Archive for June, 2007

The University in Trondheim, Norway, Invites to a Conference on Gender

Friday, June 29th, 2007

Dear HumanDHS friends!
The University in Trondheim invites to a conference on gender!
Warmly!
Evelin

Hei.

Senter for kjønnsforskning ved NTNU inviterer til kjønnsforskningskonferanse i november i år. Konferansen er et tilbud til alle kjønnsforskere i Norge, og er ment å være et faglig møtested der en årlig diskuterer sentrale og aktuelle problemstillinger innen kjønnsforskningsfeltet.

Jeg vil sette stor pris på om du har du mulighet til å distribuere den vedlagte konferanseinvitasjonen til ansatte ved instituttet evt. de du mener har interesse for arrangementet.

Med ønske om en god sommer,

Malin Noem Ravn

Malin Noem Ravn, Post.Doc.
Senter for kjønnsforskning
Institutt for tverrfaglige kulturstudier NTNU
malin.noem.ravn[@]hf.ntnu.no

Mental Patients Suffer Humiliation

Friday, June 29th, 2007

Dear HumanDHS Friends!

COMMENT by Brian Lynch: One of the most disturbing things in my medical career as I became more involved in the mental health side was the realization of how many people that went into the field evidently where processing great personal trauma themselves. I now understand much of that trauma to have come in the form of humiliation which they then, in turn, reenact on their charges. Societies, of course, “permit” such humiliation to take place for similar derivative reasons. Here is an article about abuse in mental health institutions in New Zealand.

The start of the article:

Former state wards are likely to be given counselling and support, in light of a bleak report into the care of mental in-patients.

Hundreds of patients who spent time in state psychiatric institutions from the 1940s until 1992 have told their stories to a Confidential Forum set up by the Government three years ago.

The report was issued yesterday. It details humiliation, beatings, over-medication and rape in environments of hopelessness and fear. Most were at places such as Kingseat and Cherry Farm, and had no choice over their admission or treatment.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200706290721/more_counselling_to_be_ofered_to_former_mental_patients

Brian Lynch Who We Are

brianlynchmd.com

Dialogforum: Afrika in der deutschen Wissenschaft Teil 2

Friday, June 29th, 2007

Dialogforum: Afrika in der deutschen Wissenschaft Teil 2

am Mittwoch, dem 04. Juli 2007 um 19:30 Uhr laden wir Sie zum zweiten Teil unseres Dialogforums zum Thema “Afrika in der Wissenschaft (2): Bis hierhin und nicht weiter!? – Die ‘gläsernen Decken’ im deutschen Wissenschaftsbetrieb für afrikanische Wissenschaftler/innen” ein . Dr. Maureen Maisha Eggers (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) und Dr. Leonard Jamfa (Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule Sankt Georgen, Frankfurt/M.) werden über die Chancen und Grenzen afrikanischer und afrodeutscher Wissenschaftler/innen im deutschen Wissenschaftsbetrieb referieren und diskutieren. Dabei werden normierte Vorstellungen und Diskurse kritisch hinterfragt, die festlegen, was als „wissenschaftlich“ und wer als „Wissenschaftler/in“ anerkannt wird. Hier verschränken sich Wahrnehmungen und Praktiken von Inklusion und Exklusion entlang verschiedener sozial er Kategorien wie „Rasse“ und Geschlecht.

In Kooperation mit der Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung und mit freundlicher Unterstützung der Landesstelle für Entwicklungszusammenarbeit bei der Senatsverwaltung Wirtschaft, Technologie und Frauen.

Es ist keine Anmeldung erforderlich. Eintritt frei

Veranstaltungsort: Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Galerie, Adresse: 10178 Berlin, Rosenthaler Str. 40/41, Hackesche Höfe; Mit der S-Bahn bis Hackescher Markt oder mit der U-Bahn-Linie 8 bis Weinmeisterstraße.

Dieses Dialogforum ist der zweite Teil zum Thema “Afrika in der deutschen Wissenschaft”. Der erste Teil fand am 09. Mai 2007 statt. Die Beiträge des ersten Dialogforums sind auf unserer Website nachzulesen unter:

Grada Kilomba: Africans in the Academia: Diversity in Adversity
http://africavenir.com/news/2007/06/1397/

Dr. Michel Foaleng: Wissenschaftskooperation und Rassismus
http://africavenir.com/news/2007/05/1380/

www.AfricAvenir.org
Möchten Sie Fördermitglied von AfricAvenir International e.V. werden?
Kontaktieren Sie Verena Rodatus, Fon: 0157-73837266, v.rodatus[at]africavenir.org

Redaktion des Newsletters: Eric Van Grasdorff, e.vangrasdorff[at]africavenir.org
AfricAvenir International e.V. ist nicht für die Inhalte externer Webseiten verantwortlich.

Diesen Newsletter haben Sie erhalten, weil Ihre E-Mailadresse in den Newsletter von AfricAvenir eingetragen wurde. Falls dies ohne Ihr Einverständnis erfolgt ist oder wenn Sie keine weiteren Newsletter erhalten möchten, antworten Sie bitte auf diese E-Mail und schreiben Sie ‘Abmeldung Newsletter’ in die Betreffzeile.

Peace Brigades International (PBI-USA) is seeking a Co-Director

Friday, June 29th, 2007

Dear Friends of the HumanDHS network

Please find below a job advertisement for a Co-director at Peace Brigades Internaional www.peacebrigades.org

Kind regards
Brian Ward

Co-Director Needed
Peace Brigades International - USA
Washington, DC

Peace Brigades International (PBI-USA) is seeking a Co-Director. We are an NGO that protects human rights and promotes nonviolent transformation of conflicts. Our volunteers work with human rights defenders all over the world and provide unarmed accompaniment to those threatened by violence. The Co-Director will coordinate recruitment of and support volunteers, help formulate and execute fundraising strategy, strengthen political and grass-roots networks, raise PBI/USA’s visibility, supervise interns, database maintenance, and produce the monthly newsletter. Qualifications: Fluency in Spanish & English, excellent writing and public speaking skills, fundraising experience, computer skills, and ability to motivate others and lead. Position is full-time, starting ASAP. Benefits include health insurance and 3 weeks paid vacation. Salary commensurate with exp. 202-232-0142v / 232-0143 fax OR email search[@]pbiusa.org

Deadline to apply: July 9, 2007 end of business day EST

German Journal for International Relations (ZIB) Newsletter 1/2007

Friday, June 29th, 2007

Dear Friends of the HumanDHS network

Please find below the 1/2007 Newsletter from the German Journal for International Relations

Kind regards
Brian Ward

Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen
Newsletter 1/2007
German and English Version

Inhalt:

1. Neues von der ZIB
2. Inhalt ZIB 1/2007
3. Aktuelles von der DVPW-Sektion „Internationale Politik“
4. Verschiedenes: Neu bei NOMOS

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1. Neues von der ZIB

Die aktuelle Ausgabe
Wir freuen uns, Sie heute auf die Sommerausgabe der Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen hinweisen zu können, die am 20. Juni erschienen ist. Die Aufsätze befassen sich mit den Legitimationsmustern amerikanischer Rüstungsindustriepolitik in den 1990er Jahren (Niklas Schörnig), der Erklärungskraft des Rentierstaatsansatzes für die internationalen Beziehungen (Martin Beck), den Ursachen für die Kompatibilität von Islam und Demokratie in Indonesien (Christoph Schuck) und dem institutionellen Wandel der EU durch deren Einbettung in die WTO (Michèle Knodt). Im Forum fragen Michael Zürn, Martin Binder, Matthias Ecker-Ehrhardt und Katrin Radtke nach den unintendierten Konsequenzen politischer Ordnungsbildung jenseits des Nationalstaates. In vier Repliken setzen sich Lothar Brock, James W. Davis, Antje Wiener und Andreas Nölke kritisch mit den vorgestellten Thesen auseinander.

ZIB Online!
Es ist soweit: Mit ihrer Onlinepublikation macht die Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen einen wichtigen Schritt voran ins digitale Zeitalter. Seit heute verfügt die ZIB über eine eigene Domain: www.zib-online.info ersetzt die alte ZIB-Seite unter www.politik-im-netz.com. Neben den Richtlinien zur Gestaltung von Manuskripten und aktuellen Informationen sind auf dieser Homepage ältere Jahrgänge der ZIB sowie ausgewählte Beiträge der aktuellen Ausgaben kostenlos zum Download verfügbar, und alle Inhaltsverzeichnisse sind für die schnelle Recherche einsehbar. Ab Juli/August 2007 wird die ZIB vollständig online publiziert: Die PDFs sämtlicher Beiträge der aktuellen Ausgaben können dann unter www.nomos-zeitschriften.de heruntergeladen werden. Wie bisher sind außerdem die ersten zehn Jahrgänge der ZIB auf CD-ROM zum Preis von 29 Euro beim Nomos-Verlag erhältlich; eine Volltext-Suchfunktion ermöglicht hier das gleichzeitige Durchsuchen aller Ausgaben.

In den nächsten Monaten sind verschiedene Erweiterungen der Homepage geplant. So ist in Bälde ein Formular für Interessierte an einer Mitarbeit als Gutachterin oder Gutachter im ZIB-Review-Panel verfügbar. Außerdem wird die Webseite bald auch vollständig auf Englisch abrufbar sein. Wir hoffen, dass Sie sich mit uns über die erreichten Fortschritte freuen, und danken insbesondere Andreas Beierwaltes vom Nomos-Verlag, der die positiven Entwicklungen mit angestoßen und umgesetzt hat.

Die folgenden ZIB-Beiträge sind auf www.zib-online.info zum Download verfügbar:

1/2005 – FORUM
Andreas Behnke 2005: 9/11 und die Grenzen des Politischen, in: Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen 12: 1, 117-140.

2/2005 – AUFSÄTZE
Andreas Fischer-Lescano/Philip Liste 2005: Völkerrechtspolitik. Zu Trennung und Verknüpfung von Politik und Recht der Weltgesellschaft, in: Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen 12: 2, 209-249.

1/2006 – AUFSÄTZE
Thomas Bernauer/Thomas Sattler 2006: Sind WTO-Konflikte im Bereich des Umwelt- und Verbraucherschutzes eskalationsträchtiger als andere WTO-Konflikte?, in: Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen 13: 1, 5-37.

2/2006 – AUFSÄTZE
Kerstin Martens/Klaus Dieter Wolf 2006: Paradoxien der Neuen Staatsräson. Die Internationalisierung der Bildungspolitik in der EU und der OECD, in: Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen 13: 2, 145-176.

1/2007 – FORUM
Michael Zürn/Martin Binder/Matthias Ecker-Ehrhardt/Katrin Radtke 2007: Politische Ordnungsbildung wider Willen, in: Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen 14: 1, 129-164.

