Documents found
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112331.More information
In February-March 2000, Finland elected its llth President of the Republic. During the electoral campaign preceding the election, international matters were almost not discussed. However, the debate on the possible accession of Finland to the Atlantic Alliance played a certain rôle. This article first seehs to present the different candidates and their positions on the issue of the future and desirable relation between Finland and NATO. Afterwards, it will show how NATO's problem is symbolical of the complex international situation of Finlande, and identify the obstacles and dilemmas of this policy (relations with Russia, the E.U, the U.S, NATO), the officiai Une which mil deal with it, and what is being said about this officiai Une. In conclusion, it will take the liberty to propose some suggestions for further tought on this subject.
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112333.More information
Coalition theory has developed outside the field of international relations in the wake of game theory, in laboratory experiments, and in the study of government coalitions. Four parameters can be used to predict the formation and development of coalitions : the benefits sought by the players, the resources at their disposal, the non-utilitarian linkages between them, and the decision threshold to be reached. In the field of international relations, many studies have dealt with coalitions, alignments, and interstate alliances. They can be grouped into three schools of thought. First, there is the economic school where States are seen as seeking to maximize the benefits they gain from working together. Second, there is the power relationship school, with States forging alliances mainly for self-protection from external military threats. Finally, there is the structural school, less developed than the two other ones, which is based on the affinities, rivalries, or neutralities between States. The effects of alliances, in particular military ones, have been much debated. Some authors claim they are a factor for stability in the international System ; others claim the opposite. The research note concludes by suggesting there is a need to develop a truly political theory of alliances, one that could integrate theories more economic or sociological in nature.
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112334.More information
The Economic Cooperation Organization has been created by Iran, Turkey and Pakistan to improve the trade and economic exchanges between the participating states. After the demise of the Soviet Empire, the Central Asian Republics, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan have joined the Organization. The internal problems of the ten States members OJECO have been aggravated by foreign intervention, especially the Russian hegemony over the region. This interference complicates the integration process and jeopardizes the effectiveness of the Organization.
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112335.More information
This article seeks to illustrate how security considerations impact upon trade policy-making. In contrast to interpretations derived from hegemonic stability theory, this paper suggests that the shift from a bipolar to a multipolar world in the 1980s caused growing relative gains concerns within the Western alliance. Comparative analysis of American trade decisions in regard to the machine-tool industry shows that the change of decision between 1982 and 1986 regarding protection of the industry resulted from a change in political coalitions surrounding the demand of protection, which was caused by a transformation in the perception of national security. It is suggested that this uncertainty regarding the distribution of gains from trade is linked to the turn to unilateralism in American trade policy during the same period.
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112336.More information
The end of the cold war has put into question the geopolitical outlook the United States had developed within the bipolar system. In South Asia, India was deemed as irrelevant or unreliable for the Washington strategic interests; as a result, the United States had provided a consistent support to Pakistan. In the 1990s, India has been trying to assert itself as a regional power. So far the American reaction has been negative for three reasons: 1. Skepticism with respect to India's governability (Atul Kohli, 1991); 2. Willingness to promote Pakistan, as well as Turkey, as a moderate islamic State model ; 3. Persistence of policy makers' perceptions. By the summer of 1997, the Washington State Department may have started a reassessment. But if India is trying contention, the United States still expect compliance.
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112337.
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112340.