*** TANGUY DE WILDE D'ESTMAEL, TANGUY STRUYE DE SWIELANDE: La Chine sur la scène internationale. Vers une puissance responsable. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes / Peter Lang (1 av. Maurice, B-1050 Brussels. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - Fax: 3761727 - Email: info@pertelang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). 'Géopolitique et résolution des conflits / Geopolitics and Conflict Resolution' series, No. 14. 2012, 512 pp, €58-90. ISBN 978-2-87574-003-8
Back in 1978, Alain Peyrefitte predicted that 'When China wakes up,' we would all find ourselves quaking in our boots. China has now woken up, but provides a rather more varied and in some respects paradoxical picture, combining crypto-communism with an often wild capitalism, along with a potential ly menacing power and, at the same time, the deployment of soft power, the only example of which would be of the European Community, if one believes the authors of this book. Both are lecturers at the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium, where Tanguy de Wilde d'Estmael lecturers in political science and Tanguy Struye de Swielande in international relations. They stress the novelty of this curious power in a world that is itself in process of mutation. The imperial mentality, they say, could only imagine relations with others from the angle of allegiance or as vassals rather than on an equal footing. Today, however, China projects itself onto the global stage with a ferocious attachment to state sovereignty, of course, but also by postulating ipso facto equality among states. They describe the peaceful rise of China, despite recent announcements by Beijing that it will be updating its army, which gives the desire to look into this in more detail, by drawing a parallel with the other emerging power, the European Union, and with other BRICs.
The authors say that while Beijing uses ideas that in many respects are the principles of peaceful coexistence, one cannot get round the fact that China is a power that is making a break from its past (in which Emperors ruled that it was 'unreasonable' to influence the external world that had the 'bad luck' to be inferior) and is now projecting itself beyond its sphere.
Africa is the perfect example of application of this new doctrine. The two authors state that it is the strategy of an emerging power that has not yet identified a new enemy and is avoiding running the risk of provoking the other powers in the world. The big question is whether this is 'restraint or defiance' by a country that plays 'wei-ch'i' (a game called 'go') that comprises indirect clashes by means of which its industry 'subtly places its pawns on the international chessboard, without the West always noticing.' The authors say the game is only restricted by the 'great vulnerability' of the economy, described in detail in the book. China is reported at the same time to be deploying a impressive 'infosphere' to impact on media coverage around the world and mark the country's slow but steady deployment on the world stage.
When it comes to China's relations with Europe and comparisons between Europe and China, the authors note that the two 'have at least two points in common: in the last part of the twentieth century, they each incarnated in a very different manner a type of third way in the ambient bipolarity; and in the twenty-first century, they are constantly puzzling over the type of power that they are developing.' The authors say that they are two 'normative powers' that are no longer proposing their norms - or models - but rather their domination , which, in terms of the European Union, includes 'democratic messianism' which sometimes carries with it the whiff of 'neocolonialism.' Against this backdrop, they say that the European arms embargo on China, which is still in place, has nothing to do with the events of Tiananmen Square, but is simply a card to be played…
Fathi B'Chir
*** SOTIRIS PETROPOULOS, ASTERIOS CHOULIARAS (Eds.): La Chine et les autres. Les relations entre la Chine, l'Europe et le monde. Editions Papazisi (2 Nikitara, GR-10678 Athens. Tel: (30-210) 3822496 - Fax: 3809020 - Email: papazisi@otenet.gr - Internet: http://www.papazisi.gr ). 2014, 404 pp, €20. ISBN 978-960-02-2780-2.
Most analysts say that China is well-placed, given its geographical and demographical dimensions, its dynamic economy and the know-how of its political leaders, to assert its hegemony on the world stage. Of course, nothing has yet been acquired at this stage: first it has to pursue growth and also to maintain political stability at home, which cannot be taken for granted. Although many observers are already talking about a 'rising superpower' and the 'Chinese century,' it is better to remain cautious. Particularly because, as the authors of this book point out, forecasts in the field of social science are always precarious. All the same, this collection of essays provides answers to a series of important questions. For example, why should the relations between the People's Republic of China and Greece be considered against the wider backdrop of the relations between China, Europe and the United States? How are the leaders in Washington trying to strike a balance between China as an economic partner and China as a geopolitical competitor? And the following, crucial, question - Is it possible to prevent an economic giant from acting as a superpower? The in-depth analysis in the thirteen chapters of this book, by researchers who have worked under the leadership of the two professors at Athens University, provides a more detailed image of the importance of China and, in turn, helps gain a greater understanding of the complex international issues of the present day.
(AKa)
*** TADEUSZ BUKSINSKI (Ed.): Identities and Modernizations. Peter Lang (1 Moosstrasse, P.O. Box 350, CH-2542 Pieterlen. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - Fax: 3761727 - email: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). Dia-Logos / Studies in Philosophy and Social Science series. 2013, 312 pp, €57-95. ISBN 978-3-631-64497-3.
