Cultural Differences in Multinational Peace Operations: A Slovenian Perspective

Vuga, Janja

doi:10.1080/13533312.2010.516668

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…15 The integration of individuals already at birth into a closely knit social environment has thus in fact presented a survival strategy for Slovenian people. 16 On the other hand, some Slovenian sociological theorists (Nastran-Ule, Musek, Bernik) 17 have identified a shift in the past two decades toward individualism and personal values, such as personal development, interpersonal relations, creativity, education, and so on.…”

Section: Prevailing Values and Slovenian Culturementioning

confidence: 99%

Safety Bubble versus Risk Awareness

Vuga¹

2013

Armed Forces & Society

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The acceptance of risk in a certain society is tested when de facto or merely potential military death casualties are raised. Several dimensions influencing the acceptability of risk have already been analyzed, although only three are examined in this article—namely, the historicopolitical, sociodemographic, and cultural. The Slovenian public opinion survey persistently shows strong risk aversion among Slovenians and the article’s purpose is therefore to (1) establish how can the strong risk aversion be explained by the selected dimensions; and (2) identify what part of the population is most risk-aversive. To that end, over twenty years of Slovenian public poll data are analyzed using a triangulation of statistical methods, revealing a cultural pattern of safety bubble versus risk awareness. As the risk aversion model reveals, Slovenian society represents a safety bubble, with strong risk aversion and a very narrow selection of activities worth making sacrifices for. Death casualties are rarely accepted, even if incurred in support of ideals society strongly appreciates, like humanitarian causes.

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Section: Prevailing Values and Slovenian Culturementioning

confidence: 99%

Safety Bubble versus Risk Awareness

Vuga¹

2013

Armed Forces & Society

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“…After Nye (1990Nye ( , 2002 widened the understanding of power -successfully bringing soft and smart power to the forefront of academic research -the concept of power remained a relational concept, which should be understood in terms of interactions between at least two actors. With the emergence of new influential players on the global stage at the turn of the twenty-first century, followed by new understandings and challenges pertaining to security (Buzan 1991;Paris 2001;Malešič and Jelušičova 2003;Vuga 2010;Grizold and Bučar 2011;Udovič and Svetličič 2012;Weiss 2012), the then-comprehension(s) of power have been broadened with new dimensions. Normative power was one of them.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“Discovering” normative power as a state strategy in the framework of security, foreign, and defense policy: the case of Japan

Zupančič

Hribernik

2014

Philippine Political Science Journal

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Various factors influence the (trans)formation of security, foreign, and defense policies of countries. One of them is normative power, a concept that has gained significance in academic debates in the last decade. However, normative power as an emerging though theoretically disputed concept remains a relatively under-researched area in academia. With the exception of research by mostly European scholars, this particularly holds true for case studies of Asian countries. This article contributes to the body of knowledge on normative power by analyzing the case study of Japan, from the standpoint of a country that has increased and then applied its normative power as an important means through which traditional (interest-based) foreign, security and defense goals can be pursued. In the analysis of Japan's aspirations to become recognized as a global normative power advocate, we analyze the impact of the end of the Cold War and the Gulf War on the country's perception of its strategic environment, and subsequent efforts to redefine its role in promoting a new norms-based framework. We also identify three areas in which Japan has been able to strengthen its hard security while simultaneously reinforcing its normative power: its security alliance with the United States, its multiand bilateral (military) cooperation with other states, and its ability to bolster both its hard and its normative power in an emerging multipolar international system.

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“…To mitigate the inequalities in this relationship, some research on peacekeeping has emphasised the need for peace-builders to take into account local context and the need for building relationships with local people in a culturally aware way (Vuga 2010;Haddad 2010;Tomforde 2010;Harland). With regards to peacekeepers, Tomforde notes "there is no doubt that different actors in a conflict, be they conflicting parties, multinational peacekeepers or those planning the mission, carry with them certain cultural perceptions.…”

Section: 'Building' Peace and 'Keeping' The Peacementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, the literature on peace-building is clear about the importance of engaging local communities in the process (Vuga 2010;Haddad 2010;Tomforde 2010;Harland).…”

Section: Masculinitymentioning

confidence: 99%

"Winning Hearts and Minds"? An Exploration of New Zealand Peacekeeping, Masculinities, and Identity in the Solomon Islands

Stevens¹

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<p>Close attention to the practices of masculinity, and individual negotiations of identity are often rendered invisible when exploring the implications of having soldiers engaged as peacekeepers in communities emerging from conflict. Using a feminist post-structural framework and qualitative interviews, I investigate whether involvement in peacekeeping is producing new gender and identity experiences for some New Zealand soldiers. Specifically, I explore the perceptions of two New Zealand Army Reserve Force soldiers who participated in the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands. Additionally, I engage with the reflections of seven Solomon Islanders to understand the impacts that these new understandings of gender and identity might have for conflict resolution and gender equality in local communities. My research finds that the practices that soldiers value and consider most useful to be a successful soldier are changing as a result of their involvement in peacekeeping. New ideas about masculinity in the armed forces are being engendered by the need for soldiers to express a sense of equality and respect towards local people. The changing nature of soldering is resulting in the emergence of practices that offer alternatives and/or challenge hegemonic and racialized militarized masculinities over those more traditionally valued in the armed forces. However, at the same time, some soldiers continue to place value on practices associated with hegemonic militarized masculinities, such as a belief in the continued need to carry weapons to create security. I further suggest that Solomon Islanders interpreted participating soldiers' behaviours through broader historical-cultural narratives about different countries forces and their perceived cultural sensitivity. Therefore, soldiers' everyday resistances to racial narratives and militarized masculinities were important for creating a sense of trust and respect with local residents. However, while some Solomon Islanders welcomed the sense of security that soldiers produced, the carrying of weapons by soldiers undermined local conflict resolution practices. By focussing on men and masculinities, my research contributes to discussions about hegemonic and militarized masculinities in peacekeeping, and challenges ideas that see men, masculinities and other aspects of identity as static or unconnected to historical and social practices.</p>

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Cultural Differences in Multinational Peace Operations: A Slovenian Perspective

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Safety Bubble versus Risk Awareness

Safety Bubble versus Risk Awareness

“Discovering” normative power as a state strategy in the framework of security, foreign, and defense policy: the case of Japan

"Winning Hearts and Minds"? An Exploration of New Zealand Peacekeeping, Masculinities, and Identity in the Solomon Islands

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