1989: Szempontok a rendszerváltás globális politikai gazdaságtanához

Author(s): Márk Áron Éber,Ágnes Gagyi,Tamás Gerocs,Csaba Jelinek,András Pinkasz / Language(s): Hungarian / Issue: 21/2014

This article rethinks 1989 – the year commonly treated as a milestone of regime change. As contrary to this narrow view, and with the aim of laying out the conceptual foundations of possible future research projects, we give a short overview of the way Hungary became incorporated into the capitalist world system and of the key global, economic, and geopolitical factors that influenced its dependent development. For this we present a historically sensitive, global political economic narrative within which we pay special attention to the way public debt had been accumulated and how this, in turn, shaped Hungary’s position within the world system. After our analysis of the regime change we continue with an overview of the main structural dynamics of the last two decades. Finally, through two short case studies, we show how our perspective can throw new light on the political ideologies and economic policies of the era. The accumulation of state debt was not a Hungarian specificity: instead, we argue that it was rather a result of the global restructuring process and of its concomitant effect of decreasing national state-sovereignty. In the following manner, we also argue that the emergence of debates (which were central in evaluating the regime change, revolving around issues like „democracy” vs. „dictatorship” or „planning” vs. „market”) can be better understood within our global, historical, and political economic analytical framework. In the long run we identify two economic development strategies – namely, the strategy of liberalization and the strategy of protectionism – both structured around the, nonetheless entirely unfulfilled, hope of overcoming Hungary’s semi-peripheral position by „catching up” to its Western neighbors. These strategies then can be analyzed on the base of how they relate to global cycles of accumulation; how their shifts were influenced by changes in the world system; and, in turn, how these strategies organized both various elite projects shaped by global cyclical dynamics and the interpretations about our historically unfolding dependent position.

2000’li Yillarda Çocuk Koruma Sistemi İçinde Bakim Hizmetlerinin Genel Görünümü

Author(s): Seyda Yildirim / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: V. 15/1/2017

It is possible to say that the child care system has been in a constant change in Turkey in the last century. With the establishment of Social Services and Child Protection Institution in 1983, the services were combined under the umbrella of a single institution. In this process, it is seen that activities to keep children in institutional care were focused on. However, after 2000s, with an important perspective change, Social Services and Child Protection Institution focused on keeping the children under family care. In addition, alternative care services have been created in order to decrease the negative effects of institutional care on children. In this study, it is aimed to focus on the change and development process that took place legally and institutionally in child care systems in 2000s with a critical perspective. In the scope of this study, both the 5395 Child Protection Law and the child protection services within the construction of Social Services and Child Protection Institution and child care services in the process of establishment of Family and Social Policies Ministry are discussed, in regard to statistical data.

A Comparative Study of Child Welfare in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina

Author(s): Ana M. Gavrilovic,Aleksandar L. Jugovic / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2012

The aim of this paper is to analyze, through comparative perspective, current systems of child welfare in transitional societies of the Southeast Europe: Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. In this paper we used historical, comparative and statistic method. Socio- political characteristics of these states are: mutual history of child welfare systems, transitional metamorphosis of society and social policy, European perspectives and the need for upgraded child welfare. Gavrilovics point out the common past of child welfare systems of these states. In the main part of this work comparative methods are used to analyze current characteristics of child welfare in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina. Family and child support measures are taken into account, with special emphasis on child maintenance, maternity and parental leave and services of specialized children’s institutions. Child welfare is analyzed in the context of transitional changes that the South- east European states are undergoing. Analysis of the three basic forms of financial support of families with children showed that transitional changes substantially reduced the number of children benefiting from child maintenance and even more reduced its amount. Maternity leave is recognized as an important measure in family and population policy in all three states, but there are lack of means, compensation amount is under constant pressure to be lowered.

A Critical View to European Union as a Cosmopolitan Democracy: From an Outsider’s View

Author(s): Seyed Vahid Karimi / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

European Union is an advance institution. There is no other community to mach its political, economic and international weight. But as an outsider, I do not find it as a cosmopolitan democracy. There are two internal as well as one international reason to prove my argument. First of all there are two schools of thought within the EU, regarding its future direction. There are forces who believe that the political direction of the EU must be Atlantis. There are others who believe that the European Union must, in its political thinking, remain European minded, separate from whatever the American guideline is. The United Kingdom and its allies within European Union support the Atlantis view, where the French and its orbit allies believe that the European Union must be European. So, that means that the liberal forces are put versus the social welfare minded, within the European Union. The second critical view is with regard to the institution itself. The selection of the commission is doubtful, if the stronger and more powerful members of the European Union have the upper hand in its selection. The European Parliament is paralyzed in intervening over agricultural budget. The power of members by ‘qualify majority voting’ - QMV, makes collaboration among the stronger and more powerful members of the EU much easier.

