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Ein Interessenkonflikt ist entgegen der allgemeinen Auffassung nicht nur eine Situation, in der zwei verschiedene Akteure widerstreitende Interessen haben. Er kann auch entstehen, wenn Menschen gezwungen sind, einander zu vertrauen, und das Vertrauen kann immer verletzt werden. Es ist auch möglich, den Interessenkonflikt als eine Situation der "doppelten Loyalität" zu verstehen, wobei Ziele verfolgt werden, die unter den gegebenen Umständen nicht gleichzeitig erreicht werden können. Das Ziel des vorliegenden Beitrags ist eine kritische Überprüfung des Konzepts des Interessenkonflikts, insbesondere die Art und Weise, wie es in rechtlichen Untersuchungen verstanden und angewendet wird. Die Autoren argumentieren, dass der Interessenkonflikt auch einen analytischen Rahmen für eine normative, rechtliche und soziologische Analyse von Situationen bietet, in denen das Individuum entweder den formalen Regeln zur Unterstützung des öffentlichen Gutes oder persönlichen Interessen bei Verletzung dieser Regeln folgen kann. Sie verdeutlichen dies am Beispiel des Zusammenhangs zwischen Interessenkonflikten und den Phänomenen von Korruption, Vetternwirtschaft, illegalem Lobbying und Drehtür-Syndrom. Sie entwickeln vor diesem Hintergrund ein Konzept des strukturellen Interessenkonflikts unter Einbeziehung der wichtigsten staatlichen Institutionen in den gegenwärtigen Ländern Mittel- und Osteuropas. (ICI)

"The literature dealing systematically with the connections between change and conflict is hardly extensive, and that directly dealing with precise relationships between change and conflict resolution is even sparser. In a way, this is surprising - for many writers make implicit, and in some cases explicit, connections between some form of change and the formation of conflicts, while others discuss conflict 'dynamics' as well as those changes that are needed before any kind of resolution of a conflict can realistically be sought. A recent and completely unsystematic search of one university's modest library revealed over 420 entries combining the words 'change' and 'conflict' in their title, while a similar search of a data bank of dissertation abstracts produced over 3,500 such citations. Nonetheless, there seem to be few works that focus in general terms on connections between the two concepts, or on the process of conflict resolution as a phenomenon involving change from the relationship of enemies or adversaries into something else. This chapter endeavors to make some contribution to filling this gap in the literature by discussing the relationship between 'change' and 'conflict' in very general terms, rather than focusing on particular changes that have either created conflict between particular communities, societies and countries, or changes that have led towards a resolution of any specific conflict which has protracted and become violent. It can be considered, therefore, as a small contribution to the development of a general theory of change and conflict - or, more particularly, conflict resolution. An understanding of the dynamics of conflict formation and perpetuation should have implications for methods of resolving (or at least coping with) even the most intractable of conflict relationships. As such, the chapter may be a starting point for the development of a set of theories of conflict dynamics as well as a practical set of guidelines concerning modes and timing of 'resolutionary' interventions." (excerpt)

Since its appearance in 1949, NATO has gradually transformed from a collective defense organization into a community providing security. NATO has been and will continue to remain a vital security commitment between Europe and the U.S., equally appreciated by both parties. The Alliance's evolutionary perspectives equally interested its members and nonetheless other important players in world geopolitics. Currently, NATO is involved in a wide range of activities designed to promote cooperation with a number of countries outside NATO and pro-actively tackle new security challenges of the XXI century. The most relevant aspect of NATO transformation is focused on promoting enhanced political dialogue, both within the organization and in relation with its partners.