Populizm jako forma przywództwa politycznego: trzy tradycje teoretyczne i perspektywy badawcze

Author(s): Jan Pakulski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2020

In a contemporary political sociology, experiencing a renaissance in political leadership studies, the populism – defined as a specific type of anti-establishment leadership – is quite well known not only from current „rises”, but also from former cyclic „tidal waves”. Even if there are visible parallels to former waves of populist politics, few socio-political analyses of the current „third wave” sweeping across Europe and the US benefit from the theoretical body of researches of previous waves. The current approach focuses on a shallow theoretical-historical approach to populism as a sui generis novum, as a critical backlash to contemporary development trends (ie. globalism, centralized government, neo-liberal politics, etc.). Thus this paper aims at reminding three important analyses relating to three consecutive waves of populism. All three point at populism as a manifestation of democratic trends and focus attention on leadership groups. Alexis de Tocqueville viewed populist campaigns of Louis Napoleon in France as manifestations of a „despotic democracy”. Max Weber judged European populisms he witnessed as manifestations of a „plebiscitary democracy”. Contemporary neo-elitists focus their attention both on leaders and on the structure of leadership groups as well as on relations between leaders and their „electorate”. Such leadership focused perspective is a necessary addendum to the research on contemporary populism.

National identification in a democratic society. A view from the psychosocial perspective

Author(s): Piotr Radkiewicz / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2020

As some researchers note, national identity is probably the only form of identity forwhich people are ready to give their own lives. Deprived of the experience of personalcontact, the strong sense of belonging to the national group must consist of imagining oneself as entwined with crowds of anonymous compatriots in an invisible, butrealistically experienced bond. Though, the concepts of national identity and national identification are often treated interchangeably. they are not equivalent. Group identitymeans the fact of belonging to a specific group, combined with having its cognitive representation. Identification refers to the individual-group personal relationship, and describes the strength of the emotional bond felt with other members and the importance of a given group identity. This paper presents psychological origins of national identification, linking them to the deepest and most basic epistemic, motivational and existential human needs. Awareness of identification with the national group determines the whole range of psychological phenomena from various levels of analysis. From relatively simple manifestations of affect to complex ideological orientations – they all have specific relationships with how people understand democracy and what type of democracy they prefer. The empirical evidence cited in this text proves that the strengthening of the liberal democracy and its cultural values is accompanied by the devaluation of national/patriotic identification in the utilitarian (as a socially dysfunctional phenomenon) as well as in moral sense (as a source of hostility and intolerance). However, other empirical results show national identification as a necessary component of social bonds, and a basis of social mobilization around important collective goals.

Tranzycja demokratyczna z „fałszywej demokracji”. Czy nowy paradygmat tranzycyjny?.

Author(s): Bartłomiej Nowotarski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2020

„The third wave” of democratization had a real challenge: to disarm brutal dictatorships and enable the process of building the institutions of the liberal democracy. Political scientists scrutinized the process of democratization and created its transitional paradigm. Unfortunately, as the paradigm and the democratization process failed (the so called „fake democracies” emerged), the proponents of the liberal democracy faced a new challenge: to turn back the trends of democratic erosions and to build a more sustainable,post-liberal democracy in the future. The important question remains: what kind of a new paradigm would best encompass contemporary challenges? This essay aims at drawing such a new paradigm referring to likely transitional strategies that may end up in new kind of democratic settings (also in a form of „fake democracies”). To come up with new schemes failed transitions and new trends are discussed.

