Мюсюлманите в Западна Европа след Втората световна война до началото на ХХI век

Author(s): Dimitar Petkov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2017

The Migration of Muslims to Western Europe attains significance after the World War II, because in this part of the old continent workers are badly needed for the development of industries of Western European countries. After 1945 till the beginning of XXI century there were five waves of Migration of Muslims to Western Europe. Although the politics of Western countries has some peculiarities towards the Muslims, the end results of this policy builds up parallel communities within the societies of these countries. These parallel communities hinder the integration of Muslims. At the religion the Muslims find a rallying point and the religion serves as a base for creation of Identity. Gradually the Muslims become a political factor because their number increased constantly. On surface arise the question about the integration or disintegration of Muslims. This question is at the center of the political or scientific discussion.

The Massive Exchange of Elites as a Mean of Formation of the Authoritarian Regime

Author(s): Janusz Reykowski / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2017

After parliamentary election of 2015 in Poland the winning party (Law and Justice, PiS) initiated the major socio-political transformation labeled by its authors the “good change”. Its main characteristic is the process of the massive exchange of elites. The process of exchange of the elites has elaborated ideological justifications – broadly popularized legitimizing myth. Its main claim is the thesis about illegitimate origins of the Third Republic of Poland that was established after the fall of communism and about policies of the previous governments that were allegedly contrary to the basic interests of Poland. The practical realization of the idea of the massive exchange of elites might require certain conditions such as the existence of social groups that feel that the current system limits their chances for personal advancement, broad disappointment with the ruling elites, growing tolerance for authoritarian politics, social support for the change. It should be noted that some of these conditions exist, to the certain degree, in various countries of Europe and facilitate the development of the radical right wing movements. This paper describes some of the mechanisms of the change that on the abstract level are similar to processes of exchange of elites in other geo-political contexts.

Форми и политически инструменти за стратегическо направляване на образователни институции и спортни организации

Author(s): Ivan Sandanski / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2017

The article sets out to unpack the modes of governance and related policy instruments for steering educational establishments and sport organisations employed by the Sofia municipality Department of Prevention, Integration, Sport and Tourism (DPIST). These instigate a process of institutionalization the actions and behaviours of local schools, kindergartens, sport clubs, youth organisations, and various social groups participating in DPIST funded or supported projects and sport initiatives. Four primary modes of strategic steering are identified including coercion, voluntarism, targeting and framework regulation. The process of steering collective actions, policies and resources is premised on creating a system of institutionalized rules. In fact, such a process takes hybrid forms. The key mechanism for achieving both the strategic and sport policy intentions of Sofia municipality has been the machinery of project management. It is also demonstrated that the pursuit of the new promoted vision envisaging Sofia as a vibrant city of juvenile, active and innovative people where sport, in combination with education, volunteering and entrepreneurship, is seen as the key means and agent of social change, however, requires a proactive forward thinking and strategic approach. It is directed towards pursuing some future, but still unknown desired state in terms of necessary social time, space and projection. Due to this uncertainty Sofia municipality reasonably has relied on a set of already tested in the social practice sources of reasoning and mechanisms of cognitive knowledge and social interventions.

THE ETHNIC CONFLICTS AND MASS MEDIA

Author(s): Graham Ebenezer Kurtis / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

The media have played and continue to play a significant role in many ethnic conflicts and wars that ever took place in history and through its reportage humankind has become informed and aware about ethnic-conflict on the globe through various forms. Irrespective of the increase in knowledge, media has negatively impacted the ethnic conflict by several escalations that took place because of the manner information that was provided. This study investigates what these negative impacts are by examining literature and sorting them to consider media location, outlets and presentation impact of media. An overlapping discovered has gingered the reclassification of the impact of media in the face of dilemmas. They are Psychoanalysis propaganda and profiteering, freedom and ethics, distortion of reality and public safety. The media tries to balance in order to choose the lesser consequential path to survive. However, they have all steered to an escalation of ethnic conflicts.

THE NARRATIVE OF POLITICAL ISLAM: CONSTITUTIONALISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Author(s): Nikola Gjorshoski / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

One of the essential postulates of political orientation and determination for the building of stable societies and a functioning political system in its content recognizes and imposes the need to examine the relation of relevant political actors to constitutionalism and human rights as concepts and preoccupations for any modern society. Also, constitutionalism and human rights and freedoms as its inseparable category manifest the political values and the corpus of essential and common political goals and commitments of a particular political community. Political Islam as an ideological political subject has its own sources and a valuable orientation framework through which prisms and perceptions can be interpreted or extracted by individual axiological determinants to certain issues. This paper analyzes exactly the relations of political Islam with constitutionalism and human rights, and similarly to the so-called framework it draws attention to the concepts of power, the mechanisms of control and compliance with the Sharia regulations. At the same time, the importance of human rights and freedoms in the Islamic narrative, their nature and scope, as well as the differences with the western established documents in this area are emphasized and analyzed.

