TOP PROBLEM

URBANIZATION IN AFRICA: A DRIVER OR AN OBSTACLE IN ECONOMIC GROWTH? by I.O. Abramova, Dr.Sc. (Economy)

Keywords: Africa, urbanization, rural-urban migration, labor market, informal sector, unemployment

At present the African continent is going through a phase of quantitative and qualitative demographic changes, one of which is a process of rapid urbanization. Back in 1990 two-thirds of Africa's population lived in the countryside, and by 2030 760 million Africans or more than 50% of Africa's population will live in cities. The governments of African states with an assistance of the international community are trying to compensate the social costs of economic restructuring and the impact of the financial crisis, taking special programs to combat poverty and provide social protection of the most vulnerable urban populations.

POLICY, ECONOMY

WHERE DOES A YOUNG NORTH KOREA LEADER LEAD THE COUNTRY? by O.V. Kiryanov. Part 2

Keywords: DPRK. reforms, military elite, foreign policy

The article gives a brief analysis of new moments appeared in North Korea after Kim Jong fin's rise to power. Young Kim quickly managed to establish his position as the most powerful and influential actor on the DPRK political scene. His position now looks stable and unchallenged.

He initiated some changes in the political, economic and social fields of life in NK. These new steps caused debates between experts. The views vary from the belief that DPRK has already started profound reforms to the denial of this possibility, interpreting new moments as "cosmetic changes".

ISIAMISATION, ISLAMISM, AND EXTREMISM

MEDIA-JIHAD. INTERNET IN THE SERVICE OF RADICAL ISLAMISTS by D.A. Nechitailo, PhD (Political Sciences)

Keywords: Al Qaeda, jihad in Internet, on-line propaganda

Like hundreds of millions of other people around the globe, Islamist terrorists and their supporters use the Internet. The Internet makes it easier for them to communicate covertly, preach to the public, and solicit funds. They also use it to plan and coordinate their attacks, turning the Internet itself into a terrorist weapon, using it for wreaking havoc.

The techniques and diverse means to keep messages and information hidden online are a practice that these groups will continue to improve and refine in the future.

AUSTRALIA: THE WINDOW TO TIANSIA "UNDER HEAVEN" by Y.A. Voinov

Keywords: Australia. China, economy, trade ties, business

The article examines current issues of development of trade and economic relations between Australia and China. The author presents a lot of figures and facts which characterize economic relations between two states. He also covers the economic policy of the ruling Labor Party on the eve of the upcoming Australia's parliamentary elections which will take place this autumn.

JAPANESE CUSTOMS: TRADITION AND MODERNITY by N.V. Khisamutdinova, Dr.Sc. (History), Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service

Keywords: Japan, customs, training. Customs Institute

Japan Customs has three main functions. First of all, it is the collection of customs duties and taxes. In the 2011 - 2012 fiscal years, customs has brought the budget of Japan 11,4% of all tax revenues. The second function of the Japanese customs is to ensure economic security of the society. Control over the passage of goods across the border helps to prevent unwanted infiltration into the country, including smuggling ol dangerous and illegal substances and goods, such as drugs, weapons, etc. Finally, the activities of Customs facilitate trade.

INDIA: HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY by T.V. Belousova, PhD (Economy)

Keywords: Human Development Index, higher education in India, private higher education, student migration

This article covers fundamental issues of Indian higher education system. The author makes an analysis of the main socio-economic indicators, paying a special attention to the demographic structure of the society. Using the diverse statistical sources, the author conducts an empirical analysis of Indian higher education system, including the issues of government spending on higher education, dynamics of gross enrolment ratio, private higher education, shortage of academic personnel, Indian student migration, and others.

WOULD THERE BE A "SILICON SAVANNA" IN KENYA? by K.A. Pantserev, PhD (Philology), Dr.Sc. (Political Sciences)

Keywords: Kenya, information policy, information technologies, Konza. "silicon savanna"

The article covers the problem of the formation of the information society in the states of Sub-Saharan Africa. Basing on the example of Kenya the author analyses the substance and evaluates the prospects of the realization ol one of the latest initiatives - the construction of the modern innovation complex - Konza Techno City, also known as the "Silicon savanna".

POINT OF VIEW

REVOLT IN THE ARABIAN WORLD: CROPS AND SHOOTS

CONTINUATION OF "ARAB REVOLUTION": SYRIAN SCENARIO by A.V. Fedorchenko, Dr.Sc. (Economy)

Keywords: the Syrian crisis, ethnic and religious contradictions. Russia's Middle East policy

The article reviews the status of the military conflict, which began in Syria in 2011, analyzes the main trends of the possible course of events in Syria in the medium term. The author has tried to answer the question: can the opposition forces establish peace and prevent territorial disintegration ol Syria? The possible consequences of instability in Syria to neighboring Arab countries (Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq) are evaluated. In conclusion, the author presents the Russian position on the Syrian conflict.

SCIENTIFIC LIFE

XVIII CONGRESS OF THE CPC: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF CHINA'S ECONOMY by A.V. Afonasyeva, PhD (Economy)

Keywords: China. XVIII Congress of the CPC. economic development, society "Xiaokang". "middle income trap"

Trends in economic development of China after the

November 2012 XVIII Congress of the CPC and coming to power of the "fifth generation" of Chinese leaders - these subjects were given careful consideration at the scientific conference, held in Moscow. Opening the conference, academician M.L.Titarenko, Director of the Institute for Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences noted, that China is currently building the society of so called "small prosperity" ("xiaokang"), which is an alternative to other societies of world civilization.

