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The Sexual Strategy of the Son in Kafka: Terrorism and Exile

Сексуалната стратегија на синот кај Кафка: Тероризам и прогон

Author(s): Jasna Koteska / Language(s): English,Macedonian / Issue: 1/2001

Keywords: Kafka; terror; sexuality; the Son; patriarchy; the Father;

In this essay, I will not delve broadly and exclusively into the issue of the sexuality of the Son in Kafka, but particularly into one of its aspects - sexual strategy. I would like to present and elaborate on two complementary structures, because I consider two of Kafka's posthumously published short stories commonly entitled Sons, The Metamorphosis and The Judgment, to be a joint representation of the two archaic resolutions of the Son's sexual drives.

Teleconference in Support of Autonomous Learning

Teleconference in Support of Autonomous Learning

Author(s): Stefanos Armakolas,Christos Panagiotakopoulos,Anthi Karatrantou / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2018

Keywords: effective teleconference; autonomous learning environment

In Distance education, learning depends on the ability of the learner to manage his/her learning process, both through the creation of appropriate objectives, and by adopting strategies to achieve them. The role of the teacher is to develop an efficient methodology with flexibility over the learners’ special characteristics and to create conditions to enable the learners to manage their learning process. This research aims to investigate the parameters which are involved in synchronous teleconference and which lead to effective learning through the support of an autonomous environment. The research was conducted with students of the Annual Training Program for Teachers of Higher School of Pedagogical and Technological Education Department in Patras. The results show that teleconference as teaching tool can support the autonomous learning and can enhance personalisation as this process can help students to learn and develop skills by receiving efficient support.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF STATUTORY REGULATION OF PAID PERSONAL LEAVE IN FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS

UPOREDNOPRAVNA ANALIZA ZAKONSKIH ODREDABA O PLAĆENOM ODSUSTVU U ZEMLJAMA BIVŠE JUGOSLAVIJE

Author(s): Aleksa Radonjić / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 1/2020

Keywords: paid personal leave; labour law

U ovom radu se analizira zakonsko uređenje instituta plaćenog odsustva u zemljama bivše Jugoslavije. Polazi se od pretpostavke da su nekadašnje federalne jedinice, a danas nezavisne države, delile zakonodavni okvir i da su na isti ili bar sličan način uređivale pravo na plaćeno odsustvo. Cilj je da se utvrdi da li je evolucija prava na plaćeno odsustvo bila različita u državama koje su nastale na području nekadašnje Jugoslavije; ako ima razlika, koje su i da li su na štetu ili u korist radnika u odnosu na ono što je bilo predviđeno u bivšoj zajedničkoj državi. Konačno, ispitana je potreba usklađivanja nacionalnih rešenja o plaćenom odsustvu sa Direktivom EU 2019/1158 o roditeljskom odsustvu koja uspostavlja ravnotežu između rada i privatnog života a sadrži odredbe koje su od značaja za pravo na plaćeno odsustvo.

Analysing the relationship between tourism development and sustainability by looking at the impact on the environment. A study on the European Union countries

Analysing the relationship between tourism development and sustainability by looking at the impact on the environment. A study on the European Union countries

Author(s): Cristiana PĂVĂLUC (MELINTE),Alexandru Anichiti,Valentin Niţă,Gina-Ionela Butnaru / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2020

Keywords: tourism development; sustainability; the environment; impact;

The relationship between environment and tourism is complex and based on interdependence. Tourism can have both a negative and a positive environmental impact. The aim of this paper is to analyse the relationship between tourism development and environmental sustainability. The results show that tourism development is one of the causes of the deterioration of the environmental resources on which we depend. As tourism becomes more important and a higher number of people are travelling over borders, tourism has a growing environmental impact. However, tourism also has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to environmental protection and conservation.

