In recent years, with the intensification of major-country rivalry and the profound changes in the global geopolitical landscape, Southeast Asia has become a focal point for the world's major countries vying for i...In recent years, with the intensification of major-country rivalry and the profound changes in the global geopolitical landscape, Southeast Asia has become a focal point for the world's major countries vying for influence. Since the inauguration of the Biden administration, which inherited its predecessor's “Indo–Pacific” strategy, the United States has spared no effort to woo Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, pressuring them to take sides. Against such a backdrop, Indonesia has strengthened cooperation with the United States while enhancing relations with China. Based on its traditional “free and active” foreign policy, Indonesia insists on deepening ties with China in spite of pressure from the United States. Given the victory of Prabowo Subianto, currently Indonesian Defense Minister, in the 2024 presidential election, China and Indonesia are expected to maintain the momentum of their friendly cooperation, which will however face strong headwinds such as American interference, tensions in the South China Sea, and changes in Indonesian politics.展开更多
Background:Prosocial crowdfunding helps the underprivileged obtain non-profitseeking loans from multitudinous lenders.Some platforms introduce teamcompetition to motivate member participation and may thus induce team ...Background:Prosocial crowdfunding helps the underprivileged obtain non-profitseeking loans from multitudinous lenders.Some platforms introduce teamcompetition to motivate member participation and may thus induce team rivalry.Methods:We investigate how team rivalry affects lending decisions using data fromKiva.org.We argue that a rivalry relationship may engage teams to compete directlyagainst rivals by lending to the same project or prevent them from doing sobecause they intend not to cooperate.Result:We find that a team is less likely to lend to a project that has receivedfunding from its rival team,suggesting that rival teams tend to avoid cooperation.Conclusions:We discuss the implications of our findings for crowdfundingand competition-based motivation mechanisms in general.展开更多
The rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia is one of the familiar features of the Middle East regional politics. However, this rivalry seems to have split-over beyond the Middle East region. In the Horn of Africal, Riy...The rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia is one of the familiar features of the Middle East regional politics. However, this rivalry seems to have split-over beyond the Middle East region. In the Horn of Africal, Riyadh and Tehran are engaging in a fierce competition for position and influence, Against this background, this paper explains how Saudi-Iranian rivalry initiated in the Horn of Africa. More precisely, the paper takes the advantages of sub-theory of Neo-Realism, i.e. Defensive Realism＇s notion of alliance building to explain how Iran＇s endeavor to become stronger vis-~t-vis Saudi Arabia initiated their rivalry in the Horn of Africa prior to the Arab Spring. Likewise, the paper borrows from Constructivism＇s notion of perception of threat to explicate Saudi＇s perception of Iranian threat in the Horn of Africa, which shaped and continued to dynamite Saudi-Iranian rivalry in the region. To this end, the paper would rely on secondary resources to prove that Saudi Iranian rivalry in the Horn of Africa was encouraged by Saudi＇s de-engagement in the region since the outset of 1990s and parallel Iran＇s penetration into region in the same period. The subsequent Saudi diplomatic effort to de-ignite the perceived Iranian growing influence in the Horn inflamed their rivalry in the region, which has reached its summit during the Arab Spring.展开更多
It is beyond doubt that Russo-US relationship is one of the world's most important big-power relationships.No matter how good or bad,how intense or relaxed it may be,it will always have a bearing on the stability ...It is beyond doubt that Russo-US relationship is one of the world's most important big-power relationships.No matter how good or bad,how intense or relaxed it may be,it will always have a bearing on the stability of theworld,thus drawing world–wide attention.In recent years the overall Russo-US relations have walked out of theshadow of the previous cold–war rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States,and are entering a stateof relative stability,marked by tussles along with cooperation,tussles without breakups and cooperation withdifferences.展开更多
Beijing Reviews Could you share your experiences during your recent visit to China?From your observations,what similarities or differences stand out between China and the US?Corinna Mullin:It has been a truly wonderfu...Beijing Reviews Could you share your experiences during your recent visit to China?From your observations,what similarities or differences stand out between China and the US?Corinna Mullin:It has been a truly wonderful and eye-opening experience.I have spent close to two weeks traveling across several regions,visiting Northwestern University in Xi'an,Fudan University in Shanghai and the historic city of Yan'an,Shaanxi Province,where I learned about the culmination of the Long March,an event I had only read about before.At Fudan University,I had the privilege of teaching at the Summer School,which provided a valuable opportunity to interact directly with students here.展开更多
