Suchergebnisse

Die vorliegende Studie ist das Ergebnis eines Forschungsvorhabens des Deutschen Instituts für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE). Ziel der Studie ist es, zu einem besseren Verständnis des Themas beizutragen und zu helfen, sowohl die Reaktionsfähigkeit der entwicklungspolitischen Akteure in Bezug auf non-state armed groups/nichtstaatliche Gewaltakteure (NSAG) in Krisensituationen als auch ihre Möglichkeiten im Umgang mit NSAG zur Konfliktbearbeitung zu verbessern. Hintergrund des Forschungsvorhabens sind Situationen gewalttätiger Auseinandersetzungen, mit denen Entwicklungspolitik in vielen Ländern und Regionen konfrontiert ist. Nichtstaatliche bewaffnete Gruppierungen sind ein Hauptmerkmal innerstaatlicher Konflikte und vieler regionaler Kriege. Typische Erscheinungsformen nichtstaatlicher Gewaltakteure sind Rebellenarmeen, Kriegsherren oder Terroristen. Unter NSAG werden im Rahmen der vorliegenden Untersuchung Gruppen verstanden, die durch ihr Handeln das Gewaltmonopol des Staates in Frage stellen. "Interaktion" oder "Umgang" mit NSAG bedeutet im Sinne der vorliegenden Studie ausschließlich ein reflektiertes Vorgehen gegenüber diesen Gruppen. Interaktion ist also nicht gleichbedeutend mit "Kooperation" oder der expliziten oder impliziten Anerkennung oder Legitimierung von Zielen oder Methoden einer NSAG. (ICD2)

State fragility has remained a pressing challenge for international security and development policymakers for more than two decades. However, international engagement in fragile states has often failed, in part due to a lack of understanding about what constitutes state fragility. Established quantitative models usually rank fragile states on one-dimensional scales ranging from stable to highly fragile. This puts states characterised by very different problems and dimensions of fragility into the same "box". Moreover, categorisations such as "fragile", "weak", "failed" or "collapsed" are increasingly rejected in the Global South, thereby hampering international development and security cooperation. The "Constellations of State Fragility" model, developed at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), provides a more differentiated model to measure state fragility. It assesses state fragility along three continuous dimensions, assuming that state fragility is a continuous trait that affects all states to some degree: authority, capacity and legitimacy. These dimensions are not aggregated into a one-dimensional index. Instead, the model detects typical constellations across these dimensions. In so doing, it also accounts for the fact that states can perform very differently in different dimensions. Our analysis yields three main insights about what constitutes state fragility and how it can be addressed: first, state fragility, illiberalism, repression and human rights violations are interrelated; second, state fragility is not unique to the Global South, with negative trends also occurring in the Global North; and, third, differentiated, multi-dimensional models offer better starting points for addressing state fragility than one-dimensional ones. We conclude with four policy recommendations: • Improve analytical capacity by adopting a differentiated view of state fragility: International security and development policymakers would benefit from more fine-grained, differentiated assessments of state fragility. In addition, country-specific assessments of the specific local power constellations in which fragile state institutions are embedded are needed for devising adequate, context-sensitive measures. • Connect measures to address fragility with democracy protection and the protection of human rights: Illiberalism, human rights violations and repression correlate with state fragility. This also suggests that there is a close relationship between autocracy, autocratisation and fragility. Accordingly, measures to address fragility, democracy support and efforts to protect human rights must be better connected. This also implies doing "no harm to democracy" (Leininger, 2023, p. 2). • Identify conditions under which state-building can (or cannot) be pursued: It would be fruitful if international security and development policymakers engaged in thorough discussions about the conditions under which state-building can be pursued. Where existing state institutions are legitimate, they should be supported. However, donor coherence and the capacity (and political will) of donors to commit resources to fragile states and to engage long-term are also important preconditions. State-building is both a costly and a long-term endeavour. • Learning across world regions: Patterns of state fragility can be highly similar, despite geographical distance. In particular, rising illiberalism and increasing attacks on civil liberties are global phenomena. Hence, policy decision-makers and civil society organisations (CSOs) seeking to counter fragility should engage in mutual learning across the North/South divide.

