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The aim of this paper is to identify the incentives of the institutional trust on the regional levels of two neighboring areas along the Danube. The approach is a comparative one; two border zones from northern Bulgaria and southern Romania, having a certain similarity as regards historical past and social organization, are juxtaposed. The research took place both at the level of these circumscribed geographical areas and in particular localities. The hypothesis was that the networks of social trust have a strong infl uence upon the civic and political commitments. By the term ‘commitment’ I mean the social reliability for roles and position takings in the frame of the local institutions (mayoralty, political parties, civic and cultural associations).
More...Keywords: Interethnic Relations;
TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface Introduction Recent Regional Developments The Consequences of The Madrid Summit Effects of the Problems in the Balkans A Romanian Model of Inclusion Reconstructing Bicultural and Multicultural Values Interethnic Relations in Slovakia The U.S. Role in the New Europe Ukraine and Moldova Conclusions List of Participants
More...The return of Vladimir Putin as President elected for six years was not necessarily a surprise for the Russians and the international community, but the absolutely specific way in which elections took place in the Russian Federation and the international context turbulence gave this event a special importance. While major western partners of Russia were reserved if not even dissatisfied, for the post-Soviet area this political castling may mean that some geopolitical projects and military architecture will be more dynamic and was treated with great interest. Often, within the public space of the former Soviet republics, Russia’s internal political process and investing of the most powerful politician in the last twelve years came to be understood sometimes as a prerequisite for a new destiny. The Republic of Moldova is quite receptive to all “geopolitical engineering” of Russia, while some Moldovan political parties and information sources support from within the realization of a geopolitical project that Vladimir Putin intends to achieve during the current presidential term.
More...Keywords: Moldova-Transnistria; frozen conflict;
The official resumption of the activity of the „Permanent conference on political issues in the negotiation process on Transnistrian conflict settlement” in the 5+2 format following the decision in Moscow on 22 September 2011, the Tiraspol administration reformatting and the successive meetings of the Republic of Moldova representatives with the new administration have opened the perspective for the Transnistrian conflict settlement. Formulated in a policy of “small steps” containing only technical sector issues, the negotiations between Chisinau and Tiraspol, and those in the extended format “5 +2” have not brought great changes in the eastern districts of Moldova and are proving to be increasingly inefficient. One year after the launch of negotiations whose agenda was for the time being “liberated” of political and security issues, the officials from the two banks of the Dniester accuse each other of militarization and it is becoming increasingly obvious that in the absence of serious discussions on political issues and the complex security system “small steps” lead nowhere.
More...Keywords: Moldova-Russia relations;
The recent statement by the representative of the Russian Federation in the negotiations on the Transnistrian issue, Sergey Gubarev, has brought an important topic on the agenda of the Republic of Moldova relations with Russia, and namely, neutrality. Moreover, the statement that “if Moldova loses its sovereignty or neutrality, the Russian Federation will return to the issue of Transnistria’s right to self-determination”1 involves new elements of Russian discourse in the Republic of Moldova. Thus, the issue of the Republic of Moldova neutrality is not the only one that «bothers» Russia, adding to neutrality the sovereignty as well. Both neutrality and sovereignty are extremely important issues for the Republic of Moldova, like for any other state, which deserve separate exhaustive consideration.
More...Until recently, Germany’s relations with Russia were based on a comfortable pragmatism. Russian-German pragmatic relations were determined by two strategic issues for both countries: energy interdependence and economic relations. During this period, Germany preferred to overlook human rights and the state of democracy in the Russian Federation. The year 2012 changed significantly the quality of Russian-German strategic partnership. The return of Vladimir Putin to the Kremlin ended the “partnership for modernization” initiated by Angela Merkel and Dmitry Medvedev in June 2010 in Meseberg. The deterioration of the relations between Moscow and Berlin will, undoubtedly, influence directly the architecture of interstate relations in Europe.
