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The paper aims to lay out a framework for evaluating value shifts in the international legal order for the purposes of a forthcoming book. In view of current contestations it asks whether we are observing yet another period of norm change (Wandel) or even a more fundamental transformation of international law — a metamorphosis (Verwandlung). For this purpose it suggests to look into the mechanisms of how norms change from the perspective of legal and political science and also to approximate a reference point where change turns into metamorphosis. It submits that such a point may be reached where specific legally protected values are indeed changing (change of legal values) or where the very idea of protecting certain values through law is renounced (delegalizing of values). The paper discusses the benefits of such an interdisciplinary exchange and tries to identify differences and commonalities among both disciplinary perspectives.

"The purpose of the book is to introduce the people who are interested in World politics - scientists, researchers, representatives of civil society, public sector, students etc. with the main characters of the modern political structure of the world, global problems related to International Security and ways for their resolution"--

The product of research funded by the EU, this book compares work-for-welfare policies from the United States with overlooked examples of workfare to be found in six European countries - France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Britain.

This study undertakes to contest the concept of sphere of infl uence from a historical perspective with a focus on normative questions and international order. While the concept of sphere of infl uence is frequently used in political parlance, it has not been studied within the discipline of International Relations. What is more, the term "sphere of infl uence" is used in a pejorative sense to criticise Russian foreign policy. The research identifi es the pejorative uses of the concept and then proceeds to discuss normative aspects of spheres of infl uence in international theory. In the process, sphere of influence is transformed from a map metaphor into a concept which encompasses issues of justice and international order. The history of the concept of sphere of infl uence begins with identifying how it acquired its pejorative ring, that is, the concept became associated with the foreign policy of Russia. What follows are four chapters on the history and theory of spheres of infl uence. The fi rst episode explores historical examples such as suzerainty and colonialism, as well as the emergence of a hierarchical international order. The second reveals the untapped pool of ideas related to international order, sovereignty, great powers, the balance of power and non-intervention in the English School theory. The pluralist and solidarist underpinnings of international society come alive as a framework for linking the concept of sphere of infl uence to conceptualisations of international order. Spheres of infl uence are situated at the equilibrium point of a pendulum which sweeps an arc from the sovereign nation-state at one end to humanity at the other. The third chapter looks into theories on spheres of infl uence "between nation and humanity" which were developed in the turmoil of the world wars. The ideas of Friedrich Naumann, Carl Schmitt, E.H. Carr, James Burnham, Walter Lippmann and George Orwell focus more on bringing about peace than causing war and confl ict. Finally, a chapter on the Cold War, drawing on the example of the Cuban Missile Crisis, explores the period in history which has made the strongest impact on the present understanding of sphere of infl uence. It becomes clear that even Cold War spheres of infl uence are a source of theory which we have ignored. Once the historical and theoretical roots of the concept have been unveiled, Russian ideas on international order and infl uence beyond state borders are analysed in order to problematise the Western canon dealing with "Russia's sphere of infl uence". The Russian idea of a sphere of influence is clouded by an indecision in choosing between the pluralist and solidarist international orders. The Russian authors' unwavering defence of sovereignty and simultaneous admiration of "the concert of great responsible powers" has resulted in an inability to openly propose a system of international governance with spheres of influence. The unique contribution of this dissertation is to put forward normative considerations pertaining to spheres of infl uence instead of using the concept in a pejorative sense. The study connects the English School tradition, post-war international order, the Cold War and Russian thought with the concept of sphere of infl uence with the aim of initiating a debate which will enrich the discipline with a fresh outlook on an old but topical concept.

How does leader age affect international politics? Challenging the existing literature's focus on chronological age, we argue that leaders do not age the same in the eyes of their beholders. Combining insights from gerontology on age-related stereotypes and studies of face-to-face diplomacy, we show that judgments about age informed by high-level personal encounters have profound consequences for how elderly leaders are appraised and treated by their counterparts. A leader who betrays indicators of "senility" during face-to-face encounters will elicit harsh judgments by activating negative stereotypes about aging. Older leaders can also surprise their interlocutors: those long thought to be senile may show themselves as mentally and physically fit. Perceptions of age, in turn, shape how observers understand a leader's agency and shape decisions to "engage" or "bypass" the leader in the context of interstate cooperation. We draw on declassified primary documents to compare American views of three elderly leaders in Cold War Asia—Syngman Rhee, Mao Tse-tung, and Chou Enlai—and how such views informed Washington's approach to these leaders, finding powerful support for our arguments. Our findings suggest new insights for the IR research program on leaders as well as lessons for statecraft in an era of aging decision makers.

Der Autor stellt einige Ergebnisse seiner empirischen Untersuchung verhandlungsorientierter Institutionalisierungsformen vor. Gegenstand der Studie sind der Internationale Pakt über bürgerliche und politische Rechte (Zivilpakt) einschließlich seiner beiden Protokolle, der Internationale Pakt über wirtschaftliche, soziale und kulturelle Rechte (Sozialpakt) sowie die völkerrechtlichen Verträge zum Schutz der Ozonschicht und des Klimas. Im Einzelnen wurden dabei die Funktionsweise und die Wirkungen der jeweiligen Haupt- und Nebenorgane sowie der verhandlungsorientierten Durchsetzungsverfahren der Umsetzungskontrolle, der gemeinsamen Umsetzung und der Umsetzungshilfe beleuchtet. Die durchgeführte Studie hat gezeigt, dass die vorhandenen Organe und Verfahren trotz der weitgehend fehlenden Sanktionsgewalt insgesamt einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Durchsetzung der jeweiligen materiellen Verpflichtungen und damit zur Lösung des jeweiligen regimespezifischen Regelungsproblems leisten. Zugleich wurde an verschiedenen Stellen ein Reformbedarf aufgedeckt, der im vorliegenden Beitrag ebenfalls skizziert wird. Ziel ist letztlich das Aufspüren eines optimalen, d.h. der jeweiligen Verhandlungssituation angemessenen institutionellen Designs, wobei die Verhandlungssituation maßgeblich durch die Problembeschaffenheit und die vorhandenen Akteurspräferenzen geprägt wird. (ICI2)