Anregungen, Kommentare, Kritik und vor allem Artikel sind nach wie vor jederzeit willkommen – wenden Sie sich einfach unter folgender Adresse an uns:

Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen
Geschwister-Scholl-Institut für Politische Wissenschaft
Lehrstuhl für Internationale Politik
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Oettingenstrasse 67
D-80538 München

Tel.: +49 (0)89 2180-9056/50
Fax : +49 (0)89 2180-9052
E-Mail: zib[@]lrz.uni-muenchen.de
Internet: www.zib-online.info

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2. Inhalt der ZIB 1/2007

*** Aufsätze ***

Niklas Schörnig
Opfersensibilität und Friedensdividende
Legitimationsmuster einer aktiven amerikanischen Rüstungsindustriepolitik in den 1990er Jahren

In den 1990er Jahren veränderte sich die amerikanische Rüstungsindustrie in dramatischer Weise; es kam zu einer umfassenden Konsolidierung und Restrukturierung der Industrie. Entgegen einer weit verbreiteten Auffassung hatte die amerikanische Regierung einen starken Einfluss auf den Restrukturierungsprozess. Ein zentrales Ziel war es, so zeigt die dem Aufsatz zugrunde liegende qualitative und quantitative Inhaltsanalyse relevanter Kongressdebatten, die amerikanische Rüstungsindustrie in die Lage zu versetzen, auch im neuen Jahrtausend modernste Hightech-Waffen zu minimalen Kosten herzustellen. Dabei spielte der Wunsch, auch zukünftige Konflikte mit minimalen eigenen Opfern führen zu können, eine besondere Rolle und wird als ein wichtiges Motiv für die aktive Industriepolitik der Regierung identifiziert. Dieses Ergebnis unterstreicht die Bedeutung, die dem Wunsch nach minimierten eigenen Opfern in den USA zukommt und zeigt, dass Opferaversion nicht nur die taktische oder strategische Ebene beeinflusst, sondern eine tiefer gehende Wirkung auf Technologie- und sogar Industrieplanung besitzt.
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Martin Beck
Der Rentierstaats-Ansatz und das Problem abweichender Fälle

Der in den 1980er Jahren entwickelte Rentierstaats-Ansatz hat die Diskussion über die sozioökonomische und -politische Entwicklung des Vorderen Orients geprägt und einen substanziellen Erklärungsbeitrag zum »Sonderweg« dieser Weltregion erbracht, die nur in geringem Maße an den globalen Phänomenen der Globalisierung und Demokratisierung teilnimmt. Freilich haben sich viele Studien, die sich auf den Rentierstaats-Ansatz stützen, zu stark auf die Analyse positiver Fälle konzentriert und sind der Kritik ausgewichen, dass es Rentierstaaten gebe, deren ökonomischer und/oder politischer Entwicklungsweg nicht den Prognosen des Rentierstaats-Ansatzes entspreche. Der Aufsatz überprüft diesen Vorwurf eingehend, indem er mutmaßlich abweichende Fälle innerhalb wie außerhalb der Region des Vorderen Orients auf die aufgeworfenen kritischen Fragen hin untersucht (insbesondere Algerien, Botsuana, Irak, Iran, Israel, Südkorea, Taiwan und Venezuela). Es wird gezeigt, dass sich der Ansatz keinem gravierenden Problem abweichender Fälle ausgesetzt sieht. Zugleich wird ein Weg seiner Weiterentwicklung aufzuzeigen versucht, indem systematisch drei intervenierende Variablen identifiziert und diskutiert werden.
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Christoph Schuck
Islam und die Legitimität von Herrschaft
Erkenntnisse aus der konzeptionellen Heterogenität des Islams in Indonesien für Demokratie und Systemtransformation

Der vorliegende Aufsatz analysiert die Beziehung von Islam und Demokratie. Das Beispiel Indonesiens – des größten mehrheitlich von Muslimen bewohnten Landes der Erde – zeigt, dass verbreitete Inkompatibilitätsszenarien in ihrer analytischen Tiefe Defizite aufweisen. Wer über das Verhältnis von Islam und Demokratie spricht, darf über Indonesien nicht schweigen. Zur Versachlichung und Erweiterung der theoretisch-systematischen Debatte und deren Verbindung mit empirischanalytischen Ansätzen müssen die Ursachen identifiziert werden, die zum weitgehend erfolgreichen Zusammenspiel von Islam und Demokratie geführt haben. Parallel hierzu gilt es, den Einfluss von islamistischen Gruppen zu evaluieren, die Indonesiens noch junge Demokratie zu unterminieren versuchen. Die konzeptionelle Heterogenität des indonesischen Islams gibt wertvolle Hinweise zum generellen Verhältnis von Islam und Demokratie: Es ist nicht der Islam, sehr wohl jedoch der Islamismus, der mit der Demokratie inkompatibel ist. Die Schlüsselvariable zum Verständnis des Islamismus wiederum liegt nicht in der Bereitschaft zur Gewaltanwendung, sondern in der spezifischen Vorstellung der Legitimität von Herrschaft.
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Michèle Knodt
Regieren im erweiterten Mehrebenensystem
Internationale Einbettung der EU in die WTO

Der Aufsatz beschäftigt sich mit dem institutionellen Wandel der EU durch deren Einbindung in die WTO. Es wird gezeigt, dass sich die Wirkungen der internationalen Einbettung der EU sowohl auf die formale Organisation von Entscheidungsverfahren als auch auf die Veränderung der Routinen und Konzepte legitimer Ordnung erstrecken. Diese Dynamik wird erstens über die Mechanismen des Anpassungsdrucks durch die veränderten Gegebenheiten auf internationaler Ebene erklärt. Der zweite Mechanismus zur Erklärung des institutionellen Wandels ist die Einbindung in bestimmte Maßnahmen, Routinen und Entscheidungsverfahren meist internationaler Organisationen. Drittens werden durch attraktive Angebote an Konzepten, Instrumenten und Strategien für Akteure des europäischen Mehrebenensystems windows of opportunity eröffnet und somit Wandel angestoßen. Diese Veränderungen führen im Bereich der europäischen Handelspolitik tendenziell zu einer Zentralisierung der EU.
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*** Forum ***

Michael Zürn/Martin Binder/Matthias Ecker-Ehrhardt/Katrin Radtke
Politische Ordnungsbildung wider Willen

Der vorliegende Beitrag ist forschungsprogrammatischer Natur. Er entwickelt eine theoretisch-konzeptionelle Perspektive auf die institutionellen Dynamiken in den internationalen Beziehungen nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg, die mit der Schaffung von zwischenstaatlichen Institutionen einsetzten und möglicherweise zu einer normativ gehaltvollen politischen Ordnung jenseits des Nationalstaats führen. Vor dem Hintergrund einer Diagnose über die Erfolge und Misserfolge internationaler Institutionen werden zwei zentrale Thesen und die mit ihnen verbundenen Kausalmechanismen entwickelt, die den nicht intendierten Folgen von politischen Eingriffen eine zentrale Bedeutung zuschreiben. Der ersten These zufolge hat die Verlagerung des Regierens auf internationale Institutionen einen nicht intendierten Trend zur Supra- und Transnationalisierung der politischen Steuerung zur Folge. Die zweite These geht davon aus, dass die zunehmende Eingriffstiefe und der Bedeutungszuwachs von trans- und supranationalen Institutionen im Laufe der Zeit zu einer gesellschaftlichen Politisierung und zu Legitimationsproblemen politischer Steuerung jenseits des Nationalstaats führen.
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Lothar Brock
Zauberlehrlinge, oder: Die List der (Un-)Vernunft in den internationalen Beziehungen
Eine Replik auf Zürn et al.

Dieser Forumsbeitrag setzt sich mit dem Aufsatz von Michael Zürn et al. unter drei Gesichtspunkten auseinander: der Thematisierung des realhistorischen Bezugs, dem potenziellen Beitrag zur Theoriebildung und der Einbindung des Forschungsvorhabens in die von ihm zu analysierende gesellschaftliche Praxis. Der Fokus auf die Dynamik politischer Steuerung, deren nichtintendierte Folgen (Politisierung) und die damit wiederum einhergehenden Ausdifferenzierungsprozesse ist vielversprechend, wirft aber eine Reihe von Fragen auf, die die Subsumtion der Weltverhältnisse unter die Steuerungsproblematik, die Konstruktion von Aktions-Reaktionsmustern mit Hilfe der Politisierungsthese und den Begriff der Politisierung selbst betreffen. Was die Theoriebildung betrifft, so führt das Forschungsprogramm den Denationalisierungsansatz unter Bezug auf weltgesellschaftliche Handlungszusammenhänge weiter, blendet dabei jedoch laufende Überlegungen zum Begriff der Weltgesellschaft weitgehend aus. Das Forschungsprogramm enthält sich jeder normativen Bewertung der von ihm zu untersuchenden Auseinandersetzungen um eine normativ anspruchsvolle Ordnung, ohne zu reflektieren, dass es selbst Teil dieser Auseinandersetzungen ist.
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James W. Davis
Wessen Wille? Welche Ordnung?
Eine Replik auf Zürn et al.

Dieser Forumsbeitrag setzt sich kritisch mit der von Michael Zürn et al. vertretenen These auseinander, dass der seit dem Krieg stattfindende Wandel hin zu internationalen Institutionen eine unintendierte Dynamik freigesetzt hat, die ihrerseits zu einer Politisierung der Institutionen der »global governance«, einer Denationalisierung der Gesellschaft und einer Abkehr von zwischenstaatlichen Formen der Kooperation sowie – damit einhergehend – einer Hinwendung zu supranationalen Kooperationsformen führt. Während die wesentlichen empirischen Entwicklungen, welche die Autoren darstellen, akzeptiert werden, legt eine Analyse der zugrunde liegenden Logik ihres gesellschaftszentrierten Arguments doch nahe, dass die Implikationen dieser Entwicklungen nicht eindeutig sind.
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Antje Wiener
Das Normative in der Internationalen Politik: Unsichtbare Konsequenzen von Institutionenbildung?
Eine Replik auf Zürn et al.

Von Staaten geschaffene Institutionen haben – so Zürn et al. – doppelte Wirkung: Sie sind nicht nur utilitaristisch motiviert und einflussreich, sondern auch normativ folgenreich. Für neo-regimetheoretische Perspektiven ergibt sich entsprechend das puzzle, dass Regime von intervenierenden Variablen zu Akteurinnen mit eigenständiger Rationalität werden. Dies zieht unbeabsichtigte normative Konsequenzen nach sich. Der Kommentar rückt den theoretischen Befund des Beitrages von Michael Zürn et al. in die weitere Debatte der IB und fragt erstens, ob das Normative in der internationalen Politik generell als theoretisch unsichtbar gelten muss, und zweitens, ob es tatsächlich als Novum im Zusammenhang mit Institutionenbildung jenseits des Staates konzipiert werden sollte. Es wird argumentiert, dass das puzzle sich dann lösen lässt, wenn, wie von reflexiven Regimetheoretikern vorgeschlagen, die Intersubjektivitätsprämisse zugrunde gelegt wird. Entsprechend sind nichtintendierte Nebeneffekte als für funktionalistische Regimeanalysen unsichtbare normative Konsequenzen zu verstehen.
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3. Aktuelles von der DVPW-Sektion „Internationale Politik“

Mitteilungen der Sektion

1. Zweite Offene Sektionstagung der Sektion Internationale Politik,
13.-14.7.2007, Darmstadt

Die nächste Offene Sektionstagung wird von Freitag, 13. Juli (Registrierung ab 12 Uhr, Beginn 14 Uhr), bis Samstag, 14. Juli 2007 (Ende 18 Uhr), an der TU Darmstadt stattfinden. Etwa 100 Referentinnen und Referenten werden in 26 Panels ihre Forschung vorstellen und diskutieren. Weitere Informationen zu Anmeldung und Teilnahme erhalten Sie über die Webseite der Sektion ( http://www.soz.uni-frankfurt.de/hellmann/sektion/).

