|
Geopolitical aspects of Georgian NATO membership : Analysis of Georgian readiness and NATO's strategic interests
Kufčák, Jakub ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Aslan, Emil (referee)
This bachelor thesis addresses the issue of Georgian NATO membership and its strategic and geopolitical importance for NATO between 2003 and 2008. This thesis focuses in the first place on the question to what extend did Georgia fulfil Alliance's membership requirements. The aim of this section is to demonstrate that the reasoning behind NATO's refusal to award Georgia with Membership Action Plan cannot be objectively justified by Georgia's failure to meet the criteria but is to be derived from the lack of Alliance's political consensus regarding the importance of Georgia. Second part of this thesis analyse the importance of Georgia from the NATO's strategic and geopolitical interests. From this point of view is important Georgia's role in energetic infrastructure to which it is destined by its geographical location on east-west energetic corridor which transports Caspian fossil fuels to western markets. The importance of Georgia in this aspect depends on the significance that NATO attributes to its energetic security. Subsequent analysis of benefits provided by Georgia's strategic position to the Alliance's primary missions concludes that Georgia's territory enhances Alliance's power projection because it is the best route to deploy military planes to afghan theatre. Second factor that enhanced...
|
|
Changes of geopolitical map of the Balkans and their influence on the security and stability of the European Union
Friček, Michal ; Hnízdo, Bořivoj (advisor) ; Romancov, Michael (referee)
Friček, Michal.. Changes of geopolitical map of Balkan and their influence on security of the Czech Republic. Prague: Charles University in Prague. Faculty of Social Sciences. 2012. Number of words: 20 435. Number of letters: 125 104. Supervisor: Doc. PhDr. Bořivoj Hnízdo, PhD. This work evaluates objective risks for security of the Czech Republic resulting from geopolitical changes in Balkan according to respective security sectors. It is done specifically in military, social and political security. Evolution of these threats is compared with dynamic of military conflicts on territory of western Balkan. That is base for assessment of adequacy of securitization of these problems on the part of Czech security authorities. Keywords: security of the Czech Republic - Balkan geopolitics
|
|
Political and Security Issues in the Relations of Russia and Ukraine
Hořínek, Oldřich ; Žídková, Markéta (advisor) ; Karásek, Tomáš (referee)
This thesis deals with Russian and Ukrainian foreign policy. The challenge is to analyse the attitude of Russia and Ukraine towards NATO and CIS and the role of both States in the shaping of other groupings in the post-Soviet space. Russia was claiming to get back its super power status and NATO enlargement considered as threat. On the other hand Ukraine was seeking security guaranties and partners to counterbalance the imperial ambitions of Russia. CIS and some other groupings in the region posed for Russia instruments of economic and political domination of post-Soviet space. On the other hand, Ukrainian attitude in relation to CIS integration under the Moscow's leadership was very restrained and vigilant. Kiev initiated other groupings independently from Moscow. In this work were preferred descriptive and empirical analytical techniques. There was used method of comparison more precisely double case study. Geopolitics was chosen as theoretical framework. The results of comparison help us to make a conclusion about the impact of Russian and Ukrainian policy in relation to NATO and CIS towards each other and post-Soviet space. There were found fundamental differences between Russian and Ukrainian attitude towards NATO and CIS or rather post-Soviet space. In these cases the differences resulted...
|
|
Geopolitical impact of China's search for energy on the Indian Ocean and South China Sea
Rodd, William ; Hrishabh, Sandilya (advisor) ; Riegl, Martin (referee)
This thesis examines the geopolitical consequences of China's search for energy resources on the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. It provides a brief outline of the energy situation of the world as a whole, specifically how it is becoming a more globalized and singular market. This change is occurring at the same time as a pronounced shift away from the traditional measurements of 'power' towards 'softer' more subtle definitions. There is a brief section outlining the geopolitical teachings of Alfred T. Mahan, specifically how he advocated seapower primarily for the purpose of providing the stability and security necessary for trade. Chinese analysts have been embracing the teachings of Mahan, but also interpreting them in a way that justifies the naval buildup Beijing has been embarking on in recent years. The paper briefly looks at the potential sources that China could turn to meet its energy needs, but concludes that it will have to rely on oil for the foreseeable future. It then attempts to define overall Chinese interests, specifically how nearly all of these relate somehow to energy security, thus underlining the importance of this topic to leaders in Beijing. The last half of the work delves into a geopolitical analysis of the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, and how militarization in the...
|
|
Transformation of geopolitical importance of Arctic Ocean due to climate change.
Doboš, Bohumil ; Romancov, Michael (advisor) ; Plechanovová, Běla (referee)
Work describes and predicts future development in geopolitical situation in the region of the Arctic Ocean. Problematic is covered with regard to melting of the Arctic iceberg leading to access of mineral resources under the sea floor, as well as to opening of so-called Northern Route as the shortest sea route between Far East and European markets. Thesis is a case study, which creates the most probable development in the region and its conflict potential based on study of available sources. Specific points covered in the text are, after geographically limiting the area and summing up the historical process, problematic of peak oil and sketching probability of melting of the Arctic iceberg. Second part covers the question of recovering of the mineral resources in the area - oil and natural gas as the most important. It also deals with dependence of the countries in the area on the drilling and with impacts of the possible drilling in the Arctic Ocean on the situation inside these countries. Last topic covered in this part are tools a conventions of the sea law dealing with setting of so-called Exclusive economic zones and technical difficulties of the mining process. Third part covers topic of availability of Northern Route and North-west Passage and their fallout on the trade between Far East and Europe...
