Journal of Social Sciences (International Black Sea University)
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China: as an Emerging Superpower
Get PDFThe research paper aims to answer the main research question whether China can really become the next superpower towards the middle of 21st century through its economic performance, energy policy, population, nuclear capacity and ideology. The hypothesis of the research paper is that in 21st century international system will become a bipolar with hegemony of the United States and China.With regard to the research methods, the following methods have been used: Case Study and Con- tent Analysis. Case Studies are perhabs the most widely used research approach in international relations (IR).In addition, to assert the main research question the Content Analysis is used. That method involves analyzing large amounts of text-based data. During research it was exercised books, analytical arti- cles, and different research papers of international research institutes: like Carnegie Center, Center Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Belfer Center of International Affairs Harvard Kennedy School etc.Other method is the statistical method, related to the presenting the concrete statistics, for instance, concerning GDP of China, statistics of foreign trade, energy import etc.
Theoretical context in this research is theory of international relations Realism. Particularly Hans Morgenthau’s Realist Theory (6 principle) second principle – National Interest defined in terms of National Power. According to this principle nations always define and act for securing their national interests by means of power. History tells us that nations have always acted on the basis of power
2022 Russian-Ukrainian War and the Future of EU Energy and Transport Security: Analyzing the Implications of Diversifification the Transport and Energy Transit Routes – the Case of the Black Sea/Caspian Region
Get PDFGiven recent events, such as the full invasion of Ukraine’s sovereign territories by the Russian army in 2022, this article critically analyzes how the use of the Caucasus-Caspian region could serve Brus- sels as an alternative means of diversifying energy sources to ensure its energy security. The study is comprehensive and covers various forms of energy projects. Particular attention is paid to exploring the various phases regarding Shah Deniz and potential expansion plans. In addition, it carefully ex- amines all other important factors associated with the production, transportation, and exploration of energy resources in the Caspian reserves.In addition, a key task is to classify and compare the EU’s geopolitical priorities before and after the 2022 war, present an analysis of the complex paths of transformation of the EU’s energy supply, and clarify its new policies regarding the relations between the main regional players: the Russian Federation, the EU, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.It has been established that the Black Sea-Caspian steppe contains valuable energy reserves. Due to the critical geopolitical, geostrategic, and geoeconomic importance of the region, the EU has an interest in the region. The study provides a comparative overview of different aspects of EU ener- gy diversification policies. It examines how these policies have influenced the approach of foreign states to the Caucasus-Caspian region, taking into account recent events. Moreover, it considers national goals and takes into account the important interests of leading powers
Russia-Ukraine War: US Policy and Its Implications on Global World Order
Get PDFThe Russia–Ukraine war and its future consequences is unclear, but how the process develops will clearly affect Russia’s future course, and how the war ends will have its fundamental implications for global order. Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has taken the lead in providing Ukraine with substantial military equipment and training, economic aid as well as diplomatic support. The paper focuses on the US strategic interests in Russia-Ukraine War, its role and implications on the world order. It analyses the regional affects and the US interests as a demo- cratic state in the global order. Finally, the paper focuses on US sanctions against Russia, underlines its influence over the regional security and democracy, and concentrates on the aids as well as funds provided by US to Ukraine
Deception and euphemisms as a linguistic strategy in the context of (political) discourse
Get PDFThe paper discusses lying as an ordinal function of language in the context of political discourse. To begin with, the phenomenon of lying is regarded as an ordinary linguistic behavior with a spe- cific function for the speaking individual. Based on a variety of empirical data, the aforementioned function is thought to be a certain evolutionary strategy that provides concrete advantages (to in- dividuals)
Struggle for Environmental Justice: Comparing Sakdrisi-Kachaghiani Historica Site and Dakota Pipeline Project
Get PDFThe article discusses and analyses the challenges faced by the autochthonous populations like Geor- gians and Native Americans in the fight for their natural resources. The article provides a com- parative analysis on how Georgian and Native American nations had to struggle to protect their environment.In 2004, an important archaeological discovery was made by the German and Georgian scientists on the Sakdrisi-Kachaghiani hill, located at the territory of the Bolnisi Municipality, Georgia. Later, the Georgian and foreign media outlets started discussing the world-wide scale and uniqueness of the pre-historic mine.In 2013, the status of the Sakdrisi-Kachaghiani, as a cultural monument was deprived and the min- ing company “RMG Gold” got a permission to extract gold in the wider area where Sakdrisi was located, which caused protests from academics and preservationists.Similar challenge was faced by Native Americans (in the U.S.) in 2016 (the problem lasted till 2020), when protests started around the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota (U.S.). The pipeline was supposed to run from the Bakken oil fields in western North Dakota to southern Illinois, crossing beneath the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, as well as under part of Lake Oahe near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation
