bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Investigation of Thermal Cracking and Permeability Evolution of Granite with Varying Initial Damage under High Temperature and Triaxial Compression
Authors: Meng Xiangxi , Liu Weitao , Meng Tao
Published: March 2018

Thermal cracking and permeability evolution of granite under high temperature and triaxial compression are the key to designing high‐level waste disposal sites. In this paper, uniaxial compression tests of granite specimens with different axial compression are designed, and then a solid‐head‐designed coupling triaxial testing system is applied to study thermal cracking and permeability evolution of granite specimen with different damage at different inlet gas pressures (1, 2, 4, and 6 MPa) and temperatures (ranging from 100 to 650°C). The test results show that granite, nearly impermeable rocks, can show a striking increase of permeability by heating beyond the critical temperature. When the initial axial pressure is 60% or 70% of the uniaxial compressive strength, the growth of granite permeability exhibits three stages during 100∼650°C heating process. Permeability increases by two orders of magnitude, but it does not reach the maximum value (i.e., a network of interconnected cracks is not fully formed in the specimen). With increasing initial damage, permeability shows a sharp increase. Permeability increases by three orders of magnitude, it is in equilibrium state, and a network of interconnected cracks is fully formed in the specimen. Permeability of granite has a critical temperature at which permeability increases sharply. When the temperature is lower than the critical temperature, the magnitude of permeability is 10−18 m2 with a slight increase. When temperature is higher than the critical temperature, the magnitude of permeability is 10−15 m2 with a sharp increase. The critical temperature is related to the initial damage of specimen, and the critical temperature is smaller with the initial damage going larger. Therefore, studying thermal cracking and permeability evolution of granite with different initial damage under high temperature and triaxial compression is expected to provide necessary and valuable insight into the design and construction of high‐level waste disposal structures.
Effect of Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on a Child with Involuntary Movement after Hypoxic Encephalopathy
Authors: Nagai Mayumi , Tanaka Naofumi , Oouchida Yutaka , Izumi Shin-Ichi
Published: March 2018

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation to the supplementary motor area to inhibit involuntary movements of a child. An 8-year-old boy who developed hypoxic encephalopathy after asphyxia at the age of 2 had difficulty in remaining standing without support because of involuntary movements. He was instructed to remain standing with his plastic ankle-foot orthosis for 10 s at three time points by leaning forward with his forearms on a desk. He received cathodal or sham transcranial direct current stimulation to the supplementary motor area at 1 mA for 10 min. Involuntary movements during standing were measured using an accelerometer attached to his forehead. The low-frequency power of involuntary movements during cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation significantly decreased compared with that during sham stimulation. No adverse effects were observed. Involuntary movement reduction by cathodal stimulation to supplementary motor areas suggests that stimulations modulated the corticobasal ganglia motor circuit. Cathodal stimulation to supplementary motor areas may be effective for reducing involuntary movements and may be safely applied to children with movement disorders.
Ion-Imprinted Polymer-Based Receptors for Sensitive and Selective Detection of Mercury Ions in Aqueous Environment
Authors: Yasinzai Maimoona , Mustafa Ghulam , Asghar Nazia , Ullah Ikram , Zahid Muhammad , Lieberzeit Peter A. , Han Dongxue , Latif Usman
Published: March 2018

Interdigital electrodes (IDE) coated with ion-imprinted polymers (IIP) as recognition materials have been tested for screening and ion quantification. For screening of receptors, three polymer systems based on styrene (Sty), N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), and Sty-co-NVP were examined to identify an efficient recognition system for mercury ions in an aqueous environment. Results showed that all these polymeric systems can detect analyte even in very low concentration, that is, 10 ppm. Ion-imprinted polystyrene system proved to be an ideal receptor for detecting mercury ions in solution with a detection limit of 2 ppm. The sensitivity of ion-imprinted copolymeric system was further enhanced by making its composite with graphene oxide, and estimated detection limit of composite system was around 1 ppm. Ion- imprinted Sty-co-NVP graphene composite-based sensor system exhibits 2 to 5 times higher sensor response towards templated analyte in comparison to other polymer-based sensor systems. Moreover, the composite-based sensor shows very low or negligible response to competing metal ions with similar or different oxidation states such as Zn, Mg, Na, and As metal ions.
miR‐200a Modulates the Expression of the DNA Repair Protein OGG1 Playing a Role in Aging of Primary Human Keratinocytes
Authors: Tinaburri Lavinia , D’Errico Mariarosaria , Sileno Sara , Maurelli Riccardo , Degan Paolo , Magenta Alessandra , Dellambra Elena
Published: March 2018

