About the Journal
Euro-Atlantic Studies (EAS) is an academic, peer-reviewed, and open-access journal, published by the Centre of Euro-Atlantic Studies „Prof.univ.dr. Constantin Bușe” of the University of Bucharest. Founded in 1998, the journal aims to make available to the scientific community and the general public the results of recent academic research in the field of International Relations.
The Journal also aims to provide help to authors to publish their papers conveniently and spread their research worldwide, stimulating academic debate in the field of social sciences. We try our best to ensure the novelty of each research manuscript being published in EAS.
Current Issue
Vol. 7 (2024): Euro-Atlantic Studies New Series
Euro-Atlantic Studies is published by the Centre for Euro-Atlantic Studies, Bucharest. The Centre is an academic body that owes no allegiance to a government or political agency. It does not hold opinions of its own. The views extended in this magazine are the responsibility of the authors.
Published:
2025-04-10
Articles
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An introduction on the politicization of arts in Imperial Russian left-wing movements: from Western models towards original developments
Abstract
Although the politicization of artistic content has been around us since Antiquity, a much more refined approach towards this segment came to shape during the nineteenth century, as philosophical, doctrinary and ideological thought became much more complex. Across Europe, during these times of ideological strifes, art has started to regain attention, but this time in political circles, on all sides of the political specter, as a tool to further and enhance various political agendas. Usually overlooked by historians in favour of studying more contemporary phenomenons such as Soviet-era Socialist Realism head-on, the basis for a politicised direction in arts by the left-wing movements in Russia was established much earlier than the postrevolutionary period. Due to a lack of first-hand articles on this certain aspect, this paper will be centered around the idea of a disseminator of general considerations, that is based upon text analysis of different fundamental political or philosophical works that hold such information regarding the evolution towards political aesthetics in the left-wing intelligentsia or political discourse in the Russian Empire. Given the fact that this concept is still underresearched, the main goal of this study is to give a framework to the main aspects of the prerevolutionary beginnings of political aesthetics or discourse on art in the aforementioned leftist movements. A secondary goal of this research is to create an efficient introduction resource for students or other interested readers. The paper is structured as follows: The beginnings of such processes from Western models to the Russian case, being represented by the contribution of Nikolay Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky, a view upon
Classical Marxist approaches towards art and aesthetics, the birth of Russian Orthodox Marxist theory, starting with the works of Gerogi Valentinovich Plekhanov and ending with the political praxis of Plekhanov’s ideas, represented by the actions of Vladimir Ilych Ulianov (Lenin). The authors that have been chosen in this study, especially on the Russian case studies, were selected based on
their relevant contributions and impact on theory and practice as a whole, excluding peripheral opinions and contributions (e.g. Pisarev or Dobrolyubov in the Narodnik case). -
The Restoration of Romanian-Belgian Economic Relations between 1957 and 1972. Information Collection
Abstract
The historiography of both Romania and Belgium has insuffi ciently examined the economic relations between the two countries during the post-war period. This article aims to provide an analysis of the eff orts undertaken by Romania and Belgium to establish new economic treaties, despite facing signifi cant political and social challenges. Offi cial visits by ministers and various secondary political fi gures, including senators and mayors from both nations, played a crucial role in enhancing bilateral trade exchanges. The economic policies of the Benelux Union—comprising Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg—tended to favor a trade balance that was advantageous to Belgium, placing the Socialist Republic of Romania at a consistent disadvantage. Nonetheless, Romania's strategic and economic interests compelled it to maintain and pursue economic relations with the Kingdom of Belgium.
