RUSSIAN “SOFT POWER” IN THE NORTH-EAST AFRICA

Author(s): Olga Kulkova / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2021

The article builds on the Russian understanding of the “soft power” concept as a complex of tools and methods to reach the foreign policy aims through public diplomacy, information and communication technologies, humanitarian assistance and cultural initiatives, civil society interactions, and religious and inter-religious dialogues. “Soft power” tools are regarded as an addition to the traditional diplomatic methods. The article will critically consider the range of Russia’s contemporary “soft power” assets in its foreign policy dialogue with the countries of North and East Africa. The aim is to analyze the aspirations, implementation (during the last decade), results and further prospects of Russia’s “soft power” initiatives within and towards the indicated regions.

THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE SECESSIONIST CRISIS IN CAMEROON

Author(s): Roxana Mateş / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2021

The article aims to illustrate the evolution and international reactions to the current secessionist crisis in Cameroon. Firstly, the anglophone crisis is presented as the result of a minority’s identification with a colonially inherited identity, as well as the consequence of the regime’s authoritarian style and constant exclusion of the anglophone elites from the structure of power. Secondly, the article concentrates on analyzing the reactions of various organizations, institutions and states regarding the Cameroonian secessionist conflict. However, although there are certain minor measures which have been taken against Cameroon, the actions of the international community are still below the expectations of the anglophones, who are the ones directly affected by both the government’s and separatists’ use of extreme violence. In addition, the international support for the fight against terrorism in the region is perceived with suspicion due to the double security crisis the country is facing.

LA RÉPRESSION, FACTEUR D’ANNIHILIATION DU TERRORISME OU DE SA RADICALISATION ? LE CAS DU CONFLIT BASQUE

Author(s): Caroline Guibet Lafaye / Language(s): French Issue: 2/2021

Faced with a terrorist movement, the authoritarian or democratic power deploys a repressive response. At certain times, it was massive against the armed group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA). To study its effects on the group’s operationality, we used two original databases (ETA actions, arrests of its activists). Statistical analysis underlines that the most intense deployments of police repression had a radicalising effect on the Basque national liberation movement, whether under authoritarian or democratic regimes until at least the 1980s, and that this radicalisation phenomenon does not occur at the end of a protest cycle as a backlash against its exhaustion. The effectiveness of repression is only real when it is not only police-related but also judicial, and when it is supported by transnational cooperation.

Uloga i obaveza medija u procesu posleratnog pomirenja

Author(s): Florence Hartmann / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 4/2013

Radovi sećanja/Radovi na sećanju

Author(s): Louis Bickford / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2009

Crna Gora: Slučaj reparacija žrtvama deportacije izbjeglica iz BiH 1992. godine

Author(s): Tea Gorjanc Prelević,Dragan Prelević,Radomir Prelević / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2009

Žrtve drugog reda

Author(s): Sandra Orlović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2009

RESTRICTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND STATE OF EMERGENCY

Author(s): Darko Dimovski / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

Human rights and freedoms are the most sensitive area and the ultimate measure of democracy in a state and society. Absolute human rights and freedoms cannot be restricted, even in conditions of war or emergency. This paper focuses on human rights which were derogated by declaring a state of emergency due to the imminent danger of the infectious disease COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The author addresses the issues related to the definition of state of emergency and the derogation of the guaranteed human rights and freedoms, as well as the proportionality between the taken measures and intended goals of such restrictions. In particular, the author examines the international sources of law pertaining to the restriction of human rights, with specific reference to the situations and conditions when such restrictions are admissible. The content of the proportionality clause which is to be fulfilled by the state when restricting human rights and freedoms is one of the supreme precepts for admissibility and justifiability of such restrictions.

Od okupacji do pandemii. O wariantach piosenki Siekiera, motyka i jej roli w sytuacjach traumatycznych

Author(s): Hanna M. Łopatyńska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2021

The aim of this article is to present the life (cycle) of the song entitled Siekiera, motyka… and the role it plays in Polish culture in traumatic situations. During World War II, numerous variants of this song were sung by street performers. After the end of the war the song became popular thanks to the 1946 film Zakazane piosenki (Forbidden Songs), and its wartime versions were later used by many artists. Subsequent contrafacta of Siekiera appeared in the Polish People’s Republic, especially during martial law, as a manifestation of the resistance against communist government, hence the strong associations of the song with the resistance movement. The Siekiera, motyka incipit is still used to create rhymes commenting on contemporary events, published on the Internet. New versions of Siekiera, motyka have been created in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In this case, the enemy, instead of the German occupier and the communist regime, has been the virus. The versions from different times share many features in common – e.g. they are strongly rooted in contemporary reality, evoking the names of well-known figures and humorous wording. They appear in situations of social tension, disorganisation, and they serve to help people come to terms with new reality and traumatic experiences.