Oxidative DNA damage accumulation may induce cellular senescence. Notably, senescent cells accumulate in aged tissues and are present at the sites of age‐related pathologies. Although the signaling of DNA strand breaks has been extensively studied, the role of oxidative base lesions has not fully investigated in primary human keratinocyte aging. In this study, we show that primary human keratinocytes from elderly donors are characterized by a significant accumulation of the oxidative base lesion 8‐OH‐dG, impairment of oxidative DNA repair, and increase of miR‐200a levels. Notably, OGG1‐2a, a critical enzyme for 8‐OH‐dG repair, is a direct target of miR‐200a and its expression levels significantly decrease in aged keratinocytes. The 8‐OH‐dG accumulation displays a significant linear relationship with the aging biomarker p16 expression during keratinocyte senescence. Interestingly, we found that miR‐200a overexpression down‐modulates its putative target Bmi‐1, a well‐known p16 repressor, and up‐regulates p16 itself. miR‐200a overexpression also up‐regulates the NLRP3 inflammasome and IL‐1β expression. Of note, primary keratinocytes from elderly donors are characterized by NRPL3 activation and IL‐1β secretion. These findings point to miR‐200a as key player in primary human keratinocyte aging since it is able to reduce oxidative DNA repair activity and may induce several senescence features through p16 and IL‐1β up‐regulation.
Koumine Attenuates Neuroglia Activation and Inflammatory Response to Neuropathic Pain
Authors: Jin Gui-Lin , He Sai-Di , Lin Shao-Mei , Hong Li-Mian , Chen Wan-Qing , Xu Ying , Yang Jian , Li Su-Ping , Yu Chang-Xi
Published: March 2018

Despite decades of studies, the currently available drugs largely fail to control neuropathic pain. Koumine—an alkaloidal constituent derived from the medicinal plantGelsemium elegansBenth.—has been shown to possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and the possible underlying mechanisms of koumine. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of koumine were explored by using chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve (CCI) neuropathic pain modelin vivoand LPS-induced injury in microglia BV2 cellsin vitro. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis were used to assess the modulator effect of koumine on microglia and astrocyte activation after CCI surgery. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to evaluate the levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Western blot analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were used to examine the modulator effect of koumine on microglial M1 polarization. We found that single or repeated treatment of koumine can significantly reduce neuropathic pain after nerve injury. Moreover, koumine showed inhibitory effects on CCI-evoked microglia and astrocyte activation and reduced proinflammatory cytokine production in the spinal cord in rat CCI models. In BV2 cells, koumine significantly inhibited microglia M1 polarization. Furthermore, the analgesic effect of koumine was inhibited by a TSPO antagonist PK11195. These findings suggest that the analgesic effects of koumine on CCI-induced neuropathic pain may result from the inhibition of microglia activation and M1 polarization as well as the activation of astrocytes while sparing the anti-inflammatory responses to neuropathic pain.
Serological Immunoglobulin-Free Light Chain Profile in Myasthenia Gravis Patients
Authors: Basile Umberto , Marino Mariapaola , Napodano Cecilia , Pocino Krizia , Alboini Paolo Emilio , Gulli Francesca , Evoli Amelia , Provenzano Carlo , Bartoccioni Emanuela
Published: March 2018

Background. Serological levels of free immunoglobulin light chains (FLCs), produced in excess of heavy chains during synthesis of immunoglobulins by plasma cells, can be considered a direct marker of B cell activity in different systemic inflammatory-autoimmune conditions and may represent a useful predictor of rituximab (RTX) therapeutic efficacy, as reported for rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction with antibodies (abs) targeting the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) or the muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK), inducing muscle weakness and excessive fatigability. As MG course may be remarkably variable, we evaluated the possible use of FLCs as biomarkers of disease activity. Subjects and Methods. We assessed FLC levels in 34 sera from 17 AChR-MG and from 13 MuSK-MG patients, in comparison with 20 sera from patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases and 18 from healthy blood donors, along with titers of specific auto-abs and IgG subclass distribution. Results. We found a statistically significant increase in free κ chains in both AChR- and MuSK-MG patients, while free λ chain levels were increased only in AChR-MG. We also observed a significant reduction of both free κ and λ chains in 1/4 MuSK-MG patients along with specific abs titer, two months after RTX treatment. Conclusions. From our data, FLCs appear to be a sensitive marker of B cell activation in MG. Further investigations are necessary to exploit their potential as reliable biomarkers of disease activity.
Outcomes and Complications of Scleral-Fixated Intraocular Lens Combined with Ahmed Tube Surgery
Authors: Sachdev Nikhel , Aquino Maria Cecilia , Loon Seng Chee , Chan Yiong Huak , Chew Paul , Koh Victor
Published: March 2018

