Suchergebnisse

Provides an overview of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict, beginning with a description of the complicated ethnic composition of the region & tracing the history of tensions through the defeat of the Georgian Army & the secession of Abkhazia. Abkhazia pursued reunion with Russia as well as trying to come to terms with Georgia, whose leadership holds to a policy of rigid unitarism that means thrusting a monoethnic state on a population 30+% ethnic minorities. The impact of any settlement in this conflict has ramifications for other autonomies that Georgia has also lost control of, eg, South Ossetia, indicating that Georgia is at risk of disintegrating. Russia's official position on the conflict centers on the acknowledgment of the inviolability of Georgia's territorial integrity in which Abkhazia should be provided broad political rights. Under Yeltsin, Russia cooperated with Georgia, but that changed when Putin came to power. Western states support Georgia's territorial integrity & have adopted a lopsided pro-Georgian stance. The complete contradiction of opposing interests means little chance of resolving the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict politically; Georgia must drop its policy of unitarism & look to a federation of equal peoples. Russian-Western tensions in the South Caucasus can only lead to further regional instability &, therefore, they should coordinate their regional policies. The resulting stabilization might help end the conflict. J. Zendejas

Bogardus' concept of social distance is used to examine the position of Russian minorities vis-a-vis the titular populations in the former Soviet republics of Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, & Kazakhstan. Maintaining social distance from outgroups is defined as aversive prejudice, ie, simply avoiding contact with outgroup members in the everyday life of workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, & social circles. Analysis of survey data (a total of 2,886 respondents) revealed significant variation among the five republics, with the greatest social distance exhibited in Moldova & the least in Georgia. Social & economic factors affecting the degree of social distance are delineated & the results tabulated. Generally speaking, greater ethnic competition was associated with higher levels of social distance. However, in Georgia, whose economic situation was the worst, there was greater social cohesion, rather than the aversive prejudice one might expect because of competition for scarce resources. Tables. J. Stanton

A crossnational analysis of intergroup stereotypes in five former Soviet states focuses on the attribution of goals to outgroups. The literature is reviewed & the significance of "fifth column" attributions is discussed. It was hypothesized that fifth column attributions reinforce negative stereotypes of Russians but the effect only occurs in relation to outgroup, not ingroup, goals. The effect was expected to be stronger in countries with recent histories of violent conflict between groups. Data were collected in 1995 from surveys completed by a total of 1,200 Russian nationals & 1,200 indigenous nationals from randomly selected cities in Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, & Georgia. Predictors of negative stereotypes highlighted income, occupation, education, age, gender, language competence, ethnicity, & civic identification. The results of simple slope analysis & a test of effects across countries using a general linear model showed the impact of fifth column attributions most strongly reinforced negative stereotypes of Russians in Georgia & Moldova, where recent military conflicts have occurred. The outcome of the second hypothesis was contradictory. The implications are discussed. 3 Tables, 2 Figures, 25 References. J. Lindroth

The effects of labor market competition from Mexican immigrants on native-born African Americans' occupation of traditional employment niches & occupational mobility are investigated. Data from the 1970 & 1990 Public Use Microdata Samples of the US Census are used to analyze the occupational displacement & mobility of native-born African Americans in Los Angeles, Chicago, & Atlanta, emphasizing African Americans' displacement & mobility in five occupational niches: cleaning services, factory work, skilled & unskilled service occupations, & office work. Although the findings substantiated the popular assertion that low-skilled immigrants take jobs away from native-born minority populations, they also revealed that immigrants' succession into occupational niches generally dominated by minority groups helped advance native-born minority workers' positions in the occupational stratification system. Additional research is required to explain the wage gap between African American & Mexican immigrant workers & rising unemployment among African Americans in certain occupational niches. 12 Tables, 1 Appendix, 29 References. J. W. Parker

