7 October 2013 No 29 ISSN 1664-7963

Current Concerns PO Box CH-8044 Zurich Current Concerns Switzerland The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, Phone: +41 44 350 65 50 Fax: +41 44 350 65 51 and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law

E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.currentconcerns.ch English Edition of Zeit-Fragen

“All disputes must be resolved by peaceful means” Proposal by a UN Special Rapporteur on the Prevention of Warmongering Interview with Professor Alfred de Zayas, UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order

thk. Last Monday, of poison gas was condemned by all states; How was this proposal received? the Human Rights in this regard the international communi- Some states, such as Egypt, welcomed the Council met in Ge- ty is united. idea of a World Parliamentary Assembly. neva to hear and On the periphery of that session of the 100% of the NGOs endorsed my recom- discuss the report Human Rights Council, Current Con- mendations. After their statements I was of the “Independent cerns met the American international law given the floor again and I focused on the International Com- professor and historian Alfred de Zayas Universal Periodic Review (UPR). That is mission of Inquiry who currently holds the office of the UN a mechanism to examine the human rights on the Syrian Arab Independent Expert on the Promotion of situation in all countries. So far, all states Republic (COI)”, a Democratic and Equitable Internation- participated. Recently, one country re- presented by the al Order. What he considers his task in fused, which is extremely regrettable. Professor Alfred de head of the commis- this world dominated by power struggles Zayas (picture thk) sion, Sergio Pinhei- and how he currently judges the conflict What is lost by that? ro. The commission in Syria, is set out in the interview below. It is those periodic examinations that al- examined various massacres in Syria. The ways offer the possibility of dialogue and commission’s current report is based on 258 Current Concerns : On 10 September you underline the universality of human rights interviews with various people, the number presented your report on the “promotion – this is central to the well functioning of of respondents not being mentioned at that of a democratic and equitable internation- the new Council. In order to change any- occasion. In addition, the commission itself al order” to the Human Rights Council in thing in a positive way, dialogue among was not on the spot to see themselves what Geneva. What were the reactions to it? the countries is crucial. All states are was going on, but they obtained their “in- Professor Alfred de Zayas: After I intro- called upon to report and to submit to formation” mainly by telephone interviews duced my report and formulated a number scritiny, sincethere is no country without with people outside the country, as they said of pragmatic recommendations to the Coun- democratic or equitable deficits. themselves. cil, some 30 State delegations and 12 NGOs The discussion following the report re- participated in the inter-active dialogue. How did you respond to the width of the flected in particular the interests of the I was very satisfied with the constructive mandate and possible overlaps with other western countries in this conflict. In sum tone of the comments, some of which were mandates? you can say that NATO and EU countries, quite positive and others somewhat critical, I do not see that as a big problem. There are together with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar but not so much of my report but rather of never two rapporteurs who think the same, and some other Western-oriented Arab the mandate, which they feared duplicated who approach the issues from the same States condemned the Assad government some of the other mandates and working angle, who make the same proposals. The and used the opportunity to pin on the re- groups. The EU was rather reserved and the diversity of perspectives constitutes a fruit- gime the still unexplained poison gas attack United States did not take the floor. ful contribution of the special procedures in Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, which of the Council. Although certain themes was not the subject of the COI investigation. What were the points of criticism? appear more than once, you learn by repe- That war crime, which it undoubtedly is, It was stated, for example, that I had gone tition. And in addition an important aspect must have consequences, according to the into too much detail with respect to the is the independence of the rapporteur. The tenor of those “west-led” states. Previous issue of self-determination, that I had expert must be able to think outside the poison gas attacks, which have been attrib- given that subject too much space. One system, beyond the prejudices, Zeitgeist, uted to the so-called rebels, were not men- criticism also was the “with” of the man- political correctness.This is the only way tioned. Countries such as the Latin Ameri- date and resolution 18/6 itself. to work as an independent expert. can Alba States, Russia or China, but also individual Asian and African countries What did you recommend? What other issues were mentioned? called for moderation and emphasised the I suggested, for example, establishing We also talked about the manifold threats prohibition of interference with the internal a “representative body of the people of to regional and international peace. Last affairs of a sovereign state. They also called the world”, a parliamentary assembly to week all of us were deeply worried that we for a dialogue in order to attain a construc- which all states send representatives elect- had to reckon with a large-scale interven- tive solution to the conflict – which could ed by the people, a real parliament of the tion in Syria. I believe that a democratic be achieved if really desired by the negotia- world. It would not be made up by the am- and equitable international order requires tors, a fact that had been proven by the ne- bassadors of the countries, but by citizens that all means of dialogue be deployed to gotiations between Russia and the US – and from all the countries. I am thinking of called for an end of the bloodshed. The use doctors, tradesmen, lawyers, teachers, etc. continued on page 2 No 29 7 October 2013 Current Concerns Page 2