Civilians and the Roman Army. Lixae and calones

Civilii şi armata romană. Lixae şi calones

Author(s): Gabriel-Iulian Stoian / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 1/2009

Keywords: Roman Army; civilians; slaves; lixae; calones;

Although the Roman army is often described as a rigid structure, following strict discipline and organization, the literary sources mention different sorts of civilians, who interfere with the military life, especially lixae and calones, oftentimes mentioned together. Regarding the first group (lixae), this study strives to understand their function in relation to the army. Generally, lixae were an etherogeneous group, gathering all sorts of people, but chiefly merchants following the army in search for profit. The epigraphic evidence presents lixae as being attached to different Roman units and therefore it is necessary to determine their status in relation to the soldiers and whether they could be placed among army’s status in relation to the soldiers and whether they could be placed among army’s ranks. Another issue is represented by their social status, as both the primary sources and the related scholarship presents them as free men or servants. Regarding the second group, calones, their status is undoubtedly of servile nature. Mentioned especially in relation to the baggage train, their function seems a little more complex and varied, as they freed the soldier of many of his daily duties. Excepting their logistical function, analyzing the testimonies regarding calones will also reveal a military role: in exceptional cases, they were used by the Roman commanders as the last reserve of the army or as maneuver troops. The size of the group is also marked by incertitude, but the most convenient figure seems to be a ratio of one calo for every four soldiers.

On the defence of aurariae Dacicae

On the defence of aurariae Dacicae

Author(s): Ovidiu Ţentea / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2009

Keywords: aurariae Dacicae; legionaries; beneficiarii consularis; equestrian auxiliaries; western frontier;

Apărarea cadrilaterului aurifer a fost un subiect abordat de mai multe ori în literatura de specialitate, fiind tratat de obicei împreună cu tema frontierei de vest a provinciei Dacia. Cu toate acestea, informaţiile de care dispunem până în acest moment sunt insuficiente sau neclare, tocmai în sectorul cuprins între castrele de la Micia şi Bologa, anume în zona Munţilor Apuseni. Această discuţie argumentează câteva elemente ale unui posibil model de funcţionare a apărării zonei minelor aurifere. Nu am intenţionat însă să realizez o analiză detaliată a întregii problematici. Staţionarea legiunii XIII Gemina la Apulum, încă din primii ani ai provinciei, pe întreaga durată a existenţei acesteia, a fost pusă în legătură şi cu paza zonei aurifere, respectiv cu protejarea transportului aurului extras în Muntii Apuseni. Odată cu venirea legiunii V Macedonica în Dacia, segmentul Potaissa – Apulum cuprinde două legiuni şi o ala milliaria, fapt care indică în mod special necesitatea întăririi pazei zonei aurifere. Aşadar, aducerea legiunii la Potaissa indică interesul deosebit pentru întărirea unei zone sensibile şi deosebit de importante. Amplasarea a două legiuni la o distanţă mică pentru apărarea unei zone vitale din punct de vedere strategic este un fapt cunoscut pe unele sectoare dunărene, cum ar fi Singidunum–Viminacium, Brigetio–Aquincum sau Vindobona–Carnuntum. În Dacia se poate observa o concentrare de efective militare în zona auriferă şi a graniţei vestice, areal grav afectat în cursul războaielor marcomanice. Astfel, s–a putut observa în cazul Moesiei Superior, că recrutările trupelor din anul 169 p. Chr. au avut în vedere campania din anul următor contra iazigilor. Se poate observa faptul că, de–a lungul timpului, apărarea zonelor miniere constituia o prioritate pentru Roma, în special în perioadele de criză. Deseori, în literatura de specialitate, îndeplinirea acestor sarcini a fost atribuită efectivelor legionare. Atestarea legionarilor în zonele miniere indică, mai degrabă, implicarea acestora în cadrul activităţilor miniere, aceştia oferind suportul economic, administrativ şi tehnic necesar. Sarcina principală a formaţiunilor auxiliare era protejarea activităţilor miniere, a transportului metalelor preţioase şi a aprovizionării zonelor respective. Astfel se explică preponderenţa formaţiunilor echipate cu unităţi de cavalerie, amplasate în proximitatea acestui areal, în fortificaţii situate de–a lungul unor artere rutiere, care facilitau accesul rapid în puncte importante din zona minelor de aur: Micia, Cigmău–Germisara, AmpelumRăzboieni, Gilău, posibil Bologa. Apărarea minelor de aur ale Daciei a fost legată de cea a frontierei vestice a provinciei. Astfel, un rol central l–a deţinut iniţial legiunea XIII Gemina, ulterior atribuţiile par să fi fost împărţite parţial cu legiunea V Macedonica. Acest fapt reiese din amplasarea legiunii din urmă, într–un moment de criză, la capătul unui important culoar rutier, care conducea spre acest areal, apoi mai departe spre frontiera vestică. Capacitatea unor trupe staţionate în interiorul provinciei de a ajunge rapid în zona cuprinsă între castrele dintre Micia şi Bologa ar putea explica lipsa unor fortificaţii semnalate în acest areal. Această presupunere este condiţionată, fireşte, de stadiul actual al cercetărilor.

