period of time and has become one of the main exporters of information technologies. India is one of the leading countries in software production, with a significant part of it being produced for export. These successes are due, in particular, to the implementation of a competent state policy in relation to human potential, the availability of intellectual resources in the country.

The demographic factor is critical in terms of its impact on economic growth. In this respect, India is in a unique position compared to other countries. If these reforms are successfully implemented, India will be able to become one of the world's strongest economies in both quantitative and qualitative terms in the foreseeable future.

E. A. Mukhidinova (IB RAS) in her report "The Indian Factor in Central Asia" noted that Western experts call India a "late player" in the struggle for influence in Central Asia. India lags behind its foreign policy competitors in the region in terms of its influence and the amount of efforts applied in this area. While India was looking for opportunities in the independent republics of Central Asia, the United States, the EU, and China were actively initiating joint projects and increasing investment in the region. They implemented large-scale programs of assistance to the former republics of the USSR. The report analyzed India's cooperation with the Central Asian republics in the field of energy, economy, and security, and made suggestions for further cooperation. According to E. A. Mukhidinova, even skeptics note the potential for developing cooperation between India and Central Asian countries. Successful projects have emerged. There is mutual understanding on key international and regional issues.

N. N. Tsvetkova (IB RAS) in the report " New architecture of the global oil and gas market: TNCs and state-owned oil Companies of exporting countries " showed the role of TNCs and state-owned oil and gas companies in the current geopolitical situation in the world. According to her, as a result of the simultaneous nationalization and gradual transfer of assets of foreign TNCs to the national state, the main actors in the oil-producing industry of Afro-Asian and Latin American countries have become their state-owned oil and gas companies. At the same time, the "old players" - TNCs and the elite of international business-play an important role. Their turnover sometimes exceeds the GDP of entire countries. The author concludes that the new architecture of the global oil and gas market is characterized by an increased role of new actors in state-owned oil and gas companies, developing and transition countries. They are the ones that dominate global oil and gas production. Some of them are transforming into TNCs, expanding their foreign operations.

B. G. Koibaev (North Ossetian State University named after K. L. Khetagurov) in his report "Geostrategic transformation of the Middle East in the context of globalization" showed that power in most Middle Eastern countries is concentrated in the hands of the leader and is based on the traditional way of life. That is why it is extremely difficult to promote political globalization and create supranational authorities in the Middle East. The main instrument of the political system in most states of the region is its head.

According to B. G. Koibayev, a straightforward and accelerated modernization of the political course in the region, carried out within the framework of the US project "Greater Middle East", turned out to be impossible. Such a simplified approach to the specific problems of the Middle East does not correspond to the realities of the time, since the region has its own civilizational features. The author came to the conclusion that the US administration is not coping with the challenges in the Middle East and is not ready for real changes in its foreign policy, despite numerous assurances from Barack Obama to improve relations with Muslim countries.

A. Aslanidze (State University named after Sh. Rustaveli, Batumi) in his report "Some manifestations of Islamophobia and religious confrontation in Georgia" claimed that some political forces in Georgia create religious tension, incite hostility between Muslims and Christians of the country. This is facilitated by the lack of a legislative framework, the low level of religious education among the general population, and attempts to politicize religion. Islam is becoming more active in Georgia. This process spans the entire world. The exporter of Islam to the country is Georgian youth who have received religious education abroad. The State does not pursue any policy in this direction.

R. V. Lovyago (People's Diplomacy Organization) in her report "The role of TNCs in shaping the geostrategic map of Asia and Africa" analyzed the influence of TNCs on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa and came to the conclusion that this region is dominated by American and British companies; TNCs are an effective tool in the fight for hydrocarbons, for control of transport hubs, for world domination in shaping the unipolar world of the United States.

Permanent link to this publication: