The Anti-Extradition Bill Movement in 2019 sparked the most radical mass protests seen in Hong Kong since the transfer of sovereignty. Scholars have proposed various explanations for the radicalization of the protests, as well as for the mass support for this radicalization across various sectors of society. However, economic grievances have been relatively downplayed in attempts to understand the radical protests. Using data from a survey conducted during the suspension of the movement in 2020 (N = 1,574), this study examines the relationship between economic grievances and support for the protests. Through mediation analysis, the findings show that individuals who perceived themselves as belonging to a lower class tended to have a diminished sense of social mobility and equality. These negative perceptions contributed to concerns about the activities of Mainland Chinese individuals and the use of public resources. Thus, these particular economic grievances were found to be positively associated with support for the 2019 movement.
South Asia. Southeast Asia. East Asia, Social Sciences
The article analyzes the role of North Korea's nuclear missile potential as a factor in the development of security cooperation between Japan, the US, and the Republic of Korea in 2023–2025. Positive trends along Tokyo–Washington–Seoul axis emerged in 2022, and the 2023 Camp David summit elevated the trilateral partnership to a new level and laid the foundation for its transformation into an
institutionalized and comprehensive alliance. The parties justified the formation of the Japan – USA – ROK triangle by the need to strengthen stability in the Asia -Pacific region and counter “common challenges”, including those from the DPRK. To contain the so-called North Korean threat, the allies have developed retaliatory measures, including coordinating sanctions policy and expanding defense and diplomatic cooperation. The author examines the results of the triangle's policy on countering the DPRK in 2023–2025 and describes the dynamics of the trilateral partnership after the change of administrations in the US and South Korea. The author concludes that the activities of Washington and its allies create a risk of rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. Despite this, the trends in the development of the triangle's policy in the second half of 2025 signal the parties' commitment to further deepening security cooperation.
South Asia. Southeast Asia. East Asia, Bibliography. Library science. Information resources
The article analyses and contrasts Japan-Thailand and US-Thailand relations. It attempts to prove a thesis that the Japanese leadership formulates the policy towards Thailand in its own way, without regard for its key ally, namely the US. This problem tends to be of high relevance, since currently Thailand is attempting to cautiously maneuver between the PRC and the so-called “collective West”. The author insists that, although Japan's and the US approaches towards the Southeast Asia countries have never substantially contradicted each other (due to the previously existing bipolar system and China's currently increasing presence in the region), they imply different methods of influencing other countries, including
Thailand. It is characteristic of the US to practice military-political cooperation, while Japan rather resorts to economic cooperation. Furthermore, Japan and the US, due to the confrontation during the Second World war, had different starting points for modern relations with Thailand. In order to showcase that bilateral dialogues have evolved independently, the author examines Japan's and the US main driving forces when building relations with Thailand in a chronological order, from the Second World war onwards. The author concludes that Japan's key interest in Thailand is economy, while the US has consistently prioritised human rights, which laid the foundation for the US to criticise the military coups of 2006 and 2014 in a harsher way.
South Asia. Southeast Asia. East Asia, Bibliography. Library science. Information resources
Turbulence in global energy markets, caused, among other reasons, by anti-Russian sanctions, has led to additional challenges for the energy security of Japan, a country whose dependence on fossil fuel imports remains critically high. Despite the relative success in the development of renewable and hydrogen energy, as well as the implementation of plans to increase the share of nuclear power plants in the structure of electricity generation, Japan will not be able to count on energy self-sufficiency in the next 10–15 years, and these factors form mandatory conditions for reducing energy security risks. This is reflected not only in the diversification of suppliers and in the conclusion of mutually beneficial contracts with them, but also in strengthening the policy for the widespread utilization of “clean” energy sources, often even without taking into account the economic feasibility of such steps. In addition, significant funds are invested in achieving better energy efficiency indicators by improving intelligent control systems.
