Blätter
Eurozine
Blätter
2011-01-10
Summary Blätter 1/2011
Seymour M. Hersh
Cyberwar: The new front
The virus "Stuxnet", which assumedly has recently attacked the Iranian nuclear complex at Bushehr, has sparked a fervid discussion about cyber security and a possible cyber war. The American journalist and winner of the "Blätter" Democracy Award, Seymour Hersh, analyses the formation of a "military cybernetic complex" in the United States. Thereby, the means used by the state and the military to gradually gain control over the Internet become apparent.
Winfried Nachtwei
The new German Federal Armed Forces: Voluntary and militant?
According to plans of the federal ministry of defense, the Federal Armed Forces are to become smaller, more flexible and more efficient -- and change from a conscription to a volunteer army. The defense expert of the Green Party, Winfried Nachtwei, criticizes the reform which primarily aims at an increased utilizability abroad. Therefore, first and foremost, a broad sociatal discussion about the mission and tasks of the Federal Armed Forces is necessary: What can and what should they contribute to a sustainable policy within the UN system?
Mussie Habte
Rethinking Africa. Crisis and future of development cooperation
The result of five decades of development policy for Africa is devastating. Instead of improving the situation of the continent, it has preserved problems, backed dictators and put many Africans under tutelage, criticizes political scientist Mussie Habte. Obviouslly, money alone will not solve the problems of the African continent. Africa needs responsible political leaders and a fair access to international trade.
Jochen Stay
The fight for Gorleben. Goals and achievements of the anti-nuclear movement
On 6 November 2010 the region of Wendland experienced an historic day: The protest of 50000 people against the Castor transport to Gorleben was the biggest anti-nuclear protest the region has ever witnessed. Anti-nuclear activist Jochen Stay examines the new importance of resistance and asks for strategic perspectives of the movement.
Klaus Lederer
Programmatically deadlocked. Why the party "Die Linke" must change
Since their success in the general elections in 2009, the Left Party has dealt too much with itself and too little with society, criticises their Berlin chairman Klaus Lederer. This is proved in particular by the discussion about the draft for a party program: the draft predominantly supports left self-assurance, rather than designating the societal resistance as a starting point for emancipatory politics.
Susanne Baer
Does the German Constitution need an update?
Democracy in the era of the internet
The German Constitution guarantees the human rights of the citizens in a democratic constitutional state. But what about the constitution in age of era of the internet ? Does it protect us against the abuse of cyber liberties? Considering the legal premise that it is part of democracy to keep the internet as open as possible, law professor and newly appointed judge at the Federal Constitutional Court, Susanne Baer, examines whether the constitution is able to cope with the demands of the 21st Century.
Articles by Ilja Braun and Daniel Leisegang
The future of the copyright
Free downloads of music, videos and texts pressure the traditional utilization model of artistic works - and foster criticism of the copyright law. Given the new digital possibilities for authors created by the internet, cultural scientist Ilja Brown argues against the marketing monopoly of publishers. Focussing on the music industry, "Blätter" editor Daniel Leisegang advocates a different approach, namely the introduction of a so-called cultural flatrate.
Jan M. Piskorski
The European Memento
At the beginning of flight and expulsion there was war
There is one good thing about the debate over Erika Steinbach and the "Foundation Flight, Expulsion, Reconciliation": the history of Germans and Poles is discussed again. Jan Piskorski, Professor of Comparative European History at the University of Stettin, traces the stages of remembrance on both sides of the river Oder. Thereby it becomes apparent that especially the Federation of Expelees still has massive problems recognizing that the war was not Hitler's war but the war of the Germans.