Care in Crisis: Attitudes and Practices of Care in Central and Eastern Europe in the 21st Century
Care in Crisis: Attitudes and Practices of Care in Central and Eastern Europe in the 21st Century
Contributor(s): Iliana Genew-Puhalewa (Editor), Yordan Efftimov (Editor)
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Social psychology and group interaction, Family and social welfare, Sociology of Law
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: care; ethics of care; human rights; Central Europe; Eastern Europe
Summary/Abstract: The collected texts – written primarily by scholars from Bulgaria, as well as from Poland – examine care as a key ethical, social, legal, and cultural category. Their point of departure is the context of contemporary crises: the war in Ukraine, migration, social inequality, and disputes over human rights. The authors explore the concept of care not only in legal and institutional terms but also through its representations in language, literature, and folklore – revealing the tensions and cultural imaginaries surrounding it.
- E-ISBN-13: 978-83-235-6872-8
- Page Count: 102
- Publication Year: 2025
- Language: English
Introduction
Introduction
(Introduction)
- Author(s):Iliana Genew-Puhalewa
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Social psychology and group interaction, Family and social welfare, Sociology of Law
- Page Range:7-9
- No. of Pages:3
- Keywords:ethics of care; contemporary crises; central and Eastern Europe; interdisciplinarity
- Summary/Abstract:The introduction describes a post-conference academic publication dedicated to the various dimensions of the ethics, politics, and practice of care in Central and Eastern Europe. The text contextualizes the analyzed issues within contemporary crises, such as the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, climate change, and the migration crisis. It also provides an overview of individual articles that examine the topic of care from perspectives including linguistics, law, literature, and education.
The language of care in EU legislation on the war in Ukraine (based on Polish, Bulgarian, Greek, and English materials)
The language of care in EU legislation on the war in Ukraine (based on Polish, Bulgarian, Greek, and English materials)
(The language of care in EU legislation on the war in Ukraine (based on Polish, Bulgarian, Greek, and English materials))
- Author(s):Iliana Genew-Puhalewa
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Lexis, EU-Legislation
- Page Range:11-19
- No. of Pages:9
- Keywords:care; EU legal language; terminology; axiological concept; Russia’s war against Ukraine
- Summary/Abstract:This study investigates the linguistic encoding of the concept of care in European Union (EU) legislative discourse, focusing on how it is expressed across English, Bulgarian, Greek, and Polish-language versions of legal texts. By analysing EU regulations, particularly those responding to Russia’s war against Ukraine, the study examines how care is conceptualised through actions, objects, and subjects. The findings reveal that institutional mechanisms - financial, procedural, and regulatory - dominate the representation of care, rather than terminology reflecting interpersonal relationships or ethical concerns. Additionally, cross-linguistic differences emerge, with certain languages displaying historically charged terminology, contrasting with the neutrality of English legal discourse. While EU law largely adheres to terminological standardisation, these linguistic variations highlight subtle divergences in axiological framing. The study ultimately demonstrates that EU legal language operationalises care as an administrative function, reinforcing a governance-oriented rather than relational model of assistance.
Gender asymmetry in the lexical representation of health care professions in Bulgarian and Polish
Gender asymmetry in the lexical representation of health care professions in Bulgarian and Polish
(Gender asymmetry in the lexical representation of health care professions in Bulgarian and Polish)
- Author(s):Andreana Eftimova
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Gender Studies, Lexis, Sociolinguistics
- Page Range:21-31
- No. of Pages:11
- Keywords:feminine and masculine job titles; health care; dictionary
- Summary/Abstract:The purpose of the described research was to determine whether there is a balance or imbalance in the presentation of feminine and masculine names of health care professions in selected Bulgarian and Polish dictionaries, as well as to examine how social reality could influence the choice of occupations and their names in public discourse. To this end, an analysis of the presence of the feminine and masculine job titles related to health care in the Dictionary of the Bulgarian language (Речник на българския език [DBL]) and The great dictionary of the Polish language (Wielki słownik języka polskiego [WSJP]) was carried out. This allowed us to draw conclusions about gender asymmetry in the field of health care in Bulgarian and Polish societies. Omission of feminine job titles and separate definitions of their meaning related to occupation are rare in both dictionaries. The trend of women being more permanently involved in these professions continues, yet their role is not always fully appreciated. On the other hand, the absence of men in support roles within health care confirms the stereotype of femininity being associated with charity, care, and compassion, while masculinity is linked to aggressiveness, competitiveness, and ambition.
Contested care. A few literary cases from Symbolism to dystopia, from the Grey Companion and the Angel in the House to the Android Governess
Contested care. A few literary cases from Symbolism to dystopia, from the Grey Companion and the Angel in the House to the Android Governess
(Contested care. A few literary cases from Symbolism to dystopia, from the Grey Companion and the Angel in the House to the Android Governess)
- Author(s):Bilyana Kourtasheva
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Gender Studies, Comparative Study of Literature
- Page Range:33-39
- No. of Pages:7
- Keywords:care; gender roles; robots; androids; mother function
- Summary/Abstract:The text presents various portrayals of care in literature from the early 20th century until today - from Symbolism to dystopia, from the Grey Companion and the Angel in the House to the Android Governess. It offers condensed analyses of texts by Dimcho Debelyanov, Atanas Dalchev, Virginia Woolf, Michael Cunningham, Isaac Asimov, Ted Chiang, and Kazuo Ishiguro. These often unexpected readings demonstrate the endurance of the practices of care but also the startling twists in its imagery, as well as the power struggles and the futuristic aporias woven into it. The latter include the care/freedom dilemma of female artists, the looming robotic future of caregiving, and the need to provide human care for the developing artificial intelligence.