SERBIA: BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 161/2022

The international order is undergoing a profound structural transformation of the global political system and overall international, and therefore regional relations. This is also reflected in the Balkans, which is a kind of competition ground for various powers (USA, EU, Russia, Turkey, China, etc.)

Velika zabluda: liberalni snovi i međunarodna realnost

Author(s): Bogdan P. Stojanović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 1181/2021

Nuklearna deproliferacija i politika EU prema neširenju oružja za masovno uništenje u kontekstu odnosa prema Indiji, Pakistanu, Iranu i Severnoj Koreji

Author(s): Bogdan P. Stojanović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 1179-1180/2020

This paper aims to present the activities of the European Union in the field of preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In addition to the analysis of institutional and legal mechanisms established from 2003 onwards, the practical effect of the European Union in preventing the proliferation of Armageddon weapons is also investigated. The uneven role and results achieved in various crisis hotspots, such as North Korea, Iran, India and Pakistan, leave room for different forecasts of future EU action. A good starting point and a basic consensus of all members regarding the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction give a reason for optimism in the analysis. Therefore, the paper explores the relationship between established capacities, practical policies, and future crisis sites related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Perspektiva američko-indijskog savezništva u svetlu "kineske pretnje"

Author(s): Nebojša Vuković / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 1179-1180/2020

In the paper, a possibility that the United States of America and India enter a military alliance treaty (for example, analogous to the agreements the USA has with Australia or Japan) during the next decade (2020 – 2030), thus raising their current partner relationship to a qualitatively higher level, is critically analyzed and assessed. The continuous economic expansion, as well as the military strengthening of the PR of China (together with its ever-greater presence in the oceans), which both countries – i.e., India and the USA – perceive as a potential security threat and a possible aggressor, are mentioned as the primary motive for such a potential arrangement. The most important factors speaking in favor of the formation of such an alliance, as well as those factors that might influence the non-execution of such an arrangement, are enumerated and expounded. The basic thesis in the paper consists of the attitude that chances for the formation of an America–India military alliance during the forthcoming decade are very moderate due to a series of circumstances (limitations) that, first of all, pertain to India.

Radikalni islam kao faktor destabilizacije Jugoistočne Azije

Author(s): Dušan N. Proroković / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 1172/2018

Southeast Asia is one of the world's (macro) regions with a noticeable strengthening of the influence of radical Islam. this primarily relates to its maritime part and especially the regions of ache and Sulawesi in Indonesia, South Philippines and Southern Thailand. In the continental part, the potential zone for the strengthening of the influence of radical Islam is the ethno-space of the people of Rohingya in the northeast of Myanmar. Frequent terrorist attacks and the cooperation of extremist groups from different countries have been one of the main characteristics of this region for the last 10 years. the article consists of four parts. the first part describes in detail what is meant by the term Southeast Asia and explains the classification of the maritime and continental part. the second chapter presents the historical process of spreading Islam in Southeast Asia, as well as the creation of a specific "traditional Islam" as the amalgam of local traditions and Muslim learning. the third part analyzes the causes of changes in the Muslim corpus and the growing activism of radical Islamic groups in the 21st century, while the fourth part is dedicated to concluding observations.

Uloga Evropske unije u procesu pomirenja Srbije i Hrvatske

Author(s): Strahinja Subotić / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 1165/2017

The paper analyzes the significance and type of role which the European Union (EU) has had in the context of reaching reconciliation and resolving conflicts between Serbia and Croatia. The author starts with an assumption that the EU is focused on keeping peace and stability in the Western Balkans, by decreasing the tensions between Serbia and Croatia. However, the question arises how the EU has worked on decreasing these tensions, and how successful it was in achieving this task. Therefore, the emerging issues between Serbia and Croatia are analyzed in the period between 2012 and 2016. The author notices the disruption of relations between Serbia and Croatia after their respective governments changed, thus the starting point of the analysis is the moment when Tomislav Nikolić becomes the president of Serbia in 2012. After analyzing the way the EU has treated the issues which Serbia and Croatia faced, the author comes up with two conclusions. On the one hand, it is not evident that the EU is pressuring both sides to reach a comprehensive dealing with the issues and therefore it is suggested that the EU is not playing a constructive role in reaching reconciliation between Serbia and Croatia. On the other hand, if one focuses on reaching mere normalization of relations and removing problems from the daily political agenda, then one could say that the EU is effective in this position by playing the role of a neutral mediator. Since the author shows that the problems are mostly based on the past, it is concluded that the EU’s strategy for resolving problems was not successful and thus one can expect continued moments of the crisis between Serbia and Croatia.