When the G20 was created in 1999 in the wake of the Asian financial crisis,few imagined it would one day become the nerve centre of global governance.Twenty-six years later,the G20 members,which represent 85 percent o...When the G20 was created in 1999 in the wake of the Asian financial crisis,few imagined it would one day become the nerve centre of global governance.Twenty-six years later,the G20 members,which represent 85 percent of the global GDP and two-thirds of the world population,are once again navigating a turbulent era marked by geopolitical rivalry,economic fragmentation and widening inequality.展开更多
Latin American countries possess rich resources of critical minerals,which have long underpinned their economic growth and social advancement.Meanwhile,however,these countries are grappling with excessive external dep...Latin American countries possess rich resources of critical minerals,which have long underpinned their economic growth and social advancement.Meanwhile,however,these countries are grappling with excessive external dependency,underdeveloped industrial chains,low value-added exports,and weak international discourse power.In recent years,due to various external and internal factors,such as the restructuring of the global supply chains,the intensification of major-country rivalry,the transformation of regional development patterns,and the resurgence of resource nationalism,Latin American countries have been more aware of the strategic value and security attribute of critical minerals.Increasingly,they have strengthened the strategic governance of these resources from the national security perspective to defend national sovereignty over resources,enhance the resilience of their supply chains,improve industrial independence,and protect ecological security.Towards these ends,Latin American countries have been actively exploring and developing critical minerals strategies that align with global geopolitical changes and regional transformation needs.In practice,Latin American countries have tightened their control over critical minerals,considered both short-term economic gains and long-term development interests,balanced environmental protection and social responsibility,and conducted international mining cooperation based on the principles of diversity and balance.They are striving to maximize their security and development interests by seeking high-level security and high-quality development of critical mineral resources.展开更多
This article investigates the dynamics of rivalry and state sponsorship of non-state actors by explaining the Saudi-Iranian rivalry through the lens of securitization theory.The study elucidates that despite the endur...This article investigates the dynamics of rivalry and state sponsorship of non-state actors by explaining the Saudi-Iranian rivalry through the lens of securitization theory.The study elucidates that despite the enduring nature of their rivalry,both Iran and Saudi Arabia have exhibited a degree of restraint in escalating their conflicting dyadic relationship.It further notes that this behavior has forced them to securitize various issues in the region,framing them as potential threats to national and regime security,that has allowed them to build alliance and provide critical support to nonstate actors across the region.By so doing,Tehran and Riyadh seek to expand their influence and hunt their strategic and tactical objectives within the Middle East.This policy is primarily driven by geopolitical concerns rather than ideological or ethnic entitlements.展开更多
This study analyzes the evolving geopolitical dynamics of the South Caucasus,with a particular focus on the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict and its implications for regional and global power structures.Through a qualitati...This study analyzes the evolving geopolitical dynamics of the South Caucasus,with a particular focus on the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict and its implications for regional and global power structures.Through a qualitative geopolitical approach,the research examines historical continuities,alliance transformations,and the strategies of major actors,including the United States,Russia,Iran,Turkey,and Israel.Primary data sources include government reports,academic publications,and contemporary news analyses,providing a multi-faceted perspective on the shifting security environment.The findings suggest that Armenia’s pivot toward Western alliances and Azerbaijan’s strategic balancing between Russia and Israel are reshaping the regional order.Furthermore,the study identifies the South Caucasus as a key intersection where global strategic rivalries increasingly influence local conflicts.By situating the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict within broader patterns of geopolitical competition,this research contributes to the scholarship on Eurasian security studies and offers insights into the future trajectory of conflict and cooperation in the region.It also highlights avenues for further investigation,including the internal political developments within Armenia and Azerbaijan and the role of intermediary states in shaping great power rivalries.展开更多
The world economy in 2024 proved surprisingly resilient despite multiple shocks. This resilience can largely be attributed to the effects of tight monetary policies and the strong performance of labor markets in major...The world economy in 2024 proved surprisingly resilient despite multiple shocks. This resilience can largely be attributed to the effects of tight monetary policies and the strong performance of labor markets in major economies. Although a recession was narrowly avoided, the intensifying strategic rivalries among major powers, rising geopolitical risks, the resurgence of trade protectionism and sluggish global growth have all cast a shadow over the economic outlook.展开更多
