"RUSKA IDEJA" KAO ELEMENT POLITIČKE KULTURE RUSIJE

Author(s): Milan Subotić / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/1996

Starting from the widespread opinion that the reason and explanation for the failure of a rapid democratic transformation of post-communist Russia should be sought in the characteristics of the Russian political culture, the author interprets current discussions on the concept of the "Russian political culture" as a renewal and extension of the traditional philosophical-political debate about the meaning of the "Russian idea". In the first part of the paper Almond’s classical definition of "political culture" is presented. The fruitfulness of applying this concept in understanding communism is subsequently analyzed, stressing the importance of thematicizing Russian tradition in explaining the emergence and functioning of Bolshevism.

#METOO AND US POLITICS: ANALYSING THE TWITTER CONVERSATION

Author(s): Vittoria Bernardini / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2021

The #MeToo movement has had a profound cultural impact on US society, and notably on US party politics. While many studies have addressed the #MeToo-related controversy arising from the Brett Kavanaugh nomination to Supreme Court Justice in 2018, the relationship between #MeToo and US politics before this event has remained understudied. This article, therefore, addresses this gap by looking at the role of politics at the beginning of the #MeToo movement. Focusing on the first six months of online activity on Twitter (October 2017 – April 2018), over 2 million tweets with the #MeToo hashtag are analyzed to identify the main activity patterns across the dataset and to gain insight on user behavior and participation in the conversation. Results point to the weaponization of #MeToo in the political context from its inception. It is suggested that #MeToo reflects the polarized political climate in the US and that it can be conceptualized as part of the wider “culture wars” (Hunter 1991) that characterize the public debate.

(Nie)doskona ła równowaga? Problem y relacji między unią, stanami a ludem w amerykańskiej debacie politycznej w latach 1798-1861

Author(s): Rafał Lis / Language(s): Polish Issue: 67/2020

The aim of the article is to present the controversy related to maintaining the ideal of balance between the two levels of power in the American political system (Union and state), indicated by James Madison in his essay. This balance was strongly justified by the reference to the principle of people’s sovereignty, which was to be threatened by both centrifugal and separatist, as well as centralist and unification tendencies. The review of positions from the years 1798–1861 presented in the article allows us to state that the controversy resulted from Madison’s failure to precisely define the people – especially where exactly they should be placed in the conflict between the two jurisdictions

1980 ASKERİ DARBESİ SONRASINDA İKTİDARA GELEN ANAVATAN PARTİSİ İCRAATLARI HAKKINDA BİR DEĞERLENDİRME

Author(s): Şeyda BELHAN / Language(s): Turkish Issue: 2/2021

In this study, it is aimed to examine the Motherland Party (ANAP) civil government that came to power after the September 12, 1980 coup and the contributions of this government to democracy . It has been observed that Özal, the founder of the ANAP government, displayed a moderate and harmonious attitude with the members of the National Security Council during the first years of active politics. In the early years of the ANAP government, it was observed that the Government Decrees were changed in the Çankay a Mansion without asking the Prime Ministry , and Özal did not speak up and behave patiently with these interventions. Towards the end of 1984, "the government's discretion" was clearly declared to Çankay a, first on economic and then on political issues, and the government began to be ruled. The Economic Precautionary Decisions of January 24, 1980 failed to reduce inflation, on the contrary, they caused inflation to become chronic. It has been observed that ANAP, led by Turgut Özal, has continued the change, different politics and management approach it has defended since before the election. According to the surveys of this period, it was determined that after September 12, the image of the politician changed, rather than the "case man", "practicality" and "executionism" came to the fore. In this period, it was observed that individualistic and self-interested behaviors were dominated. The share of social expenditures in the budget has decreased, while the share of external debt payments has increased continuously.

