The Regional Component as the Initiator of the Spatial Development of the Republic of Srpska

The Regional Component as the Initiator of the Spatial Development of the Republic of Srpska

Author(s): Predrag Obrenović,Dragana Popović,Vesna Rodić / Language(s): English / Issue: 53/2023

Keywords: territorial development; regions; regional policy; cohesion policy; NUTS; EU;

Due to the specific appearance and natural and social characteristics of the Republic of Srpska (RS) as an obstacle to its uniform territorial development, it is noticed the absence of a middle level of management, ie. absence of regional territorial division. Obtaining the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union (EU) Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and therefore the Republic of Srpska (RS) they took on the obligation to fulfill certain conditions, among which is the harmonization of legislation and territorial organization in accordance with the rules of the EU Code of Conduct. One of those conditions is the establishment of NUTS regions, and the benefits are also reflected in the possibility of withdrawing funds from regional development funds. The trend of regionalization is obvious in Europe, which is also confirmed by the fact that at the EU level bodies have been formed that deal exclusively with regions. The goal of the paper is to point out the necessity of establishing NUTS regions in accordance with the EU Code of Conduct, as well as creating preconditions for withdrawing funds for own development that are available through regional cooperation funds. By establishing NUTS regions, it is possible to monitor statistical data that are unique for all EU countries and in this way, the assumption is created for a more objective monitoring of the development of BiH within the European space.

Forms of Legal Responsibility of Politicians and Officials of the Executive and Administrative Authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina De Lege Lata and De Lege Ferenda

Forms of Legal Responsibility of Politicians and Officials of the Executive and Administrative Authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina De Lege Lata and De Lege Ferenda

Author(s): Fuad Purišević,Armin Kržalić / Language(s): English / Issue: 53/2023

Keywords: legal political responsibility; political functionaries; executive authority; acting responsibly;

The question of responsibility in general, and in particular forms of legal responsibility was, is and will be an actual problem of any social system. The social system is as stable and progressive as the principles and norms of responsible behavior are respected and implemented. Responsible behavior cannot be achieved by declarations and proclamations of norms, but rather, represents a permanent activity on the effectuation of legal norms by the administrative authority in the environment of a stable and progressive policy determined by the executive authority. In this way, responsible action is advocated and favored, as well as awareness of the inevitability of responsible work. Otherwise, sanctions will follow, which are the consequences of not complying with legal norms. The paper analyzes the legal and political responsibility of personnel in the narrower and broader sense, as well as all other forms of legal responsibility of politicians (criminal, civil, misdemeanor, and disciplinary). The legal and political responsibility of politicians is a consequence of the violation of the legal norm/s. Those legal norms explicitly instruct politicians to perform their duties in a certain way and according to a certain procedure. Hence the determination to objectively analyze the forms of legal responsibility of politicians and officials of the executive and administrative authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina through a descriptive method. The results of the analysis indicate that the political responsibility of officials in our country is de facto extralegal, and therefore not regulated by legal norms. This practically means that the political responsibility of officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina is completely outside the sphere of law, which is nonsense.

Legal and Phenomenological Aspects of Media Literacy of Women of the Third Age in Bosnia and Herzegovina Media Pedagogy

Legal and Phenomenological Aspects of Media Literacy of Women of the Third Age in Bosnia and Herzegovina Media Pedagogy

Author(s): Dijana Zrnić / Language(s): English / Issue: 53/2023

Keywords: women of the third age; media literacy; new media; right to freedom of expression; media policy; media regulation;

