The topic of this thesis is the role of Central Europe in the security-political relations focusing on the Visegrad Group as a representative of Central European regional cooperation. The thesis first describes international regimes, which the Visegrad Group belongs to, the reasons of their origin and the functions, which they have been performing. The paper also deals with the region of Central Europe, with its definition and cooperation within it. The core part of the thesis is dedicated to the Visegrad Group, to its origin, to the relations between its members and above all to its activity within the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance. The final part evaluates not only achievements and failures in security and defense aspects of Visegrad cooperation, but it also mentions new possibilities, which are currently offered to such cooperation.

No description available.

The promotion of sustainable development is an objective shared by African Union (AU) member states and the pursuance thereof is expressly mandated by the Constitutive Act of the African Union, 2000 and the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community, 1992. Lack of access to modern energy sources, such as electricity and the heavy reliance on traditional biomass as primary energy source are factors contributing to the non-achievement of the promotion of sustainable development. These factors are collectively referred to as energy poverty. The African Continent as a whole has limited, and in some instances, lack access to modern energy sources while the majority of its population relies heavily on traditional biomass as primary energy source. Africa can accordingly be classified as an energy poor region–a situation which does not bode well for the promotion of sustainable development. Access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services and resources is fundamental to socio-economic development. Mitigating the impacts of energy poverty and more specifically lack of access to modern energy sources on the sustainable development of Africa depends upon ensuring increased access to modern energy sources. The above-mentioned instruments furthermore contain provisions which link regional cooperation on the formulation of coordinated regional law and policy on areas/matters of common concern with the achievement of the objective of promoting sustainable development in Africa. One of the areas of common concerns listed is that of energy. Regional cooperation must accordingly be geared towards the effective development of the continent‘s energy and natural resources; promoting the development of new and renewable energy in the framework of the policy of diversification of sources of energy; and establishing an adequate mechanism of concerted action and coordination for the collective solution of the energy development problems within the AU. The formulation of coordinated energy law and policy should take place with reference to the specific sources of energy to be regulated. In this regard, the provisions of the Abuja Treaty and other sub-regional energy access initiatives list various sources of energy as forming part of a diversified AU energy mix – one of which is nuclear energy. In this study recommendations are made as to what should be embodied in a coordinated AU regional nuclear legal framework aimed at regulating increased access to nuclear energy capable of contributing towards the promotion of sustainable development. The recommendations are based on an examination of relevant international, regional and sub-regional legal instruments and other initiatives. / PhD (Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

An appropriate regional cooperation environment makes a vital contribution to the social and economic development of every country in the region. This research thesis focuses specifically on the growing lack of appropriate regional cooperation models in developing countries, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is used as a case study. The research highlights some key issues on the development of the appropriate regional cooperation models. The research information is obtained on the research areas through questionnaire surveys to respondents from South Africa, Tanzania, and Mauritius on the current regional cooperation model and the perceived ideal one. The conclusions drawn are that the regional cooperation models envisaged to be in use in the SADC differ significantly from the theory, which results in inappropriate focus on the requirements of the majority of the states. This is primarily due to the use of inappropriate regional cooperation models. The indications are that traditional market-type integration models, which are used as a “default model” without major adjustments, are inappropriate within the developing countries context, owing to the existence of a fundamental incongruence between the assumptions and requirements of such models and the needs and realities prevailing in Southern Africa. Southern Africa does not satisfy the foremost prerequisites of successful market integration. Despite the considerable advantages the models might have gained in other developed regions, they often fail to meet the requirements of the developing countries. In measuring the satisfaction regarding the current regional cooperation adhering to the requirements of the majority of states, it becomes obvious that the SADC population is generally not satisfied with the results regarding the current regional cooperation. In order to meet the requirements of the majority of states, SADC regional cooperation needs to focus on the appropriate regional cooperation. This requires an understanding and management of three classes of factors, which are environmental factors, capacity factors, and regional organisational factors. The three classes of factors together affect the participation rate of the states. / Business Leadership / DBL (Business Leadership)

