*** PASCAL LOROT, FRANCOIS THUAL: La géopolitique. LDDJ Montchrestien (31 rue Falguière, F-75741 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 46338985 - Internet: http://www.lgdj.fr ). "Clefs/Politique" series. 2002, 158 pp, EUR 11.00. ISBN 2-7076-1143-3.
Geopolitics is a catchall term used by near enough everybody, and it is sometimes used to describe all and sundry. Hence the clear interest of this book in the current period, especially when several countries are throwing their weight around. It was written by two specialists in the field: Pascal Lorot, President of the Institut européen de géoéconomie and François Thual, Deputy Director of IRIS), who explain where geopolitics comes from, what it is and, most importantly, what it should no longer be… This is because geopolitics was born at the dawn of the last century, and has been subject to the most sinister diversions. Accompanying the first national movements, it was discredited to a profound degree by being the inspiration for Hitler's expansion plans. This criminal verge from the straight and narrow meant that for many a long year, "geopolitics was banished to the confines of a purgatory into which it had been plunged by its mistaken pretensions to lead the world". These days, however, having rid itself of its infantile disease, it is making a powerful comeback "at a more modest register", since the "current recasting, that began around two decades ago, is rather the act of the birth of knowledge, and hence of a method with protocols and concepts, a method that wants to be definitively shot of political and philosophical prejudices and presuppositions". Sweeping over the past hundred years, the first part of the book looks at the tumultuous history of classical geopolitical thought and then considers contemporary geopolitics' new operating modes.
First of all, Lorot and Thual open geopolitics' "toolbox", reviewing territorial constructions (morphogenesis of political constructions, territorial expansionist strategies, etc) and identity constructions (representation and ideology, nation, national awareness and nationalism, religious identity and geopolitics, etc), along with various measures and processes. Against this framework, they also study one of the most recent developments, whereby geopolitics is now influenced by "deterritorialisation" with transnationality and "subnationality" developing, although geopolitics does remain focussed around the two poles of territory and identify. Alongside the proliferation of states that was observed throughout the last century, and the "return of the regions" that is characterised these days by rising power of regional economies acting as political entities (not to mention the influence of factors such as diaspor as and mafia on geopolitics), today's world is seeing the mushrooming of various regional regrouping structures - in all continents. Is this a geopolitical phenomenon in the sense that the new bodies are not simply the sum of their parts and could become full players in their own right? "Today, the European Union as such has become a supranational organ and one can say that it has its own geopolitics, assert the two authors, but they are far more circumspect when it comes to other regional organisations that, unlike the EU, "have tended to fail in their attempts to resolve territorial conflicts". This is not the least important thing to be learned from this book, the third part of which outlines "keys for geopolitics in the twenty-first century ".
Michel Theys
*** PAUL WAPNER, LESTER EDWIN J. RUIZ (Eds.): Principled World Politics. The Challenge of Normative International Relations. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (4720 Boston Way, Lanham, Maryland 20706, United States or 12 Hid's Copse Road, Cumnor Hill, Oxford OX2 9JJ, UK. Internet: http: //http://www.rowmanlittlefield.com ). 2000, 399 pp, £30.95. ISBN 0-7425-0065-9.
The current political challenges facing international relations and globalisation are explained in this selection of academic essays by researchers from North America, Asia and Europe, including political analysts like Walden Bello, John Cavanagh, Johan Galtung, Mary Kaldor and James N. Rosenau. Dedicated to Richard Falk, Professor of International Law at Princeton University (who promoted the normative approach to international relations), the book outlines the situation facing international relations faculties and presents considerations of the future prospects for global international politics from a normative viewpoint. It is critical of the paradigm of "realism" in the study of international relations. The twenty-three essays study the return to a normative approach to international relations after the end of the Cold War, critical prospects and theories of international relations, social justice, economic well-being, peace and had future of human governance. The role of international civil society is stressed in various essays, while academic programmes and initiatives connected with the study of international relations are briefly outlined, such as the World Order Models Project. One researcher even suggests setting up a permanent United Nations civilian police force. This interesting, varied scientific book will be useful for people interested in approaches, analyses and alternative, innovative proposals for tackling issues of international politics and global governance in the twenty-first century. (PB)
*** MICHAEL J. ZIMMERMAN: The Nature of Intrinsic Value. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (see above) 2001, 279 pp. ISBN 0-7425-1263-0.
The author of this book is a lecturer in Philosophy at North Carolina University in Greensboro. He warns readers himself that this is a difficult book dealing with difficult abstract issues from moral philosophy. Before tackling contemporary ethical issues, Michael Zimmerman uses the philosophical approach outlined by G. E. Moore's "Principia Ethica" to examine the ideas of good and evil and the concept of intrinsic value (the idea that something is good or evil in and of itself). The authors argue that this idea should be placed at the heart of moral philosophy. The book is aimed at academic philosophers making an in-depth consideration of theoretical ethics. (PB)
*** GERD NONNEMAN: Governance, Human Rights, and the Case for Political Adaptation in the Gulf: Issues in the EU-GCC Political Dialogue. The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute (Convento, 9 via dei Roccettini, I-50016 San Domenico di Fiesole, Italy. Fax: (39-055) 4685775 - E-mail: forinfo@iue.it). "Policy Papers", No 01/3. 2001, 34 pp.