Cultural Identity as Security and a Philosophy of Development for Africa: Reflections on Amilcar Cabral

Author(s): Philip Ogo Ujomu,Felix Olatunji / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2020

The paper looks at the problem of national and human security in many parts of Africa today, seen in the inability of most governments to guarantee the adequate protection, peace and well-being of the citizens due in part to foreign dominating ideas. Cabral in his cultural and political thought offered philosophical insights and applied culture to the analysis of security for modern Africa. His theory of security is build upon the struggle for liberation from the colonial ordinance and his philosophy of identity is based on a combination of theory and praxis in the pursuit of reality. This requires the unearthing of the deep cultural roots and causes of things. This harmonization of interests is not just between men and men, but also between men and nature. The question is; what principles and values can best facilitate the crucial sense of security in most African societies?

Gra w antykomunizm. Przyczynek do analizy dyskursu

Author(s): Adam Ostolski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2020

This paper aims to map function(s) and genealogies of anticommunist discourses in Poland after 2015. It is done through a critical review of existing academic literature, a comparative contrast with pre-2005 situation (the period of the postcommunist cleavage), and an analysis of selected samples of contemporary anticommunist discourses, embedded in the theoretical premises of Laclau and Mouffe’s theory of hegemony. The analysis leads to the conclusion that „anticommunism” is a floating signifier shared by several competing discourses rather than being a sign of a unified anticommunist hegemony, that anticommunist themes express and impress a critical memory of the neoliberal transition period rather than that of the Polish People’s Republic, and that the dominance of anticommunist discourses contributes, on both sides of the political cleavage, to the undermining of the democratic political logic.

Zaufanie do instytucji politycznych a kapitał społeczny w krajach europejskich

Author(s): Bruno Kozakowski-Kędzierski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2020

Trust facilitates the development of human relations by enabling effective cooperation and preventing conflicts, it is an important element of a particular kind of capital, called social capital. The implications of trust on social life are very far reaching and for that reason trust is one of the central issues in contemporary sociology and other social sciences. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between social capital and political trust, both on the individual level and on the country level. For this purpose a linear regression model was calculated, using data from the ninth round of the European Social Survey (ESS). Te results showed that social capital, measured by an indicator of generalized trust, has a statistically significant, positive impact on political trust. This impact however was a lot weaker than the impact of satisfaction with the performance of the political system or the evaluation of its inclusiveness. On the country level a strong, positive corelation between generalized trust and political trust has been observed. These results are in line with the previous research, it may be concluded that social capital, particularly generalized trust as its core component, has a positive influence on political trust on the individual and cross-country level.

Russian Society in the Search of a New Vision of Itself and Others: from the „National Inferiority Complex” to a New Identity

Author(s): Elena Shestopal / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2021

The paper is based on the results of a study of Russian citizens’ images of their own and foreign countries. Methodology included a survey with a number of open-ended questions, in-depth interviews, methods of cartography, semantic differentials and a projective test. The study has shown that such factors as an event context, cultural traditions, psychological conditions of Russian society and communication strongly influence country’s perception. Our results have proved that Russians in general do not share territorial expansionism. Recognition of the Russian culture and the value system by others is more important for them. Though at the current moment national „inferiority complex”, widely spread in 1980–2000s, still manifests itself, a new tendency, based on the growth of a national pride that started in 2014, strongly influences social moods. Our analysis of Russians’ perception of other countries enabled us to distinguish categorization mechanisms used by our citizens. So the images of other countries include „neighbors” (post-Soviet countries), „strategic partners” (India and China), „forgotten allies” (Latin America and Africa), „significant «other»” (individual European countries and a less significant EU), „enemy image” (USA) and the „tourist Mecca” (Turkey and Thailand).

FACTORS AFFECTING THE SHARE OF FAKE NEWS ABOUT COVID-19 OUTBREAK ON SOCIAL NETWORKS IN VIETNAM

Author(s): Nghi Thanh Nguyen,Phuong Huu Tung,Nguyen Hoai Thu,Pham Dinh Kien,Nguyen Anh Nguyet / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2021

In recent days in Vietnam, the amount of fake news spreading online about the Covid-19 epidemic has shown signs of increasing, causing information confusion and complicating the situation. This fact has received significant attention from scientists. To supplement the evidence of previous studies, enrich the research literature and make policy recommendations to the Government, this study explores the factors influencing the sharing of fake news on social networks. This study was conducted through a cross-sectional survey using an intentional sampling technique (n = 200) multivariate linear regression analysis technique was applied to prove the hypotheses. Research results show that the factors of altruism, entertainment, socialization, self-promotion, and instant information sharing have a positive and meaningful impact on sharing fake news about Covid_19 on social networks.