Bevezető a Fordulat 27. számához

Author(s): Zoltán Sidó,Kristóf Nagy,Mátyás Domschitz,Márton Fabók,Sára Lafferton,Ágnes Gagyi,Virág Buka / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 27/2020

The 27th issue of the Fordulat maps the possibilities of a social-solidarity economy with a special focus on the Eastern European post-socialist conditions.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN TIMES OF COVID-19: CHILLING EFFECT IN HUNGARY AND SERBIA

Author(s): Kristina Ćendić,Gergely Gosztonyi / Language(s): English Issue: Suppl./2020

New technologies have opened several risks to safety of journalists. More importantly, in the state of emergency caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, journalists and media actors have shifted their activities online more than ever, which also made them more prone to digital threats and attacks. In some regimes there are even organized intimidation campaigns against political opponents causing chilling effect and self-censorship, and jeopardizing freedom of expression in general. Hungary as a member of the European Union since 2004 and Serbia as a leading candidate to join the EU are two countries where the problems and concerns about media freedom is growing every day. The fear from the unknown during the international pandemic gave opportunity to some governments to hide their real political agendas and cover their desire for the 'good-old-fashioned' censorship. The number of countries where some kind of censorship could be found is growing every day. The authors will show two country-case-studies from Hungary and Serbia, where the leaders and the political situations are very similar and could show a (good or bad) example to other countries that would like to follow the illiberal views on media issues.

Потопено наследство: за песните от дъното на язовира и медийното им изплуване

Author(s): Ventsislav Dimov,Lozanka Peycheva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 8/2020

The study focuses on part of the submerged heritage under the waters of several dams in Bulgaria (Ovcharitsa, Rozov Kladenets and Tsonevo). Popular folk singers (Stefka Sabotinova and Penka Pavlova) and singing groups and local singers („Sminana Kitka“, Silvia Dimitrova), who keep songs from the sunken villages, are presented. The focus is on research and knowledge of folklore as a pillar of memory, in the case of the village of Asparuhovo, near and under the waters of Tsonevo Dam. Emphasis is placed on the role of various media and especially digital new media spaces for the „emergence” of the traditional song heritage from the villages left at the bottom of various dams.

Нарастващата роля на електронните медии за медийната грамотност на публиката в епохата на информационната криза

Author(s): Iglika Ivanova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 8/2020

Two decades after the publication of the Green Paper on the convergence (1997), radio and television are not only creating and disseminating more and more digital content through digital technologies but are striving for an increasingly integrated online presence. Along with search engines, internet platforms have become an important intermediary between media service providers and audiences whose habits have changed dramatically in the second decade of the 21st century. Broadcast media (BM) have no choice but to be where the users of media content are - content of different quality, origin, purpose, logic of distribution. At the same time, audiences are overwhelmed with mis- and disinformation, which often comes from fake pages and profiles posing as legitimate media organizations, and set against trustworthy media and journalists from public figures. This creates an information crisis, which can be counteracted both by legislative measures and by empowering the audience with media literacy. And while the implementation of educational reform is a slow process, the BM, which still have the largest audiences and are most trusted, can play an essential role in increasing the media literacy of citizens. A function of great public importance, at the same time entirely in their interest.

Платформата е съобщението (перспективи пред правната уредба на платформите)

Author(s): Nelly Ognyanova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 8/2020

For the first time the Bulgarian Radio and Television Law include provisions related to video sharing platforms. Platforms are a new type of intermediary. Do we know enough about how platforms influence global social and political processes? Internet companies contribute to democratization of access to knowledge and culture. But when the platform is the message, media ecosystems no longer function as we know it. In the time of global platforms, competition is limited. Platforms negatively affect traditional business models of the creative industries and the media, allow tech giants to gain enormous economic power based on capitalization of clients data, influence global social and political processes and spread disinformation and illegal content. What did the revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (2018) provide for and what can be expected from the next acts of the legislators?

DIVERGENCES FROM THE SEPARATION OF POWERS IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS TO THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Author(s): Vesna Stefanovska / Language(s): English Issue: 03/2021

The worldwide pandemic caused by the coronavirus has disturbed the pure conception of the separation of powers. States forced by the newly established situation, declared a state of emergency, thus the Republic of North Macedonia was not an exception. This paper will focus on the divergences from the separation of powers in the countries from the Western Balkans and across Europe whose departure in the well-established system of checks and balances intrigued the media. The case of North Macedonia was maybe the most interesting because in time of declaring the state of emergency by the President of the Republic, the legislative branch of power – the Assembly was dissolute which meant that the already difficult situation became more complicated to establish a balance between the branches of power to function in protecting the general health of the citizens and the fundamental human rights and freedoms.

