The landscapes of Belgian reconstruction: a balance between modernity and tradition

Author(s): Caterina Franchini / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2014

After World War I, the debate on Belgian reconstruction divided architects. Some claimed that the priority should be the reconstruction of monuments and urban historical centers, others considered the construction of housing more urgent. In the first half of the Twenties, on one hand the well established generation of old architects worked at reconstruction of devastated regions, on the other hand the young „modernist“ generation experimented with the construction of garden-suburbs with low-cost housing. The urban planner and landscaper Louis van der Swaelmen and the modernist architect Victor Bourgeois considered a failure the reconstruction „à l’identique“ and the reconstruction „in style“ that exhibited a sentimentalist and regionalist vision. Indeed, the law on destroyed municipalities (April 8th, 1919) imposed a regional esthetic for reconstruction on pre-existing urbanized sites. By contrast the construction of new garden-suburbs appeared as a great success against the „vieux-neuf“. In 1920 the Office of Devastated Regions opened the „Architectural Section“ under the responsibility of Jean-Jules Eggericx, and a first settlement of 100 social housing units was created a Roulers and named Batavia. It was inspired, at the same time, by the Belgian beguinage and by the English garden-city; and new materials and building technologies were experimented there.

Българските общности в Украйна в началото на новото хилядолетие – променящите се погледи

Author(s): Petko Hristov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2016

Зборовете на межата. Междуселищни патронни празници у българските преселници в Бесарабия – наблюдения и хипотези

Author(s): Galin Georgiev,Elena Vodinchar / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2016

One of the typical and relatively stable features of the everyday life of the Bulgarianimmigrants in the historical and cultural region of Bessarabia are the patronal festivalsand customs held within the frameworks of the village, neighbourhood or familyand referred to as zbor/sabor (збор/събор), hram (храм), kurban (курбан), tsarkva(църква), panagir (панагирь), cherkuvane (черкуване), moleben (молебен) etc. Asfor the designation збор (a fair), it is clear that it precedes the Russian designationхрам (a patron saint’s day) which penetrates the region under study later on andwhich is widely used at present. What stirs up bigger interest is the fact that exceptfor village church festivals this term (as well as some of the other above-mentioned) was also used for intervillage festivals held at the landmark of the territories of two,three or more villages – the so-called fairs at the landmark also known as moleben orcherkuvane for rain and good health.As far as the patron saint’s day is a universal Christian phenomenon and stilla general practice in the villages of the region studied here, it could be assumedthat the gathering itself, the making of zbor (or moleben) at the landmark (at theborder between a group of villages), which is neglected today almost everywhere,is a form typical only of the immigrants (Bulgarians and Gagauzians) in Bessarabia.This practice attracts the attention with respect to its nature and development as partof the all-Bulgarian system of patronal village festivals as well as with relation tothe influences, changes and specifics through which it inevitably goes under theconditions of the many-tounged and polycultural environment of Bessarabia and theRussian Orthodox Christianity.The fieldwork materials collected so far do not allow a coprehensive and thickdescription of the phenomena intriguing us as well as a more elaborate analysis.That’s why the article only poses the problem or rather interpretes it in connectionwith some concepts of the kin and family-territorial patronal festivals and customswhich were formulated a long time ago in the Bulgarian science but which are stillrelevant.

„Балканските акценти“ на одеския „Привоз“: към въпроса за етническите компоненти в градската кухня

Author(s): Alexandr Prigarin / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2016

On the basis of written sources and field materials, the article examines the phenomenonof the “Odessa cuisine” as a regional complex of food. In the context of thehistorical dynamics, it shows the role of the Balkan traditions in the formation anddevelopment of the everyday culture of the inhabitants of Odessa. Special attentionis paid to the current state of the trade subculture and, respectively, to the systemof the food traditions in Odessa. In particular, the article shows that there are manyproducts introduced by natives from the Balkans (first of all, Greeks and Bulgarians):eggplants, tomatoes, cheese, corn, mutton, grapes, etc. The regional dishes perceivedas “Odessaian” but having roots in the ethno-cultures of the above-mentioned communities,are developed on this basis. The text shows also the “blue” (eggplants) invarious variations of preparation and the “pshonka” (corn). Beside the national, theprofessional mass cuisine is also analyzed (restaurant); in it the Balkan substratumhas found its place a long time ago along with the Jewish, Ukrainian and Moldavian.In the menu of these institutions, there are surely a number of dishes with Balkanorigins. On the other hand, it is worth characterizing the special national restaurantsof Odessa (Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Greek).