20 godina od razbijanja SFRJ

Author(s): / Language(s): Russian,Serbian

20 years of NATO’s flagship Multinational Corps Northeast

Author(s): Jakub Bornio,Sławomir Wojciechowski / Language(s): English Issue: 03 (41)/2020

An interview with Lieutenant General Sławomir Wojciechowski from NATO’s Multinational Corps Northeast. Interviewer: Jakub Bornio

2020’s electoral lessons - Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine

Author(s): Denis Cenusa / Language(s): English Issue: 01+02 (45)/2021

The political transformations that occurred in Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine in the second half of 2020 will have long-lasting consequences on the democratic development of these critical countries in the region. Each of them has made qualitative steps forward, leaving behind more oligarchic-centric rules of the game. In Ukraine, amid the territorial-administrative decentralisation efforts and electoral reform, the local elections brought to the frontline a new generation of locally grown politicians. They obtained more tools to counter-balance the big political parties in charge in Kyiv. Local democracy got a chance to shine, but long-term success depends on how the political newcomers can be protected from being subordinated by the oligarchs.

30 GODINA NAKON 9. 11. 1989. - KOLIKO NJEMAČKI BI TREBALA IMATI EVROPA

Author(s): Anis Bajraktarević / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 2/2019

2019. je dočekala 30. godišnjicu evropskog 9. 11. – pad Berlinskog zida. Za razliku od 11. 9. koji se desio 12 godina poslije, a koji mnogi sada povezuju sa završetkom angloameričkog dominantnog kapitalizma, za mnoge Evropljane 9. 11. označava kraj hladnog rata. Obaranje zida sa sobom je vrlo brzo donijelo kolaps komunizma – kako nam to zvanična priča veli. Stoga bi to trebao biti datum koji se svake godine proslavlja kao krajnje, zauvijek postojeće otvaranje puta ka univerzalnom trijumfu slobode, globalno rasprostranjenoj ružičastoj budućnosti – jednom riječju: konačnom samoispunjenju ljudske rase. Nasuprot ovome je drugo mišljenje koje slijedi drukčiju tvrdnju. Svi vodeći sociopolitički pokreti, od prosvjetiteljstva, pa sve do kraja 20. stoljeća, nudili su vizije za cijelu ljudsku rasu: univerzalno koncipirane (ili ideologizirane) za sve i svakoga.

5G-TEEMALISED SÜÜNARRATIIVID VENEMAA STRATEEGILISES KOMMUNIKATSIOONIS: RT, SPUTNIKU, PERVÕI KANALI, NTV, ITAR-TASSi MEEDIAKAJASTUSE VÕRDLEV ANALÜÜS

Author(s): Andreas Ventsel,Mari-Liis Madisson,Sten Hansson / Language(s): Estonian Issue: 17/2021

In this paper, we analysed the ways in which Russian state-funded news portals have used certain articulations of blame regarding the adoption of the 5G cellular technology for strategic purposes. In the Kremlin-backed Russophone and Anglophone media, the coverage of 5G technology has revealed a multilayered blame discourse. In this discourse, the US is depicted as a distributor of false information on the 5G technology, groundlessly slandering China and forcefully pressuring its allies; China has also accused the US for its pressuring politics. Both the Russophone and Anglophone coverages were characterised by the following: even though the US accusations against China originated mainly from American politicians, the stories and their tone were framed by comments (both by experts and journalists), highlighting the groundless nature of these accusations. The main differences between Russophone and Anglophone media are the following. Firstly, the Russophone media over-emphasised the pressure that the US put on its allies. Secondly, at the end of the analysed period, the Russophone media explicitly presented, for the first time, Russian position in the global confrontation between the US and China. Evidently, Russia supports the technological alliance with China because they “trust them more than the USA”. Strategic narratives can be interpreted on three levels: on a policy, identity, and system level. On the level of a strategic policy narrative, the blaming devices used in both Russophone and Anglophone media outlets concerned two aspects. Firstly, it was stressed that the US government has not presented any clear evidence to the public about the security risks accompanying the use of Chinese 5G technologies; thus, the US accusations against China are, in fact, slander. The other aspect concerns a depiction of the confrontation between the US and China in terms of a trade war policy narrative: by smearing China, the US is, in fact, covering up its actual concern about coming off as the second-best from the economic and technological progress race with China.

A Comparison of China and the Other BRICS Countries: How Did China Surpass the Others?

