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D.V. Mosyakov. «China and its claim in South China Sea» The author analyses the Chinese policy towards islands in South China Sea in the period from the end of World War the Second until today. He analyses how China has realized its policy of the islands takeover, how it has advanced to the south, how its relations with the great powers and the neighbor states have been built. The author gives general avaluation of the current situation of the conflict over Paracel and Spratly Islands. The key words: islands, expansion, great powers, interests, mineral resourses, conflicts, agreements, declarations S.А. Bylinyak in his paper entitled «Misbalances in the global economy» states that a number of serious misbalances is inherent in modern world economy which is the result of the intensive globalization period. For the time being only positive side which had facilitated economic growth and science and technological advance was seen in it. However the 2008-2010 global crises revealed negative aspects in this process. Many states including the countries of Southeast and East Asia made too much emphasis on export orientation, ignoring the prospects of production for domestic consumption. The author concludes that the crisis proved that this sphere should be given more attention. The key words: global financial and economic crisis, the countries of Southeast and East Asia – the strategy of development, the structure of economy, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Southeast Asia, export-oriented economy, industries for domestic market, disproportions caused by the global crisis, adaptation of the Southeast Asian countries to new trends in the world economy. N.B. Lebedeva. «The Strait of Malacca – are there the ways to reach security?» The paper addresses the problems of multinational cooperation in building of non-traditional security in the vicinity of the Strait of Malacca and its evolution; the specific attitudes of ASEAN member-countries; the influence of interests and sea strategies of Japan, the US, China and India as well as the growing role of the sea factor in the global economy and policy. 334

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The key words: the Strait of Malacca, non-traditional security, ASEAN, Japan, the US, China, India. Novakova O.V., Sokolova V.N. «The problems of colonialism in the light of contacts between two civilizations: West-European and East-Asian (on the basis of comparative analysis)» The aim of this article is to analyze the project of colonialism in Southeast Asia in 1884-1948 through the study of relationship between Western countries (France and Great Britain) and their colonies (Vietnam as part of French Indochina and Burma as part of British India). For the first time in contemporary Oriental studies the authors compare these Southeast Asian countries as different as they are. The researchers try to provide an overview of the vast and complex literature on European colonization in the region. Providing a more thorough discussion of the concepts of colonialism (concerning the policy of assimilation and association, etc), the paper also addresses the question of how European (French and Britain) colonial administrations justified, legitimized, and challenged domination in political, economic and cultural spheres. The comparative approach has proved particularly fruitful in drawing attention to distinctive features of Vietnamese and Burmese societies, as well as the fate of the monarchy in Vietnam (where it was preserved and maintained till 1945) and Burma (where it was abolished in 1886). The key words: colonialism, political culture, Buddism, Confucianism, comparative analyses, methods of colonial administration, policy of association and assimilation, protrctorate. Karimullina A.V. Since their rise in the global arena newly industrialized countries (NICs) of Asia have always been a debatable topic for discussion among economists. This article studies the Western works on the problem of economic development of NICs. The author considers the main approaches to the issue within the framework of dependency theory, neoclassic paradigm, and revisionist view. The key words: newly industrialized countries (NICs) of Asia, East Asian model of economic development, dependency theory,

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neoclassical paradigm, developmental state, industrial policy, export orientation, import substitution. Bektimirova N.N. «The religious dimension of political life in contemporary Cambodia» This paper examines the influence of Buddhism on political life in contemporary Cambodia. The author shows that extensive patronage and financial backing of the Buddhist sangha by members of the ruling elite, particularly Hun Sen and his family, results in a substantial political involvement of the Buddhist hierarchs who are closely linked to existing power structures. Ordinary monks coming primarily from poor peasant families demonstrate a critical attitude towards the ruling regime, especially in the capital. Many of them are strongly inclined to support the opposition, mainly the Sam Rainsy Party. The key words: Buddism, Buddist sangha, political participation of monks, ruling elite, opposition A.A. Simoniya in her paper «New look of military rule in Myanmar» analyzes the 2010 parliamentary elections and the initiatives of president Thein Sein. The results of elections in Myanmar were not a surprise. The military and the military-backed pro-government Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP) together control about 84% of the seats in the parliament. The president − former general and the last prime minister − during 14 years has been a member of the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Many of the generals who made up the SPDC now also hold key positions in the parliament and the cabinet. Currently Myanmar’s new civilian government is making big efforts to show its legitimacy as a democratic regime. The most significant initiative was the president Thein Sein’s official meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyitaw. Among other steps the author mentioned the following: the UN special rapporteur was allowed back into Myanmar; political exiles were told they could return home; an offer of ceasefire to armed ethnic political groups. Thein Sein has announced that construction of the Myitsone dam across the Irrawaddy river would cease. Myanmar’s leaders seem

