Civilian Control of the Armed Forces in Slovenia

The Republic of Slovenia, as the state created at the end of the Cold War from the territory of the former SFRY, channelled the evolution of its society towards democratisation. An important aspect of the democratic restructuring of the Slovenian society is also the formation of the new civilian-military relations, based on the principles that exist in developed parliamentary states. At the same time, Slovenia is confronted with the burden of the former (Yugoslav) authoritarian social system and with the problems which derive from the antagonisms in the course of the transition itself. The most important obstacle to the establishment of democratic civil-military relations and adequate mechanisms of civilian control of the armed forces was the lack of consensus among Slovenian political elites about the long-term defense strategy. Today the situation has changed and there is a general consensus (especially in the defense-security field) about what the permanent, basic, vital strategic national interests are. The proof of that is the transparent and clear definition of Slovenian national interests, derived from the security threats and their sources, which are defined in the basic defense document, ratified by the Parliament in the year 2001: “The Resolution on the national security strategy of the Republic of Slovenia”. That same year the parliament ratified “The general long-term programme of the development and equipping of the Slovenian Armed Forces for the period 2002-2007”. The adoption of those developmental and operational documents in the area of national security established an appropriate institutional framework for the civilian control of the armed forces like those in developed states

Slovenia's national security in a new European environment

'Als neukonstituierter Nationalstaat steht Slowenien vor der Aufgabe, Konzepte, Richtlinien, und Institutionen für die nationale Sicherheit auszuarbeiten. Das geschieht unter den Bedingungen eines jungen Staates in einem gewandelten Europa, weshalb nicht nur die eigenen außenpolitischen Erfahrungen und Grundsätze zu berücksichtigen sind, sondern ebenso die dynamischen Begleitumstände, die sich in vielfältigen Vorschlägen und Bemühungen um Integration nach Europa äußern. Nur vor diesem Hintergrund ist zu verstehen, wie Slowenien sich ein neues Netz für seine nationale Sicherheit knüpft, und ebenso lassen sich auf dieser Basis die slowenischen Bemühungen um Teilnahme am europäischen Integrationsprozeß und um Beitritt zur NATO und zur Europäischen Union verfolgen.' (Autorenreferat)'As a newly established nation-state Slowenia continues to develop concepts, politicies, and institutions to provide for its national security. She does so as a young country in a new Europe and must consider not only her own experiences, principles and international politics, but also the dynamic environment of the multifaceted proposals and efforts at European integration. These are the basic considerations for understanding the process whereby Slovenia is forming a new national security network, both internally and on the international level, and also for following Slovenia's endeavours to participate in the European integration process and join NATO and the European Union.' (author's abstract

Contemporary National Security in the Light of Militarization and Militarism

A national security system today represents a synthesis of all subsystems within a society, because it provides the basic conditions necessary for a society’s survival and development and the quality of life as well as activities aimed at fortifying the capacity of societies and nature to withstand jeopardy. It also helps in fending off the repercussions cause by the sources of danger. National security systems of contemporary states comprise the function and the structure of national security that includes not only the capacity of a state to preserve the society’s values when faced with internal and external threats to their citizen’s peace and freedom, but also joint action with other social subsystems for the sake of the progress of the entire society. The efforts of modern states to achieve demilitarization as part of their national strategies can be the starting-point for the formation of new national security systems which would realize their security and defense needs without creating a social basis for the process of militarization. The process of demilitarization in modern society cannot in itself represent the model for the national security system, but it can be its basic component

Civilian Control of the Armed Forces in Slovenia

The Republic of Slovenia, as the state created at the end of the Cold War from the territory of the former SFRY, channelled the evolution of its society towards democratisation. An important aspect of the democratic restructuring of the Slovenian society is also the formation of the new civilian-military relations, based on the principles that exist in developed parliamentary states. At the same time, Slovenia is confronted with the burden of the former (Yugoslav) authoritarian social system and with the problems which derive from the antagonisms in the course of the transition itself. The most important obstacle to the establishment of democratic civil-military relations and adequate mechanisms of civilian control of the armed forces was the lack of consensus among Slovenian political elites about the long-term defense strategy. Today the situation has changed and there is a general consensus (especially in the defense-security field) about what the permanent, basic, vital strategic national interests are. The proof of that is the transparent and clear definition of Slovenian national interests, derived from the security threats and their sources, which are defined in the basic defense document, ratified by the Parliament in the year 2001: “The Resolution on the national security strategy of the Republic of Slovenia”. That same year the parliament ratified “The general long-term programme of the development and equipping of the Slovenian Armed Forces for the period 2002-2007”. The adoption of those developmental and operational documents in the area of national security established an appropriate institutional framework for the civilian control of the armed forces like those in developed states

