Cato Rolea | Nottingham Trent University (original) (raw)
Papers by Cato Rolea
Practice, Progress, and Proficiency in Sustainability, 2022
The 21st century accentuated the globalization, regardless of some cases apparently returning to ... more The 21st century accentuated the globalization, regardless of some cases apparently returning to the previous regionalization paradigm. In both cases, human communication has been and will be key to overcome the major challenges ahead. Within the global context, communication is increasingly cross-cultural, which brings additional challenges related to misunderstandings and the potential to escalate conflicts, sometimes ending up at crises. Therefore, communication and negotiation across cultures has never been as relevant as now, and the purpose of this chapter is to provides a fundamental knowledge base to cross-cultural negotiation, taking into account the main culture models from the last 50 years. It will be based on several relevant culture models, taken from multiple lines of research from reference authors in the field of culture models, negotiation, leadership, and decision making.
This paper suggests that the practice of diplomacy has been characterized by both change and cont... more This paper suggests that the practice of diplomacy has been characterized by both change and continuity, two precepts further sustained by three inter-connected factors which will be analysed below: advancements in science and technology, a shift in international order and the consequential widening of the diplomatic agenda.
This paper argues that the war on terror has challenged traditional understandings of warfare bas... more This paper argues that the war on terror has challenged traditional understandings of warfare based on two core, inter-connected precepts: first, the conditions of the globalization has led to the emergence of a new era of warfare characterized by the unprecedented rise of non-state actors (al-Qaeda in this case), and second, as the ‘state vs. state’ war era has come to an end, traditional means of fighting no longer hold the same relevance.
This paper argues that although the ‘war on terror’ did gain a different dimension under the Obam... more This paper argues that although the ‘war on terror’ did gain a different dimension under the Obama administration, a fundamental change has not actually been brought as: first, the latter Bush administration had already put in place firm policies to be forwarded to the incoming administration and second, as Obama has merely continued along the lines and structures already established by its predecessor, without any prospect for radical changes.
After EU’s failure to properly respond to the Gulf Crisis, Belgium’s then-Foreign Affairs Ministe... more After EU’s failure to properly respond to the Gulf Crisis, Belgium’s then-Foreign Affairs Minister, Mark Eyskens, harshly criticized the EU’s incapability of going beyond a trade area calling it an economic giant, a political dwarf and a military worm. However, as this paper suggests, since the statement was made in 1991, the EU has gradually developed its economic, political and military capabilities. The European Union has greatly increased its ‘actorness’ capability especially in the latter 2 areas, partially using its economic giant status. The paper will be divided into three sections each looking at the inter-connected dimensions of the EU, drawing on main and sub-strands of realism, liberalism and constructivism in analyzing the EU’s role in international relations.
The focus of this research is one of the most contentious political transitions in Eastern Europe... more The focus of this research is one of the most contentious political transitions in Eastern Europe, the case of Romania. As there is still no official consensus on the nature of the events that ousted Ceausescu in 1989 in Romania, this dissertation provides an alternative theoretical framework by analysing the events through the prism of the broader literature on revolutions, coups d’état and civil wars. By adopting an interpretative methodology and deploying qualitative methods, the extent to which the events of 1989 fit in each category are evaluated by isolating key criteria used to test the validity and suitability of such explanations. The findings of this research point towards the hybridised nature of the events and the necessity of the development of new all-encompassing theory of political change.
This paper suggests that due to the intricacies it exhibits, al-Qaeda can be best understood as a... more This paper suggests that due to the intricacies it exhibits, al-Qaeda can be best understood as a global insurgency. It argues that in one sense al-Qaeda is a transnational insurgent organization in itself but at the same time that it is also representative of a wider global insurgency. The analysis will consist of three main parts. The first part proposes an analytical framework and differentiates al-Qaeda from a terrorist organization. Drawing on the proposed framework, the second part analyses al-Qaeda’s societal roots, paving the way for the third part, which demonstrates its global scope.
This paper explores how the Second World War challenged and shaped international race theories wi... more This paper explores how the Second World War challenged and shaped international race theories with a specific focus on two major dynamics: the rise of color consciousness among the Afro-Americans in the United States and the connotations the Pacific War carried.
This paper explores the paradoxical relation between the United States and the European Union, a ... more This paper explores the paradoxical relation between the United States and the European Union, a relation born out of the divisive takes on counter terrorism strategies. While the different strategies led many times to controversial negotiations, they ultimately served to secure a stronger partnership and helped the EU affirm its position as a more autonomous actor.
This paper suggests that as the world becomes more globalized, the problems associated with negot... more This paper suggests that as the world becomes more globalized, the problems associated with negotiating across cultures are most likely to decline based on three inter-connected precepts: due to increased cross-cultural interactions brought by globalization, nations have realized (or will if haven’t yet) the need for cross-cultural literacy in order to avoid misunderstandings and facilitate cooperation, which in turn will increase (or already have) their efforts in public diplomacy, partly in order to assure access to the economic benefits globalization has and is fostering.
This paper evaluates the negative impacts external intervention has had on conflict resolution in... more This paper evaluates the negative impacts external intervention has had on conflict resolution in Africa and assesses to what extent peace building has been achieved. Drawing on examples from West and East Africa this paper shows that although the intentions were good, international or regional intervention in conflicts did have negative impacts and did not achieve the most important envisaged goal: implementation of sustainable peace. Emphasis is placed on core errors occurring when organizations intervene and on better prospects that could have been deployed instead.
