A collection of speeches from an International Seminar held on 3-4 June 1993 and organized by the Center for the Study of Democracy and the Sofia Center for International Private Entrepreneurship, Washington.A collection of speeches from an International Seminar held on 3-4 June 1993 and organized by the Center for the Study of Democracy and the Sofia Center for International Private Entrepreneurship, Washington. Many factors contribute to lowering the price of Bulgarian privatizing enterprises. One of the most effective in this aspect is the creation of an image of the country as unfavorable for investment. This campaign has two negative consequences - it helps to repel the big investors from the country and provokes a policy in this area based on the principle of "investing all and at all costs".
More...Keywords: Eastern Policy of the EU; Visegrad Countries
1. After its enlargement, scheduled for 2004, the European Union will face a completely new situation at its eastern borders. This new situation calls for a new concept of the EU eastern activities, i.e. for development of the new Eastern Policy of the EU.2. Due to a number of specific features such as geographical location, closeness of ties, direct risk factors etc., the Visegrad countries will and should be particularly interested in the process of formulating the new EU Eastern Policy. Consequently, they should be the co-makers of this policy.3. The new EU Eastern Policy should differ fundamentally from the Union's traditional eastern relations. Firstly, its scope should not cover the entire CIS area: instead, the policy should focus on some of the European successor states of the former Soviet Union, namely Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, as well as Moldova, following the accession of Romania. It does not seem advisable to exclude the Russian Federation from this policy and to develop and implement a separate policy towards it. The new Eastern Policy should be an autonomous component and one of the most important elements in the overall foreign policy of the EU.4. Secondly, the new Eastern Policy should be founded on the following two pillars: a region-oriented strategy, which could be called the Eastern Dimension, and reshaped strategies for individual countries. The Eastern Dimension should set up a universal framework of co-operation, defining its basic mechanisms and objectives. These should include: the adaptation assistance programme, JHA, transborder co-operation, social dialogue and transport infrastructures. The approach, however, should be kept flexible, taking into account the specific situation of each country. This purpose should be served by keeping in place the existing bilateral institutional contacts between the EU and each of its eastern neighbours, and by developing a national strategy for each neighbour.
More...Keywords: orange revolution; Ukraine
1. The Ukrainian society in the run-up to the 2004 presidential election was in a state which political science literature characterises as an almost "ideal" condition for an outbreak of social unrest. Growing expectations, both economic and political, seemed vain due to mounting impediments. The victory of Viktor Yanukovych was perceived by many opinion-makers as a nail in the coffin of such aspirations.2. In Ukraine, almost since the moment of regaining independence, the following two public order models, in which inherent are completely different system-related preferences of the citizens, have co-existed: the decentralised model of a "network" society, where dominate parallel mutual dependences between people who opt for a democratic political system; and the centralist model of social integration, where order is ensured via the vertical relation of power and submission. In the latter case, democracy seems dubious and preference is given to various kinds of systems having a strong central authority. Over the past ten years, the decentralised model has been slowly strengthening, and its influence has been expanding. It operates predominantly in the Western Ukraine and in Kyiv, yet it has won increasingly more areas also in the North and East of the country (except for Donbas). Viktor Yanukovych was in the common opinion a supporter of the centralist vision, and his victory in the election was perceived as an immediate threat to the already known and familiar rules of activity in parallel relations. Yanukovych was believed to be a player who would impose his own rules, without respecting the already existing ones.3. Foreign policy issues, a "pro-European" or "anti- European" approach of the authorities, hardly had any significance during the orange revolution. Its causes were purely internal. However, as the events developed, the stance taken by the international community became important for Ukrainians and could contribute to a significant growth of pro-European sentiments."Revolution" was the favourite word of most commentators in their descriptions of the events in late 2004, connected with the presidential election in Ukraine. Still, some of them - few as they were - protested against this term pointing out to many elements that proved evolutional rather than revolutionary nature of the changes taking place there. I suggest leaving this issue to future political scientists and historians, who will certainly answer the question whether that was a revolution and if it was not, how to name it1. This text is an attempt to reflect on what really happened in Ukraine in the last months of 2004, regardless of whether we call such events revolution, rebellion, social movement or anything else.Any mass social movements mainly draw attention of the mass media, yet soon they also become a subject of analysis for political scientists, sociologists and other specialists in social sciences, who try to answer the question if "this" could have been predicted? Post factum we usually state that there were very many signs of an approaching outbreak but nobody paid sufficient attention to such "harbingers". Even more so because social processes are almost never launched by only one factor.A well-known American political scientist James Davies (1962) noticed in the early 1960's that one of the factors provoking social movements is the discrepancy between social expectations & aspirations and the possibility to satisfy them. Davies initially formulated his theory, which has become classical today, in terms of socioeconomic expectations. Thereafter, he wrote that if such a discrepancy concerns political issues, its "explosive action" can be even stronger.Social expectations usually grow when the economic situation starts improving. Then expectations and hopes concerning both material and non-material issues grow; starting from the possibility to do business in an unrestricted way through such ideas as the freedom of speech. Expectations also grow when the society has managed to develop parallel ways of communication and gaining the awareness of its subjectivity, independently of the existing political system.
