March-APRIL 2015

International Publications Digest

Spring is on the start and here is another edition of RIAC monthly digest. We tried to focus our attention on major issues like migration and fighting tuberculosis but without forgetting geopolitics, economic dwellings and international cooperation. Below you will find about a dozen of publications issued by both small and large think tanks and research centers on migration, EU regulation and structure, foreign forces in the Ukrainian crisis, housing as a path to achieving sustainability, indigenous peoples' experience in acquiring remedies, some thoughts on democratic stalemate in Myanmar, Kaliningrad phenomenon and a factsheet on Chinese economic policy.

The UK COMPAS

Unpacking the figure of the 'foreign criminal': Race, gender and the victim-villain binary

Migration is one of the consequences of globalization soon to become its greatest perpetuum mobile. For some it is synonymous to hope and new beginnings. For others (governments and public offices mostly) it brings along rise in crime and social unrest. The UK COMPAS, specialized centre on migration, brings forward a sharp and brisk essay based on a master's dissertation. The author dwells upon the phenomenon of "foreign criminal". How is he? Is he a he or a she? Where was he/she born? How can we fight criminal influx into our countries based upon sociological data? Here are some thoughts.

Migration Policy Institute

Supporting Immigrant Integration in Europe: What Role for Origin Countries' Subnational Authorities?

For many EU is still looming as a migrant's dream-come-true paradise. As we all know, the reality is harsher and harder than what we dream about. The immigration integration in Europe is a painful issue which is far from being settled. National parties, supranational institutions – they all shout and fight about how to live with those who came from other countries. While much is known about integration at the subnational level in receiving countries, little is known about the role of corresponding authorities in migrant-sending countries. Migration Policy institute makes a thorough report on the topic.

Institute for Public Policy Research, UK

City villages: More homes, better communities

Housing is arguably the biggest public policy challenge of the next decade. Little attention is paid to this matter in Russia and Asian countries, unlike European partners. Here is a leaflet that will provide solid guidelines how to overcome this growing scourge by building city-villages issued by IPPR, the Institute for Public Policy Research, UK.

Green European Foundation

Europe for Beginners: A Green Guide to the EU

What do you know about the EU? Seems to be a lot but are you sure? Green European foundation makes life easier for all of us. Through an accessible and reader-friendly format, Europe for Beginners presents some of the most useful information on how the EU operates: what the different institutions do, how decisions are made, how EU law is enforced and how the EU is funded. It also includes a discussion of the role of democracy, the rights of European citizens and the challenges for a true European democracy, such as the power of lobbies.

International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs

Business and Human Rights: Indigenous Peoples' Experiences with Access to Remedy

A very sound approach to combining business and human rights is demonstrated by International work group for indigenous affairs. In this leaflet you will find numerous and very illustrative case studies from Africa, Asia and Latin America showing how indigenous peoples manage to access remedy. This unique report was managed with the help of field officers for development, education and human rights from Kenya, Tanzania, Colombia, India, Malaysia etc.

Asian Development Bank

Myanmar: Cross-Cutting Governance Challenges

Recently we hear a lot of talk around the Asian Infrastructure Investment bank (AIIB). This is not only an emerging banking framework in the Asia Pacific but a rising think-tank dwelling on the regional problems. One of the most pressing matters is the democratic stalemate in Myanmar. Here is a paper highlighting the turbulent economic governance in Myanmar which has been in transition for the last few years. Such brainstorm is good help for the country in its economic effort.

Diplomaatia

EU—Russian Trade Relations in Light of Sanctions and Russia's Import Measures

The largest foreign policy monthly in Baltic region Diplomaatia features an op-ed on EU-Russian trade relations in light of sanctions. A thorough analysis on the import-export ratio, Russian economic protectionism and various implications from the agricultural embargo make a sound economic factsheet. Find out more and update your newsfeed.

The Polish Institute of International Affairs

Neither "NATO's Foreign Legion" Nor the "Donbass International Brigades:" (Where Are All the) Foreign Fighters in Ukraine?

Polish PISM has featured March policy paper dedicated to the Ukrainian crisis under the title "Neither "NATO's Foreign Legion" Nor the "Donbass International Brigades:" (Where Are All the) Foreign Fighters in Ukraine?" . This report focuses on the foreign forces involved in the Ukrainian bloodbath. What do we owe it to? Why does this particular crisis attract so much active supporters and followers from outside the country? Opening the report with a theoretical part explaining the foreign fighters' phenomenon, the authors later draw up statistics and try to account for the numerous motivations.

Central European Policy Institute

Russia's Kaliningrad phenomenon: case for a Europeanized identity?

A member of Strategy Council, Central European policy institute has recently featured an interesting piece on Kaliningrad phenomenon. Isolated from the mainland, this is a rather small but vibrant Russian economic region on the Baltic sea cozily nestled between Lithuania and Poland. Given its rather extraordinary past and Prussian-German heritage, this oblast constitutes an interesting case for those who study European identity.

In addition

S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies

Chinese Economic Diplomacy: New initiatives

An ongoing rhetoric around Chinese economic policy raises a lot of discussion and speculation. S. Rajaratham school of international studies provides the wider public with a policy report specifically dedicated to this issue. Out of Chinese pronouncements and actions by the new leadership formally installed in 2012, what can be discerned about future possibilities? Addressing this and related questions can be helpful in tackling the larger question of how China relates to the rest of the world economy.

Center for Strategic and International Studies

Tuberculosis—A Complex Health Threat

In order to raise awareness about scourge that marked heavily many centuries of our history – tuberculosis (TB)CSIS makes an executive primer. To make the necessary strategic decisions, it is essential to understand how the disease works and its impact on individuals, families, communities, and broader global health goals. Not to mention the emergence of drug-resistant TB which is a major challenge for both practicing doctors and pharmacists.

Produced by Maria Gurova and Alexander Teslya
© 2015 Russian International Affairs Council
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