J. Martín Ramírez – författare

This book argues that security and defense have never been true priorities in the European Union, and have constantly been marginalized by the elites since the Soviet Union collapsed and the Warsaw Pact disintegrated. Despite the official rhetoric, only a few tangible results can be presented concerning the operational readiness of European forces, and the EU’s inability to act was proven during the crises in the Balkans, NATO has experienced similar problems, as the majority of its members are EU countries. Both organizations have declared their resolve concerning the security and defense of their nations and territories, but, unfortunately, little has been done to lend these statements credence.

In this context, the book analyzes several aspects of EU security and defense, including: the EU – NATO relationship, common defense policy and strategy, common capability building, common understanding of strategic changes, common operational planning and centrally synchronized exercises based on operational planning, etc. The member states have helped to make EU/NATO effective organizations, but unfortunately their individual interests and priorities constitute real challenges. This aspect should be discussed and addressed by political and military elites, scholars, analysts, students and the general public alike.  

This book discusses some of the strategic lines in front of the trends related to the new challenges of global security in this new century: some rather universal problems (migration,  terrorism, cyberspace, conflict resolutions techniques in prisons, economic intelligence), as well as more military ones (new conflicts: new world stage, new weapons, new military doctrines, mass destruction weapons and nuclear arms control, outer space and ocean depths), without forgetting some global and conceptual topics (disintegration is driving insecurity, searching for quality in international affairs, shield of security culture through data protection, information society and the protective influence of security culture).

A special focus is put on Europe''s interests. The unique, complex process of integration of European states is confronted by various problems caused by the implementation of different political visions presented by the factions of the European Union''s establishment. The diverse interpretation of the goals and paths of development of this organization leads to the violation of its cohesion, which is used by global partners with the opportunity to broaden their influence and achieve their own goals by playing European countries individually. There is a need for the EU to go further to achieve a deeper level of integration and strategic autonomy which would allow for the implementation of a coherent policy towards the powers. 

This book deals with two areas: Global Commons and Security: inextricably melted together and more relevant than ever in a world which is ever globalized and… with an incognita looming on the horizon: the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic upon the International Relations and globalization.

Global Commons have always been relevant. It was Mahan who argued that the first and most obvious light in which the sea presents itself from the political and social point of view, is that of a great highway; or better, perhaps, of a wide common… Nowadays, this view has been further developed and, in addition to the unique legal implications that the Global Commons introduce, they are viewed, more and more intently, as a common pool of resources. Or perhaps, not that common… Resources, the key word! Which has to be always supplemented by two key words: access and security. And still, another one: data, the cyberspace contribution to the equation.

This book aims to analyze from a multidisciplinary perspective the current geopolitical conflict between East and West, between two differentiated and apparently conflicting cosmogonic visions. The geopolitical evolution of the current panorama seems to lead to a new world in the field of international relations, a new board played on a planetary level. Once again, bloc geopolitics can be glimpsed in the immediate future, in which the most important actors such as Russia, China, the United States of America, and the European Union are called to position themselves with respect to the territorial and strategic ambitions of the opponent. International law seems to be overwhelmed by military actions and factual pressure on the ground, while the battle of ideas extends to the technological field and cyberspace. The different origins of the authors, with extensive academic, military, police forces, and business experience undoubtedly enriches the unique perspective that this work intendsto address, always in the attempt to enforce international law and the channels of dialogue between nations, such as the best solution to conflicts.

This book covers many aspects of cyberspace, emphasizing not only its possible ‘negative’ challenge as a threat to security, but also its positive influence as an efficient tool for defense as well as a welcome new factor for economic and industrial production. Cyberspace is analyzed from quite different and interdisciplinary perspectives, such as: conceptual and legal, military and socio-civil, psychological, commercial, cyber delinquency, cyber intelligence applied to public and private institutions, as well as the nuclear governance.   

For this purpose, we rely on reputed scholars from ten different countries, and from different cultures and fields of expertise, which allows for diverse contributions from a valuable interdisciplinary perspective.

The first section of the book deals with the correlation between cultural differences and conflict, while also showing how such conflicts can be prevented and, should they arise, managed and solved.

The second section addresses a different, more specific issue: how cultural expression means and tools for cultural communication may lead to conflict whereasthey may help to avoid it as well.

Finally, the third section analyzes how legal and justice systems deal with cross-cultural conflicts as well as with situations which may lead to cross-cultural conflicts, thus assessing to which extent such systems contribute to avoid and/or solve such kind of conflicts.