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Negotiating with a declining power: The American – Soviet Diplomacy in the context of German reunification
Abstract
The unexpected opening of the Berlin Wall on the evening of November 9, 1989, was a turning point in history, bringing the division of the Cold War to an end. Although the crumbling of the communist bloc seemed almost inevitable in the autumn of 1989, the reunification of Germany was still an outlying goal. But taking advantage of the opportunity that the wall's fall brought, the leaders of that time tried to accelerate history and bring German reunification to a fait accompli. The United States influenced the unification process through its effort to overcome the Allies’ suspicion of a reunited Germany and preserve the American role in the future of European and German security. The high-level talks between the United States and the Soviet Union in the period 1989-1990 reveal the shifting distribution of power and the beginning of a new security architecture. Drawing on records of conversations, memoranda of face-to-face and telephone conversations, speeches, public statements and memoirs, this paper examines the diplomatic interactions between Washington and Moscow during the process of German reunification. Over the ten months of negotiations, the official objectives of the United States and the Soviet Union were widely opposed. With events slipping out of his control in Eastern Europe and with a weaker political position at home, Mikhail Gorbachev attempted to secure a gradual reunification and a neutral Germany, but the readjustments of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the economic assistance given by the Federal Republic of Germany made the Soviet leader accept the Western terms. The paper aims to discover how the United States and the Soviet Union found ways to cooperate in the final act of the Cold War, what were the motivations and the aims of the main political actors and why the questions raised during that period remain a source of tension and controversy in the relations between the United States and today’s
Russia. -
Foreign policy of the Russian Federation: focus on the post-Soviet area (1991 - 2000)
Abstract
The given work focuses primarily on researching the political situation following the collapse of the USSR and Russia's attempts at consolidation in the last decade of the 20th century. The approach to the subject is based on the theory of realism, examining the subject from the perspective of the Kremlin's interests in certain geographical areas and its mode of interaction with states in those regions. Thus, each region has represented and continues to represent a strategic area of interest for both Russia and other regional or global powers. Consequently, various strategies are anticipated, initiated, or carried out in approaching a particular state or group of states collectively. However, all these have also had a rather negative effect on the policies promoted by Moscow, especially in the case of certain states such as Azerbaijan. Moreover, certain events in the post-Soviet political arena have demonstrated the Kremlin's weakness in stabilizing situations that have spiraled out of control.
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Reform of Diplomacy. Toward diplomacy’s reform?
Abstract
The scientific literature about diplomacy is becoming increasingly extensive globally, although its quality is quite rare at the level required by substantial intellectual criteria. However, we can positively mention that in 2023, a new comprehensive book signed by
Paul Webster Hare, Juan Luis Manfredi-Sánchez, and Kenneth Weisbrode as Editors, under the title The Palgrave Handbook of Diplomatic Reform and Innovation, appeared in the publishing house Palgrave Macmillan. The book has 758 pages covering 36 chapters as follows: Part I Introduction; Diplomacy the Neglected Global Issue: Why Diplomacy Needs to Catch Up with the World; Part II State of Diplomacy; The Closing of the Diplomatic Mind; A Diplomatic Taxonomy for the New World Disorder; Knowledge Diplomacy: A Conceptual Analysis; Why Reforms Are Needed in Bilateral Diplomacy: A Global South Perspective; Part III Politicization of Diplomacy; Diplomats and Politicization; Digital Diplomacy and International Society in the Age of Populism; Withering Ministry of 1 Doctor in political sciences (international law) of Geneva University (1968); Doctor honoris causa in international law of Assumption University of Thailand (1998); alternate representative of Romania to the United Nations Security Council (1990-1991); Ambassador of Romania to the Kingdom of Thailand and permanent observer to international organizations based in Bangkok (1994-1999); Visiting Professor in Assumption University in Bangkok (2000-2019.) EAS New Series no.7/2024 136 Foreign Affairs: Evidence from China; South Africa and its Foreign Alignment and Practice: From Hope to Dashed Expectations; Part IV Reforming Institutions; From Great Expectations to Dwindling Status: Brazilian Diplomacy’s Response to Post-Cold War Upheavals; Crisis Prevention and Stabilization Made in Germany: Meeting the Demands of Modern Diplomacy? Integrated Statecraft and Australia’s Diplomacy; African Union Reform: Challenges and Opportunities; What Motivates South Korea’s Diplomatic Reform and Innovation?The Transformations of French Diplomacy; Part V
Digital Revolution and Diplomatic Reform; Digital Diplomacy in the Time of the Coronavirus Pandemic: Lessons and Recommendations; Exploring the Usefulness of Artificial Intelligence for Diplomatic Negotiations: Two Case Studies; Beyond Meeting and Tweeting: The Next Challenges for Innovation in Diplomacy; Disinformation and Diplomacy; Digitalizing South American MFAs: Reform and esistance; Part VI Multilateral Diplomacy and Innovation; Toward a More Credible Multilateralism at the United Nations: A Few Practical Steps; A New Logic of Multilateralism on Demand; About Spheres of Influence; Regional Diplomacy and Its Variations: Change and
Innovation; Why Collective Diplomacy Needs to Embrace Innovation; Innovating International Cooperation for Development: A New Model for Partnerships Between Developed and Middle-Income Countries; The UAE’s Innovative Diplomacy: How the Abraham Accords Changed (or Did Not Change) Emirati Foreign Policy; Small States: From Intuitive to Smart Diplomacy; Urban Diplomacy: How Cities Will Leverage Multilateralism; Reforming Global Health Diplomacy in the Wake of COVID-19 ; The Reform of Humanitarian Diplomacy; Geoeconomic Diplomacy: Reforming the Instrumentalization of Economic Interdependencies and Power; Science Diplomacy with EAS New Series no.7/2024 137 Diplomatic Relations to Facilitate Common-Interest Building; Climate Diplomacy for a
