This timely book seeks to contribute to the debate on the transfer of values, rules, and practices by European actors to former soviet countries. The actors in focus include multilateral organisations, such as the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as well as European governments and non-governmental organisations. The contributions in this collection address different aspects of the export or transfer of values, such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, as well as rules and practices in the fields of education and migration management, examining motives, mechanisms, and effects of the European engagement.

This groundbreaking volume offers a historical comparison between the events leading up to World War I and current global tensions related to the economical and political rise of Asia. What are the risks that the desire of the new super power China and great powers like India to be recognized by the West could set off a chain of events resulting in the nightmare of a great power war? Assessing the similarities as well as differences between the build-up of World War I and today, it is argued that we need to understand the driving forces behind the scene of global politics: The conflict between rising, established, and disintegrating powers and the desire of recognition on all sides. Carefully dissecting the current power dynamics in play, the authors hope to contribute to a better understanding of world events in order to ensure that history will not repeat itself.

Missverstandnisse sind allgegenwartig. Sie konnen zu Flugzeugabsturzen fuhren und ungewollte politische Prozesse in Gang setzen. Vor allem aber begegnen wir ihnen in der alltaglichen Kommunikation, im Kleinsten und Allerkleinsten. Von welcher Art Missverstandnisse in alltaglichen Gesprachen sind, steht im Mittelpunkt dieser auf authentischen Missverstandnisgesprachen beruhenden Untersuchung. Missverstandnisse sind offen, verdeckt und mitunter unentdeckbar. Dann bleibt die Illusion des Verstehens bis auf weiteres bestehen. Doch weisen die meisten Missverstandnisse eine interaktiv geregelte Struktur auf. Sie sind nicht unabhangig von der interaktiven Leistung der Gesprachspartner und bilden eigenstandige Sequenzen. Missverstandnisse leisten systematische Offenbarungsarbeit des Verstehensprozesses und zeigen, dass an jedem moglichen Punkt des Kommunikationsprozesses das gemeinsame Wissen hinterfragt werden kann.