The European Union has certainly becoming an ever more important player when it comes to good governance and human rights around the world. It also has to play this role in the Gulf in its relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council. The author of this issue of the Policy Papers notes that this is even more the case in that many factors illustrate that people in the Gulf are calling for greater responsibility and representation. Human rights has to be put on the agenda within respect for Islam (which does not mean accepting everything done in the name of Islam). Gerd Nonneman points out the challenges facing EU-GCC dialogue over these issues and sets out ideas for establishing a strategy and initiatives to promote the introduction of better governance and greater respect for fundamental freedoms, such as by working with NGOs through the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights.
(BJL)
*** World Report 2002. Events of 2001. Human Rights Watch (15 rue van Campenhout, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 7322009 - Fax: 7320471 - E-mail: hrwbe@hrw.org - Internet: http: //http://www.hrw.org ). 2002, 670 pp. ISBN 1-56432-267-X .
This issue of the Human Rights Watch Annual Report describes the human rights situation in sixty-six countries of the world in 2001 and presents a critical analysis of the foreign policy of the United States and Europe. The NGO is concerned about the fight against terrorism being abused as an excuse for various governments to justifying violating the fundamental rights of their citizens. There is a more detailed chapter on the situation in the United States and specific sections look at issues such as children's rights, arms trafficking, women's rights, academic freedom and the situation facing refugees and asylum seekers. In short, this is a highly useful compendium for political leaders, activists and researchers in the field of fighting for human rights and international justice. (PB)
*** JEAN-LUC DEHAENE, CHARLES A. KUPCHAN: Recasting the Atlantic Bargain and Its Implications for Central Europe. European University Institute (see above). "Policy Papers", No 01/6. 2001, 14 pp.
This Policy Paper publishes a report by a study group at the European University Institute in Florence that looked at the issue of diversity and unity in an enlarged Europe. It looks at the redefining of relations between the United States of America and Europe, mainly from the defence viewpoint, and calls for the setting up of an active European Security and Defence Policy and a European intervention force to supplement NATO. It analyses the challenges and impact for both areas and for EU candidate countries. The group also calls for NATO to be extended to Central Europe and Russia, which it sees as being beneficial for all sides in that it would provide security to the region and act as a lever for democracy and liberalisation.
(BJL)
*** ANN LEWIS (Ed.): The EU & Ukraine. Neighbours, Friends, Partners? The Federal Trust (Dean Bradley House, 52 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF. Tel: (44-20) 77992818 - Fax: 77992820 - Internet: http://www.fedtrust.co.uk ) and Kogan Page (120 Pentonville Road, London N1 9JN). "The Federal Trust Europe's Eastern Borders". 2002, 318 pp, *£18.95. ISBN 1-903403-18-9.
With its fifty-odd million inhabitants and its sheer size, Ukraine is a European heavyweight in a key strategic geographical location, standing at the crossroads of big energy routes towards Western Europe and being an immigration channel. Its fate cannot fail to be of interest to the EU, which will soon be its new direct neighbour. Whence the crucial question of whether Ukraine is destined to remain a buffer zone or whether it will become a closer partner some day, or even a Member State of the European Union if it is extended still further. This book by the Federal Trust focuses on this question, looking in minute detail at how Ukraine has changed ten years on from independence, outlining its European aspirations of the past and also of today. These themes are explored from various viewpoints by twenty-six Ukrainian and European experts, with the most spectacular essay penned by Javier Solana. (LD)
*** PATRICK JULLIARD, BRIGITTE STERN (Ed.): Les emprunts russes et le règlement du contentieux financier franco-russe. Aspects juridiques. Editions Pedone (13 rue Soufflot, 75005 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 43540597 - Fax: 46340760). "Cahiers internationaux" series, No 16. 2002, 327 pp, 24 euros, ISBN 2-233-00403-5.
From the title of this book, one might believe that it would only be of interest to lawyers and people with a direct interest in this issue. It is, however, the proceedings of a conference which made it possible to truly understand the political context, the event itself and the legal implications to the present day, of loans Russia contracted one hundred years. The contributions are accessible, and take the reader back to the nitty gritty of what made Bolshevik Russia cancel all the debts incurred by the Czarist government, giving an understanding of the impact this decision had. The authors then dissect the Franco-Russian settlement of the issue at the end of the 1990s. (BJL)
*** VINCENT BERGER: Jurisprudence de la Cour Européenne des Droits de l'Homme. Publishers: Sirey/Dalloz (31-35 rue Froidevaux, F-75685 Paris. Internet: http: //http://www.dalloz.fr ). 2002, 783 pp. ISBN 2-247-04842-0.
