Story from Mokhinur Abduhalilova

Closeup headshot of a young Central Asian woman with black hair and black eyes and a purple sweater over her collared shirt. She's wearing medals on her breast.
Mokhinur Abduhalilova

BENEFIT OF THE BOOK

A 15-year-old boy named Omadbek lived in the outskirts of the village, in an ordinary family, in a house with walls divided from the bottom.

Jamshid is from a rich family which gives all comforts for him. However, he was not a boy who is interested in studying at all, he may be seen sometimes at school, much time was absent. He is really keen on playing the phone all time. He has even his own personal smartphone. Omadbek is one of the children who are disabled. He didn’t have both hands. He lives alone with his mother in a small house in hard days Omadbek’s dad died when he was too young. He cannot remember that person. One day he came up with something that no one had thought of before. He searched and tried all the day and night to realize this idea. while his friend, Jamshid was addicted to the phone every day. Finally plan came to the light. He created special prosthetic hands for himself. Now Omadbek can write with his hands and do his work with his hands himself. Before, he used to do the work with his feet, not with arms.

When his mother saw this situation, she was really delighted and happy, moreover, she couldn’t stop herself from tears of love. Today, Omadbek’s dreams came true. He goes to school the first time. Because before he was one of the only students who do not attend to school. When he stepped on the threshold of the school, he felt a kind of excitement inside him. Then the lesson began. Life was full of possibilities while Jamshid was playing his phone in the same class.

After the lesson had finished, Omadbek went to the near of Jamshid’s desk. He said “why are you are playing on the phone?” Jamshid continued to play on the phone and did not pay attention to him. One day, Omadbek participated in the Science Olympiade and won the 1st place, and the latest model phone was as a gift. After knowing about this, Jamshid went to Omadbek and said, “Let me see your phone.” He handed the phone to him saying, “Okay”. “Omadbek, let’s play together your phone”. Omadbek replied that he would give this phone to her mum. Jamshid’s face turned red. He asked how he can achieve such an achievement like his friend. Omadbek replied: 

–My friend, it’s easy, let’s prepare and get ready together.

Time has passed. Both Omadbek and Jamshid participated in the Science Olympiade. Jamshid was waiting for the result of the competition. After some time, both of them heard the news that they got the 1st place, they achieved this success together. Jamshid stopped playing the phone and started reading diverse books. Jamshid thanked Omadbek for bringing him back from this path. 

Now the two friends are among the best students in the school. The benefit of the story is that the book is always good. Let there be more people like Omadbek among us.

Poetry from Anshi Purohit

On the Dilating Pupils of Heroes

I know your titles are passive and distanced from your being,
but I am awake and observe while the rumor spreads

The rumor begins: they cannot sleep at night,
their pupils dilating as they toss and turn,
sheets pulled over contorting bodies
too similar to bloated dead men floating down thick rivers,
history hates them more than death despises their lovers

If I look into your eyes,
what will I see, what should I see-
will you be surprised? if I unwind the spools in your pupils,
lay them face up on your office desk like a deck of cards?
No, I will triumph, you do not wear contacts

Even if you did, I would still see the stratus clouds embedded like-
secret crystals reflected through refracted prisms in your smile
The rumor continues: they dream like they are freefalling,
dragging their tender limbs along the clay packed Earth like-
crooked dandelions wresting free of their seeds

The rumor concludes while I collect your thoughts,
in a paper bag and a star sleeps on cold cement steps
in a city that wishes to entomb its light,
 darkened in the shadow of a new becoming,
a new brilliance to step over its place
Of course, you have scarred eyes, nuanced sight

When the light leaks from your irises I search for a tissue but,
someone tells me to grab a canvas instead

Poetry from Damilola Oyedeji

Tiny Rods
After Jumoke Verrisimo 

Rain wraps eager souls in a damp embrace,
quells the perturbing mind and shuts weary eyelids close.

Rain calls to the pictures behind shut lids
& wipes them off like cleaning swipes.

