Individual alcohol consumption by the population of Russia versus regional living conditions

Background:There are substantial regional differences in drinking alcohol in Russia,both at the population and individual levels.However,the causes of these differences have not been studied yet.Objective:The goal of our study was to examine the effect of regional living conditions on individual alcohol consumption by the population of Russia.Methods:For the analysis,we used data from a cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted in 2013-2014.The final analytical sample included 18,130 people aged 25-64 years.We conducted the interviews face to face,based on which any drinking in the last year,as well as alcohol abuse,were considered as a response.Alcohol abuse was recorded when the respondent consumed 5.75 or more grams of pure ethanol per day(75th percentile of average daily alcohol consumption among alcohol drinkers).The assessment of the regional living conditions was accomplished via integral indexing,which was previously performed based on publicly available data for 2010-2014.Associations were assessed using generalized scoring equations with unchanging standard errors.The associations were expressed by odds ratios(OR)and 95%confidence intervals(C).Results:Deterioration of social conditions and increase in demographic depression in the region of residence increased the odds of any drinking(OR 1.51,95%CI:1.33 to 1.72,P<0.001 and OR 1.22,95%CI:1.05 to 1.41,P=0.oo9,respectively).The odds of alcohol abuse increased with the deterioration of social living conditions and the growth of the industrial development in the region:OR 1.35,95%CI:1.14 to 1.59,P<0.001 and OR 1.16,95%CI:1.05 to 1.28,P=0.002,respectively.Conclusion:Our analysis allowed assessing the impact of the regional living conditions on individual drinking alcohol in the population of Russia.

Evolution and Prospects of Russia’s“Turn to the East”

With the escalation of the Ukraine crisis,Russia’s policy of“Turn to the East”has evolved into“Turn to the Non-West”at an accelerated pace.Involving both a shift of focus in diplomacy and economics and the“de-Westernization”in financial and ideological areas,it has become a strategy to break through Western diplomatic and economic blockade.The transition will continue in the medium term,but adjustments or twists and turns are likely under the influence of internal and external factors.

Assessment of Ecosystems Damages Caused by Russian War against Ukraine

The question of the impact of war on ecosystems still remains secondary in the internal and external policy of states, society and the agenda of international organizations. From the point of view of losses in monetary terms, the values of ecosystem damages obtained in the work, which are a consequence of the impact of hostilities on the environment, correspond to the annual budgets of the largest countries in the world or exceed them. The presented calculations significantly exceed the known normative methods, the use of which in the conditions of war is limited in space and time. Objective difficulties associated with the uncertainty of many processes of the development of ecological systems and their reaction to the multifactorial impact of war are also significant limitations. Therefore, as part of the study, a method of assessing the impact of war on the environment is proposed, which is based on the patterns of energy flows in ecosystems from the moment it is binding by producers. This made it possible to take into account in the calculations the principle of functional integrity of the ecological system, according to which the destruction or damage of the components of a functionally whole environment will necessarily cause negative phenomena in the development of ecological systems. The results are presented in the form of real values of ecological losses in energy and monetary equivalents, as consequences of the loss of ecosystem services. As the results of the research show, the minimum amount of damage to ecosystems from Russian tanks is 43,500 USD per day. Environmental damage from Russian fighter jets has been estimated at $1.5 billion per week since the start of the war. Noise from military operations causes losses of at least 2.3 billion US dollars per year. The obtained results create prerequisites for improving the system of ensuring environmental safety at the local, state, and international levels and transferring the obtained solutions into safety-shaping practice.

CIIS Delegation Visits Russia

From May 26 to 31,CIIS President Chen Bo led a delegation to Russia.During the visit,they participated in the 22nd China-Russia Bilateral Academic Seminar,hosted by the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.The delegation also engaged in discussions with scholars from the Institute of World Economy and International Relations.

Exploring well-being disparities between urban and rural areas:A case study in the Stavropol Territory,Russia

Rural areas are crucial for a country’s sustainable economy.New strategies are needed to develop rural areas to improve the well-being of rural population and generate new job opportunities.This is especially important in countries where agricultural production accounts for a significant share of the gross product,such as Russia.In this study,we identified the key indicators of satisfaction and differences between rural and urban citizens based on their social,economic,and environmental backgrounds,and determined whether there are well-being disparities between rural and urban areas in the Stavropol Territory,Russia.We collected primary data through a survey based on the European Social Survey framework to investigate the potential differences between rural and urban areas.By computing the regional well-being index using principal component analysis,we found that there was no statistically significant difference in well-being between rural and urban areas.Results of key indicators showed that rural residents felt psychologically more comfortable and safer,assessed their family relationships better,and adhered more to traditions and customs.However,urban residents showed better economic and social conditions(e.g.,infrastructures,medical care,education,and Internet access).The results of this study imply that we can better understand the local needs,advantages,and unique qualities,thereby gaining insight into the effectiveness of government programs.Policy-makers and local authorities can consider targeted interventions based on the findings of this study and strive to enhance the well-being of both urban and rural residents.