1.5 Degree World; Global Diplomacy and Multi- stakeholderism: Does the Promise of the 2030 Agenda Hold? Conclusions.
We have enumerated the titles of all the chapters of the book to offer a panoramic view of the whole volume, familiarizing the readers of this article with the integral content of this excellent collective research and underlining the complexity of any serious analysis dedicated to the reform of diplomacy during an era characterized by global vulnerabilities, perplexities, and discontinuities. But how can diplomacy be reformated when it is experiencing a serious crisis, both at the bilateral and multilateral levels, and how can the crisis of diplomacy itself be defined? -
The importance of citizen engagement in the implementation of sustainable development policies in Romania
Abstract
Sustainable development is at the core of every major decision in international politics, as the direction of the international community has been set towards protecting and restoring the resources of the planet. Although the goals are the same, each country is at a different level of achievement regarding the agreed-upon objectives. This article focuses on the current point Romania is in, the progress which has been made, and the path that lies ahead, analysed from the perspective of correcting measures that could help set its course on the right trajectory. Special attention is paid to the role that public participation has in implementing European policies designed to help the block follow through with its goal at the national level, in Romania. Considering that the literature is limited in this sphere, this article aims to connect some of the principal sustainable development pillars, contributing to the creation of a more complex picture of the actual context in Romania and the different dimensions that factor in the implementation of new policies.
Book Reviews
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Michael Cox, Agonies of Empire: American Power from Clinton to Biden Bristol, Bristol University Press, 2022, 204 pp.
Abstract
With an unprecedented position in the history of international relations after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States and its power preoccupied pundits and historians alike. In the last 30 years, they tried to analyse the sources of American power, its limits, and even its possible decline. The multiple crises that put American hegemony to the test after the Cold War created an ongoing debate between those with a declinist position, who foresee the inevitability demise of American power, and those with an optimistic view, who continue to believe in the dominance of U.S. global leadership.
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Mihai Manea, Consiliul Europei. Politică și predarea istoriei în Europa, București, Editura Nomina, 2018, pp.176
Abstract
Since its creation in 1949, the Council of Europe has promoted human rights and freedoms, consolidated democracy, political dialogue, and cooperation between states in the social, economic, and cultural sectors. Intending to have a united Europe, in which the inclusion and acceptance of diversity are some of the critical elements in the growth of the individual, the Council of Europe has been involved throughout the second half of the 20th century, continuing until now in the development of different levels of education in Europe, especially in teaching history. The importance that the Council of Europe has given to history as a subject in European schools is motivated by history's ability to influence the masses. Depending on its nuances, history can be a tool for division or unity among nations and peoples. Considering this feature of history, the Council of Europe understood that having a society that knows the European identity and finds itself in it, history becomes a mandatory discipline within the education systems and fundamental for developing European citizens.
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Emilio Gentile, E subito fu regime. Il fascismo e la Marcia su Roma
Abstract
The "March on Rome" historiography has been marked by deeply conflicting interpretations, reflecting this major historical event's complexity and antagonistic nature. In the book Le origini del fascismo in Italia. Lezioni di Harvard, the historian Gaetano Salvemini had shown in the 1940s that the event was little more than an “opera buffa,” an absurd display without a revolutionary substance. This perspective portrays the March as a mere theatrical staging, a calculated spectacle orchestrated to create the illusion of a grassroots uprising
