Journal of European Studies (JES)

January - June 2024

2024-07-04T06:02:20+00:00

Dawn, Twilight, and Dusk of Beginnings in Greek Mythology and Philosophy

2024-07-03T07:46:33+00:00

A select few of “beginnings” among the Greeks are Homer’s “Oceanus”, Hesiod’s “Chaos”, Anaximander’s “Boundless”, Parmenides’ “Being”, Plato’s “Form of the Good” and Aristotle’s “Contemplation”. Sequentially capturing an account of various beginnings in Greek mythology and philosophy, this article opens with Homer’s “Oceanus”, an elemental water-based beginning, and reaches its closing stage in Aristotle’s “Contemplation”, a conceptual beginning. Mythological beginnings of Homer and Hesiod have the characteristic of birth, philosophical beginnings of Plato and Aristotle, have the characteristic of causality, while the pre-Socratic beginnings of Anaximander and Parmenides hold a unique place of their own - they seem to be a likeness of both yet at the same time are discernable from them. This article is structured in three sections: after a brief introduction distinguishing mythology from philosophy, a description of Greek beginnings in mythology and philosophy is given in sequential pairs i.e. Homer/Hesiod, Anaximander/Parmenides and Plato/Aristotle. Finally, the conclusion presents the significance of sequentially capturing Greek beginnings in the metaphor of “dawn, twilight and dusk” which exhausts what they considered as visible and expressible.

The Russian Language and Workers from Central Asia Migrating to Russia

2024-07-03T09:12:34+00:00

This paper reviews historical, economic and social reasons for working people to migrate from five Central Asian Republics (CARs) to Russia in the early 21st Century. Relationships between Russia and the five Central Asian States changed dramatically after the USSR collapse and in the ensuing three decades, large numbers of workers from Central Asia migrated to Russia. It became imperative for migrating workers to learn Russian to mingle socially and gain economic benefits. Russian-speaking workers amalgamated well in Russia and their remittances improved the GDPs of their home states. However, with greater numbers of migrating workers, Russia imposed new migration laws that required better competence in Russian, which resulted in new difficulties and challenges for migrants and those who aspired to move to Russia for work.

Cultural Debate in the 21st Century on Declining Multiculturalism in Europe

2024-07-03T09:43:20+00:00

This article examines the evolving dynamics of cultural cohesion and conflict within the context of three intersecting theoretical frameworks: the decline of multiculturalism, the resurgence of asabiyyah, and the predicted clashes of civilizations. In recent years, multicultural policies, which aim to promote universal harmonious coexistence among diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural groups, have faced significant challenges. These challenges have sparked a debate over whether such policies have inadvertently assisted deeper divisions rather than integration, leading to a perceived collapse in their efficacy. This article intends to explore how the revival of strong group identities and the tensions intensified by struggling multicultural policies might steer the global community toward Huntington’s predicted clashes among the civilizations. Through an analysis of recent international events, sociological theory, and demographic trends, it is an attempt to provide an understanding of how current global conflicts and cultural policies might be realigning to fit Huntington’s and Khaldun’s visions, offering insights into potential pathways toward mitigating these deep-seated conflicts and boosting a more cohesive global society.

The Political and Economic Dynamics of EU-China Relations: An Analysis

2024-07-03T09:48:45+00:00

Political and trade dialogues (1994) between China (Sino) and the European Union (EU) to establish a comprehensive Beijing-Brussels partnership (1995) began at the end of the Cold War with their summit-level meetings in 1998. This politico-economic partnership was founded within divergent historical, sociopolitical and ideological contexts. For example, the EU, a member of the Western Block and a strategic ally of the United States, was very different from China which stood alone as a populous country of the Eastern world with industrial and financial muscle. Despite these differences, the EU upholds Sino-EU partnership which is needed to survive with engagement, especially when politically adverse circumstances arise for the two entities at global stage. China, on the other hand, believes ties with the EU can last because it has invested in neoliberal economic principles that emerged after Mao’s (1970-80) communism. These factors have played a pivotal role in holding and shaping the Sino-EU partnership for global collaboration, which the two entities believe will take them into the future.

Global Power Transition: Where do Major European States Stand?

2024-07-03T09:52:59+00:00

This paper focuses on the actors in the new emerging Cold War. In the last century, the world was experiencing a phase of geopolitical rivalry between two major powers, commonly referred to as the Cold War. After surviving fifty years of proxy warfare, sanctions, arms race, and security concerns between the two dominant worldwide factions, the struggle finally came to an end. The USA exerted significant influence over the western bloc, while the Soviet Union dominated the eastern bloc. The global geopolitical scenario has seen substantial transformations in the twenty-first century. The global landscape has shifted towards a multipolar configuration, resulting in conflicts that have highly unorthodox characteristics. China, being a major player, actively engages in world politics and is enjoying a fair share in a market economy and the development of infrastructure. Amid the ongoing global quest for dominance, Europe is experiencing an emergence of new dynamics, each with its unique alliances and ideas. This article aims to analyze the potential for collaboration and conflict between the major players in the emerging global power transition during the early stages of this Cold War.

Editor's Note

2024-07-03T10:07:35+00:00

European Commission

2024-07-04T07:28:15+00:00

Jamie Freeman, From German Konigsberg to Soviet Kaliningrad: Appropriating Place and Constructing Identity, Routledge, 2021

2024-07-04T05:59:02+00:00