Trapped by care. Some thoughts based on Maria Stankova’s drama 'The dead head spoke to me' ('Мъртвата глава ми проговори')
Trapped by care. Some thoughts based on Maria Stankova’s drama 'The dead head spoke to me' ('Мъртвата глава ми проговори')
(Trapped by care. Some thoughts based on Maria Stankova’s drama 'The dead head spoke to me' ('Мъртвата глава ми проговори'))
- Author(s):Grażyna Szwat-Gyłybowa
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Customs / Folklore, Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Bulgarian Literature
- Page Range:41-51
- No. of Pages:11
- Keywords:ethics of care; Bulgarian folklore; motif of the walled-up woman; Maria Stankova; Bulgarian literature
- Summary/Abstract:In folklore, the motif of the walled-up woman expresses the attitude of the folk artist to the issue of the sacrifice of a woman’s life made for the good of the community, which is the epitome of maternal concern. I prove that, contrary to cultural stereotypes, a folk song with this theme can be considered as a testimony to a deep pre-understanding of the limitations flowing from the shortcomings of moral attitudes attributed to men and women as special agents of care. The article is devoted to the problem of adapting this folk motif in the contemporary micro-play by Maria Stankova, The dead head spoke to me (Мъртвата глава ми проговори). Stankova, using a grotesque exaggeration of folk motifs, reveals the non-binary nature of ethical reality. Admittedly, the characters’ attitudes and their openness to caring for others are preconditioned by their cultural gender, but they are not determined by it.
Deficiencies and gaps in the concept and system of care in Bulgarian public law
Deficiencies and gaps in the concept and system of care in Bulgarian public law
(Deficiencies and gaps in the concept and system of care in Bulgarian public law)
- Author(s):Deyana Marcheva
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Public Law
- Page Range:53-67
- No. of Pages:15
- Keywords:care; Bulgarian public law; rights-based approach; care-based approach; human rights
- Summary/Abstract:This article examines the concept of ‘care’ within Bulgarian public law, highlighting significant deficiencies in the current legal framework that fails to adequately address the needs of vulnerable individuals. Despite constitutional commitments to special protection for groups such as children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, a prevailing rights-based approach often results in bureaucratic rigidity and insufficient responsiveness. The 2019 reform of social services in Bulgaria attempts to evolve care terminology but falls short of establishing a comprehensive and compassionate care system. The article advocates for the integration of care ethics into legal theory and practice to promote empathy, relational dynamics, and context-sensitive decision-making, ultimately fostering a more just and equitable care framework in Bulgaria.
The duty of care as a tool to keep tort liability under control
The duty of care as a tool to keep tort liability under control
(The duty of care as a tool to keep tort liability under control)
- Author(s):Silvia Tsoneva
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Civil Law, Philosophy of Law
- Page Range:69-78
- No. of Pages:10
- Keywords:care; tort law; wrongfulness; duty of care
- Summary/Abstract:The concept of care in tort law serves as an important device to control liability for civil wrongs. The paper examines the issues of caring for others and taking care not to harm them from the perspective and in the narrative of tort law, with an emphasis on the terms ‘wrongfulness’ and ‘duty of care’. It presents the concept of care as a tool used in controversial cases of tort liability and shows its influence on shaping the standards of acceptable behaviour when living in community with others. The author seeks to demonstrate how care, the lack of which lies at the heart of the breach of the duty of care and fault, affects the modern understanding of justice.
Inclusive education of students with special educational needs at the New Bulgarian University
Inclusive education of students with special educational needs at the New Bulgarian University
(Inclusive education of students with special educational needs at the New Bulgarian University)
- Author(s):Ekaterina Todorova
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Higher Education , Inclusive Education / Inclusion
- Page Range:79-85
- No. of Pages:7
- Keywords:inclusive education; special educational needs; deaf; hard of hearing; blind; visually impaired; motor limitations; autism spectrum disorders; developmental dyslexia
- Summary/Abstract:The paper discusses the concept of care through the idea of inclusive education for people with special educational needs (SEN). It presents the different types of support provided at the New Bulgarian University for students with SEN in all aspects of their academic life - learning and assessment, using administrative services, participating in the cultural life of the university. Strategies for easier adaptation implemented by the Support Centre for Students with SEN are discussed, as well as its activity in the area of adapting the academic, regulatory, and physical environment to the needs of such students. The paper describes different training programmes for different target groups: deaf and hard of hearing students; blind and visually impaired students; students with severe motor limitations; students with autism spectrum disorders; students with developmental dyslexia.
The humanitarian crisis on the Polish–Belarusian border and the protection of migrants’ rights
The humanitarian crisis on the Polish–Belarusian border and the protection of migrants’ rights
(The humanitarian crisis on the Polish–Belarusian border and the protection of migrants’ rights)
- Author(s):Valeri Vachev
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Asylum, Refugees, Migration as Policy-fields
- Page Range:87-98
- No. of Pages:12
- Keywords:humanitarian crisis; Polish–Belarusian border; migrants’ rights; pushbacks; right to international protection; prohibition of collective expulsion; non-refoulement principle; Ombudsman; Commissioner for Human Rights
- Summary/Abstract:The article examines the response of the Polish state to the humanitarian crisis at the Polish–Belarusian border, with a particular focus on the actions of the Commissioner for Human Rights. The author highlights serious violations of migrants’ rights, including the use of pushbacks, restrictions on access to public information, and disproportionate limitations on freedoms under the pretext of the state of emergency.
About the Authors
About the Authors
(About the Authors)
- Author(s):Iliana Genew-Puhalewa, Yordan Efftimov
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Scientific Life
- Page Range:99-100
- No. of Pages:2
