Authors: Gulcin Bilgin Turna, Bratislav Dordevic, Francesco Frangialli, Dionyssis Gangas, Rania Georgiadou, Willis Hughes, Vicky Katsoni, Gabriela Korcheva, Zeta Korda, Geogria Miloni, Savina Nedyalkova-Rupelieva, Dimitrios Rapidis 

Preface by: Zefi Dimadama

Managing Editor: Athina Korovesi

In its seventh year, the Symposium builds on the success and positive impact of its previous six editions to bring together the next generation of stakeholders with an interest in the Black Sea area, focusing on tourism, a cross-cutting sector of economy of the wider Black Sea region.

The tourism industry is considered of great importance in world economy. The Black Sea countries possess remarkable cultural and ethnic diversity, rich historical and architectural heritage and diverse natural resources, aspects which are blended over the millennia to shape unique communities, languages, religions and trades, namely a distinctive and attractive match to travelers.

Keeping in mind the importance of the matter and respecting the ambition of BSEC to encourage and strengthen the cooperation between the Black Countries in the field of Tourism, ICBSS would like to engage in the whole attempt the young professionals who show willingness to contribute and to be sincere, the responding was great.

The post Xenophon Paper No.14 appeared first on ICBSS - International Centre for Black Sea Studies.

Authors: Zefi Dimadama and Alexia Timotheou

This policy brief focuses on a case study. It is suggested that an environmental disaster during the summer of 2010 in the Black Sea region triggered in winter 2011 a food crisis in the Arab World; in turn, this led to massive riots, revolts, political instability, a NATO operation and, alas, an oil crisis that accentuates an already suffering global economy. Coextensively, it maybe suggested that an environmental crisis triggered a political crisis, which escalated in a series of conflicts that are of major concern for traditional security structures in Europe and beyond. In sum, the argument is made that as a result of this experience, the human security agenda must have a direct effect on our traditional security agenda. The question addressed at this point is how these interrelated chains of events affect the security establishment and our notions of a ‘high strategy.

The edition is available here.

The post Policy Brief n.21 appeared first on ICBSS - International Centre for Black Sea Studies.

Authors: Zefi Dimadama, Gulshan Pashayeva, Gulmira Rzayeva, Charalambos Pippos, Theodoros G.R. Tsakiris, Ramiz Rahmanov, Dimitris Papastefanakis, Christos Nychtis

Preface by: Zefi Dimadama and Gulshan Pashayeva

This latest Xenophon Paper Special Edition emanates from one of International Centre for Black Sea Studies’ (ICBSS) most important bilateral synergies, which has underlined the importance of the Center’s role as a mutually advantageous framework for the synthesis of ideas, the composition of policy proposals and the facilitation of scientific exchanges at the highest level. The paper at hand is the scientific offspring of a joint programme developed by the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS) and the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Azerbaijan (SAM) that underlined the significance of this joint Hellenic-Azeri Green Energy Forum.

The edition is available here.

The post Xenophon Paper No.10 appeared first on ICBSS - International Centre for Black Sea Studies.

Authors: Danae Bezantakou, Daria Catalui, Rumen Dobrinsky, Vasileios Kitsos, Andra-Lucia Martinescu, Aliki Mitsakos, Nato Mokverashvili, Samir Murshudov, Najiba Mustafayeva, Cristina Negoiescu, Maria Nicolaouova, Mirela Oprea, Todor Petrov, Rebecca Pitsika, Mariana Semenyshyn, Attiq Ur-Rehman, Anna Visvizi

Preface by: Zefi Dimadama

Managing Editor: Athina Korovesi

In 2013, the 6th ICBSS International Black Sea Symposium on “Empowering Civil Society in the Black Sea region: a tool for Innovative Social Change” addressed the developments in economy and society that demand the in-depth study of the modern reality and the formulation of strategic proposals, and introduced a new dimension, civil society, as key element to economic and social development. In this respect, the enhancement of social dialogue, consultation and consensus seems imperative. European Institutions, such as the European Economic and Social Committee, along with its national councils, seek to build a strong connection between civil society and EU bodies, aiming at institutionalising their cooperation and strengthening governance procedures.

The empowerment of civil society is a one-way street for the maximization of social benefits and the minimization of any negative impacts from top-down decision-making processes. Through new forms of partnerships, collaborative solutions, sharing of resources and responsibilities, we can strengthen citizens and communities and develop new models of associations and public governance.

The edition is available here.

The post Xenophon Paper No.13 appeared first on ICBSS - International Centre for Black Sea Studies.

Author: Tedo Japaridze

This ICBSS Policy Brief is not a standard article or some witty academic text. Its form or “genre” could be defined as some personal reflections or some inchoate notes on the margins or even a draft for some informal discussion. It is exclusively addressed to those who one way or other possibly may care about the current state or the perspectives of the Black Sea region in general or of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and its Related Bodies specifically. The regional policy-makers, the BSEC bureaucrats, the international experts, but first of all peoples of the wider Black Sea area have to know some details and nuances of the ongoing discourse within that vast space as well as in the BSEC or, for example, specifically at the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS) on the sensitive and delicate problems and issues that concern the Black Sea region. For example, due to the formally international status of the ICBSS, the aforementioned discourse is qualitatively unlike the discussions and debates at the formal gatherings of the BSEC. But the author’s goal is not to be too didactic or even somehow compulsive; he merely wishes to reflect in his personal capacity on some ideas that so many times have been vibrantly discussed and discerned in the BSEC community.

