Diplomatic Interventions in Times of Unpeace

Dr. Wolfgang Petritsch

doi:10.5771/9783748915119

Summary

This volume is a curated collection of the diplomatic (and, frequently, plain-speaking) interventions – keynotes, essays, interviews and analyses – made in the course of the last decade by the author. The changing international political environment occasioned by Russia’s aggression on Ukraine since 2014 and the global disruptions from Afghanistan to the Middle East have brought about a veritable “Epochenwechsel”; an ending of one era of relative peace. What remains is a need to assess the uncertain future of our globe, of things to come, as long as diplomacy is still able to shape the new multipolar global order. The texts collected in these pages review and assess the implications of this current period of unpeace in the era of big power politics. Focusing particularly, but not exclusively, on South-East Europe, Wolfgang Petritsch pulls no punches in his assessments but never loses sight of his own life experience which has shaped his worldview. This book is an essential ompanion for a better understanding of the ongoing fundamental global transformation – a historical state of flux – and an intellectual guide that walks the walk.

Keywords

Search publication

Bibliographic data

Copyright year: 2025
ISBN-Print: 978-3-7560-0103-3
ISBN-Online: 978-3-7489-1511-9
Publisher: Nomos, Baden-Baden
Series: Southeast European Integration Perspectives
Volume: 15
Language: English
Pages: 514
Product type: Book Titles