A e zvogëlon Traktati i Lisbonës rolin e Shtetit për një Politikë të Jashtme të përbashkët?

Author(s): Eglantina Golemi,Erjona Canaj / Language(s): Albanian / Issue: 1/2014

Politika e Jashtme e Përbashkët e BE-së është, pa dyshim, kryefjala dhe njëkohësisht një nga sfidat e BE-së në ditët e sotme. Vendimet që merren apo ndryshimet që bëhen në këtë drejtim, kanë një impakt të drejtpërdrejtë në imazhin dhe rolin e BE-së si faktor ndërkombëtar. BE-ja vepron në katër fusha të politikës së jashtme: I) politika e përbashkët tregtare; II) politika e asociimit, partneritetit, bashkëpunimit dhe fqinjësisë; III) zhvillimi, bashkëpunimi teknik dhe ndihma humanitare si dhe IV) dimensioni i jashtëm i politikave të tjera të brendshme. Në këtë studim synohet të evidentohet nëse Traktati i Lisbonës ka ndikuar në uljen e rolit të shtetit për një politikë të jashtmë autonome, duke trajtuar si shembuj dy nga fushat kryesore të saj si politika e përbashkët tregtare dhe politika e zhvillimit, bashkëpunimit teknik dhe ndihmës humanitare. Nëse politika e përbashkët tregtare tashmë është kompetencë ekslkuzive e Bashkimit Europian, politika për zhvillim, bashkëpunim teknik dhe ndihma humanitare janë kompetencë konkurruese midis Shteteve Anëtare dhe BE-së. Ekskluziviteti u përdor nga Traktati si mjet ligjor me anë të të cilit vërtetohet rënia e rolit të shtetit në një politikë të jashtme autonome, por dhe kompetencat e përbashkëta po sfidojnë hapur praktikën ligjore për nga funksionimi i tyre. Politika e Jashtme e Përbashkët sot përbën një sfidë të vërtetë të politikës botërore.

A POSSIBLE EURO-ATLANTIC COMPREHENSIVE MARITIME SECURITY MODEL

Author(s): Valentin Catalin Vlad / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

This article aims to identify the existence, relevance and opportunity of a theoretical security through cooperation model based on the main concepts and theories of the security communities and the appreciation of universally recognized individual and collective values and freedom, in order ultimately to prove the relevance and opportunity of such a comprehensive maritime security model that could be adopted and developed at Euro-Atlantic maritime space as part of the complex process of ensuring regional and international maritime security.The adoption of a comprehensive maritime security through cooperation model centered on ensuring individual and collective security, stability and prosperity is the key element for the legitimacy, credibility and efficiency of the Euro-Atlantic maritime strategies in relation to international treaties, challenges and threats to international maritime security and last but not least with the peculiarities and characteristics of international maritime basins.

A POSSIBLE ROMANIAN-AMERICAN NAVAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

Author(s): Ioan Craciun,Aura? Liviu Coman / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

How can the United States increase the responsiveness of US forces to reinforce the South-Eastern NATO flank in the Black Sea? Geopolitical changes have led to calls for the necessity to update the Montreux Convention. These restrictions can be avoided in this situation if the US would rent or lease at a reasonable price warships to the Romanian Navy that fly the Romanian flag, and are operated by a Romanian-American crew. Montreux Convention rules may be avoided by building an innovative partnership, a solid and reliable agreement between US Navy and Romanian Navy. Subsequently, a Multinational Task Group composed of American, Romanian, and Black Sea littoral countries’ ships can be consolidated. The result will be beneficial to the US, NATO, EU, and Black Sea countries.This naval partnership has to be created to support Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System Deveselu, to rebuild a military and security power in the region, and change the balance of power.