Die Dissertation enthält Abhandlungen des Autors zur Entwicklungspolitik und Solidarität in der DDR im Zeitraum von 1968 bis 1990 bzw. 1994. Im Rahmen analytischer Rekonstruktionen werden die entwicklungsbezogene Bildungsarbeit der unabhängigen Dritte-Welt-Gruppen und die staatliche Entwicklungszusammenarbeit untersucht. Wichtige Grundlagen für die Abhandlungen sind bisher zur wissenschaftlichen und theoretischen Fundierung des Verständnisses von Entwicklungspolitik und Solidarität in der DDR nur in geringem Maße herangezogene Archivmaterialien der ehemaligen Staats- und Parteiapparate sowie aus kirchlichen Beständen. Die entwicklungsbezogene Bildung der unabhängigen Dritte-Welt-Gruppen wird auf ihre Korrespondenzen mit internationalen Entwicklungen seit 1968 und den staatlichen Rahmen in der DDR analysiert. Aufgezeigt wird, dass die unabhängigen Gruppen seit 1968 mit internationalen emanzipatorischen Bestrebungen in Kontakt standen und von den ökumenischen Verbindungen der Kirchen partizipierten. Konzepte der evangelischen Kirchen der 1970er Jahre von einem "verbesserlichen Sozialismus" (Heino Falcke) und der "Kirche als Lerngemeinschaft" unterstützten frühzeitig substantiell die politische Bildungsarbeit der Gruppen unter den repressiven Verhältnissen der DDR und förderten eigenständiges und selbstorganisiertes Engagement. Impulse aus der westeuropäischen Erwachsenenbildung (Ernst Lange) und der "Pädagogik der Unterdrückten" (Paulo Freire) lassen sich nachweisen. In den 1980er Jahren kam es zu einem Wechsel von einer auf kirchliche Strukturen ausgerichteten Arbeit hin zu einer politischen Arbeit, die auf Veränderungen in der Gesellschaft der DDR abzielte. Der Ansatz der entwicklungsbezogenen Bildung, durch Informations- und Bewusstseinsarbeit Verständnis für Veränderungen im Nord-Süd-Verhältnis, wie in der eigenen Gesellschaft zu fördern, erwies sich auch unter den Verhältnissen der DDR als motivierend. Rekonstruiert wird die Entstehung und Arbeitsweise des ostdeutschen entwicklungspolischen Netzwerkes INKOTA. Ihm wird eine intermediäre Funktion zwischen verschiedenen Akteuren zugeschrieben, die den gemäßigt widerständigen Charakter der Dritte-Welt-Gruppen in der Oppositionsbewegung der DDR mit prägte. In den Gruppen fand vielfältiges informelles Lernen und selbstorganisierter Kompetenzerwerb statt. Herausgearbeitet wird, dass diese Lernprozesse im zentralistischen System der DDR für die unabhängigen Gruppen einen hohen Stellenwert aufwiesen. Den in den Gruppen erworbenen Fähigkeiten kam in der friedlichen Wende 1989/1990 eine herausragende Bedeutung zu. Mit der politischen Einheit Deutschlands verloren diese Fähigkeiten schnell an Wirksamkeit. Die weit verstreut und halboffiziell in Kleinstauflagen erschienenen kirchlichen Veröffentlichen zur entwicklungsbezogenen Bildung werden erstmals in einer Bibliografie nach den Herausgebern zusammengefasst und systematisch geordnet. Damit wird eine Grundlage zur weiteren Erforschung entwicklungsbezogener bzw. politischer Bildungsarbeit im Rahmen der Oppositionsforschung der DDR gegeben. An den Beziehungen der DDR zu Mosambik und Äthiopien wird untersucht, wie zu ausgewählten Entwicklungsländern auf Grundlage der marxistisch-leninistischen Theorie der Außenpolitik bzw. der Außenhandelspolitik und wirtschaftlicher Engpässe die praktische Solidarität gestaltet wurden. Aufgezeigt wird, dass die eigenen ökonomischen Interessen teilweise in erheblichem Maße zum Schaden der befreundeten Entwicklungsländer durchsetzt wurden. Dieser Widerspruch sollte unter anderem durch eine hohe Geheimhaltung verdeckt werden. Die staatliche Informationspolitik zu entwicklungspolitischen Fragen erfolgte aus diesem Grund besonders restriktiv. An Hand von exemplarischen Analysen (Äthiopien: Unterstützung des Machtwechsels 1977, Kaffeeimport; Mosambik: Steinkohlebergbau, landwirtschaftliche Großprojekte, Vertragsarbeiter, Außenhandelsschulden, Solidaritätsleistungen) werden