The article builds on the Russian understanding of the “soft power” concept as a complex of tools... more The article builds on the Russian understanding of the “soft power” concept as a complex of tools and methods to reach the foreign policy aims through public diplomacy, information and communication technologies, humanitarian assistance and cultural initiatives, civil society interactions, and religious and inter-religious dialogues. “Soft power” tools are regarded as an addition to the traditional diplomatic methods. The article will critically consider the range of Russia’s contemporary “soft power” assets in its foreign policy dialogue with the countries of North and East Africa. The aim is to analyze the aspirations, implementation (during the last decade), results and further prospects of Russia’s “soft power” initiatives within and towards the indicated regions.
The article is one of the first in the African Studies in Russia, which aim is to analyze the pos... more The article is one of the first in the African Studies in Russia, which aim is to analyze the possibilities of cooperation between the European Union and China and India in their African policies at the present stage. The article also explores the prospects and problems for the triangular cooperation between the EU, China/India and various African states. The research shows that for some regions of Africa the EU is not already the first major trade partner – now China occupies this place. India is also a significant partner for the continent. As a range of African countries showed high levels of economic performance during the last decade, their dependence from the EU development assistance diminished. This tendency forces the EU to reconsider its mechanisms of interaction with these African countries on the new basis. European researchers used to view China (and less – India) as competitors for the EU on the African continent, but in recent years, a new trend appeared – to learn fr...
The article of Russian and Ghanaian authors describes the evolution of political and economic rel... more The article of Russian and Ghanaian authors describes the evolution of political and economic relations between Soviet Union/Russia and Ghana throughout different historical periods (starting from 1950s to present). Great attention is paid to the basis of the cooperation laid in Soviet period. The article also observes current tendencies of the bilateral relations, which are quite friendly and fruitful. Moscow regards the Republic of Ghana as a reliable, time-proven partner especially on international issues: the establishment of a more democratic polycentric world order, ensuring regional and strategic stability, disarmament, combating international terrorism and other global challenges and threats. Russia and Ghana provide each other mutual support in the election of representatives of the two countries in international organizations. Russia and Ghana also develop their cooperation in the field of security. The participation of USSR/Russia in foreign trade of Ghana is analyzed. The significant increase in the number of Ghanaian trade partners is indicated while the share of Great Britain decreases and the share of Asian, African and other states increases. In recent years, the favorable conditions for the development of Russian-Ghanaian trade and economic relations were created. The cooperation of the two countries also develops in the field of nuclear energy. The main bilateral visits between Ghana and Russia are examined in the article. The special attention is paid to the first meeting of the Russian-Ghanaian Intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, academic and technical cooperation took place in Moscow in October 2014.
UK has a long history of relations with Africa and it tries to protect its interests on the conti... more UK has a long history of relations with Africa and it tries to protect its interests on the continent which is not very easy taking into consideration the activities of the so called “emerging” countries in Africa and the economic difficulties Britain itself faces.
African policy of David Cameron’s government is still in the making, it has inherited some ideas and approaches of the preceding governments and has introduced also some novelties. For example, now African policy is again more in the focus of FCO rather than DFID. Current African policy of the UK is quite pragmatic; it seeks to achieve more results with less money. The emphasis has now shifted from aid to trade and business in general. British government believes in great economic potential of the continent.
Many of the British actions on the continent can be explained through the pursuit of economic interests. David Cameron’s government has taken part in the military operation of NATO in Libya. It could be beneficial for British business with time, but this interference has created more insecurity in the North Africa region and even in Sub-Saharan Africa. So African policy of the UK can be seen as rather ambivalent.
Document is unpublished, was written in Summer 2012
International Conference “Non-Western Europe and Africa: Connections in the Past and the Present”. Book of Abstracts
Abstracts of an international conference held in Moscow, Russia, on June 2-3, 2016. Edited by Dmi... more Abstracts of an international conference held in Moscow, Russia, on June 2-3, 2016. Edited by Dmitri M. Bondarenko and Olga S. Kulkova (Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences)
The article builds on the Russian understanding of the “soft power” concept as a complex of tools... more The article builds on the Russian understanding of the “soft power” concept as a complex of tools and methods to reach the foreign policy aims through public diplomacy, information and communication technologies, humanitarian assistance and cultural initiatives, civil society interactions, and religious and inter-religious dialogues. “Soft power” tools are regarded as an addition to the traditional diplomatic methods. The article will critically consider the range of Russia’s contemporary “soft power” assets in its foreign policy dialogue with the countries of North and East Africa. The aim is to analyze the aspirations, implementation (during the last decade), results and further prospects of Russia’s “soft power” initiatives within and towards the indicated regions.