A PROPOSAL FOCUSED ON A METHOD FOR THE CALCULATION OF THE CONVERGENCE OF THE TWO BANKS OF THE DNIESTR

Author(s): Eugen Strautiu / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2018

Following the armed conflict in 1992, the Moldovan society, on the left bank of the Dniester broke, from a political and administrative point of view, proclaiming itself a separate state under the name "The Moldovan Dniester Republic" – which is unrecognized until today at an international level.The negotiation process, started in 1992, did not produce significant convergence effects - although issues related to the everyday life of the population are resolved today at a faster pace than ever before.The present article aims at investigating, principally and (as much as possible) quantitatively, to what extent the political divergence has evolved over two decades and a half, and to what extent it finds itself in economic, military and civil society divergences. In conclusion, we will try to evaluate the chances of a convergence process between the two banks of the Dniester in the near future.

A PROPOSAL FOR INCORPORATING LABOR UTILIZATION FRAMEWORKS INTO THE FORMAL LABOR FORCE STATISTICS

Author(s): Hee-Young Shin / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2016

The standard labor force statistics has been widely used as an important indicator of the overall health of an economy, and both economists and economic policy makers in the U.S. have been uncritically relying on the single official unemployment rate whenever they propose and make an important policy decision. The goal of this paper is to revisit some of the limitations in the US formal labor force statistics and propose to incorporate a series of measures for analyzing a certain quality aspect of employment into the government’s formal labor force statistics. The conventional definitions and categories used by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) have many limitations, and are of no use at all in capturing quality aspects of employment. After examining some of these problems, the paper introduces and proposes the International Labor Office (ILO)’s labor (under-)utilization framework to overcome these problems. The labor utilization framework adopted in the ILO’s international conferences emphasizes the importance of capturing quality aspects of labor utilization and introduces the concept of income-, time-, and skill-related labor underutilization. The survey in this paper shows that the ILO’s labor utilization framework is broader in scope and much more consistent in analyzing the labor market performance. The framework also provides better insights into analyzing the labor market dynamics than any other formal labor force statistical frameworks, including the US BLS’s standard labor force statistics. Even though the ILO’s labor utilization framework is in no way a complete solution to the task of analyzing the capitalist labor market dynamics and of constantly improving the government’s labor force statistics, it is far more superior to the conventional unemployment rate and any other narrowly defined labor force statistics. Thus, it is urged that the US BLS should seriously consider incorporating labor utilization framework into its formal labor force statistics.

A Soldier’s State? Veterans and the Welfare Regime in Croatia

Author(s): Danijela Dolenec / Language(s): English / Issue: 14/2017

The paper theorizes about the type of welfare state that emerged in Croatia post-1990, focusing specifically on ways in which the evolution of welfare programmes for veterans, and the gradual strengthening of veteran organizations as pivotal political actors, impacted its morphology. Croatia currently has a population of around 500,000 registered veterans, which in the mid-1990 started organizing into powerful organizations. Partly in response to this mobilization, from 1994 onwards HDZ governments created a comprehensive institutional architecture of entitlements for veterans, instituting durable material linkages alongside symbolic ties to this population. The prominence of veterans as a pivotal political actor has impacted the development of the welfare regime in Croatia. Strong reliance on the family for a broad range of care work is the central feature Croatia shares with other conservative welfare regimes, while the clientelist character of state-society relations relates it specifically to their Southern variant. Distinctly, the "compensatory" character of welfare programmes, which is characteristic of veteran programmes, and of family policy in Croatia generally, creates contradictory impulses. What seems to have emerged is a specific clientelist variant of a conservative welfare regime, sustained by veteran mobilizations, while at the same time eroded by the dependency, resentment and a myriad of other social impacts of these programmes. Future research on the welfare state in Croatia will hopefully further explore the arguments that this paper brings forward.

A Well-Funded Public Health System for a Healthy National Economy

Author(s): Ibrahim Almaashi / Language(s): English / Issue: 05/2014

The article focuses on the healthcare financing analysis in Romania in the European context, trying to capture the revenue and the expenses trends over the last years. All time health system was the most important domain for a national economy. It is known that a domestic economy works if it has a good health system. This is the reason for which I took as an example to be followed Netherlands health system that I would recommend to be used even in Romania in order to get the best results.

