Russias Foreign Policy towards Georgia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5750 words

Russias Foreign Policy towards Georgia - Essay Example If we should choose just one word that would most accurately describe Russian foreign policy, it would definetely be the word "pragmatic". In April 2005 while visiting Israel, Putin was asked if Russia is attempting to regain its status of global superpower, as it was as Soviet union during the Cold war era. Putin answered in a quite evasive manner, that the expenses required by such ambition would most certainly exceed the possible benefits from acquiring such position on the world scene, and he added that Russia already is a "great country" with important influence on the countries of the North and South hemisphere. The aspiration of becoming superpower again is not even explicitly declared in the basic foreign policy document we have already mentioned. Not only does it recede from such foreign aspirations, it also lacks the term "superpower" in its provisions, as this is not being used at all. In particular, it states almost the opposite that Russia attempts to become part of the multipolar system of international relations that truly reflects the diversity of modern world and the multiplicity of interest within its policies and needs (Arbatov 311). Still, it is evident that what is Russia really trying the achieve is the status of world superpower, different from the type of superpower Soviet union once was and achieved by different means. Soviet union was the superpower based on ideological antagonism to its Cold war rival the USA, or the West in general. On the contrary, modern Russian federation is certainly not interested in polarizing the world ideologically. Putins answer he provided during his Israel visit referred to the fact, that the role of superpower in effect paradoxically contributed to the fall of Soviet empire, which had global political influence, but paid a great price for only a little political or military gains, with no allies worth and efficiently strong. Russia chose a different way of declaring such ambitions that have always been an integral and essential part of its foreign policy. The foreign policy objective currently manifested by Russia, especially after events in Georgia in summer of 2008, is to resist the hegemony of the West, especially USA and EU, and the way they use, or even abuse, their post-Cold war power in the international political system and relations. The key instrument for the erosion the the Western hegemony (as Russia understands the situation in international relations) is not the composition of a solid "pact" of the states uncompromisingly opposing the West, but rather some coalition of states based on the pragmatic and nonideological relations, primarily on economic and military ties (Bobo Lo 163). This is undoubtedly the main reason why Russia preserves a very good relations with "potential superpowers" such as China, India and Brasil. Simultaneously, Russia is building a close ties

Business Proposal - Center Parcs UK - Market Anaylsis Essay

Business Proposal - Center Parcs UK - Market Anaylsis - Essay Example Reference can be made, for example, to the status of organic food market in UK, as compared with the relevant markets of Germany and France, for the years from 2006 to 2009 (Figure 1 below). Figure 1 – Organic food market in UK, from 2006 to 2009 (Padel 2011, p.4) In a report published in 2012 it is explained that organic food industry in UK has been reduced by an average percentage of 5.5% for the years from 2008 to 2013 (IBIS World 2012). It is also noted that among the supermarkets that provide to the public organic food, John Lewis has the first position and Sainsbury’s is positioned as second (IBIS World 2012). At this point, it should be noted that the global organic food industry has achieved a significant growth in the international market; in 2010, the growth of the organic food industry internationally has reached a percentage of 8.8% (Soil Association 2012), in opposition with UK where the specific sector shows signs of continuous decline, as described above. 1.2. Competitor analysis Organic food market in UK is promoted through businesses of different types. ... ce should be made here to the potential of consumers to buy organic foods of various types in street markets, in those regions that such option is available. Figure 3 – Organic food market structure in UK (Source Organic Monitor 2009, p.18) On the other hand, it seems that the competition in the particular industry is rather strong; still, there is chance for new entrants. The major competitors in the UK organic food industry are presented in Figure 4, below. It is clear that there is space for new entrants, especially in regard to the indirect provision of organic food, as in the case of CenterParcs, a firm that aims to develop an organic food restaurant. Figure 4 – Major competitors in the UK organic food industry (Organic Monitor 2009, p.19) 1.3. Consumers 1.3.1. Consumer behaviour The support of consumers in UK towards the organic food market seems to be rather instable. In 2008, as recession appeared, the sales of organic food started to decline (The Guardian 2008, in Padel 2011, p.6). In an extended survey published in the newspaper The Times one year after, i.e. in 2009, a similar trend was reported (Padel 2011, p.6). It was clear, up to then, that consumers in UK had started to re-examine the necessity and the value of organic food (Padel 2011, p.6). It should be noted though that for consumers the origin of organic food seems to be of critical importance; in a survey developed in 2009, 64% of participants stated that they prefer ‘organic products produced locally’ (Padel 2011, p.11), compared to those originated from another country. According to the above findings, skepticism has been developed by consumers in the UK market in regard to organic food products. The firm that will manage to capture the actual consumer preferences in regard to consumer