European Review of International Studies (ERIS) - Fernando Carrion and Johanna Espin (eds.), Relaciones fronterizas: encuentros y conflictos (Quito: FLACSO, January 2011), pp 257

Book Reviews

Ali Bilgic, Rethinking Security in the Age of Migration: Trust and Emancipation (Abingdon and New York: Routledge, 2013), pp. 210 pages, hard cover, ISBN 9780415694193 Reviewed by Can E. Mutlu Bilkent University, Ankara

Evros, the effects of ‘Rethinking Security in the Age of Migration: Trust and Emancipation’ tices that cause such suffering and pain for irregular migrants and their families. The

traditionally struggle to gain access to rights and services. Bilgic argues that policy

Review of „Ali Bilgic, Rethinking Security in the Age of Migration”, ERIS Vol. 1, Issue 2/2014, pp. 143–145

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Schmittian interpretation of politics and security that informs securitisation theory

empirical points through a rich and productive theoretical lens, frequent digressions

logics have found a receptive audience among the policy elite in the EU. Looking

the securitisation of migration focuses on differences, operating on the differentia

theories to demonstrate this point, Bilgic could have pursued a more positive and

Bilgic demonstrates through a series of direct quotations and empirical data that rity as emancipation.

lar migrants, receiving communities, and policy elites can come together and learn

cipation’

‘Rethinking Security in the Age of Migration: Trust and Eman-

Review of „Ali Bilgic, Rethinking Security in the Age of Migration”

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the pressing need to rethink our conceptualisation of security. Like many academic titioners of migration studies and security studies should make room for in their

Ferran Izquierdo Brichs (ed.), Poder y regímenes en el mundo árabe contemporáneo, (Barcelona: CIDOB, 2009), pp. 415, ISBN 978-84-92511-11-2

Reviewed by Irene Fernández Molina College of Europe, Natolin Campus

are only mutually exclusive in appearance. The avalanche of events that has shaken the region over the past three years,

puzzling regional scenario, the collected volume Poder y regímenes en el mundo árabe contemporáneo democratisation and transitology approaches to the Middle Eastern and North Afri

Review of „Ferran Izquierdo Brichs (ed.), Poder y regímene”, ERIS Vol. 1, Issue 2/2014, pp. 146–148

Review of „Ferran Izquierdo Brichs (ed.), Poder y regímenes”

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nine heterogeneous case studies (Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Egypt, Saudi Ara as an antidote against any kind of culturalist, essentialist or orientalist temptation to

and resistance that they also face. After examining the relations of competition and

The theoretical proposition underpinning the analyses throughout the volume,

1

Managing Instability in Algeria: Elites and Political Change since 1995, Routledge,

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the reproduction of the system?

guide for critical practitioners, either in its entirety or divided into individual chap

and the Exercise of Power

Political Regimes in the Arab World: Society

Fernando Carrion and Johanna Espin (eds.), Relaciones fronterizas: encuentros y conflictos (Quito: FLACSO, January 2011), pp 257, ISBN 978-9978-67-2 Reviewed by Kevin Parthenay Sciences Po, Paris

explain this distinction from the rest of the country? In a more theoretical perspec sui generis social spaces that create horizontal types of social, economic and political relations. Interpersonal relation

Review of „Fernando Carrion and Johanna Espin (eds.), Relaciones fronterizas”, ERIS Vol. 1, Issue 2/2014, pp. 149–151

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according to the authors. This violence is also sui generis

yond migration, informal activities and insecurity, the author introduces the idea of

tral American port areas. Taking into consideration six case studies: Puerte Barrios

the same time a profound social discontent of the population, especially among the youth.

Brazil. In this chapter, the added value is the consideration of historical temporal Ballesteros the modern construction of the state largely explains the uniqueness of this space.

insertion into the informal economy.

Review of „Fernando Carrion and Johanna Espin (eds.), Relaciones fronterizas”

151

ering the existing political styles in the countries under scrutiny in these chapters

ered sui generis deserves a more thorough development, including the expression of

of a more sociological dimension such as family disintegration and population mo

cal precautions, especially in selecting negative cases to present a proper compari

David Chandler, Freedom vs Necessity in International Relations: Human-Centred Approaches to Security and Development (London: Zed Books, 2013), pp. 224, ISBN 978-1-78032-483-8 Reviewed by Roger Mac Ginty University of Manchester

Freedom vs Necessity in International Relations ing read that confronts orthodox and uncritical notions of freedom and its role in into a central motif for international intervention (and in fact the organisation of

state or the international system, the principal referent. The practice of international

Review of „David Chandler, Freedom vs Necessity in International Relations”, ERIS Vol. 1, Issue 2/2014, pp. 152–154

Review of „David Chandler, Freedom vs Necessity in International Relations”

Zeitgeist.

153

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lating to emancipation, suffrage and the lifting of egregious forms of discrimination.

ing us to police ourselves. Nationalists in particular have had immense success in

are the ultimate cuckoos.