In this paper, the author is primarily concerned with reflecting on the role and responsibility of the media in representing women of the third age (over 65). No less important is the question of their media literacy in terms of active or passive participation in the creation of media content, as well as proper understanding and objective acceptance of the media message. In order to realistically and comprehensively look at the complex relationship between the media and the elderly female population and their position in the Bosnian and Herzegovinian media space, the author starts from determining the general phenomenological position of women of the third age through an analytical review of the theoretical assumptions and knowledge of domestic and foreign authors who have dealt exhaustively with the population of this age group as a media subject. A proper understanding of the status of Bosnian women of the third age in the age of new media requires the term media literacy to be conceptually and notionally redefined in the context of media policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Finally, it is necessary to point out the (non)existence of a special legal framework when it comes to media literacy and the presence of Bosnian women of the third age in the media. In the end, the author concludes that women of the third age in Bosnian and Herzegovinian society are significantly underrepresented in the media space, and the reason for this is the low level of media activity and literacy, the passive/inert attitude of the given population towards the media and the production of media content, but also conscious media neglect of them by the society in which they live. The absence of a special legal framework that would regulate the relations between the media and this age population in Bosnia and Herzegovina is also evident, as well as indicating the need for greater involvement of all social actors in the area of improving media literacy.

Status of Mortgage Creditor

Status of Mortgage Creditor

Author(s): Jadranka Savić,Zoran Jerotijević,Aleksandar Matić / Language(s): English / Issue: 53/2023

Keywords: rights of mortgage creditor; settlement; priority; ration rights; transfer; obligations of mortgage creditor;

When discussing the legal status of a mortgage creditor, it is necessary to observe and distinguish his real estate rights from two aspects. First, his rights prior the maturity of a claim secured by a mortgage, and secondly, his rights after the maturity of the claim secured by a mortgage. The mortgage encourages the borrower to fulfill his obligation arising from the obligatory relationship. The disposability over the mortgage subject matter is only “potential”, and only if this psychological pressure shows no effect on a mortgage debtor, the realization of a mortgage follows afterwar ds. The mortgage operates in the sphere of responsibility and originally exists with respect to of possibilities, and can be activated only if certain conditions are met. Therefore, in the legal theory, the powers of the mortgage creditor are classified into a “static” and “dynamic” phase. The aim of the paper is to show, through the analysis of the status of the mortgage creditor, from the aspect of its rights and obligations, that in Serbia, with the passing of the Mortgage Law, both in theory and in practice, its status has been improved. That a mortgage for a mortgagee is nevertheless a set of rights, not an obligation.

Debt Financing

Debt Financing

Author(s): Vladimir Dragičević / Language(s): English / Issue: 53/2023

Keywords: Public debt; budget deficit; inflation; fiscal and monetary policy;

The budget, as a centralized instrument for the implementation of fiscal policy, usually performs the functions of allocation, stabilization and distribution. Whether it is about national economies or supranational entities like the European Union, the budget represents the most important factor of fiscal cohesion. Market economies are characterized by differences in levels of economic development. Different levels of economic development pose an objective challenge to fiscal policy bearers. The largest fiscal allocations are directed to the public sector, which is not expected to directly fertilize fiscal income, but primarily to fulfill social needs. Obviously, with the development of modern countries and with the increase in standards, expectations regarding the quality of public services also grow. Parliamentary democracies are under constant pressure to satisfy public needs, from a critical public. Enabling the availability of the level of services guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights puts the authorities in charge of managing public finances in an unenviable position. Societies at a lower level of economic development strive to reach richer, more developed societies and, due to insufficient fiscal revenues, resort to debt financing of public finances. Developed societies in an effort to maintain the level of development and achieved dominance also multiply expenditures for public finances. For the above reasons, the creators of fiscal policies from local, national to multinational levels are reaching for different forms of debt financing. Global economic crises caused by various causes, which were connected to each other, with deficit financing of the budget in different currencies and debt monetization by the ECB, certainly encouraged a high rate of inflation in the European Union, which spread throughout the European economic area. Due to the largest volume of foreign trade exchange with the countries of the European Union, and the attachment of the domestic currency to the euro, the impact of externalities is multiplicative and cannot be stopped only through discretionary fiscal policy measures. For a long time, the professional public has advocated the need to change the course of the monetary policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, that is, the existing “Currency Board”. It is an indisputable fact that for the effective management of economic policy, it is necessary to use a cocktail of fiscal and monetary instruments.

