| Table of contents no. 4/2005 |
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| The Balkans: Europe should take the chance. |
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Answers by: Lucio CARACCIOLO, Emmanuela C.DEL RE, Gianni DE MICHELIS, Umberto RANIERI.
The Balkans, in a general way and the Serbian Republic, in particular, have always been judged, in the European collective unconscious, as the region with the highest incidence of conflict and violent confrontation between ethnic and nationalistic groups. Europeans - who normally, have little inclination to deepen their understanding of the historical reasons for the Balkan situation – tend, when regional crises occur, to give the ‘blame and responsibility’ to a particular ethnic group, assuming – sometimes, in a very superficial manner – political positions which are based on pre-conceived ideas and over-simplifications. In fact, Serbia has been attributed the entire responsibility for the war which brought about the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia and is seen as the ‘monster of ethnic cleansing’. In reality, this recent image of the Balkans has been, in part, conditioned by mediatic strategy, which has ‘designed’ scenarios, in such a way as to induce public opinion to take radical and dogmatic ‘sides’ regarding the countries involved in the conflict, while certain aspects (such as the role of the Christian bastion against the advance of Islam which, up to the last century, history had assigned to Serbia) have been treated with deception or actually denied. The entire Balkan peninsula, at this moment, is in a position to make a political and historical turning point. The expansion of the European Union towards the east offers the possibility of a co-optation of the European economic and democratic model in the countries beyond the Adriatic. While nations like Slovenia and Croatia are on the point of overcoming the last obstacle before acceptance into the Union, countries like Serbia-Montenegro, Bosnia and Albania are facing a path so thwart with obstacles that, at the very best, could be resolved by 2020. In fact, there is a real risk of creating a ‘Balkan ghetto’, with countries to the east like Bulgaria and Turkey and to the west the countries which have given life to the European Union.
(photo www.greatestcities.com) |
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| Essays and articles |
|  | The first step to counteract the destructive force of the suicide terrorists is to understand their motivations. In this article, Richard Barrett underlines the necessity of a total involvement of the Moslem society, whose efforts in contrasting these radical extremist hotbeds, will, however, have to receive the full support of the international community and of the United Nations.
(photo www.corriere.it/gallery/Cronache) | | | |
|  | Psychology, political economy, industrial strategy and technology : these are the stages of an interesting route through the difficulties and the challenges which the struggle against terrorism puts to our traditional way of thinking. An invitation to reflect on the mechanisms through which the political decisions on this matter are made. A recall to the wisdom which comes from theories and models never sufficiently practiced. The proposed route may be complicated, but deserves great attention because the danger exists now, and it is now that it is necessary to do everything possible to impede that our life style is coercively changed. In the end, it is an invitation to think, if only for a moment, in a different way. (photo ansa) | | | |
|  | The analyses and the interpretations of Italian “anni di piombo” have become themselves “history” to remember and recount. The facts, instead, have often been omitted or transformed into implicit facts risking to influence the knowledge that the new generations have of that period. The risk exists, therefore, that when reflecting on those years, one’s own opinion is expressed before the facts, in a contorted and paradoxical mechanism, which is more prejudice than unbiased judgement. There are cases, however, in which history finds its own true dimension and is reconciled with reality. Authors do exist, who describe the photograph to us and do not draw an abstract picture. There are articles to be jealously guarded and used as a breviary when, before expressing an opinion, we want to pay homage to the truth and to the many lives uselessly and tragically lost. (photo ansa) | | | |
|  | Almost three decades have elapsed since the period of the major activities of “Prima Linea”, and it might be useful to delineate a short profile, above all, for the advantage of those who, for reasons of age, were not aware of that violent and bloody turmoil which stained the aspirations of change, albeit legitimate, of a whole generation. With respect to other movements or terrorist groups, “Prima Linea” had a remarkably minor ideological push, less cultured and less defined, so that it stood halfway between the group of nostalgics of the 1968’s and the organization of aspiring red terrorists, who were always looking out for a model to imitate. This sort of organizational and ideological “immaturity” became, in its brief existence, one of the most violent and revengeful organizations, but at the same time, was the cause of its own demise.