Non-economic Emigration Factors that Might be Pushing Citizens Out of Lithuania

Non-economic Emigration Factors that Might be Pushing Citizens Out of Lithuania

Author(s): Thomas Andrew Bryer,Rimantas Rauleckas,Vishnu Muraleedharan,Eglė Butkevičienė,Jolanta Vaičiūnienė,Eglė Vaidelytė,Ramunė Miežanskienė / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2020

Keywords: emigration; push/pull factors; Lithuania;

Based on a systematic and comprehensive review of literature on emigration, we identify potential non-economic push factors that might drive Lithuanian citizens to emigrate. Based on a random sample nationwide survey conducted in spring 2019 with Lithuanian citizens living in Lithuania, two categories have emerged as most critical non-economic drivers to lead to higher intention to emigrate: quality of working life and confidence in the future. Further research can add necessary nuance to understanding these factors while also experimenting with possible policy and project interventions that can reduce intent to emigrate and/or encourage return migration. This research is implemented under the project "The importance of non-economic factors to the emigration of the Lithuanian population", funded by the Research Council of Lithuania under the Programme "Improvement of researchers' qualification by implementing world-class R&D projects" (Agreement No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-01-170).

The Development of Women Entrepreneurship in the Gender Equality Policy Context

Moterų antreprenerystės formavimasis lyčių lygybės politikos kontekste

Author(s): Julija Mažuolienė / Language(s): Lithuanian / Issue: 1/2020

Keywords: gender equality policies; women entrepreneurship; women in business;

Female entrepreneurship plays a significant role in the improvement of the country's social policies and makes positive changes in the field of gender equality and women economic empowerment. Despite the fact that participation of women in innovation, information technology and social business development is a priority area in the political agenda for women's empowerment in Lithuania and the European Union, women still face greater barriers to establishing new enterprises, access funds and loans, and be an equal player in the business sector. The principle study areas of this issue are social and economic indicators in Lithuania and across the European Union, social gender roles in family and labour market, innovation policy, social and legal policies. Women entrepreneurs as a research subject are perceived as women innovators, creating successful businesses, leading innovative commercial projects, addressing economic and social situations of significant importance to society. An integrated and inclusive gender equality policy in the business sector should include equal access to business funding and business networks, improve social security system and legal frameworks, achieve equality in family roles and childcare, and promote women participation in innovative business activities through improving business skills and level of confidence.

Interview with master iconographer Ioan Popa. The artistic coordinates of the liturgical space in contemporary times

Interviu cu pictorul Ioan Popa. Coordonatele artistice ale unui spațiu liturgic în contemporaneitate

Author(s): Ioan Popa,Siluan Justiniano / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 1-3/2019

Keywords: interview; icon; iconography; Romania; fresco painting;

The following article is an interview with Romanian master iconographer Ioan Popa. He’s one of the leading representatives of the contemporary icon revival in Romania, focusing in both panel and monumental fresco painting. Our conversation touches on his artistic development, aspects of the professional training of iconographers in Romania and the challenge of creative engagement with the Tradition.

