Suchergebnisse

The paper sees a recent increase in studies on peace ideas as a positive phenomenon, but suggests that scholars should concentrate their efforts on specific questions and on an inter-cultural comparative analysis of peace ideas. Goals, approaches, and problems of such comparative study are discussed on the basis of earlier works on (the history of) peace ideas. The need for comparative analyses is documented by the suggestion of several ways in which a comparative approach can contribute to and improve the quality of studies in this field. Five approaches to comparative studies are discussed: (a) descriptive, (b) typologizing, (c) testing an idea or a hypothesis, (d) application of a common denominator and (e) the method of question and answer. Finally, both practical and methodological problems encountered in such an enterprise are identified. It is suggested that the methodological problems of applying similarities/dissimilarities and of comparability itself will require considerable systematic effort if a common denominator applicable to peace ideas in different cultures and periods is to be found. This common denominator would enhance not only the comparative study of peace ideas but might equally well contribute to establishing the identity of Peace Research in general.

Harle, V. Convergent vs. Conflicting Interests in Processes of Armaments Acquisition: A Case Study of Two Finnish Decisions on the Procurement of Military Aircraft. Cooperation and Conflict, XIV, 1979, 21-33. In 1976 the Finnish Government decided to replace the Finnish Air Force Fouga Magister jet trainers with advanced British HS Hawk jet trainers and its Saab Safir primary trainers with indigenous Leko-70s. The author suggests that these decisions cannot be explained by reference to the external environment of Finnish foreign policy, and therefore a more general framework based on the literature on the military-in dustrial complex is proposed. The theory can be criticized, however, for the assumption that the MIC segments exercise their influence in a more or less coordinated and mutually supportive way to achieve and maintain optimal levels of military expenditure. This also applies to the Finnish case: the decisions were made either against the interests of the Finnish aircraft industry or on the direct responsibility of the Finnish Government, and were not based on common MIC interests. Air Force interests conflicted with those of industry, and the role of the Government was to decide which interests were to be taken into consideration. The author hesitates to generalize his findings, but suggests that research be carried out along the same lines in other countries.