(photo ansa) | | | |
|  | The history of Hizbollah and the analysis of its evolution from a movement of armed struggle to a political party, reveals aspects of remarkable interest for those who watch the social and political dynamics typical of the Middle-East scenario. Today, considered half way between a terrorist organization, (still thought of in these terms by the Americans), and a political party, if observed with the paternal optimism of some European analysts, Hizbollah has demonstrated, over time, an incredible capacity to adapt to the changes which it has, itself, contributed to determine. It has given particular attention to communications and mass media, opening the way, already in the 80’s, to the mediatic impact strategies which, today, are the first instrument of pressure used by the terrorist organizations.
Unlike other movements of armed opposition, “The Party of God”, has not forgotten to give the concrete help to the populations which it ardently sought to defend: foundations, schools, associations, contribute to complete the work of the movement, ensuring economic support, health services, scholastic education for those in need, and naturally, rallying support from the population.... (photo www.openfire.us) | | | |
|  | The relations between Iraq and Iran will be determined, to a large extent, by the internal equilibrium of the Shiite world. Iran has every interest in not losing its influence over the Iraqi Shiites and this is why it fears the autonomous thinking of the ayatollahs, who oppose the idea of unifying state and religion, as in the case of Al Sistani. In the meantime, there are signs of a strong Iranian propaganda in the country between the two rivers. Also the political and strategic interests of Syria and Hezbollah concur in the affair. This worrying scenario can, perhaps, help us to understand how important it is for the West to ensure freedom of expression and thought in that area and to guarantee that whatever choice is made, it is made according to free will and not under the pressure of terrorist threats. Here then, is a clear analysis of what is happening and of what could happen. (photo ansa) | | | |
|  | Watergate is a word which has entered the common language, to indicate an affair or a discovery which is embarrassing and scandalous. It is often used as term of comparison to verify the gravity of a sudden event which is considered serious enough to undermine any system. The Watergate scandal had a terribly important significance, not only for the United States, but also for the entire Western world: we can explore, as never before and thanks to the contribution of the media, the hidden side of democracy; we can look into the eyes of the evil which is present in every system of power. The scandal helped to foster a cynical and suspicious attitude towards the US power system, still being felt today. (photo http://my.brandies.edu/news/images Bernstein e Woodward) | | | |
|  | The Albanian criminal gangs, in their entirety, constitute one of the highest crime generating
elements at the international level, combining the “traditional” characteristics – plainly manifest in the rigid internal discipline, in the clan structure, in the “endogamic closure” which increases the impermeability, the reliability and the endogenous solidity – with modern and innovative elements, such as trans-nationality, commercial imprinting and the criminogenous culture of service. The massive emigration to almost anywhere and the syncretic nature of Albanian crime has facilitated its establishment outside of the mother country and its integration with the local criminality, exploiting the opportunities inherent in the entire compatriot network. The close relations between Italy and Albania, both for the geographic proximity and for the political and economical cooperation in the Adriatic area, which involves the Italian military, police, economic, financial and social sectors, renders the control of the situation in Albania unavoidable. Its overall “solidity” should be verified, its criminal developments should be monitored in order to evaluate “in progress” the Albanian threat to Italy....