Българи в Словения. Първоначални наблюдения върху българската диаспора в Словения

Author(s): Mila Santova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2016

Календарната обредност на бесарабските българи в източници и научна литература

Author(s): Aleksandar Kovalov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2016

Петър Шукеров, Иван Патев, Димитър Михайлов. Земята гледа небето. Хора и православни храмове в Средните Родопи. София, 2015

Author(s): Albena Georgieva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2016

Млечният път в космическото и обредното пространство

Author(s): Nikolay Sivkov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2017

In the folklore of many peoples, the luminous bodies and phenomena are related tothe traditional concepts of the world structure. In the Bulgarian popular astronomythe Milky Way is seen as a Straw Road. The folklore texts present the “road” as both aborder and a bond between the “own” and the “alien” space, between the earthly andthe “divine” world. It is a process of movement in the mythological space but it couldalso be a place where the worlds in this space meet. Such development of the conceptof the “road” in the Bulgarian popular tradition is related to liminal rituals typical ofcalendar festivals including Christmas.

Пътят на север и намирането на дом

Author(s): Mila Maeva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2017

The article examines the movements from Bulgaria to Norway and is based on anethnographic fieldwork. Using the methods of the oral history, the article analyzes the road to the north and the settlement in an almost unknown and cold country. Th epersonal stories of the Bulgarians present their visions of the road, their views onNorway and the founding of home as a personal experience in the context of the complexmigratory situation there. The specifics of the Bulgarian settlement in Norway predetermine the understanding of home and road. The successful and relatively fast realization, the high standard of life, the social model and the opportunity for quicklybringing together the separated families transform the migration to the north from amovement into a fixed way of life. For the Bulgarians, the new home in Norway has different aspects – it is the heart of the family, of calmness, cosiness and security. For the emigrants, the road to the north is both a road and a way back to the “native” andthe “Bulgarian” which could be seen in the founding of a “Bulgarian home” by different emigrant institutions and organizations. The new transnational and transcultural home of the Bulgarians in Norway becomes their comfort zone.

Да живееш в три държави: промени в земеделието и всекидневието на селяни от Северозападна България

Author(s): Ilia Iliev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2017

In this paper I briefly investigate the impact of three types of state agricultural policies on rural households in Valchedrum region, North West Bulgaria. I argue that the state remains a key factor, capable to transform the local economies, identities, and everyday life in a few years. I argue that unlike the situation in socialist Bulgaria, when the state lacked resources to implement its policies and had to rely heavily on coercion, the local people have rather limited options for agency now against powerful and efficient EU agricultural policies.

LEVERAGING EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: SATISFACTION AND WORK MOTIVATION MANAGEMENT

Author(s): Faruk Ahmeti / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

Companies must continually adapt to technological advancements to gain a competitive edge and enhance performance. Active employee engagement plays a crucial role in achieving and improving performance, necessitating promoting motivation and job satisfaction. This study explores the relationship between motivation, job satisfaction, and employee performance, with employee engagement as a mediator. Specifically, the research focuses on Information Technology (IT) companies in Kosovo and various locations across the European Union involved in different projects. The sample for this study comprises 112 respondents selected through convenient sampling. The research model is analyzed using Partial Least Square (PLS) analysis with SmartPLS 3.0 software. The empirical findings indicate that motivation positively influences employees’ engagement and performance in various IT positions. However, job satisfaction has no direct impact or exerts a relatively low influence. Nonetheless, employee engagement significantly enhances employee performance by mediating the effects of motivation and job satisfaction. The research findings have significant managerial implications, emphasizing the importance of actively promoting motivation, innovation, and job satisfaction to increase employee involvement and achieve desired outcomes.

Post-Conflict Security and Peacebuilding in Rwanda: an Economic Development Approach

Author(s): Khedidja Ziani,Amira Berhail Boudouda / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

This text analyzes the governance strategies employed in post-civil war and genocide Rwanda for peacebuilding within the context of economic development. Rwanda, with the assistance of the international community, aimed at reconciliation and democracy. Despite challenging circumstances following the conflict, the government achieved stability and initiated internal reforms, particularly in the security sector, since the mid-1990s. The persistent power structure of the Rwandan National Front prompts an exploration into the extent to which an economic development-based approach has contributed to security and peacebuilding in Rwanda. We hypothesize that such measures play a key role in establishing resilient societies capable of preventing the recurrence of intractable conflicts through the attainment of inclusive economic development. The theory of human needs advocates for the utilization of interoperability as a conflict resolution mechanism, applicable to Rwanda as well. It posits that lasting peace is only achievable when various facets of human economic needs are systematically addressed. This article seeks to critically assess how post-genocide economic reform measures in Rwanda have contributed to achieving security and peace. Furthermore, it explores how effective leadership and engagement policies contribute to economic security in Rwanda. The article argues that post-conflict security management and peacebuilding processes require the implementation of effective economic development policies, including resource redistribution, as a critical component of a comprehensive development strategy.

