IN modern world
Europe... This geographical name First of all, it reminds us of ancient Greek myth about the daughter of the Phoenician king Agenor, ruler of Sidon, Europe. According to the myth, Europa was kidnapped by the almighty Zeus, who took the form of a white bull. On the back of this bull she swam across Mediterranean Sea from Phenicia to about. Crete (remember famous painting Valentin Serova "The Rape of Europe").
However, toponymists usually produceName “Europe” is from the Assyrian “ereb” - “darkness”, “sunset”, “west” (as opposed to Asia, whose name is associated with the word “asu” - “sunrise”). At first, the name “Europe” applied only to the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, but gradually spread to the entire territory of this part of the world.
Europe... This geographical name also recalls the enormous contribution to world civilization which began in the era Ancient Greece And Ancient Rome, was continued into the Renaissance and the Great geographical discoveries and then in the era industrial revolutions And social revolutions- and so on to this day. The largest German geographer of the 19th century. Karl Ritter wrote that historically Europe was destined to develop much better and more beneficially than Asia and Africa, which were richer in nature. So the smallest part of the world became the most powerful, ahead of others both in material and in spiritually. “It dominates them,” writes Karl Ritter, “puts a European imprint on them, just as it once itself, at least partially, was subject to the dominion of the East. Europe is the center of an enlightened and educated world. Beneficial rays emanate from her to all ends globe».
Perhaps there is something to be disputed in this panegyric to Europe. Both in relation to spiritual superiority, and in relation only to the “beneficent rays”. Let's not forget about the endless bloody wars, which were conducted in Europe: the Centennial, the Thirty, the Seven and hundreds of others. The First began in Europe world war. The Second World War broke out here and engulfed 9 / 10 its population. But nevertheless, the “old stones of Europe” are truly the greatest asset not only of European, but of the entire world civilization. It is generally accepted that European civilization- one of its main foundations.
Europe occupies square about 10 million km 2 . Including 5 million km 2 currently falls on foreign (relative to the CIS) Europe, which is less than 4% of the total inhabited land area. The territory of foreign Europe stretches from north to south (from Spitsbergen to Crete) for approximately 5 thousand km, from west to east (from Atlantic coast Portugal before Black Sea coast Romania) for approximately 3100 km.
Population of foreign Europe in 1900–2007 increased from almost 300 million to 527 million people. But its share in the world population during this time decreased from almost 18 to 8%, which is explained by a noticeable decrease in the rate of population reproduction. For many centuries and even millennia, foreign Europe was second only to foreign Asia; now both Africa and Latin America are ahead of it in this indicator.
For physical map of foreign Europe characterized by many features, of which two are especially worth noting.
Firstly, this “mosaic” structure of its territory, which alternates lowland, hilly and mountainous areas; V total the ratio between plains and mountains is approximately 1: 1. Physical geographers of Moscow State University distinguish overseas Europe 9 physical-geographical countries, subdividing them into 19 regions and 51 districts. But at the same time - unlike, say, Asia or America - it is not “fenced off” by high mountain ranges. Among the mountains of Europe, medium-altitude ones predominate, which do not pose insurmountable barriers to economic and other ties. Transport routes have long been built through their numerous passes.
Secondly, this seaside location most countries of foreign Europe, many of which are located on islands and peninsulas, close to busy sea routes from Europe to Asia, Africa, Australia and America. Navigation and maritime trade have long played a major role in their development. The rugged coastline was especially favorable for this. Back in 1914, Osip Mandelstam wrote in his poem “Europe”:
Its living shores are cut up,
And the peninsulas are aerial sculptures,
The contours of the bays are a little feminine,
Vizcaya, Genoa lazy arc.
Really, coastline Europe, including islands, is 143 thousand km. In foreign Europe there are almost no places that are more than 600 km away from the sea, but the average distance is 300 km. But in most of the UK there is no settlements, located further than 60–80 km from the coast.
Let's add to this that natural landscapes foreign Europe over the past millennia have experienced the greatest anthropogenic changes. Back in the Bronze Age, shifting agriculture, hunting and gathering appeared here, and the domestication of livestock began. IN ancient times to these were added nomadic cattle breeding on the Danube plains, and in Southern Europe deforestation for arable land has increased. In the Middle Ages main role Extensive agriculture and livestock breeding played a role, and there was an expansion of cultivated land. And today it is a region of intensive agriculture and livestock raising, with a wide spread of agricultural landscapes. Of all parts of the world, Europe is the most “cultivated”: only 2.8% of its territory is free from traces of human activity.