Alex P. Schmid: “Defining Terrorism”

Alex P. Schmid: “Defining Terrorism”

Author(s): Petar Đukić / Language(s): English / Issue: 53/2023

Keywords: Terrorism; psychology of terror; threat; terrorist act; book review;

Review of: -Alex P. Schmid: “Defining Terrorism”, International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, March 2023, ISSN: 2468-0486, DOI: 10.19165/2023.3.01

Interventionist Aid and the War in Ukraine

Interventionist Aid and the War in Ukraine

Author(s): Igor Pellicciari / Language(s): English / Issue: 1188/2023

Keywords: Foreign policy; foreign aid; international aid; IAPP; interventionist aid; weaponization; aidisation; Ukraine; Russia; war

Aid policies in the first year of the war in Ukraine constitute a unique and unprecedented historical case destined to leave an “echo” in the international system far beyond those of the individual Ukrainian case and the aid sector alone. Using a realist theoretical approach in which International Aid Public Policies (IAPPs) are a central variable in the history of international relations, this article starts with the eight peculiarities of Ukrainian aid that emerged from a recent comparison with the start of the Bosnian War in 1992. That is proposed to contextualise their political, conceptual, and historical implications within the evolution of inter-state aid. The interaction of these peculiarities has established a new model of Interventionist Aid as opposed to the neutralist model that had characterised Western aid in the past: the provision of humanitarian-emergency or development cooperation initiatives. The new type of aid analysed herein is wide-ranging (military, financial, political, etc.), takes an active part in the crisis to condition its course and outcome, and defines primarily political and not humanitarian objectives. Thus, it functions according to the tactical requirements of the scenario. New unregulated practices of Weaponisation of Aid and Aidisation of Weapons make Interventionist Aid an anarchic yet central element of warfare. The prospect of its eventual consolidation among the foundational elements of a new world order prompts speculation about future national scenarios of Post-Democracy Aid and international scenarios of World War Aid.

Russian Extraterritorial Naturalisation of Populations – Towards Conceptualisation of the Strategic Policy

Russian Extraterritorial Naturalisation of Populations – Towards Conceptualisation of the Strategic Policy

Author(s): Marina Maier,Aleksa Filipovic / Language(s): English / Issue: 1188/2023

Keywords: passportisation; extraterritorial naturalisations; conferral of nationality; citizenship; foreign policy; Russia; South Ossetia; Ukraine; use of force; protection of nationals abroad.

This article examines the development of the Russian foreign policy of extraterritorial naturalisations of populations in the regions of South Ossetia and Ukraine and the interdependence of this policy with the further use of force. The research aims to frame and conceptualise the strategic foreign policy of “passportisation” by crystallising and further comparing its specific features in the two examined cases of application. The article claims that (i) passportisation as a policy remains loosely defined; (ii) the policy is not illegal per se; (iii) the application of a policy by Russia has changed significantly through the years; and (iv) a very nuanced approach shall be taken in assessing the “bad faith” component depending on the particular case of application. Future hypothetical scenarios of potential intensification of the policy are presented in an attempt to position the policy as an effective strategic tool in the general Russian foreign policy agenda and stress its potential and emerging role. The authors applied a holistic approach to examining the passportisation phenomenon in order to provide the most comprehensive overview of the application of the policy, its legal framework, and potential future scenarios.

Problems and Perspectives of the European Green Deal with the Focus on the SEE Countries and Serbia

Problems and Perspectives of the European Green Deal with the Focus on the SEE Countries and Serbia

Author(s): Jelena Zvezdanović Lobanova,Mikhail Lobanov / Language(s): English / Issue: 1188/2023

Keywords: European Green Deal; green transition; climate neutrality; energy efficiency; energy intensity; greenhouse gas emissions; renewables; Southeastern Europe; Serbia.