Dążenia niepodległościowe w prowincji Bougainville

Author(s): Piotr L. Wilczyński,Patrycja Piróg / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2023

The geopolitical stability of the world is usually undermined by contemporary rivalry between states. However, the Bougainville province independence movement may be considered as the peculiarity of world order, where new statehood will appear in a brand new context of independence struggle within a multiethnic state created by the decolonization process. The aim of the study is to review the genesis, course and impact of the conflict in the province of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea in accordance with other separatisms in Southeast Asia and the Pacific area. The main methods utilized for the most important factors comparison and description are the geographic descriptive synthesis method and geopolitical risk analytics, with the help of the cartographic method and sources databases comparison. The social, political and economic situation of Bougainville, which occurred after the opening of the copper and gold mines, was analyzed. The paper presents the effects of the development of the mining industry on the island. The process of destabilization on the island and its impact on the beginning of the armed conflict in Bougainville were discussed. The work also shows the situation after the end of the war and reviews the course and impact of the referendum in Bougainville. It should answer as to whether this separatism is a new type of secessionist movement, or rather, it is a normally occurring process with peculiar conclusions of being successful. It turns out that most of the political, social, and economic factors were specific, so this independence movement is rather peculiar and may be initial for new secessionist rebellions and incoming tendencies in the region or the whole world.

Wybrane współczesne problemy jednostek samorządu terytorialnego w Polsce w latach 2018–2022

Author(s): Iwona Ładysz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2023

Local government, as an extremely important element of the political system of the state’s political system, carries out public tasks not reserved by law for other organs of public authority. To this end, the state secures the possibility of implementation of tasks by the local government, providing it with a balanced system of finances and the appropriate distribution of sources of income, allowing the implementation of assigned tasks. Today, the challenges facing local self-government are different than just a few years ago. In recent years, the biggest problem has been effectively dealing with the effects of pandemics, restrictions on economic activity, the need to help war refugees from Ukraine, etc. Therefore, it is important to analyze on an ongoing basis to what extent the public finance system is transparent and allows them to effectively support local and regional development at the social, economic and spatial levels. The article presents an assessment of the financial situation of local government units in Poland in 2018-2022 based on selected financial indicators. Such a time frame coincides with the extended term of local governments and allows for comparing data from the years preceding the pandemic and the outbreak of war in Ukraine and looking at the situation's impact on the subsequent years of local government units. The article presents the main issues of own income, property expenditures and operating results of local government units at all levels. The data source for analyzing the relationship between the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine and the financial situation of local government units in Poland is the database of the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office.

ASSESSING DISPROPORTIONATE TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT: INSIGHTS FROM 10 COUNTRIES

Author(s): Davit Hakhverdyan,Gagik Badadyan / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2023

Territorial development disparities are an undeniable reality for all the countries of the world, which implies that no country can practically avoid them. However, how different countries respond to these disparities is another matter. The effectiveness of policies in overcoming territorial development disparities depends significantly on how deeply these disparities are recognized and studied. In this context, assessing disparities in territorial development is necessary, and the article proposes a methodology for its implementation. The methodology examines territorial development indexes and their relative standard deviation. In the article, the developed methodology was also applied to 10 countries, as a result of which the levels of territorial development disparities in Canada, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Finland, Serbia, Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and China were evaluated. Based on the assessments, general conclusions are also presented for each country in the article.

GOOD GOVERNANCE AND RULE OF LAW EFFECT ON GDP GROWTH: LESSONS FOR EMERGING ECONOMIES

Author(s): Esat A. Durguti,Avni H. Alidemaj,Anatolijs Krivins / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

The overall aim of this article is to explore the effect of governance parameters on gross domestic product (GDP) in the 15 countries of the European Union (EU15) as well as the 6 countries of Southeast Europe (SEE6). The research employed the dynamic methodology generalized methods of moments (GMM) to explore the data gathered from the World Bank and the Global Economy database stretching 2000 - 2022, correspondingly 2008 - 2022. Our analyzed result for EU15 confirms that regulatory quality (RQ), government effectiveness (GE), and rule of law (RL) positively influence GDP; instead, control of corruption (CC) negatively influences GDP. The results obtained for SEE6 reveal that GE and CC positively influence GDP, but instead, the RL negatively influences GDP. Additionally, RQ in the SEE6 instance has shown an insignificant influence on GDP. Unfortunately, the study could not cover every country in both panel groups because of data limitations. Regarding the study’s conclusions, increased dedication to applying and undertaking reform measures for the key governance indicators for SEE6 countries would be helpful. These insights may raise the need to create specific mechanisms for the RL and CC. Compared to other research, the novelty and originality of the present research lies in the fact that it used panel data via the dynamic GMM approach to explore the role of improving government quality metrics in GDP.