POST-GRADUATE COLUMN

SRI LANKAN: INDIAN FACTOR IN ETHNIC CONFLICT by K.A. Vilnin

Keywords: India. Sri Lanka, ethnic conflict. Indian Peace-Keeping Force

This paper analyzes Indian role in the settlement of the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict. The extent of Indian involvement in the events of the neighboring country varied depending on internal and external factors that affected India's interests and security. During the 1980s the ethnic conflict became a dominating factor in Indo-Sri Lankan relations and India was playing an active role in Sri Lanka. Since the 1990s New Delhi officially pursued a hands-off policy towards the conflict.

TAIWAN. "TERRA INCOGNITA" FOR TOURISTS? by Chang Pi Yu (Taiwan)

Keywords: Taiwan, tourism industry, tourist infrastructure. eco-tourism

Tourism is one of the most important sector of economy and a noticeable part of the social life of Taiwan citizens. Probably there is no other state each third resident of which travels abroad every year. Some of them make business trips, but most of them go abroad as tourists.

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

"WE NEED THE TURKISH COAST ..." by A.C. Hamdohov, Staff correspondent of the magazine in Turkey

Keywords: Turkey, Russia, compatriots. Russian culture centres

After the collapse of the USSR, and with the increasing flow of international tourism Russians learned that our southern neighbor has a lot of tourist attractions, sandy beaches, luxury hotels and inexpensive consumer goods. In turn, Turkish businessmen, students, construction workers discovered a new Russia. This "dating" of two cultures and traditions (though the history of relations between our countries lasts for many centuries), has bropught a host of mixed marriages. According to unofficial data, Turkey has become a home to about 100 thousand Russians, including 90% of those, who have married Turkish citizens.

OUR INTERVIEWS

MARDJANI FOUNDTAION - POPULARIZER OF ISLAMIC CULTURE by K.V. Meshcherina

Keywords: Mardjani Foundation, Rustam Sulevmanov, Islamic culture, scientilic and publishing activities

It is an interview with Rustam Suleymanov, President of the Mardjani Foundation. The Mardjani Foundation was established in Moscow in 2006. Its activities focus largely on publishing, holding exhibition in museums, as well as cultural, educational and scientific projects in the field of Islamic studies and Muslim culture in Russia and Eurasia.

RUSIA AND THE EAST

A LETTER FROM INDIA by T.N. Zagorodnikova, PhD (History)

Keywords: Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, Taraknath Das. Baba Premanand Bharati, "Letter to a Hindu".

The paper examines Leo Tolstoy's correspondence with Indians. The letters had been written over the period of 1896 - 1910, when his teaching had already been well known all over the world. Indians rated him as a prophet, mahatma, who could find solutions to their burning issues. Their letters illustrated the problems that existed in Indian society in the beginning of the XXth centure.

CULTURE, LITERATURE, ART

EVEN IN A FOREIGN LAND FLOWERS OF HOPE CAN GROW by S.V. Prozhogina, Dr.Sc. (Philology)

Keywords: Tahar Bekri, poets of Maghreb countries, France

Such a phenomenon in contemporary literature as poetry of Tahar Bekri (b. 1951) - ethnic Tunisian, Arab, working in France, where he teaches Arabic literature, is difficult to consider as belonging to a single national literature. Who are they? Those many writers and poets - Algerians, Moroccans, and Tunisians, who are living in France, writing in French and Arabic and who are North Africans by birth.

"WE, LIKE STONES ON THE ROADS TRAMPLED BY FEET OF RICH" by V.A. Pogadaev, PhD (History)

Keywords: Eastern poetry, international poetry reading. Malaysia. "Numera" literary organization

The poets from seven countries gathered in Kuala Lumpur at International poetry readings and seminar. The forum was organized by the Malaysian literary organization "Great Malay Nusantara" (Numera). The participants recited their poems and spoke about poetry in a changing world. The "Numera" was created in 2011 on the initiative of renowned Malaysian poet, laureate of Southeast Asia Literary prize, holder of the title of National writer of Malaysia Ahmad Kamal Abdullah. It quickly gained recognition in his country and abroad.

BOOK REVIEW

"AFRICAN SKY": IT IS SOMETHING LIKE WHAT? by N.I. Petrov

A significant addition to the major works of modern Africa - its nature, history, culture - are collection of articles named "Under My Africa's Sky". It is periodically issued by of the Department of African Studies of Institute of Asian and African Studies, Moscow State University.

At the end of 2012 the 6th edition of this almanac was published (the first one in 2000). Unlike all the previous collections, which included material on almost all regions of the "Dark Continent", the Sixth almanac is dedicated to only the territory, which is however vast and extremely diverse in all the "parameters" - namely, Tropical and Southern Africa.

Most of the authors are teachers, graduates and students, as well as their Russian and African counterparts. This almanac is devoted both for professionals and anyone who is interested in history of Africa.

BRONISLAW PILSUDSKI'S EASTERN

CORRESPONDENCE by E.A. Ikonnikova, Dr.Sc. (Philology). Sakhalin State University

Russian and Japanese scientists have combined their efforts, which resulted in the book titled "Bronislaw Pilsudski. Japanese Notes" / Eds. K. Savada, V.M. Latyshev, M.M. Prokofyev, G.I. Dudarets, T.P. Roon/ (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the State Institution of Culture "Sakhalin Regional Museum". 2012, 124 p., ill.) Pilsudski journalism - is one of the "keys" to the history, culture and ethnography of the Far East of the early XXth century.

Thoughtful readers with a deep familiarity with this book will be able to understand and accept the image of Japan (in the broad sense - the Far East), which was formed by Pilsudski in his nonfiction works designed for the widest possible audience.

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