"The authoress draws attention to the increasing importance of information and communication technology both as a source of national power as well as a threat to it. After conceptualising cyber security and the novel vulnerabilities states face in an increasingly digitalized national and international environment, the authoress concentrates on the role that informational power plays in trans-national relations. She concludes the article by using the empirical cases of Estonia, Georgia and South Korea to outline policy responses by countries that experienced critical cyber attacks in the recent past." (author's abstract)

Discusses the emerging presence of genetic services in health care, & the nature & impact of genetic screening in rural & multicultural environments. The humane genome project (HGP) initiated in 1990 promises to produce a complete map of the human gene, & thereby (among other things) offer opportunities for screening & intervention of certain genetic disorders. The impact of HGP research has been declared as everything from a deterministic & destructive step to the birth of a new moral & responsible age. Drawing on studies of rural newborn screening programs (NBS) in FL & GA, the question is raised of whether the existence of a cure is a sufficient condition for the state imposition of a screening process. Both states provide genetic outreach programs to offer services to the rural &/or underprivileged; however, certain counties in GA of above average minority population density have been denied these services by local legislators. It is concluded that distributive justice must become a central concern of NBS programs, & that advances in medical genetics will continue to affect the diagnosis & treatment of many disorders. T. Sevier

This examination of the association between nationalist orientations & exclusionist reactions among the Russian & titular populations of five former Soviet republics -- Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, & Kazakhstan -- distinguishes between patriotic & chauvinistic nationalism & between social-distance & negative-stereotype exclusionism. The attitudes of both the Russian & titular populations are examined, based on analysis of survey data collected in the mid-1990s. The results confirm two hypotheses: that chauvinism, more than patriotism, was related to negative stereotypes & social distance; but that both types of nationalism were related to more negative stereotypes than to more social distance. Also, it was found that the association between nationalism & exclusionism was greater among the titular than the Russian population. Tables, Figures. J. Stanton

"Diversifying EU energy sources and its subsequent potential influence in the South Caucasus is the central theme in the contribution. When the EU was forced to search for other energy supply sources through the construction of the Southern Gas Corridor, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan came under the EU's spotlight. The EU however has yet to secure these energy supplies. This lack of success has been directed at the ubiquitous inconsistency and incoherence of EU foreign policy, a lack of solidarity between member states and Russia. This chapter analyzes the drivers for and obstacles to the EU's energy diversification plans, arguing that solidarity principles are often overridden not only by rational interests of member states but also by external factors shaping those interests and affecting the EU's capacity to exercise influence for promoting its policies." (author's abstract)

This chapter explores the positions of Russian minority groups (totaling 25 million individuals) in five countries that had been part of the Soviet Union: Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, & Kazakhstan. The Russians, who had considered themselves Soviets rather than Russians, have had to reconsider their national identification, & many have chosen Russian identity, not based on ethnic criteria, but rather on political, socioeconomic or cultural-linguistic terms. Their position in their current countries is affected by individual-level & contextual-level indicators of ethnic competition & assimilation, which were assessed via surveys conducted in urban areas with at least 10% Russians. Individual assimilation factors, in particular, Russian mixed marriages, tended to reduce Russian identification, & contextual ethnic competition factors to increase it, but a puzzling result was that larger proportions of Russian mixed marriage in a given area led to higher levels of Russian identification. Tables. J. Stanton

"This article provides an overview of OSCE engagement in the frozen conflicts in its area, outlining the tools used by the Organization to facilitate conflict resolution, while at the same time emphasizing the importance of political engagement by the respective stakeholders. While the OSCE will continue its engagement and further strengthen its toolbox, a lasting solution of the frozen conflicts will only be achieved if there are moments of ripeness, in which the sides involved perceive a settlement mediated by a third party as less painful than the status quo. After a short introductory discussion of the notion of frozen conflicts, the following three chapters will give a brief overview of the involvement of the OSCE in the conflicts with regards to Transdniestria Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh and the tools and mechanisms applied. The final chapter will draw a brief comparison of the three conflicts and will put the OSCE efforts in relation to the notion of 'political will'." (author's abstract)

