*** CHRISTIANE TIMMERMAN, BARBARA SEGAERT (Eds.): How to Conquer the Barriers to Intercultural Dialogue. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes - Peter Lang (1 av. Maurice, B-1050 Brussels. E-mail: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.net ). "Gods, Humans and Religions", No. 5. 2005, 240 pp. ISBN 90-5201-258-X.
Christianity, Islam and Judaism… Three monotheist religions sharing the same roots and (contrary to what many of their followers think or want to believe) with so much else in common. While many people have withdrawn into identity cocoons, often a by-word for suspicion or even hostility of 'others', this book is at the antipodes of a 'clash of civilisations' since, as the title suggests, it aims to beat down barriers to dialogue between cultures, or more precisely, dialogue between religions. The book takes on the subject without collapsing into naivety or angelic optimism, trying to understand what, in each of these three great religions, might form an obstacle to understanding the others. It also demonstrates that within the three religions' dogma lies a seed of potentially opening up to the others. As Michael Barnes explains: "Dialogue is less about debating truth-claims than about creating the conditions within which the questions themselves can be heard and understood". Dialogue is not an end in itself, not the end goal, but rather a means, a way of moving towards greater understanding and respect for others. This is the path the book aims to explore to soothe tensions arising not from religious differences but which the various 'camps' use to establish their own identity around religious fault lines.
The book is written by Jews, Christians and Muslims, religious believers and non-believers. They write about inter-religious dialogue from the viewpoint of their own religion, quoting passages of sacred texts to demonstrate openness to other religions. Writing about Christianity against the backdrop of globalisation (but about questions no doubt applying to the other religions too), Emilio Platti distinguishes between the widespread tolerance of mysticism and the less accepted tolerance of the lifestyle that best contributes to humanity's well-being - the 'right path' ('orthopraxis'). He writes, for example, that "religious pluralism is entirely accepted when it concerns the mystical level of religion, diversity in ritual and doctrinal symbolism, and in a very restricted way, some personal aspects of moral life. But the same pluralism is out of the question when it concerns orthopraxis in society". Platti, a member of the Dominican Institute for Oriental Studies in Cairo, adds: "Whatever is said about the Clash of Civilisations, it is clear that the West is far from accepting pluralism and multiculturalism all over the world, when it comes to orthopraxis in matters of sexual behaviour, emancipation of women, freedom of expression, democratic organisation of the state. On the contrary, even politicians have become modern missionaries of Western patterns. Their influence on the mind and spirit of people on a global scale is just overwhelming. Except for a kind of passive resistance, resistance exists only in the Islamic world and is mostly perceived as terrorism".
These views are clearly not shared by all writers. The book does not aim to put across a particular view of the world, but rather to help readers by providing them with tools with which they can better understand others in their diversity and break down the far from inevitable barriers. Some of the authors, for example, are at pains to set out the criteria required for dialogue. Others look at issues more in the public eye, like the question of secularism under Islam, the connection between Turkey and the European Union and the various meanings of the term 'jihad'. Salutary reading, in short, for the start of the year.
Frederik Ronse
*** YADH BEN ACHOUR: La Cour européenne des droits de l'Homme et la liberté de religion. Editions A. Pedone (13 rue Soufflot, F-75005 Paris). "Institut des hautes études internationales de Paris - Cours et travaux" series, No. 3. 2005, 96 pp, €10. ISBN 2-233-00-469-8.
Professor at the law faculty of Carthage University in Tunisia and a member of the Institute of International Law, the author of this book, Yadh Ben Achour, provides penetrating analysis of the nuanced and downright subtle case law of the European Court of Human Rights on religious issues based on the European Convention of Human Rights adopted by the Court of Europe on 4 November 1950. In the first part of the book, the author looks at the Court's attitude to the exercise of the freedom of religion under Article 9 of the Convention affirming the right of every individual to three fundamental freedoms, the freedom of speech, the freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, but then only focuses on the freedom of religion and its manifestations. Why distinguish between these freedoms? The author argues that it is probably because religion is liable to the cause of the greatest level of oppression, as has been shown throughout history, particularly the history that directly led to the Convention. He goes on to study the implications and restrictions on the various aspects of freedom of conscience (meaning the right to express no view or the right to 'infidelity', which also means the freedom to change religion or convictions, the right to renunciation (still punishable by death in some Muslim countries)) and freedom in the way one expresses one's religious (right to debate but condemnation of proselytising, right to express one's religious views based on the freedom of speech, right to practice one's religion and limits on this). The second part of the book looks at how religious communities are organised and what they contribute to political life and the state. The author reviews state neutrality and recognition of religions, with some very enlightening sections on the secular idea of the relation between religion and the state that saw the light of day in Europe, believing this can legitimately be traced back to early Christianity and the Gospels. He also looks at the autonomy of religious communities under pluralist systems and the question of political parties claiming to belong to a religion. In his conclusion, Yadh Ben Achour notes that one fundamental idea emerges from the Court of Human Rights case law on religion, that democracy is the criterion on which it rules on the maximum limits to which the freedom of religion can stretch and also the minimum limits beyond which freedom of religion cannot be damaged. The author neatly concludes that in the democratic system the Strasbourg Court jealously watches over, religion is not allowed to subjugate society or the state, but at the same time, the state is not allowed to subjugate religion.
