*** THIERRY DE MONTBRIAL, PHILIPPE MOREAU DEFARGES (Eds.): Ramses 2006. Soixante ans après la guerre, un monde en recomposition. Publié par Dunod (Paris. Internet: http://www.dunod.com ) for Institut français des relations internationales (27 rue de la Procession, F-75740 Paris Cedex 15. Tel: (33-1) 40616000 - Fax: 40616060 - Internet: http://www.ifri.org ). 2005, 375 pp, €30. ISBN 2-10-049352-3.
In order to understand the direction the world is taking, there is nothing better than this annual report from the Institut français des relations internationales. Two complementary approaches are taken to international current events. Firstly, after an introduction by Thierry de Montbrial, founder and director general of Ifri (and member of the French academy of ethics and politics), general trends in the world are studied in eight perfectly structured chapters. This is followed by a thematic panorama of current events, focussing on big issues in 2005 in the form of the study of countries (Germany, China, Iran, etc) or key topics (oil, nuclear proliferation, etc). Rich annexes of timelines, maps and statistics supplement this totally indispensable annual report for readers wanting to understand the world in all its complexity.
As far as Europeans are concerned, the book is particularly interesting because without verging on eurocentrism, the authors shed particular light on the present and future position of the European Union on the world stage. In his impassioned "Perspectives", Thierry de Montbrial observes that against the burgeoning economic and political power of China, Europe is suffering even more because it is having trouble implementing reform, to the extent that economic multilateralism and the European project itself are often under threat these days. The United States and the second Bush administration fear that the EU will unravel following the referendums rejecting the constitution or, rather, that enlargement will be stopped to the detriment of Turkey and also potentially of Ukraine, which would impact on what Washington still holds dear, namely the European side to NATO, rather than a politically strong and emancipated European Union. On the rejection of the constitution, Ifri's boss says it is a turning point in the history of the European project and, following in the wake of Sylvie Goulard, he plaintively calls for the EU not be thrown over-board because one generation didn't believe in it, because otherwise the fine third draft will gradually dissolve into general acrimony. (Hailing the action of Jean-Claude Juncker, however, Thierry de Montbrial also calls for the huge importance at times of the small countries of the EU not to be underestimated - such calls are not often made by the French.) In an essay on changes in Northern Africa, Mohsen-Finan says that European countries, led by France, have imitated North Africa by restricting themselves to bilateral talks, meaning that the EU has not been able to be an engine for regional development on its southern flank, which sounds like a damning indictment of the EuroMed Partnership.
There is an enlightening chapter by Nicolas de Boisgrollier on the very relative end of the transatlantic partnership, and an entire chapter on the European Union, which has to succeed on a big scale. Along with Christophe Bertossi, Pierre Defraigne - formerly a high-ranking official at the European Commission, once head of cabinet for Commissioner Etienne Davignon and Commissioner Pascal Lamy, who now heads the Ifri European institutions' bureau - comments that the European Union is torn between two agendas basically representing two different views of the EU - enlargement or political integration. Will it be possible to reconcile the two? This is clearly the most fundamental question for Europe. But the authors argue that a fundamental law is less important in this connection than the building of links between political and social powers which are the essence of the democratic process. They explain that organising such links at the level of the European continent and overcoming the barrier of the diverse nature of Member States to mobilise democratic majorities at the European Parliament is still the only way for the European Union to progress. In the future, maybe one will look back on the constitutional debate as the starting point for democratic appropriation at the European Parliament and as the flooding of the people into the State palaces. The battle must go on, in other words, but in a different way! Michel Theys
*** In Europa. Rivista di Studi e di Iniziativa Europea (7/5 via Ippolito D'Aste, I-16121 Genoa. Tel: (30-10) 586716 - Fax: 564356 - e-mail: ineuropa@centroineuropa.it - Internet: http://www.centroineuropa.it ). 2006, No. 1, 96 pp. ISBN 88-8163-228-4.
Most of the first 2006 issue of this review, published in Genoa, Italy, under the management of Carlotta Gualco, is devoted to the topic of the borders of the European Union in the Balkans and the Mediterranean. On the Balkans, there are essays by EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, the Director General for Enlargement at the European Commission, Michael Leigh, Paola Pampaloni of the same DG, and former MEP Roberto Speciale, President of Centro in Europa. On the Mediterranean, there are essays by Gianfranco Bochicchio of DG External Relations at the European Commission, who looks how the Barcelona Process meshes with the EU's Neighbourhood Policy, and Traugott Schoefthaler, Director of the Anna Lindh Foundation, who describes dialogue among different cultures launched by the Anna Lindh Foundation, named after the former Swedish foreign minister, murdered by somebody who was mentally disturbed. (MG)
*** PETER SCHUBERT: Albanische Identitätssuche im Spannungsfeld zwischen nationaler Eigenstaatlichkeit und europäischer Integration. Peter Lang (1 Moostrasse, BP 350, CH-2542 Pieterlen. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - Fax: 3761727 - E-mail: publicity@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). "Strategische Kultur Europas" series, No. 4. 2005, 162 pp. ISBN 3-631-52933-3.
Albania has made undeniable progress in its reforms since the collapse of Yugoslavia but it remains to be seen whether the reform process has sufficient maturity to pave the way for the country becoming a full member of the European Union. This book dissects the problem of reconstructing Albania's identity against the backdrop of its EU ambitions. To be accessible to the general public, the book only analyses characteristics revealing tension between national characteristics (or even national awareness) and the start of the process of joining EU structures. The author starts by outlining the historic roots of Albanian identity before analysing political, socio-economic, cultural and regional indicators and mindsets, constituent parts of a national identity.