More...Keywords: Canada; Arctic; political power; national identity; communication strategy;
This is a summary of research based on a discourse analysis of official statements, speeches, and policy documents published by the Government of Canada in English from 2013-2018. The narratives derived from the discourse are coded according to the different national power dimensions and political values which they communicate. Sources were identified through a key word search of these publicly available resources.
More...Keywords: Jochi Ulus; Golden Horde; historical geography; administrative-territorial structure; Sarai region (vilayet); Orda; Hadji-Tarkhan; Summerkent; Saray al-Jadid; Kizil
The article is devoted to the administrative-territorial structure of the political center of a Golden Horde region (vilayet) known as Sarai, which was located in the Delta of the Volga River. Research history of the largest towns and their environs is discussed. The administrative units are characterized in accordance with the chronology of historical events. The life span of the settlements and the stages in their development are determined through analysis and comparison of archaeological, numismatic and written data. The process of urbanization in the region is linked to the changes in the level of the Caspian Sea. Suggestions are made about the location of the first capital of Jochi Ulus (the city of Sarai) and the name of Krasny Yar town.
More...Keywords: left bank of the Lower Dniester Region; 3rd century BC; Scythians; barrow; burial; catacomb; torque; bracelet; mirror; fibulae
In 2017, barrow 116 of the Scythian cemetery of the 3rd—2nd centuries BC near Glinoe village, Slobodzeya district, on the left bank of the Lower Dniester Region was investigated. Two burials in the catacombs were studied under the mound, surrounded by a ring ditch with two ruptures. A paired children's burial was made in the northern burial chamber of the main grave 116/1, accompanied by an unusual inventory — a three-tiered torque, a pair of gold earrings, a silver multi-turned bracelet, two belt buckles with images of men's faces, a bronze mirror with an iron handle in a sheath, two conical and two flat trapezoidal pendants, as well as a bunch of composite adornments from beads. Wooden coffin was built to bury a man — a noble warrior in the eastern burial chamber of this catacomb. Three fibulae were found on the skeleton in addition to a representative set of weapons, adornments and a hand-made bowl. Also a warrior was buried in the secondary grave 116/2, a pair of long fighting knives lay near the body. Barrow 116 dates back to the third quarter of the 3rd century BC on the basis of the fibulae of the Early La-Tene construction and fragments of Heraclean amphora from the ditch.
More...Keywords: Don River Region; Azov Region; steppe zone; Golden Horde time; settlements; camps; ground necropolises; barrow necropolises
The author studies sites of Golden Horde time found in the south-eastern part of Ukraine. The nature and climate of this region has three zones: Seversky Donets, Donetsky Kryazh and the Azov region. Different natural environment in these zones conditioned peculiar features of sites located here. In the steppes in Donetsky Kryazh, with their nomad population, the sites represent some barrow necropolises, seasonal camps and some individual finds. The Azov coast, along with sites left by the nomads, yields some stationary settlements, most of which emerged in the second half of 14th c. One of them had an adjacent ground necropolis (Lyapinskaya Balka). The steppe also yields burials of nomad elite, including Muslim ones (the stone from Guselshchikovo). The largest and most typical sites are located in the middle stream of the Seversky Donets (camps, small and large settlements, ground and barrow necropolises). A group of settlements with pseudo Early Russian ceramics had existed there from the previous time period. Next to some of these, some large Golden Horde centers emerge in 14th c. (at village Maiaki and town Raygorodok). It is noteworthy that both groups of settlements coexist in the middle stream of the Seversky Donets during the whole of the Golden Horde time.The rise on the considered territory dates to the second half of 14th c. With the fall of Mamay and accession of Tokhtamysh to power, the region lost its importance. The ultimate desolation of these lands started after the western territories of the Golden Horde had been devastated by Tamerlane in 1395.
More...Keywords: Georgia; NATO; NATO’s policy towards Georgia; Russian annexation of Crimea; NATO Summit Agenda; NATO membership; military cooperation;
Russia’s annexation of Crimea triggered a shift in NATO’s policy towards Georgia. NATO moved from mainly political support for Georgia’s NATO membership aspirations to enhanced practical military cooperation. Although it might be more difficult for Russia to coerce its small neighbour, the lack of visible progress on the path to NATO membership may weaken Georgian morale and lead to a reversal of democratic gains. Hence, it is important that during the 2018 NATO Summit in Brussels the Allies offer additional support to help Georgia increase its resilience.
More...Keywords: Ukraine; Russian Federation; Belarus; revolution; civil disobedience; civil society;
The revolution that rocked Ukraine and removed President Yanukovych from power at the beginning of 2014 has raised the question of whether similar revolutionary moods are present in Russia and Belarus. The likelihood of civil disobedience in these countries is related to the similarities and differences between their societies, the presence or not of motivations comparable to those that led Ukrainians to protest on Maidan Square in Kyiv, the perception or not of real potential alternatives to presidents Putin and Lukashenka, as well as their economic prospects. Ultimately, it seems, all these factors indicate revolution is not to be expected in Moscow or Minsk anytime soon.
