Suchergebnisse

The text analyzes the ambivalent role of the army in the recent Egyptian revolution and the ensuing process of democratic transition. On the one hand, the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak's regime was a result of the activity of the army, which supported the protesters since the onset of the revolution. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, the military body which has taken over power in Egypt, promises to ensure a peaceful transfer of power within a free and democratic system. On the other hand, some acts of the military authorities in the transitional period suggest that, in the next period of time, precisely the army could become the main blocking factor of the process of democratization. The authors deem that the main goal of the army is not to hold on to power, but to build such a political system in which it would enjoy a privileged position, free from civilian control. In the authors' judgement, if a halt to the process of democratization is to be prevented, the USA must make use of its influence and persuade the military leaders, who are preoccupied with their own reputation among the public, to carry through the initiated reforms. Adapted from the source document.

An examination of terrorism in relation to the establishment of international norms notes that a shared strategic interest in combating terrorism has helped to bridge the divide between the West & the developing world. However, the aggrieved populations Al Qaeda claims to represent can confer legitimacy on the terrorists simply by responding positively to their tactics & not denying that the terrorists stand for their cause. A vital element of the war on terrorism is disallowing terrorists the support of these constituents, an objective that requires fresh approaches, including ordering international norms in a way that stigmatizes terrorism. Norms are defined as "standards of appropriate behavior for actors with a given identity." The powerful practical implications of international norms are addressed, along with strategies used to enforce adherence to a norm; the success of a top-down approach in enforcing norms against state-supported terrorism; the role of both the international community & the US in delegitimizing state-support terrorism; & a "bottom-up" approach to denying terrorist groups access to their bases of popular support. J. Lindroth