Author(s): Halil Dincer Kaya,Engku Ngah S. Engkuchik / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2021

We compare China’s performance to the performances of Brazil, India, and South Africa over the 1985-2011 period. We look into several areas including patent applications by residents, scientific and technical journal articles, final consumption expenditure, exports, household consumption, government consumption, gross capital formation, gross domestic savings, age dependency ratio, foreign direct investment, energy production, and domestic credit to private sector. We find that, out of the twelve measures that we examine, China’s annual percentage improvement was significantly better than the other three BRICS countries in only three measures. These are patent applications by residents, scientific and technical journal articles, and energy production. These findings indicate that science and innovation had been very important for China’s development. Also, the country’s efforts in energy production including its partnerships in other countries had been key to its economic development.

A Comparison of Democratic Transformations of Tunisia and Indonesia: Lessons Learned

Author(s): Borna Zgurić / Language(s): English Issue: 02/2021

The question this paper tries to provide an answer to is, why democratic transformation was successful in Tunisia and Indonesia? The theoretical approach is primarily rooted in descriptive-empirical actor theories, although cultural theories were used as well, as to better understand the political ideas and stances of Islamist actors. The research strategy is a binary comparative study with the same outcome on the dependent variable. Furthermore, the paper utilizes the Most Different Systems Design (MDSD) since both countries are quite different, but the dependent variable is the same – democratic transformation was successful. The aim of the paper is to isolate the independent variables which should be considered as the necessary prerequisites for the democratic transformation in both cases. However, the paper emphasises that further testing and more cases are needed.

A COMPARISON OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND CANADIAN DATA PROTECTION & PRIVACY LAWS

Author(s): Zeyyat Bandeoğlu / Language(s): English Issue: 48/2020

This paper examines the General Data Protection Regulation, enacted in May 2018, and its repercussions on Canadian businesses. It is recommended that Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act be amended to reflect the recommendations proposed by the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics report. The General Data Protection Regulation has introduced innovative nuances into the European Union’s privacy legislation framework, which Canadian privacy legislation should keep abreast of in order to maintain its adequacy status with the European Union. In addition, it is further recommended that Canada, while discussing a national data strategy, enter into negotiations with the European Union to implement a privacy shield similar to the agreement already in place between the European Union and the United States of America. In doing so, Canadian businesses will maintain their competitiveness in the international market.

A Conceptual History of Political Regimes: Democracy, Dictatorship, and Authoritarianism

Author(s): Adam Przeworski / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2017

The labels we attach today to distinguish political regimes have histories. Applying them without understanding these histories is sometimes anachronistic and ethnocentric. I have little new to say about “democracy” and “dictatorship”, so that the discussion of these concepts is just a reminder. “Authoritarianism”, however, is a dubious neologism. I advance two claims: (1) In all regimes the power to command and be obeyed entails some dose of reason-giving, (2) What distinguishes regimes is the form and the extent to which the authority of rulers is monopolised by physical force. I conclude that the concept of “authoritarianism” adds little to the distinction between democracy and dictatorship.

A FAILED STATE’S LONG WAY BACK

Author(s): Dragos Calcan / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This paper will analyze the causes that led Somalia to become a failed state and the slow pace of recovery discovered by Mogadishu in the recent years. The study is based on qualitative research, analyzing documents which depict the particular history of Somalia and the causes that led to the civil war, as well as quantitative data, when analyzing the number of casualties and refugees that resulted following the unfolding of the Somali conflict. Examining also the rise of the terrorist group Al-Shabaab and the ways in which such organizations manage to replace the role of the state, the paper concludes that the task of rebuilding a failed state is a long and arduous process, in which the international community should adapt its measures to the local specificity of the concerned area. However,as the recent developments show, there is room for hope for the Somali state and people.

A Historical Perspective on the Work and Rest Dynamic in the Romanian Ethos

Author(s): Anda-Maria Mogos / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2022

For Romanians the work-rest dynamic is a product of historical forces unique to this population. Therefore, the factors that have influenced the relation of Romanians to the work and rest dynamic and fatigue were examined. The factors are the turbulent medieval history of the Romanian people, the Orthodox Church, whose teachings have played an essential part in the development of the Romanians’ relation to work and rest, as well as the communist regime and the social and economical dynamics specific to the post-1989 era.

