NOTES FROM AN AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT PROGRAM FOR TURKEY’S POLITICAL FUTURE

Author(s): Bezen Balamir Coskun / Language(s): English Issue: 17/2015

In 2015, the author attended a six weeks summer school on the American Political Thought in Massachusetts, US. Throughout the program, major currents in US political thought from the colonial period to the present were examined. Participants explored the shaping of American identity and the interplay between that identity and US history and politics. As a political scientist from Turkey, it was a timely introduction to the democratic founding of the US and to the discussions on race, religion, immigration, gender, and civil rights, as essential to understand the development of American political thought. This paper offers insights from a centuries-long tradition of presidential system for Turkish political elite and decision makers who have been debating the nature of a prospective presidential system. Despite the differences in historical, political and social conjunctures, it is noteworthy to review how a system of ordered liberty founded in the eighteenth century has survived through two centuries of social and political change and how that system is functioning today. This review will provide insights for Turkey to engineer its own presidential system. The overall paper consists of topical blog entries designed to offer insights from one particular American political thought program for the development of a presidential system in Turkey.

Around the Bloc: Saakashvili Launches New Political Movement

Author(s): TOL TOL / Language(s): English Issue: 11/29/2016

The former president of Georgia and recently resigned Odessa governor vows to ‘make Ukraine great again.’

Studija slučaja u komparativnoj politici

Author(s): Nikolina Jožanc / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 03/2015

Paradoxical status of case studies in social sciences is particularly evident in comparative politics, where theoretical relevance of a case study method is repeatedly undermined despite the overwhelming amount of empirical research that employs it. For this reason, the paper explores under which conditions a single case study can be defined as a method of comparative politics, as well as its specific strengths and weaknesses for theory development in comparative politics. The first part of the paper tries to clarify definitional disputes which contribute to unjustifiable dismissals of case study as a comparative method. The second part examines in more detail the potential contribution of case studies in accomplishing the goals of comparative research. Arguments put forward in both parts of the paper point to positive evaluation of case study as a legitimate method of comparative politics.

Izborne stvarnosti

Author(s): Juliana Geran Pilon / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 03+04/2001

Fareed Zakaria na osvježavajući i ispravan način upozorava na opasnost izjednačavanja izbora sa liberalnim demokratijama i oživljava medisonsku opštepriznatu istinu da nesputana demokratija može biti opasna po slobodu pojedinca. Nažalost, on ide predaleko: od izjave da su izbori nedovoljni za stvaranje liberalnog sistema do upozorenja da izbori mogu biti opasni. Njegov zaključak je oprečan stvarnosti post-autoritarne, i posebice post-komunističke, izgradnje države.

Босна и Херцеговина и Црна Гора – (Не)Одрживе мултинационалне творевине

Author(s): Zoran T. Milosavljević / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 4/2012

In this research work the author discusses the multi-ethnic and multi-national formations that put itself in the appearance of the civil concept of state nation (Nation Building), and the problems they are facing with regarding the concept of “state formation” instead of the “nation-state”, focusing on two unfinished creations: Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The analysis is (not) based on the reseach on the possibility of establishing of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro on the principles of civil state. The importance of this research is in pointing to the (im)possibility of their constitution as the national state formation of a stable civil-type democracy, concerning the position of the Serbs in their state structure, and as well as an attempt to ensure regional stability in the Western Balkans and the possible solution to this problem . Problem sought to the couriosity lead question: how to allow stabilization multi-etnichs and multi-national societies, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, and the fact that these arrangements were not to be an impediment to the fullfilment of national rights of the Serb national community in them? The methods applied in this paper are: analytical methods, methods of observation, content analysis, the generalization method and comparative method and so on. This paper will therefore dealt with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro as a multiethnic and multinational states, and the possibility of their constitution on the principles of modern, efficient civil government, and to avoid the complexity of this state organization and stabilization of political legitimacy.