More...Keywords: Poland; Chile; Polish mining companies; copper mining; economic cooperation; Polish-Chilean relations;
Even though Poland and Chile have not been priority partners for each other in the past, a recent investment by Polish mining company KGHM in Chile could be a game-changer. Cooperation on copper production may form the grounds for the further development of economic and scientific ties, and for stimulating people-to-people contacts.
More...Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa; Polish companies; Poland; economic cooperation; Polish investments in Africa;
Africa is rising, and attracting investment flows from around the world—particularly from emerging markets. Despite some ongoing risks, the investment climate is improving, and returns on investments can be substantial. Polish companies, whose trade and investments focus almost exclusively on the EU, would do well to explore Sub-Saharan markets, particularly in countries with a Polish presence and which display political stability, economic growth, and an attractive investment climate. Promising sectors for Polish investment include natural resource extraction, infrastructure, ICT, agriculture and services. In order to boost Polish investment in Africa, Poland’s government should optimise its presence on the continent and extend its existing economic programmes there. Polish companies should establish a physical presence, seek out investment niches, get to know the African investment climate and adapt to local specificities.
More...Keywords: Syria; Israel; Turkey; conflict; Middle East; international relations; geopolitics; foreign policy;
Following more than a year of behind-the-scenes contacts, on May 21, both Syria and Israel as well as their facilitator Turkey made an identically worded announcement of the resumption of indirect talks between the conflicted parties. Syria, a key actor in major regional conflicts, and Israel, the greatest military power in the Middle East, did not suddenly decide to make peace. Having calculated all pros and cons, they came to the conclusion that indirect talks are what would best serve each of their interests, both internally and internationally. It was pragmatism and cold calculation, as usual. The same guiding principle applies to the continuation and results of the talks. Ultimately, Syria will be interested in sustaining this process as long as there are prospects for American involvement, whereas Israel will seek a more cooperative Syrian role in the region. It remains to be seen whether each party’s decision is of a strategic or a tactical character, but it nevertheless marks a conspicuous change in each country’s foreign policy. For the most part these changes are driven by the new dynamics in the Middle East: a reshuffling of alliances, a relocation of focal points and a change of tactics. The indirect talks require the EU’s participation in order to keep the momentum going until the new American administration decides on the merits of its direct engagement in brokering peace.
More...Keywords: medieval history; church history; Christianity in the Middle Ages; religious culture; Poland during the Piast dynasty
Polish political culture in the epoch traditionally referred to as feudal fragmentation (around 1200–1320) needs to be re-examined, taking into account the comparative perspective. Commonly followed interpretative frameworks of historiography, which universalize in an a-historical way the value of the national unitary state, should be revised. The concept of a “unifying ideology” as an actual political program of the second half of the 13th century, which has organized discourse thus far, seems to be incompatible with the political principles of the epoch. This study is an attempt at identifying the key elements of the political culture of the time from the perspective of their originality and imitativeness. The first part is focused on the issue of defining the position of dukes using categories of widely understood honour and on the concepts of equality, freedom, and the equality of the legal status, determining the position of male members of the dynasty in relation to each other. Their analysis leads to the conclusion that in the 13th century the Piasts did not recognize any formal hierarchy within the dynasty, apart from generational seniority, understood more as a formality. They respected the right to rule of side Piast branches in their hereditary lands, although the conflict over power in Greater Poland after Władysław III’s death constituted an exception to the rule. The second part of the article is devoted to family strategies of the Piasts, which guaranteed the dynasty’s cohesion despite its many branches, for example the matrimonial strategies (especially endogamous marriages), relations of artificial kinship (adoptions and baptismal adoptions), the issue of dynastic divisions within the regions and ways of preventing them, and finally the dynastic naming strategies.
More...Keywords: natural selection; selection; speciation; tree of life; altruism; democracy; cultural evolution
An instructive introduction to the theory of evolution and its applications in biology, physics, chemistry, geology and humanities. The author shows that evolution is a physical process, occurring in geological time dimension, describes how the Darwin’s theory of natural selection works in immunology, neurobiology, sociology as well as in certain aspects of culture and political institutions. He also shows the effects achieved through the action of selection in different areas of biological and social life. He discusses such problems as: the ambiguity of the term “theory of evolution”, the falsifiability of evolutionary hypotheses, connection between evolution and thermodynamics, the concept of reductionism, methodological background of phylogenetics, cladistics, evolutionary developmental biology and homeotic genes, as well as the cumulative nature of social and cultural evolution.
More...Keywords: Serbia and United Nations; international peace-keeping missions; Serbian participation in peace-keeping missions; Womens participation peace-keeping missions;
This paper discusses the challenges of women’s participation in peacekeeping operations, global characteristics of the inclusion of women in peacekeeping operations, and the challenges of the related policy in Serbia. The attempt is to answer what obstacles to peacekeeping operations are present in Serbia, and what additional barriers women participating in the peacekeeping operations of Serbian military and police need to overcome. Based on interviews with the men and women participating in the missions and using secondary sources, an attempt will be made to present to the public the main challenges related to the participation of women in peacekeeping missions and to provide a number of recommendations to improve the situation in this area.
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