Abstract This paper explains that the events of 1914-1918 expressed a continuation of trends, some of long standing, others as recent as the Balkan Wars. The author points out that the war and the post-war settlements had enormous impact for the Balkan peoples.
Abstract This paper examines ethnic divisions in post-Communist Bulgaria. The primary division is between the Bulgar/Bulgarian Orthodox majority and the Muslim/Turk minority.
Abstract This paper examines the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. It identifies legitimation problems and economic problems that undermined the authority of these regimes. When this was coupled with the devolution of the Soviet Union, domestic opponents of the regime were able to assume power.
Abstract This paper examines the effects of the Chernobyl disaster on the local population and on the local industries. There is an emphasis on the role of legalities in this event, especially in respect to international regulations that were developed in order to ensure that such an accident would most likely never occur again if it could possibly be prevented.
Abstract This paper takes a brief look at the transition from communism to capitalism in Russia from the perspective of the social contract. It finds that, while there has been a shift from rule by conquest to one by consensus and while Russia does have a functioning electoral democracy, there remains no liberal democracy. Coupled with the lack of economic hope, it is difficult for the polity to feel any confidence in the new social contract. Some anticipate a return to authoritarian rule, others suggest that this is no longer possible. In any case, Russia is again in a situation where the state may be unable to deliver on its end of the bargain.
Abstract German reunification was one of the greatest events of the 20th century. But while the entire German population basked in the bliss of initial euphoria, the rest of the world viewed this event with great deal of skepticism. This skepticism originated from transition gurus' ability to see beyond the excitement and at the real reasons why East Germany had opted for unification after several decades of socialist rule. East Germany was riddled with numerous social and economic problems and thus had unification as the only viable choice left at its disposal. The paper studies the reasons behind East Germany's desire to be reunited with its western brother.
Abstract This paper examines how, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States has struggled to develop and to articulate a comprehensive and coherent foreign policy toward the fifteen states that have taken its place. It analyzes the relationships between the different presidents of both countries, as well as their different policies, and attempts to identify some of the foreign policy initiatives and strategies that the United States should consider adopting towards Russia over the course of the next few years.
Outline
The Collapse and the Gorbachev Years
The Yeltsin Regime
The Current State of Affairs
Struggles of the "New" Russia
Russia and the U.S.: Future Policy Directions and Implications
From the Paper "Both the United States and the Soviet Union must share the responsibility for the start and continuation of the Cold War in the period between 1945 and 1963. During World War II, the U.S. and the Soviets were allies committed to the defeat of mutual enemies - Japan and Germany. At the end of World War II, as the Allies struggled to reconfigure the European polity and establish a new order in the East, the interests of the Soviet Union and the United States came into direct collision. For western leaders and their diplomats, World War II had a successful but hardly "neat" ending; too many questions were left unanswered, such as the future of Poland and Germany, which had been opened at Yalta and Potsdam but left unresolved (Kennedy, 1987; Keohane, 1984)."
Tags: cold, war, gorbchev, yeltsin, eastern, europe, putin
Abstract This paper begins by providing an introduction and overview of the Bosnia-Herzegovina crisis. It then examines the Dayton Peace Accords and discusses what the role of the Accords was meant to be, the aims and purposes, and, finally, why the Accords failed.
From the Paper "The conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina stems from the hostility between peoples united by territory, heritage, and language, yet divided by religion. The proponents of the war are the Orthodox, Catholics and Muslims who share the territory of Yugoslavia. After World War I, the United States, Britain, and France established new territorial boundaries of the remnants of the war during the Versailles Conference of 1919. The conference resulted in the combining of the former members of the Austro-Hungarian Empire: Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, with Montenegro and Serbia. This formed of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, or ?land of the South Slavs.? "
Abstract This paper provides an overview of what the EU is and why it attracts several countries. It then looks at the economies of different Eastern European countries and examines what changes they need to make to be accepted into the EU.