Background. To evaluate the outcome and complications of transscleral suture-fixated posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL) implantation combined with Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) surgery in Asian eyes. Design. This was a retrospective study that included 22 eyes from 22 participants. The surgeries were performed at Singapore’s National University Hospital. Participants underwent an Ahmed tube surgery, together with transscleral suture-fixated posterior chamber intraocular lens. Main Outcome Measures. Complete success was defined as 6 ≤ intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤ 21 mmHg without medications at the last follow-up visit, with no reoperation required and no progression to no perception of light (NPL). Results. At the last follow-up, there was a significant reduction in mean IOP (22.4 ± 6.5 mmHg versus 13.9 ± 3.9 mmHg; p<0.001) and mean number of intraocular pressure-lowering medications (2.45 ± 1.30 versus 0.05 ± 0.21; p<0.001). There was no significant change in visual acuity [1.43 ± 1.21 (LogMAR) versus 1.09 ± 1.31 (p=0.204)]. Sixteen eyes (72.7%) achieved complete success. The 3 commonest complications were bullous keratopathy, choroidal detachment, and displacement of intraocular lens. Conclusion and Relevance. This technique showed good success for intraocular pressure control and vision preservation. Postoperative complications were relatively common although most were self-limiting. Patients at increased risk of trabeculectomy failure may be suitable for this procedure.
Dorsal and ventral horn atrophy is associated with clinical outcome after spinal cord injury
Authors: Huber Eveline , David Gergely , Thompson Alan J. , Weiskopf Nikolaus , Mohammadi Siawoosh , Freund Patrick
Published: March 2018

Objective

To investigate whether gray matter pathology above the level of injury, alongside white matter changes, also contributes to sensorimotor impairments after spinal cord injury.

Methods

A 3T MRI protocol was acquired in 17 tetraplegic patients and 21 controls. A sagittal T2-weighted sequence was used to characterize lesion severity. At the C2-3 level, a high-resolution T2*-weighted sequence was used to assess cross-sectional areas of gray and white matter, including their subcompartments; a diffusion-weighted sequence was used to compute voxel-based diffusion indices. Regression models determined associations between lesion severity and tissue-specific neurodegeneration and associations between the latter with neurophysiologic and clinical outcome.

Results

Neurodegeneration was evident within the dorsal and ventral horns and white matter above the level of injury. Tract-specific neurodegeneration was associated with prolonged conduction of appropriate electrophysiologic recordings. Dorsal horn atrophy was associated with sensory outcome, while ventral horn atrophy was associated with motor outcome. White matter integrity of dorsal columns and corticospinal tracts was associated with daily-life independence.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that, next to anterograde and retrograde degeneration of white matter tracts, neuronal circuits within the spinal cord far above the level of injury undergo transsynaptic neurodegeneration, resulting in specific gray matter changes. Such improved understanding of tissue-specific cord pathology offers potential biomarkers with more efficient targeting and monitoring of neuroregenerative (i.e., white matter) and neuroprotective (i.e., gray matter) agents.
Ancient Traditions and Modern Challenges: South Asian Studies Today
Authors: Karttunen Klaus
Published: March 2018

In order to show the mutual importance and usefulness of classical and modern Indology to each other, the author presents a series of cases, where ancient things are present (and often reinterpreted and modified) in modern India, in fields such as religion and philosophy, social hierarchy, popular entertainment, language and linguistics and traditions of scholarship.
Satyagraha and South Africa
Authors: Czekalska Renata , Kłosowicz Robert
Published: March 2018

The article presents the results of research carried out mainly on Mahatma Gandhi’s written statements which the authors refer to both a historical and socio‑political background. It is the first part of the planned two‑part study on mutual relations between Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha and South Africa, therefore it is focused on the interdependencies between the origin of the idea and the place where it was invented. The authors seek to answer two main questions: 1) whether Gandhi has entered into a dialogue with the native people of South Africa, and 2) whether Gandhi’s idea of non‑violent fighting for social rights included the native population of South Africa. The study also presents an outline of the evolution of Gandhi’s attitudes towards Africans and the Coloured People.
Over the Khyber
Authors: Kuczkiewicz-Fraś Agnieszka
Published: March 2018

Political, economic and cultural connections between Afghanistan and South Asia have been long‑lasting and strong throughout the centuries, not only because of the geographical closeness of the regions, but also due to the genetic relationship of their peoples. In the 21st century, due to rapid geopolitical changes and globalization the mutual relations of these two regions are becoming more and more important, not only on bilateral level, but also from the point of view of the regional and international interests. The aim of this article is to concisely show how the relations between Afghanistan and South Asia developed over the history, with special attention given to the current state of affair.
Spirituality, Atrocities and IT – German Images of India
Authors: Brandt Carmen
Published: March 2018

Imaginations of India have been an important ingredient of the German literary and media landscape since the end of the 18th century. Though they are highly diverse, these images are equally often emotionally charged and situated somewhere between euphoric glorifications and deprecating condemnations. When Germany and India were celebrating the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, the time had come to investigate why Germans until today, even in the so‑called age of information, have so diverse perceptions of India. By reference to the three dominant German images of India, this article seeks to understand the various factors that influence our perception of another culture.
Sanātana dharma and Christianity – Perspectives of Theological Dialogue
Authors: Byrski M. Krzysztof
Published: March 2018