The Volga River Is Russia’s Lifeline and in Need of Maintenance, Mitigation and Restoration

The Volga River flows entirely through Russia and the watershed includes three of the country’s ten largest cities. The river is the longest in Europe and western Russia’s principal waterway. The Volga River basin is home to approximately half of Russia’s population and occupies almost two-fifth of European Russia. It covers much of the Volga region and stretches 3530 kilometers from its source in the Valdai Hills to the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland water body. Its economic, cultural, and historic importance makes it one of the world’s greatest rivers. The Volga basin makes up 8 percent of the Russian territory. Stalingrad, located on the banks of the Volga River, has been described as the site of the greatest de-feat in the history of the German Army. It is often identified as the turning point on the Eastern Front of WWII, in the war against Germany, and in the entire WWII. The meeting point of the Eurasian Civilization was historically the Volga River. The river has some of the world’s largest reservoirs and is a major source of livelihood for millions of people. Many factories and cities empty their waste including sewage, industrial waste, fertilizers, and pesticides into the Volga River. Pollutants tend to settle in the reservoirs and contain several meters of heavily contaminated muck. The primary objectives are to assess lessons learned, manage, and restore the Volga River system lifeline in Russia.

Russia's Big Stone River

Activity 1.Think about the following questions and write down your answers before reading the text.1.What do you think are the cultural or historical significances of Big Stone River for the local people of Russia?2.Suppose you were a researcher studying Big Stone River,what aspects would you focus on and why?

Imposition of Energy Sanctions by the Western World on Russia in the Context of Geopolitical Conflicts:the Logic Behind and Its Implications

Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis on February 24,2022,the Western world led by the US has imposed rounds of extensive and intensive sanctions against Russia,among which energy sanctions are a powerful policy instrument.

Abstract of Speech by Alexey N.Aleksakhin,Vice-Chairman of Russia-China Friendship Association of Russia,Professor of Moscow State Institute of International Relations

In his speech themed Chinese Modernisation,How and Why it matters to the World and Cultural Confidence,Prof.Alexey N.Aleksakhin discussed cultural governance in the context of modernisation from the perspective of global civilisation.

普京总统第五任期的俄罗斯对外政策趋向

2024年,在俄乌冲突持续的背景下,俄罗斯迎来总统大选,普京再一次以较高的支持率胜选。普京胜选的主要因素包括:中央垂直管理的加强、制度建设和网络媒体管控,经济在止跌企稳中复苏,对外政策着重维护俄罗斯大国强国地位,民意基础坚实以及反对派势弱等。在新任期内,普京面临俄乌冲突持续、周边形势的恶化、统筹国家安全与经济发展等挑战,“危机应对”与“因势利导”成为俄罗斯对外政策的主要趋向。在可预见的政策时段,俄罗斯的对外政策及其团队和人员将保持稳定发展的特征。普京将会延续务实灵活的外交风格:对美国、北约和欧洲国家采取不同态度,缓和孤立局面;面对独联体国家对外部势力的逢迎采取不同对策,力求守住防线;因势利导,加速战略“转向”,发展与亚太国家及“全球南方”国家的关系;深化与中国的全面战略协作。困境下,俄罗斯重新布局对外政策,同时对外政策手段将具有更加多元化的体现。

俄乌冲突长期化背景下中亚区域互联互通建设新态势及影响探析

历史上贯穿亚欧大陆腹地的主要交通运输路线的形成、走向总因外部势力对该区域的征伐,及势力的消长而发生改变。这既是区域地缘政治结构变化的结果之一,亦是导致特定变化的变量之一。后冷战时期,中亚区域被单一外部势力掌控的可能性持续下降,围绕区域性互联互通建设的大国博弈更加复杂多元。近两年,中亚国家基于自身国家利益提出新的互联互通建设规划,主动性、话语权均有较大增长,并已获得实质性突破。近代以来沦为大陆“腹地”的中亚区域或将因此彻底转变成新的亚欧大陆“枢纽”。究其原因,俄乌冲突长期化所引发的冲击令本区域地缘政治格局调整显著加快,并反映在了包括交通运输建设等诸多领域,目前分析,这对中亚国家利大于弊。

