Suchergebnisse

The article discusses the theories of the concept of conflict prevention. Kosovo political elites should, if they really want to stabilize the new country, take findings and recommendations of the theory of conflict prevention into consideration, and then find their own way (practice) how to address the problems, related to conflict prevention arising from political, social, economic and cultural sphere. Afterwards, the decisionmakers and high officials have to model their own specific strategies and policies of conflict prevention in order to reduce possibilities of new escalation of violence. The article discusses some historical and modern explanations of origins of violence and the relation between them and conflict prevention. The article also explains the development of the concept of modern conflict prevention, beginning in the framework of the United Nations in 1960's and culminating in comprehensive approach of conflict prevention in the European Union and some other international organizations. Difference between structural and operation conflict prevention is explained in last part of the article, with argumentation the structural conflict prevention is necessity for Kosovo as a newly emerged political entity in the Western Balkans.

Avtorja v članku preučujeta stališča prebivalcev občin Kostel in Osilnica ob slovensko-hrvaški meji do ljudi na poti. Na tem območju skušajo migranti množično prečkati mejo, zato je posrednih ali neposrednih stikov med lokalnim prebivalstvom in migranti več kot drugod po državi. Zanimalo ju je, ali so stališča tamkajšnjega prebivalstva v primerjavi s stališči celotnega prebivalstva Slovenije o vprašanjih, povezanih z migranti, drugačna, in ali so povezana z nekaterimi demografskimi dejavniki (s spolom, starostjo, z izobrazbo, veroizpovedjo). Pričujočo mikroštudijo, ki temelji na terenski anketi, leta 2020 izvedeni v Kostelu in Osilnici, postavljata tudi v kontekst raziskav Slovensko javno mnenje.

Peacebuilding; EULEX; Kosovo; European Union; Conflict prevention; Normative power; Post-conflict; IECEU

Peacebuilding; EULEX; Kosovo; European Union; Conflict prevention; Normative power; Post-conflict; IECEU

How can small states contribute to the overall normative power of the European Union (EU)? In this article we assess how much Slovenia, a small EU Member State with limited financial and human resources, contributes to this normative power. We do this by analysing its foreign policy, which consists of three main guiding principles: internationalism, the desire to solve all outstanding issues with its neighbour Croatia, and an attempt to present itself as a bridge between the EU and the Western Balkans. We discover that, while these principles exist on paper, they are often not consistently carried out in practice, which is a symptom of the stillongoing reorientation of the country's foreign policy, after successfully joining the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004. Slovenian decision makers all too often remain reactive, and prefer to support the initiatives of others. When the country does act on its own initiative, its actions can be seen as too individualistic and uncoordinated, both within its own borders, and with its EU partners, as was the case when Slovenia launched the socalled Brdo Process, aimed at promoting cooperation between countries of former Yugoslavia. The conduct of Slovenian foreign policy is, all too often left, to the initiative and ingenuity of individuals, and such an uncoordinated approach hinders Slovenian efforts to become a normative power and to increase its influence in the Western Balkans. Finally, we argue that Slovenia's Presidency of the EU Council in 2008 was a unique opportunity to contribute to the EU's normative power. Slovenia managed to accomplish this only in part; despite the fact that the Presidency was an organisational success, most of its goals was too broadly defined and lacked ambition. Keywords: Slovenia, normative power, small state, Presidency, foreign policy, Western Balkans, Croatia, Hungary. (Romanian Journal of European Affairs / SWP)

This study describes the design of a serious game for social change ("Fact Finders") that presents intergroup conflicts through historical inquiry and multiperspectivity. A pre-test post-test experimental design examined the game's effect on undergraduates' perceptions of conflicts in history. Participants included 97 Greek Cypriots (direct parties of the conflict) and 79 Slovenians (third parties of the conflict) who interacted with and evaluated the game online. Data sources included a 17-item questionnaire on perceptions of conflicts in history and gameplay learning analytics data. Findings indicated that both groups' perceptions for historical source evaluation and understanding multiperspectivity changed significantly after the game. The game significantly changed perceptions about the constructedness of history and the ability to overcome their country's troubled past only for direct parties of the conflict. The study provides empirical evidence demonstrating the potential value of serious games for affecting young people's perceptions of intractable intergroup conflicts and their desire to overcome troubled pasts.

Based on the findings of a major research project, this book investigates how European societies confront their troubled pasts. The text explores what measures can be taken and which strategies endorsed to overcome difficult historic legacies in seven European states, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Cyprus and Poland.