ACCESS TO JUSTICE: PROVISION OF INFORMATION, ADVICE AND FREE LEGAL AID IN BOSNIA AND HEREZGOVINA

Author(s): Snježana Ninkovic,Božana Puljic,Ada Hamidovic / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2016

(English edition) The right to free legal aid is a fundamental human right and a precondition for the enjoyment of other human rights such as the right to a fair trial and the right to an effective remedy. The right to a fair trial is guaranteed by numerous international instruments on human rights, which were signed by Bosnia and Herzegovina. Access to justice is guaranteed by the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and represents an essential element of a functioning rule of law system. At the same time effective legal protection is not possible without providing legal assistance which is ensured by experts. The goal of free legal aid is to remove obstacles to access to justice; this is done by providing assistance to those who otherwise would not be able to bear the costs of legal representation and legal protection. This right contributes to the strengthening of public confidence in the equal access to justice both in front domestic and international tribunals. Since in Bosnia and Herzegovina there are 600.000 people living below the poverty line, the fact is that many of them cannot achieve free access to courts and pay lawyers; as such they are not able to properly and effectively protect their rights. Thus far, the reform processes that aimed at establishing a sustainable and comprehensive system of legal aid were unsuccessful. In Bosnia and Herzegovina there is no law on free legal aid that established the minimum rights of citizens in regards to legal aid. However the laws on free legal aid were separately adopted in the Republika Srpska, Brčko District, and in eight of the ten cantons in the Federation. In the new Strategy for Justice Sector Reform in BiH for the period 2014–2018 it is stated that it is necessary to provide “the continuation of strategic action to establish the legal and institutional framework of free legal aid throughout the territory of BiH and harmonize the laws ensures the minimum standards for all and guarantees equality before the law.” Association for Democratic Initiatives in 2013 carried out an analysis of the nature and availability of free legal aid, information and consultation which has been used for the production of the first report entitled Access to Justice: Providing information, advice and free legal assistance in BiH. A second analysis was performed based on the findings of the first report. The survey had 53 nongovernmental organizations that provide free legal aid and 21 institutions in the period September – December 2015. Moreover, it included the analysis of existing legislation and legal practices in BiH and the existing capacity of providers of free legal aid. The goal of this analysis is to detect and analyze the obstacles faced by citizens who try to exercise their rights in courts and government bodies, and gain a deeper insight into the experience with free legal aid as a mechanism that is available to those citizens who are faced with financial barriers or discrimination in the exercise of their rights. The analysis gave an overview of the existing problems in this field and the ways of overcoming them. The key conclusion is the need for the soonest adoption of the Law on Free Legal Assistance at the state level as a precondition for the establishment of a harmonized free legal aid system which would fully reflect the international and European standards and practices at all levels of government.

Access to Justice: Provision of Information, Advice and Free Legal Aid in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Author(s): Elma Demir / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2013

(English edition) Although Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has made significant progress since the conflict in the mid 1990s, it still faces significant development challenges, such as high unemployment, underdeveloped rural areas, and an under-resourced and inefficient social welfare system. The economy is at 70% of its pre-war level of development, and 20% of the population lives below the poverty line, which is very high, given that an additional 30% of the population lives slightly above the poverty line. Taking these facts into account, the establishment of an efficient free legal aid system is pall the more important given the social status of BiH citizens and poverty rates in the country. In addition, many citizens remain uninformed about their rights and a large number of unresolved legal disputes instigated by citizens is hindering the efficient functioning of the courts in BiH. Finally, the large majority of citizens of BiH throughout find that the country should have an equally guaranteed right to the minimum free legal aid (90%). Despite these conditions, the current free legal aid system in BiH is unable to provide minimum legal assistance services to all citizens in BiH on an equal basis. As such, it does not fulfill the international and European standards in this regard. The NGO Vaša prava, the largest free legal aid provider in the country, states that the current free legal aid framework “is characterized by the absence of policy planning, many deviations from the Justice Sector Reform Strategy in BiH, as well as fragmentation and different approach in dealing with issues of legal aid. Also, the role of NGOs in the system of free legal aid has been continually minimized, which led to the absolute exclusion of NGOs from the public consultation process.”Public institutions have not been proactive in organising the provision of free legal aid in a systematic matter. Several legal aid services have recently been established in Republika Srpska, Brcko District and several other cantons, but these remain unavailable in many other cantons and in most rural areas. These and other similar issues have been identified as reasons for the adoption of a national legislative framework which would provide basic free legal aid and legal mechanisms for the reform of existing laws that may be a source of discrimination against citizens on the basis of the place where they may live. This report intends to add to the on-going policy debate by providing an analysis of the legal framework and current practice relating to the provision of information and assistance services to citizens and aims to identify several viable policy recommendations. In order to address these issues and policy options, a survey on the provision of information, advice and legal aid services in Bosnia and Herzegovina was organised throughout the period from March to May 2013. The purpose of the survey was to map existing citizens information and assistance services, to identify gaps in services and to develop policy recommendations. The survey was sent to an extensive number of public institutions – including municipalities and providers of free legal aid, as well as non-governmental organizations and trade unions were contacted in order. In total, 65 organizations participated in the survey, out of which 24 were public institutions (free legal aid institutions and municipalities) and 41 are non-governmental organizations.