(photo www.reportage.org) | | | |
|  | Saudi Arabia is the place where the Islamic faith was born and it is the country where Islamic fundamentalism has found many of its most dangerous followers(15 out of the 19 hijackers of the 11th of September attack were Saudi, as Saudi is Osama Bin Laden). The Saudi society is based on a tribal system and on antiquated rules, which make the management of power particularly difficult and bristling with obstacles and dangers. In this system the new King Abdullah has already shown his ability to move in a balanced manner over the years that he has directed the country as crown prince, ensuring good relations with the western world and using cautiously energetic politics. But what are the possible scenarios for the future and what will be the destiny of a country whose strategy can influence the entire area? (photo ansa) | | | |
|  | There are many people, and not only in Great Britain, who hope that the 28th of July, 2005, passes into history as the date of the final victory of politics over violence. Even if in the pubs of Belfast, Londonderry and Omagh, the walls are covered with photographs of those have been killed and those who have killed, in the name of Ireland, not everyone was joyous in seeing the veteran of the Irish Republic Army (IRA), Seanne Walsh, 48 years old, 21 of which were spent in goal (some with Bobby Sands), read the communiqué in which the leaders of the organization “Oglaigh na hEireann” order their “units and volunteers” to lay down their arms and to continue to pursue their goals only through pacific and democratic means … “It’s the end of an era”. On the other hand, in the last year, a couple of ugly stories have seriously undermined the IRA’s credibility and, furthermore, there is no doubt that the many horrors of our most recent history have deprived the practice of terrorism, to a large extent, of its ‘appeal’. The time of arms is ended for Northern Ireland, “now it’s time for peace”.(photo ansa) | | | |
|  | There are some subjects, more than others which, unconsciously, awaken in us that imprinting made up of fears and infantile terrors with which our parents used to prepare us, not certainly in the right way, for the darker side of life. Satanism is a limited phenomenon, which does not have, and we hope it never will have, the numbers to create a real social alarm. It must be brought to light and where it manifests itself in deviant forms, should be severely repressed, since it violates any canon on which we have founded our civilization. But it is necessary to reflect upon this subject, above all, in this particular historical phase, simply because we find ourselves in front of a distorted and pathological attitude, fruit, in nearly all cases, of a capricious and immature reaction to religious faith and sexual bigotry.(photo ansa) | | | |
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| Surveys |
ALL-ITALIAN STORIES  | |  | When describing intense emotions, when the words of a story are, evidently, a simple pretext to charm the unconscious and consent us to observe the events of existence with a calm soul, to attempt a synthesis risks creating logical obstacles to the fluidity that the reading requires. In this passage, the scenes, the reflections, the dialogues, occupy a space which, at the end of the psychedelic journey to which the author invites us, will be almost forgotten: there will remain only sensations, emotions that the story provokes and which are presented suddenly, inviting to the point of imposing a suspension of logical thought and open an hypnotic reflection. And it is this, the true synthesis, an emotional synthesis without words. It is this that the reader will experience at the end of the voyage.
(photo www.leinchieste.com) | | | |
| FROM THE ARCHIVES TO HISTORY | |  | In February 1919, a few months after the birth of the Serbian Croatian and Slovenian Kingdom, an executive of the Croatian nationalist party of the ‘Francovzi’, Dr. Kovacevich, compiled a memorandum for the Italian Foreign Minister, Sidney Sonnino and the American President, Thomas Woodrow Wilson. The author of the memorandum wished to inform the Italian Kingdom on the situation of the Yugoslavian territory, ‘because any error committed in these decisive moments will be accentuated in the future, when it will no longer be possible to correct.’ From the reading of the document, of a clearly nationalistic tone, it appears evident, at the time, that the fear of the birth of a ‘great Serbia’ prevailed even, over and above, other ‘pending territorial problems’, which were considered easily solved if Italy supported the birth of a ‘free and independent Croatia’. The Kovacevich memorandum is herewith presented, together with a letter prepared by the Ministry of the Interior for the President of the Government, in which, besides summing up the information on the situation, the question is raised about the opportunity of supporting the Croatian cause. (photo www.greatwardifferent.com) | | | |
| BOOK REVIEW | | | Two certainties and a suspicion. Two epochs and two different places. The certainties come from archive documents from the years of Fascism. They come from the detailed study of notes which may have remained hidden for decades. Especially, if they regard the OVRA and the various police of the Regime. The suspicion, instead, concerns the eastern communist secret services, a so-called “wet operation”. An operation which failed, conducted in a clumsy, inexpert way. Three books, one more interesting and enjoyable than the other. | | | |
| CHRONOLOGY OF TERRORISM | | | It is understood that an act of terrorism is a violent action, politically motivated, intended to strike objectives of symbolic value and destined also to intimidate a ‘targeted audience’ socially or politically connected to the primary objective.
The act of terrorism, unlike that of ‘political violence’ (carried out by individuals or groups acting ‘in the open’)and that of the ‘guerrilla ’(carried out with instruments and paramilitary logistics) is usually performed by individuals or groups who operate in secrecy or undercover, or in any event, under disguised conditions within the threatened societies”. | | | |
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