”‘All disputes must be resolved by …’” not only between the major powers. I would Are there no laws to prohibit warmonger- continued from page 1 also have liked to hear the views of the 193 ing? States of the United Nations. Would the in- Yes, on paper, warmongering is prohibit- keep the peace. Wars are not inevitable, but ternational community condone unilater- ed by Article 20 of the International Cove- are caused by political miscalculation and al interventions ? I would have preferred to nant on Civil and Political Rights. But who hubris. Keeping the peace presupposes that see a vote on this question in the General knows about that? Most politicians have no all parties are willing to talk to each other Assembly. I can imagine that the vast ma- idea about it, not to mention knowledge of and to find compromises. If we succeed in jority would have voted against interven- individual articles thereof. Therefore, the making people talk to each other, we can tion. However, a relatively small number Secretary-General must be alert so as to call think about how we can realize reforms of states would most likely have abstained a special session of the General Assembly as in order to find solutions to the real prob- from voting and three would have endorsed soon as he sees a danger that the politicians lems that beset the world. But one thing is intervention. It is necessary for civil soci- are galloping off. This dynamic needs to be certain: you will not reach a solution with ety to demand that democratically elected stopped before it goes too far. We have ac- weapons, otherwise we will continue the governments respect the will of the inter- tually seen that in all wars. After politicians vicious cycle of hatred meeting hatred. A national community that disputes be settled display a tough “bravado” and present them- frequently arising problem is that some by negotiation and not by force. Again and selves with a degree of cockiness, they don’t states play geopolitics by supporting one again I found politicians and media attempt- want to calm down or be moderate in their side with weapons and money and even in- ing to distort the situation, pretending that tone or show any willingness to negotiate, citing that side to intransigence so that they the international community would approve which would be perceived as “weakness”. think they can remain subborn and refuse an attack on Syria (or at least be “comforta- One must make it easier for the politicians. any and all compromise proposals. ble” with it), which is certainly not the case, After having made so much noise, they must as the polls show. In this situation it is im- be able to withdraw gradually, without los- You mentioned dialogue as an instrument portant that a mechanism of world referen- ing face. There must be a mechanism that of peace keeping ... da be set up in order to listen to the voice offers always a possibility in the General As- … Dialogue means that I perceive the other of the peoples of the world. The interna- sembly for states to withdraw without suffer- party as an equal partner in conversation. tional community should shout “Basta” and ing disgrace. One agrees to use diplomacy and human demand an accounting from leaders who Another idea is to forward the question intelligence Instead of force. This is the are not respecting the will of the majori- of war-mongering to the International Court main idea of the United Nations, as cleaar- ty of the people in all countries.The Unit- of Justice in The Hague for a consultative ly stated in the preamble and in the first ed Nations Secretary-General already has opinion based on the implications of article and second articles of the UN Charter. All a special advisor of the prevention on geno- 20 ICCPR. The ICJ could issue an opinion disputes must be solved by peaceful means. cide. A Special adviser against war-monger- stating that this behavior of politicians is il- This entails a commitment to good faith ing is required, who would set up a kind of legal and must have criminal consequences. negotiation. States must not obstinately act early warning system, so that the dynamic It is considered the norm, that to threaten outside negotiations and say: I’m not will- of war does not develop, and if propaganda with the use of force is prohibited; the UN ing to talk. One must not set conditions be- for war is being practiced in some states, it Charter prohibits this. You have to make use fore entering into a dialogue with others. should be condemned by a vote of the Un- of the authority of the International Court That is against the spirit and the letter of tied Nations General Assembly. If we saw of Justice, so that it is clear that these politi- Article 2 Paragraph 3 of the Charter. after the voting, that 160 or more states in cians operate outside of the law. That gives the General Assembly oppose an interven- NGOs the opportunity to exert pressure If the people, no matter at what political tion, it would become much more difficult on the basis of the ICJ’s judgement and to level, would talk more to each other, using for any state, to unilaterally intervene in the oblige the offenders to dialogue again. Yet honest exchange, one could have prevent- absence of consent by the General Assem- another possibility is to invoke article 5 of ed many wars and unspeakable suffering. bly and/or Security Council. the Rome Statute of the International Crim- This approach must be pursued. inal Court, which gives the ICC competence Last week we heard the drums of war, as You mentioned the media and the idea of (beginning 2017) to prosecute the crime of we had experienceed flagrant war-monger- a Special Rapporteur against warmon- aggression. When States parties to the ICC ing in 1999 as well, when NATO attacked gering. What do you imagine specifically? violate this provision, they are not acting in Yugoslavia after the Rambouillet negotia- In such an atmosphere of warmongering, good faith as required by article 26 of the tions, and in 2003, when the hate campaign a dangerous dynamic unfolds which we Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. against Iraq was running full speed. There refer to as “hype” both by the politicians was no intention to conduct sincere negoti- and the media. This is an agitation in which Does your mandate include such propos- ations in Rambouilllet or elsewhere, but a politicians or the media try to outdo each als? desire to test new weapons and to demon- other, like bolting horses. This is one of Yes, my mandate of all the mandates strate who is more powerful and all of this the greatest dangers to peace. To prevent that have been established by the Human outside of the United Nations. Had there or to stop such stampede to war, a world Rights Council, includes the reconciliation been negotiations in the Security Council authority is needed. The General Assem- of peoples, of human beings, of politicians, at that time, certainly no resolution would bly is the only authority we have today, or of states. I take this very seriously when have been adopted allowing the NATO in- possibly also the Secretary-General of the submitting my proposals to the states. I tervention in Yugoslavia or in Iraq. So a United Nations. Therefore, I have proposed formulated 35 proposals in my report, pro- war would have been impossible. . that in this situation the Secretary-General posals to the states, to the Human Rights must raise the alarm when he realizes that Council to National Human Rights Insti- Wasn’t dialogue the deciding factor, after this dynamic is being fueled . As Indicated tutions and to civil society. They are prag- all? above, the Secretary General should have a matic, feasible proposals. This is the novel- It always is. In Syria, an imminent military Special Adviser on the Prevention of War ty of my mandate. I want, for example, the intervention was averted through the dia- Similarly, the Human Rights Council could Council to pay more attention to the princi- logue between two great powers -- for the establish a Special Rapporteur on the Pre- time being. But the dialogue must take place vention of Warmongering. continued on page 3 No 29 7 October 2013 Current Concerns Page 3

”‘All disputes must be resolved by …’” continued from page 2 Documentation: Letter to US Parliament ple of self-determination. This had always been a separate item on the agenda at the Human Rights Commission.Unfortunately it is not a constitutive item of the agenda of the Human Rights Council. .

How could the dialogue on the issue of Syrian Arab Republic diplomacy before involving their nation war and peace be encouraged, so that People’s Assembly into war. wars will really belong to the past, as a The Speaker We hope that your Honourable Mem- period of human incompetence? No 393 bers will also take a similar approach. This issue certainly includes the reform of Damascus 04 September 2013 Yours faithfully, the Security Council. It is not representa- Rep. John Boehner Speaker of People’s Assembly tive, because only 15 states are represent- Speaker of the House MHD. Jihad AL-LAHHAM ed there. Five of them are veto states that U.S. House of Representatives can block everything. This must be gradu- Washington, DC 20515 ally changed. Of course, the five privileged Dear Sirs and Madams states do not like to give up their privileg- Greetings, “If civilization is to survive, we es. My idea is to change it over a period Please find attached an urgent formal must cultivate the science of of 5 to 10 years. One could allow the veto Open Letter from myself as Speaker of human relationships – the ability only for clearly defined affairs. Why should the Syrian Parliament. I am sending this of all peoples, to live together, in there be one vote only that blocks every- on behalf of the Members of the Syrian the same world at peace.” thing? An amendment to article 27 of the People’s Assembly. The institution that Charter could provide that instead of only has functioned continuously since its one negative vote the council could de- foundation in 1919. Franklin D. Roosevelt mand two or even three negative votes in In view of today’s crucial debate on order to reject a draft decision or resolu- a possible American military attack on We write to you urgently as you are de- tion. Thus, it could gradually change. Rath- our country, it is vital that the attached bating the process of launching an at- er than creating more privileges and grant- letter to be circulated immediately to tack on Syria. Additionally, we write to ing the veto power to more states, it would every Congress Member prior to the de- you as fellow Parliamentarians and rep- be best to abolish the veto privilege altoge- bate. resentatives of our peoples. her. Of course, the composition of the Secu- In addition, we kindly ask you read It is still important that, we write to rity Council could still be changed from 15 out the letter during the opening stag- you as fathers and mothers, as members to 24 or 25, adding other permanent mem- es of the debate in order to ensure that of families and communities which re- bers such as India, Pakistan or Brazil, Japan the Honourable Members are fully ap- ally are not so different to yours. More- and Germany. Admittedly, that would be praised of the situation in Syria and of over, we write to you as human beings undemocratic, but there may be advantages the proposals included in the attached asking: if you bomb us, shall we not in keeping the Security Council as an en- letter, and in order to ensure that the full bleed?! The innocent people will be larged, more representative entity. Moreo- text of the letter is registered in your re- harmed. ver, the General Assembly should be pro- cords. Local tragedies become regional wars vided with more power, e.g. exercise more It is important to note that we have that led to global conflict because of the influence in all areas under the Charter, but sent an explanatory letter regarding the lack of communication among nations. particularly on questions of peacebuilding situation in Syria to our colleagues at We urge you to communicate with us and prevention of war. This must not remain the British Parliament who took the re- solely the exclusive domain of the Securi- sponsibility to exhaust all avenues of continued on page 4 ty Council. There must be no wars that the peoples of the world oppose. 80 percent of the Americans were opposed to military in- pation by the population in all decisions of will of the people must be held accounta- tervention in Syria, similarly in Germany, government. The people demand the right ble, driven into the desert, or “tarred and France, England, Italy. If the governments to be heard, the right to know and the right feathered” as was the practice in the early call themselves democratic, they must listen to truth. We need as much direct democ- days of the United States. A conscience of to the people. It can not be that a democrat- racy as possible. Of course, power-greedy democratic governance can and should be ically elected government does something men prefer the so-called representative de- achieved in every state. And then we must against the expressed will of the people. mocracy becausee it is easier to manipu- strengthen the General Assembly at the in- In such situations, the General Assembly late. Whereas a referendum need not be held ternational level, as the most representative should conduct worldwide referenda to find on every minor issue, certainly the people body that we have today. We must consider out what the citizens want and what they de- must be heard when it comes to important a “world parliament of the citizens”, which cidedly do not want. In this connection the things like the environment, finances war is directly based on the will of the people establishment of a “World Parliament As- and peace. Who is going to die in a war? and in each country the democratic devel- sembly” could finally break the power of ol- Not the old politicians, but the civilian pop- opment has to be supported, always in a di- igarchies. ulations More than 90 percent of the victims alogue, there is no alternative. • in modern wars are civilians, and. It is the Do we not need genuine democracy in irresponsible politicians who lead countries Interview: Thomas Kaiser each country at first? and the world to disaster. Therefore, let the Yes, I strongly advocate direct democracy, people say what they want and what they and this entails consultation of and partici- do not want. Politicians who act against the No 29 7 October 2013 Current Concerns Page 4