(MT)
*** JEAN-CLAUDE PETIT: L'Eglise après Jean-Paul II. Les dossiers urgents du nouveau pape. Calmann-Lévy (31 rue de Fleurus, F-75006 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 49543600 - Fax: 45448632 - Internet: http://www.calmann-levy.fr ). 2005, 183 pp, €15. ISBN 2-7021-3151-4.
As a journalist, Jean-Claude Petit has been following the ins and outs, ebbs and flows, crises and developments of the Catholic Church for many years. In this book, the author (a supporter of the spirit of the Vatican II Council) reviews the challenges facing the current Pope, Benedict XVI, namely less centralised governance paying greater respect to local Churches, pontificating less and listening more to the faithful, breathing new life into the ecumenical movement, fighting obscurantism in its midst, learning the lessons of the fact that women are the future of the Church and giving priority again to the poor throughout the world… Committed views which will not please all chapels!
(PBo)
*** GERARD COHEN-JONATHAN, JEAN-FRANCOIS FLAUSS (Eds.): La réforme du système de contrôle contentieux de la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme. Bruylant (67 rue de la Régence, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 5129845 - Fax: 5117202 - E-mail: info@bruylant.be - Internet: http://www.bruylant.be ). "Droit et justice" series, No. 61. 2005, 256 pp, €65. ISBN 2-8027-2047-3.
"Do national parliaments want a watered-down Europe in terms of freedoms? Are they aware that the European Court of Human Rights is in jeopardy over and beyond the predictions of a handful of inconsistent conservatives?" This sets the tone of this book! The number of cases pending at the European Court of Human Rights is impressive and growing at such a rate ('in November 1998, pending cases at the court were in the order of 6500, but there were 75800 as at 1 September 2004') that the court's functioning and credibility are under serious threat. The functioning of the court was reformed under a new protocol (No. 11), which soon proved clearly inadequate, as is outlined in this book. Based on the proceedings of a seminar held in 2004 under the aegis of the Cassin International Human Rights Institute, the book starts with introductory chapters setting out the background to changing the system and potential changes that could be made. There are then four chapters on Protocol 11, which was supposed to improve the functioning of the court, and the views of lawyers and NGOs in this connection. There is the transcription of a round table discussion and a concluding chapter. The book deals with a subject of concern to everyone (improving a tool used to protect our fundamental rights), but is unlikely to be fully comprehensible and useable for people outside the relatively closed circle of experts and stakeholders. Despite the fact that it is very true that "people, like parliaments, need to be aware of this final combat in defence of liberties, and it is essential today to make states understand the need to give the Council of Europe the means to achieve its ambitions".
(FRo)
*** QUENTIN MICHEL (Ed.): Terrorisme - Terrorism. Regards croisés - Cross Analysis. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes - Peter Lang (1 av. Maurice, B-1050 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) - Fax: - E-mail: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.net ). "Non-Proliferation" series, No. 4. 2005, 210 pp. ISBN 90-5201-255-5.
In this book, twelve university lecturers and/or researchers from a series of disciplines, working in connection with the 'Observatoire géopolitique de la criminalité internationale' of Liege University in Belgium, combine their viewpoints to gain greater understanding of terrorism. Since 9/11, terrorism has taken on new and generally disconcerting dimensions that undeniably urgently require in-depth analysis. The chef merit of the book is to shed clear light on the fact that there is nothing new about terrorism. The introduction paints a useful overview of terrorism over the centuries. This is followed by detailed discussion of the notion of risk, the role of the media, connections with drugs trafficking, international cooperation (particularly counter-terrorism under 'Petersberg missions') and preserving civil liberties. The book provides a striking analysis of a phenomenon the world will no doubt have to live with for a long time to come.
(PBo)
*** WALDEMAR HUMMER (Ed.): Sicherheit und Terrorismus. Rechtsfragen aus universeller und regionaler europäischer Sicht. Peter Lang (1 Moosstrasse, Postfach 350, CH-2542 Pieterlen, Switzerland. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - Fax: 3761727 - E-mail: publicity@peterlang.com - Internet: http: //http://www.peterlang.de ). 2005, 355 pp. ISBN 3-631-52626-1.
This collection of academic essays is the proceedings of an international law conference organised by Innsbruck University in Merano in the spring of 2002. Leading Austrian experts debate developments in international security policy and the European security and defence policy. The ten contributions were updated at the start of 2004. Under three headings, the authors look at the ramifications of international security, developments in European security and defence policy and Austria's neutrality in the new context. A good introduction to the legal and scientific debate surrounding international security in Austria…
(PB)
*** EDOUARD BERTIN-MOUROT, FREDERIC LELIEUR, EMMANUEL TERROIR: Terrorisme et piraterie. Des menaces contemporaines à la sûreté des transports maritimes de marchandises. L'Harmattan (5-7 rue de l'Ecole-Polytechnique, F-75005 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 40467920 - Fax: 43258203 - E-mail: diffusion.harmattan@wanadoo.fr - Internet: http://www.editions-harmattan.fr ). "Entreprises et management" series. 2005, 167 pp, €15. ISBN 2-7475-7707-4.