South Asia. Southeast Asia. East Asia, Bibliography. Library science. Information resources
This article deals with the problem of discrimination against foreigners in Japan. Discrimination against foreigners is historically conditioned by the ethnic nationalism characteristic of the Japanese, the manifestations of which are widespread nowadays. This is confirmed by the fact that Japan is one of the few developed countries without national legislation prohibiting racial discrimination. Foreigners remain on the margins of social life in Japan because existing policies do not allow them to make the transition from temporary migrants to a recognized, integrated minority. This unfriendly attitude of the Japanese toward foreigners cannot be acceptable in the context of Japan's level of socio-economic development. Therefore, it is important to draw attention to the problem of racial discrimination by all means and to counteract this phenomenon in every way possible. To this end, a study was conducted to identify the main forms of discrimination against foreigners in Japan. According to the study, all the foreigners surveyed had experienced discrimination to some degree or another in Japan. The most common forms of discrimination against foreigners include housing discrimination, employment discrimination, age discrimination, ethnic discrimination, and race discrimination. Specific examples of discrimination against foreigners include being placed in poor housing, being forced to work in harsh working conditions, and being forced to change their natural appearance. At the same time, foreign respondents are practically unable to resist discrimination against them, which is akin to the phenomenon of trained helplessness. Foreigners very rarely engage in conflicts in Japanese society, understanding the futility of their actions. The high level of discrimination against foreigners and the higher prevalence of discriminatory behavior compared to other countries suggests that urgent national and local measures should be taken in Japan to reduce the forms and intensity of this discrimination, in particular, as a matter of priority, a law to protect immigrants' rights and to simplify the procedure for legal immigration into the country.
South Asia. Southeast Asia. East Asia, Bibliography. Library science. Information resources
The aspects of cross-cultural communication play a key role in matters of interaction between the employees in Asian international companies. It is also important in business relationships between representatives of the Asian and Western (including Russian) business cultures. At the same time,
the aspects of such interaction in the business environment of the Russian Federation have their own characteristics and challenges for the Asian side. To analyze this phenomenon, a study was conducted among the senior management of Japanese companies with many years of experience of working and living in the Russian Federation in order to identify the key aspects of cross-cultural interaction in the field of business communication. The study identified five aspects that were mentioned by all respondents: prejudices and stereotypes of Japanese employees, teamwork (individualism vs collectivism), teamwork (work vs personal time, relationship with management, implications of the decision-making process.
South Asia. Southeast Asia. East Asia, Bibliography. Library science. Information resources
This review is based on the materials published in April – June 2021 in various media of
East Asian countries, which cover the most relevant topics for the region during this period. Among them
are: ASEAN leaders’ summit on the Myanmar crisis, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), rising tensions in the
South China Sea (SCS), the suspension of the EU-China investment agreement, the preparation for
reopening borders in Thailand.
South Asia. Southeast Asia. East Asia, Bibliography. Library science. Information resources
The main trends of the economic integration in Asia are considered in the article.
The reaction to the slowdown of the globalization was expressed in the regional integration, which driving
forces are gradually changing. Previously the regional trade integration, carried out by bilateral trade
agreements, had been developing most of all. Since the middle of 1990s the closely related investment
integration began to expand, supported by production value chains, as well as financial integration,
implemented by the regional network of banking and security transactions.
South Asia. Southeast Asia. East Asia, Bibliography. Library science. Information resources
1989 was a time of a breakthrough for many countries and countries around the world. The
symbolic fall of the Berlin Wall and the libertarian events in Poland have led to a coup in the authoritarian
rule of many countries. Democracy and the rule of law began to function in countries that were overwhelmed
by totalitarian regimes after World War II. These processes have also affected Russia and China. In 1990–
1991 Mikhail Gorbachev was the only president of the Soviet Union and author of the perestroika, which is a major change in present-day Russia. The events of the 17th of April, 1989 in China in Tiananmen Square also show the aspirations of students and society to democratize and economic development and the fight against corruption. The time of the last decade of the 20th century is extremely interesting for historians and researchers and raises many interesting questions. The questions are about how in the new political and
economic reality have the countries affected by these changes found themselves? And how did the
relationship on the new political scene of the world have come into place? Two very important countries
Russia and China will be particularly examined in this article. Due to their importance and population
potential and resource efficiency, it is important to look for important vectors of change. These countries are also important in geopolitics, so it is important to examine them in their relations with the United States. Despite the fact that the years 1991–1999 are characterised by constructive partnerships and strengthening cooperation between Russia and China, it is worth looking at these relations in a broader perspective.
South Asia. Southeast Asia. East Asia, Bibliography. Library science. Information resources
This paper’s foundation is the global character of (harmful) tax competition. While this phenomenon’s global existence is widely recognised alongside the global endeavours to fight against it, the situation in Rwanda seems not to be the same. That makes up the main purpose of this paper which aims to show how (harmful) tax competition constitutes a global issue, but with little attention under Rwandan law. In that regard, this paper calls the attention of Rwandan policymakers, academics, and researchers to dive deep in the matters of tax competition for the sake of making Rwanda stand on the safe side. This paper plays a role of a wake-up bell to step in other legal systems’ concerns in the regulation of (harmful) tax competition.