”Docmentation: letter to …” The main common enemy to our two a) Syria is a sovereign state that does not continued from page 3 nations is the hatred wahhabi Jihadi pose any threat to the United States of ideology represented by Al- Qaida, A1 America; through civilized dialogue rather than the Nusra Front and its affiliates. b) The UN Security Council did not language of fire and blood. adopt such an action. In Syria, we are keeping in mind the 2. Alleged Chemical Attacks c) The UN Report about the terrible in- American dream of family values, the op- 2.1 Evidences of possessing Chemical cident in Damascus Countryside – portunity of success in a peaceful envi- Weapons by the armed fanatic terrorist Ghotta – has not been formulated. ronment. James Truslow Adams said in groups: No-one can even know whether it 1931, “life should be better and richer • On 19.03.2013 Khan Al-Asal, Aleppo will include enough evidence for any and fuller for everyone, with opportunity chemical attack on civilians and mil- claims and allegations. for each according to ability or achieve- itary personnel, Syrian Government d) On the contrary, the UN has already ment” regardless of social class, religion asked on 20.03.2013 for an immedi- concluded that there is a very strong ev- or circumstances of birth. ate UN investigation. The investiga- idence that the fundamentalist terror- Before your debate at the Congress tion Team visit was delayed for more ists from the al-Nusrah Front – a terror- let’s recall the following: than 5 months by US, France and UK ist organization affiliated to al Qaeda intervention. – have used a poison gas against Syrian 1. Common facts On 30.05.2013 Turkey announced soldiers and innocent civilians. Conse- – The main factor of 9/11 attacks was the capture of an Islamist fanatic ter- quently, any aggressive act against in- the hatred Wahhabi Jihadist Ideology rorist group possessing two litres of nocent and sovereign people, without adopted and financed by Saudis. Sarin Gas. Therefore, Mr. Sergey Lav- any legal evidence, would be a criminal – The hatred Wahhabi Jihadist Ideology rov, the Russian foreign minister, on act breaching the principles of the Inter- was born from the Muslim Brother- 31.05.2013 urged the Turkish Govern- national Law. While some of the west- hood jihadist doctrine. One of the liv- ment to cooperate to avoid the possi- ern circles are offering all possible sup- ing example is Omar Abdel Rahman, bility of any future chemical attack in port to the fanatic Wahhabi rebels who who’s actually in your prison, where the Middle East and Europe. were accused of committing crimes by many parties claiming to be your al- • 0n 01.06.2013 the Iraqi Army an- the UN, which is surely a breach of your lies are seeking his release. nounced the capture of a fundamen- declared basic principles of justice. – More than 3 trillion USD, hundreds of talist fanatic terrorist group on the We highly appreciate your moral feeling of thousands of killed and injured Amer- Iraqi-Syrian borders, and seized sorrow at the images of the chemical attack icans and Iraqis and millions of Iraqi chemical weapons and a remote con- victims. We the Syrians, are fully co-oper- refugees were the cost of the ongoing trol of a small helicopter. ating with the UN Investigation Team, Syr- military war on terrorism. • 0n 28.07.2013 the Syrian authorities ian experts are also investigating the ques- – Due to the Saudi money the Salafi handed to the Russian and Chinese tion of who carried out this atrocity and Wahhabi different jihadist “Mad- diplomatic missions in Damascus the sharing the UN Team with the results. We rassas” are still operating and where evidence of the possessing chemical Parliamentarians, are determined to reach thousands of kids are graduated every weapon by al Nusra Front and their in- the truth and to bring the involved crimi- year from these terrorist centers. tention to use them to attack Muaaret nals to justice, regardless whoever they are. – Kitchen tools plus Wahhabi Ideology al Numan and the suburb of Aleppo. In the meantime we urge you not to are the main factors behind the horri- Conclusion: the above facts proves rush into any irresponsible reckless ac- ble terrorist attacks around the world that the fundamentalist Jihadist terror- tion. You have the power and the respon- and Boston crime is the living exam- ist groups possessed and used chemical sibility today to convert the United States ple of the present and future sleeping weapons previously. of America from the war track to the dip- cells model. lomatic path. We hope to meet there, and – Since late seventies, Syria was the first 2.2 Question: Logically, what is the ben- to talk, as civilised peoples should. We country that faced fundamentalist fa- efit of the Syrian Government to commit adopt a diplomatic solution, as we realize natic terrorism. a chemical attack crime during the visit that war would be a bloody destructive – Now, Syria is fighting tens of thou- of the U.N. Independent International catastrophic track, which does not have sands of Non-Syrian jihadists. Commission of Inquiry on Syria within any benefit for all nations. – Syria is the last living genuine secular less than 4 miles from the Commission In fact, the most important matter is state in the Middle East. residence at Four Seasons Hotel?! that we all face the same terrorist threat. – The United States and Syria both suf- Attacking Syria and weakening its estab- fered and are still suffering from the 3. For that reason, we urge you to come lishments and infrastructure would au- terror of the same enemy which is the to Syria, to send a delegation, as soon as tomatically strengthen the power of our hatred Wahhabi Ideology adopted and you can to see and discover for yourselves common enemy, Al Qaida and its terror- financed by Saudis. what is going on here. We invite you to ist affiliates. Instead of fighting each other, – Both of our countries fully supported come to Syria to measure the situation be- we should be working together to fully the Security Council resolutions 1373 fore you cut – especially when the cloth implement UN Security Council Resolu- and 1624 to combat terrorism. that will be cut is human flesh. Where tions 1373 and 1624 against terror. Instead we can together generate a road map for of being enemies, we should be walking “I ask you to judge me by the ene- a joint effective effort against terrorism. the road to peace and truth together. mies I have made.” We believe that such an aggressive and With Best Regards unjustified act of war would be unfair and Franklin D. Roosevelt illegal due to the following reasons: Speaker of People’s Assembly MHD. Jihad AL-LAHHAM No 29 7 October 2013 Current Concerns Page 5 Statement of the Africa Forum on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic* Forum of the former heads of state and government, Pretoria, 5 September 2013

