Jan Eichler – författare

This book examines and explains the dialectic of war and peace between the outbreak of WWI and the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. The theoretical inspiration is built upon Galtung’s concept of negative and positive peace, Aron´s distinction between strategy and diplomacy, and Carr´s theory of periodization. Here, the author compares globalization with the interwar period and examines how the first decade´s positive peace, diplomacy, and big hopes were replaced by negative peace, and explains the growing role of military strategy which culminated after the Russian annexation of Crimea and the following military incidents between NATO and Russia. This volume will be of interest to teachers, students, and researchers in the fields of modern history, international security and peace studies. 

This book analyses the expansion of The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) into the post-Soviet space after the end of the Cold War. Based on an extensive analysis of the literature and government documents, including doctrines, statements and speeches by the most influential decision-makers and other actors, it sheds new light on the geopolitical and geostrategic context of the expansion of the military alliance, and assesses its impact on international security relations in Europe. 

The first chapter introduces readers to the neo-realist approach and develops the methodological basis of the book. The following chapters provide a historical overview of the causes and consequences of two waves of eastward NATO enlargement. Special attention is paid to the annexation of the Crimea and to Russian hybrid-asymmetric warfare. Finally, thirty years after the end of the Cold War, the book notes a disturbing return to militarization in international security relations. To counter this process, the author calls for a reduction of current international tensions and a new policy of détente.

This book examines radical Jihad terrorism in contemporary France and sheds light on the vicious circle of violence, based on reciprocity. Building upon the theoretical heritage of Pierre Bourdieu, the book develops a methodology and a concept of the vicious circle of violence in France, based on three pillars: actors, dynamics, and effects.

Discussing the development of global terrorism between the 9/11 attacks and the launch of the European front against global terror in Spain and Great Britain, the book goes on to analyze why France has not been attacked during the 2000s and why it, in turn, became a primary target of terrorist attacks during the 2010s, with a special emphasis on communication theory and the concept of reciprocity. Studying these attacks on the international level, the book offers insights into violent acts of revenge of the radical home-grown jihadists for the French military interventions in four Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries, especially Libya and Syria. It further investigates the following growing radicalization of the Muslim community on the national level as a reason for terrorist attacks. Finally, the book sheds light on the reactions from within the French military to these developments, before closing with a presentation of the new political context after the 2022 presidential and legislative elections.

Based on empirical evidence and a theoretical background this book will appeal to students and scholars of political science and international relations, as well as policy-makers and practitioners interested in a better understanding of terrorism, French politics, and communication theory.

This book presents a fresh perspective on the geopolitical landscape surrounding NATO''s enlargement, aptly termed "expansion by invitation." Looking beyond conventional narratives, it unravels the multifaceted outcomes of this process, extending beyond the initial optimism.

While acknowledging the merits of NATO''s expansion, the book scrutinizes its contentious side effects, notably the escalating militarization of the Baltic and Black Sea regions, heightened military expenditure, shifts toward offensive doctrines, and the surge in military exercises and incidents between NATO and Russia. In a world witnessing a renewed bipolarization akin to the Cold War era, the book underscores the need for NATO and Russia to de-escalate tensions and strive towards a transition from contemporary negative peace to a more constructive, positive peace.

Devoid of bias, this book refrains from condemning the expansion process but rather calls for an acknowledgment of its consequences. It is an indispensable resource for academics seeking a nuanced understanding of NATO''s expansion, challenging prevailing terminologies and offering insights into the complex dynamics of international security in Europe.