The Idea of “Philosophy-as-a-Way-of-Life” in Plato’s Dialogs

Author(s): Oleg Bazaluk / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2021

Werner Jaeger argued that Plato was perhaps the first to use the word mould, πλάττινν, for the act. It follows from Plato’s philosophy that the arete is unable to independently free itself from hiddenness and overcome the boundaries of the physical world to master the “human sophia.” Plato’s philosophy creates a recognizable image of political education: education as the moulding of a certain “correctness of the gaze” on the image of the highest idea. The moulding power of the transcendental ideal is used to establish the focus and limits of self-realization. A specific discourse and way of life are formed that provides the mastering of the “human sophia.” We have designated the method of achieving “human sophia” with the metaphor “philosophy-as-away-of-life.”

Adapting political communication to technology. Case study: evolutionary aspects on social networks in Romania

Author(s): Mihaela Bărbieru / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2022

In recent years, studies on social networks have begun to become more and more numerous in the literature, with scientists showing a real interest in an influential analysis that they have on societies. Social networks are tools through which political candidates have the opportunity to distribute their political message during election campaigns, as well as outside them, to a growing audience. A very strong connection has been made between technology and communication, outside of which we, as individuals, can no longer exist, the virtual space managing to exploit communication in all its aspects. Online political communication, an easily accessible form of manifestation that attracts disinterested political groups, offers the possibility of avoiding information bottlenecks for citizens by changing content in real time, with low information costs, which means a real advantage for politicians.The importance of social networks in political communication is even greater as its role is the main channel of communication and occupies a special place in election campaign strategies. The present study aimes to analyze the phenomenon of social networks in terms of the benefits it offers to politics, through an online political communication with content transmitted in real time, without time limit and with low costs.

MACEDONIAN ELECTION RULES: CITIZENS VIS-À-VIS POLITICAL PARTIES

Author(s): Bojana Naumovska,Milka Dimitrovska / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2022

The Macedonian election rules, i.e. the setting of the electoral system, produce a double effect, an effect on the voter, and an effect on the party system. Therefore, each change in the electoral regulations would not only alter the voters’ comportment but also impact the political parties. Considering these effects, the paper aimed to compare the attitudes of the citizens and political parties regarding the electoral legislature (both for the parliamentary and local elections); and produce adequate electoral solutions as a corrective for the detected shortcomings of the current regulations. The paper relied on content analysis of theoretical literature and research, empirical qualitative research based on citizens’ focus groups from each region in Macedonia, questioned political parties, and additional data analysis. The ultimate findings propose a way to promote the equal value of each vote, proportional regional representation, and MPs' accountability at the parliamentary elections. For the local elections, the proposed solution referred to reducing the election cost, the possibility of political bargaining, and preserving the legitimacy of elected mayors.

THE INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION OF CITIZENS IN THE EUROINTEGRATION PROCESS OF ALBANIA

Author(s): Joana Kosho,Elda Zotaj / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2022

Albania’s national interest is the integration into the European Union. To fulfill this objective, every state component, public institutions, civil society, the media, and the citizens, play a very important role. The main focus of this paper is the public sphere, the attitudes of Albanian citizens toward the EU membership, and their role in the process. By applying qualitative and quantitative methods, the main theories of the field, global and regional indexes, studies, surveys, interviews, and personal observations, we aim to focus on the citizens' attitudes toward the EU membership process. Our in-depth analyses have shown that the Albanian institutions, CSOs, and media to inform and include the citizens in the Europeanization process have not been effective enough. Thus, there is a knowledge gap between sensitive groups and the other part of society.

Co się stało z Polską?

Author(s): Ireneusz Krzemiński / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2021

In this article the author attempts to describe the social and political reasons of the authoritarian shift in Poland under the Law & Justice (PiS) coalition government. The nationalist and catholic ideology is at the root of dismantling the institutions of the state of law. Unfulfilled economic and social aspirations of large segments of the society were the real reason for the approval of the populist and antidemocratic actions of L&J government. Secondly, the disastrous presidential and parliamentary campaigns of the Civic Platform in 2015 opened the door to power for L&J. There were several self-organized spontaneous protests against antidemocratic policies of the L&J government, but the followers of the governing party have been and still are big enough in number thanks to the support of the Catholic Church hierarchy for the government. Polarization of the Polish society has never been bigger, but prodemocratic attitudes have also been growing recently. Strong prodemocratic local governments and the unanimous support of the majority of the population for the Ukrainian refugees are among the factors of hope for the democratic shift in the Polish electorate, but the opposition parties must undertake a more united and determined action.

