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Austrian Security Policy after the End of the Cold War

Introduction Austrian security policy evolved gradually and in several phases after the Second World War. For a long time it was shaped by Austria’s specific geographical position during the Cold War, directly on the “front line” between the two blocs, and by the neutrality policy adopted in 1955. Whereas the military always saw its main task (as formulated in the Constitution and the Army Law) in preparing for military defense in the case of war in Europe, the political leadership never trul..

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No Abstract

Austrian Security Policy after the End of the Cold War

Introduction Austrian security policy evolved gradually and in several phases after the Second World War. For a long time it was shaped by Austria’s specific geographical position during the Cold War, directly on the “front line” between the two blocs, and by the neutrality policy adopted in 1955. Whereas the military always saw its main task (as formulated in the Constitution and the Army Law) in preparing for military defense in the case of war in Europe, the political leadership never trul..

Austria's International Position after the End of the Cold War

In the past quarter century we have moved from the Cold War to the Post-Cold War era in Austria, Europe and the world at large. Yet relatively little assessment is available what the change from the Cold War to the Post-Cold War era signaled for Austria's position in the world. Austrian foreign policy went through sea changes. The country lost its exposed Cold War geopolitical location on the margins of Western Europe along the iron curtain. With the removal of the iron curtain Austria moved back into its central location in Europe and rebuilt her long-standing traditional relations with neighbors to the East and South. Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and thus further “Westernized.” Its policy of neutrality - so central to its foreign policy during the Cold War - largely eroded during the past quarter century, even though pro forma and for reasons of identity, the country holds on to its neutral position. Austrian failed to join NATO and gained the reputation of a “security free rider.

O enquadramento das Missões de Paz (PKO) nas teorias da guerra e de polícia

A clareza original do que sejam as operações de manutenção, ou Missões de Paz - PKO - já não existe, se é que algum dia ela de fato existiu. No decorrer desse artigo Busca-se enquadrar as PKO nas teorias de guerra e de polícia, com base no entendimento sobre força e violência, uso da força, guerra e paz. Ao final, há algumas observações sobre a utilidade desses enquadramentos.<br>The original meaning of what are the Peacekeeping Operations - PKO - no longer exists, that is, if some day it really existed. This article tries to fit the PKO in the theories of war and police, based on the comprehension of strength and violence, the use of strength, war, and peace. In conclusion, there are some observations about the utility of those allocations

Neutrals as brokers of peacebuilding ideas?

Neutral states have traditionally been seen as favoring specific norms in international relations. Being itself originally a legal concept, neutrality was intimately linked to the importance and the respect of international law. Additionally, neutral states were seen as promoters of humanitarian ideals and elements we would in our days label as peace-building. Based on these considerations, the article tackles the more general assumption according to which neutral states would in general play a disproportionate role in promoting new “positive” ideas into the international relations because a) they have a tradition of doing so which was intimately linked to their survival as states and to their political culture, b) they have a comparative advantage in doing so because the ideas they bring in are not seen as part of hidden agendas in promoting other power-related goals, and c) the type of ideas they have been and they still are promoting always aimed at either preventing war or limiting the negative effects of war