Entscheidungsprozesse des Partei- und Staatsapparates aufgezeigt. Die Ergebnisse entsprachen meist nicht den eigenen Ansprüchen wie den Kriterien solidarischer Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. Gedruckte Version im Verlag erschienen: Döring, Hans-Joachim: Es geht um unsere Existenz. Die Politik der DDR gegenüber der Dritten Welt am Beispiel von Mosambik und Äthiopien. - 2. Aufl. - Berlin: Links, 2001. - 353 S. - ISBN 978-3-86153-185-2 ; The dissertation contains discourses by the author on development policies and solidarity in the GDR from 1968-1990 and 1994 respectively. The development-related education of independent, Third World groups and the state development cooperation will be examined in the framework of analytic reconstructions. Up till now, important fundamentals for the discourse have been the scientific and theoretical foundations of the understanding of development polities and solidarity in the GDR. These were put together from scarce archive materials of the former state and party machine as well as from church documents. The development-related education of the independent Third World groups will be analyzed by their correspondences with international developments since 1968 and the state framework of the GDR. It shows that the independent groups were in contact with international emancipation attempts since 1968 and participated in the ecumenical connections of the church. Concepts of the evangelical churches in the 1970s of an "improvable socialism" (Heino Falcke) and the "church as a learning community" earlier substantially supported the political education of the groups under the repressive conditions of the GDR and demanded independent and self-organized commitments. Impetus from Western European adult education (Ernst Lange) and the "pedagogy of the repressed" (Paulo Freire) demonstrate this. In the 1980s there was a change from a work aimed at a ecclesiastical structure to a political work that targeted a change in the society of the GDR. The basic approach of education, which was development-related, promoted understanding through information and consciousness work for changes in the North-South relationship as one would do in his own society. This proved to be motivating even under the atmosphere of the GDR. The creation and the operating principles of the East German developmental policy network INKOTA was reconstructed. It was assigned an intermediary function between the different players that helped form the moderate resistive nature of the Third World groups in the counter movement of the GDR. A complex informal learning and self-organized acquisition of expertise took place in the groups. It was defined that the independent groups in the centralized system of the GDR highly valued this learning process. The abilities acquired in the group took on a prominent importance during the peaceful revolution between 1989/1990. However, with the political unity of Germany these accomplishments quickly lost their effectiveness. The widely dispersed and half-official ecclesiastic publications, which were printed in small runs on the development education were systematically organized into a bibliography and categorized according to their publisher. This laid the basis for further research on development related and political education in the framework of the opposition research given in the GRD. The relationship of the GDR to Mozambique and Ethiopia is being examined to see how they designed their solidarity to certain developing countries, which were chosen according to their foundations of Marxist-Lenin theory of foreign policies, foreign trade policies and economic bottle-necks. What was discovered was that their own economical interests were asserted usually at the expense of the developing countries they had befriended. This contradiction was kept hidden as a strict secret. The state information policies on