John Davis (ed.), The Arab Spring and Arab Thaw. Unfinished Revolutions and the Quest for Democracy (Farnham: Ashgate, 2013), pp. Ix-300, ISBN 978-1-4094-6875-2 Reviewed by Laurent Bonnefoy

1

and Mark Lynch3 .

4

and the Arab Thaw

The Arab Spring

of interest. Beyond this limit, the collection of chapters is an interesting one that focuses on a variety of issues that are generally very relevant. Man, the State and War

1 3 4

The Arab Revolution : Ten lessons from the Democratic Uprising The People Want. A Radical Exploration of the Arab Uprising, (Berkeley: University of Marc Lynch,

, (Philadelphia: Perseus, Au Coeur des Révoltes Arabes. Devenir Révolutionnaires, (Paris:

Review of „John Davis (ed.), The Arab Spring and Arab Thaw”, ERIS Vol. 1, Issue 2/2014, pp. 155–158

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of us to test our hypothesis.

European Review of International Studies, Volume 1/2014

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Union appears as more detailed, informative and consequently more interesting. The

into effect throughout the chapter. The European Union, as an institution is seen as

ing a long term process eventually leading to democracy. Such a depiction of the

5

5

Gregory Johnsen, The Last Refuge: Yemen, al-Qaeda and America’s War in Arabia

.

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Bastien Irondelle, La réforme des armées en France. Sociologie de la décision (Paris: Les Presses de Sciences Po, 2011), pp. 344, ISBN 10 2-7246-1199-3 and ISBN 13 978-2-7246-1199-1* Reviewed by Christian Olsson French defence policy faced a paradox at the end of the Cold War. While formally

to its contemporary overseas operations1. Ultimately, the country seemed to lose the

to increase the proportion of professional soldiers and to diminish the share of the ment.

Security Studies

Review of „Bastien Irondelle, La réforme des armées en France”, ERIS Vol. 1, Issue 2/2014, pp. 159–164

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The autonomy of the political sphere in the realm of defence policies

principle or of constitutional prerogative2.

that period3

ters, is inter alia

informed and systematic and its author demonstartes an impressive and detailed istrative and military levels. While generally critical of the conclusions of the au

margins of manoeuvring of the president.

of political praxis rather than of constitutional principles. 1994 and the decision of 1996 and its aftermath.

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long term factors linked to the history of Gaullism. All these elements set the stage style régalien 4

Nietzschean actor free of any determinism, the author is quick to reply that Chirac consequences.

Political decisions as conditioned choices amenable to sociological analysis

ally and collectively.

domaine reservé

Sociologie des crises politiques (Paris: Presses

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could consequently not trump presidential authority. Chirac chose to limit the role of of defence. By proceeding progressively and methodically, rather than revealing his

A third element is that the author ultimately focuses very little on Jacques Chirac trepreneurship on the part of politicians and experts gravitating around the President

simultaneously demonstrates that they are not insensitive to the tactical advantages

the analysis renders all its importance to the historical, social and political context in

focus on sociological approaches. Thus, he avoids the charge of psychologism in the approach to President Chirac. Indeed the latter is here less relevant as a person than

Walking a fine line between agency and structural necessity

deterministic argument in social sciences implies a consciousness on the part of the

Review of „Bastien Irondelle, La réforme des armées en France”

163

.

5

approach to freedom. Just as individual freedom involves the alignment of the spirit on the necessary order of things according to the latter, the autonomy of govern mental decision here seems to imply the alignment of this decision on the structural

5

Sten Rynning, Changing Military Doctrine: Presidents and Military Power in Fifth Republic France

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this sense, ahead of its time. The feeling of a retrospective illusion on the part of the

Conclusion

on the agency of political actors in defence and military matters, a domain that so

it is less of a moment than a complex process. It is indeed also the human dimension frontations, illusions, tactical calculations, strategies of persuasion and concessions.

Alexander Klimburg and Jan Pospisil (eds.), Mediating Security: Comprehensive Approaches to an Ambiguous Subject – Festschrift for Otmar Höll (Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, 2013), pp. 220, ISBN 978-3-631-64346-4 Reviewed by Edward Newman University of Leeds

This collection is a Festschrift for Otmar Höll, a pioneering Austrian scholar and former director of the Austrian Institute for International Affairs, in Vienna. Its chap

of references to movements such as the Copenhagen school of securitisation.

international relations or security studies: the end of the Cold War provided space range of actors, and normative changes in international politics have encouraged

sector to include a range of economic, social and environmental challenges, and

Review of „Alexander Klimburg and Jan Pospisil (eds.), Mediating Security”, ERIS Vol. 1, Issue 2/2014, pp. 165–167

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demic director of the Austrian Institute for International Affairs and Professor at the

and psychological factors.