Asia and Eurasia, Africa, Pacific Area, and Antarctica
The article discusses the reasons behind meeting again in Panmunjom, in the demilitarized
zone between North and South Korea for the U.S. President D.Trump and Chairman of the DPRK State
Affairs Commission Kim Jong-un just four months after the failed summit in Hanoi. The possible positions
of the parties in the negotiations at the working level, which both leaders agreed to start in the near future are
also analyzed. Some assessments of the prospects for the DPRK's renunciation of nuclear weapons are also
offered. The attention is drawn to the difficulties that the parties will face in the implementation of any
options for denuclearization.
South Asia. Southeast Asia. East Asia, Bibliography. Library science. Information resources
Au Bénin, la minorité parlementaire se révèle comme un objet d’intérêt juridique captivant dont la trajectoire d’évolution reste encore insaisissable. Si pendant longtemps elle a été marginalisée, la minorité parlementaire est devenue aujourd’hui une catégorie juridique célébrée. Ce revirement n’est pas spontané. C’est le résultat des luttes menées par divers acteurs de la vie politique qui, parfois au prix de leur vie, ont réussi à doter cette catégorie juridique d’un statut particulier. Désormais, la minorité parlementaire est distincte de la majorité parlementaire avec des droits et devoirs clairement définis. Alors qu’elle devrait incarner l’alternative, la minorité parlementaire semble s’éloigner de ce noble objectif en péchant par son manque de professionnalisme. Alors qu’elle devait constituer un « service public », elle est devenue une espèce de violence et de haine. Le parlement ne doit pas devenir une jungle où la majorité parce qu’elle est en grand nombre domine où la minorité pour se faire entendre doit exercer la violence. Il faut aujourd’hui restaurer l’image du parlement pour qu’il devienne le lieu privilégié où l’unité politique se forme, se déforme et se reforme. La minorité parlementaire est appelée à devenir un véritable contre-pouvoir. Son avenir réside dans la compréhension de ce nouveau rôle où minorité et majorité doivent se compléter sans se repousser mutuellement. Pour ce faire, une actualisation des textes s’avère nécessaire car le nouveau droit parlementaire est le droit de la minorité, c’est-à-dire de la minorité opposante.
Asia and Eurasia, Africa, Pacific Area, and Antarctica
The effects of regional economic integration on trade and development of the Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was chosen as topic for this article to examine how much impact regional integration has made among Member States. The history of regional economic integration is discussed to highlight the developmental trajectory of different regional groups. This paper has a critical look at the formation of regional economic blocs around the globe, with a view to show how they operate for the purpose of fostering regional cooperation among members. The history of the formation of the Economic Community of West African States and the challenges which have constrained its transformation into a complete regional economic union is also discussed.
Asia and Eurasia, Africa, Pacific Area, and Antarctica
In Fortschreibung des Berichts über die Aktivitäten der Gesellschaft für afrikanisches Recht für Jahr 2014 werden die Mitglieder unserer Gesellschaft und die interessierte Öffentlichkeit auch im laufenden Kalenderjahr über die Tätigkeiten sowie die letzte Jahrestagung informiert und auf die geplanten Veranstaltungen unserer wissenschaftlichen Vereinigung hingewiesen.
Asia and Eurasia, Africa, Pacific Area, and Antarctica
Seconde rencontre du genre, la Conférence internationale de Lubumbashi (République Démocratique du Congo) fait suite à l’échange d’expériences entre magistrats allemands et jeunes juristes provenant du Burundi, de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) et du Rwanda, organisé à Stuttgart (Allemagne), du 5 au 18 octobre 2014. Tenue cette fois-ci sans la participation des juristes allemands, cette seconde rencontre a été axée sur le thème de l’indépendance et de l’efficacité de la justice dans les trois pays cibles pré-rappelés. La Conférence a été organisée par la Fondation Robert Bosch, en collaboration avec l’Association du droit africain (African Law Association), tandis que les activités ont été coordonnées par le professeur Hartmut Hamann, en collaboration avec le professeur Matthiesen Kalala Ilunga de l’Université de Lubumbashi.
Asia and Eurasia, Africa, Pacific Area, and Antarctica