Franz Kernic

This book is a comprehensive analysis of the various social science approaches to explaining and interpreting war, peace and the military. Its central aim is to trace and reconstruct those basic assumptions constructed and 'thought processes' undertaken by modern social sciences in their research and conceptualization of military violence and the use of force. In addition to such reconstruction, the aim is also to enquire into the preconditions of such thought. This study therefore eschews the development of an explicit 'strategy' (in the sense of a research strategy), but instead is much more concerned with thinking about its subject matter by means of re-thinking and reflecting upon different theoretical approaches and problems. The investigation includes a critical reexamination of the tradition of military-sociological research from the beginning of modern sociology to late-twentieth century theoretical approaches regarding the security-focused and/or war-driven aspects of modern society.

Sociological Perspectives

War, Peace and the Military

Harald Haas

This study deals with sociological and socio-psychological aspects of UN Peacekeeping missions focusing on the Austrian experience. The study is broad and descriptive covering a spectrum that ranges from the soldier's motivation to join UN-troops to the social and psychological problems encountered during service. The main purpose is to give a broad overview of work-related experiences during the tour of duty. The emphasis is on the Austrian soldier's life and his experiences as a peacekeeper. The study focuses primarily on an Austrian battalion (AUSBATT/UNDOF) deployed to the Golan Heights. Their mission can be considered a traditional UN Peacekeeping operation. In addition, some data on the Austrian IFOR contingent to Bosnia is included.

A Sociological Study on the Austrian Experience of UN Peacekeeping

Warriors for Peace

Hintergrundanalysen zum lV. Gipfeltreffen "EU-Lateinamerika-Karibik" in Wien im Mai 2006

Die Beziehungen der Europäischen Union zu Lateinamerika

Sven Bernhard Gareis

Gunther Hauser

Is the European Union a unified actor in world politics? The world’s leading economic power is still struggling to find its role in shaping and maintaining global peace, free trade and commerce. How successful is the EU ́s Common Foreign and Security Policy and its institutions really?

The European Union – A Global Actor?

Werner W. Ernst

Österreichs Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik im Umbruch

Öffentliche Meinung und europäische Sicherheitspolitik

Since the end of World War II, security and defence have played a major role in European politics. With the European Union's increasing role on the global stage and with today's war on terrorism, security and defence issues have dramatically gained weight and importance in international politics. This compelling volume provides an interdisciplinary look at the development and current status of the European security system as well as selected key issues on today's security agenda. As such, it provides an excellent resource for those wishing to make sense of the complexities of defence and security issues in the European Union at a time of global change.

European Security in Transition

Jean M. Callaghan

Designed as a textbook and interdisciplinary reference for the social sciences, this volume examines key issues in the current global security agenda and relationships between armed forces and society around the world. The book's concise chapters - on a broad range of themes related to national and international security, military sociology, and civil-military relations - were written by experts from 18 countries. This volume also has a groundbreaking section, which - using country studies and regional overviews - discusses civil-military relations in as well as the most salient theoretical and practical features of current means of democratic control of the armed forces in the early 21st century.

Franz Kernic

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