Review of „Alexander Klimburg and Jan Pospisil (eds.), Mediating Security”

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attention given to psychological dimensions. This is also the central theme of Her

cal international environment shared norms and values can constitute a society, and

from the direct insights of many of the key players involved at the time. Blerim

the continuing challenges involved in integrating the Western Balkans into European ing scholar in Vienna and the hospitality and support he received.

economic and environmental challenges. More conventional security scholars may,

a Festschrift, and some compromises on overall coherence in the interests of having

Marlène Laruelle and Sébastien Peyrouse, Éclats d’Empire. Asie Centrale, Caucase, Afghanistan (Paris: Fayard, 2013), pp. 427, ISBN 978-2-213-63679-5 Reviewed by Médéric Martin-Mazé d’Empire

l’Empire éclaté.1

understandings of the Caucasus, Central Asia and Afghanistan. Although kinship is

societies.

forces. ity as far as religious questions are concerned. In Armenia and Georgia, Christianity

Decline of an Empire: the Soviet Republics in revolt

Review of „Marlène Laruelle and Sébastien Peyrouse, Éclats d’Empire”, ERIS Vol. 1, Issue 2/2014, pp. 168–170

Review of „Marlène Laruelle and Sébastien Peyrouse, Éclats d’Empire”

169

trines range from politicised versions of Islam to more societal nuances of Islamism. minority of them favour violence as a legitimate means of political action. Part four tackles the social transformation that the Caucasus, Central Asia and

real estate in Europe and send their children to the most prestigious American uni

lesser extent, the Caucasus.

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nostalgia and the general marginalisation of cultural elites.

conclude that the Caucasus, Central Asia and Afghanistan have too little in common

sus display radically different dynamics. The former therefore comes almost as an Furthermore, the highly descriptive nature of the text reinforces these shortcom

one may regret that more sophisticated versions of international relations such as regional approaches, transnationalism or international political sociology are left un

nence to the rich empirical material laid out in the different texts. Taken together, main developments characterising the Caucasus, Central Asia and Afghanistan since

tualisation.

Stefania Panebianco, L’Unione Europea “potenza divisa” nel Mediterraneo (Milano: Egea, 2012), pp. 122, ISBN 978-88-238-4348-6 Reviewed by Marco Brunazzo Università degli Studi di Trento

What is the role of the EU in the Mediterranean Region? Is the EU promoting a series

a coherent set of actions in the international arena, and on the Mediterranean scene in particular. an Countries. In this part the author applies concepts like regionalism and neoregion

nomic, identity and political. She concludes that the Mediterranean Sea falls outside

these actions in detail, looking at the same time at their complexity, multidimension ality and contradictions.

Review of „Stefania Panebianco, L’Unione Europea ‘potenza divisa’”, ERIS Vol. 1, Issue 2/2014, pp. 171–172

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external pressures.

European Foreign Policy, the author demonstrates that the instruments, focus, mul lution of the EU Foreign Policy and the EU Mediterranean Policy. The Barcelona necessarily related to the development of the European Foreign Policy.

Heikki Patomäki, The Great Eurozone Disaster: From Crisis to Global New Deal (London: Zed Books Ltd, 2013), pp. 288 (hb), ISBN 978-1-78032-478-4 English Translation James O’Connor Reviewed by John Fitzgibbon

ä in addition to providing a lengthy discussion of his proposed solutions to the current

The Great Eurozone Disaster Patomäki gives

and individual citizens.

tion of EMU Patomä stated that a monetary union automatically required democratic oversight, a policy Review of „Heikki Patomäki, The Great Eurozone Disaster”, ERIS Vol. 1, Issue 2/2014, pp. 173–174

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poorer regions of a single currency area. Additionally there is no discussion of the

äki makes a deeply passionate criticism Kenysianism as an alternative.

Stefano Ruzza, Guerre Conto Terzi. Aziende di sicurezza e privatizzazione della funzione militare (Bologna: il Mulino, 2011), pp. 248, ISBN 978-88-15-15007-3 Reviewed by Giampiero Giacomello University of Bologna

in academia, namely the privatisation of the military function. Hence, is it still possi reading Guerre Conto Terzi than three centuries, the modern state has legally monopolised organised violence,

Landsknechte

Légionnaires had to Waffen SS

synthetised.

Review of „Stefano Ruzza, Guerre Conto Terzi”, ERIS Vol. 1, Issue 2/2014, pp. 175–177

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1

private military thermore, they can provide more comprehensive security services, like logistics or

in the United States are quite perplexing.

historical anomaly. Charles Tilly

3 4

older

1

Peter Singer, Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry

3 4

Coercion, Capital and European States Stephen Krasner, Sovereignty: Organized Hypocrisy Mary Kaldor, New and Old Wars: Organized Violence in the Global Era

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managing, in one sense or another, of violence, the once exclusive monopoly of the modern European state. form

all likelihood, this time for good.