Evropska unija kao posrednik u dijalogu Beograda i Prištine – kritički osvrt

Author(s): Jovana Perić / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 1166-1167/2017

This paper studies the role of the European Union as a mediator in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristine, since 2011. The highlight is on the engagement of the Union as a mediator, rather than the position of the sides in the dialogue, their interests or opinions towards the dialogue and mediator. The goal is to determine the most important successes that the Union has achieved, but also the failures because often there is a one-sided picture in which positive outcomes are attributed to the mediator and the negative ones to the sides in the dialogue. The process of mediation itself is examined through the methodological frame which determines the format, key dimensions and strategies. The main conclusion is that the role of the European Union as a mediator in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristine is only partly successful – it records formal successes and informal failures. Defining the successes in the dialogue and the mediation imposes itself as the main future challenge.

Uloga Saveta bezbednosti Ujedinjenih nacija u borbi protiv terorizma tokom sirijske krize

Author(s): Isidora Pop-Lazić / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 1166-1167/2017

The civil war in Syria, which has been raging since 2011, in addition to the huge number of migrants on the soil of Europe, as a consequence also has an escalation of terrorism not only in Europe but worldwide. Suppression of terrorism as a global problem has been entrusted, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, to the Security Council, as the highest body in charge of maintaining international peace and security. The issue of terrorism is often abused and treated by the Member States as a means of implementing both external and internal policies of the great powers, ignoring the fact that their action should be in commune bonum, i.e. the general good of humanity, which is highly endangered by this complex form of political violence. Bearing in mind that the media in Serbia in most cases did not report on the resolutions dealing with the topic of terrorism, but the focus was on the sensational element of terrorist attacks, the need arises for a comprehensive analysis of these documents taking into account their legal force.

Izloženost dece terorističkom sadržaju na internetu

Author(s): Katarina Jonev / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 1168/2017

Terrorist groups are using cyberspace to propagate propaganda, to place ideological, political, religious ideas, for mutual communication and organization of activities, planning attacks in the physical world, financing. Social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegrams have contributed to radicalization and recruitment, primarily of children and young people who accept the principles of terrorists and join their ranks. Modern ways of communication have enabled terrorists to successfully increase membership and their ranks without direct, physical contact. The article attempts to analyze the role of social networks and the ways in which content influences children and young people to join the Islamic state.

Koreni nastanka i metodi finansiranja Islamske države

Author(s): Boško Konstandinović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 1161/2016

ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) or the Islamic State of Iraq and Levanta is a terroristic organization which under its control, at the moment, holds parts of the territory of the States of Iraq and Syria that are about the size of the Great Britain. Besides the great territory that it holds, ISIS possesses such an organizational structure that has all characteristics of the organization of any state. The territory that is controlled by them, which has authority over a few million inhabitants of the occupied areas, as well as organizational structure, show that ISIS is not just an ordinary terroristic organization, but it acquires all forms of a state. Financial means are the main source of power of the Islamic State. Oil control and power sources taken from the occupied territories give them the greatest source of financial income. Besides the control of the oil sources, ISIS also obtains its financial income from different ways of taxing the local residents. Kidnappings and hijacking for the account of ransom money, as well as donations from residents, also represent important forms of their source of financing. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria has been declared on the 29th of June 2014 for a Caliphate, while Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been announced to be a Caliph. With its force ISIS presents a great threat to the Middle East Region, as well as to the global safety.

Međunarodnopravni aspekt angažovanja privatnih vojno-bezbednosnih kompanija u zonama oružanih sukoba

Author(s): Slobodan Anđelković,Đorđe Sarapa / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 1161/2016

Most of the on-going armed conflicts in the world are distinctive by the use of private military and security companies, so their capabilities become an important factor in modern conflicts and international relations. In some cases, the number of private security contractors exceeds the number of armed forces, and thus the success of the international military campaigns, largely depends on the services provided by private security sector. Armed conflict zones (not exclusively the war zones), have a number of similar and complementary terms, which are significant from a legal point of view. Due to incidents where humanitarian law was severely breached, it pointed out the urgent need for adequate regulation of the subject at the international level. The paper analyzes the relevant documents, with a critical review of the legal status of private military and security companies and private security contractors in the armed conflict zones.