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The author presents the conditions in which Slovenia achieved independence: the break up of communism in Yugoslavia & the decision of the Slovene people for democracy; the threat of Greater Serbian policy & the strength of communism in the so-called Yugoslavia; & the international community's lack of understanding. In spite of unfavorable conditions, Slovenia became an independent state thanks to the successful defense against the aggression of the JNA (Yugoslav People's Army). After the brief conflict, a high degree of political stability was reached (in spite of the high number of parliamentary political parties), & a successful economic policy was established. Slovenia has a common interest with Croatia in international relations. The author emphasizes that Slovene-Croat relations can be advanced through systematic solving of potential conflicts: the determination of the exact border; obstacles to economic cooperation; protection of property rights; the status of the nuclear plant "Krsko"; & the debt of the Bank of Ljubljana. Adapted from the source document.

The author analyzes the causes of the break-up of Yugoslavia & shows that the main cause was the expansion of the Greater-Serbia idea, but was also contributed to by a number of internal problems & changes in the international scene. After the break-up of Yugoslavia, a number of processes are still active & generating conflict: the goal of Serbian expansionists to create a Greater Serbia; the lack of a solution to the Bosnian conflict; the Albanian desire for an independent Kosovo state; Muslim aims of autonomy in Sandjak; a growing sovereignty movement in Montenegro; & continuing Serbian pressure on Macedonia. The author concludes that decisive international intervention is necessary to prevent deepened conflict & its spread to neighboring countries. 6 References. Adapted from the source document.

One of the rules of international economic relations is that small countries are more dependent on intense international economic cooperation than are large states. This cooperation is not, in principle, completely liberalized, but depends on a number of multilateral & bilateral agreements. Aspiring to put in order its own economic position internationally, Croatia was first directed to regulate its relations with the European community. In these efforts, Croatia was faced with unequal treatment compared to Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, & Slovenia. The author shows that this unfavorable attitude toward Croatia is partially the result of political demands & the interests of the European community. Adapted from the source document.

The author considers Croatia's priority in foreign affairs to be the establishment of peace & reintegration of occupied Croatian territory. The international community lent its support to solving Croatia's problems only with certain conditions attached: respect for human & democratic rights, especially the rights of minorities; & respect for the integrity of other countries. The basic problem faced by the international community is that since the end of the East-West polar orientations, there is no concept for solving the conflicts that have erupted in postcommunist countries. In Croatia, the war was viewed (wrongly) as a civil war. The controversy in the Croatian policy, as seen by the author, is in the requirement for absolute adherence to democratic principles, which is difficult to realize in times of war, & in the acceptance of complete democracy as a precondition to peaceful reintegration of occupied Croatian territory. Adapted from the source document.

The article analyzes the changed concept of security in the post-Cold War era, its importance for the international community as a whole, & its basic values. Special attention is given to the indivisibility & mutual conditions of the security problem, democracy, & markets. The research approach is multidisciplinary & aimed at an analysis of the war against Croatia within the context of the post-Cold War era & its associated obstacles to reaching peace & stability. The roots, causes, & inducements to conflict are determined & the assumptions for peace & stability in the region are researched. Starting with the case of Croatia & the consequences of international crisis caused by aggressive Serbian policy of expansion, the author offers a suggestion for a new security concept -- the concept of metasecurity -- for the era after the Cold War. 33 References. Adapted from the source document.

The dispute between liberalism & protectionism is analyzed on two levels: theoretical & practical. First, there is the conflict between A. Smith's liberalism & F. List's economic nationalism. Over the years, Milton Friedman & James Tobin have become leaders of opposing camps. The cutting edge of the debate has been blunted, but the remaining bones of contention are still micro- & macro-issues of national & international economy. The global conflict between liberalism & protectionism has for now ended in a stalemate between regional liberalism & global protectionism. Adapted from the source document.

The author presents Vico's & Hegel's theory that without a state, there is no historical nation. According to Vico, world history is the process in which the rulers of the strongest & most ethical-politically virtuous replace one another. For Hegel, history crystallizes into rational principles that become the basis for customs & the national advancement of the society. Certain nations become the carriers of world history as they take more seriously freedoms in the state. The author suggests that modern understanding of history should not forget Hegel's concept of practical wisdom. For this reason also, Croatia is not obliged to accept the international pragmatists' dictation, but Croatia's ties to the West must be based on principles of truth & justice. Adapted from the source document.

The circumstances of the emergence & evolution of Christian democratic parties in Europe are outlined, & the principles of Christian social & political creed (on which they are based) are analyzed. The most salient among these principles are respect for the dignity of men as individuals, solidarity, subsidiarity, participation, general allotment of goods, & the duty of public authorities to look after the common good. A review of major programmatic documents of the international association of Christian democratic parties, as well as those of the two German Christian democratic parties, is offered. In closing, the author looks into the policies of the two Croatian parties that aspire to be Christian democratic -- the Croatian Christian Democratic Union & the Croatian Democratic Union -- & concludes that in Croatia, there are no social & political prerequisites for a true articulation of Christian democratic parties. Adapted from the source document.

After WWII, new countries emerged in three waves: the first immediately after the war was a result of the activities of the allied coalition; the second wave was the result of decolonization; & the third, newest wave was the result of the fall of communist federations. The author analyzes the consequences of greater numbers of countries for diplomacy. Bilateral diplomacy & organization of diplomatic services in individual countries have been faced with a series of problems: an increase in employees in ministries of foreign affairs; the need to expand the network of diplomatic missions & selection of countries in which missions are to be set up; & the difficulties of financing diplomacy services & the need for greater specialization & employment of regional experts. In international diplomacy, the work of the UN, its membership, & its security council are all hampered. For this reason, regional associations & ad hoc groups formed by countries concerned with specific problems are gaining importance. Adapted from the source document.

The author portrays the crisis of national & state sovereignty in contemporary Europe, the consequence of economic & political integrational processes, & the creation of new supranational institutions. The question is whether these supranational institutions can be democratically structured & if they can provide for the level of social integration that used to be secured by the national state. The most recent discussions have revolved around theoretical concepts of denationalized sovereignties, international legislation, & asynchronous denationalization, which are indicative of the crisis of national sovereignty. Possible modes of the distribution of sovereign authorities among various constituents have been developed based on an extremely interesting historical parallel between the institutional structure of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation in the pivotal years from 1495 to 1576 & the existing or proposed institutions of the European Union. The prospects of the European Union, the author concludes, are not going to be determined or affected by the lack of democracy but by the lack of political efficiency & unity. Adapted from the source document.

Defense strategy is a critical component of the politics of national security that includes the political/military chain of resources, goals, & the theory of a given country on how to best "carry out" security for itself. Ideally, this includes an explanation of why that theory is expected to function. The defense strategy as a component of the politics of national security must identify possible threats for the country & must invent political, economic, military, & other means for elimination of these threats. Considering possible responses, defense strategies can be grouped into three categories: offensive, defensive, & deterrent. The goal of offensive strategies is to disarm the opponent -- to destroy his armed forces. The goal of defensive strategy is to not allow the opponent to reach his desired objectives. In the deterrent strategy when one punishes the attacker (aggressor) -- it increases his costs, although it does not decrease one's own. In the creation & development of an army & defense system in Croatia, a defense strategy is profiled that is bounded by the three possibilities outlined above, & limited by the following factors: the national strategy, the military strategy of the opponent, & international pressure. These factors are discussed in greater detail with the aim of determining their influence on the Republic of Croatia's defense strategy, & general defense strategies. 8 References. Adapted from the source document.