This thesis examines the influence of state identity narratives on regional cooperation frameworks in Central Asia. It applies the perspectives of ontological security theory to the self-articulation of state identities of Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan to decipher socialization mechanisms in each of the cases. Consequently, it traces the routinization of the state narratives of Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan toward the region and regional organizations. Ontological security theory argues that, in addition to physical security, states seek ideational security, security of identity and security of being. Using a grounded theory approach to study the formation of the state narratives of Kyrgyzstan and of Turkmenistan and utilizing official and media sources and interviews conducted during fieldwork, the thesis analyzes the process of routinization of state identity narratives, showcasing the narrators, the narratives and the processes of self-articulation. The key process that is traced is the routinization of the state narratives, i.e. the sequence of repeated actions (inter-textualized through speech acts and textual references) that transform the self-articulated stories of the states into the realm of the habitual. This process of routinization is then analyzed within the regional context, examining how these routinized narratives influence inter-state cooperation in Central Asia. As such, the thesis contributes to two main bodies of literature: the growing literature on the ideational aspects of regional cooperation in Central Asia; and existing research on the role of state identification practices in the foreign policies of Central Asian states.

Central Asia is a region strategically located at the crossroads of the two continents: Asia and Europe. The region is represented by five states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) with different level of economic development and with the population amounting to over 60 million people. The region is rich in energy resources represented by oil, gas, coal and water resources. The thesis analyses, assesses and scrutinises one of the topical issues of the contemporary international relations - cooperation between the European Union and Central Asian states before and after adoption in June 2007 of the ‘European Union and Central Asia: Strategy for a New Partnership’,  an important political document in the history of relations between the two parties. The new stage of cooperation is analysed more comprehensively accentuating priorities set in the Strategy. Analysis of the current state of affairs is conducted concerning some important issues of the Strategy related to regional cooperation between Central Asian states, such as integrated water management and development of hydro-energy system, issues of diversification of hydrocarbons supply routes from the region to Europe and provision of energy security, etc. Issues of cooperation between the European Union and Tajikistan are analysed as a case study. State of affairs between the Central Asian states and the European Union Member States actively cooperating with these countries is characterised. The thesis also scrutinises other regional/international actors engaged in cooperation with Central Asia (such as China, Russia, the US, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, etc.) and their potential for interaction with the European Union for more effective joint solution of the problems existing in the region is assessed. In the conclusion, development of cooperation between the European Union and Central Asian states is scrutinised, the problems and their possible solutions in this regard are analysed, and the recommendations for increasing effectiveness of cooperation between the two parties are presented. The European Union’s policy in Central Asia is interpreted from perspective of the theories of international relations namely neorealism, neoliberalism and constructivism in the research.

This dissertation looks at Northeast Asia as a region composed of China, Japan and South Korea in order to understand the regional dimension of international cooperation. It takes the Tripartite Environment Ministers’ Meeting and the China-Japan-Korea Meeting on<p>Information and Telecommunication Standards cases for comparative analysis. Its aim is to<p>examine cooperation and decision-making under uncertainty and to explore how they affect<p>institutional development and enhanced regional cooperation. Analysis of current cooperation activities as well as development of chosen cases illustrates interactions between individuals, organizations and states. Risks associated with decision-making affect<p>behaviors of actors and self-reinforcement mechanisms of institutions creating path<p>dependence. / Doctorat en Sciences politiques et sociales / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Das Thema 'Möglichkeiten und Grenzen regionaler Kooperationen am Beispiel länderübergreifender Kooperationen im Raum Halle-Leipzig' ist Inhalt einer Diplomarbeit (2004 vorgelegt am Institut für Geographie der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg), deren wichtigsten Erkenntnisse im Folgenden gestrafft dargestellt werden. Dabei stehen vor allem die Ergebnisse des empirischen Teils der Arbeit im Mittelpunkt, der einerseits das Kooperationsgeschehen im Hinblick auf eine abgestimmte Regionalentwicklung im länderübergreifenden Verdichtungsraum Halle-Leipzig erfasste und andererseits die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen gebildeter Kooperationen abzuleiten versuchte. Als theoretischer Hintergrund der Diplomarbeit dienten regulationstheoretische Forschungsansätze, die regionale Entwicklung im Zusammenhang mit Ökonomie, Politik und Gesellschaft betrachten und damit auch regionale Kooperationen als Teil regionsinterner Organisation in einen wirtschaftlichen sowie gesellschaftlichen Kontext stellen. In diesem Band soll vor allem das kooperative Geschehen in der Region Halle-Leipzig im Vordergrund stehen, daher werden auf regulationstheoretische Bezüge hier verzichtet.