Practice, Progress, and Proficiency in Sustainability, 2022
The 21st century accentuated the globalization, regardless of some cases apparently returning to ... more The 21st century accentuated the globalization, regardless of some cases apparently returning to the previous regionalization paradigm. In both cases, human communication has been and will be key to overcome the major challenges ahead. Within the global context, communication is increasingly cross-cultural, which brings additional challenges related to misunderstandings and the potential to escalate conflicts, sometimes ending up at crises. Therefore, communication and negotiation across cultures has never been as relevant as now, and the purpose of this chapter is to provides a fundamental knowledge base to cross-cultural negotiation, taking into account the main culture models from the last 50 years. It will be based on several relevant culture models, taken from multiple lines of research from reference authors in the field of culture models, negotiation, leadership, and decision making.
This paper suggests that the practice of diplomacy has been characterized by both change and cont... more This paper suggests that the practice of diplomacy has been characterized by both change and continuity, two precepts further sustained by three inter-connected factors which will be analysed below: advancements in science and technology, a shift in international order and the consequential widening of the diplomatic agenda.
This paper argues that the war on terror has challenged traditional understandings of warfare bas... more This paper argues that the war on terror has challenged traditional understandings of warfare based on two core, inter-connected precepts: first, the conditions of the globalization has led to the emergence of a new era of warfare characterized by the unprecedented rise of non-state actors (al-Qaeda in this case), and second, as the ‘state vs. state’ war era has come to an end, traditional means of fighting no longer hold the same relevance.
This paper argues that although the ‘war on terror’ did gain a different dimension under the Obam... more This paper argues that although the ‘war on terror’ did gain a different dimension under the Obama administration, a fundamental change has not actually been brought as: first, the latter Bush administration had already put in place firm policies to be forwarded to the incoming administration and second, as Obama has merely continued along the lines and structures already established by its predecessor, without any prospect for radical changes.
After EU’s failure to properly respond to the Gulf Crisis, Belgium’s then-Foreign Affairs Ministe... more After EU’s failure to properly respond to the Gulf Crisis, Belgium’s then-Foreign Affairs Minister, Mark Eyskens, harshly criticized the EU’s incapability of going beyond a trade area calling it an economic giant, a political dwarf and a military worm. However, as this paper suggests, since the statement was made in 1991, the EU has gradually developed its economic, political and military capabilities. The European Union has greatly increased its ‘actorness’ capability especially in the latter 2 areas, partially using its economic giant status. The paper will be divided into three sections each looking at the inter-connected dimensions of the EU, drawing on main and sub-strands of realism, liberalism and constructivism in analyzing the EU’s role in international relations.
The focus of this research is one of the most contentious political transitions in Eastern Europe... more The focus of this research is one of the most contentious political transitions in Eastern Europe, the case of Romania. As there is still no official consensus on the nature of the events that ousted Ceausescu in 1989 in Romania, this dissertation provides an alternative theoretical framework by analysing the events through the prism of the broader literature on revolutions, coups d’état and civil wars. By adopting an interpretative methodology and deploying qualitative methods, the extent to which the events of 1989 fit in each category are evaluated by isolating key criteria used to test the validity and suitability of such explanations. The findings of this research point towards the hybridised nature of the events and the necessity of the development of new all-encompassing theory of political change.
This paper suggests that due to the intricacies it exhibits, al-Qaeda can be best understood as a... more This paper suggests that due to the intricacies it exhibits, al-Qaeda can be best understood as a global insurgency. It argues that in one sense al-Qaeda is a transnational insurgent organization in itself but at the same time that it is also representative of a wider global insurgency. The analysis will consist of three main parts. The first part proposes an analytical framework and differentiates al-Qaeda from a terrorist organization. Drawing on the proposed framework, the second part analyses al-Qaeda’s societal roots, paving the way for the third part, which demonstrates its global scope.
This paper explores how the Second World War challenged and shaped international race theories wi... more This paper explores how the Second World War challenged and shaped international race theories with a specific focus on two major dynamics: the rise of color consciousness among the Afro-Americans in the United States and the connotations the Pacific War carried.
This paper explores the paradoxical relation between the United States and the European Union, a ... more This paper explores the paradoxical relation between the United States and the European Union, a relation born out of the divisive takes on counter terrorism strategies. While the different strategies led many times to controversial negotiations, they ultimately served to secure a stronger partnership and helped the EU affirm its position as a more autonomous actor.
This paper suggests that as the world becomes more globalized, the problems associated with negot... more This paper suggests that as the world becomes more globalized, the problems associated with negotiating across cultures are most likely to decline based on three inter-connected precepts: due to increased cross-cultural interactions brought by globalization, nations have realized (or will if haven’t yet) the need for cross-cultural literacy in order to avoid misunderstandings and facilitate cooperation, which in turn will increase (or already have) their efforts in public diplomacy, partly in order to assure access to the economic benefits globalization has and is fostering.
This paper evaluates the negative impacts external intervention has had on conflict resolution in... more This paper evaluates the negative impacts external intervention has had on conflict resolution in Africa and assesses to what extent peace building has been achieved. Drawing on examples from West and East Africa this paper shows that although the intentions were good, international or regional intervention in conflicts did have negative impacts and did not achieve the most important envisaged goal: implementation of sustainable peace. Emphasis is placed on core errors occurring when organizations intervene and on better prospects that could have been deployed instead.