questions involving development policies which followed as a result were especially restricted. By means of example analysis (In Ethiopia: supporting the change of power in 1977, coffee import; In Mozambique: anthracite, large agricultural projects, contract workers, trade schools, solidarity achievements) the decision-making processes of the party and state administrations were identified. The results did not correspond most of the time with their own demands, like with the solidarity of development cooperation criteria. Printed version available: Döring, Hans-Joachim: Es geht um unsere Existenz. Die Politik der DDR gegenüber der Dritten Welt am Beispiel von Mosambik und Äthiopien. - 2. Aufl. - Berlin: Links, 2001. - 353 S. - ISBN 978-3-86153-185-2

Die GCC-Staaten zeichnen sich durch ein weltweit einmaliges Muster internationaler Arbeitsmigration aus. Die Zuwanderung ausländischer Arbeitskräfte setzte bereits in den späten 1940er Jahren ein, nahm aber nach dem Ölboom im Oktober 1973 eine neue Dimension an: Ausländer/-innen stellen seither nicht nur eine Mehrheit in der Erwerbsbevölkerung der GCC-Staaten (mit Ausnahme von Oman). In Katar, den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten und Kuwait übersteigt ihre Zahl auch diejenige der einheimischen Bevölkerung insgesamt. Zwar bemühen sich die Regierungen der GCC-Staaten darum, die ausländischen Arbeitskräfte nach und nach durch einheimische Arbeitskräfte zu ersetzen. Diese Strategie schlägt aber bislang vor allem in der Privatwirtschaft fehl.

This Master's Thesis examines the dynamics of Baltic states' cooperation in implementing the political phase of electricity network synchronization with continental European networks (CEN). The main aim of this study was to identify the factors that led to the emergence of a unified position and made the political agreement in Brussels possible. To achieve this goal the following tasks were formulated: 1. Introduce the theoretical approaches of liberalism and neorealism, and the hypotheses that arise from them; 2. Review the context of synchronization process; 3. Identify how the positions of the three Baltic States have changed regarding synchronization process: including lengthy negotiations without finding a consensus and the achievement of an agreement. The first part of this Thesis discusses two theoretical approaches that are explaining regional cooperation – liberalism and neorealism. They are used to form two main hypotheses (H1 and H2), which are tested in the second part. H1 argues that the European Commission has become one of the most important actors in helping the Baltic states to reach an agreement, and thus solving collective action problems. H2 states that intensified cooperation between the Baltic states was driven by the threat of Russia. The second part of this work tests these hypotheses by conducting a case study using the process tracing method. The analysis covers the period from 2013 to 2018. Having examined both hypotheses, it was discovered that the EC had the greatest influence regarding the Baltic states' cooperation. Supranational institution has taken a leader's role and moderated the negotiation processes, initiated feasibility studies, and overseen the parties' compliance. The study also discovered that Lithuania had taken a leading role as well. First of all, Lithuania has made great efforts to improve bilateral relations with Poland, which resulted in involving Poland in the synchronization process. Furthermore, Lithuania's efforts have partly resulted in the EC taking the lead in this project. However, the second hypothesis in the work is only partially confirmed, as the study found that the strengthening and expansion of electricity networks in Russia and Belarus was not a primary factor in promoting more active cooperation between the Baltic states, but had some influence on Lithuania, Poland and later on the European Commission.

