This book explores the role of musicians in the call for peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. As Russia’s unprecedented invasion of Ukraine progresses, musicians there, and around the world, join talents in concerts to voice their protest and show solidarity against the universally condemned conflict. They play and sing for peace, calling for solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Performing artists have been at the forefront of a global response to express outrage against the Russian invasion. Benefit concerts seek to raise funds to be directed toward the humanitarian crisis that has affected the daily lives of innocent people, including hundreds of thousands of orphaned and wounded children. Artists-activists come together to praise Ukrainians’ struggle for self-determination, democracy, and freedom with music performances and engage in opportunities to use their platform to assist those affected by the conflict, calling for an immediate end to the war.
Humanity and Ukraine: Resistance through Language, Culture, and Taking up of Armsis dedicated to a nation under siege, the Ukrainian heroes, who stood up to fight for the freedom and independence of Ukraine and to resist the Russian occupiers when the rest of the world believed in the embedded myth that the Russian army was the 'second army in the world.' This recounts the legendary courageous fighting and resistance by the Ukrainian military and civilians against the Russian invaders waging war on Ukraine. The book analyses the long history of Ukraine, starting with Kyivan Rus, when the Russian invaders tried to steal and rewrite Ukrainian history, through to the current situation of threat to Ukrainian culture and educational institutions, including museums, archives, and libraries. All of this continue to be under systematic and ruthless enemy fire and are subjected to looting and destruction by the occupiers. Ukrainians continue to act to create archival exhibitions, to resist and above all to fight. The book also analyses the plight of Ukrainian war refugees in host countries, of the Crimean Tatars in Russian occupied Crimea and the prospects for Ukraine as a thriving country within Europe and the world after the Ukrainian victory.
In an ever-changing world marked by geopolitical shifts and evolving security threats, it is crucial to reassess and adapt the collective defense architecture that underpins international stability. Established more than 70 years ago, NATO has been a crucial element of global security and a demonstration of the effectiveness of collective defense. The expansion of NATO's reach has become a significant topic of debate as the world evolves. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has effectively ensured the security of its member states through a collective defense framework, making it a successful alliance. The evolving global landscape, which includes emerging threats, changing power dynamics, and evolving security challenges, has led to a reassessment of NATO's role and scope. There are those who advocate for the acceptance of NATO's expansion as a means of strengthening security and fostering collaboration among nations with similar values. The argument posits that enlarging NATO's membership can function as a deterrent against acts of aggression, strengthen democratic principles, and promote a more stable global system. This special issue, which we had the great pleasure of working together with NATO’s Public Diplomacy Divison, seeks to delve into the multifaceted dimensions of expanding NATO, exploring the challenges and opportunities that lie on the horizon. As we examine this critical issue, it is important to emphasize that the views expressed in these pages are diverse and reflect the complex and varied perspectives on NATO's expansion. Our authors, specialists from a wide-range of different fields, contributed their valuable opinions regarding this important discussion which has become further important since Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has escalated with simultaneously intensifying debates concerning the start of a new Cold-War in our time. Romania's former Prime Minister, Petre Roman, emphasizes the significance of NATO's eastward expansion as a crucial geopolitical process. He highlights how this expansion allowed countries to prepare for potential Russian aggression while pursuing the path of successful democracy. Romania, having emerged from the oppressive communist regime of Ceausescu, eagerly sought NATO membership, and officially joined in 2004. Geographically positioned at the heart of NATO's objectives, Romania plays a central role in the defensive complex within the "post-Soviet space." With Poland guarding the Baltic Sea, Romania stands as a pivotal defender of the Black Sea region, where historical Russian imperial ambitions persist. Moreover, Romania's commitment to NATO is demonstrated through its active participation in Western missions and its role in safeguarding vital corridors, such as the precious grain corridor. This article sheds light on Romania's strong pro-Atlantic and pro-American sentiment, positioning the country as a model ally within the alliance. Professor Richard Higgot and Professor Simon Reich critically examine the prevailing narratives surrounding the structure of the world order, ranging from bi-polarity and multi-polarity to predictions of the end of globalization or a "Cold War v. 2.0." They caution against the tendency of pundits to assert rather than reason these explanations, often seeking fleeting moments of fame. Instead, their paper takes a more modest approach, eschewing grand statements about world order and emphasizing the inherent uncertainty of the future. Their paper offers valuable insights into the nuanced dynamics of a fuzzy bifurcation, emphasizing that the behavior of different actors is influenced by a more fluid and less predictable global landscape. By exploring the implications for NATO, Higgot and Reich contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities that arise in an increasingly complex international environment. Professor Roger E. Kanet undertakes a comprehensive examination of Vladimir Putin's commitment to rebuilding "Greater Russia" and its implications, particularly in the context of the invasion of Ukraine. Putin's vision revolves around re-establishing the former Soviet Union and extending Russian dominance beyond its borders, driven by a belief in the historical and cultural ties between Russians and Ukrainians. Professor Kanet argues that despite other influencing factors, the re-establishment of Moscow's influence and control over as much post-Soviet territory as possible, essentially recreating "Greater Russia," is of utmost importance. While NATO expansion may have been a contributing issue, the author contends that the dominance of Ukraine is a primary objective. Moreover, the successful domination of Ukraine could pave the way for future expansion into other former Soviet areas, such as the Baltics. Professor Ryszard Zieba adopts an offensive realist perspective to examine the implications of NATO's post-Cold War enlargement. The article highlights that these implications unfold on multiple levels, encompassing various aspects of the international landscape. Through this lens, Professor Ryszard Zieba's article offers a comprehensive analysis of the implications of NATO's post-Cold War enlargement. By examining these implications on multiple levels, the article sheds light on the intricate dynamics and challenges that arise in the evolving international landscape. The insights presented contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between NATO, Russia, and other global actors, urging careful consideration of the consequences of NATO's expansion and its ongoing policy choices. We encourage you to learn more about “Expanding NATO: What Challenges and Opportunities Wait Ahead?”. On behalf of Transatlantic Policy Quarterly, I would like to express my gratitude to all the contributors who committed a significant amount of effort and work. The TPQ team has had a great time putting together this special issue. An important acknowledgment goes to our partner for this special issue, NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division. Moreover, we are grateful for our Premium Cooparete Sponsor for this issue, Tüpraş. We also like to thank our other sponsors, Halifax, TEB, and Uluslararası İlişkiler Dergisi for their ongoing support.
