Raimo Väyrynen

Jean Bethke Elshtain, the 1996 Hesburgh Lecturer on Ethics and Public Policy, challenges a powerful strand in western political thinking that separates the political and ethical realms. This is manifest above all in the claim that although the rule of justice might pertain between citizens, force is the ultimate arbiter between states and would-be states. But this claim fails to capture the many complex ways that political bodies deal with one another through norms and rules and not simply by force. Elshtain captures this alternative dimension by examining two dominant currents in international politics: sovereignty and nationalism. She shows the ways in which the historic understanding of sovereignty was deeply dependent on theological concepts, and demonstrates that much of contemporary life is marked by the mapping of concepts of sovereignty onto our understanding, not just of states but of persons. Over the years, many experts predicted confidently that the power of nationalism would abate as "rationalism" and "internationalism" spread. Elshtain explains why this prediction was flawed and accounts for the emergence of today's "new nationalism," the political passion of our time. She asks, Knowing the terrible cost of nationalistic excess, is there a defensible version of national identity and loyalty? With the late Sir Isaiah Berlin, Elshtain argues "yes." In her provocative epilogue, Elshtain asks whether there is room for forgiveness in international politics, and concludes on the speculative and hopeful note that ways might be found to break repetitive cycles of vengeance. Together with Elshtain's lectures, this volume offers responses by Fred Dallmayr and Martha Merritt and a foreword by Raimo Väyrynen, John M. Regan, Jr. Director of the Kroc Institute.

Kansainvälisen politiikan arvostetun tutkijan Raimo Väyrysen elämäntyön mittainen tietoteos avaa ydinasevarustelun pitkää polkua kylmän sodan ajoista tähän päivään ja sen vaikutuksia kansainväliseen politiikkaan ja Suomelle.2010-luvun alussa virinnyt toive ydinaseiden poistamisesta osoittautui lyhytaikaiseksi. Valtava tuhovoima tekee niiden käytön järjettömäksi, mutta varsinkin Venäjän holtiton uhkailu taktisten ydinaseiden käytöstä luo uusia uhkakuvia. Suomessa on syytä pureutua ydinasestrategioiden merkitykseen, nyt kun Nato-jäsenyyden myötä ydinaseet ovat uudella tavalla ulkopolitiikan ytimessä.Ydinaseet ovat olleet aiemminkin suomalaisten huolenaihe. Erityisesti Lappi ja Itämeri olivat ydinasespekulaatioiden kohteena. Presidentti Kekkosen ja Koiviston aikana ydinaseet koettiin keskeiseksi turvallisuusongelmaksi. Sitä pyrittiin torjumaan aloitteilla Pohjolan ydinaseettomasta vyöhykkeestä ja muilla loitontamisesityksillä.Presidentti Kekkonen joutui alati rauhoittamaan Neuvostoliiton johtoa, joka yhtäaikaa sekä aiheutti konflikteja että pelästyi niitä. Berliinin ja Kuuban kriiseissä ydinpommin räjäyttäminen saattoi olla lähellä.Muun muassa Notre Damen, Harvardin ja Princetonin yliopistoissa sekä Suomen Akatemian että Ulkopoliittisen instituutin johdossa työskennellyt emiritusprofessori Raimo Väyrynen osoittaa, kuinka ydinaseet ovat olleet aiemminkin suomalaisten huolenaihe. Erityisesti Lappi ja Itämeri olivat ydinasespekulaatioiden kohteena.Presidentti Kekkosen ja Koiviston aikana ydinaseet koettiin keskeiseksi turvallisuusongelmaksi. Sitä pyrittiin torjumaan aloitteilla Pohjolan ydinaseettomasta vyöhykkeestä ja muilla loitontamisesityksillä. Kekkonen joutui alati rauhoittamaan Neuvostoliiton johtoa, joka yhtäaikaa sekä aiheutti konflikteja että pelästyi niitä.Valtavan tuhovoiman vuoksi ydinaseiden käyttö on järjetöntä, mutta ydinasevallat pitävät niitä yllä pelotteen uskottavuuden vuoksi. Varsinkin Venäjän politiikka Ukrainan hyökkäyssodan aikana luo uhkia. Tosiasiassa Venäjä pyrkii estämään Naton syvemmän sitoutumisen sotaan Ukrainassa.Ydinaseet eivät missään tapauksessa ole menneisyyden jäänteitä, vaan ovat uudella tavalla kansainvälisen politiikan keskiössä. Siten Väyrysen perusteellinen kirja on mitä ajankohtaisin tietoteos.

