Suchergebnisse

"Religion in Foreign Policy" published on by Oxford University Press.

UN ideals, bureaucratic policies, & mandates regarding women & peace are considered. There is history of women's inclusion or exclusion from human rights debate on Palestinians, South Africans, & South Americans. Pivotal changes at the Second & Third World Conferences on Women (in Copenhagen, Denmark, & Nairobi, respectively) are reviewed. Significant post-Cold War events, including work by the UN Transition Assistance Group, preparations by the UN's Division for the Advancement of Women for the Commission on the Status of Women in preparation for the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, People's Republic of China, & the subsequent 1995 Declaration & Platform for Action debates are reviewed. A look at female inclusion in political decision making includes discussion of the participatory nature of democracy & data on women's voting rights & representation in government bodies. Women's historical status as "noncitizens" in many countries is contrasted with examples of their influence on political atmosphere, agenda, & conflict at national & international levels. Suggestions for further research on gender differences in peace-related areas & policy making are made. M. C. Leary

"The relationship between development policy and security policy has undergone rapid changes over a period of only a few years. In Germany, as well as other donor countries, there was in the past a clearly recognizable distance between development actors and military actors and between their respective tasks. This distance is shrinking. The new debate is important for many developing countries and regions (e.g. Afghanistan), but is especially relevant to sub-Saharan Africa. Peace and security are at the top of the agenda for Africa. While they have been recognized in the past as among the most urgent challenges facing the continent, they have not previously gained the marked profile they are now assuming as a political priority for practical policy approaches and efforts both in and outside Africa. The basic parameters involved have shifted in the direction of greater visibility and a heightened political will to act. The African Union (AU), created in 2002, is most important for this new situation. However, the new peace and security architecture faces a number of challenges. Although the AU's ownership approach to peace and security is fundamentally correct, it contrasts sharply with African funding and implementation capacities. Ultimately, the AU will prove to be effective only if the relevant donors are prepared to support, and above all to fund, its policies. Interfaces between development policy and security policy are not a phenomenon confined to Germany. The UN, for example, is increasingly interested in conducting comprehensive peace missions in Africa. Integrated missions with civil and military components were first undertaken in Sierra Leone. Another important example is Britain, which established an Africa Conflict Prevention Pool in 2001. The British development, foreign and defence policies are contributing to this fund. Germany's cross-policy approaches in Africa's case cover different categories, such as strategic planning, funding and operational activities. It is important to stress that many of these efforts are made within a broader context of international approaches of the G8 and the European Union. An important effort as regards a German 'whole-of-government' approach began with an action plan for 'Civilian Crisis Prevention, Conflict Resolution and Post-Conflict Peace-Building'. The action plan is an interministerial exercise and was approved by the Cabinet in May 2004. Its objective is to develop the Federal Government's capabilities and to make greater use of the foreign, security and development policies in civil crisis prevention. One of its main aims is therefore coherent and coordinated action on the part of all state and non-state actors. Several parts of the plan are devoted to Africa. The new tendencies in Germany have led not to a merging of development and security concepts, but to a new relationship between the actors concerned. This closer relationship also entails differences of view on a number of issues." (author's abstract)

There is questioning of the notion that feminine input on national security systems would necessarily translate into idealized changes. The linking of security with peace is challenged. It is asserted that "the politics of feminization" is more accurately associated with democratization & empowerment. Twentieth-century events affecting the relationship between elitist forces & the populace are cited. Women's effect on security relations between India & Pakistan is detailed & compared with those of Bangladesh & Sri Lanka. Political, nationalistic, & ideological systems are considered. A shift from expectations of national or policy change to one effected on a "people-to-people level" is imagined. The relation of internal security to social unity recounts various South Asian incidents regarding language, religion, sharing of resources, separatism, & class. Women's political actions, from populist protests through policy influence, are reviewed. Figures on South Asian government representation are given & analyzed for "masculine" components. A look at women & communalism takes India's Hindu-Muslim clashes into account. M. C. Leary

"Autocratic Regimes and Foreign Policy" published on by Oxford University Press.

"The Media and Foreign Policy" published on by Oxford University Press.

Smith addresses the reasons for & implementation of increased foreign & security policy making in the European Union (EU). History of the EU's stance in the post-Cold War era includes the proposal to create a European Defense Community, deference to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the significance of the Maastricht Treaty, & proposals considered at the Nov 1999 meeting in Tampere, Finland. Evolving interpretations of foreign & security policy are reviewed, & the issue of containment is contemplated. Detailing of the Single European Act of 1985, the Maastricht Treaty, & the Treaty of Amsterdam accompanies examination of changes to the Common Foreign & Security Policy. Recent momentum of the Amsterdam provisions is evidenced by decisions made at the June 1999 Cologne Summit & the Dec 1999 Helsinki European Council. The new framework of foreign & security policy is illustrated by a figure showing the distinctive & overlapping jurisdictions & roles of bodies, including NATO & Partnership for Peace. The drive for maintenance of European security & resulting EU actions are considered with relation to recent events in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, & Kosovo. 3 Figures, 21 References. M. C. Leary

"Regime Type, Foreign Policy, and International Relations" published on by Oxford University Press.