Acute Coronary Syndrome Treatment Cost Estimation in Selected Health Care Units in Poland – Pilot Survey Results

Author(s): Agnieszka Maciag / Language(s): Croatian / Issue: 1/2010

Background: The circulatory system diseases are one of biggest health problems which still pose a fundamental cause of mortality in developed countries. Among those illnesses important place takes myocardial ischemia. Aim: The main purpose of this article is to evaluate hospitalization costs of a patient with acute coronary syndrome in health care units conducting diagnostic and surgery (coronarography and PTCA) as well as in health centres, where patients are treated exclusively pharmacologically. Methods: There has been prepared and used author's individual questionnaire enabling estimation of both fixed and variable treatment costs per patient. In economic analysis there have been used micro-costing principle, defining every element of used supplies and calculating unit cost. Results: The analysis has shown that fixed costs of one hospitalized patient in a clinic equipped in hemodynamics laboratory are only 33% of all costs. In hospitals which did not carry out surgeries, variable costs (e.g. medicines) were respectively lower, whereas fixed costs were up to 72% of total treatment costs. A great impact on level of costs had two risk factors: smoking tobacco and hypercholesterolemia. Conclusions: Increasing number of carried out angioplasty, raises total treatment costs of acute coronary syndrome. Over half of all hospitalization costs of one patient with myocardial ischemia in hospitals not equipped in hemodynamics laboratories determines for fixed costs.

Aktualna reforma penzijskog sistema u Federaciji Bosne i Hercegovine: šta donosi novi Zakon o penzijskom i invalidskom osiguranju?

Author(s): . No Author Specified / Language(s): Bosnian / Issue: 33/2018

The application of the earlier Pension and Disability Insurance Act caused constant losses that resulted in a high deficit in the Pension and Disability Insurance Institute. This finally raised serious questions about the pension system solvency in FB&H, pension adequacy and regular pension payments. In addition, bad economic and demographic situation, decline in working-age population, emigration of the young working class population etc. are just some of the reasons that also indicated the need for pension system reform in FB&H. This paper deals with the current reform of the pension system in FB&H through the analysis of the recently adopted Pension and Disability Insurance Act and the novelties introduced by it. Special emphasis is given to the provisions containing the elements of unlawful discrimination as well as unconstitutionality. As such, these provisions are contrary to the European and regional trends, the international conventions and to the Constitution of FB&H. As an obvious example of unlawful discrimination the paper particularly stresses the provision denying unmarried partners’ access to the survivor's pension. Also, the provision suspending the pension payments to one group of pensioners represents a violation of the right to property guaranteed by the FB&H Constitution and as such could be used as the basis for initiating a procedure for assessing its constitutionality. The analysis of the disputed provisions of the Pension and Disability Insurance Act points to their discriminatory and unconstitutional character and to the need for their amendment in order for FB&H to follow the European path and comply with the constitutionally accepted obligations with regard to the international conventions.

Aktualne problemy diagnostyki preimplantacyjnej w kontekście dążeń rodziców do realizacji projektu rodzicielskiego

Author(s): Kinga Baczyk-Rozwadowska / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 22/2017

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is designed to assist in conception in cases where a background of serious hereditary disease exists in one or both partners and it is seen necessary to screen out embryos that may be carrying chromosomal or genetic abnormalities. Therefore, and regardless of whether a state of infertility otherwise prevails, the procedure may only be lawfully applied to alleviate the risk of transmitting specific genetic disorders to a child. In practice, PGD raises many ethical objections as a method which – as doctrine says – commodifies reproduction and enables the unwanted practice of positive eugenics (selection of embryos of a particular sex or one bearing certain qualities). Parents may be prone to choose the features of their future child and decide, by means of PGD, to produce a baby of a certain sex, genetic make-up or tissue match for a living sibling. The legislator should therefore intervene and establish a normative framework for the practice of PGD and maintain continuous control over its application to prevent abuse of the child’s welfare.