|
|
The geopolitical interests of Ukraine in the modern system of international relations
Bryn, Andriy ; Hnízdo, Bořivoj (advisor) ; Riegl, Martin (referee)
This thesis focuses on the analysis of contemporary trends in the geopolitics of Ukraine by highlighting major periods in the formations of its geopolitics, geopolitical interests of Ukraine in the relations with strategic partners, and assessing eventual development of Ukraine's geopolitics with a special emphasis on the cooperation within global universal international organizations such as the United Nations. The research applies an analysis of history of Ukraine's geopolitics in order to promote a better understanding of recent trends in the country's foreign policy and its geopolitical interests, analyze the relations of Ukraine with its strategic partners, including the United States, countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Russian Federation and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and provide an assessment for the future of Ukraine's geopolitics. In this regard, the study argues that the Ukraine's geopolitics and its interests are determined by the large scale of factors, which derive from historical, socio-cultural, geographic, political and economic specifics of Ukraine. Based on the analysis of the main trends in the modern Ukraine's geopolitics, assessment of Ukraine's geopolitical potential and the current global geopolitical situation, the thesis concludes that...
|
|
Cold Waters, Hot Stakes: Systemic Geostrategic Analysis of International Relations in the Arctic Transborder Region
Valko, Irina ; Romancov, Michael (advisor) ; Hnízdo, Bořivoj (referee)
This work aims to fill the gap in the civil scientific agenda by offering its own, two- stage version of a systemic, dynamic, and interdisciplinary analysis of the developments in the Arctic transborder region; by fixing the region"s southern border at the Arctic Circle, adjusting to the premises of new geopolitics, using systemic modeling, and viewing geostrategic analysis as an obligatory academic contribution to the "art" of statecraft.The first stage of analysis is inductive, descriptive, and static. It defines the Arctic region as a system of five geostrategic action spaces, physical space (S1), military space (S2), economic space (S3), demographic space (S4), and information space (S5). After defining essential elements of the physical environment, social network analysis is applied on four human-constructed geostrategic spaces (S2-S5) - i.e. the basic networks of relationship (links) between the key actors (nodes) are created. Matrices of symmetrical relationships for military space (S2), economic space (S3), and demographic space (S4) are constructed to demonstrate the links" intensity. In order to illustrate the fact that changes in one action space ultimately transform other spaces, ten possible channels of inter-space affection are illustrated. The second stage of analysis is deductive,...
|
|
Russia's role in the development of the 21st century gas sector: economic and geopolitical perspective
Akhmatulin, Artem ; Žídková, Markéta (advisor) ; Romancov, Michael (referee)
This thesis focuses on the analysis of contemporary trends in the global gas sector by highlighting major milestones in the relationship between energy 'producer' and 'consumer' states, and assessing eventual development of the gas sector with a special emphasis on Transnational Corporations. The research applies a SWOT analysis (the assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) of the Russian gas sector in order to promote a greater understanding of recent trends in the country's gas market, analyze its impact on the global gas industry, and provide an assessment for the future of the country's energy sector. In this regard, the study argues that the Russian gas sector is determined by the large scale of the country's territory, the dominance of gas in the fuel balance of the country, unstable economy of the gas industry, and emerging trends of the scarcity of gas. Based on the analysis of opportunities and challenges of creating a 'gas OPEC', the study concludes that there are prospects for a creation of such an organization in the long-run, due to growing gas demand. However, the thesis argues that in order for Russia to become a potential member of such an organization and promote further development of the country's gas sector, there is a need to diversify its gas supplies,...
|
|
Russian federation - energy policy and economization of foreign policy
Řezáč, Tomáš ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Petříček, Tomáš (referee)
The paper clearly shows that Russia has been diversifying its export routes during past 20 years, in order to by-pass third countries and to avoid paying additional transportation fees. The overall Russian export capacities of oil and gas are increasing, but in the same time the export volumes are stagnant. In case of oil transportation, pipelines are progressively substituted by sea transport, which enables Russia to participate on the world market. Situation with gas is different. Despite increasing export capacity Russia nowadays export almost the same amount of gas to the same locations as it did in 1990. It means that if there is any political or economical pressure it is laid against transition countries, which can be substituted, rather than against importing countries. Russian economical gains from export are following increasing oil and gas prices. To make the gains even higher, Russia initiated transition to world gas prices in the CIS countries as well as at the domestic market. To support the hypothesis of this thesis that primary goal of Russia is to increase its economical gains rather than to strengthen its political leverage, it is important to mention that majority of energy disputes of past twenty years were ignited by quarrel over prices and were settled by trade agreement. The...
|
|
Population Development of Kazakhstan: Geographic, Economic and Geopolitical aspects
Rodionov, Viktor ; Pavlík, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Tomeš, Jiří (referee)
Geopolitical role and population development of the Republic of Kazakhstan: recent developments and prospects V. Rodionov Abstract Present research is an attempt to define the influence of the demographic factor on geopolitical development of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is of a specific interest herein due to its strategically important geographical location and presence of natural resources. Taking into account these factors, Kazakhstan has certain claims on leadership in the region. At the moment, Kazakhstani geopolitical leadership is based on economic achievements of the country and its political stability. At the same time demographic factor is quite sensitive from the strategic point of view. Kazakhstani population is relatively inconsiderable in number for its region. Moreover, some negative tendencies of distribution of population and its structural changes are causing concern. The government is aware of the gravity of these problems and is making certain efforts to change the situation. Nevertheless, it is very important to acknowledge the demographic factor as strategically important.
|