The ancient Indian concept of “the eternal nature of things” (sanātana dharma) is a convenient meeting ground for all religions. It is a mistake to describe it as tantamount to Hinduism. Christianity and Hinduism may enter into a meaningful dialogue within its framework. Since for both of them the self‑sacrifice of God is a pivotal idea around which they build their theology. Basic difference between them lays in the fact that the Vedic sacrifice is a creative one, out of which time and space emerged and the Christian sacrifice is a redemptive one that took place within created time and space. Thus the basic question is whether these two concepts of sacrifice are homologous. In the present essay, we try to outline this extremely tantalizing problem.
The Wonder of Inspiration: Musical Universalizations of Rabindranath Tagore's Poems in Polish Culture
Authors: Czekalska Renata
Published: March 2018

The paper presents select distinctive results of Polish fascination with the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore, placing this phenomenon in the sphere of universalization within the syntagma of Polish national culture. The translations of Tagore’s poetry are presented as the first stage of the process of intercultural communication, based on the understanding of these literary works in the allegorical and symbolic styles of reception. Subsequently, the literary translations are perceived in the style of aesthetization. This style of reception of a work of art induces the occurrence of transcriptions of literary works – from the sign system of language into the sign system of music. Musical compositions found in contemporary Polish music are examples of concretizations of literary works.
Trespassing Spaces or Some Intercultural Walks
Authors: Milewska Iwona
Published: March 2018

The purpose of the article is to discuss, based on chosen examples, whether the intercultural understanding is possible and what are the limits of it. Firstly, in a short introduction, the tools which the Europeans elaborated in order to understand Indian texts, which were mainly grammars and dictionaries, are discussed. Then, the Sanskrit terms such as “dharma,” used to express the most important ideas of Indian culture, are analyzed. This discussion is followed by the analyse of the noun “vana.” Its most typical English equivalent used in translations is “forest.” However, after deeper consideration, it appears that the understanding of this term differs depending on particular cultural roots. The next noun to be discussed is “lotus” as used in the European texts in which these Indian flowers are shown. In Sanskrit works of literature the European word “lotus” has more than one equivalent and the differences among Indian lotuses are of importance in the process of creating appropriate poetic images. One more example of potential “intercultural walks” described in the article is the presentation and comparison of the reception of two versions, an Indian and a European one, of the Mahabharata epic as arranged and received in modern times.
Scope and Limits of “Inclusivism” in Modern South Asia: Questioning Tagore’s and Agyeya’s “Universalism ”
Authors: Pozza Nicola
Published: March 2018

During the twentieth century, it had become increasingly common among scholars working on modern India to oppose Indian leaders and authors advocating the idea of multicultural and secular India to those promoting a nation based solely on the so‑called “Hindu way of life.” While the discourse attributed to the former category has regularly been qualified as “universalist,” “inclusivist” or “tolerant,” the kind of nationalism fostered by the latter has variously been called “communalist” or “exclusivist.” While these antagonistic positions might certainly fit with the positions of iconic and emblematic figures such as M.K. Gandhi or V.D. Sawarkar respectively, they might well be misleading and too restrictive when applied to the discourses of authors such as Rabindranath Tagore (1861‑1941) and S.H. Vatsyayan ‘Agyeya’ (1911‑1987), to take into consideration only two among the most influential and celebrated authors and poets of modern India. Based on the analysis of Tagore’s and Agyeya’s texts, this contribution questions the accuracy of such a dichotomist categorization and more specifically the assertion that the works of twentieth‑century authors considered as “universalists” were actually presenting a picture of a united India with both Hindus and Muslims looking forward to a peaceful future together (Cush and Robinson, see footnote 3). It shows that, notwithstanding the real cosmopolitan worldview of both these authors, the Muslim realm is almost completely absent from their works. In conclusion, it is argued that far from being an exception, the position of these writers is illustrative of what can be called a “non‑exclusive Hindu nationalism,” which was pervasive among the Indian intellectuals of the twentieth‑century India.
Of Love, Loss and Love Lost: The (uncompleted) Reception of Rabindranath Tagore in Spain
Authors: Rodríguez Guillermo
Published: March 2018

The paper is a concise review of the reception of Rabindranath Tagore in Spain and the crucial role played by the Spanish writer Juan Ramón Jiménez and his wife Zenobia Camprubí in promoting the poetry of the “great Bard of Bengal,” not only in Spain but in the whole Spanish‑speaking world, with their marvelous translations produced mostly between 1913 and 1922. The piece describes how biographical factors (the couple’s own love story), literary contexts (the search for a new lyrical voice in Spanish poetry after modernism) and the progressive intellectual and political milieu of the first decades of the twentieth century converged in the unique response Tagore received in Spain, though he never visited the country. It also analyses why the admiration for Tagore persisted for decades even after the changes brought by Franco’s regime.
The Concept of “Indian Philosophy” as a Product of Intercultural Dialogue (Wilhelm Halbfass’s India and Europe Revisited )
Authors: Serebriany Sergei
Published: March 2018