1 .Introduction
2. A Brief History
2.1. Introducing the CEEC
2.1.1.The Agricultural Issue
3. An EU Perspective
4. Funding Issues
5. Case Studies
5.1 Czech Republic
5.2 Hungary
5.3 Poland
5.4 Slovenia
6 The Argument Over Integration
7. Conclusion
8 Bibliography
From the Paper "The European Union faces many arduous tasks in upcoming years. The most troublesome possibly being that of enlarging the size and the scope of its members. Currently, it is in the discussion of the European Union to extend enlargement to central and Eastern Europe. Over the course of the next decade, the European Union will be propositioning some new candidates to join their ranks. The first group includes the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia; countries likely to join later are Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and the Slovak Republic. The first countries are not expected to join until 2003-2005."
Abstract This paper shows that the conditions that exist today in the treatment of homosexuals in Russia are comparable to those in the early 19th century. The Bolshevik's misplaced hatred of all things not heterosexual stems from their hatred of the aristocratic and upper-class culture. The paper argues that their revolution and the subsequent mass destruction of all gay culture in Russia has set back the progressive equal rights movement by nearly a century.
From the Paper "The views in Russia toward homosexuality have fluctuated greatly throughout history along with the fluctuations in government. While it was never completely accepted before the revolution in 1917, when the Bolsheviks came into power, however, a complete elimination of all things representing the former government ? including homosexuality ? came about. Any form of sexuality not accepted by the leaders became a crime comparable to treason and an issue too taboo to discuss. Even today, after governmental rule has changed hands again, the Bolshevik view of hatred and bias against all those out of the norm has lived on."
Abstract This essay deals with the issue of domestic violence in Serbia and what makes the problem in Serbia unique. It describes the current and historical situation and provides details of research and figures. It looks at laws that concern domestic violence and groups that are concerned with the issue. Also examined are the attitudes toward domestic violence and some of its causes.
From the Paper "This essay will deal with the phenomenon of domestic violence (nb) in Serbia. It will set out to discover the extent of domestic violence. As well as providing explanations for attitudes towards domestic violence and whether there is a historical, political, or social context that is specific to Serbia. In recent years Serbia has been through four wars, and maybe because of this the issue of domestic violence is seen as unimportant. But there is a need for this topic to be dealt with, as there are many victims needing help."
Abstract The paper compares the Holocaust of the Nazi regime and the Stalinist purge in the U.S.S.R. It compares the extreme form of Fascism under Hitler and the extreme form of Bolshevism under Stalin.
From the Paper "This research compares and contrasts two cases of state-sponsored mass murder in the 20th century: the Holocaust, which refers to the state-sponsored murder in Europe of some 12 million people, 6 million of whom were Jews, during the Nazi regime; and the ..."
Abstract A discussion on the civil war between Serbs and Croats in Bosnia. The paper covers ethnic cleansing, the war between Serbs and ethnic Albanians, and the fall of the Serbian government.
From the Paper "A Comparison of Ethnic Divisions in the
Former Yugoslavia and Former Czechoslovakia
For much of the 1990s, the attention of Europe and the world was riveted on ethnic turmoil in the former Balkan nation of Yugoslavia, as ethnic Serbs and Croats fought a ..."
Abstract This paper explains that the concept, which years later became the EU, began in 1948 as the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC), whose job it was to advance the rebuilding of war-torn Europe and to help distribute American financial aid (Marshall Aid) for Western Europe. The author points out that, while the overall trend is toward greater regionalization in Europe, there is a great deal of variation among countries, with the smaller countries such as Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark demonstrating little change. The paper concludes that all European countries need a more decentralized system that promotes effective and efficient public service, increased transparency, and accountability.
From the Paper "Basically, Belgium's commitment to the process of unification after the war has placed it in its current position of power (International Herald Tribune, 2003). At the heart of Europe since the 1950?s, Belgium has embraced most core EU polices, from the creation of a single currency to the abolition of passport controls within the Schengen zone (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain). A stable democracy with a decentralized government, Belgium has low inflation and slow but steady economic growth, forecast to reach 1.8 percent in 2004. The country has grown over the past three decades into a decentralized state, whose power rests with the three regional governments: Flanders in the north, Wallonia in the south and Brussels as an autonomous region near the center of the country. With one of the EU's most open economies, Belgium welcomes foreign investment, and its economic policies do not distinguish between domestic and foreign companies."
