In September, the scientific journals Linguistica Uralica, Oil Shale, Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and TRAMES were published.
LINGUISTICA URALICA
The Samoyedic branch of Uralic is traditionally seen as the first branch to split off from Uralic, the rest developing further as Finno-Ugric. Common Finno-Ugric innovations not present in Samoyedic, however, have been a matter of debate. In his article ‘Samoyedic vowel sequences and the status of the cluster *lk in Uralic’ in the present issue of Linguistica Uralica, Juha Janhunen shows how the Finno-Ugric cognates of Samoyedic *tuəy ‘feather, wing’ and *peəy > *piəy ‘outer space; thumb’, *tul-ka and *pel-kä, may be analysed as containing a derivational suffix *-kA, which may count as a Finno-Ugric innovation. In taking up the problem of the representation of the Finno-Ugric cluster *lk in Samoyedic and its possible connection with Proto-Samoyedic vowel sequences, the article is rich in lexical comparisons on an up-to-date level of etymological research. The author concludes that Samoyedic was indeed the first branch to separate from Proto-Uralic.
OIL SHALE
The new issue of Oil Shale contains four articles – three by Chinese authors and one by Estonian researchers.
The Estonian scientists’ article, ‘Trace elements in oil shale ashes and waste wood ashes and their leachability with a focus on chromium’, presents research results on the leaching behaviour of several trace elements from oil shale ash, demolition wood ash, and their mixtures, with a focus on chromium. The study examines in particular the occurrence, mobility, and oxidation state of chromium in leachates, using the mentioned ashes as examples. An important finding is that the release and concentration of chromium in the leachate increase significantly with a higher proportion of wood waste ash, compared to experiments conducted with 100% oil shale ash. Consequently, the concentration of chromium in surface water, depending on the ratio of oil shale to wood waste used in co-combustion, can easily exceed the nationally permitted limit value.
Of particular interest is the article by Chinese researchers, ‘Comprehensive utilization of oil shale: a minireview’. This minireview evaluates the comprehensive utilisation of oil shale, focusing on its entire life cycle – from mining to energy production, as well as the management and further use of abandoned mines – to achieve greater economic and environmental benefits.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ESTONIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
The September issue of Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences contains a selection of insightful works from the international conference ‘Empowerment of Public Health, Health Care and Well-Being – Education, Research, and Practice’, held on 6–7 November 2024 in Tallinn, Estonia, under the auspices of Tallinn Health University of Applied Sciences.
The issue serves as an academic reflection and extension of the conference’s vibrant discussions, featuring research articles that span themes of health promotion, education, innovative practice, and community well-being. Each contribution embodies the conference’s aim to empower public health through interdisciplinary collaboration and applied research.
By publishing these papers, the current issue not only preserves the intellectual momentum generated at the conference but also amplifies its impact within the broader scientific and academic community.
We hope that the September issue offers enjoyable and inspiring reading, provides valuable insights and points for discussion, and enriches research while sparking new ideas.
TRAMES. A JOURNAL OF THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
The current Trames can almost be regarded as a special issue of geopolitics, with topics located on Zbigniew Brzezinski’s Grand Chessboard of big powers. The last article is indirectly connected with the grand chessboard, philosophically tackling the destiny of humankind in Anthropocene with great externality.
In the first article, the Czech scholars Tomáš Zwiefelhofer and Josef Procházka (Masaryk University) analyse the development of the reserve forces on the example of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania at the forefront of NATO. They compare defence strategies of the three countries, focusing on the development of reserve forces as a response to Russia’s heightened security threats. Estonia’s continuous conscription model, Latvia’s recent reintroduction of conscription and Lithuania’s hybrid reserve strategy emphasise the total defence model, integrating society-wide participation in national defence. The results show that these models adapted to suit the Baltic context improve military readiness, recruitment and societal resilience. The research provides critical insight for NATO members and similar states, highlighting the role of adaptable, comprehensive defence frameworks amid growing geopolitical tensions.
From the perspective of China, researchers Junaid Ali and Ren Mu from China and Muhammad Yaqub from Pakistan examine the changing global geopolitical landscape in the strategic triangle of China, Russia and the USA. They attempt to explain how China’s ascent and Russia’s return influence the USA’s strategic reaction in this mutually dependent triangle. They posit a ‘dual-containment paradox’ where the USA tries simultaneously to restrain both China and Russia, which inadvertently strengthens their alignment and intensifies competition. Russia’s revisionist course exploits tensions between China and the USA, encouraging China-Russia cooperation in the fields of economy and diplomacy. The actions of the USA drive their convergence instead of isolation, thus increasing their counterweight to America. The conclusion is that in the triad dynamics, multipolarity self-sustains. In such global order, constant but limited competition prevails, and each power’s moves reshape the fragile balance of the triangle.
Chinese researchers Hussain Ali and Xiaolong Zou take a critical look at Russia’s role in Pakistan’s counterterrorism fight in connection with security threats in South and Central Asia. Extremist groups such as the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and the Islamic State Khorasan Province in Afghanistan (ISKP) pose a direct threat to Russia’s interests. To combat the danger, both states work via programmes that include mutual intelligence sharing, military alliance and diplomatic defence arrangements. The article gives an overview of the history of Pakistan-Russia diplomacy and examines today’s practical cooperation that helped to overcome their earlier Cold War animosities. Using a geopolitical angle, this evaluation considers Russia’s importance in Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts, conditions influencing regional stability and peace, historical ties between the USA and Pakistan, and Russia-India ties. The research shows that Russia’s strengthening alliance with Pakistan in fighting terrorism has an impact across the entire South Asia.
Kuang-Ho Yeh from Japan and Guihua Ni from Hong Kong analyse the security of Central Asia’s critical mineral supply chains. Central Asia, endowed with substantial critical mineral reserves and situated at the crossroads of strategic transit routes, occupies a pivotal role in the evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape. Supply chains, however, are increasingly exposed to security risks that span multiple levels, dimensions and different actors within and beyond the region, thus shaping a critical mineral supply chain security complex. The analysis identifies critical structural limitations, including internal vulnerabilities and external dependencies, and proposes policy recommendations to strengthen Central Asia’s strategic position. These include formulating harmonised standards, integrating resource complementarity and mitigating adverse geopolitical pressures of power politics on supply chain security.
Mauricio Gallardo from Chile is trying to rethink customs in the Anthropocene with its unlimited desires to produce and consume. For him, the Anthropocene is not only a geological concept, but also an epistemological and ethical category that addresses a civilisational challenge. The author claims that homo economicus – the dominant figure in classical economics – is the anthropos that has triggered the Anthropocene, guided by desires to produce and consume. The Anthropocene is seen as a ‘great externality’, resulting from consumer cognitive incompetence and a growth paradigm incompatible with planetary boundaries. Responding to this Anthropocene challenge requires a radical transformation in customs and worldviews – a paradigm shift from homo economicus to homo ecologicus. Relying on critical hermeneutics, the author examines this transformation as both a philosophical imperative and a civilisational necessity.
Estonian Academy Publishers welcomes new manuscripts. More information can be found here.