This paper is a sequel to another paper of the same author: “Some Marginal Notes on [W. Halbfass’s] India and Europe” (in: E. Franco, K. Preisendanz (eds.), Beyond Orientalism. The Work of Wilhelm Halbfass and its Impact on Indian and Cross‑Cultural Studies, Amsterdam–Atlanta 1997). In the present paper the concept of “Indian philosophy” is discussed – with references to the analysis of the concept in the book India and Europe by W. Halbfass. The central idea of the paper is this: “Indian philosophy” is not a kind of primordial entity it is often said to be, but rather a contingent concept which gradually evolved in the 19th and 20th century in the process of intercultural interaction between Indian (South Asian) and European (Western) intellectual traditions.
Mal(e) Development, (Com)modification, Nationalism and Feminist Consciousness: An Analysis of Arundhati Roy’s Writings
Authors: Ahsan Mohammad Kamran
Published: March 2018

The terms “mal(e)development” and “(com)modification” are coinages that underscore the nexus of the patriarchy, colonialism and capitalism in the Indian context. India has witnessed tremendous development and exploitation of its natural resources in the post‑independence era owing to the aids sponsored by the developed nations. The mal(e) development and (com)modification of India on the western model is masquerading as nation building in the 21st century. Arundhati Roy, the prominent feminist writer‑activist, lays bare this camouflaged maldevelopment and commodification of nature and women. Roy’s concerns are pretty much influenced by eco‑feministic discourse. In post‑independence India, colonialism has resorted to subterfuge, presenting a Western model of development to the developing nations.
Anthropology of Economy and the Sikh Concept of kirat karnī
Authors: Igielski Zbigniew
Published: March 2018

The article ‘Anthropology of Economy and the Sikh Concept of kirat karnī ’ describes one of the most important concepts of the youngest monotheistic religion – Sikhism, concerning the ethos of work in a wider context of economic anthropology. Sikhs, often called “the protestants of India,” do not follow the cast system of Hindu society, instead choosing the path of equality and aiming at the improvement of the economic status of people. The research is based on the canonical texts included in the holy book of Sikhism and interpretations of scriptures that were written in the span of over 200 years. The paper explains the philosophical and practical meaning of kirat karnī in Sikhism along with its understanding and development in the contemporary Sikh society in Indian Punjab.
From Malala to Burka Avenger: A Few Remarks on Changing Female Role Models in Contemporary Pakistan
Authors: Junik-Łuniewska Kamila
Published: March 2018

This paper discusses some of the breakthrough initiatives by women in Pakistan, which may have a positive influence on other women and thus lead the way to further changes in the overall situation of women. It comprises of two main parts. The first part begins with a brief study of the image of women in the Qur’an and analyses the question of how sources and religious teachings were interpreted in regard to women’s social status. This follows with an examination of the position of women in Pakistan and with the characteristics of the women’s movement and various initiatives of the women’s rights struggle. The second part discusses the work and achievements of various women’s organisations and individual women activist, in reference to the main women’s issues in the society. The study focuses on bottom‑up initiatives that arise in response to the socio‑political situation, and aims at showing how females active in the women’s rights struggle serve as a positive model for other women in Pakistan.
Cities in Bengal. Space for Nationalistic Emotions
Authors: Moroń Marek
Published: March 2018

The European concept of nationalism became a useful instrument in creating new identities of peoples of South Asia. In Bengal, traditional identities were given political dimensions, and a number of emotion building symbols, narrations, invented traditions and characteristics of the land, were employed to attract the people to the idea of a particular nationalism. The role of cities in creating the nationalisms of Bengal is discussed in the present paper. The examples of Dhaka, Kolkata and Murshidabad are considered on the one hand, whereas on the other there is an attempt of a comparison between the role of these three cities and the influence of the countryside and the rural landscape of Bengal in appealing to the sentiments of Bengalis in their nationalistic discourse. Conclusions are submitted for further considerations.
Caste in South Asia: From Ritual Hierarchy to Politics of Difference
Authors: Subedi Madhusudan
Published: March 2018

Caste has been in existence for centuries in South Asia, though its forms and contents vary across the region. Caste is a mode of power, a weapon of action and one of the criteria of making people’s collective identity within groups. I argue, in this paper, that caste is a product of complex histories and exists today in multiple forms. There has been a major change from treating caste as a rigid ritual stratum to caste as “identity to negotiate power and resources.” It operates as a symbol of collective identity and a basis for collective bargaining of limited resources and representation in various organizations and administrative institutions. The caste system eroded at the ritual level, but emerged at the political and economic levels in India and Nepal.
Why Refer to the Hindus in Bangladesh as a “minority”?
Authors: Sumon Mahmudul H.
Published: March 2018