The presented thesis is analyzing the regional cooperation in the Western Balkans (WB) focusing on interactions of local actors. Theoretical background is based on the new regionalism, a theoretical approach to regional interactions. Contemporary studies on New Regionalism (NR) actually do not consider the Western Balkans to be part of this process and as a result we lack sufficient information about the basic characteristics of this region. The author proves that the WB is engaged in the process of the new regionalism and in fact by focusing on the institutional structure he demonstrates that several parallel processes are ongoing in the region as for example regional cooperation, integration or cooperation with another region. For the purpose of this research two projects of regional cooperation were chosen, South Eastern European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) which are regarded as the main pillars of the political cooperation in the WB. By examining their structure we may understand the relevance of the region as an independent actor and the general aims of the regional cooperation.

Since formal instruments of spatial planning in Germany have turned out to be too inflexible to govern regional development, new ones are being implemented. One of them is Regional Land Management (RLM), which can be described as an application of regional management. A RLM comprises various aspects of planning, development and use of sites for industrial purposes, housing, recreation, open space et cetera. The complexity of tasks requires the cooperation between public and private actors (&amp;quot;public private partnership&amp;quot;), for instance municipalities and firms as well as different lobby groups. In most cases a Regional Development Concept contents the necessary guidelines, objectives and steps. This process has been analysed in the Municipal Network of &amp;quot;Saalebogen&amp;quot;, which consists of Rudolstadt, Saalfeld and Bad Blankenburg and is situated in East Thuringia. Like elsewhere in Thuringia the &amp;quot;Landesentwicklungsgesellschaft Thüringen&amp;quot;, i. e. the state development corporation, has taken considerable measures toward the revitalisation of industrial areas by acquisition, clearing, development and commercialisation. Thus, it was explored to what extent the participating municipalities undertook activities in terms of mutual coordination of industrial areas and public projects on existing sites referring to different functions within the Municipal Network. This has to take into account especially the decline of population due to the volatile economic performance of the region. The overall question is whether and how it can be managed to stimulate a development from the bottom of the region. The method of research chosen is threefold: Based on a new understanding of communicative and cooperative planning and a general concept for an RLM, the respective elements in the &amp;quot;Saalebogen&amp;quot; were defined as they can found in the urban and regional development plans and concepts. Interviews should show the motives, objectives and actions of planners, local politicians and entrepreneurs who are more or less involved in the RLM. Moreover, data on several industrial sites are evaluated in order to reflect the actual results. In the conclusion the implications of the RLM for regional planning and governance are formulated as well as improvements concerning planning system, spatial arrangement and organisation. / Die Raumplanung hat in der jüngeren Vergangenheit einen deutlichen