Political map of foreign Europe It is also distinguished by its peculiar “mosaic” appearance. In the mid-1980s. there were 32 here sovereign states(including the microstates of Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, Vatican City and Liechtenstein). In the early 1990s. in connection with the separation of the Baltic countries from the USSR, the collapse of the SFRY and Czechoslovakia, the number of such countries increased noticeably. The most important change on political map The region also became part of the unification of Germany in 1990.
Most countries in foreign Europe are relatively small in size. Not to mention the microstates, Luxembourg and Malta, nine of them have an area of up to 50 thousand km 2 : Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Albania and Estonia (for comparison, recall that the Moscow region occupies 47 thousand km 2 ). Eleven countries have a territory of 50 thousand to 100 thousand km 2 : Iceland, Ireland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal. Ten countries have a territory from 100 thousand to 500 thousand km 2 : Norway, Sweden, Finland, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece. And only the areas of two countries - France and Spain - exceed 500 thousand km 2 .
To understand the “scale” of foreign European countries, it is also very important to become familiar with their linear dimensions. Norway is the longest (1,750 km), followed by Sweden (1,600), Finland (1,160), France (1,000), Great Britain (965), and Germany (876 km). In countries such as Bulgaria or Hungary, the largest linear distances do not exceed 500 km, and in the Netherlands - 300 km. Therefore, the “depth” of the territory in most of them is not very great. For example, in Bulgaria and Hungary there are no places that are more than 115–120 km from the borders of these countries. Such border conditions can be considered as an important favorable prerequisite for the development of integration processes.
Finally, one cannot help but say that foreign Europe has been and remains one of the largestcenters of the world economy. Its total GDP is more than $15 trillion, or approximately 22% of the world's. The region ranks first (40%) in world trade. He also holds leadership in the field gold and foreign exchange reserves and foreign investments. Most countries in foreign Europe have entered the post-industrial stage of development. They are characterized by a tall and very high level quality of life of the population.
Especially radical transformation occurred in foreign Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In its western part they were associated primarily with educationsingle European economic area based on 15 European Union (EU) countries. In its eastern part they found expression in the change social order and transition from centralized state economy To market economy. Folds andsingle political space foreign Europe, which is facilitated by the fact that in the second half of the 1990s. in most of its countries, the “right”, conservative parties were replaced by the “left” parties of social democrats and socialists. The formation of a single political (geopolitical) space also occurs as a result of the activities of international organizations. Two of them are especially important.
Firstly, this Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which takes central place in the European security system. Created in 1975, it proceeds from the fact that the basis of interstate relations in Europe should be: respect for the sovereign equality of states, their territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, non-use of force or threat of force, peace settlement disputes, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for human rights. In 1999, the OSCE adopted the Charter for European Security, which became a kind of “code of conduct” European countries and organizations. The OSCE structure includes many permanent bodies (meetings, councils, committees, bureaus, missions, etc.). In 2008, this organization included 56 states (with the USA, Canada, Japan, CIS countries and some others).
Secondly, this Council of Europe (CoE), established in 1949 as a political advisory organization promoting integration processes in the field of human rights, fundamental freedoms and parliamentary democracy. The main bodies of the Council of Europe are the Committee of Ministers (at the level of foreign ministers), the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) - an advisory body with advisory functions, and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe. The Secretariat of the Council of Europe is located in Strasbourg (France).
IN lately increasingly they also write abouta single European idea, about problems European education, which should contribute to spiritual rapprochement European peoples. It also includes the formationEuropean consciousness, aimed at ensuring that the inhabitants of the region understand themselves not only as Germans, French or British, but above all as Europeans, who are connected by the commonality of Western European civilization with its many inherent unique features. This means that younger generations of Europeans must be brought up in accordance with the principle of “double loyalty” - both to their country and to a united Europe.
Along with this, at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. in foreign Europe, changes also occurred that affected the international political landscape and disrupted the existing system collective security. First of all, this relates to the Alliance’s desire to extend its influence to the post-socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Thus, in 1999, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary joined NATO. In 2004, three Baltic countries, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Slovenia, were admitted to NATO. This meant approaching the boundaries of the block directly to Russian border and was perceived negatively, at least psychologically, in Russia, which does not pose a threat to NATO. This also applies to NATO's claim to a leading role in the adoption of important political decisions bypassing the largest international peace and security organizations.