In this paper I problematize the notion of majority/ minority and try to argue that much of this construction can be shown to have links with forms of colonial governmentality in South Asia. Using relevant literature, the paper discusses how categories such as “minority” or “majority” came into being and were normalized through different technologies of power in post‑colonial states such as ours. Such constructions, when taken uncritically, can pose problems for the communities to which they refer. The paper indicates that nomenclature is an important issue and one needs to be careful about the terms they use, as they may have a far‑reaching effect.
The Pakistani Identity Constructed in Reaction to the Outside World
Authors: Dębnicki Krzysztof
Published: March 2018

In the past twelve years Pakistan has gone through a period of acute internal strife between the status quo and the emerging new religious/political ideologies. A number of reasons define the conflict: religious, social, economic, international. A very important element of the strife is the psychological attitude of Pakistanis towards their own state, religion and the world at large. The key elements of this psychological attitude are: inferiority/superiority complex vis‑à‑vis their Arab neighbours, India, and the Western world, and the commonly held belief in dangerous conspiracies that the world outside is constantly hatching against it. These two elements are enhanced by militant (jihadi) electronic and printed media creating a strongly skewed vision of the outside world.
Geopolitics and the Issue of the Broken National Identity in Nepal
Authors: Kłodkowski Piotr
Published: March 2018

The main objective of my article is to demonstrate the complex issues of geopolitics and national identity in South Asia. Both are interrelated with each other and a political myth on national identity may owe its final shape to geopolitical constraints. These in turn may set limits to social revolutions that intend to transform the society of which the national identity is a vital part. Nepal with its strategic location between India and China and with its revolutionary transformation process is a good illustration of that interrelation. The “clash of political ideas” – which is materialized in the ideological opposition of a revolutionary republic versus a traditional kingdom – is a relevant part of the text. It is noteworthy however that the “clash” should be interpreted in the context of geopolitical strategies initiated by the two Asian superpowers who have their own conflicting interests in Nepal. The domestic strife has its regional dimensions that could be classified as a part of the New Great Game of the 21st century being played out by Beijing and Delhi.
Indo‑Pakistani “hybrid war” for Kargil
Authors: Królikowski Hubert
Published: March 2018

The armed conflict in the Crimea and Eastern Ukraine introduced a new notion of hybrid war into security studies, but such kind of armed conflict is not anything new. History of wars provides at least a few examples when a country was attacked not by conventional armed forces, but by a mixture of special forces, information campaigns and backdoor proxies. Such armed struggles have taken place many times before, for example, during the so called Kargil War in 1999. Lessons for India emerged from the Pakistani operation in Kargil region necessitating a holistic national security review as well as rethinking of the nature of conflict and conduct in the new strategic environment and are very similar to the lessons learnt today by NATO, Poland and Baltic states concerning current warfare in Ukraine.
Difficult Neighbourhood: the Key Objectives of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Towards India in the Twenty‑First Century
Authors: Kuszewska Agnieszka
Published: March 2018

What role does India play in Pakistan’s international strategy? The article tackles this question and explores the crucial elements of Islamabad’s policy towards India, focusing on selected internal and external security issues. Pakistani political/military leaders look upon India as its major security challenge. The alleged threat from the powerful neighbour has served as the convenient explanation for justifying enormous military expenditures and building powerful army in Pakistan, which substantially weakened democratic institutions and civilian governments and consolidated military’s grip of the state power. This sense of fear was fuelled by the catastrophist mindset, claiming that India has always regarded partition of the subcontinent as a “historical aberration” and its main goal was to undo the partition or at least to subjugate Pakistan into a client‑state. The protracted, war‑prone relations between the two nuclear states can be defined as “difficult neighbourhood.” The chapter approaches the problem of Pakistan’s policy towards India in several key parts. The introduction looks at the historical developments and current internal situation in Pakistan. The first part offers an in‑depth analysis of Pakistan’s attitude towards the Kashmir issue, the second part analyses the strategies aimed at counterbalance India’s hegemony in the region, encapsulating the phenomenon of Pakistan‑China and Pakistan‑U.S. relations. The last part briefly observes the problem of water scarcity in India‑Pakistan relations, which has a direct impact on South Asian security.
Overshadowed by kala
Authors: Lubina Michał
Published: March 2018

