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Uzbekistan's Foreign Policy (2001-2012): The Pendulum Diplomacy between the US and Russia
Lídl, Václav ; Šír, Jan (advisor) ; Horák, Slavomír (referee)
This diploma thesis deals with the creation of Uzbekistan's foreign policy. It attempts to answer three main research questions: What were the chief goals of Tashkent's foreign policy? What were the factors that influenced the creation of Uzbekistan's foreign policy? Which factors and causes played the decisive role in the case of Uzbekistan's most significant foreign policy turnovers in 2001, 2005 and 2012? It claims the principal aims of Uzbekistan's foreign policy were threefold. Firstly, it was the preservation of Uzbekistan's independence. Secondly, it was the strengthening and securing of Karimov's regime. Finally, it was the attempt to become the regional leader in Central Asia. Subsequently, the study maintains that the foreign policy formulation was altered by four processes or challenges which the regime in Tashkent had to cope with. These were namely the challenge of geopolitical position, establishing of a viable political system, transforming the command economy, and the threat of radical or political Islam. Uzbekistan's pendulum diplomacy between the US and Russia is a new term coined for the purposes of this study. I argue that Tashkent was prone to change abruptly its strategic partner in order to secure its three strategic imperatives. Hence, there occurred three turnovers of...
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Turkey and the Balkans in the Geopolitics of the Contemporary Regional Development.
Huseynli, Javid ; Šístek, František (advisor) ; Žíla, Ondřej (referee)
The aim of the thesis is to explain how and why Turkey influences the development of the Balkan region in contemporary geopolitics. In order to determine the areas of influence I used Saul Cohen's book about the Geopolitics of the World System. I chose the geopolitical approaches and features, which are related to Turkey's activeness in the Balkan region. Moreover, Saul Cohen's equilibrium is taken into consideration in order to show how Turkey shifts, and will shift, the equilibrium to a new level. In the thesis I talk about sustainable development and corporate social responsibility to show that Turkish companies, as well as the government, are creating mutual needs in order to develop the region for further cooperation on an economic and political level. Additionally, I argue that energy cooperation can lead to greater benefits for Turkey, as an energy hub, and also for the Balkans, as a gateway to the European Union. In that sense, I argue that it is not a competition but rather cooperation between the European Union and Turkey in the Balkan region. By analyzing the economic and political activities of Turkey in the Balkan region, I came to the conclusion that Turkey is influencing the Balkan region for five reasons; these are shared history, human aspects, geography, economy and regional...
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Changes of the geopolitical perspective of the Russian Federation in the post-soviet area and the influence of the alternitive actors
Vinterová, Lucie ; Romancov, Michael (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
The submitted diploma thesis focuses on the role of Russian federation within the post-communist area. The thesis describes the development of the Russian foreign policy, with regard to the post-soviet area, from the disintegration of the Soviet Union to the present. The attention is paid to the idea of the eurasianism and atlantism , which became the most popular in the Russian foreign policy. The other part of the thesis presents the detailed analysis of the development of the Russian federation's relations with the other states and its degree of influence of alternative actors. The greatest attention is paid to the situation in the Caucasus and Central Asia, because in these areas is the most noticeable influence of alternative actors.
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Geopolitics of Oil
Odintsov, Nikita ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Binhack, Petr (referee)
The aim of the Geopolitics of Oil is to find a theoretical conceptualization of oil trade regime evolution and its changes during the period between the end of the World War II and 2011. This thesis builds on the two major theories of international relations: neorealism and interdependence theory. The theoretical part of the paper analyzes their main contributions and weaknesses. This enables to formulate the new approach to political economy of oil with a special emphasis on geo-economics. This thesis seeks to answer two main research questions: 1) "Under which conditions do oil exporters consolidate their energy sector?" and 1) "What is the reason for engagement of foreign powers in the oil regions?" This thesis examines relations between exporters from the Persian Gulf and the United States. Interdependence theory is tested by a calculation of symmetry or asymmetry in interdependent relationship between importers and exporters, which is done by a comparison of the market shares between the two during the period of changes in the oil trade regimes. Neorealist theory and political economy of oil approach are examined through detailed case studies that inquire how oil importers and exporters have tried to use oil to pursue their own power interests. This thesis concludes that the geopolitics of oil...