The article is one of the first in the African Studies in Russia, which aim is to analyze the pos... more The article is one of the first in the African Studies in Russia, which aim is to analyze the possibilities of cooperation between the European Union and China and India in their African policies at the present stage. The article also explores the prospects and problems for the triangular cooperation between the EU, China/India and various African states. The research shows that for some regions of Africa the EU is not already the first major trade partner – now China occupies this place. India is also a significant partner for the continent. As a range of African countries showed high levels of economic performance during the last decade, their dependence from the EU development assistance diminished. This tendency forces the EU to reconsider its mechanisms of interaction with these African countries on the new basis. European researchers used to view China (and less – India) as competitors for the EU on the African continent, but in recent years, a new trend appeared – to learn fr...
The article of Russian and Ghanaian authors describes the evolution of political and economic rel... more The article of Russian and Ghanaian authors describes the evolution of political and economic relations between Soviet Union/Russia and Ghana throughout different historical periods (starting from 1950s to present). Great attention is paid to the basis of the cooperation laid in Soviet period. The article also observes current tendencies of the bilateral relations, which are quite friendly and fruitful. Moscow regards the Republic of Ghana as a reliable, time-proven partner especially on international issues: the establishment of a more democratic polycentric world order, ensuring regional and strategic stability, disarmament, combating international terrorism and other global challenges and threats. Russia and Ghana provide each other mutual support in the election of representatives of the two countries in international organizations. Russia and Ghana also develop their cooperation in the field of security. The participation of USSR/Russia in foreign trade of Ghana is analyzed. The significant increase in the number of Ghanaian trade partners is indicated while the share of Great Britain decreases and the share of Asian, African and other states increases. In recent years, the favorable conditions for the development of Russian-Ghanaian trade and economic relations were created. The cooperation of the two countries also develops in the field of nuclear energy. The main bilateral visits between Ghana and Russia are examined in the article. The special attention is paid to the first meeting of the Russian-Ghanaian Intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, academic and technical cooperation took place in Moscow in October 2014.
UK has a long history of relations with Africa and it tries to protect its interests on the conti... more UK has a long history of relations with Africa and it tries to protect its interests on the continent which is not very easy taking into consideration the activities of the so called “emerging” countries in Africa and the economic difficulties Britain itself faces.
African policy of David Cameron’s government is still in the making, it has inherited some ideas and approaches of the preceding governments and has introduced also some novelties. For example, now African policy is again more in the focus of FCO rather than DFID. Current African policy of the UK is quite pragmatic; it seeks to achieve more results with less money. The emphasis has now shifted from aid to trade and business in general. British government believes in great economic potential of the continent.
Many of the British actions on the continent can be explained through the pursuit of economic interests. David Cameron’s government has taken part in the military operation of NATO in Libya. It could be beneficial for British business with time, but this interference has created more insecurity in the North Africa region and even in Sub-Saharan Africa. So African policy of the UK can be seen as rather ambivalent.
Document is unpublished, was written in Summer 2012
International Conference “Non-Western Europe and Africa: Connections in the Past and the Present”. Book of Abstracts
Abstracts of an international conference held in Moscow, Russia, on June 2-3, 2016. Edited by Dmi... more Abstracts of an international conference held in Moscow, Russia, on June 2-3, 2016. Edited by Dmitri M. Bondarenko and Olga S. Kulkova (Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences)
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Papers by Olga Kulkova
African policy of David Cameron’s government is still in the making, it has inherited some ideas and approaches of the preceding governments and has introduced also some novelties. For example, now African policy is again more in the focus of FCO rather than DFID. Current African policy of the UK is quite pragmatic; it seeks to achieve more results with less money. The emphasis has now shifted from aid to trade and business in general. British government believes in great economic potential of the continent.
Many of the British actions on the continent can be explained through the pursuit of economic interests. David Cameron’s government has taken part in the military operation of NATO in Libya. It could be beneficial for British business with time, but this interference has created more insecurity in the North Africa region and even in Sub-Saharan Africa. So African policy of the UK can be seen as rather ambivalent.
Document is unpublished, was written in Summer 2012
Books of Abstracts by Olga Kulkova
Drafts by Olga Kulkova
African policy of David Cameron’s government is still in the making, it has inherited some ideas and approaches of the preceding governments and has introduced also some novelties. For example, now African policy is again more in the focus of FCO rather than DFID. Current African policy of the UK is quite pragmatic; it seeks to achieve more results with less money. The emphasis has now shifted from aid to trade and business in general. British government believes in great economic potential of the continent.
Many of the British actions on the continent can be explained through the pursuit of economic interests. David Cameron’s government has taken part in the military operation of NATO in Libya. It could be beneficial for British business with time, but this interference has created more insecurity in the North Africa region and even in Sub-Saharan Africa. So African policy of the UK can be seen as rather ambivalent.
Document is unpublished, was written in Summer 2012