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Since the end of the Cold War there has been an increased interest in the Baltics. The Baltic States brings together three titles, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, to provide a comprehensive and analytical guide integrating history, political science, economic development and contemporary events into one account. Since gaining their independence, each country has developed at its own pace with its own agenda and facing its own obstacles. The authors examine the tensions accompanying a post-communist return to Europe after the long years of separation and how each country has responded to the demands of becoming a modern European state. Estonia was the first of the former Soviet republics to enter membership negotiations with the European Union in 1988 and is a potential candidate for the next round of EU expansion in 2004. Lithuania and Latvia have also expressed their desire for future membership of NATO and the EU.
The book examines the security puzzles posed by the remaining legacies of dominance and conflict in the Baltic Sea region as governments seek to integrate the three Baltic sates in a more stable system of cooperative security.
This electronic version has been made available under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) open access license. In the story of post-Cold War conceptual confusion, the war in and over Kosovo stands out as a particularly interesting episode. This book provides new and stimulating perspectives on how Kosovo has shaped the new Europe. It breaks down traditional assumptions in the field of security studies by sidelining the theoretical worldview that underlies mainstream strategic thinking on recent events in Kosovo. The book offers a conceptual overview of the Kosovo debate, placing these events in the context of globalisation, European integration and the discourse of modernity and its aftermath. It ...
This book examines Russia's attempts to tackle the challenges of the new and increasing security threats of rising crime, corruption and terrorism that it has experienced since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991. It demonstrates the close links between the rising drug trade, border problems, migration issues, organised crime, corruption and terrorism. Uncovering information not seen before by Western audiences, this book: shows how Russia's porous borders have facilitated the operation of transnational crime groups explores the specific features that make particular regions such as Siberia important for the drug trade and other forms of smuggling, analysing the character of the differe...
A comparative analysis of the foreign policies of eight post-communist states which considers the extent to which official communist ideology has been replaced by nationalism and establishes how these states express their national identities through foreign policy.
The four Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway, have all held referenda on their relationship to the European Union in the 1990's. These referenda catalysed heated debates: should Finland and Sweden give up neutrality? Should Denmark follow the European Union's move towards higher degrees of integration? And, had there been enough change in Norway to reverse the rejection of European Community membership in 1972? These key questions about the future of European integration are addressed in this highly topical book by examining the crucial role played by national identity.
"Forces for good develops and explores the concept of 'cosmopolitan militaries'. It examines how governments, militaries and institutions have responded politically, doctrinally and operationally to claims that militaries have a new role in cosmopolitan law enforcement that allows and perhaps even requires the use of force to protect and defend those who are the victims of gross abuse of human rights. The contributors include academics, defence practitioners and serving military officers."--BOOK JACKET.
Military, political, and academic experts analyze recent reforms in military personnel policies, including the shift to a smaller, all-volunteer force, improved working conditions, increased pay, and better quality of life for military families.
This timely book offers a multifaceted analysis of EU-Russian relations, drawing on the investigation of competing models of international society. Makarychev argues that the huge variety of interest-based and normative models is best explained through the study of foreign policy and identity discourses. His approach defies simplistic explanations of EU-Russian relations as either destined for cooperation or doomed to constant collisions. Instead, Makarychev unveils multiple alternatives that both the EU and Russia face in their policies toward each other. Assessing the repercussions ongoing EU-Russian discord has on Europe and the world, Makarychev's volume reveals the interconnectedness of the discourses dominating the EU and Russia while also accounting for the deep-seated disconnect between them.
A central point of controversy among both academics and policymakers is the nature and significance of security in the post-Cold War world. Engaging that discussion, this collection explores the new security challenges facing Europe.