India seems to fit well with Burma. Long common history, deep cultural relations, similar heritage and geographic proximity – all this should help to upgrade India‑Burma relations. There is, however, one major obstacle: a historical and cultural burden, which can be summarized by the Burmese name for Indians: kala. Literally kala means “alien,” but at present it refers to Indians only. In Burmese conditions it has a wider, metaphorical meaning: something between “unwanted,” “hated” and “despicable.” In this sense, kala is a cultural phenomenon, a kind of “burdensome heritage” that influences the political relations between India and Burma. In this way, kala still looms large on the horizon of India‑Burma relations blocks their development.
Migracje z Ukrainy do Unii Europejskiej z perspektywy ryzyka
Authors: Jaroszewicz Marta
Published: March 2018

Ukrainian migration to the European Union from the risk perspective The aim of this paper is to analyse, through the prism of risk theories, migration from Ukraine to the European Union in a multidimensional perspective. Risks taken by different actors associated with migration along this route have been considered. At the micro-level these are risks borne by Ukrainian migrants themselves. At the macro-level these are risks borne by both states of destination and origin. The concept of risk is the most suitable theoretical approach to be applied in the case of analyzing Eastern European migration. Migration to the fortress “Europe” creates many risks for the migrants and is treated as a challenge by the state actors. At the same time, it cannot be regard as a as a security threat. It is very modest both in the numbers and possible adverse consequences for all stakeholders involved. The article pays special attention to the issue of possible risks related to the eruption of armed conflict in Eastern Europe. It argues that those risks have grown but not significantly and the most affected actor is the Ukrainian state itself, who in a long-term perspective may experience dramatic demographic challenges. Both migrants as well the EU destination states may be at higher risk only in a case of serious destabilization at the whole Ukrainian territory.
„Kryzys ukraiński ” – czy konieczność redefinicji polskiej polityki imigracyjnej?
Authors: Duszczyk Maciej
Published: March 2018

Ukrainian Crisis – is a redefinition of polish migration policy necessary?

Difficult political and economic situation of Ukraine is quoted as the reason underlying growing inflow of the nationals of that state to Poland. The most frequently used instrument to obtain the right of stay and employment in Poland by Ukrainians is comprised by the declaration of an employer on the intention to entrust employment to a foreigner. Growth in the number of registered declarations causes a reaction of the government aimed to restrict the scale of the inflow. At the same time in the debate before parliamentary elections in 2015 the topic was addressed very rarely. In the case of migration issues, the debate was pursued around the problem of potential arrival to Poland of refugees from African states, who reached the European Union. The paper contains a statistical analysis of the scale of inflow of Ukrainians to Poland and conclusions from a review of the election agendas that emerged before the 2015 parliamentary elections in terms of account taken of migration topics. The paper also shows evolution of Polish immigration policy in the first years of 2010s. On this basis, three scenarios were presented for changes in Polish immigration policy as a result of the so-called “Ukrainian crisis”.
Relative impact of administrative measures on labour migration flows from Central Asia
Authors: Kaźmierkiewicz Piotr
Published: March 2018

Comparative studies show an ambiguous effect of the application of administrative controls on the level of migrant inflows, with the relative impact of the measures weaker than that of long-term economic or cultural factors. The case of Central Asian migration to Kazakhstan and Russia demonstrates the interplay of administrative measures and economic shocks with strategies of migrant groups and individuals. The review of recent surveys, interviews and focus groups with migrants from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan suggests that changes in the policies of destination countries have a limited impact on their own plans. The long-term determinants, such as the support provided by diasporas and the fundamental economic pull and push factors mitigate the effects of sanctions or facilitating measures.
Polityczna rola diaspory na przykładzie krajów Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej i obszaru postsowieckiego
Authors: Lesińska Magdalena
Published: March 2018

Political impact of diasporas. The case of Central and Eastern European and post-Soviet countries
Most of the Central and Eastern European and post-soviet countries have a longlasting tradition of emigration and possess large diasporas, often dispersed all over the world. Due to their volume and socio-economic position diasporas become on the one hand independent entities in international relations, on the other – influential actors on the political scene in the country of origin and targets of state’s policy. This article aims to analyze the political impact of diasporas on the relations with country of origin as well as on international politics. The case studies are countries of Central and Eastern Europe and post-soviet region. The article consists of four parts. The first is devoted to the conceptual considerations around the definition of diaspora and its role as subject and object of politics. The next two parts analyse the place of diasporas as actors in international relations and in the internal politics of the countries of origin. In the last section the diaspora politics are discussed, illustrated by selected examples of countries of the region.
Promocja demokracji a bezpieczeństwo europejskie: skuteczność i dylematy polityki wschodniej Unii Europejskiej w XXI w.
Authors: Podraza Andrzej
Published: March 2018

