Suchergebnisse

The author is of the opinion that Serbian expansionism is the result of Serbia's geopolitical & economic disadvantages: its continental isolation, peripheral agrarian economy, & scattered population in relatively undeveloped regions outside Serbia proper. The Serbian state has tried in the last century to make up for these shortcomings by territorial expansion. Yugoslavia was the realization of that objective, since in it, Serbia arrogated significant resources by means of centralist redistribution. When the Yugoslav state met with a crisis, Serbian leadership did not agree to confederation reform, but instead opted for using their superior military might. The economic consequences of this show of force were tremendous: direct damage, due to destruction & occupation, & indirect damage through misappropriation of federal assets. Serbia is today faced with the failure of its venture, so its priority is the lifting of economic sanctions. The Croatian state in this historic moment must, above all, secure its territorial integrity & prevent the division of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Adapted from the source document.

The main task of the Swiss security policy up to the collapse of the bipolar system was the country's military defense. The content of its defense doctrine was elaborated on & further expanded as total defense in the non-military direction. The end of the cold war marked a departure from the classical defense doctrine & also relativized the mythological character of permanent neutrality, forcing Switzerland to redefine its security policy in the altered European security setting. The expansion of the concept of security went hand in hand with an increased interest in international peace efforts & international cooperation. In the meantime, Switzerland's instruments & activities have multiplied in both fields. In certain aspects, eg, the control of the policy of disarmament & armament, Switzerland has excelled. Concerning the new forms of threats & intimidation it has shown willingness for across-the-border cooperation, while the traditional formula security through neutrality & independence increasingly gives way to the new motto: Security through cooperation -- a shift from its time-honored foreign- & security/political course of restrictive & detached attitude towards a more intensive cooperation. Although conceptually the development of Swiss security policy & consequently its shift towards some peace policy has not been even remotely supported by a satisfactory redistribution of financial & personal resources, the Swiss military reform -- introduced in early 2004 -- is de facto a conceptual accommodation of the Swiss military force to the new plan on European security. Switzerland has become a member of the PfP although, due to its policy of neutrality, it is not planning to join the NATO. Nevertheless, Switzerland is vacillating between the EU membership & a more substantial rapprochement with the NATO, at the same time putting all its hopes into the development of global management under the direction of the United Nations & the joint security system. 2 Tables, 3 Figures, 19 References. Adapted from the source document.

Analyzes the importance of charismatic authority in traditional societies, especially during the so-called watershed times. Max Weber was the first sociologist to explore the concept of charisma & charismatic authority within the context of legitimate political authority. Charisma is a quality of a person because of which they are deemed exceptional & due to which their followers consider them possessed of some rare supernatural & superhuman powers or traits. Such a person is thought of as God-given or laudable & is consequently looked up to as a leader. The author points to the link between stigma & charisma in the study by the German sociologist Wolfgang Lipp. Using his insights as the starting point, the author tries to illustrate his thesis by means of Tudman's case. How do stigma & charisma under certain historical circumstances merge in one person, enhancing the final impact on certain historical movements? In every society in watershed periods, when one political paradigm replaces another, when people get confused, stigma & charisma may be the focal points of a new fulcrum, a new identity. Under such circumstances, one must delineate both the outer & the inner boundaries between "these" & "those," "us" & "them." These boundaries (ethnic, confessional, & national) are time & again confirmed through glorifying the leader & ostracizing "the undesirables." In wartime, the emotional component is particularly pronounced. The bulk of the population identifies with the charismatic paragon. In such a context, it is a point of pride to be, for example, a Croat. However, this is only perfunctory, a mere ideology for the ignorant & manipulated populace. Under the surface, however, economic/political battles are raging, struggle for the redistribution of power by means of, among other things, getting rid of the competition by ethnic labeling. When stigma becomes a "lethal weapon" of a political movement, the consequences are unpredictable. Both stigma & charisma not infrequently end up in monstrosities. The events on the territory of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s are an obvious example. 23 References. Adapted from the source document.

Analyzes the importance of charismatic authority in traditional societies, especially during the so-called watershed times. Max Weber was the first sociologist to explore the concept of charisma & charismatic authority within the context of legitimate political authority. Charisma is a quality of a person because of which they are deemed exceptional & due to which their followers consider them possessed of some rare supernatural & superhuman powers or traits. Such a person is thought of as God-given or laudable & is consequently looked up to as a leader. The author points to the link between stigma & charisma in the study by the German sociologist Wolfgang Lipp. Using his insights as the starting point, the author tries to illustrate his thesis by means of Tudman's case. How do stigma & charisma under certain historical circumstances merge in one person, enhancing the final impact on certain historical movements? In every society in watershed periods, when one political paradigm replaces another, when people get confused, stigma & charisma may be the focal points of a new fulcrum, a new identity. Under such circumstances, one must delineate both the outer & the inner boundaries between "these" & "those," "us" & "them." These boundaries (ethnic, confessional, & national) are time & again confirmed through glorifying the leader & ostracizing "the undesirables." In wartime, the emotional component is particularly pronounced. The bulk of the population identifies with the charismatic paragon. In such a context, it is a point of pride to be, for example, a Croat. However, this is only perfunctory, a mere ideology for the ignorant & manipulated populace. Under the surface, however, economic/political battles are raging, struggle for the redistribution of power by means of, among other things, getting rid of the competition by ethnic labeling. When stigma becomes a "lethal weapon" of a political movement, the consequences are unpredictable. Both stigma & charisma not infrequently end up in monstrosities. The events on the territory of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s are an obvious example. 23 References. Adapted from the source document.