Abstracts

03 China's Diplomacy Toward Arab Countries in the Spirit of Bandung and Sino-Arab Relations in the New Era

Abstract

The ancient Silk Road has made China and the Arab world know each other, and the friendly cooperation between two has a long history. As an important milestone in the history of post-war international relations, the Bandung Conference allowed new China to have direct contact with Arab countries for the first time. It also created an opportunity for a breakthrough in Sino-Egyptian relations and the opening of modern Sino-Arab diplomacy. For more than half a century, the Bandung spirit has inspired the deepening and expansion of the friendly cooperation between China and the Arab world. China has jointly built the “Belt and Road” Initiative with Arabia countries in the past 10 years, and the cooperation between the two sides has been promoted to a new level of strategic partnership. In 2020, China and the Arab world worked together in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and composed a new chapter of Sino-Arab community of shared destiny, which is undoubtedly the contemporary promotion of the Bandung spirit of unity, friendship and cooperation.

Key

Words

Sino-Arab Relations; Bandung Spirit; Community of Shared Destiny; Cooperating in Fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

YU Jianhua, Ph.D., Researcher, Institute of International Relations, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

17 The Images of Powers: Iran and Russia Ties Influenced by the U.S.

Abstract

Russia is a global power while Iran is a Middle East power. The bilateral ties between Iran and Russia is of important significance to the Middle East politics. Iran and Russia share common interests in many areas, including economic, financial, nuclear development, weaponary research and counter terrorism. Meanwhile, the division over Syria issue, ties with the U. S. and Middle East geopolitics are apparent between Moscow and Tehran. As a world power, Russia keeps complicating ties of both cooperative and competitive with the U. S. and its Middle East allies, while the regional power Iran strongly rejects U.S. interventions and its influence in Middle East. The shared U. S. pressure facilitates Iran and Russia cooperation, while their different understandings towards the U. S. stand in the way of the development of thier bilateral relationship.

Key

Words

Iran; Russia; Iran Nuclear Issue; United States

Author

WANG Jin, Ph. D., Associate Professor, The Institute of Middle East Studies, Northwest University of China.

35 Motivation and Future Trends of U. S. Policy Toward Iraqi Kurds After Iraq War

Abstract

For a long time, the Iraqi Kurds who have pursued a pro-American position have played an irreplaceable role in the America's diplomatic strategy in the Middle East. After the Iraq war, with the 2003 Iraq war as the landmark event and the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq in 2011 as an important node, the U. S. policy on Iraqi Kurds can be divided into two stages: before and after the withdrawal. With the deterioration of the internal security situation in Iraq, the growth of Iranian support for Shi'ite forces, the rise and fall of the “Islamic State” and the shrinkage of America's Middle East Strategy, the United States has continuously adjusted its policy towards Iraqi Kurds. The policy towards the Iraqi Kurds is the result of multiple internal and external factors. In essence, the United States takes Iraqi kurds as an important starting point and support to maintain the hegemonic strategy in the Middle East. In recent years, with the rise of anti-US sentiment in Iraq, the increase of influence in Iran and the uncertainty of the situation in Syria, the United States will continue to adjust the Kurdish policy according to the changes of the situation in the Middle East and the needs of strategic interests, and the Iraqi Kurds will still be an important tool in the U.S. Middle East strategy.

Key

Words

The United States; Diplomatic Strategy; Iraq; Kurdish Issue; Geopolitics

Author

FENG Yi, Ph. D., Post-Doctoral Fellow, Shaanxi Normal University; Associate Professor, Institute of Arab States Studies, Ningxia University.

55 Israeli Factors in the Process of ‘Polarization' of American Judaism Since the End of the 20th Century

Abstract

Since the end of the 20th century, there has been an obvious trend of “polarization” between orthodox and unorthodox Judaism in the United States, and Israel has become a “wedge” to intensify the process of “polarization”. Israel's status as the “spiritual center” among the Jews in the world is highlighted. In the era of globalization, the Jewish groups in the diaspora have strengthened their association with Israel, and the status differences of various sectarian groups in the association with Israel have led Israel to become the key “battlefield” for the competition among sects of Judaism in the United States. Due to the closer but unbalanced connection, Israel's social and political conflicts and “polarization” can easily “spill over” to the American Jewish community. Different sects of Judaism in the United States were involved in the social and political disputes in Israel in the mode of “invited” or “boomerang”. Since the beginning of the 21st century, Israel's right-wing deviation and “democratic crisis” make it closer to the Orthodox groups of the United States in terms of identity, party affiliation or policy orientation, but more alienated from the un-Orthodox groups. A rightist Israel exacerbated the “identity conflict” between different sects of Judaism in the United States.