Russia - how European country– takes an active part in all European affairs. It is a member of the OSCE and was admitted to the Council of Europe in 1996, becoming its 39th member. In 1997, the fundamental Act on mutual relations, cooperation and security. It noted that Russia and NATO do not consider each other as adversaries, but their common goal is to overcome the remnants of previous confrontation and rivalry and strengthen mutual trust and cooperation. The Russia-NATO Permanent Council was also created. In 1999, relations between them were noticeably darkened due to NATO's military action in Yugoslavia. Then they began to gradually improve and became especially stronger after terrorist attack in the USA on September 11, 2001 and the creation of a broad anti-terrorist coalition, which included Russia. In 2002, new relations between Russia and NATO were officially established in the form of the so-called “G20” (19 NATO countries and Russia). However, in mid-2008, in connection with the decision to deploy elements of the American missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland, and even more so after Georgia’s military action in South Ossetia, relations between Russia and NATO have deteriorated sharply.
Dedicated to my grandfather, Herman Arkhangelsky,
with gratitude for joining
to the tradition of management thinking
and for the timely donation of a book about Time
"It's a strange life."
From the publishers
A book that saves time is a book of life!
Surprisingly, everyone can make good money from this wonderful book.
The author, Gleb, will earn money. Not so much money, but fame and popularity - and many new grateful students. The publishing house will make money - and again, not so much money as many grateful readers. And finally, every reader will earn money. Moreover - unlike Gleb and the publishing house - three times. At first he will earn a lot positive emotions- after all, the book is written very easily, accessible and interesting! Then, with certain efforts on himself, he will begin to earn “time points” - first hours, then days and weeks of his time. And then the most valuable “earnings” will come, which bring very, very much. These are changes in better side- as in personal life, and in your career. You will really start to have time to live and work!
One of my readers once told me that my prefaces to books remind him of good Georgian toasts - they are moderately long and interesting. I got the hint, I'll wrap it up.
Well... for the time drive!
Igor Mann Publishing house "Mann, Ivanov and Ferber"
Preface: our time capital
Dear reader,
we're all in equal position before the inexorable passage of time. No matter what material well-being we achieve, each of us has very little time. There are no millionaires in the area of time. The capital available to us in the time remaining until the end of our lives is approximately 200-400 thousand hours. And most importantly, time is irreplaceable. Wasted time, unlike lost money, cannot be returned.
“The art of keeping up”, time management, time management is one of the most necessary arts for modern man. There is more and more varied information. Events are happening faster and faster. You need to react in time and meet increasingly tight deadlines. At the same time, somehow find time for relaxation, hobbies, family, friends...
Five years ago, when we created the Time Management Community, the topic of time management was little known in Russia. It was believed that in the conditions of the “broad Russian soul” and the Russian “impassability and sloppiness” it was impossible to plan time. Few people knew that back in 1926 there was the Time League, which distributed advanced time management technologies; few people were familiar with rich history domestic time management. The experience of participants in the TM community and corporate TM projects has shown that planning time in Russia is necessary and possible. Real ones You will find examples in the book.
Time management is not only about diaries, plans and deadlines. It is a technology that allows you to use the irreplaceable time of your life in accordance with your goals and values. Whether you use flexible or rigid planning, timekeeping or self-motivation, Outlook or a paper notebook - there is no difference. The technique is secondary. It is important to find your “relatives” life goals- and distribute your time in accordance with them. Spending irreplaceable time of life on what is real Want.
Three years ago, the Peter publishing house published my monograph “Organization of Time: From Personal Efficiency to Company Development,” which has now gone through two editions. It was the first non-translated book on time management in Russia over the past 30 years, which summarized my author’s developments and the experience of participants in the TM community. Numerous responses led me to write a second book, in a more popular format.
The first book was a “maximum program” containing all the wealth of classical and modern TM tools, setting the foundations and boundaries of time management as a new discipline in management science. The book you are holding in your hands is a “minimum program”. Here, in the simplest possible form, the most necessary and widely used personal time management techniques are outlined. As in the first book, it must be based on real Russian examples.
The unusual title of the second book was not chosen by chance. “Time” is an energetic, technologically advanced, effective “time” well understood in the Russian language. Western world. “Drive” is also a well-established root in the Russian language, associated with two things: control, energetic movement - and, secondly, the intense pleasure of what you are doing. Just as the Russian language has mastered these two roots, so we all, in my opinion, should learn an energetic, active, purposeful approach to our time. Let's add this energetic approach, this "time drive", to our traditionally strong trait - the ability to dream, create, stage high goals. And then we will have no equal.
Our time capital is small. This applies not only to each of us individually, but to the entire nation as a whole. We have little time - this is the 21st century, and in this century we need to make up for a lot, learn a lot. Stop worrying about past failures, don’t be afraid to set bold goals - and achieve them. To learn not only to dream, which we can do well, but also to make dreams come true in an organized, purposeful manner.