More...Keywords: financial crisis;
Following the financial crisis started in 2007, in developed countries and at the level of international institutions, consistent efforts are being made to improve corporate governance in banks. Corporate governance (CG) in banks involves the allocation of authority and responsibility, i.e. the way the bank activities and operations are governed by its board and management. The recent adverse events in the banking sector in the Republic of Moldova regarding attempts to change the shareholding structure of banks including hostile takeovers may be partly explained by imperfect mechanisms of CG of the banks in the Republic of Moldova. In this context, is required the development of a consistent concept by the NBM regarding corporate governance in the banks in the Republic of Moldova aligned to BCBS recommendations and bringing banking regulations in compliance with this concept.
More...Keywords: Transnistrian Conflict;
Internationalization means relating the Transnistrian conflict with the international security context and the European course of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the commitment of external partners to support the Moldovan development strategic démarche. The “5+2” format negotiations are determined by the new European geopolitical realities and fall under the perspective of Transnistrian conflict internationalization. European integration and related negotiations of the Republic of Moldova together with the new realities of continental security, including NATO missile defense shield have revived the negotiations on the Transnistrian conflict settlement. The official resumption of “5 +2” negotiations in autumn 2011, along with the reopening of dialogue between Chisinau and Tiraspol, opened up the prospect of change in the eastern part of the Republic of Moldova for reintegration of the country. But if negotiations for European integration show an increasing trend, the realities in the negotiations on the Transnistrian conflict settlement are quite different. Two years after their start the situation became tense in the Security Zone, Tiraspol administration actions attempt to obstruct the European integration of the Republic of Moldova and Russia still has plans to create a military base on the left bank. All these provide proof for the unsustainability of the current negotiations framework and, consequently, require rethinking of the internationalization of the Transnistrian conflict settlement, in order to ensure the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.
More...Keywords: between EU and Russia;
The signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union on 27 June 2014 is the Republic of Moldova’s greatest achievement since gaining independence. The signing of this document is a chance for the Republic of Moldova to get out of Europe’s “grey zone” and join the group of civilized countries. The Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union will bring the relations between our state and the EU to a qualitatively new, updated and adjusted level and allow the Republic of Moldova to move past the post-Soviet period.
More...The Republic of Moldova and the International Monetary Fund are to negotiate a new loan program, since the international lender of last resort has sent a list of preconditions to Moldovan government, while the rebels fighting against Ukrainian governmental forces have hoisted their flag in the centre of Tiraspol. Ukraine has dug anti-tank trenches along the Transnistrian segment of the Moldovan border and tightened control at all checkpoints, while the Moldovan government provides guarantees for the “bad loans” of the three commercial banks and has to manage what is called a stagflation which combines economic stagnation and high inflation. Finance and security, whose eternal relation has shaped; over time; the international political economy, are very current issues in the Europe of 2015 and they are becoming crucial for the Republic of Moldova as well, where public finances have reached a deadlock and the Tiraspol administration is negotiating from a position of power within the sub-format “1 + 1”.
More...Keywords: European elections;trust in political leaders;voting intentions;
Survey conducted between 9 and 16 February 2019 on a national sample of 1106 people. He measured the perception of the public health system in Romania, the trust in the national political leaders, the evaluation of Traian Băsescu, the appreciation of the parties, the voting intentions.
More...Keywords: European elections;trust in political leaders;voting intentions;
Survey conducted between November 27 and December 5, 2018 on a sample of 1087 people. He measured issues such as: union with the Republic of Moldova, special pensions, electronic voting, expectations from the European Union and MEPs, the perception of Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă, confidence in political leaders, voting intentions, evaluation of the last four presidents of Romania.
More...Keywords: slogans;campaign themes;Traian Basescu;electoral behaviors;
The research was conducted in January 2019 based on a focus group attended by 14 people. The study aimed to evaluate the perception of political parties, the topics that should be debated in the election campaign, the activity of the Popular Movement Party, the evaluation of Traian Băsescu, the evaluation of some PMP campaign slogans, the factors that influence voting intention, etc.
More...Keywords: slogans;campaign themes;evaluation of political leaders;party evaluation;electoral behaviors;
The research was conducted in September 2018 based on 3 focus groups in which 28 people participated. The study aimed to evaluate the perception of the Dăncilă government, the evaluation of President Klaus Iohannis, Traian Băsescu, Eugen Tomac, Ludovic Orban, Dan Barna, the perception of PMP, PNL, USR, PSD, of the topics that will be debated in the campaign for the European elections. political relations, attitude towards the PMP, intention to vote for referendums on issues such as: no criminals in public office, the union of Moldova with Romania, electronic voting.