2. Call for Papers für die British-German IR Conference, 16.-18.5.2008,
Arnoldshain (in englischer Sprache)

The British International Studies Association (BISA) and the International Politics section of the German Political Science Association (DVPW) invite proposals for their joint conference, to be held in Arnoldshain from 16-18 May 2008. Both full panel as well as individual paper proposals from all areas of international studies are invited. Panel proposals with joint British and German participations are particularly welcome.
The conference will start on Friday afternoon, 16 May 2008, with one set of panels. On Saturday, there will be four sets of panels. The conference will end after two further sets of panels with lunch on Sunday, 18 May 2008.
Due to accommodation constraints at the conference venue, space is limited to about 100 participants. Those not listed in the programme are welcome to join and will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Available space permitting, a separate call for registration will be issued in early 2008, after the registration deadline for those participating in the programme has lapsed. The conference will take place in the »Evangelische Akademie Arnoldshain«, located at 2500 feet in the forests of the Taunus Hills near Frankfurt/M. It can be reached from Frankfurt Airport or Frankfurt’s Main Railway Station in about 90 minutes by public transport or in 45 minutes by (rental) car. Accommodation in Arnoldshain is in one of the 48 single or in one of the 20 double rooms (all en-suite). The registration fee, including accommodation and all meals, will be about EUR 160 (single room), or 140 (p. p. in shared room). BISA has agreed to provide four student bursaries of £100 each available for graduate students from British universities presenting a paper. Please indicate on paper/panel proposals whether you are applying for such support. The conference is organized by Professors Mathias Albert (Bielefeld) and Chris Brown (LSE). Paper and panel proposals, including full contact details, should be sent to britgerir@yahoo.de by 20 August 2007. Notification about acceptance of panels/papers will be sent out in early October 2007.

3. Call for Panels für die zweite Global International Studies Conference,
23.-26.7.2008, Ljubljana

Von 23. bis 26. Juli 2008 findet die zweite Global International Studies Conference des World International Studies Committee (WISC) statt, dem auch die Sektion Internationale Politik der DVPW angehört. Konferenzort ist Ljubljana, Slowenien. Die IB-Sektion ist aufgefordert worden, mindestens fünf Panels für die Konferenz beizusteuern. Bitte reichen Sie ganze Panels mit Chair und Discussant sowie in der Regel vier Papieren bis spätestens 15. Oktober 2007 unter
schimmelfennig@eup.gess.ethz.ch ein. Die Panels sollten durchaus international gemischt sein und sind thematisch nicht gebunden. Nähere Informationen finden Sie unter http://www.wiscnetwork.org/index.php.

Für Rückfragen stehen Sprecherin und Sprecher der Sektion unter folgenden Adressen
zur Verfügung:

Prof. Dr. Frank Schimmelfennig
Center for Comparative and International Studies
ETH Zürich SEI
8092 Zürich
E-Mail: frank.schimmelfennig[@]eup.gess.ethz.ch
(Geschäftsführung 2006/2007)

Prof. Dr. Mathias Albert
Fakultät für Soziologie
Universität Bielefeld
Postfach 100 131
33501 Bielefeld
E-Mail: mathias.albert[@]uni-bielefeld.de
(Geschäftsführung 2007/2008)

Dr. Nicole Deitelhoff
Technische Universität Darmstadt/
Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (HSFK)
Leimenrode 29
60322 Frankfurt a. M.
E-Mail: deitelhoff[@]hsfk.de
(Geschäftsführung 2008/2009)

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4. Verschiedenes

*** Neuigkeiten aus dem Nomos-Verlag Baden-Baden ***

Das Lektorat Politikwissenschaft empfiehlt folgende Neuerscheinungen im Bereich Internationale Beziehungen und Außenpolitik:

Friedemann Müller/Enno Harks (Hrsg.)
Petrostaaten. Außenpolitik im Zeichen von Öl
2007, 276 S., brosch., 34,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2836-0
(Internationale Politik und Sicherheit, Bd. 60)

Ressourcenreiche Petrostaaten stehen mit zunehmender Konkurrenz um Öl und Gas wieder im Mittelpunkt der internationalen Politik. Nutzen die Petrostaaten die ihnen zugewachsene Machtfülle, determiniert Öl zunehmend Außenpolitik? Welche Spuren hinterlassen die Ressourcen in der innenpolitischen Verfasstheit von Petrostaaten? Elf der weltgrößten Ölexporteure werden hieraufhin untersucht.

Peter Rudolf
Imperiale Illusionen. Amerikanische Außenpolitik unter Präsident George W. Bush
2007, ca. 219 S., brosch., ca. 29,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2928-2
(Internationale Politik und Sicherheit, Bd. 61)

Ideologisch, imperial, inkompetent: so lautet weithin das Urteil über die Außenpolitik von George W. Bush. Kritik ist wohlfeil; eher selten ist jedoch eine nüchterne Analyse. Eine solche politikwissenschaftlich fundierte Einschätzung des strategischen Wandels, aber auch der Kontinuitäten amerikanischer Außenpolitik nach dem 11. September 2001 leistet dieser Band.

Eberhard Sandschneider (Hrsg.)
Empire
2007, 136 S., brosch., 19,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2514-7
(Veröffentlichungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Politikwissenschaft (DGfP), Bd. 23)

Der Imperiumsgedanke scheint insbesondere für konservative und neo-konservative Köpfe zunehmenden Reiz auszuüben. Um den Begriff und die Bedeutung für die Weltpolitik ist eine lebhafte Diskussion entstanden. In dem vorliegenden Sammelband werden die wesentlichen Beiträge der Jahrestagung der DGfP wiedergegeben, die sich ausführlich mit diesem Thema beschäftigen.

Franz Eder/Gerhard Mangott/Martin Senn (eds.)
Transatlantic Discord: Combating Terrorism and Proliferation, Preventing Crises
2007, 253 S., brosch., 29,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2729-5
(Einzeltitel)

Die Beiträge dieses Bandes konzentrieren sich auf die Bekämpfung des Terrorismus, nukleare Nonproliferation sowie Krisenprävention, und analysieren Europäische und US-Perspektiven der Bedrohungswahrnehmung und -bekämpfung sowie gegenwärtige Herausforderungen wie etwa das Nuklearprogramm des Iran.

Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg / IFSH (ed.)
OSCE Yearbook 2006: Yearbook on the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
2007, 482 S., geb., 59,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2564-2

Das Jahrbuch der Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) enthält eine Fülle höchst interessanter Aufsätze über die Organisation und ihre Arbeit sowie über die davon betroffenen Themenfelder und Staaten. Ein Schwerpunkt liegt auf der Region um das Schwarze Meer und zeichnet die Entwicklung der Beziehungen mit den Anrainerstaaten nach, ein anderer gibt Einblicke in die Reform der OSZE – insbesondere auch in aktuelle Entwicklungen hinsichtlich der Terrorismusbekämpfung und Polizeireform.

Michael W. Bauer/Christoph Knill (eds.)
Management Reforms in International Organizations
2007, 226 S., brosch., 39,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2572-7
(Verwaltungsressourcen und Verwaltungsstrukturen, Bd. 6)

Erstmalig liefern die Autoren einen Ansatz, die Geschwindigkeit, die Akzeptanz sowie den Umfang von Managementreformen in internationalen Organisationen zu erläutern. Führende Wissenschaftler auf diesem Gebiet analysieren die Reformprozesse unter anderem in der EU-Kommission, dem Nordischen Ministerrat, der Weltbank, der OECD, der EZB, dem Europäischen Parlament und der UN.

Achim Brunnengräber/Heike Walk (Hrsg.)
Multi-Level-Governance. Klima-, Umwelt- und Sozialpolitik in einer interdependenten Welt
2007, 349 S., brosch., 49,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2706-6
(Schriften zur Governance-Forschung, Bd. 9)

Ob im Hinblick auf Fragen der globalen Regierungsführung (Global Governance), der grenzüberschreitenden politischen Steuerung, der transnationalen Demokratie oder der Herausbildung neuer Macht- und Herrschaftsverhältnisse: Multi-Level-Governance wird als Analyseinstrument in Wissenschaft und Forschung immer attraktiver. Der vorliegende Band erörtert den Mehrwert dieses Konzepts für die Analyse „glokaler“ Interdependenzen anhand verschiedener Fallbeispiele.

Hubert Heinelt/Michèle Knodt (Hrsg.)
Politikfelder im EU-Mehrebenensystem. Instrumente und Strategien europäischen Regierens
2007, ca. 350 S., brosch., ca. 29,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2273-3
(Forschungsstand Politikwissenschaft)

Dieser Sammelband gibt einen Überblick über die zentralen Politikfelder der EU. Dabei wird jeweils neben der historischen Entwicklung der einzelnen Politikfelder auf die wesentlichen Steuerungsmechanismen und die maßgeblichen Akteure bei der Politikformulierung und Implementation eingegangen und nach der konkreten Ausprägung und Bedeutung einer Mehrebenenstruktur gefragt.

Christine Chwaszcza
Moral Responsibility and Global Justice: A Human Rights Approach
2007, 203 S., brosch., 39,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2878-0
(Studies in Political Theory, Bd. 1)

Die Reflexion globaler Gerechtigkeit verlangt eine innovative Revision der traditionellen Argumentationsmuster politischer Theorie. Ausgehend von einer menschenrechtlichen Auffassung politischer Legitimität werden die ethische und theoretische Struktur transnationaler Verantwortung und zwischenstaatlicher Gerechtigkeit erörtert.

Andreas Boeckh/Rafael Sevilla (Hrsg.)
Kultur und Entwicklung. Vier Weltregionen im Vergleich
2007, ca. 220 S., brosch., ca. 39,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2280-1
(Einzeltitel)

Zehn Autoren aus den Fachdisziplinen Theologie, Philosophie, Politikwissenschaft, Rechtswissenschaft, Geographie, Volkswirtschaftslehre und Ethnologie diskutieren die seit Max Weber immer wieder thematisierte Frage nach dem Zusammenhang von Kultur und Entwicklung, nach den Voraussetzungen des interkulturellen Dialogs und den Chancen für die Verschmelzung von Modernität und eigenständigen Werten. Neben theoretischen und konzeptionellen Beiträgen enthält der Band auch Aufsätze zu den Regionen Afrika, Vorderer Orient, Asien und Lateinamerika.

BMZ - Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Eds.)
Transforming Fragile States – Examples of Practical Experience
2007, ca. 270 S., brosch., ca. 25,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2529-1
(Einzeltitel)

Fragile Staaten und schlechte Regierungsführung sind eine große Herausforderung für die internationale Gemeinschaft. Der Sammelband „Transforming Fragile States - Examples of Practical Experience” berichtet über die Möglichkeiten, durch entwicklungspolitische Zusammenarbeit in diesen Ländern Transformationsprozesse zu unterstützen.