Global climate challenges increasingly determine the prospects for world economic development, which entails an increase in the importance of the green transition agenda in the activities of international organisations and national governments. An example of a developed and consistent action programme at the national and supranational levels is the European Green Deal (EGD). The EU member states adhere to an ambitious strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve climate neutrality, solving the problems of introducing eco-friendly technologies (including alternative energy), energy efficiency, the formation of a sustainable industry, and the transition to a circular economy. The EU member states and candidate countries from Southeastern Europe (SЕЕ) have to follow in the footsteps of the European climate policy and implement the developed plans to reduce the anthropogenic pressure on the environment. The key hypothesis of this study is that the states of the region, with rare exceptions, lag behind the average level of the EU in terms of the energy efficiency of their economies, the prevalence of energy-saving technologies, and the usage of renewables. Despite the developed institutional framework, the progress of the green transition in Serbia is very limited: the dynamics of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (including per GDP) is unsatisfactory, and the emissions intensity and energy intensity levels remain among the highest in the region. Using a comparative analysis method, we examined the structure of electricity generation and the place renewable sources take in this structure. We also analysed in detail the differences between the countries of the region in a number of indicators: energy intensity level of primary energy, greenhouse gas emissions (including per GDP), and the volume of carbon dioxide emissions in relation to the unit of electricity generated (emissions intensity). We conclude that institutional maturity, the sufficiency of financial support for the projects, and the availability of economic incentives for green transition are the determining factors for achieving the goals of the EGD in SEE.

Zeitenwende and the German National Security Policy: Analysis of the First National Security Strategy

Zeitenwende and the German National Security Policy: Analysis of the First National Security Strategy

Author(s): Marina T. Kostić Šulejić / Language(s): English / Issue: 1188/2023

Keywords: Zeitenwende; German security and defence policy; multipolar world order; change; Russo-Ukrainian war.

The subject of this paper is to characterise the German term Zeitenwende as a “turning point in history”, which culminated with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the first German national security strategy. The paper examines if and how the global Zeitenwende changed German security and defence policy through four variables: a strategic environment, the character of security policy, perceived threats, and responses. This change is examined through the use of the concept of change in international relations and methods of historical and content analysis, as well as comparative methods. The structured interview is also used for the collection of relevant data. The paper concludes that, on the one hand, the Zeitenwende proves German transatlantic and multilateral security policy identity and interests, such as a greater and more accepted influence within NATO, holding the European division line and Russian geopolitical interests away from German borders, and spreading the European security order as wide as possible. On the other side, it contributes to the further evolution of German security policy by releasing it from residual Second World War constraints. Finally, the Zeitenwende involves Germany more strongly in a global systemic rivalry, making it less dependent on other “poles” of world order and with a priority given to competing with challengers rather than changing them from within.

Political Challenges of Modern Migration Trends in Europe

Political Challenges of Modern Migration Trends in Europe

Author(s): Gordana Ž. Mišev,Petar D. Stanojević,Slađan Milosavljević / Language(s): English / Issue: 1188/2023

Keywords: population; migration; religion; Europe; politics; changes.

The rapid growth of the population in the last 70 years has been constantly accompanied by increasing migration flows. From 1950 to 2020, the population of Europe grew from about 547 million to 741 million, while the Muslim share in this population quadrupled from 10.7 million to 42.7 million people. Such an exponential growth of the Muslim population could pose political challenges for Europe, especially for the countries of Western Europe, which are often the final destination for migrants from various parts of the world, primarily from North Africa and the Middle East. This paper aims to analyse trends in migration and the rate of natural increase in order to roughly estimate whether Europe’s demographic outlook will undergo a major change in the next 50 years. It also attempts to determine what kind of political challenges might arise as a result. Using the method of quantitative content analysis, it is estimated that the Christian population will decrease by about 25 million due to the ageing of the population and declining birth rates, while the Muslim population will increase by about 200 million due to migration and the rate of natural increase. The conclusion is that there are indications that migrations will change not only the demographic outlook, but also the European political and security identity in the worst case. However, in the case of government-controlled migration-induced changes, they will lead mostly to minor changes in the emigration policy.