AI AND DIPLOMACY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Author(s): Marta Konovalova / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

This article focused on two distinct areas: diplomacy for AI and AI for diplomacy. The first point investigated challenges faced by diplomats associated with creating stability in cyberspace and diversifying objects of cooperation. The second point sought to identify the threats and opportunities associated with AI in diplomacy; to explore the impact of digital tools on diplomatic capacity, technological limitations through digital diplomacy, and uncertain future demand for the diplomatic profession; to investigate the necessary competencies of civil servants in managing alternative reality and collaborating with technical specialists. The research utilized a qualitative approach, employing analysis of existing literature and diplomatic practices related to AI and its effects on diplomacy. The research underscored the importance of diplomats’ readiness for change and their understanding and utilization of new technologies. It highlighted the need for interdisciplinary training programs incorporating innovative thinking, big data management, and machine learning to foster effective collaboration between diplomats and technical specialists. We concluded that embracing AI and digital capabilities can empower diplomats and enhance the effectiveness of diplomatic instruments in achieving national goals in times of peace and hybrid war in the real world and the metauniverse.

FASHIONABLE POLITICS: HOW ITALIAN LEADERS TRANSFORM INTO SUCCESSFUL BRANDS IN CONTEMPORARY COMMUNICATION

Author(s): Daniele Battista / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

Political communication is inherently intertwined with social dynamics and cannot be considered a separate field of study. Symbolic elements, slogans, and the leadership of political figures have permeated human history, influencing and often determining political action. This study has analyzed the phenomenon of personalization as compelling evidence in the field of contemporary political communication. The analysis is based on a study of Italian cases, aiming to provide an in-depth insight into the strategies adopted by political parties to personalize their leaders’ image and engage voters. In particular, the focus has primarily been on party symbols incorporating the leader’s name. The research was conducted to identify party personalization mechanisms and their impact on public opinion. The result highlighted the role of political communication in asserting the individual as a brand at the expense of the party organization, with significant implications for democracy and political participation.

Yezhov’s infiltration model and the Russian Federation’s seizure of Crimea

Author(s): Marek Świerczek / Language(s): English Issue: 30/2024

The author analysed the scale of betrayal among the officers and officials of the Ukrainian state during the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014. The main research problem was an attempt to explain the anomaly in the activities of the special services in the form of recruiting 1,400 officers of the Ukrainian SBU to the Russian FSB. In an attempt to explain this phenomenon in the practice of secret services, the author used the theory of offensive intelligence and counterintelligence created and developed in the USSR from the early 1920s, as well as the findings of cognitive psychology regarding the phenomenon of projection as the main mechanism for explaining the behavior of other people. Thanks to the synthesis of psychology and the analysis of the theoretical achievements of the Soviet secret services, the author put forward a hypothesis about the mass recruitment of the SBU officers in the Crimea long before the annexation. According to the author, the main mechanisms of mass recruitment of agents in order to control the opponent’s organisation were broadly understood corruption and cronyism characteristic to the post-Soviet area.

REPUBLIKA Godina XI (1999), Broj 216-217, 1-31. jul

Author(s): Mirko Đorđević,Dragoš Ivanović,Zoja Jovanov,Dragica Stanojlović,Ana Ilić,Tamara Kaliterna,Marija Obradović,Bojan Al Pinto Brkić,Svetozar Mužijević,Olga Zirojević,Vera Vujošević,Milutin Mitrović,Miroslav Karaulac,Miodrag Vukmanović,Milenko Marković,Nataša Marković,Rajko Danilović,Nastasja Radović,Branka Dimitrijević,Miodrag Stanisavljević / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 216-217/1999

THE PSYCHO-POLITICAL AND STRATEGIC CAUSES AND RAMIFICATIONS OF THE 2023–2024 ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN WAR: A CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE

Author(s): Amal Jamal / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

The following analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian war, which erupted on October 7th, 2023, contributes to explaining its causes, reasoning, consequences, and the necessary measures to end human suffering caused by it. It is argued that to understand its eruption, unfolding, and ramifications, we must look at the broader interplay between local, regional, and international factors. This integrative approach means that it iscrucial to explore the context that has fed its flames and determined its timing and brutality. This means that it is not possible to disconnect this war from profound developments in Israeli and Palestinian societies in the last couple of decades. It also means that although this war was instigated by a particular player, it is an integral component of a system composed of a balance of power between multiple players. Therefore, it resulted from polarity in a regional and international system of power in which players have sought to either maintain the status quo or change it to their advantage. Such an understanding enables us to highlight its strategic meaning and emphasize the moral measures that international players must take to avoid further Israeli-Palestinian wars in the future.