Olivia Jazwinski
Unrechtsaufarbeitung nach einem Regimewechsel. Das neue Spannungsverhältnis zwischen der Zuständigkeit des Internationalen Strafgerichtshofes und nationalen Maßnahmen der Unrechtsaufarbeitung
2007, 257 S., brosch., 43,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2616-8
(Düsseldorfer Schriften zu Internationaler Politik und Völkerrecht, Bd. 2)

Die Vergangenheitsbewältigung nach einem Unrechtsregime steht mehr denn je in einem Spannungsfeld zwischen nationaler Souveränität und völkerstrafrechtlicher Verfolgungspflicht. Können aus der Vergangenheit Schlüsse für Lösungsansätze gezogen werden? Die Verfasserin entwickelt anhand von Fallbeispielen Leitlinien für eine ausgewogene Unrechtsaufarbeitung.

Reiner Meyer
Reconciliation in der Post-Konfliktphase. Diskrepanz zwischen Theorie und der Realpolitik
2007, 175 S., brosch., 29,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2827-8
(Wiener Schriften zur Internationalen Politik, Bd. 11)

Die Studie erläutert im Kontext von Post-Konfliktphasen die Problematik der Versöhnung (reconciliation). Vorhandene Konzepte und Definitionen werden analysiert und deren heutiger Stellenwert für die Praxis bewertet.

Hannes Swoboda/Christophe Solioz (eds.)
Conflict and Renewal: Europe Transformed: Essays in Honour of Wolfgang Petritsch
2007, 407 S., brosch., 79,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2843-8
(Einzeltitel)

Hochrangige internationale Persönlichkeiten aus Politik, Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft haben anlässlich des 60. Geburtstags von Wolfgang Petritsch, dem ehemaligen Balkan-Beauftragten, Beiträge für den von Hannes Swoboda und Christophe Solioz herausgegebenen Band geschrieben. Zu den Autoren zählen u.a. Carla Del Ponte, Carl Bildt, Madeleine Albright und Javier Solana.

Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter www.nomos.de.

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Wir hoffen, dass Sie auch diesen Newsletter wieder hilfreich für Ihre Arbeit finden. Sollten Sie den Newsletter künftig nicht mehr erhalten wollen, senden Sie bitte einfach eine E-Mail mit dem Betreff „unsubscribe“ an zib@lrz.uni-muenchen.de. Ihre Adresse wird dann umgehend aus unserem Verteiler entfernt.

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German Journal for International Relations (ZIB)
Newsletter 1/2007
English Version

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Content:

1. News from ZIB
2. Content ZIB 1/2007
3. News from the section “International Politics”
4. Miscellaneous

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1. News from ZIB

We are happy to inform you about the current issue of the German Journal for International Relations (ZIB), which appeared in print June 20 2007. The articles in the issue deal with the patterns of legitimacy of American defence industry politics in the 1990s (Niklas Schörnig), the explanatory power of the rentier state approach for International Relations (Martin Beck), the reasons for the compatibility of Islam and democracy in Indonesia (Christoph Schmuck) and the institutional change of the EU through the embedding in the WTO (Michèle Knodt). In the forum Michael Zürn, Martin Binder, Matthias Ecker-Ehrhardt und Katrin Radtke ask about the unintended consequences of creating political order beyond the state. Lothar Brock, James W. Davis, Antje Wiener und Andreas Nölke deal with the presented assumptions critically in four separate replies.

ZIB Online!

It is finally here: with its online publication the German Journal of International Relations (ZIB) takes an important step forward into the digital age. From today the ZIB has its own domain: www.zib-online.info, which replaces the old ZIB page under www.politik-im-netz.com. Apart from the submission guidelines and current news, one can find past issues of the ZIB as well as selected articles of the current issue to download free of charge. All tables of content can be searched easily. From July/August 2007 all of the ZIB will be published online: the PDFs of all contributions of the current issue can then be downloaded from www.nomos-zeitschriften.de. As hitherto, the first ten volumes of the ZIB are available on CD-ROM from Nomos-Verlag for 29 Euro; a full text search function makes it possible to simultaneously search all issues.

In the next couple of months we are planning a number of different additions to the website. In the near future an online-form will be available for those interested in becoming a reviewer in the ZIB-Review Panel. Apart from that the website will be available completely in English. We hope you are as excited about the improvements as we are, and we especially thank Andreas Beierwaltes from Nomos-Verlag who initiated and implemented these positive developments.

The following articles are available for download:

1/2005 – FORUM
Andreas Behnke 2005: 9/11 and the Limits of the Political, in: Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen 12: 1, 117-140.

2/2005 – ARTICLES
Andreas Fischer-Lescano/Philip Liste 2005: Völkerrechtspolitik: On Differentiation and Coupling of Politics and Law in World Society, in: Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen 12: 2, 209-249.

1/2006 – ARTICLES
Thomas Bernauer/Thomas Sattler 2006: Are WTO Disputes over Environment, Health and Safety Regulation More Prone to Escalation?, in: Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen 13: 1, 5-37.

2/2006 – ARTICLES
Kerstin Martens/Klaus Dieter Wolf 2006: Paradoxes of the New Raison d’État. The Internationalization of Education Policy in the EU and the OECD, in: Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen 13: 2, 145-176.

1/2007 – FORUM
Michael Zürn/Martin Binder/Matthias Ecker-Ehrhardt/Katrin Radtke 2007: The Involuntary Formation of Political Order, in: Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen 14: 1, 129-164.

We encourage our readers to submit articles and welcome any critique, suggestions, or comments. Please do not hesitate to contact us under the address below:

Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen
Geschwister-Scholl-Institut für Politische Wissenschaft
Lehrstuhl für Internationale Politik
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Oettingenstrasse 67
D-80538 München

Tel : +49-(0)89-2180-9050/56
Fax : +49-(0)89-2180-9052
E-Mail: zib@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
Internet: www.zib-online.info

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2. Content of ZIB 2/2006

*** Main Articles ***

Niklas Schörnig
Casualty Aversion and Peace Dividend
Legitimizing the Active American Defence Industrial Policy of the 1990s

During the 1990s, the American defence industry underwent a tremendous restructuring process. In contrast to common perception, this article argues that the American administration had a strong say in this process, increased its speed, and set its agenda and direction. In order to analyze the underlying motivation of Washington, this study uses a combination of a qualitative and quantitative content analysis of relevant Congress debates. It shows that the most important reasons were to have a defence industry that was capable of producing affordable high-tech weapons and of keeping the number of American casualties in future conflicts low. This finding highlights the importance of the aversion of casualties as a driving force of American military policy with regard to its military strategy but also with regard to the longterm planning of its defence industry.
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Martin Beck
The Rentier State Approach and the Problem of Deviant Cases

The article draws on the rentier state approach which is prominent in research on the socio-economic and socio-political development of the Middle East. So far, most research has concentrated itself on the positive cases and overlooked country studies that did not meet the expectations of the theory. The study tries to address this gap by investigating the presumably deviant cases inside and outside the Middle Eastern region. Special attention is given to the developments in the Muslim states Algeria, Iraq and Iran, the Latin American case of Venezuela and Botswana as a sub-saharan African state, as well as the non-Muslim cases Israel, South Korea, and Taiwan. The analysis demonstrates that the rentier state approach does not encounter particularproblems to explain those cases, too. However, in order to be successful, the theory will have to be supplemented with additional intervening variables such as ideas, security threats and conditionality.
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Christoph Schuck
Islam and the Legitimacy of Political Rule
Lessons for Democracy and Democratic Transition Learned from the Conceptual Heterogeneity of Indonesian Islam

This article focuses on the relationship between Islam and democracy. The conceptual heterogeneity of Indonesian Islam can provide insights into this relationship: Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country which has been making a transition toward democracy since 1998, indicates that there is no compelling evidence that Islam and democracy must be generally incompatible. At the same time, however, it is necessary to evaluate the perceptions and influence of anti-democratic and increasingly internationalized Islamistic groups that do exist in Indonesia, too. The study of the relationship between Islam and democracy in Indonesia and its transfer to the international level leads to the conclusion that it is not Islam, but Islamism that is incompatible with democracy. Moreover, the key to understanding Islamism does not lie in the willingness of Islamists to use physical force, but in their unique perception of the legitimacy of political rule.
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Michèle Knodt
Governance in an Expanded Multi-level System
International Embeddedness of the EU

The article analyses how the embedding of the EU into the international trading system, the WTO, leads to institutional changes within the EU. It demonstrates that embeddedness does not only effect the formal organisation of the decision-making process but also effects routines, guiding ideas and concepts of legitimate order. This dynamic is caused by (1) the pressure to adapt, (2) involvement in routines and decision-making rules mostly within international organisations, and (3) attractive concepts, instruments, and strategies which open up a window of opportunity for actors of the European multi-level system. These institutional changes cause a centralization trend in the EU field of trade policy.
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***Forum***

Michael Zürn/Martin Binder/Matthias Ecker-Ehrhardt/Katrin Radtke
The Involuntary Formation of Political Order

This article develops a theoretical-conceptual perspective on the institutional dynamics which began with the creation of international institutions following the Second World War and which may lead to the establishment of a new, normatively significant political order beyond the nation-state. Based upon a diagnosis of the successes and failures of post-World-War institutions, we develop two core hypotheses (including the relevant causal mechanisms) which ascribe central importance to the unintended effects of political intervention. Our first claim is that shifting governance and governing to international institutions results unintentionally in the gradual supra- and transnationalization of politics and policies. Our second claim is that, over time, increased intervention along with the growing significance of trans- and supranational institutions will result in societies becoming more politicized which, in turn, will lead to problems of legitimacy for forms of governance beyond nation-states.
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Lothar Brock
World Order as an Unintended Consequence of World Ordering
A Reply to Zürn et al.

The paper by Zürn et al. presents world order as an unintended consequence of world ordering. This is interesting, but also raises a number of issues. The paper subsumes (almost) everything that is happening today under the steering problematic. In this regard there is a danger of replacing »methodological nationalism« with »methodological institutionalism«. As to theory-building, the project neatly links up with the earlier denationalization approach but is rather selective in the way it relates to the present debate on conflict in world society and the constitutionalization of international law. Finally, one would expect the analysis of the dynamics of political steering to offer a clue as to where things are going and what to make of it. In contrast, the authors not only refrain from presenting preferences but also claim that it »remains to be seen« into which direction things will develop. This attempt to avoid the trap of ideology may lead right into it.
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James W. Davis
Involuntary? Which Order and for Whom?
A Reply to Zürn et al.

This essay critically examines the assertion of Zürn et al. that the post-war move to institutions unleashed an unintended dynamic that is leading to a politicization of the institutions of global governance, the denationalization of society, and a move away from inter-state towards trans- and supranational forms of cooperation. Although the basic empirical developments outlined by the authors are accepted, an analysis of the underlying logic of their society-centric argument suggests the implications of these developments are not clear cut.
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Antje Wiener
The Normative Dimension of International Politics: Invisible Consequences of Institutionbuilding?
A Reply to Zürn et al.

Originally created by states, institutions are found to have a twofold effect by Zürn et al.: They are utilitarian, efficient and, in addition, they have a normative effect. This finding creates a puzzle for neo-regimetheoretic perspectives, i. e. regimes turn from intervening variables into actors with independent rationales and, hence, create unintended – normative – consequences. The comment situates the theoretical insights of the paper by Zürn et al. in the wider IR debate and asks, first, whether the »normative« in international politics must remain theoretically invisible, and, secondly, whether it must be conceptualised as a novelty in relation with processes of institution-building beyond the state. It is argued that the puzzle can be solved if – as reflexive regime theorists hold – analyses proceed from the premise of intersubjectivity. Based on that, unintended consequences would be understood as invisible normative consequences.
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Andreas Nölke
For a Political Theory of Political Order Beyond the Nation-State
A Reply to Zürn et al.

