"Us meeting within the framework of this event – it is only the beginning of our cooperation. We will continue our communication even outside the expert discussions to be held within the Youth Session and, following further research, we will present to you a brand new scientific project by the end of 2022. I am certain that the dialogue will be both fulfilling and equal" – added Victoria when addressing and welcoming the participants.
Over the years, the competition to partake in the Youth Session has only been growing, much like the quality of the research papers submitted by the Russian and foreign applicants, added Alexey Davydov, Cand.of Sciences (Politics), Research Fellow of the Center for North American Studies of the IMEMO, Deputy Chief of the Council of Young Scientists and Specialists of the IMEMO. On behalf of the Council, he also expressed readiness for further cooperation with all the participants of the project.
The first panel of the Youth Session was dedicated to the current European Security Architecture crisis. The Director of the IMEMO Feodor Voitolovsky has analyzed the history and logic of the European Security concepts’ development having pointed out the discretion of the term itself. The first understanding of European Security is based on the balance of powers concept defined by the Helsinki Accords after the Second World War that imply that the interests of all European countries be considered equally. The Atlantist understanding is non-inclusive and suggests that only the security of the countries united by the shared values, institutions, and approaches must be ensured.
The third understanding of the concept, according to the expert, lies within the search for a new balance of powers and interests in compliance with contemporary reality. That said, all the suggestions made by Russia in this regard were neglected by the West.
The IMEMO Director has also underlined that today we are witnessing the process of establishing a new axis system and the rules of a new world order. «The parties to the ongoing rivalry use various measures to pressure the opponent; particularly they use economic instruments as means of enforcement. But once the risks become unacceptable for both sides, we will sit down and negotiate», – concluded Feodor Voitolovsky.
"The crisis is different from your usual situation in that the solutions that had been planned in advance now begin to come into force. The arms systems created during the peacetime become a source for conflict dynamics. The politicians are being pressured by the force potentials and the opportunity of using them. Meanwhile, the military are pushing them in that direction."
The expert has outlined the specific threats that both the Global and Regional Security Architectures are facing now:
The presentations by speakers were followed by an expert discussion on the topic «Technological Development and the New Global Challenges».
According to him, technology has always been viewed as a strategic state resource, in pursuit of which the politicians often forget to resolve imperative issues. "We live in an era when future comes to life, whereas the global elites have shaped a rather strange tendency: there is an evident substitution of the logic of development by the logic of “technologization”. That happens when you wait for a technology to appear and resolve a problem for you, much like a goldfish, instead of actually looking for a solution", – he added in conclusion.
"The most technological branches of the industry – microelectronics, IT , and biotech – spend approximately 20% of their income on science. The middle-ranking ones are the aerospace, defense industry, and, partially, car manufacturing. The older ones are farming and agriculture: here all the innovation is mainly concentrated in the hands of small companies rather than big corporations."
The speaker has also highlighted some aspects of technological companies development in the context of globalization.
We would like to remind you that the 5th Youth Session is held by the Primakov Center for International Cooperation along with the Council of Young Scientists and Specialists of the IMEMO and supported by the Russian Presidential Grants Foundation. Young scientists from Russia, FSU and beyond are taking part in the Youth Session. Following the discussions within the expert panels, the participants got the chance to present the results of their own research on the topics placed on the agenda. The business program is to continue tomorrow, June 29. Stay tuned.