This Master's Thesis examines the dynamics of Baltic states' cooperation in implementing the political phase of electricity network synchronization with continental European networks (CEN). The main aim of this study was to identify the factors that led to the emergence of a unified position and made the political agreement in Brussels possible. To achieve this goal the following tasks were formulated: 1. Introduce the theoretical approaches of liberalism and neorealism, and the hypotheses that arise from them; 2. Review the context of synchronization process; 3. Identify how the positions of the three Baltic States have changed regarding synchronization process: including lengthy negotiations without finding a consensus and the achievement of an agreement. The first part of this Thesis discusses two theoretical approaches that are explaining regional cooperation – liberalism and neorealism. They are used to form two main hypotheses (H1 and H2), which are tested in the second part. H1 argues that the European Commission has become one of the most important actors in helping the Baltic states to reach an agreement, and thus solving collective action problems. H2 states that intensified cooperation between the Baltic states was driven by the threat of Russia. The second part of this work tests these hypotheses by conducting a case study using the process tracing method. The analysis covers the period from 2013 to 2018. Having examined both hypotheses, it was discovered that the EC had the greatest influence regarding the Baltic states' cooperation. Supranational institution has taken a leader's role and moderated the negotiation processes, initiated feasibility studies, and overseen the parties' compliance. The study also discovered that Lithuania had taken a leading role as well. First of all, Lithuania has made great efforts to improve bilateral relations with Poland, which resulted in involving Poland in the synchronization process. Furthermore, Lithuania's efforts have partly resulted in the EC taking the lead in this project. However, the second hypothesis in the work is only partially confirmed, as the study found that the strengthening and expansion of electricity networks in Russia and Belarus was not a primary factor in promoting more active cooperation between the Baltic states, but had some influence on Lithuania, Poland and later on the European Commission.

This Master's Thesis examines the dynamics of Baltic states' cooperation in implementing the political phase of electricity network synchronization with continental European networks (CEN). The main aim of this study was to identify the factors that led to the emergence of a unified position and made the political agreement in Brussels possible. To achieve this goal the following tasks were formulated: 1. Introduce the theoretical approaches of liberalism and neorealism, and the hypotheses that arise from them; 2. Review the context of synchronization process; 3. Identify how the positions of the three Baltic States have changed regarding synchronization process: including lengthy negotiations without finding a consensus and the achievement of an agreement. The first part of this Thesis discusses two theoretical approaches that are explaining regional cooperation – liberalism and neorealism. They are used to form two main hypotheses (H1 and H2), which are tested in the second part. H1 argues that the European Commission has become one of the most important actors in helping the Baltic states to reach an agreement, and thus solving collective action problems. H2 states that intensified cooperation between the Baltic states was driven by the threat of Russia. The second part of this work tests these hypotheses by conducting a case study using the process tracing method. The analysis covers the period from 2013 to 2018. Having examined both hypotheses, it was discovered that the EC had the greatest influence regarding the Baltic states' cooperation. Supranational institution has taken a leader's role and moderated the negotiation processes, initiated feasibility studies, and overseen the parties' compliance. The study also discovered that Lithuania had taken a leading role as well. First of all, Lithuania has made great efforts to improve bilateral relations with Poland, which resulted in involving Poland in the synchronization process. Furthermore, Lithuania's efforts have partly resulted in the EC taking the lead in this project. However, the second hypothesis in the work is only partially confirmed, as the study found that the strengthening and expansion of electricity networks in Russia and Belarus was not a primary factor in promoting more active cooperation between the Baltic states, but had some influence on Lithuania, Poland and later on the European Commission.