Although Zürn et al. have chosen the politicization of international institutions as their explanandum, their explanation neglects a number of fundamentally political phenomena, such as the distribution of power in the international system, the development of global capitalism and the heterogeneity of political and economic rule inside and outside of the OECD world. Especially problematic is their neglect of the content and the substance of policies, as designed by international institutions. From my perspective, content and institutional form are closely inter-related. Neither the emergence of international institutions, nor protest against international institutions can be explained without taking into account the substance of policies and the interests affected by them. Correspondingly, there are narrow limits for the development of an abstract and ahistoric theory of unintended consequences of political intervention.
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3. News from the German section “International Politics”

1. Second General Meeting of the Section “International Politics”, July 13-14, 2007, Darmstadt ***

The next General Meeting will take place from July 13 (registration will be open from 12 a.m., meeting beginning 14 a.m.), until Saturday, July 14, 2007 (ending ca. 6 p.m.), at the TU Darmstadt. In 26 panels ca. 100 speakers will present and discuss their research. For further information about registration and participation see the website of the section
( http://www.soz.uni-frankfurt.de/hellmann/sektion/).

2. Call for Papers for the British-German IR Conference, May 16.-18, 2008
Arnoldshain (in English)

The British International Studies Association (BISA) and the International Politics section of the German Political Science Association (DVPW) invite proposals for their joint conference, to be held in Arnoldshain from May 16-18 2008. Both full panel as well as individual paper proposals from all areas of international studies are invited. Panel proposals with joint British and German participations are particularly welcome. The conference will start on Friday afternoon, May 16 2008, with one set of panels. On Saturday, there will be four sets of panels. The conference will end after two further sets of panels with lunch on Sunday, May 18 2008.
Due to accommodation constraints at the conference venue, space is limited to about 100 participants. Those not listed in the programme are welcome to join and will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Available space permitting, a separate call for registration will be issued in early 2008, after the registration deadline for those participating in the programme has lapsed. The conference will take place in the »Evangelische Akademie Arnoldshain«, located at 2500 feet in the forests of the Taunus Hills near Frankfurt/M. It can be reached from Frankfurt Airport or Frankfurt’s Main Railway Station in about 90 minutes by public transport or in 45 minutes by (rental) car. Accommodation in Arnoldshain is in one of the 48 single or in one of the 20 double rooms (all en-suite). The registration fee, including accommodation and all meals, will be about EUR 160 (single room), or 140 (p. p. in shared room). BISA has agreed to provide four student bursaries of £100 each available for graduate students from British universities presenting a paper. Please indicate on paper/panel proposals whether you are applying for such support. The conference is organized by Professors Mathias Albert (Bielefeld) and ChrisBrown (LSE). Paper and panel proposals, including full contact details, should be sent to britgerir@yahoo.de by August 20, 2007. Notification about acceptance of panels/papers will be sent out in early October 2007.

3. Call for Panels for the second Global International Studies Conference,
July 23-26, 2008, Ljubljana

From July 23 until 26, 2008 the second Global International Studies Conference of the World International Studies Committee (WISC), to which the German section “International Politics” also belongs, will take place. The location of the conference is Ljubljana, Slovenia. The section of International Relations within the DVPW is requested to contribute with at least five panels to the conference. Please submit full panels with chair and discussants together with four papers until latest October 15, 2007 to schimmelfennig@eup.gess.ethz.ch
The panels are requested to be internationally represented and are free of thematic restrictions. For further information see http://www.wiscnetwork.org/index.php.

For questions please contact the speakers below:

Prof. Dr. Frank Schimmelfennig
Center for Comparative and International Studies
ETH Zürich SEI
8092 Zürich
E-Mail: frank.schimmelfennig@eup.gess.ethz.ch
(Geschäftsführung 2006/2007)

Prof. Dr. Mathias Albert
Fakultät für Soziologie
Universität Bielefeld
Postfach 100 131
33501 Bielefeld
E-Mail: mathias.albert[@]uni-bielefeld.de
(Geschäftsführung 2007/2008)

Dr. Nicole Deitelhoff
Technische Universität Darmstadt/
Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (HSFK)
Leimenrode 29
60322 Frankfurt a. M.
E-Mail: deitelhoff@hsfk.de
(Geschäftsführung 2008/2009)

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4. Miscellaneous

*** New Publications from NOMOS ***

Friedemann Müller/Enno Harks (Hrsg.)
Petrostaaten. Außenpolitik im Zeichen von Öl
2007, 276 S., brosch., 34,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2836-0
(Internationale Politik und Sicherheit, Bd. 60)

Ressourcenreiche Petrostaaten stehen mit zunehmender Konkurrenz um Öl und Gas wieder im Mittelpunkt der internationalen Politik. Nutzen die Petrostaaten die ihnen zugewachsene Machtfülle, determiniert Öl zunehmend Außenpolitik? Welche Spuren hinterlassen die Ressourcen in der innenpolitischen Verfasstheit von Petrostaaten? Elf der weltgrößten Ölexporteure werden hieraufhin untersucht.

Peter Rudolf
Imperiale Illusionen. Amerikanische Außenpolitik unter Präsident George W. Bush
2007, ca. 219 S., brosch., ca. 29,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2928-2
(Internationale Politik und Sicherheit, Bd. 61)

Ideologisch, imperial, inkompetent: so lautet weithin das Urteil über die Außenpolitik von George W. Bush. Kritik ist wohlfeil; eher selten ist jedoch eine nüchterne Analyse. Eine solche politikwissenschaftlich fundierte Einschätzung des strategischen Wandels, aber auch der Kontinuitäten amerikanischer Außenpolitik nach dem 11. September 2001 leistet dieser Band.

Eberhard Sandschneider (Hrsg.)
Empire
2007, 136 S., brosch., 19,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2514-7
(Veröffentlichungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Politikwissenschaft (DGfP), Bd. 23)

Der Imperiumsgedanke scheint insbesondere für konservative und neo-konservative Köpfe zunehmenden Reiz auszuüben. Um den Begriff und die Bedeutung für die Weltpolitik ist eine lebhafte Diskussion entstanden. In dem vorliegenden Sammelband werden die wesentlichen Beiträge der Jahrestagung der DGfP wiedergegeben, die sich ausführlich mit diesem Thema beschäftigen.

Franz Eder/Gerhard Mangott/Martin Senn (eds.)
Transatlantic Discord: Combating Terrorism and Proliferation, Preventing Crises
2007, 253 S., brosch., 29,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2729-5
(Einzeltitel)

Focusing on counter-terrorism, nuclear non-proliferation, and crisis-prevention, this anthology analyzes US and European perspectives on threats, respective countermeasures, and contemporary challenges for US-European relations such as the Iranian nuclear program.

Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg / IFSH (ed.)
OSCE Yearbook 2006: Yearbook on the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
2007, 482 S., geb., 59,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2564-2

The yearbook again documents the activities of the OSCE and analyses the role of the organisation in creating and maintaining peace, security and stability in Europe. The focus this year is on the one hand on the 30 Years of the Helsinki Final Act, then again on Conflict Prevention, Democratic Development and on Organizational Aspects of the OSCE.

Michael W. Bauer/Christoph Knill (eds.)
Management Reforms in International Organizations
2007, 226 S., brosch., 39,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2572-7
(Verwaltungsressourcen und Verwaltungsstrukturen, Bd. 6)

Michael W. Bauer and Christoph Knill present a first attempt to explain the speed, acceptance and scope of management reforms in International Organizations. Leading scholars in the field analyze the reform processes inter alia in the European Commission, the Nordic Council of Ministers, the World Bank, the OECD, the ECB, the European Parliament and the UN.

Achim Brunnengräber/Heike Walk (Hrsg.)
Multi-Level-Governance. Klima-, Umwelt- und Sozialpolitik in einer interdependenten Welt
2007, 349 S., brosch., 49,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2706-6
(Schriften zur Governance-Forschung, Bd. 9)

Ob im Hinblick auf Fragen der globalen Regierungsführung (Global Governance), der grenzüberschreitenden politischen Steuerung, der transnationalen Demokratie oder der Herausbildung neuer Macht- und Herrschaftsverhältnisse: Multi-Level-Governance wird als Analyseinstrument in Wissenschaft und Forschung immer attraktiver. Der vorliegende Band erörtert den Mehrwert dieses Konzepts für die Analyse „glokaler“ Interdependenzen anhand verschiedener Fallbeispiele.

Hubert Heinelt/Michèle Knodt (Hrsg.)
Politikfelder im EU-Mehrebenensystem. Instrumente und Strategien europäischen Regierens
2007, ca. 350 S., brosch., ca. 29,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2273-3
(Forschungsstand Politikwissenschaft)

Dieser Sammelband gibt einen Überblick über die zentralen Politikfelder der EU. Dabei wird jeweils neben der historischen Entwicklung der einzelnen Politikfelder auf die wesentlichen Steuerungsmechanismen und die maßgeblichen Akteure bei der Politikformulierung und Implementation eingegangen und nach der konkreten Ausprägung und Bedeutung einer Mehrebenenstruktur gefragt.

Christine Chwaszcza
Moral Responsibility and Global Justice: A Human Rights Approach
2007, 203 S., brosch., 39,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2878-0
(Studies in Political Theory, Bd. 1)

Defending the critical role of human rights as moral correctives of law and political practice, Chwaszcza explores the moral status of individuals in international relations and collective responsibilities of transnational justice. The discussion covers four areas: peace ethics, humanitarian intervention, poverty relief, and migration.

Andreas Boeckh/Rafael Sevilla (Hrsg.)
Kultur und Entwicklung. Vier Weltregionen im Vergleich
2007, ca. 220 S., brosch., ca. 39,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2280-1
(Einzeltitel)

Zehn Autoren aus den Fachdisziplinen Theologie, Philosophie, Politikwissenschaft, Rechtswissenschaft, Geographie, Volkswirtschaftslehre und Ethnologie diskutieren die seit Max Weber immer wieder thematisierte Frage nach dem Zusammenhang von Kultur und Entwicklung, nach den Voraussetzungen des interkulturellen Dialogs und den Chancen für die Verschmelzung von Modernität und eigenständigen Werten. Neben theoretischen und konzeptionellen Beiträgen enthält der Band auch Aufsätze zu den Regionen Afrika, Vorderer Orient, Asien und Lateinamerika.

BMZ - Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Eds.)
Transforming Fragile States – Examples of Practical Experience
2007, ca. 270 S., brosch., ca. 25,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2529-1
(Einzeltitel)

Fragile states and poor government performance present a major challenge to the international community. The compilation Transforming Fragile States - Examples of Practical Experience reports on the possible ways in which development cooperation can support transition processes in these countries.