Rain whispers loudly salvation songs;
“a mouth must muse melodies of fortune.”

Rain summons me to a realm where my limbs can imitate his-
insistent ardour, like a drummer’s fingers tickling over *gbedu.

Rain calls upon the east and asks the west to sit still,
forces me to repose though any boisterous force.

Whether here and there it pulls, whether piercing into a scream,
rain nudges on my heart a salvation song.

Yea, if I tilt my face to the raptures of splattering rain, 
each drop will come to me hastily as tiny wise bulbs. 

* A percussion instrument traditionally used in ceremonial Yoruba music in Nigeria.





#Memory is how What is Left Unsaid is Said

we stepped forward but 
twice you reclined & we faded
like a passing wave/ 
like two ends of a scarlet, now-
clothesline apart. 

#I remember the way you smiled in my face; 
how creamy bulbs of pictures held the day in them, 
in you, I saw a me I didn't know &
this was the first evening I knew you were a beautiful…

did you say we shouldn't be strangers? But
 we can never be 'knowers' either/ maybe 
our memories are too seeped 
in red/ each film vivid still/ 
even as one, two, three, we count in many…

#I remember the warmth of you beside me, 
the scents and sweat after each race with a ruby rubber roll, 
I wished I could press my head on your taut back, 
this was the first evening I knew you were a pleasant…

I have you hinged on my memory's (ies) hints/ 
you have written your name with ruby ink/ 
on the face of time/ like 
a tombstone/ 
here lies the adoration that never was/ 
should the moon forget to smile/ another show of broken bravado I despise…

#I remember the letter that had your heart, 
each word kneaded by the same reason for 
a girl to jump at night,
 & a blazing fire that lit throes of passion,
 this was the first evening I knew you were a love…

even this night/ there is no peace that comes with it
you are a dark ink splattered on the sky/ my sky/ 
you are the sound of grief/ the tune of pain from a fluter’s flute/ 
you are a vicious remedy; a painful cure to all joy/ 
this flowing sea can see…

#I remember the times you owned me as a writer owns his thoughts,
you wrote the world to a stop, asked it to bow at your pen,
 tradition is but a worship of the dead, 
this was the first evening I knew you were a happy…

you said we shouldn't be strangers/ when time 
sojourns against us/ but haven't you said our love 
hangs on the sky; a star unreachable &
that your heart is a coin?
I can never be the head nor the tail/ & I will never…

again, the night you broke the mirror-
it was at midnight, the sun was sorely in slumber
the birds- corpses of the night 
& the stars cheered in silence 
you became my silent song & I became a distant merry rhyme. 
this was the first time I knew you were a painful…

a lover isn't buried too soon in the hades of memories/ 
this heart cannot call you a stranger/ but 
when my lips seek to muster the memories of passions had/ 
you cease from being a friend/ because 
my heart may turn into a racing car/ & my belly- a blooming garden/ 
even if I tried.

 these creamy bulbs must now close
 the warmth must be put off
 the words must be rubbed out
 the songs must embrace stilled lips
 this is the story of you 
and I- who are 
neither lovers
 nor strangers
 nor friends
 nor foes…


Damilola Oyedeji (Ariella) is an educationist, a creative writer, and an advocate for self-discovery and inclusion. As a poet, she has learned to navigate life through hope’s compass. This is evident in the thematic focus of her works. She is currently a fellow of the SprinNG Writing Fellowship.

Essay from Mukhlisa Safarova

Establishment and importance of the European concert in maintaining balance of power and stability among major European nations.


Key words: Balance of power theory, international relations, European concert, power distribution, stability, conflict prevention, ancient Greece, Peloponnesian War, Europe, alliances, Napoleonic Wars, World War I, Cold War, United States, Soviet Union, Asia-Pacific region, China, Middle East, arms race, power transitions, policymakers, diplomats.