泛安全化现象与南亚东南亚政治经济形势演进

新冠肺炎疫情结束后,包括南亚东南亚次区域在内的中国周边地区地缘格局深入演化,区域局势和地区秩序出现了显著变动与重大调整。不论是从区域整体态势变化角度看,还是从区域内主要行为体政治经济形势演进视角分析,南亚东南亚区域受到了国际格局演化驱动方式和方向的强烈影响,尤其是新冠肺炎疫情的演化、美国全球战略调整、俄乌冲突等三大因素影响。后疫情时代的美国对华战略更加极端化,中美博弈加速了中国周边地区力量格局演变与秩序重组。美国凭借联盟体系化优势对中国进行全方位极限施压,加深了中美矛盾。中美斗争外延至中国和周边国家关系,催生出周边多国的对华机会主义策略与选边站队的行为。未来,中国周边地区泛安全化趋势将进一步凸显,中国经略周边的安全挑战将明显增加。

俄乌冲突下西方对俄罗斯能源制裁及其应对:实施路径与阶段性效果评估

俄乌冲突爆发后,俄罗斯能源行业始终是西方精准打击的重点目标。西方力图通过全方位能源制裁,在减少俄用于支持战争的能源出口收入的同时,挤压其在欧洲能源市场的空间,实现化石能源供应“去俄化”。为应对西方制裁,俄开始在“向东看”战略的框架下加快开拓亚洲市场。从制裁及其应对效果看,西方未能实现最重要的预期目标——阻止俄罗斯对乌克兰的战争行为。俄罗斯亦功败输赢兼备,在石油行业,俄基本实现了石油出口市场从欧洲到亚洲的战略转向。但在天然气行业,用亚洲市场取代欧洲市场的目标还远未达成。欧洲在寻求替代油气资源、快速降低对俄能源依赖的同时,也付出了溢价购气和经济衰退的昂贵代价。俄乌冲突已使国际能源市场发生重大调整,俄石油出口转向东方是最近30年来世界石油市场最大规模的贸易流转向,全球能源市场供求关系、运输通道、竞争格局和能源结构将进入深度调整期。

俄乌冲突促使俄罗斯转向中国

俄乌冲突及其导致的俄罗斯与西方对抗促使俄转向中国。俄罗斯外贸、能源出口和金融等转向中国,因此中国成为俄最大贸易伙伴和能源市场,人民币成为俄主要外汇储备货币、国际结算货币和外汇交易货币。俄罗斯外交也在一定程度上转向中国,主要包括俄在构建世界新秩序和反对霸权主义、俄乌冲突国际调解以及欧亚地区安全治理方面倚重中国。转向中国是特殊时期俄罗斯被迫之选,权宜之法;是加强对华关系,不是向中国一边倒。在转向中国的同时,俄罗斯致力于经济本土化和外交多元化,随时准备缓和与美欧的关系。虽然中俄经贸关系呈现不平衡性和俄罗斯外交对中国有所倚重,但是两国关系总体上仍然是平等、互信、友好与合作的。中俄两国应继续在平等互利的基础上发展各领域合作——既不为美西方散布的“俄罗斯依附中国论”所离间,又要促进彼此经济依存与政治信任——以推动中俄新时代全面战略协作伙伴关系持续发展。

俄乌冲突下的能源安全及我国的应对

美西方国家对俄罗斯能源实施的严厉制裁将严重影响全球能源安全。俄乌冲突对欧洲地区能源安全的影响,主要表现在能源供应链出现较大程度的断裂,以及经济和社会发展遇阻两方面。美国虽然已实现了能源独立,但由于与全球能源市场的高度一体化,亦使其深陷能源危机的漩涡,加速了美元地位的下降。一轮又一轮的制裁使俄罗斯在国际能源市场的话语权下降,传统能源生产和出口受到重创。为有效应对能源安全问题,欧洲地区正寻求能源供应多元化,并加快推进清洁能源和可再生能源;美国一方面积极抢占欧洲能源市场,另一方面缓慢补充石油战略储备;而俄罗斯积极寻求能源出口转向,加速能源经济技术转型。我国应在顶层设计上抓紧审议通过《能源法》,加大清洁能源和可再生能源的研发力度和支出,深度参与全球能源市场,不过度依赖某一特定国家或地区的进口能源。