In the author's view, the picture is not wholly positive. In amongst the geographical dispersion, the myriad of different social and ethnic groups and different expectations of what joining the European Union would mean, Peter Schubert discovers that an identity combining the different ethnic groups cannot yet be detected among Albanians in the post-Yugoslav world. But this should not in any way rule out close cooperation between Albania and its Western neighbours, explains the author, concluding that it is vital for the EU to recognise the Albanian nation and culture in order to allow the country to continue to develop. He argues that this is the only way to make reconciliation between the cultures of South-East Europe possible. (CDi)
*** Inside Russia & Eurasia. On-line Intelligence Report of the European Press Agency. The European Press Agency (EuroPA) Ltd. (The Courtyard, Beeding Court, Steyning, W Sussex BN44 3TN, UK. e-mail: editors@russia-eurasia.net - Internet: http://www.russia-eurasia.net ). May 2006, Vol. 15, No. 5, 31 pp.
A round-up of Russian and Eurasian news in this monthly review from a specialist news agency managed by Nina Bachkatov and Andrew Wilson. This issue concentrates on energy. The authors start by outlining recent progress in the negotiations over the EU's energy supplies from Russia, explaining why the talks are in deadlock. The EU Energy Commissioner is then asked nine questions about the energy negotiations between the EU and Russia. The authors then analyse the conflict in Nagorny-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan that has been raging since 1987, looking at research and ideas mooted by various pundits to seek out credible solutions to the conflict. The Chernobyl nuclear meltdown occurred twenty years ago and the new digest briefly analyses the event and the attitudes taken by the authorities at the time, along with attempts by the Russian authorities to kickstart their nuclear programme again. Another chapter examines rising Russian investment abroad and its potential consequences. The softening of Russia's attitude to Kosovo is also studied. The last part of the report is a chronology and internet guide to events in Russian and Eurasian affairs in April 2006. (NDu)
*** OMAR MASSALHA: Israël et Palestine: deux émanations inachevées de l'Occident ? Une solution imposée: seule issue pour la paix ? Publisud (15 rue des Cinq-Diamants, F-75013 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 45807850 - Fax: 45899415 - E-mail: publisud.editions@cegetel.net). 2006, 300 pp, €42. ISBN 2-86600-951-7.
The conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians, a head-on clash of legitimacy since both peoples have the same land as a kind of divine right, as the author puts it, is certainly the biggest challenge for peace in the world. Director at UNESCO, Omar Massalha's book is a cornerstone to provide better understanding of the situation. As Federico Mayor Zaragoza, former Director General at UNESCO and President of the Culture and Peace Foundation, explains in the preface, Omar Massalha forces himself to be restrained and this is all the more valuable given his political career as former PLO representative, graduate of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and high-ranking international civil servant, which could have led him to select reserve and ambiguity or arguing a partisan case rather than the measured and dignified approach of a university researcher. He has made use of his past and his academic research in this book, the first part of which gives an in-depth view of the formation of Palestinian and Israeli identity. Multi-facetted identities used by both sides as tools in the conflict. This part of the book touches on the question of links with the land and demographics, Israel's social history and how the war has impacted on Israeli society. The second part looks at the various peace plans, from the idea of a Palestinian state, to the Infifadas and recent events like the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, Sharon being replaced by Olmert and Hamas' victory in the recent elections. But the author's aim is not only to explain the situation. One of the concluding chapters suggests ways of solving the conflict. He writes that it is imperative for the international community to be involved in the peace plans, both the United Nations and, more importantly, the European Union because the conflict is between two peoples who are both the victim of a common attackers, namely Europe. He explains that Europe also best placed because of its understanding of the roots of the conflict and its connections with both sides, to impose peace in the region. In fact, peace imposed from outside may well be the only solution to enable both peoples, most of whom aspire to peace, to free themselves from the domination of extremist fringes. Moreover, if the EU does not assume its role by imposing peace in the Middle East, argues the author, the Southern Mediterranean region runs the risk of becoming the western side of Asia, and Pax Asia will replace Pax Europa. The book is usefully supplemented by a timeline, the text of various agreements and a series of maps.
(FRo)
*** Les marchés de la dette publique dans les pays méditerranéens partenaires de l'UE. Groupe Banque européenne d'investissement (100 bd. Konrad Adenauer, L-2950 Luxembourg. Tel: (352-43) 794139 - Fax: 794150 - Internet: http://www.bei.org ). 2005, 195 pp. ISBN 92-861-0383-2.
The Mediterranean countries in the EuroMed Facilty for Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) are among the European Investment Bank's main priorities for EU loans. This guide describes the FEMIP loans, providing useful practical information on public debt markets in the participant countries, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Turkey. It provides contact details, foreign exchange information, the general debt situation, how state bonds operate and transaction and monitoring regulations.
(FRo)
*** MOHAMED BERDAI, PHILIPPE BOVET, VINCENT CABREZA, BENJAMIN DESSUS, MAURICIO GNECCO, SEBASTIEN GODINOT, SAID MOULINE, PIERRE POLOME, FAOUZI SENHAJI: Les énergies renouvelables face au développement. Colophon Editions (25 rue Gratès, B-1170 Brussels. E-mail: essais@colophon.be - Internet: http://www.colophon.be ). "Essais" series. 2005, 112 pp. ISBN 2-930254-14-9.
In this time of spiralling oil prices and awareness that fossil fuels will be running out in the very near future, more and more people are looking at whether renewable energy sources can be a panacea. This book of essays discusses the question and describes experiences in the Third World, where people are forced to get by and prove that solutions exist, although it is not certain that they could be transferred elsewhere in the world or that they are ecologically and economically viable.
(PBo)