Suchergebnisse

The practice of "branding" has invaded all aspects of public & private life. Increasingly, cities, regions, & states are using the services of PR & branding consultants to strengthen their ties with so-called stakeholders, aiming to achieve economic & political benefits. This essay studies the intersection between the two worlds of PR & IR theory; two epistemic communities that have little real contact with each other, despite the fact that they share an interest in concepts such as globalization, identity, & the changing nature of power in international politics. This essay offers numerous concrete examples of the phenomenon of location branding to describe how & why territorial entities have decided to jump on the "brandwagon." It relates the trend of location branding with some strands of constructivist thinking & explores the possible consequences for the study of nationalism & democracy. In this article it sketches the outlines of a potential new research agenda. Adapted from the source document.

Examines whether North American and European cultural "glue" holding "the West" together remains strong enough to endure post-Cold War transatlantic tensions.

The modern project of European integration is incorporating more state-like functions such as economic, monetary, foreign, & security policy. But does the European Union (EU) also have a solid basis of support among European citizens? For the further development of European integration, one of the main questions seems to be how homogeneous Europe needs to be in cultural terms. What level of solidarity & shared experience is needed? How far should the EU become a locus of identity for European citizens? This essay argues that without something resembling a European identity, the process of Europeanization will inevitably grind to a halt or even rupture. But given the multifarious character of Europe, developing such an "identity beyond the state" can be founded only on a solid base of multiculturalism, acknowledging that cultural diversity is a permanent & valuable part of democratic political society. Europe's emerging postmodern identity therefore calls for a politics of cultural affinity rather than a narrow-minded conception of "Europeanness." This essay takes the EU's policies on telecommunications & the semiotics of the Euro as examples of how notions of nationalism & sovereignty have changed (& continue to change) in the European context. Adapted from the source document.

Examines origin of consensus on defense issues, development of the Common European Security and Defense Policy, and national interests and driving forces; implications for EU-US relations and NATO.

This article takes the pulse of the Franco-German security relationship & analyzes its implications for the future development of the European Union's Common Foreign & Security Policy (CFSP). It starts with a brief historical overview of this relationship before discussing Europe's contemporary & future security challenges from the perspectives of Paris & Berlin. It evaluates Europe's lessons learned from the war against Yugoslavia over Kosovo & concludes that in a more complex & wider Europe, the Franco-German axis may be one important partnership among many, but certainly not the quintessential & fundamental driving force for further European integration as during past decades. Especially in the security & defense fields, a possible Anglo-French-German entente would be beneficial for the development of a European CFSP & European security in general. Adapted from the source document.

Discusses efforts by Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to join the Western "security community"; some focus on geopolitics, especially relations with Germany and Russia, and role of the US.