![Around the Bloc: Son of Prominent Tajik Lawyer Charged](/api/image/getissuecoverimage?id=picture_2016_21922.jpg)
Around the Bloc: Son of Prominent Tajik Lawyer Charged
Case follows a pattern set by previous trials of opposition figures and their legal advisers.
More...We kindly inform you that, as long as the subject affiliation of our 300.000+ articles is in progress, you might get unsufficient or no results on your third level or second level search. In this case, please broaden your search criteria.
Case follows a pattern set by previous trials of opposition figures and their legal advisers.
More...
The article is an attempt to analyze the relations between political trust and one of the greatest problems of the public domain: political corruption. It seems obvious that corrupt behaviors revealed in the public space are supposed to undermine citizens’ political trust. This thesis has been empirically verified many times. The author of the paper presents the cause and effect model with institutional trust as the independent variable. The article is an attempt to analyze the possible directions of its influence on political corrupt behaviors, assuming political trust to be the starting point, not the consequence, of the “social disease” occurring in the public domain.
More...
I am at the border crossing to Morocco, in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in the north of Africa, exactly where the Strait of Gibraltar separates it from the European continent. On both sides are metal goalposts, freshly painted blue on the Spanish side, rather battered on the Moroccan side. Behind me, a high fence, on a wide concrete base, extends into the shallows of the Mediterranean Sea. Looking inland, an even more menacing modern double fence winds its way through the hilly landscape. The part that faces Morocco reaches over six meters in height, additionally fortified at the top with cylindrical barbed wire to make it even more difficult to cross, and a sand belt too wide to jump over, another fence, video cameras and sensors. Here is the new European Iron Curtain.
More...
Corruption flourishes when governance structures are deficient, where impartiality in government is abused by powerful interests. We use a framework for measuring corruption, the TASP framework – referring to types, sectors, activities and places developed – to analyse the rule of prime minister Zoran Zaev (2017-2021) focusing on the issues of state capture and corruption. Our analysis builds upon public and media perceptions about corruption. We argue that SDSM’s rule in the mentioned period was not just detrimental to the faith North Macedonian citizens have in government and its institutions. The corruption of Zaev’s government violated international norms of transparency and standards compliance and corroded, weakened, and endangered the foundations upon which democracy rests. We reveal a high number of instances of illiberal and corrupt practices of SDSM government in the period 2017-2021. The magnitude of cases involving state capture and grand corruption indirectly reveals that, following the victory at the 2020 parliamentary elections and the formation of the second Zaev government, the ruling elite undertook systemic political corruption, manipulating policy formation and public institutions to their own advantage. Essentially, Zaev’s rule replicated previous illiberal practices of Nikola Gruevski leading to the monopolization of power in the pursuit of particularistic interests.
More...
In this paper I will approach the phenomenon of trust from two angles. The first part of the paper will deal with empirical research of trust. I will outline five ongoing debates regarding the pros and cons of different types of such research, and subsequently point out that each side in these debates requires a more precise definition of trust. In the second part of the paper, I will start with the currently prevalent debate between those who equate trust with behaviour and those who define it as an expectation. I will talk about the problems of both these approaches, and also about the thesis that trust is a character trait. Although each of these options has its own merits, I will try to show that trust is a phenomenon that is too complex for any simple or straightforward definition. I conclude the paper by providing a comprehensive definition of trust, which includes some of the mentioned elements, but also several other significant aspects of the phenomenon, and which I hope can serve as a starting point in formulating future empirical research.
More...
Aim. The aim of this study is to provide a selected theoretical-methodological analysis of the concept of negative freedom in relation to the political sphere of its application, to reveal and clarify the main political implications and normative claims that its recognition implies for political theory. Concept. From a methodological point of view, the study is based on three justified assumptions: (1) that in modern political philosophy the idea of individual freedom is the main normative basis for political theories, (2) that philosophical development has brought several competing concepts of this idea and (3) that from its own content the concept implies basic requirements for its social and political application. For the purposes of theoretical-methodological analysis, we distinguished two different moments in the concept of individual freedom (freedom as a question of will and freedom as a question of practice) and from their point of view we examined the selected concept of negative freedom in an attempt to reveal its implicit claims at the political level. Results. In the article, we have succeeded in formulating and arguing for the thesis that the concept of negative freedom in its applicability programmatically leads to a modus vivendi model of politics. We have shown that the concept of freedom and the model of politics are interrelated and normatively interdependent. Conclusion. The main conclusion of the study is that the above model of politics cannot be generalised and considered equally acceptable for all conceptions of freedom and the good life.