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prepared to pay more heed both to popular opinion at home and to pressure from the West. The changes may be limited, but nevertheless there is a ground for cautious optimism. The key words: Myanmar, senior general Than Shwe, parliamentary elections, Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), civilian government, president Thein Sein, president’s initiatives, Aung San Suu Kyi. Urlyapov V.F. «Timor-Leste: Making of foreign policy course» Intensive diplomatic activity played an important role in the struggle of Timor-Leste for self-determination and termination of foreign occupation. After gaining independence the major efforts of the countries’ foreign policy were aimed at attracting international assistance to build the state and to develop the country’s economy through bilateral and multilateral channels. Timor-Leste’s main international partners were the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as Indonesia, Australia, Portugal and China. The key words: diplomacy, foreign policy, economic cooperation, Indonesia, Australia, Portugal, China. G.V. Suchkov «The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle: Pushing to the forefront of political life and its place in the current political constellation» May 1998 was a turning point in the history of Indonesia. Suharto, who had held the reins of power for several decades, was forced to resign, which ushered in a new era and paved the way for the democratization process in Indonesia. Megawati Sukarnoputri, a staunch opposition figure under the authoritarian regime and influential leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle after its fall, was one of the key players in the Indonesian political arena in 1998–2011. The article deals with the political path taken by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle during the reformasi period. The author analyzes its relations with other parties of modern Indonesia and outlines the prospects opening up before it in the currently changing political context.

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The key words: Indonesia, democratization, Suharto, Megawati Sukarnoputri, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, elections. Sengphakhan Vanthanouvong. «Laos-Russian relations in 20102011» This paper examines the development of Laos-Russian relations in 2010-2011. The author shows how, relying upon semicentennial traditions of friendship and cooperation, Russian and Laos ruling elites actively seak to elevate bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership. Concrete results of such efforts in economic, humanitarian and international spheres are analyzed. The quest for new directions of cooperation, including high-technology ones, is also considered. The key words: bilateral relations between Laos and Russia, economic cooperation, prospects for bilateral cooperation Fomicheva E.A. «Thailand: The clash of traditional and modern perception of the world» The author considers the problem of social and cultural collision of traditional and modern perception of the world of a Thai taking for an example a movie “Uncle Boonmee who can Recall his Past Lives”. The analyses of the plot and creative approach enables to evaluate the ideas of life and death, karma, man and Nature, mysticism and reality in the Thai world. The movie stresses problems of a Thai living in the situation of contradictions between tradition and modernity, village and city. The key words: traditional perception of a man and Nature, tradition and modernity, Buddism, animism karma, Nature, mysticism. Lagunov Anatoly. Since the 1970ies, Islamic economy has emerged as a new reality in the international financial scene. Nowadays the Islamic finance sector is expected to more than quadruple in value within a decade from its current size of between $800 billion and $1 trillion. Today Malaysia is an undisputable leader in Islamic finance, setting the standards across the industry and marking its thought 338

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leadership in the area. Backed with over 30 years of development in Islamic banking and finance, the country now has a deep capital market and broad range of consumer banking and Takaful products that attract both Muslims and non-Muslims. The country's headship in Islamic banking and finance is the result of the government's political will and the private sector initiatives in enabling an environment of legal, regulatory, supervisory, risk management, Syariah framework and incentives. Malaysia's position as one of the world's Islamic finance hub is recognised globally, and it has become a role model for many countries. The key words: Malaysia, Islamic finance, Islamic banking, takaful (Islamic insurance) N.S. Skorobogatyh. The article traces main reasons and consequences of emergence of the One Nation Party led by Pauline Lee Hanson on the Australian political arena at the end of the 1990ies. Her slogans of Asiatic immigration reduction and cancellation of multiculturalism resulted in serious concern among ethnic communities, neighboring countries governments, as well as Australian establishment, whose representatives did their best to get rid of this odious figure. Nevertheless Hanson phenomenon forced the government to make some corrections in its social and immigration policy. Key words: Australia, domestic policy, immigration, multiculturalism, Pauline Lee Hanson, One Nation Party, ethnic communities. N.S. Skorobogatyh. Australian experience of correcting multiculturalism policy in the first decade of 21st century shows that the continuation of excessive advances to ethnic minorities leads to further complication of home and foreign situation. The problem of interethnic relations can be solved only in terms of universal civil equality without any privileges based on ethnic or confessional criteria. Key words: Australia, domestic policy, population, ethnic groups, ethnic conflicts, interethnic relations, multiculturalism, human rights, civil equality.

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Deopik D.V., Ulyanov М. In the paper the authors try to give a historic and archaeological description of the lands inhabited by the Austroasiatic peoples (most probably, proto-Viets) pertaining to the Lower Yangzi historic and cultural area, one of the centres of the Old World’s early state, in 2 000 B.C. Key words: historic and archaeological description, East and Proto-Southeast Asia, proto-Viets, early state history, 2 000 B.C., Lower Yangzi historic and cultural area, Maqiao culture, early writing Anna Fursova’s paper devoted to the life and activity of Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana (1908-1994) who was one of the key figures in the intellectual and cultural life of Indonesia. S.T. Alisjahbana expressed his personal opinion about the national history of Indonesia and its future. His views and ideas were different from most of the other intellectuals in the country, because he stood for the western values and concepts that must be learned and adopted by Indonesian people in order to make the country prosperous and modern. He was also very fond of the idea of necessity to build one universal world culture. S.T. Alisjahbana made a considerable contribution to the development of bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language). This paper presents a study of his ideas and concept in connection with the key events in his life and the life of Indonesia. It also gives a brief description of some of his works which are the most significant in order to understand his views and ideas. The key words: Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, journal, cultural values, vision, Western culture, linguistics

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