Democracy promotion and European security: effectiveness and dilemmas of Eastern policy of the European Union in the 21st century
The main aim of the article is a theoretical and empirical analysis of the impact of the European Union on the democratization process in the countries of Eastern Europe. In its foreign policy the European Union, regarded as a normative power, has a strategic interest in stabilizing neighbouring countries through the export of democratic values in order to ensure its own security. It is claimed, however, that the European Union’s ability to influence the outside world is limited. The effectiveness of the EU’s conditionality policy is mainly related to the perceived benefits by third countries – in case of Eastern European countries a membership offer as the main incentive is not yet taken into account. Of great importance there is also a lack of common EU position towards Russia, which regards a European export of democratic values to countries of the post-Soviet area as a challenge to its position on the international arena. A European-Russian rivalry on the post-Soviet area can be then described using realist theory of international relations. The article ends with recommendations for the European Union.
The Eastern Policy of the European Union. The Role of Poland
Authors: Stępniewski Tomasz
Published: March 2018

The paper aims at outlining the EU policy – including Poland’s role in its development – towards the Union’s eastern neighbours encompassed by the European Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern Partnership. The situation of the EU’s eastern neighbours has become considerably complicated in the last two years (2014-2015). The Euromaidan revolution and war in the Donbas have led the EU Member States to direct their efforts towards stabilising the situation in Ukraine. As a consequence, discussions of future prospects and the EU policy towards Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus have been set aside. In addition, wars and conflicts occurring in the south of Europe along with the immigrants flooding southern EU Member States have led to the eastern neighbours and their problems being neglected (despite the fact that Ukraine is engulfed in war).
Bezpieczeństwo energetyczne w dokumentach strategicznych Unii Europejskiej i Federacji Rosyjskiej – problemy definicyjne oraz próba ich przezwyciężenia
Authors: Ćwiek-Karpowicz Jarosław
Published: March 2018

Energy security in the EU’s and Russia’s strategic documents – how to overcome conceptual problems Analyzing EU-Russia relations one may find significant difference regarding the energy security definition. From the Russian perspective this concept is defined mainly through the technical prism focusing on stable and secure supply. In turn, many European researchers add economic and environmental dimensions of this concept underlying the role of competitive market and interrelations with climate issue. In this paper author tries to reduce a difference between these two positions. He aims at elaborating broad definition of the energy security which should help for better analysis EU-Russia energy relations. He states that existing definition based on three abovementioned elements like security of supply, free market, and sustainable development, is incomplete and should therefore be extended by the fourth component, so called social and political agreement.
Debata nad nową strategią bezpieczeństwa zewnętrznego na forum instytucji i organów Unii Europejskiej w latach 2012-2015
Authors: Węc Janusz Józef
Published: March 2018

Debate on the new strategy of external security at the forum of European Union institutions and bodies in 2012-2015
The subject of the article is the debate on the new external security strategy, which has been ongoing in the European Union since 2012. It presents the position of the European Council and the Council for Foreign Affairs, the European Commission, the European Parliament as well as the Interparliamentary Conference for a Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy. In so far as these first two institutions play a decisive role in shaping a common security and defence policy, the influence of the next two is still limited, in spite of the fact that it has increased since the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty of 13 December 2007. In turn, the Interparliamentary Conference, whose members include representatives of the European Parliament and national parliaments, functions only as an advisory body in this area.
Model władzy w państwach postsowieckich
Authors: Kużelewska Elżbieta , Bartnicki Adam R.
Published: March 2018

The Model of Power in the Post-Soviet States The aim of this article is to show the evolution of the model of power in the former Soviet states on the example of Belarus, Azerbaijan and Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan). The research task of this article is to answer the following questions: Why in the post-Soviet states the most attractive and the most effective is the quasi-authoritarian system? Which factors influenced on deep-rooted authoritarianism in analyzed counties? Why the post-Soviet republics society accepts such a model? And finally, are any chances of the regime’s transition towards the classical democratic system? The role of the referendum in increasing the power of the president will be explored, too.
Colour Revolutions, Frozen Conflicts and the New Silk Road: the Political Struggle in the Post-Soviet Space
Authors: Kozłowski Krzysztof
Published: March 2018

As the political centre of the World international stage gravitates toward East Asia, so does the political reality of the Post-Soviet Space. This process works in favour of the Peoples’ Republic of China, is a source of new tensions within the Russian Federation and undermines the effectiveness of US and European policies. The New Silk Road and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank initiatives show that PRC has both the means and the determination to actively broaden its sphere of influence. However, the Chinese patterns of expansion do not have to follow the nature of Russian-Western competition the World got used to after 1991. As the local players are increasingly assertive and PRC economy is slowing down, it’s also important to notice the first clouds gathering over Chinese aspirations in the region. The article presents an overview of the major approaches to political change, international competition and integration trajectories within the Post-Soviet space. It focuses on the major actors active within the Post-Soviet Space, namely the Russian Federation, the United States and the Peoples’ Republic of China, the strategies they follow, mediums they choose to execute their strategies and an evaluation of effects of their activity after the collapse of the USSR.