The nature of US-Turkey relations following the Persian Gulf War is studied, & problems that might hinder improving future relations are addressed. Although the US has actively pursued a strategic relationship with Turkey throughout the 1990s, reports of Turkey's human rights violations against its Kurdish population & political problems have somewhat damaged foreign policy negotiations. In addition, several potential developments that instill uncertainty into Turkish-American relations are identified, eg, Turkey's acquisition of EU membership. Moreover, unresolved problems concerning Iraq, Iran, Israeli-Turkish relations, the peace process in the Middle East, Russian-Turkish relations, Armenia, Turkey's impending acceptance into the EU, & Turkey's conflict with Greece over Cyprus could endanger US-Turkey relations. Several recommendations for facilitating the establishment of stronger bilateral relations are offered, eg, making frequent visitations to Turkey a part of the US President's foreign travel itinerary. J. W. Parker

The close relationship between state identity & foreign policy in Israel is investigated. Overviews of the notions of identity, narrative, frames, & institutions are provided; it is asserted that the formation of Israeli state identity has been attempted in a specific historical narrative. The Yitzhak Rabin administration's attempt to implement a liberalist-Zionist Israeli national identity & its connection to the peace movement are discussed. It is contended that Israeli national identity actually became more fragmented under the Benjamin Netanyahu administration; his ambiguous stance on the issue of territorial withdrawal & accretion of power to the Palestinians & the poor electoral performance of the Labor & Likud Parties in the 1996 parliamentary elections accelerated the fragmentation. It is concluded that the Netanyahu administration deepened divisions between religious & secular groups & that the emergence of identity politics in Israeli's parliament during the late 1990s further problematized the peace process. J. W. Parker

Peace and justice have been a preferred couple in theoretical writings - but what do we know about their empirical relationship? Insights from other disciplines suggest that humans are highly sensitive to violations of justice and that justice concerns permeate social relations. Neuroscientists have located the parts of the brain responsible for negative reactions to violation of claims for justice. Evolutionary biologists have identified rules of distribution and retribution not only in early human societies but among other socially living species as well. Psychologists have observed the emergence of a sense of justice in very early childhood, while behavioral economists have identified behavior of average persons in experiments that deviated significantly from the model of the "economic man" and could only be explained by a sense of justice. The chapter summarizes these findings and outlines their implications for peace research. It highlights the ambivalent nature of justice for social relations. Justice concerns can exacerbate conflicts between individuals and groups but justice can also provide standards for arriving at durable peaceful solutions to conflicts. Understanding these ambivalences and their repercussions for international and intrastate relations provides a promising path towards understanding conflict dynamics.

"Harmonising regional disparities without giving up cultural identity is a fundamental prerequisite for peace and poses perhaps the greatest challenge of our time. Facing a wide diversity of both economic and social structures, the European Union meets the task of harmonising the development for future general improvement of living conditions. In spite of general progress in terms of GNP growth at national level, regional disparities show little convergence. Additionally, the integration of Eastern European states formerly marked by planned economies, poses enormous problems for HR development in the course of a transformation replacing authoritative regulations by market competition. First, in view of the need for complex relationship between human capital and regional disparities, the need for multidimensional approaches is stressed. Then an outline of the administrative framework for regional and cohesion policy, promoted by the EU Commission, is given. The focus is upon the European Social Funds (ESF), its objectives, related strategies and implementations. The factors contributing to success or failure of projects related to HR development are then considered within a broader context of evaluation results, presented for the Italian Mezzogiorno, the new Eastern German provinces and Eastern European transition economies. As an outlook, chances for a social dialogue to foster HR development, are discussed." (author's abstract).

"Harmonising regional disparities without giving up cultural identity is a fundamental prerequisite for peace and poses perhaps the greatest challenge of our time. Facing a wide diversity of both economic and social structures, the European Union meets the task of harmonising the development for future general improvement of living conditions. In spite of general progress in terms of GNP growth at national level, regional disparities show little convergence. Additionally, the integration of Eastern European states formerly marked by planned economies, poses enormous problems for HR development in the course of a transformation replacing authoritative regulations by market competition. First, in view of the need for complex relationship between human capital and regional disparities, the need for multidimensional approaches is stressed. Then an outline of the administrative framework for regional and cohesion policy, promoted by the EU Commission, is given. The focus is upon the European Social Funds (ESF), its objectives, related strategies and implementations. The factors contributing to success or failure of projects related to HR development are then considered within a broader context of evaluation results, presented for the Italian Mezzogiorno, the new Eastern German provinces and Eastern European transition economies. As an outlook, chances for a social dialogue to foster HR development, are discussed." (author's abstract)