How to Advance the Financing of Transport Infrastructure in the Region

Kako unaprediti finansiranje saobraćajne infrastrukture u regionu

Author(s): Vuk Ognjanović / Language(s): English,Serbian / Issue: 3/2018

Keywords: transport infrastructure; financing; delay and inefficiency of investments; logistics; regional cooperation; the Fund - new regional financing mechanism

Two reasons are usually given to explain delays and poor efficiency when constructing regional transport infrastructure. These are the lack of funds and the inadequate level of organisation among the participants in the construction and financing processes. All of this raises the cost of investments. Moreover, the fees for untimely withdrawals of approved loan funds are costly, as are the increased costs of road construction, due to the individual efforts of every country to solve the issues of providing funds for financing the construction of transport infrastructure on its territory.Obviously, it is time to consider new, innovative, advanced and organised joint actions. Namely, the primary and key activity could be the constitution of a new financial mechanism (the Fund), which would, on the principles of the PPP logistic platform, consolidate all local and international resources which are potentially available and directed towards the financing of transport infrastructure. With its business strategy, this mechanism would combine the means and resources of regional and international financial potential for the construction of roads, and thus greatly strengthen the responsibility for increasing the efficiency of investments and sustainable development in the region as a whole.

Domestic and International Remittances and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Domestic and International Remittances and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Author(s): Narges Ebadi,Davod Ahmadi,Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2020

Keywords: Domestic remittances; international remittances; food security status; sub-Saharan Africa;

The amount of remittances to developing counties, defined as the flow of monetary and non-monetary goods, has increased globally and has surpassed the amount of money spent on foreign aid in these developing countries. The impact of remittances on households’ purchasing power has been studied; however, its link to food security status is yet to be explored. This paper quantitatively analyses the relationship between food security status (measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale) and the receipt of domestic/ international or both remittances on households in sub- Saharan Africa. Data are derived from the Gallup World Poll from the years 2014-2017. Multinomial logistic regression models and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the data. Results showed that remittance recipients had significantly higher household incomes (especially if the remittance was coming internationally and domestically), lived with significantly more household members (7 or more members), and were more likely to be separated (including divorced or widowed). Households that received domestic remittances had significantly higher odds of being food insecure than households receiving no remittances. Conversely, households receiving remittances internationally or a combination of domestic and international remittances had significantly lower odds of food insecurity compared to non-receivers. This study found that receiving remittances affect the food security status of people living in SSA countries.

The Bulgarian Royal Empire and the Papacy in the End of the 12th – Middle of the 14th Century

Das Bulgarenzarenreich und das Papsttums in der Periode Ende des 12.-Mitte des 14. Jahrhunderts

Author(s): Vassil Gjuzelev / Language(s): English,German / Issue: 18/2009

Modern Serbian Historiography between Nation-Building and Critical Scholarship: The Case of Ilarion Ruvarac (1832–1905)

Modern Serbian Historiography between Nation-Building and Critical Scholarship: The Case of Ilarion Ruvarac (1832–1905)

Author(s): Mihael T. Antolović / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2016