More...Keywords: administrative issues;trust in political leaders;voting intentions;
The survey was conducted on July 31 – August 2, 2020 on a sample of 422 inhabitants of the city. He measured people’s opinion about the main candidates for City Hall, the expectations of the future mayor, the voting intentions, the way in which the City Hall got involved in certain administrative issues.
More...Keywords: administrative issues;trust in political leaders;voting intentions;
The survey was conducted between October 12-19, 2019 on a sample of 1100 adults living in the city. He measured how the population perceives the involvement of the mayor’s office in various administrative issues, trust in local political leaders, voting intentions in local elections, the perception of local party organizations.
More...Keywords: Bibliography; Studies of Roma communities; Inter-ethnic relations; East-Europe; Ethnic minorities studies;
The bibliography is the first product of a documentary research in the field of studies of Roma communities, being a collection of data on documents and analyzes on public, social, educational policies, etc. from the European space, with a strong focus on Central and Eastern Europe, South-East Europe. The research aims at producing an annotated bibliography and as complete as possible in the field. The collection of bibliographic data is addressed to researchers in social sciences interested in Roma issues and interethnic relations, but it can also serve as a tool for orientation of persons and institutions active in community development or those engaged in improving the situation of Roma in Romania and the East-Europe. The bibliography is the first product of a documentary research in the field of studies of Roma communities, being a collection of data on documents and analyzes on public, social, educational policies, etc. from the European space, with a strong focus on Central and Eastern Europe, South-East Europe. The research aims at producing an annotated bibliography and as complete as possible in the field. The collection of bibliographic data is addressed to researchers in social sciences interested in Roma issues and interethnic relations, but it can also serve as a tool for orientation of persons and institutions active in community development or those engaged in improving the situation of Roma in Romania and the East- Europe.
More...Keywords: Local councils; national minorities; Romanian electoral legislation; 2004 and 2008 local elections; "small" minorities;
The paper assesses Romanian legislation regarding the representation of national minorities (except the Hungarians) in local councils. Most minorities are still seriously underrepresented in the local decisional fora, despite the existence of a special provision in the electoral law of 2004, that grants some sort of affirmative action for minority organizations. In order to evaluate the utility of this special provision, I re-analyzed the results of the last two local elections, comparing the actual results of the minority organizations to the hypothetical results they would have obtained in the absence of the special rule, that is, if they had been treated alike to the mainstream political parties. This allowed the identification of those cases when the minorities indeed benefited from the affirmative action provided by the law. Unfortunately, the scope of applicability of the special rule proved to be very limited, the minority organizations would have obtained most of their seats also without the application of the special provision. Moreover, the provision may have even adverse effects, as it may prevent some organizations from obtaining seats even if they obtained a number of votes that would have been sufficient for getting represented if they had been treated alike to the political parties. This is due to the logic behind the special provision, which advantages a single minority organization, often to the expense of the others. The net gain of seats due to the regulation is so small that one can conclude that there is no point for retaining the regulation in its present shape. The minorities have realized this too, and they initiated a bill in order to replace the current system with something very similar to the regulations in force at the level of the Chamber of Deputies. The paper briefly assesses this proposal too, however, the conclusions are not very optimistic in this regard either.
More...Keywords: Anthropology; Inter-ethnic relations; ethnicity and economics; Stigmatized ethnicity; gender inequality;
By summing up the literature of social anthropology the article provides a broader perspective on the proposed theme. It is especially important that by translating this study Romanian readers have the chance to get acquainted with a small segment of the scientific activity of the researcher. The study of stigmatized ethnicity, gender inequality and precarious work signed by Enikő Vincze, professor of anthropology and gender studies at Babeş-Bolyai University, is a text based on research into social exclusion, multiple discrimination in an East European context, with a look focused on Roma women. Activist research along with the involvement of the researcher in the work of several civic organizations provides a new insight into the current scientific field.
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