NEW EUROPEAN SECURITY ARCHITECTURE

Autor u svom radu određuje neke osnovne institucionalne i strukturalne elemente novonastajućeg europskog sigurnosnog okruženja nakon okončanja hladnoga rata. Na razini institucionalizacije europske sigurnosti početkom devedesetih godina došlo je, tvrdi autor, do povećavanja broja institucija, koje bi se trebale pobrinuti za postupno uključivanje nekadašnjih komunističkih država u jedinstvenu sigurnosnu strukturu, te do formalizacije međunarodne sigurnosti u međunarodnim organizacijama što pokrivaju Europu. Stoga je jedan od ključnih izazova u europskom sigurnosnom sustavu u nastajanju, potreba za dopunjavanjem i usklađivanjem njegovih bitnih elemenata u konzistentni sustav. Autor također predstavlja neke suvremene procese i težnje u europskom sigurnosnom okruženju, što će i ubuduće bitno utjecati na europsku sigurnosnu strukturu. To okruženje jest, i nedvosmisleno će biti, rezultat djelovanja različitih međunarodnih (regionalnih i svjetskih) te nacionalnih faktora u europskom gospodarskom, političkom i sigurnosnom prostoru, a isto tako i zajedničkog nastojanja europskih država (njihovih vođa) i međunarodnih sigurnosnih organizacija da se u Europi osigura zajednička sigurnost (Common Security in Europe). Autor zaključuje kako europski međunarodni sustav danas raspolaže mnoštvom organizacija i institucija koje, uz odgovarajuću međusobnu podjelu rada i suradnjom, mogu pomoći u uspostavljanju zajedničkog i cjelovitog europskog sustava sigurnosti, koji bi efikasno zadovoljavao potrebu za sigurnošću svake pojedine države, a tako i europskog kontinenta u cjelini.In this paper, the author deals with some institutional and structural elements of the emerging European post-cold war security environment. In the early 1990s, at the level of institutionalization of European security, a plethora of institutions came into being whose purpose has been to gradually incorporate the former communist states into an integral security structure. Also, international security was formalized in international organizations covering Europe. Thus one of the key challenges to the European security system has been the need for melding its central components into a consistent system. The author also describes some current processes and developments within the European security setting that will shape the European security structure in the future as well. This setting has been and will undoubtedly be affected by various international (regional and global) and national factors in the European economic, political, and security space as well as by the joint efforts of European states (their leaders) and international security organizations to provide common security in Europe. The author concludes that the European international system today includes many organizations and institutions that, with an appropriate division of labour and cooperation, may help set up a common and integral European security system which would efficiently ensure the security of individual states as well as the security of entire Europe

Slovenia\u27s Experience with Joining NATO

Na kakav način može Slovenija u sadašnjem međunarodnom okolišu osigurati sebi nacionalnu sigurnost? Svaka zemlja se pri procjeni prijetnja mora zalagati za integraciju i koordinaciju svih sigurnosnih mehanizama, stvarati planove za očuvanje sigurnosti i spriječiti možebitne posljedice takvih prijetnji. Članstvo u NATO-uje opcija, koja Sloveniji realno pruža veći stupanj sigurnosti te obrambene sposobnosti negoli bilo koja druga opcija. Sloveniji to članstvo nudi najveći stupanj sigurnosti i ravnopravan položaj - rame uz rame s onim državama koje odlučuju o suvremenom sigurnosnom okolišu. Slovenijaje potpuno svjesna u kojoj je mjeri sigurnost susjednih zemalja važna za očuvanje sigurnosti, mira i stabilnosti cjelokupne regije. Zato je od našeg nacionalnog interesa da se sjevernoatlantskom savezništvu pridruže i druge zemlje, posebno jugoistočne regije.In what way can Slovenia secure its national security in the current international environment? 1n its estimation of possible threats each country must support integration and coordination of all the security mechanisms, it should develop plans far securing its security and prevent possible consequences of such threats. NATO membership is option which provides Slovenia with greater level of security and defense capability than any other option. The NATO membership offers to Slovenia the greatest level of security and equal position - side by side with those countries that decide upon modem security environment. Slovenia is completely aware of importance of security level of its neighbouring countries for preservation of security, peace and stability of the entire region. Therefore entry of other countries, especially from the region of Southeast Europe, into the North-Atlantic Alliance forms national interest of Slovenia

Studying the Phenomenon of Security in Social Sciences (Slovenian Experiences)

Designing the phenomenon of security at the level of individual states and the international community, and the explanation of its nature, dates from the beginning of the history of humankind. In the early stages of the development of organized social communities, security (as an objective structural element of individuals, states, and the international community) was primarily seen in the context of two concentrated forms: the war and the relations among states. Given the numerous new conditions in the international system, research would at present, within the framework of security studies, have to focus on comparative empirical studies of security at the level of states and the entire international system. In the former Yugoslavia, the research into security and defence was at first conducted within military research institutions. In mid-seventies, the establishment of the diploma course in civil defence marked the beginning of investigating these issues at universities. In Slovenia, this course is organized within the Faculty for Social Sciences. At first, it mostly involved teaching the institutional approach to the issues of defence and security; in time, research began, particularly after the establishment of the Institute for Defence Research. Today’s defencology department and the Institute for Defence Research conduct research in the fields of security, defence, army, protection, and peace studies