The year 2024 marks the tenth anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s proposal for a new energy security strategy and the start of the second decade of the Belt and Road Initiative.During this year,the internat...The year 2024 marks the tenth anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s proposal for a new energy security strategy and the start of the second decade of the Belt and Road Initiative.During this year,the international situation grew increasingly complex,with intensifying rivalries among major powers and sporadic occurrences of geopolitical conflicts and localized disturbances.CNPC’s international operations focus on maintaining stability while making progress,successfully overcoming various intertwined risks and achieving new milestones in international business development.For six consecutive years,the overseas equity production has maintained an equivalent of 100 million tons.International trade has achieved stable progress,and engineering services have made new breakthroughs in market expansion,contributing new momentum to CNPC’s establishment as a world-class enterprise.展开更多
A libel scandal involving Mengniu taints its image and deals a blow to China’s dairy industry Mengniu,with the 2008 milk contamination incident still fresh in people’s memories,has brought China’s dairy industry in...A libel scandal involving Mengniu taints its image and deals a blow to China’s dairy industry Mengniu,with the 2008 milk contamination incident still fresh in people’s memories,has brought China’s dairy industry into the spotlight again-this time the attention focused on a bitter rivalry.展开更多
With the surge of developments in the Middle East and North Africa,the political and geopolitical equations of this region have undergone major transformations and a new geometry of power is emerging.In this regard,al...With the surge of developments in the Middle East and North Africa,the political and geopolitical equations of this region have undergone major transformations and a new geometry of power is emerging.In this regard,alongside the role of great powers and state actors,the growth and influence of nongovernmental and paramilitary groups is remarkable and has found an important place in the regional equations.Consequently,the set of factors including the interventionist approach of some great powers,different and contradictory Islamic ideologies and the growth of extremism and paramilitary forces in the region has intensified the strategic rivalry between regional powers,with the formation of three major axes;the Iran-led Shiite axis,the Saudi-led Salafist axis and the Turkish-led Brotherhood axis.In this regard,the purpose of the present article is to determine how the so-called Arab Spring developments have changed the power equations in the Middle East and North Africa and led to the formation of new axes?The findings of the paper suggest that myriad factors including internal vulnerabilities,social structure and also elite consensus and cohesion have resulted in the different approaches adopted by each of regional blocs.Furthermore,as a result of Arab Spring developments,the influence of some regional powers,like Iran,has been on the rise,while some others including Egypt have become marginalised and the efforts of some regional powers to further their influence have been unfruitful.The research method is descriptive-analytic;documentary and reliable internet-based sources have been used to support the argument.展开更多
In a paper conceived about five years ago(“Globalization and Public Goods:Too Big to Tackle?”)roughly a dozen factors were linked to explain important causal paths from globalization to the potential output of publi...In a paper conceived about five years ago(“Globalization and Public Goods:Too Big to Tackle?”)roughly a dozen factors were linked to explain important causal paths from globalization to the potential output of public goods.The Russian invasion of Ukraine,the corona epidemic,and the increased hegemonic rivalry between China and the U.S.interrupted or even destroyed many of the linkages between globalization and potential public good production.About five important detrimental paths involved in the meantime.In the present article we aim at linking what is left from the previous level of globalization or emerging to form a new and simplified causal model for likely linkages between truncated or(re-)emerging globalization,and the deadly needed output of public goods.These linkages refer to rules of climate control,go to trade linkages and arbitrary tariffs and trade interventions.Regime change,regime formation,and alliance restructuring address aspects of domestic rule and international stability.Selectorate theory,regime type,and exit options for political elites provide key explanatory factors in explaining globalization and public goods productions,or their decay.Where possible we use some data and transformation experiences corroborating our arguments.In other instances need for further empirical macro research will become clear.展开更多
Since taking office in 2021, US President Joe Biden has rectified former President Trump’s domestic and foreign policies. However, Biden has continued the Trump administration’s idea of “excluding China and protect...Since taking office in 2021, US President Joe Biden has rectified former President Trump’s domestic and foreign policies. However, Biden has continued the Trump administration’s idea of “excluding China and protecting the courtyard,” which permeates the entire process of policy adjustment on Latin America. The purpose is to damage and hinder China–Latin America relations and cooperation. After the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine conflict, the Biden administration intensified efforts to exclude extraterritorial forces represented by China and Russia that seek to regain control of the backyard to a greater extent. The Biden administration has made progress in easing the antagonism between the US and Latin America and repairing ally system in the western hemisphere, however, its efforts to reshape U.S.–Latin America relations have encountered many challenges.展开更多