Public Influence on US-Afghan Policy After 9/11 G. Almond’s Structural Functionalist Approach
Get PDFThe war in Afghanistan had been examined and analyzed through multiple theoretical frameworks, most of which belong to the field of international relations. However, this paper provides an explanation from a functionalist theoretical prism and employ Gabriel Almond’s structural functionalist approach in the field of political science, which is focused on political system and policy elaboration process within the system. In this manner, theory attempts to bring clarification to US foreign policy decision-making process on war in Afghanistan while underlining the US public influence. The paper aims to dissect Gabriel Almond’s theory through the political system and provide understanding how the integral components of the system interact with each other and how this interaction affects the results of foreign policy on US-Afghanistan example. According to the given research public mood had an important potential in affecting the US foreign policy decision-making process towards Afghanistan
The Red-lacquered ceramics of the Late Antique-Pre-Byzantine period Discovered in the Gonio-Apsaros area in 2018-2022
Get PDFThe article explores red-lacquered ceramics discovered in Gonio-Apsaros in recent years. The southwestern Georgia has yielded many diverse red-lacquered ceramics from the ancient and late antique periods, less from the early Byzantine era. However, recently more have been discovered, forming an intriguing category within the kitchenware. Being imported goods, they provide insights into the region's interactions with the world.The fragments of bowls (Late Roman C) including mouth, body, base, mouth-wall, fit into three distinct forms (10A, 10C, 3G/F) identified by Hayes. They are defined by orange, fine-grained ware, flared body and a mouth of varying cross-sections, separated by a delicate groove, traces of reddish varnish on the inside. A bowl fragment bears a cross-shaped mark with rings and can be associated with the types 67 and 68 of Hayes (LRC), with thickened, upturned mouths of polygonal or quadrangular cross-sections, light reddish-brown and fine-grained ware with occasional admixtures, somtimes remnants of pinkish-reddish varnish.
2019Due to the Byzantine Empire's expansion eastward, parts of Lazica became influenced by Byzantine economy, culture, politics. Apsaros fell within the Byzantine borders from the late 5th century. The growing discovery of materials near the Roman castle highlights the newfound significance of Apsaros increasing interest in it.keywords: Late Antiquity-Early-Byzantine period, South-west Georgia, Ceramics, Red-lacquered ceramic
New Archaeological Discoveries in Eastern Colchis
Get PDFIn 1875, the correspondence of the great Georgian writer and public figure Akaki Tsereteli's brother, Davit Tsereteli, was printed in “Droeba” under the pseudonym "Skhvitoreli", in which he informed the readers that during the excavation of the foundation of the house on the southern slope of the Todadze Fortress, a certain Zabakhidze found a tomb in which gold items were found and they he sold to local Armenians and Jews. Davit Tsereteli also names musical instruments, which were found in the same tomb and notes that they were very similar to " military orchestra plates". Exactly two such pairs of bronze plates were discoviered at Modinakhe in the 1970s during the archaeological excavations led by J. Nadiradze. It was these accidental discoveries that became the prerequisite for conducting archaeological excavations in these places in 2022.Keywords: Colchis. Archaeology. Imereti. Todadze Fortres
Dysfunctionality of Master Signifiers in the Georgian (Political) Discourse
Get PDFThe aim of this paper is to identify, compare and analyze the basic master signifiers within the Georgian political discourse. We will try to construct some kind of a typology of master signifiers in relation with the concept of ideology/discourse, fitting them in the main political parties’ ideological grounds. We will also try to show that the concept of the Master Signifier can be employed while analyzing any type of political realm for practical purposes. Our main task will be the general typology of Master Signifiers, with a particular focus on the Georgian political-ideological realm. Together with the master signifier, the concept of empty signifier is also given in the literature. Accordingly, there are dysfunctional master signifiers, as well. Our goal is to focus on the dysfunctional signifiers and their importance in terms of meaning creation/cancelation. At the same time, the notion should be examined in the context of ideology/power relations. Moreover, it must be considered in relation with concepts like discursive strategy, narrative, metaphor. We start with definition of the concept of Master signifier. In a very broad term, it can be defined as the main idea, the ideological basis for justifying a political behavior. The “master signifiers” define and limit the meanings of concepts and at the same time, they contain ideological views on how society should function. Master signifiers are unprovable, though guiding and justifying ideas of behavior. It is a collection of sublimated ideas. The function of the master signifier is to unify meanings and to derive a common, comprehensive and determinative final idea
(Concept of) Rectification of Names and Putin’s War-time Euphemisms
Get PDFIn the given paper, the notion of rectification of language in the Chinese philosophical tradition is discussed, which will be linked to the concept of political discourse in general, and specifically to the use of euphemisms in the language of politics. In addition, we will attempt to apply practical examples from the current Russian political discourse to the discussed concepts.Key words: rectification, euphemism, Confucius, Putin, discourse, wa