We, members of the Forum for Former and Libya. The only correct response even violations by their own Governments. African Heads of State and Government, to the use of chemical weapons is not fur- Consistent with all the foregoing, we are commonly referred to as Africa Forum ther to escalate the violent conflict, but convinced that the international commu- (AF), have been deeply concerned about radically to intensify and accelerate the nity has a solemn obligation to do every- the protracted civil war in Syria, which effort towards a negotiated peaceful reso- thing possible to help end the Syrian con- has now raged for two-and-a-half years. lution of the Syrian civil war. flict by peaceful means. It has been our understanding from Therefore, as Africans, we strongly We urge that all African Governments, the beginning that this conflict was occa- urge that all Member States of the UN, and all other Governments throughout the sioned by serious differences among the again without exception, should desist world, working though the UN, must act Syrian people concerning their country’s from taking any military action in Syria urgently to help achieve this outcome, in constitutional and political system. It was of any kind, including using the alleged the fundamental interest of the peoples of also our understanding that the root cause use of chemical weapons by the Syrian Syria and the rest of the world. of the conflict was and remain essential- Government as justification for such ac- It is our hope and expectation that all ly political. Accordingly, its solution could tion. The speedy and correct resolution of relevant multilateral organisations, includ- only be political, and not military. Against the conflict in Syria demands the exercise ing the African Union (AU), led by the this background, we have therefore held of courageous and stellar statespersonship, UN, will, at last, discharge their responsi- the view that the Syrian belligerents must without regard to the personal and nation- bility aggressively and faithfully to repre- urgently enter into inclusive negotiations al short-term interests of particular politi- sent the view of the peoples of the world to end the civil war through a peaceful cians in our various countries. in favour of peace, refusing to be intimi- process. We strongly urge that no foreign power dated by those who exercise inequitable Consequently, the international com- whatsoever should insert itself in the im- global political, military and other power. munity has had the solemn responsibili- mensely destructive Syrian civil war as a ty to encourage and assist all the Syrians belligerent, even on the basis that it seeks to engage in these inclusive negotiations. to deter the use of chemical weapons. All Signed by: In this regard, as Africans, we have been those who would be statesperson players ready to give all necessary support to the on the global stage, today, must under- Members of the Africa Forum two eminent Africans, Kofi Annan and stand what motivated the statespersons of 1. HE Nicephore Dieudonne Soglo, For- Lakhdar Brahimi, who were given the on- the day, at the end of the Second World mer President of the Republic of Benin erous responsibility to facilitate a peaceful War, to insist on the establishment of in- and Vice Chairperson of the Africa resolution of the Syrian conflict. ternational institutions, processes and law Forum We, therefore, support the fundamen- to help ensure the peaceful resolution of 2. HE Sir Quett Ketumile Joni Masire, tal position agreed by major players in conflicts within and between countries. Former President of the Republic of the world concerned about Syria, in fa- That insistence by the Allied Powers Botswana vour of a peaceful resolution of the Syri- against Nazism resulted, among others, 3. HE Festus Gontebanye Mogae, For- an conflict, as reflected in the June 6, 2012 in the adoption of the UN Charter, which mer President of the Republic of Bot- Final Communiqué of the Geneva Confer- is a fundamental and inalienable part of swana ence on Syria. Accordingly, we have been contemporary international law. We, on 4. HE Pierre Buyoya, Former President and are opposed to all international in- our part, as Africans, are directly interest- of the Republic of Burundi terventions which have added and would ed in a law‐governed rather than an arbi- 5. HE António Manuel Mascarenhas add fuel to the fire, by arming any and trary system of international relations, im- Gomes Monteiro, Former President of all the Syrian belligerents. We have re- posed on the world by those who exercise the Republic of Cape Verde ceived with horror the news that chemical military and other might. weapons have been used in this conflict, For this reason we insist that any action 6. HE Pedro de Verona Rodrigues Pires, and strongly condemn this. We are there- which practically repudiates the UN Char- Former President of the Republic of Cape Verde fore convinced that all Member States of ter would be an historical regression that the United Nations (UN), without excep- takes all humanity backwards towards an 7. HE Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, For- tion, should rely on the UN to establish unacceptable past, thus to repudiate the in- mer President of the Republic of The the truth, to the best of its ability, with re- alienable right of all nations to determine Gambia gard to various important matters. These their destiny. International law upholds 8. HE Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, For- are whether and what chemical weapons the view and sets the norm that conflicts mer President of the Republic of were used, where and when, and who used within and between States should be re- Ghana them. solved peacefully, rather than through re- 9. HE John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor, For- As Africans we remain acutely con- sort to force. mer President of the Republic of scious of the elaborate disinformation We strongly support the view that, in Ghana campaigns in which major powers en- the main, international law prohibits that 10. HE Henrique Pereira Rosa, Former gaged, among others by using world any State should intervene in any other President of the Republic of Guinea- media outlets, to propagate falsehoods to to encourage the violent overthrow of the Bissau justify their armed interventions in Iraq Government of the day. This internation- 11. HE Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, For- al law also regulates all such interven- mer President of the Republic of * The statement of the Africa Forum was written tions as would be said to discharge the so‐ Kenya before the resolution of the Security Council of called ‘responsibility to protect’ peoples 27 September 2013 (S/RES/2118 (2013)) subjected to unacceptable human rights continued on page 6 No 29 7 October 2013 Current Concerns Page 6

