Conflict Prevention In The Baltic States

3. Normative frame of reference

In view of the importance of coastal areas to Baltic countries, integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) is a matter of prime concern. ICZM is also an important feature of the project Coastal Zone Management in the Baltic Sea Region (COASTMAN), undertaken in the context of the Interreg IIIB (Baltic Sea) Programme. These experiences are presented in this book, which begins with an overview of the issue of conflict resolution in coastal zone management followed by a description of a set of administrative and legal processes and of case studies in the following regions: Hamburg (Germany), Haapsalu (Estonia), Klaipėda (Lithuania), Primorsk (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden) and Ventspils (Latvia). The third part presents information relating to the educational and training aspects of conflict resolution in ICZM. Thanks to its scope and trans-national dimension, this Handbook will be instrumental for organisations responsible for ICZM and will provide some inspiration towards initiatives that can be undertaken at the local level in order to better understand, and hopefully address, conflicts arising in coastal areas.

Frank Möller explores why the states and societies of the Baltic Sea region have not yet evolved into a security community despite the area undergoing, since the mid 1980s, considerable change with little turmoil. This book focuses on the tensions resulting from policies in the Baltic states aiming at an increase in both security and sovereignty. Möller shows how these states’ attempts at increasing their security were intricately bound up with their efforts at autonomous nation-state building. Möller argues that a primary obstacle to security community building was the construction of nation-states based upon an exceedingly traditional template emphasizing the connection between the state, sovereignty, and military security. The Baltic states aspired to NATO membership amid unique challenges, such as the perceived threat of renascent Russian imperialism and the perseverance of a collective memory emphasizing anti-Soviet resistance. Möller also examines such key issues as the demise of the Soviet Union, the nonviolent withdrawal of Russian troops from the Baltic states, and U.S. foreign policy in northern Europe. Here is a profound, multifaceted look at issues of security in the contemporary world- a crucial tool for researchers and students of peace and conflict studies.

Globalization and European integration are sometimes seen as the enemies of nationalism, sweeping away particularisms and imposing a single economic, cultural and political order. The book argues on the contrary that, by challenging the 'nation-state' as the sole basis for identity and sovereignty, they open the way for a variety of claims by stateless nations. It is certainly true that recent years have seen a strong recurrence of nationalist claims, in Europe and in other parts of the world. At the same time, however, globalization and European integration provide new ways of managing nationality claims. At one level, they lower the stakes in independence and might permit peaceful transitions to independence. Yet they may also make independence in the traditional sense less important and provide ways in which multiple and conflicting nationality claims could be accommodated in new political structures. The chapters in this collection consider these issues from a theoretical perspective and through case studies of stateless nationalisms in western, eastern and central Europe, the former Soviet Union and Quebec. They record a wide variety of experiences and show that, while there are no easy answers to conflicting national claims, there is reason to believe that they can be managed through democratic political processes.

Offering an assessment of the theory and practice of conflict resolution in post-Cold War conflicts, this book addresses a number of questions. It explores the nature of contemporary conflict and the development of conflict resolution.

For a long time, the Nordic countries have been a region of peace, with the ability to resolve conflicts peacefully among themselves, and a region for peace, actively promoting peace globally. Although efforts to actively brand the Nordic region are ongoing, the Nordic Peace brand is an area with untapped potential. The Nordics have rich traditions for working together on peace and conflict resolution. These joint efforts have grown organically and informally from like-mindedness, letting the common Nordic culture and ways of working foster integration among them where relevant. The people working in the Nordic countries on Nordic cooperation and peace recognize the potential of strengthening the Nordic Peace brand. One area of special potential is increasing focus on the shared Nordic priorities of prevention and the women, peace and security agenda as part of the Nordic Peace brand.