Suchergebnisse

Der Beitrag vermittelt einen Überblick zur Friedensforschung in der Schweiz. Er analysiert die erbrachten Forschungsleistungen historisch und institutionell und zeigt ihre facettenreichen disziplinären, methodologischen und thematischen Ausrichtungen auf. Dabei verdeutlicht er sowohl ihre internationale Anschlussfähigkeit wie auch ihr besonderes Profil. Letzteres beruht auf ihrem Verhältnis zur Schweizer Aussen- und Sicherheitspolitik und insbesondere zum Konzept der Neutralität. Die gezielte Förderung von Nord-Süd-Partnerschaften sowie die Praxisnähe gehören zu den wichtigen Merkmalen der Schweizer Friedensforschung. Der Artikel geht auch auf die epistemologische Verortung der Friedensforschenden in der Schweiz ein und schliesst mit Anregungen für zukünftige Forschungsvorhaben.

AbstractNeutral states have traditionally been seen as particularly well suited to function as international mediators. This assessment was based on the fact that both concepts – neutrality and mediation – have their roots in attempts to contain violent conflicts and thereby combine realist and idealistic dimensions of international relations. While due to these normative commonalities, the increased influence of norms in mediation might be deemed to favour the role of neutral states as mediators, a more nuanced analysis reveals a mixed impact: The new norms made mediation enter into policy fields to which neutrality does not apply. But they also increased the complexities of mediation processes which in turn could open up new opportunities for neutral states.

AbstractDespite a changed international political context in the post‐Cold War period, Western European small states remain firmly engaged in peace policy. One would be tempted to describe them as "natural born" peacemakers. This article shows a different approach to small states' peace policies. Using a typology from the literature on the role of norms and ideas, it argues that the type of peace engagement followed by small states has changed considerably during recent decades. More precisely, a shift has occurred in their peace policies from normative to cognitive ideas. This may be explained through their closer cooperation with international organisations (such as theEU), loss of significance of traditional role concepts such as neutrality, and the changed content of peace policies. Two consequences result from it: firstly, cognitive ideas are less linked to historically deep‐rooted identities and therefore more prone to change; secondly, there fewer comparative advantages accrue to small states in promoting cognitive ideas. Thus, though small states remain very active peacebuilders, they have become less "natural" peacemakers than they used to be.

"Despite a changed international political context in the post-Cold War period, Western European small states remain firmly engaged in peace policy. One would be tempted to describe them as 'natural born' peacemakers. This article shows a different approach to small states' peace policies. Using a typology from the literature on the role of norms and ideas, it argues that the type of peace engagement followed by small states has changed considerably during recent decades. More precisely, a shift has occurred in their peace policies from normative to cognitive ideas. This may be explained through their closer cooperation with international organisations (such as the EU), loss of significance of traditional role concepts such as neutrality, and the changed content of peace policies. Two consequences result from it: firstly, cognitive ideas are less linked to historically deep-rooted identities and therefore more prone to change; secondly, there fewer comparative advantages accrue to small states in promoting cognitive ideas. Thus, though small states remain very active peacebuilders, they have become less 'natural' peacemakers than they used to be." (author's abstract)