”‘Statement of the Africa Forum …” 24. HE Miguel Dos Anjos Trovoada, For- tive Secretary of the United Nations continued from page 5 mer President of the Republic of São Economic Commission for Africa Tomé and Príncipe (UNECA) 25. HE Fradique Bandeira Melo de Men- 38. HE Chief Eleazar Chukwu Emeka ezes, Former President of the Republic Anyaoku, Former Secretary General of 12. HE Emilio Mwai Kibaki, Former Pres- of São Tomé and Príncipe the Commonwealth of Nations ident of the Republic of Kenya 26. HE Alhaji Almad Tejan Kabbah, For- 39. HE Dr Babacar N'Diaye, Former 13. HE Prof Amos Claudius Sawyer, For- mer President of the Republic of Sierra President of the African Development mer President of the Republic of Libe- Leone Bank (AfDB) ria 27. HE Nelson Rolihlahla Dalibhunga 40. HE Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, Former 14. HE Dr Elson Bakili Muluzi, Former Mandela, Former President of the Secretary General of the Organization President of the Republic of Malawi Republic of South Africa and Patron of African Unity (OAU) 15. HE Alpha Oumar Konaré, Former of the Africa Forum 41. HE Edem Kodjo, Former Prime Minis- President of the Republic of Mali 28. HE Thabo Mbeki, Former President of ter of the Republic of Togo and Former 16. HE Cassam Uteem, Former President the Republic of South Africa Secretary General of the Organization of the Republic of Mauritius 29. HE Sadiq Al Mahdi, Former President of African Unity (OAU) 17. HE Karl Auguste Offmann, Former of the Republic of Sudan 42. HE Abdoulie Janneh, Former Execu- President of the Republic of Mauritius 30. HE Benjamin William Mkapa, Former tive Secretary of the United Nations 18. HE Joaquim Alberto Chissano, For- President of the Republic of Tanzania Economic Commission for Africa mer President or the Republic of 31. HE Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Former Presi- (UNECA) Mozambique and Chairperson of the dent of the Republic of Tanzania 43. HE Jean Ping, Former Chairperson of Africa Forum 32. HE Dr Kenneth David Kaunda, For- the Commission of the African Union 19. HE Samuel Daniel Shafiishuna mer President of the Republic of Zam- (AU) Nujoma, Former President of the bia Republic of Namibia 33. HE Rupiah Bwezani Banda, Former * To be confirmed by the General Assembly 20. HE Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, President of the Republic of Zambia* Forum for Former African Heads of State Former President of the Federal Repub- 34. HE William Eteki Mboumoua, Former and Government, Pretoria, 5 September lic of Nigeria Secretary General of the Organization 2013, of African Unity (OAU) Ref: AF/ Statement/Syria.1/09/2013. 21. HE Dr Abdul Salam Abubakar, For- 35. HE Dr Boutros Boutros Ghali, For- Executive Secretariat: mer President of the Federal Republic mer Secretary General of the United 7th Floor Metro Park Building, 351 Fancis of Nigeria Nations (UN) Baard Street, Pretoria P. O. Box. 6541, Pre- 22. HE Matthew Olusegum Obasanjo, toria 0001, 36. HE Kofi Atta Annan, Former Secre- Former President of the Federal Republic of South Africa. tary General of the United Nations Republic of Nigeria (UN) Tel: +27 12 354 8073/ 8048. 23. HE Gen Dr Yakubu Jack Dan-Yumma Fax: +27 12 354 8163 37. HE Prof Adedeji Adebayo, Former UN Gowon, Former President of the Fed- E-mail: [email protected] Under-Secretary General and Execu- eral Republic of Nigeria www.africaforum.org

Current Concerns The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law Subscribe to Current Concerns – The journal of an independent cooperative The cooperative Zeit-Fragen is a politically and financially independent organisation. All of its mem­bers work on a voluntary and honorary basis. The journal does not accept commercial advertisements of any kind and receives no financial support from business organisations. The journal Current Concerns is financed exclusively by its subscribers. We warmly recommend our model of free and independent press coverage to other journals. Annual subscription rate of CHF 40,-; Euro 30,-; USD 40,-; GBP 25,- for the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hongkong, Iceland, Ireland, Is- rael, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Swit- zerland, United Arab ­Emirates, United Kingdom, USA Annual subscription rate of CHF 20,-; Euro 15,-; USD 20,-; GBP 12,50 for all other countries. Please choose one of the following ways of payment: - send a cheque to Current Concerns, P. O. Box, CH-8044 Zurich, or - send us your credit card details (only Visa), or - pay into one of the following accounts: CH: Postscheck-Konto (CHF): 87-644472-4 IBAN CH91 0900 0000 8764 4472 4 BIC POFICHBEXXX CH: Postscheck-Konto (Euro): 91-738798-6 IBAN CH83 0900 0000 9173 8798 6 BIC POFICHBEXXX D: Volksbank Tübingen, Kto. 67 517 005, BLZ 64190110 IBAN DE12 6419 0110 0067 5170 05 BIC GENODES1TUE A: Raiffeisen Landesbank, Kto. 1-05.713.599, BLZ 37000 IBAN AT55 3700 0001 0571 3599 BIC RVVGAT2B No 29 7 October 2013 Current Concerns Page 7

The tasks of media in liberal democracy Address by Ueli Maurer, President of the Federal Council, to the Swiss Media Congress on 13 September 2013, in Interlaken