AKTYWIZACJA ZAWODOWA PRZEZ URYNKOWIENIE. LUDZIE DLA INSTYTUCJI CZY INSTYTUCJE DLA LUDZI (NA PRZYKŁADZIE AKTYWIZACJI ZAWODOWEJ NIEPEŁNOSPRAWNYCH ABSOLWENTÓW SZKÓŁ WYŻSZYCH)

Author(s): Ewa Giermanowska,Mariola Raclaw / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2016

Poland is a country with very low labour force participation among people with disabilities. On the one hand, changes are visible in the attitudes and behaviour of people with disabilities, especially students and graduates who aim to have a professional career. On the other hand, one can observe a process of gradual withdrawal of families from caring and active support of the disabled. This situation demands certain compensatory measures such us intensification of engagement of relevant institutions and seeking alternative ways of providing care and support. The Polish system of occupational development services for the disabled is complicated and nontransparent for the beneficiaries. It is also inadequate for the growing professional aspirations of people with disabilities. Employees of support institutions tend to follow long-standing routines and patterns of behaviour defined by formal rules, rather than adjusting to the individual needs of the disabled and the changing labour market. Commercialisation of support institutions, within the framework of the new paradigm of social policy, has contributed to economisation of support institutions by focusing on benefits and profits to the institution, rather than the professional development of disabled people. Thus, we have an unfinished process of labour emancipation of disabled university graduates who cannot satisfy their career aspirations.

Aktywne formy przeciwdziałania wykluczeniu społecznemu

Author(s): Marta Danecka / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 47/2016

The article touched a problem of social exclusion in the context of the return to the labor market. The starting point is the lack of activation of people excluded by social assistance. It also stresses the side effects experienced by its protégés: passivity, inheritance lifestyle based on social benefits and lack of motivation to integrate with the local community.The guidelines for the directions of social policies within the EU development model meant that social policy, in particular the so-called activation policy seeks methods to counteract these pathologies. By incorporating social economy entities and non-governmental sector to carry out tasks at the level of social assistance it was given the chance to depart from treating social assistance as an institution of social transfers.Created multisectorial social assistance is based on three pillars: welfare (traditional), pro-employment and reintegration, which is implemented through the creation of social employment institutions. The new system involves conditioning aid. The article presents the basic data ofthe social employment and its beneficiaries. It should be noted that the main problem in the process of activation of the long-term unemployed is very low effectiveness and a very marginal effect of their employment after completing the course. This issue is shown from two perspectives: quantitative – with statistical indicators and qualitative – determination motivation to undertake the activity. There is a statistical picture of two indicators: the completion of training and economic independence. The qualitative perspective is based on the results of surveys dedicated to the theme of client’s attitudes to social and economic activation and their work in the future.

ALBANIANS AND THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODEL. Public Administration in Albania: Between Politics and Citizens

Author(s): Elona Dhëmbo / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2014

Albanians and the European Social Model. Towards a redefinition of the social contract

Author(s): Sashenka Lleshaj,Alba Cela / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2014

At the beginning of the year 2014 the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung brought into life, together with leading experts of six distinguished organizations and Think Tanks, a long term project. The aim of this project is to create and stimulate a political and social discussion in Albania about the EU Integration. The starting point of the contemplation was the perspective that Albania desires to be soon a full EU member, with an economic and social developed society. More than 80% of the population aims at this goal. To reach it Albania must fulfil, inter alia, the minimum social standards of the EU ─ the so called European Social Model (ESM). The project-path is already part of its objective: active involvement of all actors in one common discourse. It is not about finding quick solutions or just an exchange of statements, it rather aims at developing and building up reciprocal trust. Otherwise stated: this endeavour tries, with this genre of public debates, to ameliorate the rapport of actors - Politics, administration and citizens - and to be conducive for a more efficient cooperation in the organization of a social and democratic society.