Comment sortir du ‘terrorisme’? La violence politique et les conditions de sa disparition en France et en République Fédérale d'Allemagne en comparaison 1970–années 1990

Research on political violence and terrorism is usually focused on the origins and the dynamics of violence. This article attempts to overcome the neglect of ways of leaving terrorism. One important hypothesis of this article is that terrorism should be understood as a strategy of communication. How did states and societies face the ‘communicative challenge’ posed by terrorism? This question will be applied to the cases of left-wing terrorism in 1970s and 1980s West Germany and France. In the 1970s, in West Germany, a political dialogue with the left-wing group RAF (Rote Armee Fraktion) seemed to be impossible, whereas in France violent groups engaged with the wider public through public communication. By this way an escalation of violence could be avoided, but in the 1980s French terrorist groups such as Action Directe modelled themselves on the West German RAF: as a consequence, any communication with the state or society was interrupted. At the same time, in West Germany, the question of whether a dialogue with the RAF should be started was at the core of public discussion. Some stated that it would be the only possibility to make them give up, while others rejected any idea of communicating with terrorists. The West German and French cases show us that the communicational situation, especially the degree of integration of the concerned left-wing groups in public discourse, had an important impact on the outcome of violence.     

On the importance of an international exploration of the Atlantic ocean in respect to its physical and biological conditions

Acclimatisation Societies have been responsible for most of the exotic species entering the native flora and fauna of New Zealand. The development of these Societies is traced and the influence of their past activities on wildlife establishment and maintenance is demonstrated. An examination of the present role of the Societies within the evolving pattern of wildlife management in New Zealand reveals them as important environmental pressure groups at both local and national level.     

The astrolabe: Its uses and derivatives

Despite the technical means available for its diffusion, the information explosion is such that a diminishing proportion of geographical literature achieves the circulation that it deserves. The problem is illustrated by reference to a single country — Finland. In the case of such a country, even assuming familiarity with its languages, access to significant publication often proves impossible save on its home ground. Examples of three types of geographical literature are reviewed — 1) literature from the past which merits wider acquaintance because of its enduring value; 2) literature from the present which, on the score of methodology or theory independently of content, deserves attention, but which — not appearing in internationally familiar outlets — is unlikely to gain recognition; 3) similar literature directly relevant to the geography of Finland in the publications of cognate disciplines. The rate of change in the geographical scene and the volume of publication generated make it increasingly difficult for the would‐be specialist in even a relatively narrow field to keep up‐to‐date and to speed the circulation of information.     

Kriegsschauplatz SaarLorLux

Im Vertrag von Verdun wurde im Jahre 843 das karolingische Gro?reich in drei Teile aufgeteilt: Ludwig II., der Deutsche, bekam den Ostteil (sp?teres Heiliges R?misches Reich) und Karl der Kahle den Westteil (sp?teres K?nigreich Frankreich). Lothar I. erhielt den Kaisertitel und den von Italien bis zur Scheldemündung reichenden Mittelteil, der nach seinem Tode unter seinen S?hnen wiederum dreigeteilt wurde. Dabei wurde das n?rdliche Drittel nach Lothar II. benannt und erhielt die Bezeichnung „Lotharingien“. In diesem lotharingischen Grenzraum, der sich als 100 bis 200 Kilometer breiter „Schlauch“ von der Nordsee bis zum Mittelmeer erstreckt, vollzog sich in einem über 1000-j?hrigen Proze? die Entwicklung der deutschen West- bzw. franz?sischen Ostgrenze. Die hier ausgetragenen Konflikte führten zur Errichtung zahlreicher Befestigungsanlagen, die heute als kulturelles Erbe in der Landschaft persistieren. Der SaarLorLux-Raum als Bestandteil des ehemaligen Lotharingiens war besonders stark umk?mpft. Der Artikel stellt den Militarisierungsproze? des SaarLorLux-Raumes dar und dokumentiert den heutigen Umgang mit dem festungsbaulichen Erbe.