More...
Aim. The research aim is to present the most common games citizens play, a description of the main game theses and roles, psychological gains and rewards, paradigms of relations between the citizen and the state, which determine the emergence of the game, as well as opportunities to quit the game. Methods. To achieve the goal, a system of general scientific methods was used: analysis and generalisation of the main provisions of source studies regarding citizenship and the social role of the citizen, systematisation and generalisation of scientific provisions about games, as well as methodological provisions of Berne’s transactional analysis. Results. 43% of Ukrainian citizens engage in “game” interaction with the state. The most common games citizens play are: “Persecution” (“The state oppresses me”), “Offended” (“If it wasn’t for this state…”), “Parasite” (“The state owes me and should keep me”), “Patriot” (“Only I love Ukraine, all others are traitors”), “Exemplary citizen” (“I perform my civic duties better than anyone”). Conclusions. Implementation of the role of a Citizen can lead to both constructive relations with the state and surrogate relations, which lead to various psychological games-manipulations. The developed system of psychological consulting practices for the prevention of civic identity “game” deformations can be used in the process of psychological support of civic identity formation in the development of complex training, and corrective activities, as well as in the educational process when creating programs of civic education and the development of civic competencies.
More...
The present paper aims to discuss selected peculiarities of English and Geor gian political talk shows using the example of BBC | Vote 22 NI, WMUR-TV ‘Granite states Debate’, NBC News-MSNBC Democratic Debate, Choice, The stories of the day and Timely Questions. The analysis is conducted with a view to determining the similarities between the methods and techniques of manipulation in English and Georgian political speeches. It is undertaken to answer the following question: Are the politicians mostly criticizing the opponent’s speech and their ideas or are they simply insulting them? What kind of mood do the guests and the host create in the beginning and during the programme? What kind of similarities and differ ences can be seen in the structure of English and Georgian political talk shows? In English-language talk shows, political discourse is not as open and obvious as in Georgian ones. The host and the guests do not intend to abuse someone verbally or physically. As a rule, the English-language political discourse has a neutral ap proach in this regard, while in Georgian, there tends to be a sharp confrontation with the opponent.
More...
The upcoming presidential elections of November 2024 brought back into focus a phenomenon that has been manifesting in American society at least since the beginning of the XXIst century – societal polarization. Social scientists have measures. Campaign strategists have lore. The best measures have the indisputable virtues of being precise, objective, and portable – from place to place and election to election. Without pretending to be an exhaustive analysis, this article proposes a brief review of America’s national and religious identity, and of the causes derived from these two variables that have led to the current polarization of society. Participatory observation is the primary source of this parsimonious exposition, while specialized literature and surveys dedicated to the study of identity constitute the basis of secondary sources. The covenant, the creed and the crucible are the recurring symbols by which Americans have tried to make sense of their differences – and their similarities, and most of the arguments of this article are built around these variables.
More...
Every empire falls, while being defeated by nationalism. The traditional dynastic empires such as the Russian Empire and Austria-Hungary were dissolved as a result of social revolution and national self-determination. Besides that, the ideological factor also played a prominent role in their disintegration; for instance, such a revolutionary ideology was Pan-Slavism in the case of Austria-Hungary and Communism in the case of Russia. As a result, the ideological type of empire arose on the territory of the former empires: the USSR and Yugoslavia; those, when their ideology failed, got defeated by nationalism and collapsed.
More...
The Serbian sociopolitical initiative Ne da(vi)mo Beograd (We will not give/flood Belgrade) is defined as a local political movement initiated by the citizens of Belgrade. This movement is one of the new urban social movements emerging from the so-called new social movements of the second generation and indicate the dynamic development of grassroots civic initiatives that want to change the local reality in the face of lack of trust in politicians from the central government, as people not interested in changing the situation of the average citizen. Urban movements, in turn, are characterized by initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the inhabitants of a given town. The article aims to analyze the activities of this movement as an element of a wider activity, known in Serbia as the Civic Front, which brings together local political organizations that are active in individual towns. It also aims to try to answer the question where the border of a social movement ends and the activity of a political organization begins. Ne da(vi)mo Beograd seems to be an initiative that goes beyond unambiguous definitions and may be an example of new, new civic activities that need a new definition, while setting a new framework for activity.