'The Germans were over this house last night and the night before that. Here they are again. It is a queer experience, lying in the dark and listening to the zoom of a hornet, which may at any moment sting you to death. It is a sound that interrupts cool and consecutive thinking about peace. Yet it is a sound - far more than prayers and anthems - that should compel one to think about peace. Unless we can think peace into existence we - not this one body in this one bed but millions of bodies yet to be born - will lie in the same darkness and hear the same death rattle overhead.' Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.
Scrutinizes possibilities for an equalised global order, in light of recent conflicts between the world’s major powers The “post-Cold War era is definitively over,” asserted US President Joe Biden as he launched the new National Security Strategy, warning in late 2022 that “a competition is underway between the major powers to shape what comes next.” American leadership, the document declared, would be more necessary than ever to define "the future of the international order,” insisting that the US must marshal its unparalleled economic, military, and diplomatic resources to confront its geopolitical rivals. Socialist Register 2024: A New Global Geometry? takes stock of momentous changes on the horizon: Even if these geopolitical shifts do not spell the end of globalization, how might they alter its historical trajectory? While it is it premature to speak of the end of the liberal economic order, let alone the development of a multipolar international system, can we begin to assess the dimensions of a new global geometry? And, how might we assess the potential vulnerabilities of socialist movements worldwide, alongside the potential resistance our movements might manage to present, grounded in our historical demands for a democratic and equalizing world order?
Has the US strategy in Ukraine reached an impasse? What is the Russian conduct of military operations? When will the Ukrainian counter-offensive take place? Does Western weaponry really make a difference in Ukraine? Who are the winners of this war? What changes in the world are we witnessing since February 24, 2022? What is the reality of the losses on the Ukrainian and Russian sides? Can Western industry compete with Russian industry in Ukraine? Why is a negotiated solution not being sought? How is our perception of the conflit serving Ukraine? To answer these questions and many others, Jacques Baud relies on information from Western intelligence services and American documents that were leaked in April 2023. After the best-sellers Putin, Game Master? and Operation Z, both works praised world-wide, Baud returns to the war in Ukraine by analyzing the facts and nothing but the facts. Whether one is for or against the position of Ukraine, one must nevertheless deal with the field of operations and to analyze what is happening there. This is the only way to find a path to peace—because peace will not come by relying on illusions. Jacques Baud was a member of the Swiss strategic intelligence, a specialist in Eastern European countries and a former head of the United Nations peace operations doctrine. In NATO, he was involved in programs in Ukraine, including after the Mayan revolution in 2014 and 2017. In addition to his major works on the conflit in Ukraine, he is the author of several books on intelligence, war, and terrorism, including Governing by Fake News, Defeating Jihadist Terrorism, and The Navalny Affair, all published by Max Milo.
Der bewaffnete Konflikt zwischen Russland und der Ukraine, der 2022 eskalierte, hat eine lange Vorgeschichte. 2014 begannen die Kampfhandlungen zwischen von Russland unterstützten Milizen, regulären russischen und ukrainischen Truppen sowie Freiwilligenmilizen besonders in den ostukrainischen, von prorussischen Separatisten kontrollierten Gebieten Donezk und Luhansk. Waffenstillstände, vereinbart im Protokoll von Minsk und in dem im Normandie-Prozess verhandelten Minsker Abkommen, blieben brüchig, setzten aber Hoffnungssignale. Die Beiträge dieses Bandes beleuchten diese Ereignisse und suchen die Zielvorstellungen, aber auch die Grenzlinien der russischen, der ukrainischen und der europäischen Politik aufzuzeigen. Sie erörtern insbesondere, ob und wie sich der externe Einfluss mäßigend auf die lokalen Akteure ausgewirkt hat, mit welchen geopolitischen Faktoren der Konfikt zusammenhängt, und wie es gelingen kann, die Lösung des Konflikts mit dem Versuch zu verbinden, Fragen einer gesamteuropäischen Friedens- und Sicherheitsordnung neu anzugehen.
"In 'How to End the Ukraine War, ' the author goes into the complexities of one of the most protracted conflicts in recent history. With a comprehensive analysis of the historical background, geopolitical dynamics, and the human toll of the war, this book offers a roadmap toward a peaceful resolution. Drawing on diplomatic insights, lessons from previous conflicts, and the role of international actors, the author outlines a vision for bringing an end to the suffering in Ukraine. Through a combination of diplomacy, grassroots efforts, and international cooperation, 'How to End the Ukraine War' presents a compelling case for a path toward reconciliation and lasting peace in Eastern Europe."