NEW EUROPEAN SECURITY ARCHITECTURE

Autor u svom radu određuje neke osnovne institucionalne i strukturalne elemente novonastajućeg europskog sigurnosnog okruženja nakon okončanja hladnoga rata. Na razini institucionalizacije europske sigurnosti početkom devedesetih godina došlo je, tvrdi autor, do povećavanja broja institucija, koje bi se trebale pobrinuti za postupno uključivanje nekadašnjih komunističkih država u jedinstvenu sigurnosnu strukturu, te do formalizacije međunarodne sigurnosti u međunarodnim organizacijama što pokrivaju Europu. Stoga je jedan od ključnih izazova u europskom sigurnosnom sustavu u nastajanju, potreba za dopunjavanjem i usklađivanjem njegovih bitnih elemenata u konzistentni sustav. Autor također predstavlja neke suvremene procese i težnje u europskom sigurnosnom okruženju, što će i ubuduće bitno utjecati na europsku sigurnosnu strukturu. To okruženje jest, i nedvosmisleno će biti, rezultat djelovanja različitih međunarodnih (regionalnih i svjetskih) te nacionalnih faktora u europskom gospodarskom, političkom i sigurnosnom prostoru, a isto tako i zajedničkog nastojanja europskih država (njihovih vođa) i međunarodnih sigurnosnih organizacija da se u Europi osigura zajednička sigurnost (Common Security in Europe). Autor zaključuje kako europski međunarodni sustav danas raspolaže mnoštvom organizacija i institucija koje, uz odgovarajuću međusobnu podjelu rada i suradnjom, mogu pomoći u uspostavljanju zajedničkog i cjelovitog europskog sustava sigurnosti, koji bi efikasno zadovoljavao potrebu za sigurnošću svake pojedine države, a tako i europskog kontinenta u cjelini.In this paper, the author deals with some institutional and structural elements of the emerging European post-cold war security environment. In the early 1990s, at the level of institutionalization of European security, a plethora of institutions came into being whose purpose has been to gradually incorporate the former communist states into an integral security structure. Also, international security was formalized in international organizations covering Europe. Thus one of the key challenges to the European security system has been the need for melding its central components into a consistent system. The author also describes some current processes and developments within the European security setting that will shape the European security structure in the future as well. This setting has been and will undoubtedly be affected by various international (regional and global) and national factors in the European economic, political, and security space as well as by the joint efforts of European states (their leaders) and international security organizations to provide common security in Europe. The author concludes that the European international system today includes many organizations and institutions that, with an appropriate division of labour and cooperation, may help set up a common and integral European security system which would efficiently ensure the security of individual states as well as the security of entire Europe

Program Partnerstvo za mir i Republika Slovenija

U svom kratkom izlaganju pokušat ću prvo postaviti našu današnju temu, a posebno instituciju NATO-a Partnerstvo za mir (PfP), u širi kontekst europske sigurnosti nakon hladnog rata, a zatim ću sintetizirati, po mom mišljenju najbitnija, iskustva koja je Republika Slovenija stekla posljednjih pet godina kao aktivna članica programa PfP

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND ETHNIC CONFLICTS

U suvremenom svijetu, koji obilježava sve veća povezanost i ovisnost, nacionalna sigurnost postaje sastavnim dijelom međunarodne sigurnosti, koja nije zbir pojedinačnih nacionalnih sigurnosti, već stalan međunarodni okvir općeprihvatljivih vrijednosti. Međuetnički odnosi danas bitno određuju stabilnost države, ali i međunarodnog sustava. Postavlja se pitanje, treba li međunarodni sustav jamčiti individualnu i kolektivnu sigurnost etničkih skupina/manjina, bez obzira na to u kojoj se one državi nalaze. Danas ljudska i manjinska prava postaju važnim institucionaliziranim međunarodnim činiteljem sigurnosti i stabilnosti te briga cijele međunarodne zajednice, usprkos tome što mnoge države još uvijek tvrde kako je manjinska politika njihovo unutarnje pitanje u koje se međunarodna zajednica nema pravo miješati. Afirmacijom racionalističkog pristupa suvremenoj sigurnosti ističe se spoznaja da je odgovornost za jamčenje sigurnosti ne samo na strani pojedinih država i saveza nego i na strani međunarodnog sustava kao cjeline.In today’s world, marked by an increasing interdependence, national security is becoming a component of international security, which is not a mere sum of individual national securities, but a permanent international framework of universally acceptable values. Inter-ethnic relations today are central for a state’s security, as well as for international order. There is the question whether international system must guarantee individual and collective security of ethnic groups/minorities, regardless of the state they live in. Today, human and minority rights have become an important institutionalized international factor of security and stability and a concern of the entire international community, despite the fact that many states still claim that minority policy is their internal problem into which international community has no right to interfere. The affirmation of the rationalist approach to contemporary security implies that the responsibility for guaranteeing security lies not only on individual states and unions but also on the international system as a whole