Focusing on the fundamentals of a rapidly evolving research field, this textbook offers comprehensive insights into both theoretical and experimental aspects. It emphasizes interdisciplinary connections and presents the latest research findings, making it an essential resource for understanding the diverse applications of the subject.
The book explores NATO's struggles amidst significant criticism following its perceived failures in Afghanistan. It highlights the organization's challenges in a shifting global landscape, where Russia and China pose threats to Western dominance, international terrorism is escalating, and democratic values are declining. The narrative delves into the rising appeal of authoritarianism even within NATO member states, emphasizing the urgent need for the alliance to adapt and respond to these complex geopolitical dynamics.
Since the 11 September 2001 terror attacks, NATO has encountered significant challenges in political purpose, strategy, and the evolving nature of conflict. Its operations, particularly in Afghanistan, have not been entirely successful. The post-2008 assertiveness of Russia has further exposed deficiencies in NATO and its members regarding military capabilities and readiness in Europe, particularly in the context of Article V. The alliance's political and strategic cohesion is strained by differing interests between Eastern and Southern European nations responding to threats from irredentism and jihadism. Additionally, many citizens in European states, accustomed to a sense of perpetual peace, seem disconnected from NATO's adaptive strategies in the current security landscape. This volume analyzes NATO's pressing adaptation challenges. Lutz Mühlhöfer and Jörg Modey focus on the strategic reflection needed for NATO’s South and the Atlantic. Willi Bentzinger examines Russia's technological power in the realm of cyber conflict. Jan Ballast explores NATO's intelligence operations. Caroline Linzenmeier and Uwe Hartmann discuss resilience from different perspectives, with Linzenmeier focusing on Strategic Communication and Hartmann on strategy-making within NATO. Frank Wasgindt reflects on hard, soft, and smart power and their implications for the alliance. The authors offer analyses and actionable recommendations, advocating for gr
Connecting NATO!„ This motto sums up the main task of the NATO Communication and Information Systems Services Agency (NCSA), its mission being to connect NATO headquarters and installations all over the world with telephone lines, computer networks and video teleconferences. NCSA is a rather “young" organization. It was only established in August 2004. Since then, NCSA has proved on many occasions that it is capable of quickly meeting NATO's information and communication requirements, e. g. for ISAF in Afghanistan and for the NATO Response Force. This book shows how NCSA has become NATO's catalyst for efficient IT services, and how Lieutenant General Ulrich Wolf, Director NCSA from August 2004 until April 2009, has formed the spirit of NCSA's people. The articles of this book are written by members of NCSA's Headquarters and its subordinated commands. They cover subjects as NCSA's contribution to NATO's operations, NCSA's reorganisation efforts, NCSA as NATO's first line in Cyber Defense, its service-driven can-do-mentality, the cooperation with trade and industry, its new Strategic Framework, and its personnel.
Magnetic multilayers is a rapidly growing and multidisciplinary field of research. The purpose of this book is to give a unified overview of recent progress, giving special emphasis to the most important industrial applications. A general introduction is followed by six chapters that describe a wide range of physical aspects, together with experimental and theoretical methods. Scientists and students alike will benefit from the comprehensive discussion of numerous devices and their physics. As the technology matures, these devices, for example spin valves and magnetic random access memories, are likely to become widely used.