How can modernisation be pursued while preserving the collective identity? This question formed the basis of a conference organised by Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland, on 'Identities and Modernisations.' Observing similarities between the modernisation processes of China and central and Eastern theoreticians and researchers from the said regions agree that: 'No effective modernisation of economy, technology or science is possible without a prior modernisation of the collective identity (i.e. culture, tradition, religion and spirituality in general),' although 'effective and long-term modernization cannot be achieved with disregard for tradition, culture or religion.' In fact, although the socialist modernisation that took place in both Europe and China in the twentieth century provided growth and industrialisation, the development process was achieved at the price of a real destruction of traditional cultural identities and therefore it remained limited in time. Once the totalitarian version of the socialist political model had been dismantled, each of these regions turned again towards a model that was in-step with their traditional cultural identities. Questioning the nature of the process of change for cultural identities the authors of this book all agree to reject 'the theory of multiple modernities and a uniform vision of modernisation development.' They radiate the idea of a 'dispersed,' 'complicated' or 'harmonious' modernisation theory, a 'theory describing the multi-tier nature of the process and mutual interaction between culture, technology, economic and politics.' The book is divided into three sections. After reflecting on modernisation and identities in central and Eastern Europe, the authors examine the question of modernisation in China. The study ends with an analysis of the universalism of modernisation patterns and the particularities of identities.
(SD)
*** EKAVI ATHANASSOPOULOU: Alliés mais pas amis. États-Unis / Turquie, 1979-2000. Éditions Epikentro (9 Kamvounion, GR-54621 Thessalonica. Tel: (30-231) 0256146 - Fax: 0254148 - Internet: books@epikentro.gr). 2013, 280 pp, €19. ISBN 978-960458342-3.
Over the past decade, US-Turkish relations have significantly changed direction. To the surprise and dismay of the leaders of the United States, Turkey has tried to assert a new tone in its dialogue with Washington, basically demanding that it be viewed by the US as an equal partner. This development in Turkey's position and the American reaction to it are explained by the changes in the strategic relations between the US and Turkey that occurred during the 1980s and 1990s. Lecturer in international relations at the political science and public administration department of Athens University, Ekavi Athanassopoulou provides a different viewpoint in this book on changes in US-Turkey relations, and sheds light on a number of previously unclear aspects.
(AKa)
*** QUENTIN MICHEL, SYLVAIN PAILE, MARYNA TSUKANOVA, ANDREA VISKI: Controlling the Trade of Dual-Use Goods. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes / Peter Lang (see above). 'Non-proliferation and Security' series. 2013, 122 pp, €38-50. ISBN 978-2-87574-077-9.
Although the concern to restrict the use and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction emerged from the very first stories of war, it has been growing in importance as society has developed. The advent of new technology, be it chemical, bacteriological, radiological or nuclear, has hugely increased the devastating potential of weapons of mass destruction. Moreover, globalisation has made it easier for such weapons to proliferate, along with their use by state and non-state players. It is against this backdrop that the international community regulates trade in 'dual-use' goods. Although generally destined for peaceful purposes, dual-use goods can potentially contribute to the construction of weapons of mass destruction and therefore, a complex export control system covers this type of goods, which has to preserve the fragile balance between international security and legitimate economic activity. In this three-part book, researchers from Liège University and the International Peace Research Institute in Stockholm describe and explain in detail the export control system for dual-use goods. As the authors point out, this system 'is plural because there is not one independent export control measure, but rather a set of measures, functioning in unison and aiming at addressing one component of WMD proliferation: the flow of goods that potentially have a WMD application.' The authors answer in this connection three key questions: Why should weapons be controlled? What exactly should be controlled? And how are the controls to be carried out? The first section defines the concepts used, setting them against the political context of nuclear proliferation. This section reviews the main legal and soft law instruments used to this end, particularly by the United States and Europe. The authors go on to examine the system's scope of application and then explain a number of aspects of the export licensing procedures.
(SD)
*** THEODORA ZIOPOULOU: Les questions de délimitation des zones maritimes et des îles et le droit international: l'approche dans la jurisprudence des tribunaux internationaux. Éditions I Sideris (116 Solonos Str., GR-10681 Athens. Tel: (30-210) 3833434 - Fax: 3832294 - Email: contact@isideris.gr - Internet: http://www.isideris.gr ). 2013, 161 pp, €12.78. ISBN 978-960-08-0618-2.
The status of island regions is laid down in the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, along with areas recognised as maritime islands. The questions addressed in this book relate to the practice of states in this connection and how conflicts over the defining of maritime areas are solved in various international jurisdictions. According to Theodora Ziopoulou, researcher at the Institute of International Relations (IDIS), the definition of maritime areas is a complex question, particularly when the islands are scattered between neighbouring states. These definitions affect the sensitive issues of sovereignty and economic interests, which often have a huge impact on relations between neighbouring countries. The book analyses problems with applying and interpreting the provisions of the Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the author shows that states are often unable to agree with each other in bilateral talks, so they end up having to take their differences to court, usually the Tribunal in The Hague.
(AKa)
*** KLAUS-DIETER ERTLER, MARTIN LÖSCHNIGG, YVONNE VÖLKL (Eds.): Europe - Canada. Transcultural Perspectives / Perspectives transculturelles. Peter Lang (1 Moosstrasse, P.O. Box 350, CH-2542 Pieterlen. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - Fax: 3761727 - Email: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). "Canadiana" series, No. 14. 2013, 246 pp, €49.95. ISBN 978-3-631-62943-7.
Following on from a conference organised by the Canadian Studies Institute at Graz University in December 2012, the essays in the volume take a look at social and cultural changes observed in a transcultural context in Canada and Europe, with the eighteen authors, most of them from academia, focussing on interdependence, interaction and the mixing of cultural phenomena across the Atlantic. Their search leads them to answers to the question of how Canadians and Europeans view their mutual history and common cultural heritage at the start of the new millennium. As the editors explain in the introduction, large-scale immigration from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, along with the official recognition of the First Nations, have turned Canada into a 'multicultural mosaic' that could well serve as a 'model for the transforming cultures and societies in the Old World.'
(PBo)