CHINA’S PUBLIC DIPLOMACY: EVOLUTION, CHALLENGES, AND THE GREEK CASE

Author(s): Georgios Zacharias / Language(s): English Issue: 03/2021

The construction of a positive international image is profoundly correlated with advancing one’s national interests abroad. Influencing foreign audiences and creating multisided links with countries of interest, is the main objective of public diplomacy. In the highly interconnected XXI century, countries have increasingly invested in that practice, assisted by major technological advancements. China is not an exception. The current paper will examine in which ways the latter conducts public diplomacy and through which actors. The study will also try to showcase the evolution and challenges that took place in this domain. Afterward, the case study of Greece will be considered, presenting the Chinese actors engaging in the country, the practices they use, and how the bilateral relationship has been affected. The essay will conclude with estimating the total effectiveness of the practices, possible challenges that exist, and several insights for future reference.

THE ESCALATION OF CONFLICT BETWEEN ARMENIANS AND AZERBAIJANIS AND THE PROBLEMS OF PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH WAR

Author(s): Valeri Modebadze / Language(s): English Issue: 03/2021

This article explains why it is so difficult to achieve peace in Nagorno-Karabakh and what factors prevent the peaceful resolution of the conflict. This conflict is very difficult to resolve because the conflicting parties have contradictory geopolitical interests and cannot achieve consensus during negotiations. We have to take into account Russia’s geopolitical interests in South Caucasus that Kremlin is interested in freezing this conflict to weaken both states, Azerbaijan and Armenia, and bring them back to Russia’s orbit. Moscow aims to establish firm control over South Caucasus which was viewed in the past as a ‘Russian backyard’. Russia still views South Caucasus as its zone of influence and tries to bring this region back into Russia’s orbit.

INTERNATIONAL LEGAL STANDARDS IN COMBATING CHILD ONLINE SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION

Author(s): Bistra Netkova,Ariana Qosaj Mustafa / Language(s): English Issue: 03/2021

The general international standards are being discussed in this article, as well as more relevant ones concerned with the problem of sexual exploitation and child abuse. Further, the article discusses a growing understanding of children’s exposure to violence, strengthened commitments to secure their safety and protection, and significant international implementation efforts to mobilize support for prevention and response and to help change attitudes and behavior which condone violence against children. With the fast development of the internet and online social networks, the article ends with a conclusion in identifying criminal law benchmarks based on the previously identified general international standards.

Гръцката политемигрантска общност в България (1956–1983) и политиките по опазване на културното наследство

Author(s): Daniel Fokas / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2020

The article is dedicated to the Greek refugees, political emigrants, who arrived in Bulgaria in the middle of the twentieth century because of the Civil War in Greece (1946–1949). The author studies the reasons for the formation of the new community of people of Greek origin and the organizational structures that this community established with the cooperation of the Bulgarian state. Attention is drawn to the characteristic features and peculiarities of the community and the ways in which they influence its development. The focus is on the approaches for preservation and transmission of cultural tradition. The study also dwells on the development of specific set of regulations that allowed the development of amateur art among the Greeks in Bulgaria by the foundation of an educational structure and a network of clubs in the country. These activities are presented in relation with the cultural policies of the Bulgarian socialist state.

Българи в чужбина, чужденци в България: институции, организации, общностен живот. Съставителство и редакция: Мариянка Борисова, Лина Гергова, Яна Гергова, Йелис Еролова, Таня Матанова.