Keywords: Serbian historiography; Ilarion Ruvarac; nationalism

In the process of the construction of the Serbian nation, the discipline of history had a prominent role, as was true in the case of other European nations. Especially reinforced after recognition of the independent Principality of Serbia at the Congress of Berlin in 1878, this process led gradually to the building of a Serbian bourgeois society with all its modern institutions. A year later, an important controversy began, which was not limited to the academic circles, but strongly influenced all of Serbian culture over the course of the next 15 years. The controversy was marked by the dispute between supporters of a Romantic view of history and the supporters of the modern historical scholarship embodied in the work of Leopold von Ranke and his successors. The Romantics were ardent nationalists who, though they lacked an adequate knowledge of the relevant methods, used the past for the legitimation of their own nationalistic ideologies and were trying to demonstrate the continuity of the Serbian nation from Antiquity to modern times. Ilarion Ruvarac (1832–1905) played the key role in the refutation of this nationalistic para-historical ideology. Ruvarac accepted Ranke’s methodology, and he insisted on the “scientific character” of historical knowledge and its objectivity. He therefore insisted that “historical science” had to be based on critical assessments of archival sources, which could lead historians to the “historical truth.” According to this principle of historical scholarship, he researched different topics concerning the history of the Serbian and Balkan peoples from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century. Emphasizing the methods of philological criticism, Ruvarac focused on resolving individual chronological and factual problems, which is why “contribution” and “article” were his favorite forms for the presentation of the results of his research. From this standpoint, he often engaged in polemics with the followers of the so-called “Romantic school” in Serbian historiography, demonstrating their “unscientific practice of history” and their lack of essential knowledge. After acrimonious debates with Pantelija-Panta Srećković and his supporters, which at the same time reflected the power distribution in the Serbian academic fields, by the end of the nineteenth century Ruvarac succeeded in establishing Serbian historiography on scientific grounds.

Between “Faithful Subjects” and “Pernicious Nation”: Greek Merchants in the Principality of Transylvania in the Seventeenth Century

Between “Faithful Subjects” and “Pernicious Nation”: Greek Merchants in the Principality of Transylvania in the Seventeenth Century

Author(s): Maria Pakucs-Willcocks / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2017

Keywords: Transylvania; Saxon towns; Greek merchants; Saxon traders; annual fair; staple right; trade; seventeenth century

Towns in Transylvania were among the first in which Balkan Greeks settled in their advance into Central Europe. In this essay, I investigate the evolution of the juridical status of the Greeks within the Transylvanian principality during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in order to understand how they were integrated into the institutional and juridical framework of Transylvania. A reinterpretation of available privilege charters granted to the Greeks in Transylvania sheds light on the evolution of their official status during the period in question and on the nature of the “companies” the Greeks founded in certain towns of the principality in the seventeenth century. A close reading of the sources reveals tensions between tax-paying Greeks, whom the seventeenth century Transylvanian princes referred to as their “subjects of the Greek nation,” and the non-resident Greek merchants. Furthermore, strong inconsistencies existed between central and local policies towards the Greeks. I analyze these discrepancies between the princely privileges accorded to the Greeks and the status of the Greek merchants in Nagyszeben (Hermannstadt, today Sibiu, Romania) in particular. The city fathers of this town adhered strongly to their privilege of staple right and insisted on imposing it on the Greek merchants, but the princely grants in favor of the Greeks nullified de facto the provisions of the staple right. While they had obtained concessions that allowed them to settle into Transylvania, Greeks nevertheless negotiated their juridical status with the local authorities of Nagyszeben as well.

Prof. em. dr. dres. h.c. Bernhard Hänsel (24.05.1937 – 1.04.2017)

Prof. em. dr. dres. h.c. Bernhard Hänsel (24.05.1937 – 1.04.2017)

Author(s): Virgil Mihailescu-Bîrliba / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 1/2018

Prof. em. dr. dres. h.c. Bernhard Hänsel (24.05.1937 – 1.04.2017)

Romanian­-Serbian Political­-Military Relations in the Period 1918­-1919

Relațiile politico­-militare româno­-sârbe în perioada 1918­-1919

Author(s): Manuel Stănescu / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 5-6/2018

Keywords: Romania in the Great War;Banat;Romanian-Serbian relations;the Treaty of Versailles;

