Animal Food Resources in the Golden Horde Period. Case Study: Old Orhei (Republic of Moldova)

Author(s): Ludmila Bacumenco-Pîrnău,Luminiţa Bejenaru,Simina Rafailă-Stanc / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The archaeological level of the Golden Horde period is analyzed, and this assemblage is compared to the level of the 15th —17th centuries in order to account for a diachronical variability of food resources of animal origin on the Old Orhei site.The study of medieval Old Orhei is mainly focused on the diversity of food resources as reflected by the archaeozoological analysis. Previous archaeozoological studies of the medieval period in Old Orhei discussed aspects related to animal species identified on the site and the proportion of wild and domestic species. The consumers of animal products especially differed by their ethnic belonging. Thus, in the period of Mongol (the Golden Horde) occupation, the main domestic species used in alimentation were the sheep/goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus), the cattle (Bos taurus) and the horse (Equus caballus), while later — after Mongol retreat, the livestock of the local economy was mainly represented by the cattle (Bos taurus) and the pig (Sus domesticus).The hunting records a very low rate (0.24% NISP) during the Golden Horde period; the low occurrence frequency of wild animals’ remains in this cultural level is quite surprising, since the documents of the time contain information emphasizing that the Mongols used to greatly rely on hunting, which was practiced for different purposes: to compensate a food shortage, to secure furs and hides, to keep fit for future battles, etc.

East Asian Regionalism: Perspectives, Realities and the Future

Author(s): Roger Y Chao Jr / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

From the mid-1900s onwards, East Asian political developments, the East Asian Miracle, and regional integration initiatives in the region have facilitated a growing scholarship in East Asian political economy and regional issues. The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and the recent global financial crises (2007 sub-prime crisis and the on-going European sovereign debt crisis) further highlighted the region. The former focused on the region’s weaknesses, while the later focused on its strengths in search of an Asian-led solution (in terms of economic capacity and growth) to support global economic growth and eventually contribute to the end of the recent string of global financial crises.

At the source of the lack of the security and cooperation complex in Northeast Asia

Author(s): Anna Walkowiak / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The aim of this article is to present the reasons for the lack of security institutions in northeast Asia in the post-Cold War period and assess the Six-Party Talks ability to change this situation in the near future. In this article two theories of international relations will be applied to explain the current state of regional relations. A realistic perspective will be the dominant theoretical approach as it allows us to understand the situation in the region in terms of clash of interests in an anarchic reality. However, a few references to the theory of constructivism’s assumptions about the influence of culture are needed to better understand the specifics of the region

Finding the balance. The role of Australia-Japan cooperation in the shaping of the Asia-Pacific security architecture

Author(s): Joanna Dobkowska / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This paper argues that Australia and Japan, taking a cooperative approach, are able to successfully re-shape the regional security architecture in the Asia-Pacific. Due to their ambiguous characteristics of being ‘in-between’ the East and the West, they are equipped with a unique set of tools allowing them to enhance the regional security cooperation framework. However, the question that remains is that of the shape of the potential cooperation and to what extent it would reflect the different – and sometimes contradicting – interests of regional players. The role of institutionalisation in the successful functioning of the security structure is discussed as well.

ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights: A “toothless tiger” or a prospect for a regional human rights regime in Southeast Asia?

Author(s): Marta Kosmala-Kozłowska / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

In 2007, after 15 years of deliberations on human rights within ASEAN, it espoused the creation of a human rights body in its landmark ASEAN Charter. It came into being in 2009 as the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). The odds that AICHR will become a cornerstone of a human rights regime for ASEAN, or perhaps wider East Asia, are elaborated on in this paper. The divergence of opinions on the matter is significant. According to Surin Pitswuan, ASEAN’s current secretary general, it is expected to ‘pave the way for the growth of democracy and human rights in the region’ (ASEAN, 2009a).Thus, he sees the advisory and promotional competences of AICHR in an evolutionary perspective. Critics address its lack of independent enforcement and controlling or monitoring powers, deeming it a “toothless tiger” with little momentum to develop. It is too soon to tell anything definite, but I hypothesise that AICHR can be viably considered as the first piece of an evolving system of human rights protection. A Chinese adage points out that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This being already done, the following paper focuses on the next ones.

Institutional Changes in Malaysia. New dimensions of challenges after the global financial crisis

Author(s): Paweł Raja / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

In this short article the author has tried to point out the hot spots for necessary institutional changes in Malaysia. As the term of financial crisis has been discussed among the leaders of ASEAN one can perceive indispensable changes on a social base. In regards to the 10th Malaysia Plan, it is also distressing that the government does not pay enough attention to the reasons for the slower than expected rate of economic development.

Rethinking the Development of US-China Relations

Author(s): Kao Pei-Shan / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This paper intends to examine the debates between realists and liberals on US-China relations since the end of the Cold War, with trade used as the primary case study to discuss and demonstrate the influence and effect of complex interdependence in this relationship. I will also use the findings of this research to predict a positive development of US-China relations.