Author(s): Katya Zhivkova Mihaylova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2020

Book review

Wstęp

Author(s): Piotr Mickiewicz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2020

Lekcja myślenia strategicznego: Global Trends. Paradox of Progress

Author(s): Piotr Daniluk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2020

The article presents the results of research related to scenario planning for security purposes. The study of analytical documents was assumed more reliable than strategy contents, guided by too many objectives other than an accurate forecast. Taking this criterion into account, The Global Trends. Paradox of Progress project was selected for analysis. The conducted research aimed to answer the following questions: What were the sources of theoretical (concepts and models) and methodological (empirical schools and methods) references in the analysed project? What are the conclusions for researchers on strategic studies and strategy? The very title of the study and the final forecast date of 2035 indicated that it was based on the scenario planning school. The consequence of the chosen theoretical concept was the applied methodology of scenario analysis. Not only did the article evaluate the report but also determined the canons of contemporary scenario planning, which is built by a triad composed of narrative scenarios, paradoxes, and strategic traps. The presentation of the essence of such strategic thinking was intended to encourage the discussions within the strategic studies and promote the concept of research that considers scientific foundations rather than political wishes and pressure.

Rada Arktyczna jako forum pokojowej współpracy w Arktyce

Author(s): Zdzisław Śliwa / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2020

The Arctic has been affected by the climate change stimulated institutionalisation of cooperation among ‘Arctic nations’, and the Arctic Council has been influential toward a peaceful future. The purpose of the paper is to analyse the Council as a regional intergovernmental organisation facilitating nonviolent cooperation and collaborative solutions toward the Arctic, preserving its ecosystems and natural environment. The research questions are how the Council deals multidimensionally with the Arctic and what is conflict potential due to security developments. The thesis is that the Council is effectively performing its missions as a cooperation forum despite differing agendas among members and observes. One of the reasons is that the military aspect is not included in the agenda. The paper is based on qualitative research founded on academic papers and official documents, including member states and observer nations’ perspectives and positions toward the region and Council. The assumption is that the Council must distinguish between individual national and shared goals to preserve peaceful cooperation. The teamwork is essential but is increasingly complicating as of differing nations’ agendas. The paper is contributing to systematise the perception of the Council and the challenges it is facing.

Nowoczesne technologie kontroli bezpieczeństwa stosowane w portach lotniczych

Author(s): Marek Magniszewski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2020

The subject of the article concerns security at airports using modern technologies. The most advanced safety inspection devices were discussed in the study. A very important aspect affecting airport security was discussed, such as procedures and organization of work at security checkpoints. The challenges faced by modern security control operators have been taken into account. The latest generation devices have been described, including 3D X-ray scanners, magnetic gates with hazardous objects location, and manual metal detectors.

Percepcja zagrożeń terrorystycznych w Polsce oraz w Wielkiej Brytanii w XXI wieku na tle analizy orzecznictwa sądów i trybunałów

Author(s): Cezary Golędzinowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2020

The subject of the article is the assessment of statistical data on the operational activity of British and Polish secret services against the background of perception of terrorist threats and current case law of courts and tribunals. The purpose of the article is to present a socially important problem, which is the correlation between the perception of terrorist threats by citizens and their awareness of the degree of violation of human and civil rights and freedoms in the name of combating terrorism. The main research methods used in this work include the dogmatic and legal methods and statistical data analysis. The conclusions of the conducted research are observations of changes in the perception of terrorist threats, which result to a large extent from the problem of the migration crisis and from the experience of a given country in carrying out terrorist attacks on their territory. The article, through the analysis of domestic and international case law, indicates the need for further development of research on limiting the rights and freedoms of the individual in order to ensure security.

Metody i techniki działań sieciocentrycznych. Wojna sieciocentryczna

Author(s): Sabina Olszyk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2019

The concept of network-centric activities was created in the 20th and 21st century as a result of striving to increase the combat capabilities of army in a manner allowing to dominate the opponent. Numerous scientific analyzes, practical methods and operating schemes have mostly made it possible to meet these needs. This article is a continuation of considerations on network-centric activities and focuses on the indication of their nature and methods of conducting Network Centric Warfare.