This book examines the historical; cultural and political dimensions of the crisis in Bosnia and the international efforts to resolve it. It provides a detailed analysis of international proposals to end the fighting; from the Vance-Owen plan to the Dayton Accord; with special attention to the national and international politics that shaped them. It analyzes the motivations and actions of the warring parties; neighbouring states and international actors including the United States; the United Nations; the European powers; and others involved in the war and the diplomacy surrounding it. With guides to sources and documentation; abundant tabular data and over 30 maps; this should be a definitive volume on the most vexing conflict of the post-Soviet period.
#3561797 in Books Signature Books 2001-09-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.50 x 1.20 x 4.75l; .25 #File Name: 156085153888 pages
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A SOCIOLOGIST OF RELIGION LOOKS AT THIS JAPANESE RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTBy Steven H ProppAuthor Karel Dobbelaere (born 1933) is a Belgian educator and sociologist of religion; as well as an Emeritus Professor of both the University of Antwerp and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Louvain) in Belgium. He also wrote books such as A Time to Chant: The Soka Gakkai Buddhists in Britain; Secularization: An Analysis at Three Levels (Gods; Humans Religion); etc.He explains in the first chapter of this 1998 book "Founder Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871-1944)... formally converted to Nichiren Buddhism in 1928; specifically to the teachings of the Shoshu branch of Nichiren... In 1930 he and [Josei] Toda created a loosely organized group they called the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai (Educational Society for the Creation of Value)... Makiguchi continued his Buddhist beliefs and practices in prison during the war... It was his and his colleagues' opposition to the state religion and war that had resulted in their incarceration... Free from jail a year later in 1945; Josei Toda devoted himself to rebuilding the movement... Toda's intent was to capitalize on the solidarity of common citizens. In 1946 he renamed the association Soki Gakkai (Value-Creating Society...)... because of his fierce opposition to war; he devoted SG not only to the propagation of the Buddhist faith; based on Nichiren's teachings; but also to peace." (Pg. 1-3)He states; "In 1952 Soko Gakkai was legally registered in Japan as a religious organization. At first the high priests and monks of Nichiren Shoshu; presenting themselves as the sole defenders of the true religion; opposed this move. But since SG defined itself as a lay organization... the clerics eventually conceded. However; SG had to agree to a condition: that all members of SG would become active members of the local Shoshu temples." (Pg. 4)He observes; "SG is rare among new religious movements in Japan in its incursion into secular society. In a sense; SG adopts what has been a Christian precedent of creating a pillar of secular activity through parochial schools... The justification that SG sees for this... is its dedication... that religion should 'provide for the maximum growth and development of every individual." (Pg. 6-7)But he states; "the double structure of the movement ceased to function. In reality it had never been fully successful; except perhaps at the beginning when the SG membership was extremely small. SG seems to have reached the conclusion that the link with traditional monks was less critical than they had thought; especially as the movement expanded... SG leaders ceased to feel guilty about the conflicts. Nevertheless members... still felt a deep but abstract respect for the Shoshu clergy---monks who had kept the faith and practice for centuries; thus making it possible in 1930 to create SG---a fact which the high priests never failed to underline... in November 1991 the monks undertook a wholesale excommunication of SG members... [who were] excluded from pilgrimages to the main temple; this privilege being from then on reserved for Nichiren Shoshu members... of local temples." (Pg. 12-13)He says; "The concept of myoho ["Mystic Law" or "Ultimate Reality"] also makes possible the elucidation of the notion of reincarnation... Nichiren underlines the truth of the eternity of life... it corresponds to the idea that an individual's life is part of the universe considered as a whole... At death life continues in an invisible manner in the state of ku; it reappears later in the state of ke when conditions are ripe for the appearance of life... It is in this sense that one must understand the notion of nirvana: it is not the cessation of the cycle of births and deaths but the repetition of this cycle on earth in a state of enlightenment." (Pg. 23) He adds; "By reciting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo; believers express their faith in the eternal aspect of life." (Pg. 25)He explains; "Soko Gakkai defines itself as a religious organization that promotes education and culture. Indeed; it is involved in educational; cultural; mass media; and even political fields; and its leaders seem to have understood that in a functionally differentiated society; the religious subsystem does not occupy a privileged position; it must prove its societal function through services rendered to other subsystems." (Pg. 59) He adds; "The goal of inter-religious dialogue ... became possible only after the break with Nichiren Shoshu; since monks refused dialogue with what they called 'false religions.'" (Pg. 65) He also notes; "SG is also engaged in politics in the more narrow; strict sense of the word." (Pg. 69)This is an objective and excellent introduction and orientation to this religious movement.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Lay movement is sgi members who want to convert people ...By No nameLay movement is sgi members who want to convert people because they think that they hav e found a magic mirror that will grant them wished if they do.SGI seems nice on outside but it is just a deception.Millions hav e been duped.including myself. It is a brainwashing money scheming dangerous cult.