In case something Three state political ferent shades. I can read this or that news- is very wrong; if duties of the media paper, which one is irrelevant, the opinion there is a worm In 1830, Ludwig Snell, one of the big names tenor is the same everywhere. Sometimes I in the apple, for of Swiss liberalism at the time, published a have the feeling that the media suddenly as- instance, dealing paper titled “On the prohibitive effectiveness sume the role of their own censor! with the worm is of the press”. In it, he summarized the state Second, media must screen mistakes. not enough. In- political function of the press in three points: This also means that you call into question stead you have to First, it was formative, secondly, it was pro- the government’s activities. Unfortunately, look at the whole hibitive and thirdly, it was constitutive. He this is too seldom the case. Maybe because apple, whether it then explained what he meant by these terms. you feel too great proximity to the respon- President of the is perhaps rotten; Even if we would choose other terms today, sible persons, personally or politically. But Federal Council or at the whole his analysis is valid, since it is timeless: actually, you would have to be everywhere Ueli Maurer tree whether its With the term formative he meant that as critical as with respect to the army ... (picture thk) roots are still okay. new ideas are taken up, discussed and dis- Third, the media hardly seem to be con- For this reason, seminated by the press. We can also say it is stitutive, as the liberal state founders ex- I go a little further afield, today. For I am the shopwindow, in which all sorts of ideas pressed it at that time. They do not take of the opinion that there is something very can be presented. Or perhaps even better: the people’s concerns as their subject; media wrong with our media scenery ... marketplace of ideas, on which the best pre- take the concerns of the media as their sub- vail. For a democracy it is crucial that there ject. Administration and politics are not in- Searching for guarantees of freedom is a free competition of ideas, opinions and formed about what the people think and I shall begin in the first half of the 19th suggestions. want, but what the media think and want ... century. This was the time of origin of With the term prohibitive he meant that The conclusion: Today, the media no our liberal democratic order. After the the press uncovers and fights nuisances. longer accomplish what is needed for a Restoration, liberal cantonal constitutions Today, we would speak of researchive or in- functioning liberal and democratic state. emerged in the cantons new. And finally in vestigative journalism. The main drive here is And so it becomes really serious: so the 1848, the federal government also received a healthy distrust of power. For the liberals of central pillar of our order is crumbling. a constitution, which aims at guaranteeing that time it was clear that the state is always a the citizens as much freedom as possible. potential threat to freedom. They themselves The opinion cartel and its theses The 1820s and 1830s were very fertile had indeed experienced that in the Ancien As far as the content is concerned, they with respect to state politics. They were Régime. Therefore it is a very important duty differ little in their products. Diversity is characterized by active discussions: How of the press to screen the state and denounce lacking. There is largely a media opinion can we guarantee the citizens freedom for mistakes permanently. cartel. On the one hand by an economic a long duration? How can we ensure that Snell wrote that the press was constitu- concentration, on the other hand by a the- the authorities, the state will not again be- tive. By this he meant that the media make matic and ideological concentration. In come too powerful over time? How can the connection between citizens and the the Swiss media scene there is something we prevent that a small elite will rule over state by taking the concerns and needs of the like a self-possessed cooptation. the vast majority again, sooner or later? population as their subject. Thus, adminis- There is talk of title variety. This was said Then, many of the ideas that we take tration and policy are up to date with what to be important and vulnerable. So promo- for granted today, for example the consti- the people think. tion measures were needed. There I disa- tutional liberties of the citizens, were de- gree. Diversity of ideas would be important, veloped. Or a new criminal law that pro- Who controlls the controllers? diversity of opinion is important. Title diver- hibits punishment without a legal basis. The liberal state and the free press go to- sity is pure masquerade as long as we get to Or the beginnings of transparency in the gether. The order, which has brought so read the same contents under various titles. administration, justice and governance. much quality of life and prosperity to Swit- You feel the competition of the nation- All these achievements are to ensure free- zerland, rests on them. al television, because it offers similar in- dom in such a way that it can never get But just because it has gone well so long, formation online as you do. Of course, I lost again. one aspect was overlooked. And only today am the first who is on the side of private All these constitutional guarantees are we notice that the liberal thinkers at that enterprises. But unfortunately I have to important for freedom. But they are not time might have underestimated the risk. state resignedly: For the diversity of opin- enough. In those days, this was clear for For one question remained – it is the ion, it makes no great difference, if we are the founders of liberal Switzerland: Free- question: Who is controlls the controllers? fobbed off with the same food by state dom is only possible in the long run if Or in other words: what happens in case the media or private media ... there is a politically attentive and critical media do no longer perform their role prop- Because you see the same issues through public. erly? Maybe because they are simply work- the same glasses; you have your theses, by And thus the newspapers and maga- ing carelessly. Or maybe because they want which you judge the world. And these theses zines obtained their crucial role for free- to make policy on their own. are hardly ever questioned by you. One could dom and democracy. Previously they had Precisely this question is relevant also call them the credo of the Swiss media. I been subjected to more or less strict cen- today. Let us again recapitulate Snell’s want to quote some of your dogmas: sorship since the invention of printing. But points very quickly: • Man is to be blamed for climate now theywere to be a key element in the First, media are supposed to be the mar- change. new liberal state. The press was assigned ketplace for ideas and opinions. But in- • Nuclear energy is evil, alternative ener- to some extent the protection mandate for stead of representing different opinions, all gy is good. freedom. of them write more or less the same in dif- continued on page 8 No 29 7 October 2013 Current Concerns Page 8

”The tasks of media …” their laurels. Here is the beginning of the nobody is motivated to become more in- continued from page 7 problems. novative and to venture new ways. There is no incentive to be different and • Immigration is an enrichment, even if better and more interesting. The quality Appeal to the publishers: in a small country the net immigration suffers. Because you differ only in nuanc- More responsibility! More pluralism! amounts to about 80,000 people per es, you can be content with shallow work. If we go back to the original subject: To year. The shallow work is sufficient, you need the freedom of the citizen and how it can • International solutions are always bet- not go to the depth at all because the oth- be protected for extended periods of time. ter than national ones. ers stay at the surface as well. In the long One has built the liberal, democratic state • Switzerland is always in the wrong, be run, however, this certainly does not lead on you, on the free media. the reproaches against our country ever to appeal to the reader and arouse enthusi- In Goethe’s “Faust” someone asks as absurd and transparent. asm for a product. the question: “I would like to know what • The state acts more responsibly than Generally, I sometimes have the im- holds the world together at heart!” For the the citizen. pression, you deal with yourselves above world the question is unanswered till this The fact that these opinions are held, is all and do not think enough of your read- day. However, for a democratic and liberal no problem. If, however, only these opin- ership. For tax reductions, for example, society we know the answer. It is the var- ions are exclusively held, opinion-form- you campaign, unfortunately, only if you ied, on all sides critical media which hold ing suffers. They define fields for discus- want to profit yourselves from dimin- the society together. But you see: Today sion much too narrow. If they do, there is ished VAT rates – nevertheless, engage we are far away from the state-political no more controversial discussion about es- yourselves categorically for tax relieves role which you should actually play. In sential principles and setting the course for for everybody sometimes! With that you effect, our media are uniform, colourful- the future. would launch a state-politically valuable ly presented, but pale, bland and monoto- For politically correct taboo zones you discussion! nous with respect to the contents. draw the red lines which will not be tres- With the time the professional group This worries me: Only varied media make passed any more. Not from you because also suffers: Where everybody sings democracy possible. Since without you we you omit investigating in certain areas. in the same choir, the inventive voices do not hear about new, good ideas and so- And also not from others because eve- are absent. I miss heads and thinkers, lutions, without you we do not hear about rybody loses his reputation who stands above all exciting, awkward customers mismanagement which must be urgently re- up against the concerted opinion of the and unconventional thinkers in journal- paired, and without you politics hears noth- media. Hence the original role has turned ism. This is not astonishing, because he ing from the concerns of the citizens. into the opposite: Instead of promoting or she who would like to write beyond What is to be done? I have just now good discussions, good discussions are the known thought patterns with pleas- raised the question: Who controlls the con- prevented. ure , can hardly develop in a monoto- trollers? What does that mean in relation to nous media scenery. the media? The answer is easy in the liber- The opinion cartel Probably one has also to ascribe this to al state: Of course it is nobody except you! as an economic boomerang the much too big harmony that the offer- However, with that the whole state-political In the end, you as well will become the ings of the new media press you to. Ex- responsibility rests on you, as well, you, the victim of your own conformity. The press actly this has happened to some of you publishers. It is your task to provide real va- is living through times not very rosy, fi- with what you like to reproach others with riety in healthy competition. Do not look for nancially. However, you have to blame pleasure: You have missed the connection further state nearness and state press support. this on yourself at least to some extent. with modern developments. Renounce instead the opinion cartel and play The situation of an opinion cartel is the Now you react in such a way as most your important state-political role again! • same as for other cartels: First it is com- industries react in case of headwind: They Source: www.vbs.admin.ch/internet/ fortable. Then one becomes sluggish be- turn to the state and require support. How- vbs/de/home/documentation/reden/liste/ cause the stimulus for improvements and ever, all in all, the problems will only in- detailspeech.50232.nsb.print.html of changes is lacking. Everybody rests on tensify thereby. Since with subsidies 13.9.2013 Swiss Trade Association director Hans-Ulrich Bigler in the crossfire of conformist Swiss German Press The only reasonable person on this wobbly globe? mw. “Polarizing appearance,” “casual can- So what evil has he perpetrated? The of SME! Just fancy that! And he has do style”, “aggressive tone”, “surly dealing reader learns little of substance: He is said shown “high-handed behavior”. Name- with people,” “autocratic behavior” – it is to have accused the think tank Avenir Suisse ly, he ran for a National Council seat on a truly terrible collection of labels which of using “cheap polemics” and reproached the Zurich Free Democrats’ list in 2011. is being stuck on to Hans Ulrich Bigler, a so-called bourgeois politician for “the be- And surely we cannot tolerate that in di- director of the Swiss Trade Association, trayal of the word bourgeois”. When, how, rect democratic Switzerland a citizen ex- by some brave and upright journalists. where, in what context did this happen? ercises his political rights and stands for Now, a person treated in so devastating a This is what the reader is not told – perhaps parliament – that is just not done! By the manner by the conformist Swiss German because there are one or two grains of truth way, director Bigler has also suggested we Press cannot be all bad, can he? Oh yes, in director Bigler’s statements? abolish the euro floor. At last, thinks the and he inspires fear as well, as it seems But now we are getting somewhere: rational citizen, here is someone who ex- that many small entrepreneurs will com- Hans-Ulrich Bigler “has the urge to repre- presses his uneasiness about the Swiss Na- ment on him only anonymously – a black sent SMEs as the best of all companies”. tional Bank sitting on tons of bills which mark for Mr Bigler – or perhaps rather for Now this is indeed appalling: The director the anonymous denouncer? of the Swiss Trade Association approves continued on page 9 No 29 7 October 2013 Current Concerns Page 9 Providing education as a civil right – developing responsible citizens by Erika Vögeli