New Challenges in Connectivity Cooperation between China and Europe

New Challenges in Connectivity Cooperation between China and Europe

Author(s): Jovana Nikolić / Language(s): English / Issue: 1188/2023

Challenges Related to the Postulates of Students Towards Education in Post-Pandemic Times

Challenges Related to the Postulates of Students Towards Education in Post-Pandemic Times

Author(s): Agata POPŁAWSKA,Olena Bocharova,Beata Sufa / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: challenges; postulates; students; remote learning; post-pandemic education

The Covid19 pandemic has changed the day-to-day behaviour of socjety in many aspects, including education. The mode of operation of schools has changed from traditional to remote. The changes affected various school types, also universities. Remote teaching as a binding educational practice forced both students and teachers to adapt to a dynamically changing reality. Experience gained during the pandemic had an impact on the educational and professional prospects of students. The aim of the research was to learn about the expectations of students towards their own development and education, as well as to determine what their postulates are regarding formal education in post-pandemic times. Extensive empirical material was obtained from 100 people (women) studying at the Pedagogical University of Krakow. The objectification of the results was possible after a thorough analysis of the narrative texts (prospective). Formal and content categories were distinguished, which were arranged in four areas, taking into account the postulates of the surveyed students related to: (1) organisation and course of education, (2) use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education, (3) fulfilment of students’ needs, (4) personal and professional development. The selected areas form a complementary whole in which students’ expectations relate to important spheres of functioning of an individual, that is intellectual, psychosocial and physical. The students participating in the survey expect that after the pandemic they will still be able to use experience and skills gained during the remote learning, they want the university to provide a secure physical and social space. They also want to receive emotional support which would help get rid of negative feelings and also receive instrumental support to allow correct behaviour and effective participation in post-pandemic education. The described categories were expanded to include examples of students’ narratives.

RATIONALIZING ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING THROUGH ECONOMIC VALUATION?

RATIONALIZING ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING THROUGH ECONOMIC VALUATION?

Author(s): Yves Meinard / Language(s): English / Issue: 25/2019

Keywords: environmental valuation; decision support; justification; inequalities; rationalization;

Environmental economic valuations are often presented as means to rationalize decision-making. A critical blind spot of this argument is that it ignores pervasive environmental inequalities. The author of article criticizes the literature entrenching this credentials of economic approaches to rationalize decision-making and argues that the key for economic valuations to truly contribute to rationalization is that their usage should be embedded in the deployment of what is called a justificatory task. Then the author takes advantage of an analysis of the notion of rationality, when applied to decision-aiding processes, to translate this reasoning into the concrete terms of applications of environmental economic valuations.

A Practical Test of Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Lockdown

A Practical Test of Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Lockdown

Author(s): Karol Hęclik,Lucjan Dobrowolski,Marcin Jaromin,Iwona Zarzyka / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: e-learning; distance learning; COVID-19; lockdown

The article describes the authors’ experience of distance learning at Rzeszow University of Technology during COVID-19 lockdown. The problems associated with the didactics in the pandemic period were discussed. They concerned hardware, software, and teaching rooms. Technical and organisational issues were discussed. The aspect of student involvement in the distance learning process and the learning outcomes achieved by the students was also addressed. Finally, the conclusions that emerged from this stage of work with students were presented, as well as suggestions related to the improvement of the distance learning process for the future.

Teacher Training and Learners with Special Needs in the U.S. and Poland – the COVID-19 Experience

Teacher Training and Learners with Special Needs in the U.S. and Poland – the COVID-19 Experience

Author(s): Agnieszka Gadomska,Iris Drower,Dorota Pietrzyk / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: teacher qualifications; preservice teacher education; special needs learners; e-learning; online learning

The 2021 transition to teaching online and to virtual environment due to COVID-19 was challenging for many educationalists, teachers, students and pupils all over the world. However, it was particularly difficult for teachers of learners with special educational needs, school therapists and counsellors. They had to provide highly individualized teaching and service without (or with limited) face-to-face contact. This article looks at teacher qualifications necessary to provide ICT based education for learners, particularly for learners with special needs (from the American and Polish viewpoint). The Authors analyze the context of preservice teacher training in the COVID-19 conditioned environment with the particular focus of teachers of English as a Foreign Language (who wish to obtain teacher qualifications to teach in Polish public schools).