This paper analyzes the violent relationships in Beowulf（2008） based on the application of Rene Girard＇s theories of acquisitive mimesis. However, normal applications of Girard＇s work can be problematic with this ...This paper analyzes the violent relationships in Beowulf（2008） based on the application of Rene Girard＇s theories of acquisitive mimesis. However, normal applications of Girard＇s work can be problematic with this text, because reading mimetic conflict in Beowulf as focused on a single object of desire does not adequately explain the relationships between Grendel and his enemies. Normal applications of acquisitive mimesis are limited in this poem, because agent and model do not often have the same desires, and thus this paper proposes a corollary to Girard＇s theories： If we allow for two objects of desire in the rivalry--primary and secondary desires--we can account for the motivations of all mimetic rivals and acquisitive mimesis has a richer and more sustained application to this poem展开更多
Background:A few hours of monocular deprivation with a diffuser eye patch temporarily strengthens the contribution of the deprived eye to binocular vision.This shift in favour of the deprived eye is characterized as a...Background:A few hours of monocular deprivation with a diffuser eye patch temporarily strengthens the contribution of the deprived eye to binocular vision.This shift in favour of the deprived eye is characterized as a form of adult visual plasticity.Studies in animal and human models suggest that neuromodulators can enhance adult brain plasticity in general.Specifically,acetylcholine has been shown to improve certain aspects of visual function and plasticity in adulthood.We investigated whether a single administration of donepezil(a cholinesterase inhibitor)could further augment the temporary shift in perceptual eye dominance that occurs after two hours of monocular patching.Methods:We conducted three experiments to investigate whether donepezil enhances the shift in perceptual eye dominance induced by monocular patching.In each experiment,healthy adults completed two experimental sessions while taking either donepezil(5 mg,oral)or a placebo(lactose)pill.In experiment 1 we patched the non-dominant eye for 2 hours and measured ocular balance with a binocular phase combination task.In experiment 2 we patched for one hour to investigate whether donepezil shortens the amount of time necessary to observe a shift in ocular dominance.In experiment 3 we patched for 2 hours and measured ocular balance with a binocular rivalry task to see if the effect of donepezil was comparable across the two tasks.We calculated AUCs for the shift in perceptual eye dominance across five time points after removing the patch to compare our treatment conditions in each experiment.Results:Donepezil significantly reduces the magnitude and duration of the shift in perceptual eye dominance produced by both 2(P<0.01)and 1 hours(P<0.05)of monocular patching when measuring ocular balance with a binocular phase combination task.Donepezil also reduces the magnitude of the shift in ocular dominance when measuring balance with a binocular rivalry task.Conclusions:Previous studies have demonstrated that cholinergic potentiation enhances adult brain plasticity.Because of this,we hypothesized donepezil would further augment the strength of the deprived eye after patching.Our study demonstrates that enhanced cholinergic potentiation actually interferes with the consolidation of the perceptual eye dominance plasticity induced by several hours of monocular deprivation.These results contribute to the growing evidence that cholinergic potentiation enhances certain forms of adult brain plasticity at the expense of others.展开更多
On October 10,China's Ministry of Transport announced a countermeasure to the U.S.Section 301 investigation:Starting October 14,it will impose special port service fees on U.S.vessels.This announcement signals the...On October 10,China's Ministry of Transport announced a countermeasure to the U.S.Section 301 investigation:Starting October 14,it will impose special port service fees on U.S.vessels.This announcement signals the U.S.-China rivalry in shipbuilding and maritime logistics has entered a new and more direct phase of competition.展开更多
文摘In recent years, with the intensification of major-country rivalry and the profound changes in the global geopolitical landscape, Southeast Asia has become a focal point for the world's major countries vying for influence. Since the inauguration of the Biden administration, which inherited its predecessor's “Indo–Pacific” strategy, the United States has spared no effort to woo Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, pressuring them to take sides. Against such a backdrop, Indonesia has strengthened cooperation with the United States while enhancing relations with China. Based on its traditional “free and active” foreign policy, Indonesia insists on deepening ties with China in spite of pressure from the United States. Given the victory of Prabowo Subianto, currently Indonesian Defense Minister, in the 2024 presidential election, China and Indonesia are expected to maintain the momentum of their friendly cooperation, which will however face strong headwinds such as American interference, tensions in the South China Sea, and changes in Indonesian politics.