   The thesis of this article is that the balance of power theory has played a significant role in shaping international relations by highlighting the importance of power distribution for stability and conflict prevention. This theory has its roots in ancient Greece, particularly the Peloponnesian War, and has been applied to various regions and historical periods, including Europe during the Napoleonic Wars and World War I, the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union, and the current dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region, China, and the Middle East. Policymakers and diplomats continue to use this theory to navigate power transitions and prevent arms races that could lead to instability and conflict.


      The balance of power theory  is a concept that has been central to international relations for centuries. It refers to the idea that in order to maintain stability and prevent conflict, power must be distributed equally among states. This theory has been applied throughout history and has had a significant impact on the way countries interact with one another.
     The origins of the balance of power theory can be traced back to ancient Greece, where the city-states of Athens and Sparta engaged in a long and bitter struggle for dominance. The Peloponnesian War, which lasted from 431-404 BCE, demonstrated the importance of balancing power between states in order to prevent one from becoming too dominant.

     In the 17th and 18th centuries, Europe was characterized by a complex system of alliances and rivalries, with each country vying for power and influence. The balance of power theory was used to maintain stability and prevent any one country from becoming too powerful. This led to a series of wars and conflicts, including the Napoleonic Wars  and World War I .
     The European concert was established in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, with the aim of maintaining balance of power among the major European nations. This principle was central to the system, as it sought to prevent any one nation from becoming too dominant and thus destabilizing the region. Regular diplomatic conferences and negotiations were held among the major powers, including Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, to resolve conflicts and maintain stability. The Congress of Vienna in 1815 was a notable example of this cooperation, as it aimed to redraw the map of Europe and establish a framework for future cooperation. Despite criticism for being too focused on the interests of major powers and ignoring smaller nations, the European concert has had a lasting impact on international relations and continues to serve as a model for promoting peace and cooperation through diplomatic means.

     The European concert was a system of diplomacy and cooperation among major European powers in the 19th century. It was established in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, which had destabilized Europe and led to the rise of new powers such as Prussia and Russia. The purpose of the concert was to maintain a balance of power among these nations and prevent any one country from dominating the continent.
     The concert was based on the principle of collective security , which meant that the major powers would work together to resolve conflicts and maintain peace. This was achieved through regular meetings and negotiations among the foreign ministers of the participating countries. The concert was not a formal institution, but rather a loose framework for cooperation and consultation.

    One of the key achievements of the European concert was the settlement of major crises such as the Greek War of Independence (1821-1832) and the Belgian Revolution (1830-1831). In both cases, the major powers worked together to find a peaceful solution that satisfied all parties. This helped to prevent wider conflicts and maintain stability in Europe.
     Another important aspect of the concert was its role in preventing wars between major powers. For example, during the Crimean War (1853-1856), the concert worked to contain the conflict and prevent it from spreading beyond the Black Sea region. This helped to avoid a wider war that could have involved other European powers.

      The European concert was also important in shaping the international system of the 19th century. It provided a model for other regions, such as Latin America, where similar systems of cooperation were established. It also influenced the development of international law and institutions, such as the Hague Conventions  and the League of Nations.
     During the Cold War era, the balance of power theory played a crucial role in maintaining stability between the United States and the Soviet Union. The two superpowers engaged in a global struggle for influence and power, but were ultimately prevented from engaging in direct conflict due to the fear of mutually assured destruction.

     The balance of power theory suggests that states will act to prevent any other state from becoming too powerful, and that they will form alliances and engage in other forms of cooperation to achieve this goal. This can lead to a situation where multiple states have roughly equal power, and where no one state is able to dominate the others. This balance of power can be achieved through a variety of means, including military alliances, economic cooperation, and diplomatic negotiations.
    One of the key benefits of the balance of power theory is that it can help to prevent conflicts between states. If no single state is able to dominate the others, then there is less incentive for any one state to engage in aggressive behavior or to seek territorial expansion. Instead, states are more likely to focus on maintaining their own security and prosperity, while also working to maintain the overall stability of the international system.