Koncept razvoja i (zlo)upotreba metafore: od tereta belog čoveka do ciljeva održivog razvoja

Author(s): Jelena Vićentić / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 01-02/2016

The paper examines the concept of development as a neologism, a nonempirical and unstable preconception and traces the beginnings of the contemporary understanding of development starting with the process of transfer from the domain of biology into the social sphere. through the transformation of the metaphor into an independent signifier in the domain of social sciences to the transitivity of the concept attained under the influence of enlightenment, ’development’ in the XX century acquires proportions of a myth and a religious quality. the myth of development, as closely connected to the discursive construction of international community, modernity and inevitability of progress, is defined by its purpose, not its content: it legitimizes hierarchy and intervention. although reduced to an oxymoron ’sustainable development’, deprived of meaning, it perseveres as ideologically useful and adaptable from one context to the next.

Türkiye’de Merkez Sağ İdeolojisini Siyasal Hareket Üzerinden Temellendirme Denemesi

Author(s): Baki Erken / Language(s): Turkish Issue: 02/2016

Central right in Turkey is a political thought inside the right in addition to being a political movement. Despite the discussions, central right political thought can be considered as an eclectic and comprehensive ideology. Democracy, nationalism and conservatism, religious conservatism and Atatürkçülük are the basic ideological elements of the central right ideology. Democracy, initiating central right movement, is demonstrated popularly through national will discourse. Nationalism and conservatism are placed in central right as dominant ideologies. The religious ideas of central right should be titled as “religious conservatism”, including both freedom of religion and secularism. Atatürkçülük exist in central right with critics of Kemalism due to conservatism. Central right with these ideological elements can become dominant and peculiar movement in Turkish political life.

Analiza mogućnosti transfera politike iz austrijskog u hrvatski sustav razvoja vještina

Author(s): Nikola Buković / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 9/2018

This paper puts forward an analysis of dominant features, differences and potential of policy-transfer from Austrian to Croatian skillformation system. Inquiry is based on the typology developed by Busemeyer and Trampusch following the body of work in developed industrial democracies. These authors distinguish between four types of systems in developed industrial democracies: i) state skill formation; ii) liberal skill formation; iii) segmentalist skill formation; iv) collective skill formation, attributed to Austria. Analytical process is divided in two main segments. Firstly, author examines structure of each skillformation system, placing particular emphasis on secondary vocational schooling, as it represents critical institutional determinant of each system, also examining key recent reforms. Secondly, author analyses similarities and differences between the two systems. Conclusions are also divided in two categories. The first group refers to causes of structural differences between Austria and Croatia. The second group is focused on potential of policy transfer.

Social Cognition and Political Values. Inquires in Political Psychology

Author(s): Silviu-Petru Grecu / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

The aim of this article is to evaluate the quantitative relationship between social cognition, political values and political attitudes and behaviours. In practice, this study analyses two different samples from Germany (N=2030) and Romania (N=1503) and tests if there is a significant relationship between political cognition, values and political action. In this respect we can estimate that the Romanian political system is characterised by political apathy and alienation. All the quantitative results are representative for the statistical time series between 2010 and 2014. There is no statistical correlation between political cognition and political behaviour (r = 0.02, p = 0.001). In contrast, in Germany we observe an educated citizen able to develop personal beliefs regarding the political sphere and, also, to participate, in different manners, in the political life. We can identify a medium positive correlation between political cognition and political behaviour (r = 0.552, p = 0.001). Also, we can underline the fact that political cognition in full democracies, like in Germany, is structured on several values such as: independence (r = 0.504), responsibility (r = 0.602), tolerance and respect for others (r = 0.536). In the Romanian case, political cognition is structured on residual values of the communist society: hard work (r = 0.541) and obedience (r = 0.466). For understanding this psychological process at the theoretical level, we presented two main perspectives about social and political cognition: a neuropsychological perspective derived from the Theory of Mind (ToM) and a perspective derived from “sharing reality”.

