Michel Fortmann

Canadian Public Opinion and Peacekeeping in a Turbulent World

If the military have a generally positive image in Canadian society today, they owe it at least as much to their participation in United Nations peacekeeping forces as to the historical memory of their role in this centurys two world wars. At a time of rapid change in the nature of the role of the United Nations in controlling or preventing seemingly intractable conflicts around the world, many wonder whether the Canadian public will abandon its traditional support for peacekeeping. In view of the fiscal constraints that face the Canadian government and the almost hopeless complexity of the situations where United Nations troops are called upon to intervene today, who could blame them? Thus, some experts predict that Canadian defence policy makers may be forced, because of a sudden about-face in public

INTRODUCTION: France's ‘return’ to NATO: implications for transatlantic relations

Abstract The paper looks at Frances return to NATO, looking at the impact of its ongoing reintegration in the alliances military structure from a strategic, a political and an operational perspective. We address three main questions: (1) How will Frances reintegration affect other NATO countries? This question will be answered from the perspectives of Canada, the UK, Germany and the United States; (2) How will France cope with the transition? French experts will assess the French debate on NATO, the operational dimension of Frances reintegration of the command structure and Frances role in transatlantic relations; (3) How will the decision affect the future prospects for allied action? This question will be addressed by looking at the nuclear dimension of NATO, burden-sharing, NATOs transformation and the impact of Frances reintegration on European defence.

Of ghosts and other spectres: the Cold War's ending and the question of the next 'hegemonic' conflict

Our intent in this article is to try to determine if the manner of the Cold Wars ending can suggest anything useful to those of us who ponder whether the twenty-first century will be able to break from the dismal cyclical pattern of all previous centuries, and become the first span of decades to exorcise the evil spirit of great power war. Our task is to employ cyclical constructs in such a manner as to cast doubt upon the ‘cyclical determinism’ of the power transition pessimists.

The Iraq War

The Iraq War remains highly controversial, but in all the uncertainty about weapons of mass destruction, the use and misuse of intelligence, and the whereabouts of Saddam Hussein, it remains an awesome military and political event and a formidable exercise in American power aided by the British army. Throughout the war and beyond it, John Keegans analysis proved more accurate than any other commentators, and now he brings his unrivalled knowledge of military history to bear on the war, its conduct and consequences. Written with special access to new sources of information, this book will be the most authoritative and challenging account of a war which could both set the pattern for military conflicts in the 21st century and significantly affect the world political order.

Balance of Power: Theory and Practice in the 21st Century

Since the 16th century, balance of power politics have profoundly influenced international relations. But in recent years-with the sudden disappearance of the Soviet Union, growing power of the United States, and increasing prominence of international institutions-many scholars have argued that balance of power theory is losing its relevance. This book examines the current position and future of balance of power dynamics in international politics. In this book, prominent scholars pay special attention to the theoretical and historical criticisms of balance of power theory while empirically assessing its validity at both global and regional levels. The volume also looks at systemic factors favoring or hindering a return to balance of power politics. It evaluates the challenges posed by subnational actors, such as terrorist groups, and weapons of mass destruction to international order. Further, it examines the relevance of balance of power axioms in selected regions: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia, and Latin America.

De l’apport de la pensée militaire classique aux études stratégiques modernes

In this article, the authors try to define the general conceptual framework of classical strategic thought in order to assess its relevance for the development of contemporary Strategic Studies. Our argument brings out the fact that classical strategic scholars tended to conceptualize strategy as the scientific study of conflictual actions between unitary actors, omitting by this very fact to study the sociopolitical dimensions of conflicts, the impact of military technology or the influence of organizational and decisional processes on the conduct of war. Nevertheless, classical strategic thought still offers an invaluable body of literature to understand the evolution of ideas on war, and a possible way of enriching strategic studies through the use of its distinctive comparative historical perspective.