Impressum





Ausgabe 2-2009

Themenschwerpunkt:
Internationale Gemeinschaft – Rhetorik und Realität
International Community – Rhetoric and Reality

INHALT

Editorial | download full article as pdf
Seite III

Themenschwerpunkt:
Internationale Gemeinschaft – Rhetorik und Realität
International Community – Rhetoric and Reality

Beiträge aus Sicherheitspolitik und Friedensforschung

Neuerscheinung
Seite 121

Annotationen | download full article as pdf
Seite 122

Besprechungen | download full article as pdf
Seite 124

ENGLISH ABSTRACTS

The “International Community” – Rhetoric or Reality? Tracing a seemingly well-known apparition
Berit Bliesemann de Guevara and Florian P. Kühn
The term “International Community” is commonly understood to refer either to the norms of international policy or to a coalition of concerned actors. However, in this article, we argue that it is the interplay of the term’s image and the practice of its invocation that shapes its character. It can be used by many different groups, state and non-state alike, to locate their political goals in the context of a wider array of values. Usually these norms are state-related and can be used to simulate political relevance. Conversely, actors defying widely accepted values can be excluded and policies against them legitimized. Addressing domestic as well as international audiences, the claim to be acting as or on behalf of the “International Community” is mostly rhetorical but has very real political consequences.
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Reconstructing Afghanistan: Is the West’ eclipsing the ‘International Community’?
Eva Gross
This article considers the role of the ‘international community’ in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Although the UN has a coordinating and legitimizing role, the ‘international community’ has turned out to be fragmented, and the countries determining policy have predominantly been Western. Current efforts to include regional contributions do not necessarily reflect a more inclusive notion of ‘the international community’. Rather than re-investing in the notion of the international community to reach a local, regional as well as international consensus, current thinking on Afghanistan tends to highlight fragmentation of what was initially framed as a task for the international community.

On the Fringes of the International Community: The Making and Survival of “Rogue States”
Martin Beck and Johannes Gerschewski
Studies on “rogue states” often present normative analyses focused on the perspective of Western actors. From a purely analytical point of view, the present article steps away from this tradition and aims to examine the process of designating actors as “rogue states”, its impact on them, and their capabilities to defy stigmatization. The argument developed proceeds in two steps. Firstly, the paper discloses and discusses characteristic features of states that lead to them being labeled “rogue states.” Thereby the paradoxical situation occurs that “rogue states” can be seen either as a part of the international community or as an entity being excluded from this community. Furthermore, it is emphasized that the selection process of “rogue states” is based on biased securitization policies. Secondly, despite being exposed to significant external pressure, most “rogue states” have shown a remarkable resistance to transforming their political conduct. Two main sources of strength are identified: the ability of “rogue states” to draw material and ideational resources from the international system and their disposal over state capacities.

“Responsible Members of the International Community”? Multilateral Agreements and Environmental Protection in Post-Soviet States
Amy Forster Rothbart
Post-Soviet states have attempted to demonstrate their willingness to be good global citizens by joining multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). They rapidly signed on to many of these treaties without consideration of what implementation would require. This does not necessarily mean that the commitments are simply empty promises. International organizations and domestic implementation constituencies strive to put the commitments into action with mixed results. This article considers implementation in Kazakhstan and Ukraine based on interviews with government officials and NGO leaders in the two countries and the review of treaty-related documents.

‘Symptoms’ of Democracy in Transdniestria
Daria Isachenko
This article examines the relationship between the dynamics of state-building and the function of the international community in the case of Transdniestria, the eastern region of Moldova. It looks in particular at the practices that local authorities use in promoting Transdniestrian statehood in the international arena. The Transdniestrian state-building project has been characterised by virtual means such as the Internet and by simulation that aim to produce the ‘symptoms’ of democracy in order to legitimise the claim to statehood. It is argued that these symptoms cannot be understood without reference to the international community, which in the case of Transdniestria serves as a normative framework for the process of state-building and leads to simulations of democracy in the de facto state.

Der Vertrag von Oslo über das umfassende Verbot von Streumunition: Die „Convention on Cluster Munitions“
Detlev Justen
In December 2008 a new treaty under international law has been signed: the “Convention on Cluster Munitions”. It bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions and establishes a framework for cooperation and assistance. Despite the main producer and stockpiler of this munitions opposing the treaty it will strengthen international humanitarian law and contribute to stigmatize the use and transfer of cluster munitions. This article analyses the Convention’s main regulations, both its merits and flaws, and will give an assessment on the accord’s future prospects.

Zehn Jahre auf der NATO-Agenda – Terrorismusbekämpfung durch die Nordatlantische Allianz
Markus Kaim
After 9/11, NATO listed transnational terrorism among the major threats of the coming decade. Since then, structural as opposed to operational provisions remained partial, and NATO’s four anti-terrorist operations have proven its instruments inefficient and its approaches inept. Confronted with different actors and threats, the US and several EU-members also perceive retaliation options differently. The NATO option took a back seat as its strategies appeared to duplicate existing ones on other levels. Today, coordination on ministerial levels, through an Assistant Secretary General, or a transatlantic advising board could contribute to a new multidimensional strategy. But success remains uncertain.

Right or wrong: Debate in Russia on Conflict in Georgia
Diana Digol
The article presents a comprehensive overview of opinions in Russia on the August 2008 military conflict with Georgia. The positions presented include not only those of the political elite and political opinion-makers but also those of the cultural and social elite and of representatives of various ethnic groups involved in the conflict. The overview concludes by presenting results of public opinion polls. The period covered is between the commencement of hostilities on 8 August 2008 and the end of that year. The article is limited to Russia and does not cover the debates of neighbouring countries.