2 research outputs found
EU HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES IN THE CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES OF THE POST-SOVIET SPACE: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RUSSIA
No full textIn connection with the growing security threats related to migration flows from the troubled regions of the world and the need to diversify transport flows of hydrocarbon resources, the EU began to pay attention to the cooperation with the Central Asian countries. Within the framework of the EU Strategy for Central Asia, several priority areas were adopted, according to which it was planned to build relations with the post-Soviet republics most closely. This study aims to analyze the main projects in the field of humanitarian cooperation between the EU and the Central Asian countries and to establish to what extent such projects are competitive in comparison with the Russian ones, as the countries of the region belong to the area of Russian interests. To achieve this goal the author used general scientific methods and systematic approach. While analyzing the documents which give the theoretical explanation of the importance of the region for European partners and materials of foreign and Russian researchers devoted to the humanitarian problems of the region and the main results of the EU Strategy for Central Asia, the author comes to the conclusion that the projects of humanitarian cooperation of the EU with the countries of Central Asia do not take into account the national characteristics and priority needs of the former Soviet republics. However, many projects are quite competitive in comparison with the Russian ones and in order to stay as a strategic partner in the long-term future for the countries of the region Russia needs to take into account their best characteristics and achievements
The Defining Features of Soft Power Strategy in German Foreign Policy
No full textThe defeat in the Second World War made Germany very carefully select the foreign policy concepts, which is still actual for the country. Until now, any political idea, even an indirect indication to the desire to establish German hegemony, could cause the deterioration of relations with partners in the EU and other neighboring countries. In these circumstances, Germany has chosen as the most appropriate foreign policy strategy for the promotion of the national interests the use of so-called "soft power" - the ability to encourage others to do what you want with the help of appeal, rather than through the manipulation of material needs. Germany has a large number of resources to implement the policy of "soft power." The German non-governmental organizations, political foundations are making a great contribution to make foreign policy attractive and spread political values. Organizations involved in exchange programs, scientific cooperation contribute to the expansion of German language and culture. A distinctive feature of German "soft power" organizations is that, despite the financing from the state, they retain the civilian nature of their activities, which is a necessary condition for the successful application of the concept. Another feature of German "soft power" is that its resources are directed not only at foreign audiences, but also German citizens. The key tasks of German soft power concept are to build a positive image of the country, to change its international legal status and to play the leading role in the EU