A Framework for Perpetrator Behavior: Role Theory, Foreign Policy, and the Case of the Khmer Rouge

Author(s): Joann DiGeorgio-Lutz / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

The research proposes a conceptual framework for understanding perpetrator behavior utilizing role theory through the lens of a foreign policy approach. Frameworks that examine elite genocidal perpetrator behavior rarely give enough consideration to the influence of foreign policy as a source of state-sponsored genocidal policies. This research proposes a model for examining elite perpetrator behavior marrying role theory and foreign policy as a source of genocidal perpetrator behavior. Using Cambodia as a case study, this research proposes a model for further examination both in the Cambodian context and across a number of other cases.

Non-Muscular Mediation: A Hopeless Undertaking or the Way to Peace?

Author(s): Esther Margarita Arias / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

The domain of conflict resolution is broad since peace and international security are at the centre of the United Nations (UN). From the beginning, UN member states have pledged to pursue peaceful resolutions through different techniques. In this sense, mediation has proven to be especially desirable. However, mediation as an elaborated and detailed process is not some mathematical operation which no matter how many times is repeated, always arrives to the same result. Indeed, mediation can fail at all its levels, and especially where it concerns different kinds of international conflict. At this stage, who mediates and how represents a relevant matter linked to power. Attempts at mediation on the part of international institutions, small states or high-profile personalities can contribute to conflict resolution worldwide. Nevertheless, when considering the historical record, it seems that mediation can result in peace only after the involvement of a powerful third party. Is this a fact or a mere impression? To examine this dichotomy, the article focuses on the differences between “non-muscular mediation” and “muscular mediation”, based mostly on the experiences of the XXIst century. Using the available empirical data, we seek to update the conceptual framework aimed at understanding how mediation can be successful in the present day.

Populismo – Neoliberalismo – Democracia: Una Relación Compleja

Author(s): Răzvan Victor Pantelimon / Language(s): Spanish Issue: 1/2018

In this article, we sought to analyze the relationships established by the phenomenon of populism/neo-populism in relation with the neoliberal economic model, and with democracy, respectively. Given how dominant and paternalistic the state is in the (neo)populist framework, the majority of researchers see both as opposing an economic model based on neoliberal ideas, and as a great threat to democracy. In light of this, our present analysis is based on the hypothesis that the relation between these concepts is much more complex and nuanced.

A Review of the 2015 and 1999-2011 General Elections in Nigeria Using Pippa Norris’ Electoral Integrity Framework (EIF)

Author(s): Mohammed Bello Umar,Kamal Olaniyi LAMIDI / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

In a democratic setting, elections remain a universally acceptable means of choosing leaders. They are regarded as the heart of a democracy because they confer political legitimacy to governments in a democratic setting. The electoral history of Nigeria shows that it has been devoid of free and fair elections, ever since the country transitioned to democracy in 1999. In light of this, the present study finds it useful to examine whether we can perceive an improvement in the 2015 general elections when compared with previous electoral cycles beginning with 1999. In this sense, we will apply the Electoral Integrity Framework (EIF) developed by Pippa Norris. The result of this comparative analysis shows that the conditions of the 2015 general elections were made better due to the introduction of biometric technology. The results, as such, mirrored the failure of the ruling party (People’s Democratic Party – PDP) in the area of governance. The study further shows that the Electoral Commission has yet to improve the voter’s registration system and the voter’s card distribution method. The paper concludes that for Nigeria to experience free and fair elections, all actors involved must be ready to respect the electoral rules, to accept the rulings of the court and to put into effect the judicial decisions.

