War in the Caucasus - Karabagh conflict: Why war?

War in the Caucasus - Karabagh conflict: Why war?

The violation of the ceasefire on 27th September was unprecedented in terms of its scale, weapons used, casualties and intensity. This time it was also distinguished by a more active position of Turkey, who through political backing of Azerbaijan seemed to be challenging Russia’s domination in the security of the region. It lasted for two weeks, resulting in the return under Azerbaijan’s control of a part of two occupied regions and agreement of the humanitarian ceasefire with mediation of Russia’s president Putin. However, the ceasefire was almost immediately violated and the civilian targets of the second largest city Ganja were shelled from the Armenian territory causing significant destruction of apartment buildings and casualties among the population.

Friedensförderung und Gewaltprävention neu gedacht

Friedensförderung und Gewaltprävention neu gedacht

Die Prinzipien "Hilfe vor Ort" und "Vorbeugen ist besser als Heilen" stehen hoch im Kurs. Einfaches Wegducken, militärisches Drüberbügeln und nachträgliches Reparieren kosten und sind zunehmend unpopulär. Die türkis-grüne Bundesregierung hat sich im Regierungsprogramm auf die Prüfung der Einrichtung eines Zivilen Friedensdienst in Österreich verständigt - ein Pionierprojekt entsteht.

Austria and its Neutrality—A Tradition with Potential

Austria and its Neutrality—A Tradition with Potential

On October 26, 1955, two related events occurred in Austria. On the one hand, it was the first day without allied soldiers on Austrian territory. That outcome had been agreed on in the “State Treaty,” of May 15, with the victors WWII powers, Britain, France, the US, and the USSR. Thereby, Austria fully regained its independence. On the other hand, it was also the day on which the country came true on a promise that the Raab government had made to obtain the Soviet approval to the treaty: the parliament enacted a federal law which established that for “the purpose of the permanent assertion of its independence and (…) the inviolability of its territory, Austria freely declares its permanent neutrality.”

EU OFFERS AGAIN TO HELP WESTERN BALKANS - BUT WE NEED MORE

EU OFFERS AGAIN TO HELP WESTERN BALKANS - BUT WE NEED MORE

With all the crises in the Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean and the South Caucasus, one could forget to deal with the problems of the EU’s immediate neighbors in the Western Balkans. The slow progress and the permanence of unsolved issues of course help to forget and overlook this area. But of course not for the IIP, which pays special attention to the youth of that region. And also for the Vienna Institut for International Economics - WIIW, which deals strongly with the economic development of that area, there is no forgetting. And recently, the European Commission published its progress report on enlargement and a proposal for an investment package for the Western Balkans. Reason enough to look closely to the Western Balkans issues and challenges.

War in the Caucasus: A Perspective from Armenia

War in the Caucasus: A Perspective from Armenia

In the early morning of September 27, 2020, Azerbaijan launched airstrikes and a large-scale offensive against Artsakh. The capital of Artsakh, Stepanakert, and main settlements are still under heavy bombardment. This time Turkey is also involved, it supplies Azerbaijan with Bayraktar Tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and, as the Armenian Ministry of Defence informed, Turkish F-16 fighters are also taking part in military operations.

‘Individual sovereignty’ in pandemic times – a contradiction in terms?

‘Individual sovereignty’ in pandemic times – a contradiction in terms?

Over the past months, appeals to ‘individual sovereignty’ have brought together a wide range of political actors across Europe, united in their rejection of face masks, ‘social distancing’, and other forms of state-imposed regulation of behavior and mobility. Opposition to state efforts to govern the spread of the pandemic has created, indeed, the most unlikely of coalitions—from anarchists and natural health proponents to anti-vaxxers and libertarians of all stripes (from the radical-ecological to the right-nativists)—all mobilizing around a purported defense of ‘personal freedoms’ and ‘individual rights’ against the sovereign power of states.

Europas Herausforderung durch Flucht: neue EU Vorschläge

Europas Herausforderung durch Flucht: neue EU Vorschläge

“Wir können alleine nicht alle Probleme der Welt lösen, aber wir können - und sollen - unseren Teil dazu leisten“ meinte einmal der ehemalige französische Premierminister und EU Parlamentarier, Michel Rocard. Diese Aussage ist einerseits sehr pragmatisch aber auch zugleich moralisch. Ich würde mir wünschen, die österreichische Regierung und auch manch andere EU Regierungen würden sich daran halten. Aber auch horrende Zustände in manchen Flüchtlingslagern und der jüngste Brand im griechischen Flüchtlingslager Moria haben die Herzen, vieler sogenannter christlicher PolitikerInnen, nicht erweicht.