scholarly journals Damaging effects of vaccine geopolitics and the EU’s distorted soft power

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 709-735
Author(s):  
Milos Petrovic ◽  
Zlatan Jeremic
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Pragmatic Approach ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
The Uk ◽  
International Status ◽  
Mass Inoculation ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Damaging Effects

The authors deliberate that the EU?s soft power leadership has been inadequate during certain periods of the pandemic, being additionally challenged by proactive campaigns of other international actors. According to the authors, such EU underperformance primarily lies in the damaging fact that the Union perceives and treats aspects like the inoculation process not solely as a health-humanitarian issue, but also as a geostrategic activity. The authors consider that EU logic has been largely shaped by the pre-existing geopolitical distaste for China and Russia, and hence also their subsequent COVID-19-related engagement in Europe. Apart from strategic rivalries, EU international status has been exacerbated by deteriorating relations with the UK. According to the authors, the aforementioned international actors have been applying various soft power instruments during the mass inoculation process against COVID-19 in Europe, which also resulted in consequences that are usually attributed to hard power. Antagonisms between the abovementioned stakeholders manifest in unfavorable phenomena such as ?vaccine nationalism? and ?jab geopolitics?. The authors argues that a less selective, and more flexible and pragmatic approach would have been more beneficial both for public health and the EU?s impaired reputation in certain parts of CEE.

scholarly journals Wholegrain health claims in Europe

2003 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Protective Effect ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Whole Grain ◽  
Health Implications ◽  
Joint Health ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Grain Foods ◽  
The Eu

Wholegrain foods are important sources of nutrients and phyto-protective components, which are in short supply in many member states of the EU, including the UK. Encouraging the public to increase consumption of whole-grain foods is a positive health message that has critical public health implications. In February 2002 the UK Joint Health Claims Initiative (JHCI) published its authoritative endorsement that whole-grain foods are associated with a healthy heart (Joint Health Claims Initiative, 2002). This new health claim reflects a similar one in the USA based on the accumulation of epidemiological evidence between 1996 and 2001 from several very large cohort studies in the USA, Finland and Norway, which show a consistent protective effect of whole grain and reduced risk of CHD. The JHCI code of practice on health claims requires that the claimed benefit must be scientifically valid, with evidence supporting efficacy of the food in human consumers, under typical conditions of use. The evidence-based approach consists of the identification of studies, an evaluation of individual references, a critical evaluation of the totality of the evidence and a statement that there is significant scientific agreement to establish the validity of the claim. The studies suggest that an intake of three servings per d may have an important cardio-protective effect. The development of a process for the substantiation of health claims in the UK and in the EU is important to underpin regulatory developments, which should protect the consumer, promote fair trade and encourage innovation in the food industry. The present paper sets out the format of the scientific dossier that was presented to the JHCI and includes a call to promote further research to identify the important protective components in the whole grain ‘package’ and the biological mechanisms behind the observed beneficial effects on health. The major sources of whole grain in the UK are bread and breakfast cereals, and >90% of adults in the UK consume less than three servings per d. Increasing the variety and availability of acceptable whole-grain foods could lead to greater consumption levels, which has important public health implications and offers an attractive and food-based dietary strategy for targeting the whole population.

scholarly journals COMBINING SOFT POWER WITH THE GEOPOLITICAL APPROACH - HOW DIFFICULT IS FOR THE EU TO CHANGE ITS ATTITUDE?

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (72) ◽  
pp. 189-195
Author(s):  
Radu CARP
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
European Union ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
Union Leaders ◽  
Current Stage ◽  
The Eu

After gradually evolving from an economic project to a political one, European Union leaders declare nowadays that it is time to go forward and to build a geopolitical actor on the international stage. This paper does make an account on the current stage of relevant geopolitical actors and how they view EU. In order to address this issue, EU have to focus more on its soft power instruments, like multilateralism and the promotion of democracy, rule of law and human rights, and also climate change, apart from hard power instruments like trade, security and defense, cybersecurity and data privacy.Keywords: democracy, European Union, geopolitics, human rights, multilateralism, rule of law, soft power.

scholarly journals Brexit and Western Balkans

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-70
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Eu Enlargement ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Security Culture ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Eu Membership ◽  
Balkan Countries ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Eu

This article analyses effects of Brexit on relations between the United Kingdom and the Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia). First, the symbolism of the UK departure from the EU for the Western Balkans is explained. In the following step, multiple types of relations (in trade, security, culture) between the post-Brexit UK and this region are analysed using the theoretical concepts of linkage, leverage and soft power. Finally, the consequences of Brexit on further EU enlargement are presented. The research has confirmed the initial hypotheses. First, as expected, the volume and density of UK-Western Balkan relations will be reduced after Brexit. Second, Western Balkans is of a very limited interest for the UK, primarily in security. Third, Brexit has not in a serious way changed the already existing low chances of EU accession for the Western Balkan countries. The reason for this has little to do with the UK’s presence in or absence from the EU and is rather a consequence of the majority view within the Union (that Britain had already shared before Brexit) concerning further enlargement and low level of preparation of Western Balkan countries for EU membership.

