Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025)

View Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46991/jia.2025.1.1
Published: 06.07.2025

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  • Articles

    Polarization, Transactionalism and Small States in the International System: Navigating a Fractured Order

    Rouben Azizian
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    Abstract

    It is widely recognized that the global order is undergoing significant strategic transformations. While these shifts are frequently attributed to heightened geopolitical competition, relatively less scholarly attention has been directed towards the internal dynamics within states, particularly the role of political polarization, in amplifying international tensions. Increasingly polarized domestic politics, coupled with nationalist orientations toward foreign policy, compromise bipartisan consensus and foster transactional, self-interested behavior in international relations. This paper examines the relationship between domestic political polarization and transactional approaches to foreign policy, focusing especially, though not exclusively, on the administration of US President Donald Trump. It explores how these tendencies undermine established international security norms, institutions, and mechanisms. Additionally, the article assesses current and anticipated responses from small states as they adapt to the profound transformations reshaping the international system.

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  • Articles

    The Renewed Impetus to the European Union Enlargement: An Opportunity for Closer Ties between the EU and Armenia

    Eduardo Garcia Cancela
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    Abstract

    Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has triggered a renewed impetus for the EU’s Enlargement Policy, which has acquired geopolitical significance with the unprecedented inclusion of three Eastern partners under this framework, together with the revitalization of negotiations with the Western Balkans. Following Aldecoa’s understanding of enlargement as a process that implies a restructuring of the EU’s political system, there is also a need to address internal reforms to accommodate this new wave of accession. The consideration of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine as candidate countries has changed the raison d’être of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). Originally conceived for states without clear prospects of EU integration, the ENP’s purpose has shifted, effectively opening the door for further integration of other Eastern Partnership countries into the European Union. In this context, Armenia is enhancing its relations with the EU, seeking closer integration, and even sparking debates in the country about formally requesting membership. Major challenges ahead may include the need to consolidate democracy, reverse its economic and military integration with Russia, and reach a peace agreement with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

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  • Articles

    Building Bridges: Kuwait’s Subtle Diplomacy and Humanitarian Soft Power in a Fractured Region

    Radhika Lakshminarayanan
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    Abstract

    Amidst the global transitions towards a multipolar order in the 21st century, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are emerging as a crucial regional bloc aiming for wider global relevance. Among these, Kuwait, despite being a ‘small state,’ has gained respect and stature through its diplomatic acumen, playing roles as a mediator and aid giver, while committing to multilateralism. This paper examines how Kuwait’s foreign policy posture has evolved within the region’s geopolitical structure, with a primary focus on its soft power projection through subtle diplomacy. Using a historical framework, this study highlights the emergence of Kuwait as a stabilizing actor amidst growing regional rivalries through a comparative analysis. The author concludes that despite internal structural constraints and geo-strategic external pressures, Kuwait’s nuanced foreign policy approach is a good example of how small-state diplomacy can shape larger regional dynamics. Thereby, this article contributes to a broader understanding of how small states exercise global agency in regions where great power competition and intra-regional rivalries intersect.

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  • Articles

    The Strategic Role of Central Asia in a Changing World Order: Resources, Logistics, and Competition

    Zhak Manukyan
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    Abstract

    The article examines the key geopolitical factors influencing the competitive geo-economic dynamics in Central Asia, with a particular focus on the roles and political priorities of external actors. Central Asia, with its key geographic position on the Eurasian continent, occupies a strategic position in the foreign policy agendas of Russia and China, driven by both security and economic considerations. The United States, the European Union (EU), and Turkey also maintain substantial engagement in the region. Hence, the article analyzes the policies of these external actors in Central Asia, highlighting how, in the context of an evolving global order, their approaches differ significantly and produce varied effects on the region’s political stability and developmental trajectories. In this context, the study examines how transport and logistics policies affect the foreign policies of Central Asian states and what strategic issues these states are trying to resolve by participating in regional and international transport routes. The article further addresses key aspects related to the region’s long-term geopolitical and geo-economic prospects. It also analyzes the degree of engagement by South Caucasus countries, especially Azerbaijan and Georgia, in Central Asia’s transport and logistics networks, along with the broader infrastructural linkages between the two regions.

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  • Articles

    Digital Inclusion VS Digital Sovereignty: RRI as a Platform for Integrating Ethics into Geopolitics

    Oleg Gurov
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    Abstract

    The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has intensified the global tension between digital inclusion, which advocates for equitable access to technology, and digital sovereignty, emphasizing national control over data and infrastructure. This article examines how Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) can reconcile these competing imperatives by embedding ethical principles, such as inclusivity, sustainability, precaution, and reflexivity, into technology governance. Through qualitative case studies in education (e.g., Kenya’s eLimu and India’s DIKSHA platforms) and healthcare (e.g., WHO’s pandemic data-sharing protocols), the study demonstrates that RRI fosters participatory design, balances sovereignty with global collaboration, and mitigates systemic biases. Findings reveal that rigid sovereignty policies often exacerbate inequalities, while RRI-driven frameworks enable marginalized communities to co-create solutions, ensuring culturally relevant and ethically aligned technologies. The analysis highlights RRI’s potential to transform geopolitical competition into equitable governance, advocating for its institutionalization through international mechanisms such as the UN’s Global Digital Compact. By prioritizing social justice, RRI redefines sovereignty as a stewardship obligation, ensuring AI development uplifts, rather than undermines, vulnerable populations. The article concludes that integrating RRI principles into both global and local agendas is crucial for dismantling digital hierarchies and promoting inclusive innovation. 

    References

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    Evans, Katie D., Scott A. Robbins, and Joanna J. Bryson. “Do We Collaborate with What We Design?” Topics in Cognitive Science 17, no. 2 (April 2025): 392–411. https://doi.org/10.1111/tops.12682.

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    Fratini, Samuele, Emmie Hine, Claudio Novelli, Huw Roberts, and Luciano Floridi. “Digital Sovereignty: A Descriptive Analysis and a Critical Evaluation of Existing Models.” Digital Society 3, no. 3 (December 2024): 59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44206-024-00146-7.

    Huang, Linus Ta-Lun, Gleb Papyshev, and James K. Wong. “Democratizing Value Alignment: From Authoritarian to Democratic AI Ethics.” AI and Ethics 5, no. 1 (February 2025): 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43681-024-00624-1.

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  • Articles

    The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on International Relations: Are Current Paradigms Still Relevant?

    Vrezh Kardumyan
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    Abstract

    This paper examines the increasing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on International Relations (IR), with a particular emphasis on its transformative impact across the political, economic, and military-security spheres. It critically examines various scientific and theoretical discourses that define AI, situating these debates within key international relations (IR) paradigms—realism, liberalism, neoliberalism, and constructivism. The study explores how AI is reshaping the global balance of power, accelerating arms races, and enabling new forms of cooperation, while also introducing complex legal, political, and ethical challenges, especially in the context of international humanitarian law. Special attention is paid to the implications of AI for foreign policy decision-making processes and how technological advancements are reshaping established practices and norms. Furthermore, the paper contrasts anthropocentric and technocentric approaches, evaluating whether traditional IR theories and methodologies are sufficient to interpret, explain, and analyze the profound geopolitical and geo-economic transformations induced by AI. Ultimately, it assesses the capacity of IR scholarship to understand the realities of an increasingly AI-driven international system.

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