SCIENCE DIPLOMACY IN THE NEGOTIATION OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CONTRACTS: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

Author(s): Suada A. Dzogović,Anita Cucović,Armand Krasniqi / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

This study investigates the significance of science diplomacy at the convergence of politics, diplomacy, and science, emphasizing its heightened relevance in contemporary geopolitics and economic development. The aim was to elucidate the role of science diplomacy in optimizing negotiation outcomes concerning international business contracts by examining students’ perceptions of its impacts in such contexts. A theoretical analysis was initially conducted to identify the main themes shaping our questionnaire by employing a comprehensive research strategy that combines quantitative and qualitative methods. Data collection was carried out through a survey using a five-point Likert scale. The study revealed the students’ positive evaluation of science diplomacy, indicating their recognition and appreciation of its utilization in enhancing negotiation outcomes over international business contracts. While political leadership remains crucial in economic negotiations, our findings underscore the significant impact of science diplomacy in promoting international economic relations and facilitating domestic companies’ access to global markets. This research significantly contributes to our understanding of the multifaceted role of science diplomacy in global knowledge dissemination and problem-solving. It elucidates the importance of science diplomacy in international relations and academia, emphasizing its constructive impact on addressing complex challenges.

Съвременна регионална среда за сигурност и военните дисбаланси в Черно море

Author(s): Plamen Dyakov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2s/2024

The Black Sea is such a geographical region which due to its strategic location is a source of many military imbalances. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent confrontation between the Russian Federation and Ukraine which on February 2022 turned into a full-scale war that led to the creation of new military imbalances in the region. After two years of hostilities Russia’s Black Sea Fleet faces multiple challenges that are a mix of geographic, political and military factors which could lead to major changes in the military balance in the region. Turkey is one of the countries that can have a leading role in the new military and political situation in the Black Sea as it has a powerful navy, as well as the fact Ankara is pursuing specific interests of its own, despite its ties to military alliances or other countries. The US Navy does not have direct access to the Black Sea but the US alongside NATO countries can help rearming its allies in the region. Romania is one of those countries and Bucharest has ambitions to become a kind of NATO hub in the Black Sea. It remains to be seen how all of these factors will affect Bulgaria.

Sustainable Development Diplomacy as a Modern Form of Diplomacy in the Context of International Security in Light of the Russian-Ukrainian War

Author(s): Lesya Korolchuk,Larysa Savosh / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

Given the instability of the global economic system caused by natural disasters, financial crises, pandemics, and armed conflicts, the realization of sustainable development as a global strategy is increasingly challenging. The exacerbation of global problems facing humanity – and Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine – further worsen the issue of international security in general. There is a need to find effective approaches to the implementation of international relations in current conditions that would guarantee sustainable development and international security. This article examines the theoretical and conceptual foundations of sustainable development diplomacy based on a literature review. It tests the hypothesis about the ability of sustainable development diplomacy to be an effective and efficient tool in current conditions for ensuring sustainable development and international security using the hypothetical and deductive method. The compliance of sustainable development diplomacy, with the fundamental principles of sustainable development, is investigated through an analysis of definitions, determining whether the state’s foreign policy is aimed at sustainable development and whether sustainable development is achieved exclusively through peaceful means, as well as identifying the defined role of sustainable development diplomacy in ensuring international security. Additionally, the article explores the relationship between sustainable development and international security through an interdisciplinary analysis and the method of induction. The regulatory tools for sustainabledevelopment diplomacy in the context of international security were improved through theapplication of the integration method.

Imagine prospectivă a unei contribuții muzeale la regenerarea urbană prin cultură

Author(s): Sorin Constantinescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 1/2022

The subject of this paper is still not enough explored, not only from the perspective of museum research but also from that of studies belonging to other fields that take into account the need to integrate culture in urban regeneration. Because this topic is current and relevant for the multitude of cultural and social forms in which the museum institution could become a lasting pillar, we believe that our attempt will allow us to sketch an integrative project from which to extract some useful considerations for future research. The conclusions that emerge from positioning the National Museum of Romanian Literature in Bucharest (MNLR), more precisely its cultural hub located in a disadvantaged area, in the epicenter of urban regeneration through culture of the adjacent area, will hopefully be compelling enough to support a cultural axis. Especially since the targeted area (although it has a rich local cultural heritage, which deserves to be capitalized and whose historical memory must be preserved) does not yet experience the long-awaited revival, MNLR - as already demonstrated - can become a crucial actor, together with partners from civil society, in drawing a new cultural axis in the Romanian capital. This could contribute to the transformation of a physically degraded area with precarious living conditions into an engine for integrating culture into the daily concerns of as many fellow citizens as possible, and not only those belonging to the local community. After all, any attempt to achieve a prospective approach focused on the museum institution only validates the generous and mobilizing slogan of ICOM: “Museums have no borders, they have a network”.