美国冻结和处分俄罗斯主权资产的法律路径与挑战

俄乌冲突已持续两年,美国及其欧洲盟友提供的外国援助是乌克兰获得财政资源的最直接的方式。随着对乌援助在国内外面临的经济压力和政治压力不断增大,美国政府不得不开始寻找新的资金来源。拉拢盟友一起冻结和处分俄罗斯的海外主权资产,将之用于协助乌克兰应对冲突和战后重建,成为美国当前最为中意的方案。美国的决策者正在积极研究论证实施该方案的现有法律和政策路径,试图从法理、国内法、司法判例和国际法中发掘充分的法律依据,甚至酝酿推出转移俄罗斯海外主权资产的强制性法案,意图以所谓的“合法手段”达成目的。美国此举的本质是以法律战打经济战,将冻结和处分外国主权资产的手段合法化、正当化,这不仅会伤害美国的软实力,受到国际社会的广泛质疑,还会对解决俄乌冲突带来不利影响。

金融制裁是否遏制了主权财富基金对俄投资?——基于合成控制法的实证研究

主权财富基金是一类特殊的国际投资主体,与政府联系紧密,自身所具有的特殊属性与战略影响决定了其在金融制裁中更易触发制裁国的关注。本文分析了外国主权财富基金投资对俄罗斯的战略意义以及金融制裁遏制主权财富基金对俄罗斯投资的理论机制,在此基础上采用合成控制法量化评估美西方国家实施的金融制裁对俄罗斯吸引外国主权财富基金投资的影响。实证结果表明:2014年以来的金融制裁使俄罗斯年均损失超过36亿美元的主权财富基金投资流量,该规模达到制裁前外国主权财富基金对俄罗斯投资年度峰值的84%;而且制裁的负面影响随着时间的推移逐渐扩大。以上结果证明,美西方国家实施的金融制裁比较有效地遏制了外国主权财富基金对俄罗斯的投资,从而对俄罗斯构成经济孤立的压力。在当前金融制裁愈演愈烈的国际形势下,中国主权财富基金未来对俄罗斯投资以及与俄罗斯主权财富基金合作投资的行为将变得更加引人注目,应当及早做好预案,防范美西方国家的连带制裁。

新时代辽宁省与俄罗斯远东地区开展海洋合作研究

新时代以来,中俄关系达到了历史新高度,两国之间的合作交流也深入到海洋方面。中国辽宁和俄罗斯远东地区是东北亚区域的重要沿海地带,两地区之间开展海洋合作有利于海洋经济发展、东北亚海域安全和海洋生态环境治理。但双方海洋合作也面临着东北亚国际局势不稳定、双方基础设施互联互通水平不高、双方海洋产业有待优化、缺少有效法律制度保障等问题,阻碍了双方海洋合作的进一步发展。因此,辽宁省在与俄罗斯远东开展海洋合作时,应把握好“时”与“势”,加强在港航基础设施建设的合作投资,重视海洋新兴科技的合作研究,构建维护东北亚海域安全的合作机制,同时坚持绿色发展的海洋合作理念,从而为构建海洋命运共同体树立典范。

俄乌冲突背景下全球海运网络的结构特征分析

在俄乌冲突背景下,基于AIS轨迹数据和复杂网络分析法,分析全球海运网络的整体和局部结构特征,探究海上通道的枢纽作用以及区域海运网络的抗毁性。结果表明:俄乌冲突加剧了全球海运网络的动态演变,干散货海运网络的稳定性强于集装箱海运网络和液化天然气(LNG)海运网络。全球枢纽港口呈现明显的地域性分布和结构性差异特征,中国仅少数核心港口在全球海运网络中具有优势地位。在俄乌冲突紧张局势下,俄罗斯港口在LNG海运网络中保持了一定的竞争力。欧洲地区的直布罗陀海峡和英吉利海峡在三类海运网络中起到关键的中介枢纽作用,同时海运网络对于亚洲地区的琉球群岛、新加坡海峡、朝鲜海峡等也具有较高依赖性。中国与“一带一路”沿线国家之间的集装箱海运网络和干散货海运网络、与金砖国家之间的干散货海运网络均表现出较高的发展水平和较强的抗毁性。

俄罗斯公共图书馆生育支持服务实践及启示

生育率的高低关系到一个国家乃至一个民族未来的存亡。自苏联解体后,俄罗斯面临严重的人口危机,俄罗斯公共图书馆推出了一系列刺激生育的措施,取得了一定成效。我国现面临人口负增长局面,分析俄罗斯公共图书馆生育支持服务的实践经验对我国现阶段生育政策实施和图书馆生育支持服务开展所面临的问题具有启示意义。文章归纳俄罗斯公共图书馆生育支持服务的实践情况,总结其特点,我国公共图书馆可以借鉴其经验,从与各种社会力量合作、开展生育主题信息服务、加强家庭育儿信息服务和婴幼儿阅读服务、宣传健康生活方式、举行倡导生育的文化教育活动、弘扬生育较多子女的思想等方面开展生育支持服务,激活社会生育意愿,为新时期人口高质量发展作出贡献。