基金the startup fund from City University of Hong Kong.
文摘Background:Prosocial crowdfunding helps the underprivileged obtain non-profitseeking loans from multitudinous lenders.Some platforms introduce teamcompetition to motivate member participation and may thus induce team rivalry.Methods:We investigate how team rivalry affects lending decisions using data fromKiva.org.We argue that a rivalry relationship may engage teams to compete directlyagainst rivals by lending to the same project or prevent them from doing sobecause they intend not to cooperate.Result:We find that a team is less likely to lend to a project that has receivedfunding from its rival team,suggesting that rival teams tend to avoid cooperation.Conclusions:We discuss the implications of our findings for crowdfundingand competition-based motivation mechanisms in general.
文摘The rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia is one of the familiar features of the Middle East regional politics. However, this rivalry seems to have split-over beyond the Middle East region. In the Horn of Africal, Riyadh and Tehran are engaging in a fierce competition for position and influence, Against this background, this paper explains how Saudi-Iranian rivalry initiated in the Horn of Africa. More precisely, the paper takes the advantages of sub-theory of Neo-Realism, i.e. Defensive Realism＇s notion of alliance building to explain how Iran＇s endeavor to become stronger vis-~t-vis Saudi Arabia initiated their rivalry in the Horn of Africa prior to the Arab Spring. Likewise, the paper borrows from Constructivism＇s notion of perception of threat to explicate Saudi＇s perception of Iranian threat in the Horn of Africa, which shaped and continued to dynamite Saudi-Iranian rivalry in the region. To this end, the paper would rely on secondary resources to prove that Saudi Iranian rivalry in the Horn of Africa was encouraged by Saudi＇s de-engagement in the region since the outset of 1990s and parallel Iran＇s penetration into region in the same period. The subsequent Saudi diplomatic effort to de-ignite the perceived Iranian growing influence in the Horn inflamed their rivalry in the region, which has reached its summit during the Arab Spring.
文摘It is beyond doubt that Russo-US relationship is one of the world's most important big-power relationships.No matter how good or bad,how intense or relaxed it may be,it will always have a bearing on the stability of theworld,thus drawing world–wide attention.In recent years the overall Russo-US relations have walked out of theshadow of the previous cold–war rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States,and are entering a stateof relative stability,marked by tussles along with cooperation,tussles without breakups and cooperation withdifferences.
文摘Beijing Reviews Could you share your experiences during your recent visit to China?From your observations,what similarities or differences stand out between China and the US?Corinna Mullin:It has been a truly wonderful and eye-opening experience.I have spent close to two weeks traveling across several regions,visiting Northwestern University in Xi'an,Fudan University in Shanghai and the historic city of Yan'an,Shaanxi Province,where I learned about the culmination of the Long March,an event I had only read about before.At Fudan University,I had the privilege of teaching at the Summer School,which provided a valuable opportunity to interact directly with students here.
文摘When the G20 was created in 1999 in the wake of the Asian financial crisis,few imagined it would one day become the nerve centre of global governance.Twenty-six years later,the G20 members,which represent 85 percent of the global GDP and two-thirds of the world population,are once again navigating a turbulent era marked by geopolitical rivalry,economic fragmentation and widening inequality.
文摘Latin American countries possess rich resources of critical minerals,which have long underpinned their economic growth and social advancement.Meanwhile,however,these countries are grappling with excessive external dependency,underdeveloped industrial chains,low value-added exports,and weak international discourse power.In recent years,due to various external and internal factors,such as the restructuring of the global supply chains,the intensification of major-country rivalry,the transformation of regional development patterns,and the resurgence of resource nationalism,Latin American countries have been more aware of the strategic value and security attribute of critical minerals.Increasingly,they have strengthened the strategic governance of these resources from the national security perspective to defend national sovereignty over resources,enhance the resilience of their supply chains,improve industrial independence,and protect ecological security.Towards these ends,Latin American countries have been actively exploring and developing critical minerals strategies that align with global geopolitical changes and regional transformation needs.In practice,Latin American countries have tightened their control over critical minerals,considered both short-term economic gains and long-term development interests,balanced environmental protection and social responsibility,and conducted international mining cooperation based on the principles of diversity and balance.They are striving to maximize their security and development interests by seeking high-level security and high-quality development of critical mineral resources.