Olivia Jazwinski
Unrechtsaufarbeitung nach einem Regimewechsel. Das neue Spannungsverhältnis zwischen der Zuständigkeit des Internationalen Strafgerichtshofes und nationalen Maßnahmen der Unrechtsaufarbeitung
2007, 257 S., brosch., 43,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2616-8
(Düsseldorfer Schriften zu Internationaler Politik und Völkerrecht, Bd. 2)

Die Vergangenheitsbewältigung nach einem Unrechtsregime steht mehr denn je in einem Spannungsfeld zwischen nationaler Souveränität und völkerstrafrechtlicher Verfolgungspflicht. Können aus der Vergangenheit Schlüsse für Lösungsansätze gezogen werden? Die Verfasserin entwickelt anhand von Fallbeispielen Leitlinien für eine ausgewogene Unrechtsaufarbeitung.

Reiner Meyer
Reconciliation in der Post-Konfliktphase. Diskrepanz zwischen Theorie und der Realpolitik
2007, 175 S., brosch., 29,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2827-8
(Wiener Schriften zur Internationalen Politik, Bd. 11)

Die Studie erläutert im Kontext von Post-Konfliktphasen die Problematik der Versöhnung (reconciliation). Vorhandene Konzepte und Definitionen werden analysiert und deren heutiger Stellenwert für die Praxis bewertet.

Hannes Swoboda/Christophe Solioz (eds.)
Conflict and Renewal: Europe Transformed: Essays in Honour of Wolfgang Petritsch
2007, 407 S., brosch., 79,– EURO, ISBN 978-3-8329-2843-8
(Einzeltitel)

The publication honours Wolfgang Petritsch, the eminent Austrian diplomat, international Balkans ‘trouble shooter’ and author, on the occasion of his 60th birthday. The book is edited by Hannes Swoboda and Christophe Solioz.

For more information please visit www.nomos.de

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Alexander Heppt und Sebastian Schindler
Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen
Geschwister-Scholl-Institut für Politische Wissenschaft
Lehrstuhl für Internationale Politik
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Oettingenstrasse 67
80538 München

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Judith E. Glaser Looks for Like-Minded Consultants

Thursday, June 28th, 2007

Dear HumanDHS Friends!
Please see the message from Judith E. Glaser further down! She looks for like-minded consultants.
Most warmly!
Evelin

Dear Colleagues:

Over the past 27 years I’ve been working on unlocking organizational and interpersonal energy. This journey has taken me down many pioneering paths - some alone and others walks with colleagues and partners. The most exciting and fruitful paths seem to be when I am walking side-by-side another colleague whose quest for wisdom is deep and wide, and whose heart is open to share what they are learning with others.

This year, through the magical combustion that comes from the co-creation process, my work opened up to birth some very exciting next generation thinking around how we learn, grow and nourish each other. First, an incredible human being - Louise van Rhyn - a practitioner in South Africa - invited me to visit her incredible world and speak to leaders, politicians and practitioners about The DNA of Leadership and Vital Conversations. Louise’s efforts to bring together over 600 people created conversations about our common humanity, started my new quest to find like-minded colleagues who are focusing on finding new ways to transform the world - one conversation at a time.

This work evolved into a multi-day summit on engagement and innovation, and was experience by over 300 executives and HR professional at a launch event at Queens University at Charlotte. We have been asked to continue offering these summits and are planning to have a few more in the US over the next 12-18 months.

My colleagues Peg Aldridge, Nancy Ring, and John Bennett, Chair of the Communications Department at Queens, were integral to the co-creation process. Some of the tools, models and key learnings are now part of an Innovation Toolkit which has my most pioneering work to date.

Also, during the past 6 months, while designing the Innovation Summit, I worked with another colleague, Stan Labovitz, to put my DNA assessment onto the Infotool platform, and made this available to attendees of the Summit, and then subsequently to 600 leaders in government. The tool is enabling us to see inside of the dynamics and DNA of a culture to come out with diagnostic assessments of what is creating health and wealth in an organization. The insights from the assessment are astounding, and provide ways to see inside an organization in the same way an x-ray can see what is going on inside of the human being.

I would like to create an opportunity in the future, for other practitioners to participate in future summits - to expose people in the DNA Assessment/powered by Infotool… and to immerse leaders in working with the models, thinking and wisdom behind this emerging body of work…

Over the next few months I’ll be working with my colleagues who design conferences to help get this off the ground. One such event will be the week of October 8-12th, 2007 in Connecticut. I’ll keep you informed about this event as it progresses… it will be targeted towards high level professional and practitioners.

In the meantime, I’d like to send people to my website (www.creatingwe.com) to see more about The DNA Assessment (there is a PDF to download about the tool), and am also attaching one of the conversational tools - The Gauge and The Arc of Engagement - a sample of what we are unveiling.

Please let me know if you are interested in learning more.

Best wishes,

Judith

Judith E. Glaser, CEO
Benchmark Communications, Inc.
www.creatingwe.com
Author: Creating We & The DNA of Leadership
Liminal Faculty & Board Member
116 Central Park South 9-D
New York, NY 10019

Unease about Big Powers Rising: A Global Survey by the Pew Research Center in Washington

Thursday, June 28th, 2007

Unease about big powers ‘rising’: Worldwide opinion is increasingly wary of major powers and their leaders, a new global study suggests.
Anti-Americanism remains extensive, according to the global survey by the Pew Research Center in Washington.
Please read the entire article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/americas/6246080.stm.

Common Ground News - 27 June - 3 July 2007

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007

Dear Friends of the HumanDHS network

Please find below the 27 June - 3 July news from the Common Ground News Service

Kind regards
Brian Ward

Common Ground News Service
Partners in Humanity (CGNews-PiH)
for constructive & vibrant Muslim-Western relations

27 June - 03 July 2007

The Common Ground News Service – Partners in Humanity (CGNews-PiH) aims to promote constructive perspectives and dialogue about Muslim–Western relations. CGNews-PiH is available in Arabic, English, French and Indonesian.

For an archive of past CGNews articles and other information, please visit our website at www.commongroundnews.org .

Inside this edition

1) The third alternative in Iraq by William Ury
William Ury, director of the Global Negotiation Project at Harvard University, co-author of Getting to Yes and author of The Power of a Positive No, looks at the two options that Americans see in Iraq – to stay or to go – and rejects them both. Instead he details, with some precision, a third opportunity, with its benefits and costs.
(Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 26 June 2007)

2) Religious solutions to political problems by Claude Salhani
Claude Salhani, international editor and a political analyst with United Press International (UPI), considers the opportunities within Islam to combat extremist movements and thereby reduce tensions between the Muslim world and the West. Looking at some of the non-religious factors that contribute to religious extremism, he urges Muslim leaders to “take concrete steps to erase the misunderstandings that have contributed to painting a negative image of what should be a religion of peace.”
(Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 26 June 2007)

3) ~Youth Views~ Consult our youth: a Moroccan example by Leila Hanafi
Originally from Morocco, Leila Hanafi, an international law student at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, describes youth efforts, including her own, to improve the role of youth in Morocco and empower them to help reach the UN’s Millennium Development Goals to combat poverty and promote sustainable development. Harnessing the creativity and energy of young people, she engages them to identify the problems, develop solutions and present their suggestions to decision-makers.
(Source: Common Ground News Service(CGNews), 26 June 2007)

4) US military’s new Iraq strategy: religious conciliation by Gordon Lubold
Christian Science Monitor staff writer, Gordon Lubold, examines the potential for the new Iraqi Inter-Religious Congress to engage in dialogue and bring about larger-scale political reconciliation in the country. Although it is too early to see many tangible results, “media reports from Baghdad indicated that imams from various mosques in Baghdad have recently been encouraging each other to attend one another’s mosques for Friday prayers.”
(Source: Christian Science Monitor, 21 June 2007)

5) Church plus state can equal democracy by Mirjam Kunkler and Michael Meyer-Resende
Mirjam Kunkler, deputy director of the Center for the Study of Democracy, Toleration and Religion (CDTR) at Columbia University in New York, and Michael Meyer-Resende, coordinator of Berlin-based group Democracy Reporting International, considers the “misconception of state-religion relations in democracy.” Looking at European examples, they suggest that institutional connections between religion and politics are not antithetical to democracy.
(Source: Daily Star, 19 June 2007)

1) The third alternative in Iraq
William Ury

Cambridge, Massachusetts - The public debate on Iraq is framed around two main alternatives: to stay or to withdraw.

Neither solution is particularly attractive.

If we stay, we further inflame violence and resistance. We are not wanted there by the great majority of Sunnis and Shiites. And we continue to spend precious lives and treasure.

If we simply leave, however, we risk making the situation worse, leaving behind a failed state, a haven for our enemies, and a spreading civil war.

Faced with these two alternatives, it should come as no surprise that most Americans are uncertain about just what to do. We feel stuck in a terrible trap.

There is, however, a third and much more promising approach, mentioned by some, but never given the full and proper attention it deserves in the public debate.

The third approach is to invite the “third side” to help. The third side is the community surrounding the parties in conflict. The third side approach is to invite the community of different groups within Iraq, the community of neighbours around Iraq, and the larger global community to engage in a serious peacemaking and peacekeeping process.

The peacemaking process would take the form of a standing peace conference, an ongoing forum under the auspices of the United Nations, involving all the stakeholders, barring none. Such a conference would offer an umbrella for informal as well as formal negotiations, creative deals, and unlikely coalitions that together could lead to agreement.

The chair and architect of such a conference would be an international diplomat such as UN Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi, a master negotiator who has already shown how to assemble a third side for effective peacemaking in war-torn Afghanistan and Lebanon.

The peacekeeping process would take the form of a peacekeeping force from the Arab League and the United Nations, which, with the invitation of the Iraqis, replaces our troops.

It will be far from easy to reach agreement. What makes it conceivable, however, is that even as the parties’ short-term interests appear to diverge sharply, the reality is that each of the major groups in Iraq has a lot to lose from a worsening civil war, as does each of the neighbouring countries, especially considering the danger of a wider Sunni-Shiite war.

However difficult, a third side approach is worth pursuing for it offers perhaps the only realistic chance to bring the civil war to a negotiated end while containing the worst violence and preventing a wider regional escalation. And it allows us to withdraw in a responsible manner without making matters still worse.

There is a price for us to pay, of course. In order for the third side to get engaged, we need to do something at once very difficult and very simple. While it does not cost us a life or cent, it demands from us a measure of moral courage and honesty.

Just as you cannot expect a friend or neighbours to help you in a self-inflicted emergency if you’ve previously ignored all their appeals and advice to you, so we cannot expect the world community to come to our aid – unless we take the first courageous step of facing reality, acknowledging our mistakes, assuming our responsibility, and asking for help.

A request for help addressed to the people of Iraq and the world community requires us:

• To announce we have no intentions to maintain a military presence in Iraq and to make clear we are ready to leave at any time

• To call for a UN standing peace conference to determine how best we can withdraw our forces without further destabilising the situation

• To offer to pay for and support in all ways an internationally legitimated peacekeeping force and an economic rebuilding effort in Iraq

Many may feel it is impossible to expect President Bush to make such a request. But all that is needed is, in fact, what candidate George Bush called for in 2000 — a “more humble foreign policy”.

As we weigh the merits of staying versus withdrawing, the third-side approach deserves our full public consideration. Whatever we would pay, it would cost us so much less than we are currently spending in lives and treasure. And we have so much to gain – a chance to put this tragic chapter behind us, to heal our wounds, and to make the world safer for ourselves and our children.

* William Ury directs the Global Negotiation Project at Harvard University. He is co-author of Getting to Yes and author of The Power of a Positive No. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at www.commongroundnews.org .