Ivan Krastev, After Europe, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2017 (Ebook)

Author(s): Alexandru Ionuţ Drăgulin / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

ENGLISH COMBINED AUTHORITIES AND ITALIAN METROPOLITAN CITIES: A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE

Author(s): Małgorzata Lorencka,Marta Obrębska / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

Empowering local government has been a recurrent element of political programmes of British and Italian governments since the 1990s. The political decisions concerning local government made in the past decade were undoubtedly influenced by the effects of the 2008 economic crisis and the global metropolisation processes with the growing importance of urban development affecting international economy and culture. In the British case, combined authorities are currently functioning in England, based on devolution agreements between the central government and local authorities. In Italy the central authorities, except in autonomous region, have chosen another way: metropolitan cities are established topdown, by way of constitutional and statutory laws. The aim of the article is comparative analysis of the process of development of English combined authorities and Italian metropolitan cities, providing the basis for discussion of the principles of structural change of local government units over the past decade. Legal, administrative, political and economic factors that contributed to the formation of new entities are analyzed. The study shows that both England and Italy face the problem of insufficient democracy in the bodies of combined authorities and metropolitan cities established after the onset of the economic crisis in 2008.

International Workshop: Images and Counter-images East and West: Expectation and Observance

Author(s): Janja Slabe / Language(s): Slovenian Issue: 2/2006

International Workshop Images and Counter-images East and West: Expectation and Observance, Inštitut za novejšo zgodovino, Ljubljana, 13. - 14. Oktober 2006.

Corruption in Afghanistan: an Experience for Ukraine

Author(s): Zaid Rahmani,Vadym Tytarenko / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

The problem of corruption is one of the most urgent and important to solve for present Ukraine. Corruption is considered to be one of the main reasons for the lack of prosperity in Ukraine as well as political instability. Despite the numerous governmental attempts to fight against the corruption its level unfortunately still increases. Effective strategies search in resolving this problem appears as most relevant and necessary today. Ukrainian authority and anti-corruption organizations can effectively use the passive and active experience of other countries that have the same problem in order to prevent or stop the facts of corruption. Unfortunately, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a “superlative” in some corruption statics in the world. The permanent long time struggle against a corruption under the conditions of permanent war allowed to collect a large experience that must be comprehended by other countries with similar problems.

Comic and Dynamics of Its Political Applications

Author(s): Olena Yuriyivna Pavlova / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2019

The paper is devoted to the analysis of the variability of historical forms of comic, in particular the specifics of the organization of contextual socio-cultural practices and the appropriate way of the syndication. For this angle of study, reference is made to the works of modern British scholar Scott Lash, who substantiates the methodological connection of the cultural paradigm and the signification mode. The comparison is made out of the specifics of the organization of a comic in the conditions of the ancient Greek policy and modern Ukrainian politics. Postmodern synthesis of political comic and administration of horror testifies to a new level of cultural de-differentiation, and is a symbol of the end of the social. The horror of the total chaos of personified corruption highlights the ironic evidence of their political scheme and the comic populism of their representations.

RECOGNIZING THE OTHER AS A TEST OF EUROPEANNESS THE VALUE-BASED FOUNDATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL REFLEXIVITY IN THE ERA OF LATE MODERNITY

Author(s): Zoltán Grünhut / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2019

The paper both theoretically and empirically examines the interrelationship between the act of othering (i.e. self-identification via distantiation from the ‘Other’) and the attachment to Europe, while it also addresses the value-based ontological foundations of these epistemologically relevant and praxis-related features. Late Modernity is proposed as a general framework that can hold together these components conceptually. The empirical findings are about 18 EU member states; data were obtained from the European Social Survey (2018). As a general conclusion the paper stresses that people who prefer the relative importance of values about diversity and self-transcendence, they are more open towards the ‘Other’, while they are more attached to Europe as well.

Балканските държави и индекс на демокрация (2017)

Author(s): Blaga Blagoeva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 3/2019

The paper analyses the results from the Economist Intelligence Unit’s research for Democracy Index 2017. It starts by offering a general presentation of the research and focuses specifically on the results of Bulgaria and other Balkan countries on several major criteria: Electoral process and pluralism; Functioning of government; Political participation; Political culture; Civil liberties. The paper seeks to answer the question why there aren’t “Full Democracies” in the Balkans?