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No 1 (2024)
Social philosophy
Development in retrospect: historical-phenomenological analysis
Abstract
The article is devoted to development as a concept and phenomenon in historical retrospect. Attention is drawn to the fact that development in its modern understanding became an observable fact and a conscious idea no earlier than the second half of the 18th century. The deeper we look into history, the less development we see in it as a phenomenon and concept ranging from technology to ideology. The analysis of data on the Middle Ages, the Ancient World and the era of primitive society shows that development is rarely present in history and is practically absent in prehistory. The emerging trends in the global economy and demography suggest a decline in growth rates and a slowdown in development. In this regard, the likening of postmodernity to premodernity in the future can remove development from the number of significant values and goals of society, so the question arises about possible alternatives.
7-18
Environmental criticism of capitalism: the main trump card of the left or an apple of discord?
Abstract
The prospects of ecological criticism of capitalism, which has become the most important and relevant for many left-wing theorists, are assessed. These theorists believe that the ecological crisis exposes the most vulnerable features of the capitalist system and puts humanity in front of a choice between catastrophe and social democratic transformations (or a socialist revolution). The point of view, according to which the ecological crisis can give the left-wing political forces grounds to unite in the struggle for a post-capitalist future, is criticized. On the contrary, it can be said that the actualization of environmental topics contributes to the new splits among left-wing theorists. One of the most notable splits is considered: between the proponents of green growth (and the authors of the Green New Deal projects) and the ideologues of de-growth/post-growth. The polemic between them testifies to the internal inconsistency of attempts to combine class struggle with the desire to preserve nature as much as possible. The difficult situation that humanity is facing today requires a painful choice between the material well-being of the maximum number of people and the preservation of the natural environment and “non-human beings”. In other words, attempts to put ecological criticism of capitalism at the forefront of leftist political theory would only lead to insoluble value contradictions, which makes a consensus among all the variety of leftist theorists impossible.
19-31
The rostrum of a young scientist
Shia paramilitary groups as an instrument of Iranian influence in Iraq
Abstract
Characteristic features of the pro-Iranian Shiite armed groups, which act as influential non-state actors (NGA) in the main spheres of activity of the Iraqi state, are studied. Methodological developments obtained as a result of research on the NGA problem are used. V.V. Naumkin and V.A. Kuznetsov note the existence of a stable academic tradition of a state-centered approach to the problem of their typologization. This approach is based on the fact that an NGA defines and builds its actions, focusing to one degree or another on the state. Such formations have a political wing and a bureaucratic apparatus for participating in the life of the state not only as alternative to the army and police law enforcement agencies. They also play the role of parliamentary forces and economic actors, including those active in the shadow sector of the economy. Created at one time with the active participation of the Iranian special services, Shiite paramilitary groups have become an effective instrument of Iran’s influence in the country. The strengthening of their influence on the government of Iraq is noted. It is manifested in the transition from opposition to the pro-American Prime Minister M. al-Kazimi (2020–2022) to a kind of «symphony» of harmony and cooperation under his pro-Iranian successor M. al-Sudani. This factor affects not only the domestic political situation, but also the regional balance of power in the Middle East.
120-131
Conflict of interest in the civil service: factors of effective regulation
Abstract
The effectiveness of conflicts of interest regulation in the civil service as one of the directions of anti-corruption policy is analyzed. Conflicts of interest management measures that underlie national anti-corruption laws are defined as two models – integrity-based and compliance-based. The first of them provides for increasing the professional standards for civil servants, while the second one is a model of strict prohibitions and legal sanctions. Despite the complexity of assessing the level of corruption and the quality of conflicts of interest regulation, this task is important and inevitable for the subsequent assessment of the effectiveness of public administration. Therefore, the factors that are associated with the effectiveness of conflicts of interest regulation in public service are determined. A regression analysis was conducted based on the data used for the formation of the international indices of corruption perception and the quality of institutions, as well as from the collected database of countries on models of conflicts of interest regulation. In the long term, these results can be used to elaborate practical recommendations for effective anti-corruption regulation.
132-144
European security
NATO defense planning under new military and political conditions
Abstract
An analysis of the military and political preconditions for the current transformation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is presented. The deterioration of relations between Russia and NATO member states, which accelerated with the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine accompanied by massive supplies of Western weapons systems to Kiev, launched the reconfiguring of the entire system of military and political decision-making and defense planning process in NATO. The alliance is returning to its original mission – countering the “Russian threat” (formerly Soviet), despite the fact that NATO is not declaratively a party to the armed conflict in Ukraine. NATO’s reaction and actions in connection with the Ukrainian crisis and the start of the Special Military Operation (SMO), including the plans of the alliance’s leadership for the future, are analyzed. The simplification of a number of procedures and requirements in the defense planning system of the organization in the short and medium term are noted. The full cycle of NATO defense planning is examined in detail and schematically presented, and a forecast of its further evolution is given.