The Swiss elementary school, but also reforms have only led to the conclusion come study dropouts, respectively “not the higher education institutions at the that a regulated learning in class and the employable”. tertiary level, especially the universities, formation of a real classroom community The analyses and presentations show have really been turned upside down in are no longer wanted from above – so far clearly even for us in Switzerland that recent years by numberless reforms. And no one has dared to enter a staff room with such “IO’s” have influenced and con- more are to follow. However, meanwhile an honest explanation – with all the con- trolled not only the content of educa- many small and midsize businesses ab- sequences for the emotional side of school tion policy, but also the structures of our stain from taking on apprentices, because and learning and for democracy. The ex- democratic state founded on the rule of the young people no longer meet the per- perienced teachers complain that children law: they have on one hand redefined the sonal and academic requirements to be a do no longer receive a solid basic knowl- form and content of schools and univer- staff members in a company. Other com- edge and that they are prepared much too sities, but they have also taken enormous panies have resorted to conducting their little for professional life, much less for influence at the level of government de- own entrance exams or tests, as the final their civic role in democracy. The “re- cision-making and policy-making and grades at school do no longer have any va- forms”, which are allegedly necessary be- severely shifted it – away from its dem- lidity for them. cause of the globalization of economy, do ocratic basis, away from legislature and The introduction of constantly new therefore not serve the real economy, and the sovereign – towards a willfully con- methods and materials and of an adminis- they miss to accomplish one of the most trolling influence on executives, towards trative burden that has replaced a real ed- important tasks of elementary school in a “actors”and “IO’s” who have no dem- ucational reflection have made school a democratic state: the provision of educa- ocratic legitimac; shifting it, moreover, structure which now has to be rightly com- tion as a civil right, and the developing of from its constitutional foundation down to pared with the financial bubble of rubbish responsible citizens. the level of a construction site, for which assets. The initiators – US, EU and OECD Even at the universities, well-ground- there is no legally binding basis and which with the “Bertelsmann plow” in front – are ed resistance arises both from the facul- is therefore not accessible for direct-dem- obviously rejoicing at their success. There ty and the students. Instead of receiving ocratic mechanisms. Thus, the organiza- is also a huge inflation of “therapeutic” a broad foundation of studies with aca- tion of education policies which is actual- measures – in many classes a number of demic specialization based on it, students ly considered one of the core tasks of the special teachers and therapists is busy be- are chasing credit points now. A sociolo- prevailing nation-state systems and seems sides the classroom teacher. If children de- gy professor at the University of Zurich firmly anchored as part of the cultural sov- velop a little slower or faster in one or the bluntly described the Bologna reform in ereignty in the national political system, is other area, parents are immediately con- an interview: “There is bulimic learning transferred to international organizations, fronted with questions about this or that now: scoffing down, vomiting, forgetting.” which “have no legal responsibility for the psychological check of their children, Containing the university‘s space for re- education sector”. (pp. 145)3 with diagnoses and appropriate special search and thinking, “reduces university During this process in Switzerland (but measures. If they are lucky, they may just to a ‘Paukschule’” (swatting school) and: also in other states), especially the feder- get around a Ritalin prescription. “Teaching was reduced to the mainstream. alist structure, the cantons‘ sovereignty Many and especially experienced The teaching staff is forced to teach stand- on education, was undermined: The can- teachers are of the opinion that all these ardized knowledge and then query it by tons were preempted, the people, the sov- multiple-choice tests.”1 ereign, was not really informed and in- volved in the decision-making process. A ”Swiss trade association director …” How did we actually get there? basic, democratic discussion about what continued from page 9 Various papers of the Collaborative Re- is going on – whether, for example, we search Center 597 “Transformations of want to give up the traditional Swiss un- might, in the not too distant future, be fit the State” at the University of Bremen, derstanding of education and want to ex- for nothing but toilet paper. But no, says Jacobs University Bremen and Olden- change it in favor of the Anglo-Saxon sys- the outraged journalist, a Swiss citizen burg University like “Soft Governance tem – has never been carried out. who cares about the future of our country in Education. The PISA Study and the – that will certainly not do! Bologna Process in Switzerland” by The analysis of Now we are approaching the absolute Tonia Bieber2 and other publications the Collaborative Research Center highlight of Mr Bigler’s unruliness. Several throw a clear light on the processes “Transformations of the State” cabinet ministers are said to have complained going on in Swiss education during the This influence of international organiza- that “constructive cooperation” is not possi- last 15 years. They demonstrate the pro- tions on an area such as public education, ble with him. This reproach compensates for cesses and analyze how international which in all countries from time imme- every contravention that might possibly exist organizations, so-called “IO’s”, like the morial has always been closely associated – although the journalists offer no proof at all OECD by means of the PISA study and with their own identity, how does it work? –: If you cannot be roped in by Federal Berne the EU by means of the Bologna pro- How is it possible, that organizations, such for its relevantly known political plans, then cess have exerted a great influence on as the OECD and the EU, which have no you cannot be all bad at all! • the transformation of schools of prima- legislative competence in education, can ry and higher education in Switzerland; exercise such an influence, not only in the Sources: “Dicke Luft im Gewerbeverband wegen and they did so not only in Switzerland. member countries of the EU, but also in Direktor Bigler”, in: “Schweiz am Sonntag” vom 4 11.8.2013; “Hans-Ulrich Bigler, die schlech- The process has been running Europe- Switzerland? te Kopie von Otto Fischer”, in: “Die Nordwest­ wide and has led to an army of poor- schweiz” of 10.7.2013 ly educated young people who have be- continued on page 10 No 29 7 October 2013 Current Concerns Page 10