This Master's Thesis examines the dynamics of Baltic states' cooperation in implementing the political phase of electricity network synchronization with continental European networks (CEN). The main aim of this study was to identify the factors that led to the emergence of a unified position and made the political agreement in Brussels possible. To achieve this goal the following tasks were formulated: 1. Introduce the theoretical approaches of liberalism and neorealism, and the hypotheses that arise from them; 2. Review the context of synchronization process; 3. Identify how the positions of the three Baltic States have changed regarding synchronization process: including lengthy negotiations without finding a consensus and the achievement of an agreement. The first part of this Thesis discusses two theoretical approaches that are explaining regional cooperation – liberalism and neorealism. They are used to form two main hypotheses (H1 and H2), which are tested in the second part. H1 argues that the European Commission has become one of the most important actors in helping the Baltic states to reach an agreement, and thus solving collective action problems. H2 states that intensified cooperation between the Baltic states was driven by the threat of Russia. The second part of this work tests these hypotheses by conducting a case study using the process tracing method. The analysis covers the period from 2013 to 2018. Having examined both hypotheses, it was discovered that the EC had the greatest influence regarding the Baltic states' cooperation. Supranational institution has taken a leader's role and moderated the negotiation processes, initiated feasibility studies, and overseen the parties' compliance. The study also discovered that Lithuania had taken a leading role as well. First of all, Lithuania has made great efforts to improve bilateral relations with Poland, which resulted in involving Poland in the synchronization process. Furthermore, Lithuania's efforts have partly resulted in the EC taking the lead in this project. However, the second hypothesis in the work is only partially confirmed, as the study found that the strengthening and expansion of electricity networks in Russia and Belarus was not a primary factor in promoting more active cooperation between the Baltic states, but had some influence on Lithuania, Poland and later on the European Commission.

In recent decades when the concept 'Regional Europe' is becoming more popular and regions are becoming more significant players on national and international levels, bigger attention is paid to regionalism studies and regionalisation processes as well. These processes have not bypassed Nordic countries, which promote cooperation within the Baltic region by involving the Baltic States into the regional processes as well. USA has received an important role in the processes of development of the Baltic Sea region, to which belong both Northern and the Baltic States; this region has become attractive to USA because of its increasing influence in the region and Europe, and it was a good opportunity for USA to maintain its influence in Europe after the end of the Cold war. The main object of this work is cooperation between Nordic - Baltic countries and USA in the context of development of the regional initiatives. This paper work tries to investigate dynamics of cooperation between Nordic and the Baltic States and USA by assessing the superpower impact and influence on cooperation of two sub-regional states in the Baltic Sea region. When assessing tendencies of cooperation between Northern and the Baltic States and USA, most attention is paid to the format (NB8+1) of regional group NB8 collaborating with USA, JAV, and Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (E-PINE) program initiated by this state. In order to achieve the goal, the following tasks have been fulfilled: review of the conception, essential definitions and terms of regional development and regionalism/sub-regionalism, discussion of the place of the regional level analysis in political theories of international relations; review and assessment of (sub)regionalism processes among Nordic-Baltic countries; evaluation of USA role in the region by taking into consideration the interests, motives and influence of this superpower on dynamics of regional cooperation within Northern and the Baltic States, and review and evaluation of the tendencies of cooperation of Northern and the Baltic States with USA. In order to achieve the goal and the tasks of this paper work, analytical descriptive, case study, document and comparative analysis methods were used. After the tasks are fulfilled, conclusions can be made that the most perspective self-realisation space of the Baltic States has recently been so-called Northern Arch – a dynamic region of the sovereign Baltic and Northern States maintaining close relations with transatlantic partners, the Great Britain and other EU states. USA declares the significance of those sub-regions as "a growing global partner". The superpower of the world formulates and maintains close relations with Northern and the Baltic States as with a separate region. Such distinction of the sub-region within the USA agenda (Programme of Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe) is already an obvious expression of designing its interests towards the Northern-Baltic direction.