2) Religious solutions to political problems
Claude Salhani

Washington, DC - Some scholars insist that what is happening today in the world – the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the war between the West and al-Qaeda and the acts of terrorism practiced by a very particular, extremist and violent branch of Islam - amounts to a clash of civilisations. Others disagree, arguing instead that the clash is more within Islam itself. There are factors on both sides of the equation leading to tensions between the West and Muslim societies, and I remain convinced that it is worthwhile considering where opportunities lie to address the problems on an intra-Muslim level.

Maybe what drives my convictions is the fact that I was raised in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious environment where although many argue that religion became the catalyst of two civil wars in as many decades, it was in fact something else that drove the beast in that case, namely politics: in the microcosm in which I lived my formative years in West Beirut, I had the great privilege of living in an environment where Christians, Muslims, Druze and Jews coexisted in a peaceful universe where all religions blended, along with a variety of nationalities and races.

When I stopped going to church on Sundays in my teen years, my best friend, a Sunni Muslim and my Jewish girlfriend would each grab me by an arm and force me to attend mass just to please my mother. My two friends would remain by my side throughout the service, standing and sitting and kneeling along with the rest of the congregation.

Growing up in Beirut, I counted many Muslims among my close friends. Religion was never an issue. I lived in the part of town which later, when the civil war erupted, became known as “Muslim West Beirut”. I never felt as though I didn’t belong.

I don’t buy the theory of the clash of civilisations because for me the problem is driven by power politics, and supported by factors such as education and environment. Those with better education tend to be more tolerant of the “other”. And by education I don’t mean those in possession of college degrees, because as September 11 demonstrated, that was not the case - several of the 9/11 hijackers had college degrees. I refer rather to the education received from one’s parents, the environment in which one is raised, and the charismatic influences, in this case often religious, to which one is exposed.

When you look at the extremists, the Taliban and company, at the associations or training institutions where the supremacy of one religious view over others is an integral part of the curriculum, and at the very compelling sense of belonging and purpose that being a part of such groups often imparts, it becomes obvious that part of the problem is influenced by different religious interpretations, albeit often with political ends in mind. Therefore it follows that, although the problem is one of politics, it may be in religion where the solution is to be found.

This sentiment is shared by Gijs de Vries, the EU’s counter-terrorist chief in Brussels. When I interviewed him two years ago, he told me he did not believe there was a clash between Islam and the West. Rather, he said, he thought the clash was within Islam.

Ali Bardakoglu, president of the Diyanet, Turkey’s highest religious authority, told me when I interviewed him in Istanbul that same December that “there are a lot of problems within Islam to resolve. If religion leads to clashes, then there is something missing,” Bardakoglu told me.

Yet when I repeated those words to a group of visiting Muslim scholars at Washington’s American University two weeks ago, the reaction among the majority of the audience was somewhere between icy and hostile.

For the most part they resented being told that there was a problem in Islam. Several of them said it would be more correct to say that there are problems among Muslims, not within Islam.

It may be a simple matter of restructuring a sentence, but at least they half-admitted the fact that not all is well.

For positive change to come about, mainstream Muslims - individuals and organisations - must demonstrate a concerted effort in combating extremists. Those who misquote the Holy Qur’an must be stopped and the mainstream, including very conservative Muslims, must explain that this is not the way of Islam.

Concentrated efforts must be made to root out extremism through dialogue. It’s up to the leaders of the Muslim community to take concrete steps to erase the misunderstandings that have contributed to painting a negative image of what should be a religion of peace.

*Claude Salhani is international editor and a political analyst with United Press International (UPI) in Washington, DC. He may be contacted at Claude@upi.com . This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at www.commongroundnews.org .

) ~Youth Views~ Consult our youth: a Moroccan example
Leila Hanafi

Washington, DC - Around 50% of the combined populations of developing and least developed countries are below the age of 25 according to the 2007 World Bank Annual Development Report. This highlights the need to improve the rights of youth and their role in achieving nearly all of the Millennium Development Goals that were adopted by the United Nations in 2000 to combat poverty and promote sustainable development.

More than half of the Arab world’s population is under the age of 25. Such a youth cohort, now more educated than preceding generations and more aware of its global context, is confronted with a unique set of opportunities and constraints. Young people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are at crossroads, witnessing major changes in their countries. The current generation of young Arab men and women face enormous challenges in finding decent employment and in participating in democratic decision-making processes. Yet they are rarely consulted during the formulation of development strategies nor identified as a major group experiencing poverty.

Improving the status of young people is vital not only for their own sake. The welfare of society relies increasingly on a country’s quality of human resources, and youth remain a largely untapped resource. Thus, youth issues need to be viewed as central in policy design and implementation. Specifically, governments need to focus their efforts towards promoting youth participation with the firm understanding that these issues are principal elements of the development process.

As one of the winners of the World Bank’s MENA Youth Innovation Fund, I recently travelled to Morocco to implement my project Youth Employment Initiative: Reaching Marginalised Youth in Urban areas of Rabat-Salé. The project addresses the issue of youth unemployment in urban areas by testing innovative mechanisms to improve the employment opportunities of marginalised youth, particularly female university graduates, and facilitate their transition into the labour market.

In Morocco, even though young people represent the majority of the population, they still experience low social and economic status due to their inadequate training and schooling. The full participation of youth in the development process is therefore hindered, depriving Morocco of the potential of this key component of its society.

On February 2nd, 2007, we officially launched the project in Rabat with our partner NGO, Ribat Alfath, a leading development organisation in the country. The project launch featured policy-and-decision makers, representatives of youth organisations and the business community. The event was covered by various media outlets that stressed that such a youth-led initiative presents a platform for launching action to promote youth employment, to emphasise the fact that young people are key agents of change, and to serve as an advocacy platform and a medium for youth action. The project is a pilot-initiative which will be replicated in other communities in Morocco in the upcoming months.

All youth participants were female university graduates from marginalised neighbourhoods as identified by the Moroccan National Initiative for Human Development. The participants were involved at all stages of design of the training workshop in a consultative capacity. The inclusion and engagement of participants was key to implementing this initiative. It was an empowering approach that enabled the young women to influence and gain control over their own employment opportunities through job skills training and development. While many youth training programs follow a supply-driven approach, this initiative was “demand driven” in that it started from the perspectives and beliefs of young women by helping them identify their needs, and then supported them by providing orientation and guidance services. This enabled the participants to voice their opinions and perspectives on the pressing issues youth face in finding jobs in Morocco.

Young people have catapulted onto the international development agenda with an absolute urgency in the space of just a few years. Yet their actual lives, struggles and desires are often little understood. One of the goals of our initiative is to situate youth perspectives on economic and social development in Morocco. Participants discussed the challenges that Moroccan youth are facing through their French and Communication classes to define solutions and participate in a prioritisation process inspired by the Copenhagen Consensus model.

Unlike past prioritisation processes, the Copenhagen Consensus Model is not a hypothetical exercise but rather a tangible model for meeting community challenges with innovative solutions. In July 2007, participants will give presentations in a youth forum featuring representatives of relevant government agencies, the business community, universities, media and local youth organisations. They will voice their opinions on the pressing issues youth face, propose ideas to government and suggest innovative ways to combat poverty from a youth perspective.

Today, young people constitute a source of knowledge and innovation, and when harnessed effectively, provide an excellent resource to make a vital contribution to the youth agenda and other developmental issues. I believe that with the growing concerns in Morocco over the level of youth participation in the development process, our project will substantially help in bringing about a major break-through in the ability of youth to contribute to progress and development in Morocco. As my generation experiences an unprecedented level of interaction and interdependence throughout the world, I can only hope that in years to come we will still have the idealism of youth to take risks, to look beyond obstacles, and develop innovative solutions to create positive change in the world.

* Originally from Rabat, Leila Hanafi is a recent honours graduate of American University’s School of International Service and is currently pursuing her studies in international law at Georgetown University in Washington DC. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at www.commongroundnews.org .

4) US military’s new Iraq strategy: religious conciliation
Gordon Lubold

Washington, DC – A fledgling group of Sunni and Shiite religious leaders met for the first time in Baghdad last week to condemn sectarian violence in their country, a move US military officials framed as a first of its kind and a small step toward broader political reconciliation.

The group of 55 delegates composed of Sunni, Shiite, Kurdish and other religious representatives from around the country signed an accord June 12 during a two-day meeting that denounced Al Qaeda and vowed to protect holy sites. But it wasn’t enough to stop the truck bombing of a Shiite mosque in downtown Baghdad that reportedly killed 87 and injured 200 more. The bombing is the most recent example of the kind of violence between Sunnis and Shiites, although no one had immediately claimed responsibility for it. That attack follows a wave of attacks against mosques recently, including five in Basra – three Sunni and two Shiite – and the second attack on the historic Shiite mosque in Samarra in which the two remaining minarets were virtually destroyed.

The group of religious delegates who met in Baghdad was attempting to stem just this kind of violence. Billed as the Iraqi Inter-Religious Congress, it was the largest number of religious leaders from the broadest geographic base in Iraq to meet in 37 years, American officials in Baghdad say. Many of the 55 delegates, which also included Christians as well as Yazidis, a primarily Kurdish sect in northern Iraq, were themselves some of the “bad actors” who have directed sectarian violence, officials say.

“The biggest miracle of the conference was that it was the first time since the war that these antagonists sat down in a room and had a reasonable dialogue instead of passing out ammunition,” says Army Col. Micheal Hoyt, chief chaplain for US forces in Iraq.

Colonel Hoyt says he doesn’t want to oversell the significance of the event. Nonetheless, he points to it as a positive sign of the kind of large-scale political reconciliation that could still occur in Iraq.

“If this step hadn’t occurred, there wouldn’t be any movement in that direction,” he says. “This is the foundational step to allow broader reconciliation, at least among religious leaders, many of whom are perpetrators of violence, to begin to move forward.”

But at least one US analyst says such meetings have occurred on some level before and while they yield conciliatory rhetoric, that rarely translates into a decrease in violence.

Many of those perpetrating violence, at mosques and elsewhere, don’t listen to the clerics, says Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a think tank in Washington. “It would be great if this works, but I’m deeply pessimistic at this stage in the civil war that it can be reversed by meetings like this.”

Much of the meeting was spent on deciding how the meeting would proceed and included only a little substantive discussion beyond denouncing extremist Sunnis in the form of Al Qaeda and vowing to protect holy sites around the country, Hoyt says. The accord they signed included other broad points around the ideas of free expression of faith, tolerance, and unity.

Hoyt declined to say what the issues of contention that remain are, saying those are negotiating points that will be addressed at the next meeting within the next two months. Media reports from Baghdad indicated that imams from various mosques in Baghdad have recently been encouraging each other to attend one another’s mosques for Friday prayer.

* Gordon Lubold is a staff writer for the Christian Science Monitor. This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at www.commongroundnews.org .

Source: Christian Science Monitor, 21 June 2007, www.csmonitor.com
Copyright (c) The Christian Science Monitor. For reprint permission please contact lawrenced[c]ps.com .

5) Church plus state can equal democracy
Mirjam Kunkler and Michael Meyer-Resende

New York, New York/Berlin - The recent crisis in Turkey over the reach of secularism highlighted the relation between religion and the state in Muslim countries. The Turkish generals, who warned against diluting the separation of state and religion, did not get good press internationally. However, the rebukes were mild considering the setback their intervention created for Turkish democracy.