Key

Words

American Judaism; Orthodox; Un-Orthodox; Polarization; Israel

Author

WANG Shuming, Ph. D., Associate Fellow, Institute of International Relations, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

76 The Composition， Development and Growing Influence of Islamic Extremism in Russia

Abstract

In the field of non-traditional security of the post-Cold War era, religious extremism has become a major challenge to all countries, among which Islamic extremism is of the greatest impact. As a traditional religion in Russia, Islam, highlighted by the rise of Islamic revivalism, has left a deep imprint in the Russian society during its transition period. With the decline of Russia's federal government, Islamic extremism came to foster growing influences and attempted to realize the independence in the North Caucasus as well as the establishment of the socalled “Islamic State”, which caused great trauma to the Russian state and society.. In the context of the global Islamic extremism, the issue of Islamic extremism has always existed in Russia and has become a major hidden danger affecting national security and social stability.

Key

Words

Russia; Social Transformation; Islam; Politicization of Islam; Islamic Extremism

Authors

BI Hongye, Ph. D., Research Fellow, Center for Central Asia Studies, School of Russian and Eastern Studies, Shanghai International Studies University; XIAO Jia, M.A., Assistant for Foreign Affairs, School of Russian and Eastern Studies, Shanghai International Studies University.

96 Progress， Dynamics and Prospects of India-Israel Strategic Partnership

Abstract

In recent years, due to changes of decision makers and national, regional and international factors, India-Israel relations have evolved in a comprehensive, strategic and partnership development trend. In 2017, India and Israel explicitly announced that they would upgrade their relations to a “strategic partnership”. Since then, the two countries have intensively expanded their cooperation and exchanges in four major fields: politics, military, economy, and humanities. Their political relations have become increasingly closer, security relations have deepened, economic and trade relations have improved and accelerated, and humanities communications have become increasingly active. In the coming period, India and Israel may further strengthen cooperation in military, antiterrorism, economic and trade fields. However, there are still many variables in the future development of India-Israel relations. Due to the influence of domestic, regional and international factors, India-Israel relations cannot form an alliance in the short term.

Key

Words

India; Israel; India-Israel Relationship; Strategic Partnership; Narendra Modi

Author

WU Qiong, Ph.D. Candidate, Institute of International Studies and Collaborative Innovation Center of South China Sea Studies, Nanjing University.

117 The Construction and Governance of the Spanish-Moroccan Border

Abstract

Ceuta and Melilla, located on the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea at the northern tip of Africa, are two Spanish enclaves isolated on the African continent. The land border activities and economic exchanges in these two cities reflects the conflicts and communication between Morocco and Spain, as well as the EU and non-EU countries. Its construction and governance affect not only the political stability, economic development, and diplomatic relations of the two countries, but also the EU's immigration policy and European-African relations, which constructs a unique and dynamic identity for border residents. From 2020, affected by COVID-19 Pandemic, the border space between Ceuta and Melilla has undergone new changes. This paper reviews the emergence and alteration of the border issue, analyzing its “duality”, “interweavement”, “volatility” and other characteristics. In doing so, it will illuminate that the border space between Ceuta and Melilla functions as a barrier and a bridge, which affects identity construction, border construction and reconstruction. This paper is of great significance for the study of the enclave identity, EU policies and Euro-Mediterranean relations.

Key

Words

Border Construction; Morocco; Spanish Enclave; European Union; COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

ZHANG Jingshu, Ph. D., Lecturer at The School of Asian-African Studies, Dalian University of Foreign Languages.

137 The “Empire” Analogy to “Pan-Arabism” Through the US Print Media

Abstract

Over the first half of 20th century, facing the Arabs' appeal of unity, combined with the Western world's stereotypes of Islam, a considerable number of people portray “pan-Arabism” as a medieval “Arab empire” and the opposite of Western civilization through the American media. After the Nasser regime came to power, out of hostility to Egypt's pro-Soviet diplomacy, the American media have accused the Egyptian government of trying to rely on the support of the Soviet Union to establish an “Arab Empire.” As the contradiction between Egypt (the Arab League) and the Soviet Union intensified, the American media continued to be hostile to Nasser's “pan-Arabism”, believing that although Nasser's ambition to establish an ‘Arab Empire' led to its dispute with the Soviet Union, it remained a threat from the West. Although Americans' hostility towards Nasser is accompanied by a strong Cold War mentality, they frequently use the historical vocabulary of “Arab Empire” or “Muslim Empire”to describe Nasser's “pan-Arabism” practice, which is in essence a continuation of the narrative model of “East and West Opposition”. It reflects the long-standing historical memory of the “Islamic Conquest” in the Western world, along with their concerns about the integration tendency of the Middle East.

Key

Words

Pan-Arabism; “Arab Empire”; Historical Memories; Arab-US Relations; Orientalism

Author

BAI Yuntian, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral Fellow, School of International Relations, Sun Yat-Sen University.