”Providing education …” strumentalization by governments, in competence, and therefore deals with all continued from page 9 which both international organizations papers concerning our statehood. • [EU and OECD] have been promoted today to become independent actors in 1 Interview with Kurt Imhof in the “SonntagsZe- Although the theoretical framework of educational policy, designing and pursu- itung” of 1.11. 2011. (Quotation translated by the Collaborative Research Center, which, ing themselves educational reform pro- Current Concerns) ² Bieber, Tonia. Soft Governance in Education. The however, as is clearly declared by the au- cesses.” (P. 146)³ PISA Study and the Bologna Process in Switzer- thors, must also be examined, they very In other words: Government execu- land. TranState Working Paper No.117. Bremen, realistically describe the process. Those tives, by the step “to outmaneuver”, via 2010. The text can be found on the Internet at www. concerned with school and education and the international level, “domestic polit- sfb597.uni-bremen.de/homepages/bieber/arbeits- reading these publications, know what is ical opponents and institutional resist- papierBeschreibung.php?ID=159&SPRACHE=de being discussed: In each section, we recall ance” (5, p 57)³ and to expand their own USER =bieber. A working group of educators and specific own experiences in our own envi- domestic scope of action, in order to gain education researchers has studied it and written to it a set of arguments for Swiss readers. www.zeit - ronment, or processes and procedures ob- more autonomy of action, that is, politi- fragen.ch served in the wider political sphere. What cal enforcement-power, have finally con- 3 Martens, Kerstin and Klaus Dieter Wolf. “Para- some have only experienced as a constant tributed to a loss of state control: The in- doxien der Neuen Staatsräson – Die Internation- alisierung der Bildungspolitik in der EU und der restlessness and relentless reform turbu- ternational organizations have taken the OECD” (Paradoxes of the new reason of state – lence, although coming along with beau- lead and, among other things, they have The internationalization of educational policy in tiful slogans such as individualization, declared war on the federalist structure the EU and the OECD). In: Zeitschrift für Inter- nationale Beziehungen. 13th year’s issues (2006), integration and lifelong learning, the back- of the European countries. The middle Issue 2. (Quotations translated by Current Con- ground of which were hard to understand, level – cantons, federal states, depart- cerns) though, gains information here about a de- ments, etc. – was part of the delicate dis- 4 In the Maastricht Treaty, some countries have ex- velopment going far beyond the education tribution of state power in the post-war plicitly insisted on putting a stop to the insidious communitarisation of educational policy powers. sector. European order, with the intention to (See note 5, p. 153) “Since in 2003 the Collaborative Re- prevent a central government like under 5 www.sfb597.uni-bremen.de/pages/forKonzept.php search Center ‘Transformation of the Hitler or Stalin being easily able to rear (Quotations translated by Current Concerns) State’ (TranState) has analyzed the its head again. To the same extent, as this transformation of the state in OECD ruinous process in the countries is be- countries at the ending 20th and the be- coming clear, resistance has grown. Yet, ginning 21st century” is published on the the question arises: How was that possi- homepage of the University of Bremen.5 ble? What have been the ways through The so-called ‘diffusion of statehood’ which it became possible that the shap- Current Concerns which, however, is quite varied depend- ing of educational policy, being closely The international journal for independent ing on the political field and the coun- connected to the history and culture of thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, try – “can neither solely be interpreted each country, has shifted to international and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights as a reaction to external shocks, nor as a organizations, who possess no legitimi- and humanitarian law pure endogenous institutional change”.5 zation at all to this end? Moreover, diffusion of statehood does In order to familiarize oneself with the Publisher: Zeit-Fragen Cooperative not happen so easily – as shown by the background, we consider the following Editor: Erika Vögeli papers, it is a matter of a process pressed two texts as a very good start: Address: Current Concerns, on in a purposeful way. • Langer, Roman. “Warum haben die P.O. Box, CH-8044 Zurich There are firstly in fact national “ac- PISA gemacht?” Ein Bericht über Phone: +41 (0)44 350 65 50 tors”, mostly at the executive level, who einen emergenten Effekt internation- Fax: +41 (0)44 350 65 51 E-Mail: [email protected] very deliberately “make use of the inter- aler politischer Auseinandersetzungen. national intergovernmental level in order (Why did they make PISA? A report Subscription details: to circumvent the educational responsi- on an emergent effect of international published regularly electronically as PDF file bilities within their political systems, political disputes.) In: Langer, Roman Annual subscription rate of SFr. 40,-, Euro 30,-, £ 25,-, $ 40,- and thus to overcome obstacles block- (Ed.) “Warum tun die das? Govern- for the following countries: ing the implementation of their own ed- ance-Analysen zum Steuerungshandeln Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, ucational reform objectives.”(p. 146)³ Of in der Schulentwicklung. Education- Cyprus,,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hongkong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, course, the approach is not only limited al Governance” (Why are they doing Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Nether- to educational issues, but also all other that? Governance analysis to modes of lands, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Singapore, areas – currently financial and econom- regulation in the school development. Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab ­Emirates, ic, as well as defense policies should be Educational Governance), Volume 6 United Kingdom, USA Annual subscription rate of mentioned here. This strategic integra- Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wies- SFr. 20,-, Euro 15,-, £ 12,50, $ 20,- tion into the supra-national level, which baden 200. for all other countries. assembles the members of the govern- • Bieber, Tonia. Soft Governance in Ed- Account: Postscheck-Konto: PC 87-644472-4 ment and “which aimed at the manipu- ucation. The PISA Study and the Bo- The editors reserve the right to shorten letters to lation of the national balance of power logna Process in Switzerland. Tran- the editor. Letters to the editor do not necessarily in favour of the national executive” (p. State Working Paper No. 117. Bremen, reflect the views and opinions of Current Concerns.

145)³, however, contains only one side 2010. © 2011. All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or of the operation. It does not explain “the Direct democratic Switzerland is deter- transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. extent going far beyond a strategic in- mined to reclaim education into its own