More...
Review of: Józef M. Fiszer, Adrian Chojan (red.), Stany Zjednoczone słabnącym hegemonem? Przejawy, przyczyny i skutki dla świata w XXI wieku, Dom Wydawniczy Elipsa, Warszawa 2022, ss. 243.
More...
Wojna to przede wszystkim straty ludzkie, materialne i moralne, smutek, ból i cierpienie. Jednocześnie wojna jest prawdopodobnie najpotężniejszym katalizatorem zmian społeczno-politycznych. Trwająca od 2014 r. rosyjska agresja militarna na Ukrainę jakościowo zmieniła tożsamość polityczną Ukraińców. Jak dokładnie – zilustruję w dalszej części artykułu jego najważniejsze, moim zdaniem, składowe. Jednym z największych problemów Ukrainy, obok finansowych i przemysłowych monopoli oraz oligarchizacji kraju, były niezwykle sprzeczne dla rozwoju demokracji społeczno-kulturowe cechy społeczeństwa – wysoki poziom paternalizmu i absencja polityczna, patriarchalna kultura polityczna i świadomość polityczna, nieumiejętność posługiwania się tzw. „narzędziami demokracji” i w efekcie – radykalizacja sceny politycznej, niski poziom zaufania, a co za tym idzie członkostwa w partiach politycznych, organizacjach społecznych, anomii społecznej i nieufności wobec władz państwowych, czasem wykluczających się kierunków polityki zagranicznej, braku świadomości własnego obywatelstwa itp. Konsekwencją było to, że kraj zdawał się kręcić w kółko, nie mogąc ani skonsolidować podboju Majdanu ani ostatecznie zdecydować o kierunkach swojej polityki zagranicznej itp.
More...
The December 2023 Serbian parliamentary and local elections unfolded against the tragic backdrop of two mass shootings in May, triggering a public outcry and widespread protests that demanded increased security measures. Serbia’s political landscape, characterized by a democratic façade but inherently unfair conditions for inter-party competition, defined the elections’ outcome. The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), led by President Vučić, was drawing on its incumbent advantage to realize its predominance in media representation, misuse public funds, and manipulate voter registers. The SNS secured an absolute majority with 46% of the votes. However, allegations of electoral irregularities marred the elections. Instead of resolving societal conflicts, the elections deepened existing tensions. Addressing these allegations transparently and accountably will be crucial for restoring confidence and fostering political stability in Serbia.
More...
The article presents some aspects of Romania’s evolution within the Warsaw Treaty Organisation (WTO), focusing on the divergences between our country and the other Warsaw Pact member states related mainly to defence and collective security. Thus some distinct positions Romania adopted within the WTO, especially after 1964, are mentioned. The author shows that the flagrant contradictions between Romania and the other member states irritated Moscow that responded adopting a coordinated active measures programme through which Romania’s actions were reinterpreted and distortedly presented in the West, the analysis of the material available to research showing that, more often than not, the coordinated active measures met their goals.
More...
As a NATO member state, Romania continues to be, according to the author, a dynamic factor in the process of implementing the assurance and adaptation measures adopted at the summit in 2014, organising national military exercises and hosting numerous Allied naval, land and air exercises. Romania is among the six countries on the eastern flank of the Alliance that will have its own NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) operational up to the NATO Summit in July 2016, which will be a major contribution to the Alliance potential to deploy the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) on the eastern flank, to organise large-scale exercises and to pre-position equipment, military assets and logistics support elements.
More...
Each country has specific regions, which differ mainly in social, demographic, cultural, and economic aspects. Our subject of interest is the study of peripheral environment that has undergone several migratory transformations in the 20th century that have affected it up to the present day. For this reason, the Sudetenland has become the subject of our research interest. The paper aims to show how the selected respondents from the studied region perceive everyday life and how it influences their political attitudes by combining three steps: the theoretical definition of the periphery, specific aspects of life in the selected Central European region, and qualitative structured interviews. For this purpose, we chose respondents' experiences with the political regime until 1989, quality of life, public services, the consequences of the transformation, access to education, the functioning of the community, and their attitudes towards supporting selected political parties. The paper shows how positive experiences of the past regime, but also emotions, mainly nostalgia, frustration and anger, are interwoven into support for political parties for some of the respondents. These factors lead to the choice of populist and radical parties. The authors uniquely extend existing theories of the periphery with a political science approach.
More...