文摘This article investigates the dynamics of rivalry and state sponsorship of non-state actors by explaining the Saudi-Iranian rivalry through the lens of securitization theory.The study elucidates that despite the enduring nature of their rivalry,both Iran and Saudi Arabia have exhibited a degree of restraint in escalating their conflicting dyadic relationship.It further notes that this behavior has forced them to securitize various issues in the region,framing them as potential threats to national and regime security,that has allowed them to build alliance and provide critical support to nonstate actors across the region.By so doing,Tehran and Riyadh seek to expand their influence and hunt their strategic and tactical objectives within the Middle East.This policy is primarily driven by geopolitical concerns rather than ideological or ethnic entitlements.
文摘This study analyzes the evolving geopolitical dynamics of the South Caucasus,with a particular focus on the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict and its implications for regional and global power structures.Through a qualitative geopolitical approach,the research examines historical continuities,alliance transformations,and the strategies of major actors,including the United States,Russia,Iran,Turkey,and Israel.Primary data sources include government reports,academic publications,and contemporary news analyses,providing a multi-faceted perspective on the shifting security environment.The findings suggest that Armenia’s pivot toward Western alliances and Azerbaijan’s strategic balancing between Russia and Israel are reshaping the regional order.Furthermore,the study identifies the South Caucasus as a key intersection where global strategic rivalries increasingly influence local conflicts.By situating the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict within broader patterns of geopolitical competition,this research contributes to the scholarship on Eurasian security studies and offers insights into the future trajectory of conflict and cooperation in the region.It also highlights avenues for further investigation,including the internal political developments within Armenia and Azerbaijan and the role of intermediary states in shaping great power rivalries.
文摘The world economy in 2024 proved surprisingly resilient despite multiple shocks. This resilience can largely be attributed to the effects of tight monetary policies and the strong performance of labor markets in major economies. Although a recession was narrowly avoided, the intensifying strategic rivalries among major powers, rising geopolitical risks, the resurgence of trade protectionism and sluggish global growth have all cast a shadow over the economic outlook.
文摘The year 2024 marks the tenth anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s proposal for a new energy security strategy and the start of the second decade of the Belt and Road Initiative.During this year,the international situation grew increasingly complex,with intensifying rivalries among major powers and sporadic occurrences of geopolitical conflicts and localized disturbances.CNPC’s international operations focus on maintaining stability while making progress,successfully overcoming various intertwined risks and achieving new milestones in international business development.For six consecutive years,the overseas equity production has maintained an equivalent of 100 million tons.International trade has achieved stable progress,and engineering services have made new breakthroughs in market expansion,contributing new momentum to CNPC’s establishment as a world-class enterprise.
文摘A libel scandal involving Mengniu taints its image and deals a blow to China’s dairy industry Mengniu,with the 2008 milk contamination incident still fresh in people’s memories,has brought China’s dairy industry into the spotlight again-this time the attention focused on a bitter rivalry.
文摘With the surge of developments in the Middle East and North Africa,the political and geopolitical equations of this region have undergone major transformations and a new geometry of power is emerging.In this regard,alongside the role of great powers and state actors,the growth and influence of nongovernmental and paramilitary groups is remarkable and has found an important place in the regional equations.Consequently,the set of factors including the interventionist approach of some great powers,different and contradictory Islamic ideologies and the growth of extremism and paramilitary forces in the region has intensified the strategic rivalry between regional powers,with the formation of three major axes;the Iran-led Shiite axis,the Saudi-led Salafist axis and the Turkish-led Brotherhood axis.In this regard,the purpose of the present article is to determine how the so-called Arab Spring developments have changed the power equations in the Middle East and North Africa and led to the formation of new axes?The findings of the paper suggest that myriad factors including internal vulnerabilities,social structure and also elite consensus and cohesion have resulted in the different approaches adopted by each of regional blocs.Furthermore,as a result of Arab Spring developments,the influence of some regional powers,like Iran,has been on the rise,while some others including Egypt have become marginalised and the efforts of some regional powers to further their influence have been unfruitful.The research method is descriptive-analytic;documentary and reliable internet-based sources have been used to support the argument.