The changes in the international status of the United Principalities led to the appearance of a ministry of foreign affairs in the summer of 1862 and, almost immediately, to the official establishment, on a reciprocal basis, of the diplomatic agencies in Belgrade and Bucharest in early 1863. The two legations, from Belgrade and Bucharest, carried out their activity (with a certain interruption in the years of the First World War) until 1939, when they were elected to the embassy rank. The Second World War led to a new interruption in bilateral relations, after which they were resumed at legation level until 1956, when they were again raised at the embassy level, a situation that has remained so far. In the matter of Banat at the end of the First World War, two directions of opinion were faced. A radical one, adopted by Ion I.C. Brătianu, according to the “all or nothing” principle, and a moderate one, conceived and promoted by Take Ionescu, who considered that in the post-war security architecture a major dispute on territorial issues with Serbia / Yugoslavia would severely isolate Romania. In order to preserve the status quo, the compromise was considered the best solution. Consequently, the Romanian-Serbian relations have evolved to the present day and have substantially altered the Romanian collective mentality, in which Serbia occupies a special place.

Bessarabia for Dobrudja: The Avatars of a Geopolitical Project (1878­-1947)

Basarabia în schimbul Dobrogei: avatarurile unui proiect geopolitic (1878­-1947)

Author(s): George Ungureanu / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 1-2/2019

Keywords: territorial claims;hegemony;balance;interests;discussions;treaties;

Until World War II, the theory and practice of international relations have also included negotiation and territorial exchanges between states, which were more or less advantageous for each state. In 1878, on Russia’s initiative, accepted with some amendments by the other European Great Powers, the Romanian National State was imposed to agree with an exchange of historically Romanian territories: renouncing Southern Bessarabia for most of Dobrudja. This article, based mostly on historiographical contributions in Romanian, Bulgarian, English, French, and Italian, illustrates the premises and the genesis of the 1878 agreement, as well as a series of initiatives and subsequent projects on the reconfiguration of the political map of the Black See Basin, including the idea of the territorial exchange (Southern) Bessarabia-(Northern) Dobrudja. Such scenarios were presented especially during the period 1914-1919, mostly in Bulgarian media, but also in some German and Austrian sources, throughout 1918.

THE FAILURE OF GLOBALIZATION AND RISKS TO EUROPEAN AND GLOBAL SECURITY

EȘECUL GLOBALIZĂRII ȘI RISCURILE LA ADRESA SECURITĂŢII EUROPENE ŞI MONDIALE

Author(s): Mircea Udrescu / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 59/2020

Keywords: the evolution of globalization; exchange markets; global economy; hegemonic countries; international institutions; sovereignty;

The article, resulting from an analysis of the globalization process, attempts to give an documented answer to the question why this process failed. According to the authors, globalization had made its presence felt predominantly after 1990, of the last century, manifesting itself in a sustained rhythm and exercising wide influence upon all the sectors of the social life of humanity, especially on the economic sector - financially, based on the concept of the global market as a sum of national markets.

Migration and Urbanization in Industrializing Bulgaria 1910–1946

Migration and Urbanization in Industrializing Bulgaria 1910–1946

Author(s): Penka Peykovska / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2019

Keywords: internal and external migration; immigration; in-migration; Bulgaria; urbanization; towns; cities; ethnicity; sex; 1910–1946