Conceptualizing Cyber-Security From EU Perspective

2021 ◽  
pp. 255-263
Author(s):  
Ayse Kok
Keyword(s):  
Cyber Security ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Eu

If the aim of the EU is the establishment of deeper cooperation with other nations within the context of cyber security in the future, platforms (e.g., the Task Force) should create an effective agenda that reflects the differences between the EU (soft power) and other countries such as China or Russia (hard power). Yet, there should not be any compromise in the principles and norms of these countries with regard to their Internet policies. Although this may sound too difficult to accomplish, it is not impossible given EU's increased emphasis on cybersecurity along with its evolving cybersecurity strategy.

scholarly journals Editorial Foreword

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-6
Author(s):  
Silviu-Marian Miloiu
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Climate Change Mitigation ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
The Public ◽  
Power Projection ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
Change Mitigation ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Editorial Foreword

The second issue of volume 12 of The Romanian Journal for Baltic and Nordic Studies continues to reflect the academic discussions occasioned by the Eleventh Conference on Baltic and Nordic Studies of May 2020. Prof. Radu Carp was one of the keynote speakers of the conference and his address on Combining soft power with the geopolitical approach – how difficult is it for the EU to change its attitude? elicited a great interest among the presenters and attenders of the scientific event. As in any such scholarly event, especially an international gathering with a critical focus on the construction/reconstruction of Europe in vital moments of its past and recent past aspirations, the viewpoints of the participants, including the analysis of Prof. Carp on the current challenges of the EU are passed on to the wider community of fellow researchers, the public and decision-makers. The call for stepping up to a new level of integration and geopolitical power projection is dissected both in its soft and hard power dimension without eschewing the focus on democracy, climate change mitigation measures or cybersecurity.

Unia Europejska w świecie: soft power, hard power czy może smart power?

2018 ◽  
pp. 78-94
Author(s):  
Sławomir Niedźwiecki
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Smart Power ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
The Eu

The main purpose of the article is to ask whether the European Union is a smart power actor. Most of the previous research has treated the EU as a soft power. This work is an analysis of the tools which the European Union uses in its foreign policy. Research has been conducted in the context of types of powers, which have been formulated by Joseph Nye: hard power, soft power and smart power. It was necessary to survey what instruments does the European Union use to have impact on other participants of international relations. Nowadays, a range of these tools is relatively developed, taking into account that the EU is an international organisation. In the conclusion, it is stated that the contemporary European Union should be treated as a soft power, but simultaneously it is an actor which attempts to become a smart power, and has relevant predispositions to it.

scholarly journals Combining soft power with the geopolitical approach – how difficult is for the EU to change its attitude?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-115
Author(s):  
Radu Carp
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
European Union ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Data Privacy ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
Union Leaders ◽  
Current Stage ◽  
The Eu

After gradually evolving from an economic project to a political one, European Union leaders declare nowadays that it is time to go forward and to build a geopolitical actor on the international stage. This paper does make an account on the current stage of relevant geopolitical actors and how they view EU. In order to address this issue, EU have to focus more on its soft power instruments, like multilateralism and the promotion of democracy, rule of law and human rights, and also climate change, apart from hard power instruments like trade, security and defense, cybersecurity and data privacy.

Conceptualizing Cyber-Security From EU Perspective

2017 ◽  
pp. 143-154
Author(s):  
Ayse Kok
Keyword(s):  
Cyber Security ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Eu

If the aim of the EU is the establishment of deeper cooperation with other nations within the context of cyber security in the future, platforms (e.g., the Task Force) should create an effective agenda that reflects the differences between the EU (soft power) and other countries such as China or Russia (hard power). Yet, there should not be any compromise in the principles and norms of these countries with regard to their Internet policies. Although this may sound too difficult to accomplish, it is not impossible given EU's increased emphasis on cybersecurity along with its evolving cybersecurity strategy.

scholarly journals China’s sovereignty violations in the East and South China Seas: How should Europe respond?

European View ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-249
Author(s):  
Laura Southgate
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
China Seas ◽  
Global Security ◽  
Future Role ◽  
Hard Power ◽  
Security Actor ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Freedom Of Navigation

The EU has been content to remain a marginal actor in the maritime sovereignty disputes in the East and South China Seas. It has adopted a diplomatic strategy that stresses the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and confidence building between the states party to the conflict. As argued here, this approach does not take account of the crucial interests Europe has at stake in the conflict. It is made even less tenable by China’s increasingly assertive behaviour towards securing its sovereignty in the region. Europe is at a crossroads: the EU may seek to overcome internal and external challenges to enhance its hard power capabilities, or it may continue to pursue a wholly soft power approach. Either way, how the EU deals with the current dispute will determine, in large part, its future role as a global security actor.

Ontologies as Filters

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt Cagle
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
The Us ◽  
Privacy Legislation ◽  
Knowledge Graphs ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Eu

The Covid-19 pandemic, in addition to affecting public health, has highlighted the challenges involved in attempting to collect, curate, and disseminate data sets throughout the US, the EU, and the UK. Wildly divergent datasets require an incredible amount of effort both to harmonize the contents and to comply with privacy legislation such as the GDPR. A potential federated solution might be built around knowledge graphs that could act as both data catalogs and harmonizing proxies. Such an application could be launched quickly and could work across multiple open source and commercial platforms. This talk is intended to discuss that process and to illustrate how it applies to the markup world as well when dealing with narrative information.

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