The edition is available here.

The post Policy Brief n.22 appeared first on ICBSS - International Centre for Black Sea Studies.

Author: Vladimer Papava

Preface by: Dimitrios Triantaphyllou

Despite the widely divergent economies of the countries of the Black Sea region in terms of structure and levels of development, a number of common challenges concern them as a whole. Among these, the global economic and financial crisis has deeply affected the region collectively and each country individually.

Written by Vladimer Papava, a well-known economist and policy practitioner, this Xenophon Paper touches upon the consequences of the crisis on the countries of the Black Sea region in a specific analytical framework. Based on his own “theory of necroeconomics,” Papava assesses, in the context of the ongoing crisis, the key economic obstacles that the countries of the region face in achieving sustainable economic development. His analysis is based on two economic phenomena: the “necroeconomy” and the “zombie-economy.” A “necroeconomy,” which is created by uncompetitive industries (the “necrocompanies”) that are remnants of the command economy, differentiates the economy of post-Communist capitalism from all other models of capitalism. In times of economic crisis, though,“necrocompanies” can also appear in developed economies, as “zombie-firms,” creating a “zombie-economy.

The edition is available here.

The post Xenophon Paper No.9 appeared first on ICBSS - International Centre for Black Sea Studies.

Authors: Eftychia Bakopoulou, Leonidas Chryssanthopoulos, Zefi Dimadama, Cameron Fraser, Tedo Japaridze, Andrey Kondakov, Spyros Kouvelis, Haydar Ozkan, Ioannis Stribis

Preface by: Zefi Dimadama

In the light of the 20th Anniversary of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC), the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS), as a BSEC related body and its acknowledged think tank, is taking the initiative, with this Xenophon Paper Anniversary Edition, to create a publication with the valuable contribution of experts and Heads of the Organization of the BSEC and its related bodies, based on the twofold concept of the role and the progress of the BSEC Organization and its related bodies and the new priorities of the Black Sea region.

The last twenty years, the Organization of the BSEC, as a multilateral economic initiative has managed to promote stability and prosperity among the Member States while encouraging and inspiring interaction and cooperation in the Black Sea region. Nevertheless, after these years of modest, yet incremental evolution of the Organization, several questions seem to remain unanswered.

The edition is available here.

The post Xenophon Paper No.12 appeared first on ICBSS - International Centre for Black Sea Studies.

Authors: Ilia Roubanis and Zefi Dimadama

This policy brief focuses on a case study. It is suggested that an environmental disaster during the summer of 2010 in the Black Sea region triggered in winter 2011 a food crisis in the Arab World; in turn, this led to massive riots, revolts, political instability, a NATO operation and, alas, an oil crisis that accentuates an already suffering global economy. Coextensively, it maybe suggested that an environmental crisis triggered a political crisis, which escalated in a series of conflicts that are of major concern for traditional security structures in Europe and beyond. In sum, the argument is made that as a result of this experience, the human security agenda must have a direct effect on our traditional security agenda. The question addressed at this point is how these interrelated chains of events affect the security establishment and our notions of a ‘high strategy.

The edition is available here.

The post Policy Brief n.23 appeared first on ICBSS - International Centre for Black Sea Studies.

Author: Fraser Cameron

Preface by: Dimitrios Triantaphyllou

Within an evolving world order, dominated by a number of actors that deploy their strategies in a variety of ways, the Central Asian region (i.e. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) retains the central premise of the Great Game – big powers exercising their influence over the region. Geographically situated between China, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan and the South Caucasus and rich in energy resources, the region is emerging as a critical geostrategic and geo-economic nexus between Russia, the European Union and its member states, the United States, and China.

In this context, Fraser Cameron, the author of this Xenophon Paper, sheds some light on the interaction between Russia and the European Union, suggesting that although the rivalry between the two sides is bound to continue, they are less likely to seriously collide over Central Asia. Overall, Fraser Cameron’s analysis highlights the relevance of the ever-growing agenda between Europe’s key players – the European Union and Russia – and the need to seriously assess its symbiotic nature as well as its potential for irreconcilable differences. If only for this, it merits serious consideration.

The edition is available here.

The post Xenophon Paper No.8 appeared first on ICBSS - International Centre for Black Sea Studies.

Authors: Panagiota Manoli and Stelios Stavridis

This Policy Brief looks into the prospects of a parliamentary dimension that would complement the Black Sea Synergy which is a newly formed policy of the European Union (EU) targeting the so-called wider Black Sea region. Though several expressions of Europe’s Eastern parliamentary dimension are presented, the paper examines in particular ways and means of a closer interaction between the European Parliament (EP) on the one hand, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) on the other hand, the latter being the only institutionalised parliamentary body in the wider Black Sea region.

The edition is available here.

The post Policy Brief n.9 appeared first on ICBSS - International Centre for Black Sea Studies.