      However, the balance of power theory is not without its limitations. One of the main criticisms of this approach is that it can lead to a situation where states are constantly jockeying for position and seeking to maintain their own power at the expense of others. This can create a tense and unstable environment, where even small changes in the balance of power can lead to conflict.
     Another criticism of the balance of power theory is that it assumes that all states are rational actors who are primarily motivated by self-interest. In reality, states are often influenced by a wide range of factors, including ideology, culture, and history. This can make it difficult to predict how states will behave in any given situation, and can make it challenging to maintain a stable balance of power over the long term.

    Despite these limitations, the balance of power theory remains an important concept in international relations. By understanding how states interact with one another and how they seek to maintain their own security and prosperity, we can gain a better understanding of the complex dynamics that shape the international system. Whether through military alliances, economic cooperation, or diplomatic negotiations, the balance of power theory provides a framework for understanding how states can work together to achieve common goals and maintain peace and stability in the world.
    Today, the balance of power theory continues to be relevant in international relations. In the Asia-Pacific region , China's rise as a global superpower has led to concerns about the distribution of power in the region. The Middle East  has also been characterized by a complex web of alliances and rivalries, with each country seeking to maintain its own sphere of influence.

     The implications of the balance of power theory for international relations are significant. Maintaining a balance of power can help to prevent conflict and promote stability, but it can also lead to a dangerous arms race and increased tensions between states. Power transitions can also be destabilizing, as rising powers seek to challenge established ones.
    In conclusion, the balance of power theory has been a central concept in international relations for centuries. It has been applied throughout history and continues to be relevant today. While it can help to promote stability and prevent conflict, it also has its limitations and can lead to dangerous arms races and increased tensions between states. As such, policymakers and diplomats must carefully consider the implications of the balance of power theory when making decisions about foreign policy and international relations.



References 

1.Kissinger, H. (1994). Diplomacy. Simon and Schuster.

2.Thucydides. (1996). The History of the Peloponnesian War. Penguin Classics.

Safarova Mukhlisa Fakhriddin Kizi, The University of World Economy and Diplomacy, International relations faculty, second course student

Poetry from Patrick Sweeney

the escape velocity of panicked sparrows




nearly all of me sitting with the sunny low-hop clover 




how the green of the forest waits 




a tall man standing in a field of radiant canola flowers




the deep night loss of hard geometries




cosmos dizzy with raindrops and breezes




out of the sun beneath the pines a change of scent




one less croquet player today




getting didactic with the pigeons in Takinosawa Park




a praying mantis born with her dukes up




the farmer's hands on his hips stretching back




apple blossoms eloping with the breeze




another boy has discovered a rainbow in an oil slick




back up pen after back up pen my arithmomania



Essay from Fotima Sayfullayeva

Humanity is created in such a way that self-awareness is the first priority for it. A person is an individual at birth. Later, he gradually overcomes the trials of life and reaches the level of a mature and mature person. As we mentioned above, a person must first understand his identity and learn about himself. We know that every human being has an "I". I want to talk about my "I" today. Before that, "What kind of person am I?" everyone should ask themselves that question. I judge my humanity by my behavior. Like everyone else, I have flaws and shortcomings. No one is perfect in this world. Perfection belongs only to the Creator. I don't want to praise myself. Because there are opinions among the people that you should not talk about yourself, let others talk about you.

I am very gullible. I believe in people as much as I believe in myself, and for this I have been criticized many times. I am capricious, capricious, very demanding of myself and others. My capriciousness and capriciousness must be related to my temperament. Our teacher says: "The temperament and character of people cannot be changed." Maybe that's why people around me are not able to change this character trait of mine?!

I think that people around me are sincere, as I imagine them to be. But they are not what I thought. They came one day and took off the mask from their faces and left an indelible wound in my heart with the hypocrisy of those I loved. Life is like that... People treat you well only for their own benefit. When the time comes, even your close relatives will not see your achievements.