In recent decades when the concept 'Regional Europe' is becoming more popular and regions are becoming more significant players on national and international levels, bigger attention is paid to regionalism studies and regionalisation processes as well. These processes have not bypassed Nordic countries, which promote cooperation within the Baltic region by involving the Baltic States into the regional processes as well. USA has received an important role in the processes of development of the Baltic Sea region, to which belong both Northern and the Baltic States; this region has become attractive to USA because of its increasing influence in the region and Europe, and it was a good opportunity for USA to maintain its influence in Europe after the end of the Cold war. The main object of this work is cooperation between Nordic - Baltic countries and USA in the context of development of the regional initiatives. This paper work tries to investigate dynamics of cooperation between Nordic and the Baltic States and USA by assessing the superpower impact and influence on cooperation of two sub-regional states in the Baltic Sea region. When assessing tendencies of cooperation between Northern and the Baltic States and USA, most attention is paid to the format (NB8+1) of regional group NB8 collaborating with USA, JAV, and Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (E-PINE) program initiated by this state. In order to achieve the goal, the following tasks have been fulfilled: review of the conception, essential definitions and terms of regional development and regionalism/sub-regionalism, discussion of the place of the regional level analysis in political theories of international relations; review and assessment of (sub)regionalism processes among Nordic-Baltic countries; evaluation of USA role in the region by taking into consideration the interests, motives and influence of this superpower on dynamics of regional cooperation within Northern and the Baltic States, and review and evaluation of the tendencies of cooperation of Northern and the Baltic States with USA. In order to achieve the goal and the tasks of this paper work, analytical descriptive, case study, document and comparative analysis methods were used. After the tasks are fulfilled, conclusions can be made that the most perspective self-realisation space of the Baltic States has recently been so-called Northern Arch – a dynamic region of the sovereign Baltic and Northern States maintaining close relations with transatlantic partners, the Great Britain and other EU states. USA declares the significance of those sub-regions as "a growing global partner". The superpower of the world formulates and maintains close relations with Northern and the Baltic States as with a separate region. Such distinction of the sub-region within the USA agenda (Programme of Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe) is already an obvious expression of designing its interests towards the Northern-Baltic direction.

In recent decades when the concept 'Regional Europe' is becoming more popular and regions are becoming more significant players on national and international levels, bigger attention is paid to regionalism studies and regionalisation processes as well. These processes have not bypassed Nordic countries, which promote cooperation within the Baltic region by involving the Baltic States into the regional processes as well. USA has received an important role in the processes of development of the Baltic Sea region, to which belong both Northern and the Baltic States; this region has become attractive to USA because of its increasing influence in the region and Europe, and it was a good opportunity for USA to maintain its influence in Europe after the end of the Cold war. The main object of this work is cooperation between Nordic - Baltic countries and USA in the context of development of the regional initiatives. This paper work tries to investigate dynamics of cooperation between Nordic and the Baltic States and USA by assessing the superpower impact and influence on cooperation of two sub-regional states in the Baltic Sea region. When assessing tendencies of cooperation between Northern and the Baltic States and USA, most attention is paid to the format (NB8+1) of regional group NB8 collaborating with USA, JAV, and Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (E-PINE) program initiated by this state. In order to achieve the goal, the following tasks have been fulfilled: review of the conception, essential definitions and terms of regional development and regionalism/sub-regionalism, discussion of the place of the regional level analysis in political theories of international relations; review and assessment of (sub)regionalism processes among Nordic-Baltic countries; evaluation of USA role in the region by taking into consideration the interests, motives and influence of this superpower on dynamics of regional cooperation within Northern and the Baltic States, and review and evaluation of the tendencies of cooperation of Northern and the Baltic States with USA. In order to achieve the goal and the tasks of this paper work, analytical descriptive, case study, document and comparative analysis methods were used. After the tasks are fulfilled, conclusions can be made that the most perspective self-realisation space of the Baltic States has recently been so-called Northern Arch – a dynamic region of the sovereign Baltic and Northern States maintaining close relations with transatlantic partners, the Great Britain and other EU states. USA declares the significance of those sub-regions as "a growing global partner". The superpower of the world formulates and maintains close relations with Northern and the Baltic States as with a separate region. Such distinction of the sub-region within the USA agenda (Programme of Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe) is already an obvious expression of designing its interests towards the Northern-Baltic direction.

Gründung, Struktur und politische Bedeutung des am 16. Februar 1989 gegründeten Arabischen Kooperationsrates, dem Ägypten, Irak, Jordanien und (Nord-)Jemen angehören. Beigefügt ist eine vom Verfasser besorgte deutsche Übersetzung der Gründungsvereinbarung. (DÜI-Hns)