Addresses the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict & the impact of Caspian oil & pipeline routes on its resolution. Azerbaijan's, Armenia's, & the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's respective positions are detailed, along with the stances of Georgia, the Central Asian Caspian states, Russia, the GUUAM political-economic group, Iran, & Turkey. Western views of the conflict are summed up as well. The mediation initiatives of the Minsk Group center on five key issues, eg, security of Nagorno-Karabakh & the terms for stationing international peacekeepers, & troop withdrawal from districts not properly Nagorno-Karabakh. The Minsk Group's lack of success is attributed in part to its inability to enforce its peacemaking. Russian military cooperation with Armenia is scrutinized, along with the potential for Azerbaijan's resumption of hostilities in light of floundering negotiations. Alternative scenarios of & models for coping with this conflict are then offered. The Karabakh conflict is seen to perpetuate regional instability, which might see some amelioration should the major geopolitical actors resolve key issues surrounding the Caspian Sea's oil & gas reserves. J. Zendejas

Introduces a collection of essays dedicated to assessing the postcommunist transition in Central & Eastern Europe, the legacies of state socialism, & how these traditions impact the direction of change. In addition, the political cultures of former state socialist societies are examined in terms of the wills of domestic & foreign actors involved. Here, focus is on exploring whether fundamental shifts in the political & social structures ensued after the replacement of political elites. Theoretical paradigms of change are developed on the basis of a literature review, & transition outcomes are analyzed to determine the extent & quality of the transformation, discern the range of factors fostering & inhibiting sociopolitical change, & evaluate embedded & imposed elements in the process. Analysis reveals three sets of countries, ranging from the relatively successful (eg, Poland), to the partial assumption of Western-style societal characteristics (eg, Republic of Georgia), to the retention or reconstitution of state socialism (eg, Belarus). Success, it is argued, requires the shift from state socialism to capitalism & polyarchy concurrently occur across essential social sectors, eg, law, governance, values, & the economy. Those states that have succeeded, eg, Hungary & the Czech Republic, are seen to be geographically proximate to Western Europe & have a history of opposition to Soviet hegemony, longer periods of politicoeconomic reform, elite structures more homogeneous & supportive of capitalism & polyarchy, & broader popular ideological opposition to communism. 5 Tables, 8 Charts. J. Zendejas

"Disintegration of the USSR, formation of the new independent states onto the post-Soviet space became a significant event in contemporary history and human biographies. Majority of these states have begun market and democracy reforms, which pushed dramatic system transformation of their societies. It was expected, that reforms would provide the economy growth, increase of welfare and life chances of citizens unlimited by the centralized economy and authoritarian state. However already from the mid 1990th sharp social polarization (Gini coefficient was multiplied almost in 2 times, except for Belarus and Georgia), decline of life chances for most citizens, considerable reducing of life expectancy (above all things, capable of working men) showed up in these countries. The daily life of the people living in the former USSR has been transformed, with the certainties of everyday life being eroded as the bureaucratic redistributive order has taken on the guise of the market. In parallel, vertical social integration has been undermined alongside a significant increase in social inequalities; at the same time increase of social integration within strata has been showed up. What vectors of social inequalities are most strong? And what reasons of these phenomena are? In spite of the wide-spread opinion that age, gender and ethnicity are the independent factors of increasing of inequality; the author argues significant dependence of these factors on the objective class positions. Investigation of objective medium shows the expressly structured allocation of resources and life chances belonging to 'new' and 'old' social classes. On a base of survey data on Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and Kazakhstan, the paper concludes with some tentative projections concerning future social inequality development in these societies, in which relations of power, appropriation of property, social capital and high-quality education entail deep distinction in life chances of people. The author underlines that post-Soviet societies now mirror elements of traditional class societies with acquisition classes being not numerous, and in which a significant proportion of the population is social excluded. The paper is based on a data source of the EU-founded project on living conditions, lifestyle and health (LLH, with project leading by Ch. Haerpfer) as a multi-level survey conducted in 8 post-Soviet states during 2000-2002 years." (author's abstract)