Urbanization is among the most important demographic phenomena of the modern age. Today, half of the world’s population lives in cities, and by 2050 this share is expected to reach 70 percent. Urbanization theorists see this as a consequence of three mutually impacting processes: natural growth (population growth as a result of birth rates exceeding mortality rates), migration (mainly from the villages to cities), and reclassification (the administrative mechanism for giving urban status to former villages or urban settlements) – whose relative contribution to the urbanization process varies depending on the environment. The processes of urbanization and internal migration in Bulgaria in 1910–1946 have not often been made the subject of rigorous study, perhaps because the scale of urbanization at the time was small and the pace slow compared to the period after World War II. At the same time, however, the first half of this period was characterized by intensive waves of refugees and immigrants (Bulgarians, Russians, and Armenians). Having in mind the lack of attention which this question has been given in the secondary literature, in this paper I examine the urbanization processes in Bulgaria at the time and the role of migration to and within the country in these processes. In particular, I monitor the significance of gender, nationality/“nationalité ethnique” in urbanization in Bulgaria and the roles of smaller and larger cities and the capital, Sofia. I rely heavily on the five censuses carried out between 1910 and 1946, which drew a distinction between local-born and non-indigenous populations, including people who had been born abroad. In other words, the data contain information on native-born people (i.e. born in the locality where they were enumerated or, as one might say “locals”), people who were enumerated in a locality different from their birthplace within the country (i.e. internal migrants, in-migrants), and people who were foreign-born (i.e. external migrants, immigrants). Concerning the role of migration to and within the country in the urbanization process in Bulgaria, my quantitative analysis shows that urbanization in Bulgaria was influenced by migration (mainly internal migration), partly by the waves of refugees and immigrants during the war and in the interwar period, which accelerated the growth of cities. At the same time, the urbanization of small towns was due primarily to immigration. The trend towards urbanization (albeit at a slow pace) in Bulgaria was a result of the migration of the predominantly ethnic Bulgarian population from villages to cities, but the contribution of Armenian and Russian refugees was also notable.

EACH NATION’S ARK ON THE WAVES OF NEW “MIGRATION FLOOD”. ROMANIA’S INSTITUTIONAL AND CULTURAL PREPAREDNESS

EACH NATION’S ARK ON THE WAVES OF NEW “MIGRATION FLOOD”. ROMANIA’S INSTITUTIONAL AND CULTURAL PREPAREDNESS

Author(s): Adrian Lesenciuc,Ammar El Benni / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2019

Keywords: The Islamic State (Daesh); Middle East; European crisis of migration; national security;

The current paper approaches a topic of maximum relevance for regional and national security: the effects of migratory waves from the conflict zones of the Middle East on Romania’s capacity to adapt to the dynamics of illegal cross-border flows. It has been revealed as a particular reflection of the subject of a broad research on the Islamic State (Daesh) and the impact of its actions on global/regional/national security. Under these circumstances, the present paper approaches aspects related to one of the major effects of the actions performed by the Islamic State: the displacement of migratory waves from the Middle East conflict zones and their absorption in Europe. At the same time, the paper focuses on Romania’s role in the migration crisis, as a disjunctive element in rapport with the topic of the broad research, analyzing the cultural impact of the immigration phenomenon. Despite a rich and diverse specialized literature, from the perspective of its approach to the effects that immigration produces in Europe (focusing on political, cultural, religious and economic aspects), especially numerous articles expressing mainly the European version of the matter, the researchers belonging to the transit or target-countries, the immigration phenomenon is not the subject of a thorough cultural and security analysis in the Romanian academic environment. Starting from this premise and from the original purpose of the research - the analysis of the effects of the Islamic State actions - we opted for a thorough research, involving the use of qualitative research methods: the semi-structured interview with specialists and the participatory observation, engaging equally political decision-makers, diplomats, religious leaders, academics (national security specialists), intelligence analysts, opinion makers. The deep-dive interview, conducted in Romanian, Arabic or English, with 31 subjects covering the above mentioned areas of expertise, with experience in national security, over 50 years of age, coming from Europe and the Middle East but also from the United States of America or Africa (Romanian, Turkish, Dutch, Syrian, Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, American), Orthodox, Catholic, Muslim or Mosaic Christians provide a comprehensive reading that is appropriate to the need for a deep knowledge of a phenomenon holding great implications for global, regional and national security. Through this article, which involves a multifaceted and complex approach to the immigration phenomenon as a Euro-Atlantic security dimension, as defined by the National Defense Strategy for the period 2015-2019 (2015: 13), we intend to offer a complex framework of analysis consistent with the promotion of legal migration, while reducing the security risks involved.