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Political and Economic Reasons for Energy Cooperation between the EU and Russia
Evgrafova, Elena ; Svoboda, Karel (advisor) ; Romancov, Michael (referee)
In this paper I investigate the energy cooperation between the EU and Russia from the political and economic points of view. The relevance of the issue is due to the growing role of energy sector, the need for security of energy supply and demand and for political and economic balance of power in the region, and closer economic integration. Two theoretical approaches, geopolitical and bureaucratic, guiding the research, explain the behavior of protagonists. To better understand the present level of cooperation I analyze the background and dynamics of EU - Russia energy trade relations. As a case study, I investigate the Nord Stream project as an example of successful cooperation of Germany as an EU member state and Russia in this field. I discuss challenges for the healthy mutual partnership in the energy sector, namely, high politicization of the issue, monopolization of Russian energy sector and low sustainability of Russian economic development, and mistrust between the protagonists. I attempt to identify possible policy changes aimed to improve this cooperation and achieve fruitful partnership, security and stability. Key words: Russia, EU, energy, cooperation, Realpolitik, international relations, oil, gas, energy dialogue, ECT, security, balance of power, geopolitics, interest groups,...
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The New Middle Age: Theory of Irregular
Doboš, Bohumil ; Riegl, Martin (advisor) ; Romancov, Michael (referee)
Thesis deals with the issue of the conceptualization of the post-Westphalia world system by using the New Middle Age theory with focus on its geopolitical aspects. First the theoretical concepts concerning state, sovereignty, and the basis of the neomedievalist world view are tackled. After creating a theoretical tool to assess the appearance of the neomedieval world order we apply the criteria on four selected case studies - Somalia as an example of failed state, Pakistan as failing state, the European Union as a supra-state entity, and the People's Democratic Republic of Korea as a classical example of Westphalia-type state. In the conclusion the four case studies are brought together and our findings lead to the creation of an analytical tool which can be used for understanding basic geopolitical issues of different territories.
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Russia's Foreign Policy Since Putin: Russia as a Eurasian Great Power?
Bílý, Prokop ; Aslan, Emil (advisor) ; Střítecký, Vít (referee)
This thesis deals with the Russia's foreign policy pursued by presidents Vladimir Putin and Dmitri Medvedev, respectively. The studied phenomenon is viewed through the lens of the theory of neo-Eurasianism, coined by the Russian philosopher and political scientist Alexander Gelevich Dugin. The starting point of the neo-Eurasian geopolitical theory is a conviction that the current world order is unipolar and that the U.S.-led globalization is an instrument of its reproduction. The alternative to the hostile, free development of nations curtailing, Atlantic order is represented by multipolarity which, according to the neo-Eurasian theory, will supposedly be established through the messianic mission of Russia-Eurasia, which has nevertheless first to free itself from the Atlantic bond. Application of the neo- Eurasian theory in the context of Russian foreign policy since 2000 then points to the conclusion that Russia's foreign policy can, to some extent, be considered neo-Eurasian.
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New Silk Road Initiatives
Hilliová, Markéta ; Horák, Slavomír (advisor) ; Aslan, Emil (referee)
Thesis "New Silk Road Strategy" focuses on U.S. Foreign policy strategy for Central Asia and Afghanistan. This strategy draws its inspiration from various concepts of restoring the ancient Silk Route and thus creating renewed continental link between far East and West. These concepts began to emerge significantly after the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991. The thesis firstly introduces these concepts and thus provides a theoretical and conceptual background for the NSR strategy. This strategy was adopted by U.S. State Department in June 2011. In this thesis I am arguing that not much success was achieved so far. I demonstrate this on the case of two main projects - the proposed construction of TAPI pipeline and Trade and Transit Agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan APTTA.
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De Gaulle's first veto on British membership of the European economic community as an instrument for promoting national interest
Mashehová, Sandra ; Kasáková, Zuzana (advisor) ; Perottino, Michel (referee)
This bachelor thesis is a case study which had as a goal to explore whether the veto of General Charles de Gaulle has as an objective to promote or ensure French national interest. Another aim of the paper was to answer whether de Gaulle's policy towards European Economic Community had in the first place geopolitical or economic character. Generally, de Gaulle's policy towards EEC and his decisions taken in European affairs are considered mainly in the geopolitical terms. This thesis set a goal to confirm or disprove this proposition throw analyzing debate between the supporters of liberalism and realism. Throw this analysis I have come to the conclusion that French national interest in de Gaulle's policy towards European Economic Community and reasons he vetoed British appeal to join the Community can't be seen only in geopolitical terms. As Moravcsik argues, economic roots and an effort to satisfy interest groups - French farmers - are evident in de Gaulle's policy. Economic reasons had at least same (or even higher) importance as geopolitical ones. Nevertheless, clear and definite answer to question whether the dominant theme in veto and national interest was Economy or Geopolitics still can't be given.
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