Paradigmenwechsel vollzogen. Zunehmende Umsetzungsdefizite von formalen Plänen haben informellen Planungsinstrumenten einen erheblichen Bedeutungszuwachs beschert. Dazu gehören v.a. Regionale Entwicklungskonzepte (REK), die zur Behandlung einzelner Themenschwerpunkte bzw. Teilräume unter Einbeziehung der jeweils relevanten Akteure erstellt werden. Gerade in Ostdeutschland hat es sich als sinnvoll und notwendig erwiesen, nicht nur formale Rechtspläne in einem aufwendigen Verfahren zu erstellen, sondern im Vorgriff darauf bzw. parallel dazu Entwicklungskonzepte zu erarbeiten. Der zu untersuchende Raum des Städtedreiecks am Saalebogen stellt einen Städteverbund, bestehend aus Saalfeld, Rudolstadt und Bad Blankenburg, dar und wurde inhaltlich in einem REK verankert. Der dabei gewählte Ansatz eines Regionalmanagements umfasst zahlreiche Akteure auf den verschiedenen Ebenen (Land, Region, Kommunen, Unternehmen etc.). In diesem Zusammenhang sind planerische Überlegungen nicht zuletzt von Fragen der Flächenentwicklung (Revitalisierung, Nachnutzung, Neuerschließung) bestimmt. Nachdem die Landesentwicklungsgesellschaft Thüringen (LEG) erhebliche Leistungen in der Entwicklung gewerblicher Standorte sowie im Projektmanagement erbracht hat, stellt sich die Frage, inwieweit die beteiligten Kommunen ihrerseits eine abgestimmte, koordinierte und kooperative Flächenentwicklung betreiben. Elemente hierfür sind etwa die Bevorzugung gemeinsamer Standorte und die Rücknahme einzelner Flächen. Weiterhin soll anhand der Arbeit untersucht werden, wie mit den Rahmenbedingungen der Schrumpfung umgegangen wird. Dies betrifft v.a. die (interkommunale) (Um-) Nutzung bestimmter Standorte bzw. Flächen im Rahmen eines Bestandsmanagements. In Anbetracht der organisatorischen Form der Zusammenarbeit ist am konkreten Beispiel insgesamt von Interesse zu untersuchen, ob mit &amp;quot;weichen&amp;quot;, kooperativen Instrumenten der Regionalentwicklung &amp;quot;harte&amp;quot; Standort- bzw. Flächennutzungsentscheidungen getroffen werden können. Als normative Grundlage zur Beurteilung kann dabei das Postulat einer nachhaltigen Raumentwicklung herangezogen werden, aus dem sich Kriterien einer ressourcensparenden und nutzungseffizienten Flächenentwicklung einerseits sowie einer kontinuierlichen Beteiligung von Akteuren bzw. Institutionalisierung der Zusammenarbeit andererseits ableiten lassen. In einer theoretischen Einführung werden die sich wandelnden raumplanerischen Funktionen allgemein erörtert sowie die Instrumente REK und Städtenetze im Besonderen vorgestellt. In einem nächsten Schritt erfolgt eine Begriffsbestimmung &amp;quot;des&amp;quot; regionalen Flächenmanagements anhand einzelner Elemente der Planung und deren Umsetzung bzw. Nutzung. Nach einer Beschreibung des Untersuchungsraums stehen konkrete Rahmenbedingungen (REK, Städteverbund), bisherige Aktivitäten und zukünftige Vorhaben eines regionalen Flächenmanagements im Mittelpunkt der Arbeit. Um dies differenziert beurteilen zu können, werden der (zeitliche) Vergleich von Raumordnungsplänen und REK, Gespräche mit regional bedeutsamen Akteuren sowie die Auswertung von Strukturdaten durchgeführt. Mit dieser empirischen Vorgehensweise verbunden sind neue Erkenntnisse über Entscheidungsprozesse in der Regionalentwicklung unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Flächenentwicklung. Außerdem werden Vorschläge für die Weiterentwicklung des RFM im Städtedreieck und allgemein erarbeitet. Damit liegt der Schwerpunkt der Untersuchung auf planungspraktischen sowie umsetzungsbezogenen Fragestellungen.