A History of Europe Fraught in Contradictions. 1989 – 2021

Author(s): Wolfgang Eichwede / Language(s): English Issue: 06 (49)/2021

The peaceful revolutions of 1989 created a new Europe. This Europe is threatened to be lost today – 30 years later. Within the European continent national intolerance and the use of violence are part of everyday life. Politics is becoming more and more intransparent. Are there chances for change? Anyone who subscribes to the values of the Enlightenment is always at the beginning.

A NETWORK ANALYSIS OF CROSS-BORDER MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS IN POLAND, CZECHIA, AND HUNGARY

Author(s): Dominika Brózda-Wilamek / Language(s): English Issue: 121/2021

Background: Cross-border mergers and acquisitions (CBM&As) have taken the form of a network, as there are complex business relationships between the participating entities. The concept of social network analysis (SNA) to study business connections is poorly described in the literature. There is also a lack of comprehensive structure studies on CBM&A purchases by Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) companies. Research purpose: The purpose is to evaluate the geographical and sectoral structure of the Polish, Czech, and Hungarian CBM&A network in 2010–2020. This article also aims to present a new methodological approach to studying the structure of the M&A market related to the application of SNA metrics. Methods: The study is carried out using social network analysis. Sectoral M&A data taken from the Eikon Refinitiv database are used, and several network indicators are applied, i.e., degree, prestige, and betweenness centrality, for the analysis. Conclusions: In 2010–2020, Polish, Czech, and Hungarian companies were characterized by investment activity not only in the CEE countries, but also in Western Europe, Russia, and the United States. Enterprises from the financials, industrials, consumer cyclicals, and technology sectors have played an important role in CBM&A networks. Entities operating in the energy and healthcare sectors (in Hungary) and the real estate and utilities sectors (in Czechia) have also occupied a central place in the analyzed networks. Private equity and hedge funds play a key role in cross-sectoral transactions.

A Pnyx of Research Fields. Multidisciplinarity about Sortition and Democracy

Author(s): José Luis Bellón Aguilera / Language(s): English Issue: 60/2019

This article conveys the objectives and results of an international and multidisciplinary − or interdisciplinary − research project still in operation, until the end of 2018. Based in the University of Cádiz (Spain), this project deals with ancient, modern and contemporary discussions, representations and narratives of Democracy, focusing on the contrast and comparison between a democratic system based on sortition, namely − broadly speaking − selection by lot to public offices and representative democracy. The article discusses the relevance of the investigation, the applicability of the results and the real effects of the action research part. It also argues that − paradoxically − scientific autonomy is indispensable if that kind of research seeks to achieve tangible impact in society and its political fields. In short, this article asks about the inevitable fragility of the interaction between ethics, political commitment, and investigative objectiveness in humanities and social sciences.

Access to Public Information as a Political Sciences Technique: What and How Should Be Studied, and What for?

Author(s): Marcin Wałdoch / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2019

Access to public information in Poland is most typically discussedin the legal and political contexts. However, it is not consciouslydiscussed as a possibility for political scholars to exercise their right ofaccess to public information. This paper, which is of postulatory nature,identifies the benefits for those political scholars who decide to use, inthe process of data collection, their right of access to public informationas a data collection technique. The proposed technic of data collectionmay be used by scholars – political scientists around the world.

ADDRESSING THE EVALUATION OF CONTEMPORARY SOCIETAL SECURITY BASED ON COMPLEXITY CONCEPTS

Author(s): Ioan CRĂCIUN,Octavian Victor Mihail Dima / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Societal security, as developed by the Copenhagen Security School, is an extremely important area of the broader concept of a contemporary security approach that, in addition to military issues, also addresses a host of other threats from areas such as political,economic, societal or environmental ones. In the study of contemporary social security, a series of concepts specific to the theory of complex systems, such as complexity, self organization,chaos, etc., have been borrowed, which have substantially enriched the hermeneutics of the security discourse on the basis of non-traditional interpretations of social systems. This paper aims to present the basic concepts of complexity and their relevance to the theory and practice of contemporary societal security. At the same time, the paper presents some conclusions regarding the analysis methodology specific to the complexity science applicable to the field of societal security.