This is the eight edition of this collection of essays by Vincent Berger, section clerk at the European Court of Human Rights and lecturer at the European College in Bruges. Also available in German, French, Hungarian, Lithuanian and Romanian, this completely updated and redesigned reference book gives a clear, accurate overview of the activities of the European Court of Human Rights (established in Strasbourg, in 1959 in the shadow of the Council of Europe). Supreme interpreter and ultimate guardian of the Convention to protect human rights and fundamental liberties, every one of the eight hundred million European citizens, along with groups of individuals and NGOs, can send cases directly to Court. It is active in many different domains, from rights to defence to immigration controls, from the time one can be held without charge to town and country planning, from the internment of aliens to cross-border television, from social security disputes to proselytising, from environmental protection to the protection of national minorities and the war on terror… The report reports on all these issues in a clear, reliable manner through the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, based on a Convention that is directly applicable in almost all the forty-one member countries, all of which are members of the Council of Europe. (MT)
*** The EUROPEAN COMMISSION (Official Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985 Luxembourg. Internet: http: //publications.eu.int) has published the following documents:
*** Annual Report 2001. DG JRC (Tel: (32-2) 2957624 - Fax: 2996322 - e-mail: jrc-info@cec.eu.int - Internet: http: //jrc.cec.eu.int). 2002, 38 pp. ISBN 92-894-3565-8.
The Annual Report of the Commission's Joint Research Centre in Ispra (Italy) points out that 2001 was a year of large-scale changes at the Centre. The main objective behind the changes was to cut operational costs and consolidate a culture of service, although the strategic aim remains to promote scientific excellence and meet the needs of citizens in the years to come in close cooperation with partners from the European Research Area. The Annual Report is accompanied by a supplementary CD-ROM providing additional information.
*** Innovation & Transfert Technologique. DG Enterprise, Innovation/SME (Fax: (352-4301) 32084 - E-mail: innovation@cec.eu.int - Internet: http://www.cordis.lu/itt/itt-fr/home.html ). September 2002, No 5, 31 pp.
The leading article in this issue of a brochure describing transformations in European innovation is entitled "Risk and reward for risk: Changing the climate". The current process of setting up the European Research Area points to significant progress towards coordinating research, vital to guarantee a substantial supply of new scientific knowledge, it asserts. There is a dossier focussing on the "Gate2Growth" initiative, with articles on risk management for high-tech startups, the development of networks and investor support, a case study and a diagnosis service for expansion plans.
*** Actualité des Industries de Réseaux en Europe. ASPE Europe (36, rue de Laborde, F-75008 Paris. Fax: (33-1) 43876891 - E-mail: aspe@aspe-europe.com). September 2002, No 6, 16 pp. Annual subscription: 490 euros.
This issue includes a dossier on the problems to be resolved during the Danish Presidency: enlargement (of course), but also opening up energy and railways to competition and liberalising the European energy market (this process is currently underway and the Danish Prime Minister Bendt Bendtsen has written an article on the subject). Other issues looked at include the Uberlingen disaster that launched a new debate on the Single European Sky, Brussels on the warpath against European ports, single taxation for diesel in 2001?, moving towards liberalisation of post services between Germany, the UK and the Netherlands, France putting the previous government's infrastructure programmes on ice, and the new post directive.
*** The CEPII Newsletter. Centre d'études prospectives et d'informations internationales (9 rue Georges-Pitard, F-75015 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 53685514 - Fax: 53685503 - Internet: http: //http://www.cepii.fr ). Summer 2002, No 17. 8 pp.
The Newsletter reports that the prospects for demographic change and growth from now until 2030 show that the proportion of the working population will continue to fall, while the rate of growth will remain stable at around 3% thanks to greater productivity and the weight of the most dynamic emerging economies. The economic epicentre of the world will continue to shift towards Asia but it is unlikely that the poorest regions will fill the gap that separates them from the rest of the globe.
*** European Pulp & Paper. The Confederation of European Paper Industries Newsletter (250 av. Louise, box 80, B-1050 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 6274911- Fax: 6468137 - e-mail: mail@cepi.org - Internet: http: //http://www.cepi.org - http://www.paperonline.org ). August 2002. 4 pp.
This newsletter from the Confederation of European Paper Industries considers forestry and the paper industry moving towards sustainability, describing the implications of the Johannesburg Earth Summit for the pulp and paper sector, current events in the industry and an interview with Jos Delbeke from DG Environment.
In brief
*** Aperçu annuel 2001. Ministère belge des Affaires économiques. 2002, Brussels. This report looks at the big issues that have dominated the Belgian economic affairs ministry's activity (the euro, the Presidency, the 11 September attacks, etc), along with e-government, e-commerce and electronic signatures.