32-45
The role of Germany as a NATO «framework nation»
Abstract
Unlike its predecessors, Germany used its military potential not to solve exceptionally national issues, but to participate in the activities of multilateral military blocs. At the same time she maintained its ambitions as a power. The combination of two trends has conditioned the Bundeswehrʼs usage as a means that provided Germany with the opportunity to become a framework nation for different multinational military groupings. The article explores the cases of such a role of Germany in the instability zones in the Balkans in the 1990s, in Afghanistan, Lebanon and Mali in the XXI century. The constraints caused by the state of the Bundeswehr for the implementation of the tasks of the Federal Republic of Germany as a «framework nation» are considered. The cases of such Bundeswehr`s activity as NATO Response Force, enhanced and tailored Forward Presence during the confrontation between the West and Russia are considered. The political importance of each case for the change of Germany`s positions in Europe and in the world is presented.
46-59
World economy
Transnational business in conditions of geoeconomic fragmentation
Abstract
The formation of a polycentric system of international relations leads to geoeconomic fragmentation of international trade. Interstate contradictions create specific risks for multinational companies (MNCs). As a result of the emergence of a “new” world order, transnational corporations face risks of disruption of global supply chains, strengthening of protectionist policies, introduction of inconsistent standards that are incompatible with each other and dissemination of non-market restrictions in the field of investment, technology and access to foreign markets. The impact of modern international contradictions on the strategic approaches of MNCs is analyzed. General aspects of the fragmentation in the world economy and its likely limits are examined. International economic challenges for business are studied, as well as political and reputational risks (based on the example of the Russian Federation). It is concluded that the corporate sector has to take certain political positions due to interstate conflicts. Consequently, a new non-economic factor influencing transnational companies’ strategic management is identified.
60-73
Big data as a source of market power of digital platforms
Abstract
Big data is widely used by digital platforms in multi-sided markets, which are often considered monopolistic. Big data is analyzed as a potential source of market power of digital platforms, and its characteristics as an economic resource are considered. Arguments for classifying certain categories of big data (for example, historical data) as club goods are specified. The use of big data by digital platforms has already become the object of antitrust proceedings. Based on the analysis of those cases, as well as the review of scientific literature, the relationship between the market power of digital platforms and their use of big data is examined. Firstly, big data can be used by platforms while implementing the strategy of price discrimination. Secondly, the usage of big data creates barriers to entry for new platforms, which are caused by the lack of access to data and increased spending on hardware, software and hiring personnel. Finally, big data can be used by digital platforms to exert market power on adjacent markets and create discriminatory conditions. Based on this research, recommendations for antimonopoly regulation of digital platforms in Russia are provided. Several structural alternatives to antimonopoly regulation of big data are considered: the requirements for anonymized big data disclosure; the creation of a big data market; the partial restrictions on generating and using big data in certain ways (similar to the new regulation in the EU).
74-91
German studies
East Germans in the political elites of reunited Germany: the problem of underrepresentation
Abstract
The underrepresentation of East Germans (“ossis”) in German elites is studied. After more than 30 years since the reunification of Germany, the share of former GDR citizens in high government positions in the political system of the state at large is far smaller than their percentage in the population. Historical preconditions for the predominance of West Germans in leadership positions are explored, the share of East Germans in different elite groups is analyzed, and the factors that could facilitate East Germans’ entry to elite positions are suggested. Based on a large amount of data, it is concluded that East Germans are unevenly represented even among political elites. But the territorial principle and the democratic form of recruitment (elections) could facilitate East Germans’ entry into an elite. The research based on statistical data published by German scholars as well as data on the German political elite collected by the author and her colleagues is introduced in Russian and foreign academic literature for the first time. The database consists of information about 736 members of the Bundestag, 17 members of the federal government, 173 members of the federal state governments, and 59 state secretaries for the period up to November 16, 2023.
92-105
Anti-war forces of the FRG in 2022–2023: is their alliance possible?
Abstract
A few years ago it was believed that the anti-war movement, which represented a real force in the era of nuclear confrontation between two military blocs, was not adequate to counter new threats – local wars and Islamic terrorism. The revival of the movement in the spring of 2022 was met with hostility by the political authorities of Germany and the mainstream media, despite its initial apparent inoffensiveness to the official course of the government in the Ukrainian crisis. However, in 2022, anti-war public initiatives began, which in February 2023 turned into a mass demonstration for peace, and also intensified the so-called “Easter marches”. These events showed that the anti-war movement has broad electoral potential and could turn into a political force or at least into an alliance of certain forces on a common anti-war platform. The analysis of modern German anti-war forces is presented and the possibilities of their situational alliance with supporters of left and right populism are investigated. The purpose of the study is to determine the domestic political relevance of such unions. It is concluded that today such a temporary union is fragile and it can be destroyed. The relevance of the study is due to the importance of anti-war themes for the identity of modern Germany, as well as the geopolitical significance of this nation in the balance of forces of the modern West.
106-119