Contrary to common belief, pirates at sea did not die out with galleons, pieces of eight and eye-patches and hooks for hands. If one believes the authors of this book, penned as part of studies for a Master in International Risk Management at the French 'Ecole des Hautes études commerciales', pirating has mushroomed in recent years, covering many more regions. Pirates are diversifying their aims because organised crime is now being joined by other players. The 11 September terrorist attacks showed that means of transport can also be used as weapons in the hands of terrorists. The three authors start by outlining the different factors leading to this explosion in pirating and maritime terrorism, identifying the most vulnerable areas of the globe. They then analyse the various approaches taken by international, regional and national bodies to counter pirating. In the third part of the book, they describe various insurance options available for freight transport to cover the risk of war and terrorism, before discussing risk management as such.
(PBo)
*** The EUROPEAN COMMISSION (Official Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985 Luxembourg. Internet: http: //publications.eu.int) has published the following document:
*** Innovation européenne. Information and Communications Unit,, DG Enterprise and Industry (BREY 05/216, B-1049 Brussels. Fax: (32-2) 2921788 - E-mail: entr-itt@cec.eu.int - http: //aoi.cordis .lu/). November 2005, 32 pp.
In this issue, DG Enterprise and Industry highlights the Commission's desiderata for research and innovation, set out in a new common action plan. The action plan aims to make better use of existing resources at national and regional level, and encourage Member States to increase the percentage of GDP invested in research and development to 3% and make better use of the Structural Funds to meet the Lisbon Strategy growth and employment targets. The two main articles look at alternatives to animal testing and intellectual property rights. On animal testing, many European cosmetics companies, encouraged by public opinion and the EU cosmetics directive, are buy creating and validating in vitro testing. In addition to being more acceptable from an ethical point of view, such testing may provide competitive advantage to European companies. In terms of intellectual property rights, the magazine details the views of an economist, a lawyer and a decision-maker on the temporary monopoly granted by intellectual property rights, limiting market rules to promote innovation.
*** Bulletin de jurisprudence constitutionnelle. Conseil de l'Europe - Secrétariat de la Commission de Venise (Editions du Conseil de l'Europe, F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex. Tel: (33-3) 88412581 - Fax: 88413910 - E-mail: publishing@coe.int - Internet: http: //book.coe.int). September 2005, No. 2-2004, 420 pp. Annual subscription: €30-48.
The Bulletin de jurisprudence constitutionnelle published by the European Commission for Democracy through Law (better known as the Venice Commission) at the Council of Europe, reports on the case law of 53 countries, the European Court of Human Rights, the European Court of Justice and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. It aims to provide information to enable judges and constitutional law specialists to be up to date on major developments and rulings in constitutional law. Other rulings (translated into French), ranging from the legitimacy of referendums to the banning of dangerous dogs, are classified by country. There is an index of key terms and a systematic thesaurus to help readers find their way around the book.
*** Research News. Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (Selbstverlag des BBR - Postfach 210150, D-53156 Bonn. Tel: (49-1888) 4012209 - Fax: 4012292 - E-mail: selbstverlag@bbr.bund.de - Internet: http://www.bbr.bund.de ). September 2005, No. 2, 12 pp.
This multi-disciplinary scientific journal looks at building and regional planning in Germany, its Länder, regions and cities, and environmental planning and land management. It is aimed at researchers and scientists working in this field and civil servants, aiming to transmit knowledge between the two groups (scientists and civil servants). This issue looks at several points of European interests, like the pilot project "European Urban Knowledge Network" to establish a common platform to link up various sources of data, and explaining who is working with whom under the EU's Interreg III programme. It also outlines some thirty town and country planning projects, part of 'Espon'.
*** Update. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime - Advocacy Section (Vienna International Centre, P.O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna. Tel: (43-1) 260604122 - Fax: 260605866 - E-mail: melitta.borovansky@unodc.org - Internet: http://www.unodc.org ). 2005, No. 4, 12 pp.
Update provides an over view of the fight against violence and drugs in a series of short articles. It also looks at the United Nations July 2005 agreement on firearms. The number of light firearms on the planet is close to 600 million. They cause the direct death of 300,000 people every year. On the other hand, the Afghanistan Opium Survey shows that the surface area of land used for opium poppy cultivation fell 21% between 2004 and 2005, but Afghanistan still produces 87% of the world's opium. Other articles highlight the importance of good projection for witnesses, the work of centres combatting wife-battering in South Africa and a friendly football match between the Millionarios team of Colombia and the Boca Juniors team of Argentina in aid of fighting drugs and the funding of terrorism.