1. Wolfgang Petritsch and the anxiety of context No access
Editor’s foreword No access Pages 15 - 18
1. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. The weird architecture of multilateralism No access
    4. The New World Order No access
    5. Liberal Democratic research station – the Balkans No access
    6. Afghanistan: graveyard of empires No access
    7. The Marshall Plan for post-war Europe – a model for Ukraine? No access
    8. Europe’s transformation No access
    9. Russia as a revisionist power No access
    10. Neoliberal transformation, liberal democracy and autocratization No access
    11. China and the United States – the inescapable rivalry No access
    12. ChinAmerica – but where is Europe? No access
    13. The Fog of War – how can peace succeed comprehensively? No access
2. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. A rapidly changing world No access
    4. In search of a United States of Europe No access
    5. A new paradigm No access
    6. Euro area crisis No access
    7. South-east Europe No access
    8. Conclusions No access
3. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Types of conflict and the actors who work to resolve them No access
    3. Findings from the workshop No access
4. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. A European path No access
    4. The refugee crisis No access
    5. Clarification of terms: refugees, migrants, beneficiaries of protection No access
    6. The current refugee crisis – facts and figures No access
    7. A little historical perspective No access
    8. How have states and communities been responding to the refugee crisis? No access
    9. Challenges and opportunities for Austria No access
    10. Longer-term global developments in flight and migration No access
    11. And finally: education/adult education No access
5. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Universal challenge of change No access
    4. Inter-related crises No access
    5. The ripple effects of transformation No access
    6. A split generation No access
    7. Economic malaise, identity and party politics No access
    8. What is to be done? No access
    9. Conclusion No access
    10. 1. The war generation No access
      2. Discourses on diversity No access
      3. Common language – common culture No access
6. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Uncertainty amidst the certainty of the liberal order No access
    4. Turning points in the story of modern Europe No access
    5. Tectonic changes No access
    6. Climate, resources and energy: the major issues of our time No access
    7. Conclusion No access
7. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Turning point No access
    4. Transition in the international security system No access
    5. Crisis and international co-operation No access
    6. A grand vision for Europe No access
    7. An international role for Austria No access
    8. Conclusion No access
8. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. The failure to implement a pan-European security architecture No access
    4. Liberal democracies and the democratic peace No access
    5. The anti-democratic wave No access
    6. The rise of anti-liberalism No access
    7. Fighting back No access
    8. Democracy in times of strife No access
9. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. 1. Security guarantees No access
      2. The example of Austria No access
      3. “Snapback” sanctions No access
      4. International missions No access
10. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Security in Europe and the changing global architecture No access
    4. New challenges to address No access
    5. A role for Europe No access
    6. Conclusion No access
11. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction – A world in uproar No access
    3. An unstable region further destabilized No access
    4. Trump and the end of the American century No access
    5. The politics of algorithms No access
    6. Europe challenged No access
    7. The cascading polycrisis No access
    8. Transatlantic disruptions No access
    9. The Western Balkans – open questions No access
    10. Conclusion No access
    11. Post scriptum No access
1. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. The Syria case and the Balkans – wicked problems No access
    3. Three lessons from former Yugoslavia No access
    4. The dire consequences of state collapse No access
    5. Can intervention work? No access
    6. Regional integration in the age of globalization No access
    7. 1. Lesson 1: Negotiate early and robustly No access
      2. Lesson 2: Include all regional powers – in particular Iran No access
      3. Lesson 3: No preconditions about core issues No access
      4. Lesson 4: No war crimes trials – at least, not right away No access
      5. Lesson 5: Be creative No access
      6. Lesson 6: Freeze out the extremists No access
2. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Returning jihadi fighters No access
    4. What is to be done? No access
3. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Status of Kosovo No access
    4. A framework for development No access
    5. Conclusion No access
4. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. And where is the EU? No access
    4. The domestic scene No access
    5. A reset for Bosnia No access
    6. 1. 1. The reform of the dysfunctional political system No access
      2. 2. A comprehensive “Future Bosnia” plan No access
    7. Priority Bosnia No access
5. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Towards a memorial to the genocide No access
    4. Practical steps No access
    5. A lasting memorial No access
6. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Theories of why nations fail and the need for state succession No access
    4. The process of arriving at a negotiated settlement No access
    5. The Vienna Agreement No access
    6. Closing No access
7. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Sexual violence during the war No access
    4. Ethnic cleansing and sexual violence as crimes against humanity No access
    5. The work of the ICTY No access
    6. The body and its parts No access
8. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Tension between liberal democracy and authoritarian trends No access
    4. Demographic stress No access
    5. Corruption, clientelism and state capture No access
    6. EU accession process No access
    7. External players No access
    8. Historic conflicts No access
    9. Conclusion No access
9. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Enigmatic Yugoslavia No access
    3. Identity in contemporary politics No access
    4. Which concept of identity? No access
    5. Bosnia in Yugoslavia – ethnicity, meaning and power No access
    6. Between East and West – the Yugoslav conundrum No access
    7. The Balkans – hotbed of “ancient hatreds”? No access
    8. The real and perceived origins of the conflict No access
    9. Divided diplomacy No access
    10. An ethno-territorial trap No access
    11. Vital interest as a political tool No access
    12. What can be done? The Balkans as a global battleground No access
10. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. The need for a new road No access
    4. It’s the EU, stupid! No access
    5. Emigration of the young is no option No access
11. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo No access
    4. A new High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina No access
    5. Fault lines in the EU’s accession and enlargement policy No access
12. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Delayed perception No access
    4. Slovenia – Iraq No access
    5. Slovenia and Serbia – natural partners or historical opponents of Yugoslavia? No access
    6. America’s absence and Europe’s agony No access
    7. The failure of Yugoslavia as a portent for Europe? No access
13. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. The Office of the High Representative No access
    3. A new High Representative No access
    4. The strategy of the European Union No access
    5. The problems of the region No access
    6. Conclusion No access
14. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Reaching the point of no return No access
15. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Montenegro No access
    4. Albania No access
    5. North Macedonia No access
    6. 1. Bosnia and Herzegovina No access
      2. Kosovo No access
      3. Serbia No access
    7. Post scriptum No access
1. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Trieste Summit No access
    3. Triumph of technocracy; failure of feeling No access
    4. The enduring Europeanization gap No access
    5. What is the EU to do? No access
2. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. 1. The concept of geopolitics No access
      2. Ukraine – a turning point No access
      3. Europeanization of the Balkans No access
    4. 1. Russia No access
      2. China No access
      3. Neo-Ottoman Türkiye No access
      4. The Gulf monarchies – business and Islam No access
    5. Conclusions No access
3. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Shift in the global balance of power No access
    4. South-east Europe and the Western Balkans No access
    5. China No access
    6. The need for a framework for common investment No access
    7. Conclusion No access
4. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. The new divide No access
    4. Changing relationships No access
    5. Connectivity as challenge No access
    6. Strategic autonomy and Europe’s new role No access
    7. The China challenge No access
    8. Conclusion: regional challenges mirroring global power shifts No access
5. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Relations between Kosovo and Serbia No access
    3. The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina No access
    4. The role of the West No access
    5. Open Balkan initiative No access
    6. Conclusion No access
6. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo – unfinished business No access
    4. The Bosnian quagmire No access
    5. What, now, can the European Union do? Ten proposals No access
    6. Conclusion No access
7. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. A decisive turning point No access
    3. Not just a paymaster No access
    4. Defending democratic values No access
8. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction: Afghanistan – a country unlike any other No access
    3. The post 9/11 era: accomplishments and failures No access
    4. Internal dynamics: a complex tapestry No access
    5. A region of competing influences No access
    6. The current social realities: gender apartheid and isolation No access
    7. A broader vision of democracy and shared values No access
    8. The Vienna Process: how it all started No access
    9. Progress and conferences No access
    10. Key principles for a democratic Afghanistan No access
    11. Inclusivity, representativeness and rule of law No access
    12. Learning the lessons of the past No access
    13. The key role of the working groups No access
    14. Why Vienna is different from Doha No access
    15. Weaknesses of the UN Doha Process No access
    16. Advantages of the Vienna Process No access
    17. UN engagement and a broadening network No access
    18. The US-Doha Agreement for Bringing Peace and the UN Security Council No access
    19. Regional and global support No access
    20. Future goals and challenges No access
    21. Conclusion No access
9. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. The Vienna Process and the international community No access
10. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. Some facts and figures No access
    4. Principles and inclusion No access
    5. Platform for negotiations No access
    6. A living roadmap No access
    7. The four working groups No access
    8. Outlook No access
    9. Conclusion No access
11. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Shifts between the Global North and the Global South No access
    3. Eastern Europe, the consequences for Russia and the war in Ukraine No access
    4. Shifts in the balance of power between the US under Trump and the EU No access
1. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. A continent apart No access
    3. The role of neutrals in the Cold War No access
    4. Sweden the role model No access
    5. Personalities matter – cooperation and division of labour No access
    6. Continuity and change – Europe between détente and integration No access
    7. The end of Swedish-Austrian history? The European Union No access
    8. Room for improvement No access
2. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Introduction No access
    3. The far right shift No access
    4. Haven’t we learned anything? No access
3. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Caesuras and turning points in American-Austrian relations No access
    3. Global political paradigm shift No access
    4. And where does Europe stand? No access
    5. Austria's foreign policy in global relations No access
    6. Foreign policy – new? No access
    7. Austria-US between the Sound of Music and Europeanization No access
    8. Beyond the White House No access
    9. Kurz on Trump or: foreign policy as photo opportunity No access
    10. Europe's global political capability No access
    11. A European perspective No access
4. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Personal life and early career No access
    3. Lessons from Bruno Kreisky No access
    4. Kurt Waldheim, from New York No access
    5. EU referendum campaign and Austrian neutrality No access
    6. Kosovo and NATO military action No access
    7. High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the future of the OHR No access
    8. Impact on the OHR of the “war on terror” No access
    9. Constitutional reform in Bosnia No access
    10. The role of Austria and domestic politics within Austria No access
1. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. A changing world No access
    3. Transatlantic relations No access
    4. Domestic policy frailties No access
    5. Global policy questions No access
    6. The Western Balkans No access
    7. The role of Europe No access
2. 1. 1. Context No access
    2. Contemporary issues and the lessons for the European Union No access
    3. Transatlantic relations No access
    4. The future of Ukraine: a new Marshall Plan? No access
    5. Rise of the extreme right No access
Wolfgang Petritsch: career timeline No access Pages 503 - 504
Further reading No access Pages 505 - 510
List of abbreviations No access Pages 511 - 514