This book provides a broad overview of Professor Raimo Väyrynen’s academic work, his role in international research organizations, and his contributions to policy debates. It offers an interesting review of important political issues during the time span of half a century, from disarmament in Europe to the changing relationship between state sovereignty and transnational forces. Väyrynen has dealt with the changing agenda of peace and international relations, security and the arms race, and the world economy. This book provides comprehensive analyses of the regional and systemic structure of international relations, with the emphasis on conflicts and warfare between nations. It argues that while states, even smaller ones, still matter, transnational issues are increasingly important. Taking a historical perspective, the articles suggest that large-scale violence and arms races have been recurrent and cyclical phenomena in international relations. These events reflect the deep-seated inequalities in the political and economic systems which, moreover, vary considerably between regions. The publication is important reading for any researcher as well as students, policy-makers and the science-oriented public at large. • Traces the changing agenda of international relations from disarmament and the world economy to the changing relationship between state sovereignty and transnational forces. • Provides analyses of the regional and systemic structure in international relations, with the emphasis on conflicts and warfare. • Argues that large-scale violence and the arms race have been recurrent and cyclical phenomena in international relations. • Reviews important political issues from peace and conflict in Europe to the changing power relationship in the world.

This book provides a broad overview of Professor Raimo Väyrynen’s academic work, his role in international research organizations, and his contributions to policy debates. It offers an interesting review of important political issues during the time span of half a century, from disarmament in Europe to the changing relationship between state sovereignty and transnational forces. Väyrynen has dealt with the changing agenda of peace and international relations, security and the arms race, and the world economy. This book provides comprehensive analyses of the regional and systemic structure of international relations, with the emphasis on conflicts and warfare between nations. It argues that while states, even smaller ones, still matter, transnational issues are increasingly important. Taking a historical perspective, the articles suggest that large-scale violence and arms races have been recurrent and cyclical phenomena in international relations. These events reflect the deep-seated inequalities in the political and economic systems which, moreover, vary considerably between regions. The publication is important reading for any researcher as well as students, policy-makers and the science-oriented public at large. • Traces the changing agenda of international relations from disarmament and the world economy to the changing relationship between state sovereignty and transnational forces. • Provides analyses of the regional and systemic structure in international relations, with the emphasis on conflicts and warfare. • Argues that large-scale violence and the arms race have been recurrent and cyclical phenomena in international relations. • Reviews important political issues from peace and conflict in Europe to the changing power relationship in the world.

Rarely in the atomic age have hopes been raised as high as they are now for genuine progress toward disarmament. The new receptivity reflected in the policy declarations of many governments was sparked by a wave of private initiatives led by former senior policy leaders in many countries. This book examines practical steps for achieving progress toward disarmament, realistically assessing both challenges and opportunities associated with achieving a world without nuclear weapons. The book places the current debate over nuclear abolition in the context of urgent non-proliferation priorities and the need to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of extremist regimes and terrorists. It examines the reasons why more than two dozen states have given up nuclear programs over the years and distils lessons from the end of the cold war to offer policy recommendations for moving toward lessened global reliance on nuclear weapons. Also included are in-depth analyses of proliferation challenges and disarmament opportunities in North Korea and Iran. The book concludes with a detailed roadmap for moving progressively toward global nuclear zero. It proposes a new international security regime based on shared missile defences, nonweaponized deterrence and greater efforts to enhance transnational cooperation.

Rarely in the atomic age have hopes been raised as high as they are now for genuine progress toward disarmament. The new receptivity reflected in the policy declarations of many governments was sparked by a wave of private initiatives led by former senior policy leaders in many countries. This book examines practical steps for achieving progress toward disarmament, realistically assessing both challenges and opportunities associated with achieving a world without nuclear weapons. The book places the current debate over nuclear abolition in the context of urgent non-proliferation priorities and the need to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of extremist regimes and terrorists. It examines the reasons why more than two dozen states have given up nuclear programs over the years and distils lessons from the end of the cold war to offer policy recommendations for moving toward lessened global reliance on nuclear weapons. Also included are in-depth analyses of proliferation challenges and disarmament opportunities in North Korea and Iran. The book concludes with a detailed roadmap for moving progressively toward global nuclear zero. It proposes a new international security regime based on shared missile defences, nonweaponized deterrence and greater efforts to enhance transnational cooperation.

Since the end of the cold war, civil wars and state violence have escalated, resulting in thousands of deaths. This book provides a toolbox for donors, international agencies and developing countries to prevent humanitarian emergencies. The emphasis is on long-term rather than mediation or reconstruction after the conflict ensues.