The Adjustment of China’s Regional Development Strategy and Its Impact on Intergovernmental Relations

Author(s): Yang Long,Hu Huixuan / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Since 2008, many synthetically reform experimental districts have been set up, and a considerable number of local development planning has been promoted as national-level development strategies. This indicates some changes in the regional development strategy in China. The government has re-designed the regional development patterns and has decided on a regional development strategy based on more scientific national spatial planning. Moreover, the layout of regional development has become more detailed. At the same time, the state has encouraged the locals to develop their own characteristics according to their own advantages. By this way the state enriches the content of the national and regional development strategies. The adjustments in the national and regional development strategies have also led to changes in intergovernmental relations.

Food security in China in the beginning of the 21st century

Author(s): Magdalena Senderowska / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

First part of the paper considers the problem of defining food security and scientists’ current attitude towards defining and measuring the level of food security. The second part presents an overview of the current food security determinants and trends in the world as well as the current situation in this field. This is the background for the third part, which tackles the problem of food security in China, including current situation, the main challenges and the means taken to ensure this security.

Socio-economic stability, intra party democracy and the power transition in the Communist Party of China

Author(s): Dominik Mierzejewski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The article mainly aims to discuss the critical factors of power transition within the Chinese Communist Party framework since the last peaceful transition between Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao. The major objective of the paper is to show when and how the changes in leadership came about. Moreover, the issues to answer have been: how have the historical experiences such as the Tiananmen crisis, the further opening-up in 1992 or economic performance affected the political transition in Mainland China? What kind of internal determinants have played a crucial role in a venerable or peaceful succession? The major issue to discuss is how economic performance might challenge the issue of peaceful transition at the central level.

New Parties in Japan – In the Search of a “Third Pole” on the Political Scene

Author(s): Karol Żakowski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The main aim of this paper is to compare the political stances of the conservative parties established since 2005 and to analyze to what degree they can become an alternative to the LDP and DPJ. Although many Japanese people were disappointed with both major parties, under the current electoral system it was very difficult for smaller formations to become a credible “third pole” on the political scene. However, the parliamentary success of the JRA in the December 2012 election showed that under special conditions even smaller groups could challenge the domination of the two major parties.

Unconventional Monetary Policy in Japan: An Empirical Study on its Effectiveness

Author(s): Atsushi Tanaka / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This paper examined the unconventional monetary policy in Japan. Its features were examined, and then some possible routes of the transmission mechanism for the policy to aff ect real business activities were explored. The conventional routes are invalid since the call rate is at zero. The unconventional routes, the commitment effect and portfolio rebalance effect were examined; however, most of the past empirical studies show pessimistic results about these effects.

Didn’t it mean a thing fit ain’t got that swing? Swing Voters and Accountability Mechanism in the Japanese Lower House Election 2009

Author(s): Masahiro Yamada / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This paper investigates the democratic accountability mechanism. It is essential to democracy that voters are able to create a shift in national political power through an election when they are dissatisfied with the performance of the current government. The question is who can trigger such a shift in Japan’s 2009 LH election: knowledgeable or uninformed voters? Our result shows that swing voters are neither outstandingly knowledgeable nor ideal citizens. The study’s findings on political knowledge indicate that they are very ordinary people. On the other hand, the DPJ stayers in the study were more knowledgeable than average voters, and the LDP stayers and swing voters followed the DPJ stayers. Given the unpopularity of the cabinet at the time of the election, some people who regarded the DPJ as more capable of managing government swung from the LDP to the DPJ. Thus, swing voters in 2009 made the same voting choice as the DPJ stayers, who were the most politically knowledgeable. Should their decision be criticized, or did it make sense in terms of political knowledgeability?

Twitter and Local Political Candidates in Japan: An Analysis of the 2011 Osaka Prefectural Assembly Election

Author(s): Tetsukazu Okamoto / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This study analysed the factors that impact the adoption of Twitter by political candidates. The findings obtained do not necessarily support the normalization thesis; the affiliation with major parties only had a limited impact on the usage of Twitter, and the dominance of incumbents does not affect Twitter usage.

Definitions of financial stability

Author(s): Czesław Mesjasz,Wojciech Rogowski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The aim of the paper is to provide a preliminary answer to the following questions: 1. What are the theoretical and practical consequences of the absence of universally accepted definitions of financial stability? 2. What could be potential advantages to elaborate, if not a unique, so at least a limited number of widely accepted definitions of “financial stability” allowing to assess multiple aspects of functioning of various kinds of financial systems? 3. What should be the assumptions of such definitions?

Soft law as a factor stabilizing the financial system

Author(s): Emilia Klepczarek / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This paper aims to discuss the use of soft law as one of the factors stabilizing the financial system. The advantages and disadvantages of replacing traditional legal regulations with soft law regulations in certain areas of banking supervision will be presented. An attempt will be made to prove that soft law applied in financial supervision may not only increase the security of particular institutions, but also enhance their effectiveness and public confidence.

Determinants of corporate governance in banks

Author(s): Krzysztof Misiołek / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

In most cases, banks are large and organizationally complex corporations. Effective corporate governance in banks is the basis for achieving and maintaining public confidence in the banking system and constitutes a critical factor for the proper functioning of individual banks as well as the entire economic system.

Discursive Analysis of Auto/biographical Narratives: On the Basis of Prison Camp Literature

Author(s): Joanna Bielecka-Prus / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Identity and Dignity in Narrative Biographical Episodes of Contemporary Polish ‘Non-migrants’

Author(s): Rozalia Ligus / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Autobiographies of Macedonian Refugees

Author(s): Anna Kurpiel / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0