The generals could count on a deep-seated concern in Western democracies for the role of religion in Muslim-majority states. While some of these concerns are legitimate, there is a misconception of state-religion relations in democracies. Many in the West and in Muslim-majority states believe a functioning democracy requires a strict separation between state and religion - the latter regarded as a purely private matter. Functioning democracies, however, have introduced a range of institutional relationships between religion and state.

The United States and France, for example, have strongly separated the two. In the United Kingdom and Norway, however, there is a complex and intertwined rapport between state and religion, with high degrees of legislation related to religion. What the examples of most long-standing democracies in Europe show is that a relationship between religious institutions and the state does not need to be detrimental to democracy - it depends rather on the nature of this relationship.

A look at state support for religious education, religious financing and the allocation of airtime to religious communities in public media illustrates how states grant public space to religious communities without jeopardising democratic politics.

Take religious education. Virtually every state in the European Union provides either some form of religious instruction in public schooling or state funding for religious schools. In the Netherlands, for example, the state subsidises religious educational institutions, which make up more than 50 percent of all elementary schools. In most of the German Lander, religion is an elective subject taught in public secondary schools. Even in “republican” France, teachers in religious schools qualify for state support and as much as a fifth of the total educational budget goes to private Catholic schools. In England, non-denominational religious education is mandatory in all state schools.

At the same time, many of the European states fund and design the training of religious teachers, as well as that of future theologians in state university faculties of theology. In Norway, for instance, the government even appoints bishops and deans, exercising considerable influence over the profile of the church’s leadership.

With respect to religious finances, in Germany, Italy, Spain and Finland, the state, in return for a significant administrative fee, collects religious levies together with income tax and forwards them to the recognised religious communities. Such a system only works where religious communities have created a centralised administration through which such levies can be distributed back to the local levels. An absence of such centralised structures, however, usually hinders charismatic Protestant and Muslim communities from enjoying the same benefits.

In several European states, religious communities also receive extra tax breaks. In Norway, again, almost the entire church budget - most salaries, much of other running budgets, as well as maintenance and the raising of new churches - remains part of the state and municipal budgets.

Finally, in many European states, religious communities have guaranteed airtime on public television and state-owned radio stations. As public corporations, the churches and other religious groups are represented on the boards of public-owned stations and media regulatory bodies in the German Lander. The churches have fixed slots for airing morning prayers, church services and meditation programs. In France, the broadcasting of religious programs on public television is determined by law: the Catholics have 360 minutes per month for broadcasting, while the Protestants and the Buddhists have 60 minutes each.

Are such institutional connections between religion and politics antithetical to democracy? The European examples suggest not. The relations between religious and political institutions in the EU often exist under the aegis of the democratic rule of law, and the commitment of states to democratic liberalism is usually not questioned.

From the perspective of Muslim-majority countries, the myth that democracies must be based on a strict separation of state and religion can be dangerous. On the one hand, it allows authoritarian “secular” regimes in the Arab world, for instance, to portray themselves as a bulwark against religious “non-democratic” parties and groups, without affording moderate Islamic parties due process to prove that their platforms are not anti-democratic. On the other hand, it allows religious fundamentalists to suggest that Western democracies are oblivious, if not openly hostile, to religion. Longstanding democracies, notably in the EU, should make much greater efforts of public diplomacy to clarify that there are many constitutional constructions that are not inherently illiberal and that combine democratic governance with some sort of public role for religion.

A strict separation between state and religion is not a precondition for functioning democracies. For democracy to obtain, rather, what must be respected are the rule of law and the safeguarding of human rights.

* Mirjam Kunkler is the deputy director of the Center for the Study of Democracy, Toleration and Religion (CDTR) at Columbia University in New York. Michael Meyer-Resende is the coordinator of Democracy Reporting International, a Berlin-based group that promotes accountability of state bodies and the development of democratic institutions ( www.democracy-reporting.org). This article is distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at www.commongroundnews.org .

Source: Daily Star, 19 June 2007, www.dailystar.com.lb
Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.

Youth Views

CGNews-PiH also regularly publishes the work of student leaders and journalists whose articles strengthen intercultural understanding and promote constructive perspectives and dialogue in their own communities. Student journalists and writers under the age of 27 are encouraged to write to Chris Binkley ( cbinkley@sfcg.org ) for more information on contributing.

About CGNews-PiH

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Rami Assali (Jerusalem)
Chris Binkley (Dakar)
Emmanuelle Hazan (Geneva)
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Job Vacancy - International Co-ordinator, The Netherlands

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007

Dear Friends of the HumanDHS network

Please find below details on a position of International Coordinator at the International Fellowship of Reconciliation. The Netherlands

Kind regards
Brian Ward

International Fellowship of Reconciliation

INTERNATIONAL COORDINATOR

Job Description

Title: International Coordinator
Location: IFOR Secretariat, Alkmaar, the Netherlands
Starting Date: late 2007
Annual Salary Range: IFOR scale 10 (€24612 to €42000) starting point based on on experience

Summary
The International Coordinator enables the IFOR International Committee to fulfil its functions as a decision-making body and implements strategic planning and the accomplishment of organizational objectives. The Coordinator oversees organizational and financial management. She/he takes direction from the decisions made by the IFOR Council and International Committee and carries out their mandates.

The International Coordinator is supervised by and accountable to the IFOR International Committee and to the IFOR Foundation in the Netherlands. The International Coordinator is employed by the IFOR Stichting, which has ultimate authority.

The Role of the International Secretariat

The primary role of the Secretariat, under the direction of the membership through the Council meeting and the International Committee and supervised by the IFOR Stichting, is to support and develop the life and work of the membership of IFOR. The International Secretariat also includes the Women Peacemakers Program receiving MSF funding from the Dutch government. Within the International Secretariat the International Coordinator is the final responsible person to this program.

Responsibilities and Functions

Responsibilities fall into six areas: Communication, Representation, Support for IFOR Structures (including any programmes), Finances and Fund Raising, Personnel Management and Office Management.

1. Communication
a. Facilitates communication within the movement
b. Coordinates communication activities from the Secretariat to the IFOR network of Branches, Groups, and Affiliates and individual members, including publications, electronic media, and personal visits by IFOR staff.

2. Representation
a. Promotes and ensures the representation of IFOR at a range of international forums, especially the United Nations and faith communities
b. Ensures the representation of the IFOR secretariat and/or International Committee in the activities and programmes of IFOR branches as desired.
c. Ensures IFOR participation in international events and activities where an IFOR presence is deemed useful/appropriate
d. Facilitates the evolution of written or oral statements on behalf of the world wide network of the IFOR and, in consultation with the President, making or endorsing such statements.
e. ensuring effective IFOR collaboration with partner organisations (War Resisters International, International Peace Bureau etc) and other relevant peace and faith based organisations.

The post holder is expected, in consultation with the International Committee, to carry out some of the above tasks personally.

3. Finances and Fund Raising
a. Takes responsibility, with the Treasurer, for the recommendation of budgets and reports for International Committee approval and for the management of resources within budget guidelines.
b. Oversees fund raising planning and implementation, including the research and identification of resources, preparation of fundraising materials, approaches to funders, and administration of fundraising records and reports.

4. Support for IFOR Structures
a. Supports the operations and administration of the International Committee, which includes advising and informing International Committee members and acting as liaison between the International Committee and staff.
b. Supports the operations and administration of the Stichting and the Executive Committee and other committees as necessary.
c. Ensures, with the Stichting, that IFOR meets its legal responsibilities as an employer, such as health and safety.
d. Ensures, with the Stichting, that IFOR meets its statutory responsibilities as a legal body operating in the Netherlands.
e. Implements Council and International Committee decisions on programme areas, including support for IFOR programmes and ensuring their evaluation.
f. Facilitates strategic planning and the implementation of chosen strategies.
g. is responsible for ensuring the structural development of IFOR through, among other tasks:
i/ supporting and nurturing the network of IFOR branches, affiliates and groups around the world, including the development of activities and programmes appropriate to the strengthening of the network.
ii/ establishing links with potential IFOR members and individual IFOR members and mobilising support for potential and new IFOR BGAs.
iii/ maintaining appropriate documentation on present and potential IFOR members
iv/ supporting and developing IFOR structures such as regional networks and working groups.

5. Personnel Management
a. Acts as line manager for IFOR staff.
b. Works in liaison with the Personnel Committee on staff matters

6. Office Management
a. Supervises the day-to-day functioning of the Secretariat, providing leadership and guidance to staff and volunteers.
b. Assesses the information technology needs of the Secretariat and develops appropriate solutions.

7. Other duties
The International Coordinator may be called on to perform other duties as required by and in consultation with the International Committee.

Requirements
Belief in and personal commitment to IFOR values and principles, which include spirituality, non-violence, gender equality and human dignity. Awareness of world affairs.
Ability and willingness to travel and work irregular hours.
Ability to work at a high level in English (spoken and written) and to speak French fluently.
Ability to analyse complex situations and make strategic decisions.
Ability to work multi-cultural and inter-faith context.
Ability to apply the gender policy.
Active listening skills and ability to resolve conflicts.
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Experience (at least 3 to 5 years) in non-profit administration and non-profit leadership, and working with boards and committees.
Experience in working with geographically dispersed and culturally diverse groups and individuals.
Knowledge of and experience in financial administration and budgeting, personnel management (including conflict resolution), organizational development, program planning, evaluation, and implementation, and information technology.
Willingness to learn Dutch is not required but desirable.

If you meet these requirements please apply immediately.
Please send your application consisting of your CV, a cover letter, and names or letters of reference to jobs[@]ifor.org.

The deadline for application is 22nd July, 2007. For more information about our work please visit www.ifor.org and www.ifor.org/WPP. Only short listed candidates will be contacted (no calls or email inquiries, please). Interviews will be held in Alkmaar, the Netherlands September 10th and 11th 2007. The starting time for the Job will be late 2007. Salary is commensurate with experience.

IFOR offers a smoke-free work environment.

Upcoming Course on Childrens Rights - Norway September 2007

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007

Dear Friends of the HumanDHS network

Please find below information regarding an upcoming course in Norway on childrens rights.

Kind regards
Brian Ward

Children’s Rights: Time and Space
Childhood as a Contested Terrain?
PhD/Research course
Trondheim, Norway, 25–28 September 2007

The course presents an overview of different declarations on
children’s rights in a historical perspective. It discusses the
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its implications for
children’s lives in different parts of the world. Children’s lives and
welfare in the light of changing policies and processes of
globalisation will be explored. The additional topics to be addressed
include gender and girls’ rights, emerging issues on the rights of
minority group children (e.g. the rights of street children, the rights
of refugee children etc.), children as social participants in the
economic, social and cultural reproduction of society, the role of
NGOs in the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of
the Child, assessments of national reports on children’s rights,
migration and ethnicity, childhood, time and space, childhood as
symbolic space, etc. Throughout nuanced discussions, the course
also addresses the competing discourses on children as
autonomous beings or as dependent social becomings.
The course presents an overview of different declarations on children’s rights in a historical
perspective. It discusses the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its implications

Further information on: http://www.svt.ntnu.no/noseb/paameldinger/

Deadline for registration is 8 August 2007