文摘In a paper conceived about five years ago(“Globalization and Public Goods:Too Big to Tackle?”)roughly a dozen factors were linked to explain important causal paths from globalization to the potential output of public goods.The Russian invasion of Ukraine,the corona epidemic,and the increased hegemonic rivalry between China and the U.S.interrupted or even destroyed many of the linkages between globalization and potential public good production.About five important detrimental paths involved in the meantime.In the present article we aim at linking what is left from the previous level of globalization or emerging to form a new and simplified causal model for likely linkages between truncated or(re-)emerging globalization,and the deadly needed output of public goods.These linkages refer to rules of climate control,go to trade linkages and arbitrary tariffs and trade interventions.Regime change,regime formation,and alliance restructuring address aspects of domestic rule and international stability.Selectorate theory,regime type,and exit options for political elites provide key explanatory factors in explaining globalization and public goods productions,or their decay.Where possible we use some data and transformation experiences corroborating our arguments.In other instances need for further empirical macro research will become clear.
文摘Since taking office in 2021, US President Joe Biden has rectified former President Trump’s domestic and foreign policies. However, Biden has continued the Trump administration’s idea of “excluding China and protecting the courtyard,” which permeates the entire process of policy adjustment on Latin America. The purpose is to damage and hinder China–Latin America relations and cooperation. After the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine conflict, the Biden administration intensified efforts to exclude extraterritorial forces represented by China and Russia that seek to regain control of the backyard to a greater extent. The Biden administration has made progress in easing the antagonism between the US and Latin America and repairing ally system in the western hemisphere, however, its efforts to reshape U.S.–Latin America relations have encountered many challenges.
文摘This paper analyzes the violent relationships in Beowulf（2008） based on the application of Rene Girard＇s theories of acquisitive mimesis. However, normal applications of Girard＇s work can be problematic with this text, because reading mimetic conflict in Beowulf as focused on a single object of desire does not adequately explain the relationships between Grendel and his enemies. Normal applications of acquisitive mimesis are limited in this poem, because agent and model do not often have the same desires, and thus this paper proposes a corollary to Girard＇s theories： If we allow for two objects of desire in the rivalry--primary and secondary desires--we can account for the motivations of all mimetic rivals and acquisitive mimesis has a richer and more sustained application to this poem
文摘Background:A few hours of monocular deprivation with a diffuser eye patch temporarily strengthens the contribution of the deprived eye to binocular vision.This shift in favour of the deprived eye is characterized as a form of adult visual plasticity.Studies in animal and human models suggest that neuromodulators can enhance adult brain plasticity in general.Specifically,acetylcholine has been shown to improve certain aspects of visual function and plasticity in adulthood.We investigated whether a single administration of donepezil(a cholinesterase inhibitor)could further augment the temporary shift in perceptual eye dominance that occurs after two hours of monocular patching.Methods:We conducted three experiments to investigate whether donepezil enhances the shift in perceptual eye dominance induced by monocular patching.In each experiment,healthy adults completed two experimental sessions while taking either donepezil(5 mg,oral)or a placebo(lactose)pill.In experiment 1 we patched the non-dominant eye for 2 hours and measured ocular balance with a binocular phase combination task.In experiment 2 we patched for one hour to investigate whether donepezil shortens the amount of time necessary to observe a shift in ocular dominance.In experiment 3 we patched for 2 hours and measured ocular balance with a binocular rivalry task to see if the effect of donepezil was comparable across the two tasks.We calculated AUCs for the shift in perceptual eye dominance across five time points after removing the patch to compare our treatment conditions in each experiment.Results:Donepezil significantly reduces the magnitude and duration of the shift in perceptual eye dominance produced by both 2(P<0.01)and 1 hours(P<0.05)of monocular patching when measuring ocular balance with a binocular phase combination task.Donepezil also reduces the magnitude of the shift in ocular dominance when measuring balance with a binocular rivalry task.Conclusions:Previous studies have demonstrated that cholinergic potentiation enhances adult brain plasticity.Because of this,we hypothesized donepezil would further augment the strength of the deprived eye after patching.Our study demonstrates that enhanced cholinergic potentiation actually interferes with the consolidation of the perceptual eye dominance plasticity induced by several hours of monocular deprivation.These results contribute to the growing evidence that cholinergic potentiation enhances certain forms of adult brain plasticity at the expense of others.
文摘On October 10,China's Ministry of Transport announced a countermeasure to the U.S.Section 301 investigation:Starting October 14,it will impose special port service fees on U.S.vessels.This announcement signals the U.S.-China rivalry in shipbuilding and maritime logistics has entered a new and more direct phase of competition.