E-Tutor Tandems in a COIL Course – Design, Implementation and Evaluation

E-Tutor Tandems in a COIL Course – Design, Implementation and Evaluation

Author(s): Lisa-Mari Langesee,Nelli Ukhova / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: global skills; virtual exchange; tandem; virtual collaborative learning; competence development

Research on digital collaboration scenarios in Higher Education (HE) is characterized by various approaches that often define the acquisition and development of global skills as learning goals. Virtual Collaborative Learning (VCL) in HE represents one approach to facilitating students’ global skills. Depending on the use case, these learning arrangements can include case study-based group learning under e-tutorial supervision. This paper focuses on the perspective of e-tutors – specially qualified student assistants – and their competence development during the summer semester of 2022. Based on previous research findings, a tandem setting was chosen for their competence development. This paper mainly compares expectations and experiences regarding the competence improvement of e-tutors in a multinational tandem. These expectations and experiences were queried through two quantitative questionnaires utilizing 5-point Likert scales and one short follow-up questionnaire after the finalization of VCL. In general, the positive expectations of the e-tutors were fulfilled, but not to a similar extent for each competence category. Especially the development of social and pedagogical competencies was positive, whereas the development of intercultural competencies was challenging. Several recommendations for action were derived, which impact further e-tutor training.

A CRITICAL LOOK AT FRANCIS FUKUYAMA’S CONCEPT OF THYMOS

A CRITICAL LOOK AT FRANCIS FUKUYAMA’S CONCEPT OF THYMOS

Author(s): Alfred Skorupka / Language(s): English / Issue: 26/2020

Keywords: Francis Fukuyama, thymos; the end of history; political philosophy; psychology;

Francis Fukuyama (born 1952) needs no special presentation; this American political philosopher became famous around the world with the thesis of “the end of history”. In this article the author discusses and criticizes the concept of Francis Fukuyama’s thymos. According to the author, Fukuyama simplifies reality when, from the concept of thymos, he demonstrates the transition of states towards democracy, because this practice is unjustified.

Adaptive and Intelligent MOOCs: Ηow They Contribute to the Improvement of the MOOCs’ Effectiveness

Adaptive and Intelligent MOOCs: Ηow They Contribute to the Improvement of the MOOCs’ Effectiveness

Author(s): Alexandros Papadimitriou / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: distance education; adaptive and intelligent MOOCs; personalized learning; MOOC challenges

Several traditional MOOCs have been developed utilizing particular traditional approaches for distance learning. The main objective of this article is to examine numerous studies and research about the provision of adaptive and inteligent MOOCs to address issues, such as dropout rate, for improving their efficiency compared to conventional MOOCs. Important issues that have been the essential study interests of MOOC scholars in recent years, including dropout rate, completion rate, loneliness, and other topics, were studied. Finally, the research questions posed on the effectiveness of Adaptive and Intelligent MOOCs, the learner’s characteristics used for adaptation, the adaptive and intelligent methods and techniques used, and the improvements they bring to traditional MOOCs as a compass for designing Adaptive and Intelligent MOOCs in the coming years, are discussed.

The Appeal of Gamification for Master’s Students of Science and Technology

The Appeal of Gamification for Master’s Students of Science and Technology

Author(s): Iwona Mokwa-Tarnowska,Viviana Tarnowska,Magdalena Roszak / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2023

Keywords: gamification; ESP; technical English; cognitivism; soft skills

Universities can offer their master’s students who want to improve their language skills different learning environments. They can range from traditional classes to online programmes equivalent to an on-campus experience or reaching beyond it. Learning technical English through a curriculum that is inspiring and stimulating due to authentic materials used in a gamified setting can result in positive learning outcomes and increased satisfaction levels among lecturers and students. The former can find new challenges helping prevent burnout, the latter have the chance to develop hard and soft skills, including analytical, reflective and critical thinking, through context-specific language. Interactions structured around online activities which involve searching for information in authentic resources and completing activities that allow for progress to the next level can effectively prepare students for challenges they will encounter in their professional life. They can also capture imagination and unlock the creative potential of the educators involved in their development and of participants bored with school routine and textbooks. Thus, a gamified language course for specific purposes can become a highly motivating environment, in which young people develop their creativity, language proficiency and knowledge of technological advances not only in the fields of their interest; they are also exposed to new learning practices due to the application of game-design elements. The ideas presented above will be supported by students’ opinions and attitudes expressed during a pilot Moodle course in a gamified format conducted at Gdansk University of Technology in the summer semester of 2021/2022.