Russia-Georgia Conflict and Beyond

Yet another Post 9/11 historical event indicating a significant turning point in the Post-Cold War era, Russia-Georgia conflict represents a remarkable change in the international strategy of a resurgent Russia. It also signifies that former Soviet republics are still groping for a new identity and that a new round of realignment will persist in the vast Eurasia region. The conflict reveals declining U.S. global control, flawed European integration, and NATO embarrassment. To a certain extent, it exposes chaos brought about by international nonpolarity and world governance vacuum. It also highlights what serious consequences can a double standard inflict on the principles of international law. A reasonable arrangement for global security and economic growth is therefore challenging the resolve and wisdom of international strategists. Actually fierce geopolitical rivalry for energy resources is at work behind the Russia-Georgia conflict. This will further compound the international energy strategic environment.     

New Hot Issues in the World and Fresh Challenges to Global Governance

Since the beginning of the 21st century, with the rapid deveopment of multi-polarization and economic globalization and profound changes in the international security situation, countries in the world are becoming more interdependent and deepening their cooperation, and at the same time facing increasingly grave common challenges. Particularly in recent years new hot issues relating to outer space, the polar regions, and climate change are looming large, posing new serious challenges to the current international rules and regulations and order of global governance.     

Unions in Restructured States: Laborism in Australia and Economic Liberalism in the United Kingdom

There have been major reforms in the public sector in both Australia and the United Kingdom from the 1980s onwards. In each case, governments restructured their state sectors. These initiatives brought about not only widely acknowledged changes in organisation but also changes in the labour process and class relations as well as differing prospects for state sector trade unions.     

Diplomacy and intelligence

'Intelligence' as a discrete institution is part of twentieth-century government. It combines the skills of covert collection with expertise on certain subjects. Its differentiation from legitimate diplomacy is on the whole clear: intelligence provides information by special methods, diplomacy uses it. Nevertheless, there are numerous operational overlaps. Intelligence's overseas liaisons interact with diplomacy and foreign policy. Embassies act as intelligence bases and are targets for local intelligence attacks. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office plays a leading part in intelligence assessment. Some distancing between diplomacy and covert intelligence is desirable, but Western intelligence is less of a rival to diplomacy than has sometimes been portrayed. In Britain, in particular, intelligence's knowledge has not meant power.     

Latin American Regional Integration Progresses Steadily

With growing globalization, regional integration has witnessed a new round of development with a strong momentum. In recent years, in Latin America, a region that started regional integration earliest among the developing countries, regional integration has been advancing steadily. All kinds of regional and sub-regional cooperation organizations have been strengthening dialogue and exchanges in the political, economic, trade, energy, financial and other fields. Regional cooperation is further enhanced. Latin American integration is in a period of relatively sound development.     

Improving Public Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics

The term ＂public diplomacy＂ was first used in 1965 by the Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University. The term has no fixed definition no matter in China or other countries. Scholars agree on some points but disagree on some others. The Dictionary of International Relations Terms compiled by the U.S. Department of State in 1987 illustrates that public diplomacy refers to government-sponsored programs intended to understand, inform or influence public opinion in other ＂countries, reduce foreign governments＇ and public＇s misperceptions on the United States, enhance the image and influence of the United States in overseas public and promote national interest;     

Achieve Glory against All Odds- The Development of China＇s Foreign Policy in the Past 60 Years

Since its founding 60 years ago, the People＇s Republic of China has been pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace under the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory. Braving wind and storm in diplomatic front and breaking through brambles and thorns, it has scored brilliant achievements. Through arduous diplomatic struggles, China has safeguarded its national independence, sovereignty and security, created a favorable international environment for its cause of modernization, reform and opening-up, improved its international status and influence, and made important contribution to the promotion of world peace and development as well as the cause of human progress.     

DPRK＇s Attempt at Diplomatic Breakthrough in the Nuclear Dilemma

In recent months, the persistence of the Democratic People＇sRepublic of Korea on conducting nuclear detonation and longrange missile test regardless of wide opposition from the United Nations and the international community incurred severe sanctions on and unprecedented diplomatic isolation for it. Aiming at breaking the plight,     

China-U.S. Economic and Trade Relations： A Win-Win Partnership

Over the past three decades, China-U.S. economic and trade relations have been growing rapidly along with vigorous economic development of China in the course of its reform and opening-up. Economic exchanges and trade between the two countries virtually started from scratch, but now China and the United States have become two of the world＇s largest economies and trading partners. The two economies are more interdependent than ever before, each being the other＇s major partner： China is America＇s second largest trading partner, third largest export market, second largest source of import and largest holder of its treasury bonds; the United States is China＇s largest trading partner, largest export market and third largest outlet for foreign direct investment （FDI）.