Series:CPS Working Papers Series

Xenophobia in Hungary: A Regional Comparison. Systemic Sources and Possible Solutions

Xenophobia in Hungary: A Regional Comparison. Systemic Sources and Possible Solutions

Author(s): Pál Nyiri / Language(s): English

Keywords: xenophobia;

This paper provides a detailed comparison of both the institutional frameworks and the societal manifestation of xenophobic sentiments in Central and Eastern Europe. Arguing that xenophobia is co-produced at the institutional, discursive, and social levels, the paper analyzes a multitude of variables – including national legal frameworks, administrative practices, available scientific data and media discourses – and points out the differences between the country-specific operationalizations of the core concepts. Its primary goal is to examine the possible roots of xenophobia, and to identify the main reasons behind the associated commonalities and differences.

Social Capital Research in Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. An Annotated Bibliography

Social Capital Research in Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. An Annotated Bibliography

Author(s): Dimitrina Mihaylova / Language(s): English

Keywords: transormation:

Selling Americanism, Combatting Anti-Americanism: The Historical Role of American Foundations

Selling Americanism, Combatting Anti-Americanism: The Historical Role of American Foundations

Author(s): Inderjeet Parmar / Language(s): English

Keywords: Anti-Americanism; US Foundations; Americanism; Ford Foundation; Congress for Cultural Freedom;

This research article is structured so as to demonstrate the political-cultural-ideological roles of US foundations at home and abroad during the Cold War, with special reference to promoting their concept of Americanism and combating dissenting forces. First, the article briefly examines the concept of “anti-Americanism”, which is central to the project of which this article is a small part; secondly, it provides an introduction to the origins, aims and world-view of the foundations and their broad ideas and definitions of “Americanism” and “anti-Americanism”, both controversial concepts subject to great debate within the United States particularly in the ideologically-charged atmosphere of the twentieth century; thirdly, it considers the foundations’ social composition; fourthly, the paper considers the numerous and varied activities of the foundations in selling “Americanism” and combating “anti-Americanism”, inside and outside the USA. Finally, the paper closes with a discussion of the purposes of “anti-Americanism” in the life of the foundations and how those purposes and activities may best be theoretically understood.

The Trans-Atlantic Relationship in the Post-Cold War International Relations

The Trans-Atlantic Relationship in the Post-Cold War International Relations

Author(s): Michael Cox / Language(s): English

Keywords: Trans-Atlantic Relationship; September 11; Afghanistan war; Irak War;

This paper on international relations after the Cold War is divided into three main sections. The first deals with the period following the end of the Cold War and that almost forgotten era known as the post-Cold War period. As we shall see, this was a most complex, almost Janus-faced transitional moment, during which all seemed well at one remove, even though serious problems were beginning to undermine previous Transatlantic certainties at another. Next, we look at the period coinciding with Bush’s election and the decision to go to war with Afghanistan. Here we see the extent to which a set of problems carried over from an earlier era began to have far more serious consequences in another when the relationship was put to the test, and almost failed it completely. Finally, we come to the Iraq war when an already fractured alliance was nearly undermined in what must now rank as the most extended crisis in the history of the Transatlantic relationship.

Terror and Governance

Terror and Governance

Author(s): Vladislav Todorov / Language(s): English

Keywords: terrorism;

Terrorism presents the greatest threat to any form of organized government and civil society. Acts of terrorism induce a primal, utterly disorganizing fear, which could alter instantaneously and lastingly behaviors of entire nations. This fear erodes the fabric of civility. Terror-stricken people cannot function as citizens. Terrorism does not only impact the public sentiments but it could trigger serious societal mutations. Therefore, the common wisdom says, it becomes essential for the governments to respond swiftly and decisively in order to arrest the civility-degrading terror.

Transferring Expertise and Methodologies: A Case Study of the Development of ‘Quarterly Economic Indicators’ and Forecasting Skills in Moldova and Kazakhstan

Transferring Expertise and Methodologies: A Case Study of the Development of ‘Quarterly Economic Indicators’ and Forecasting Skills in Moldova and Kazakhstan

Author(s): Adrian Ionescu,Diane Stone,Valeriu Prohniţchi,Gulnar Mukhambetova / Language(s): English

Keywords: economic indicators; post-soviet economic development;

The case study “Quarterly Economic Indicators in the former Soviet Union countries” assesses the development of quarterly economic indicators for policy analysis in the Ukraine, Moldova and Kazakhstan, in the context of networking and transfer of good practices between policy centers in the former Soviet Union. It was prepared by Adrian Ionescu (Hungary), Diane Stone (Hungary), Valeria Prohnitchi (Moldova) and Gulnar Mukhambetova (Kazakhstan), and presented at RAND Corporation in May 2005, a non-profit organization based in California that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. With the support of the Local Governance Initiative of the Open Society Foundations, in 2003 and 2004 the International Center for Policy Studies (ICPS) from Kyiv, Ukraine, helped the Public Policy Research Center (PPRC) from Almaty, Kazakhstan and the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul” (IDIS) to consolidate their analytical capacity for economic analysis and forecasting, and publish nationally quarterly economic bulletins on that basis. The areas of practical training and transfer of expertise covered general economic research issues, macroeconomic analysis and economic forecasting, analysis of economic policies and sectoral trends, econometric modelling and analysis of statistical data. The quarterly bulletins cover: International economic trends, Government policy, Monetary policy, Foreign trade, Prices, Monetary policy, Industry, Agriculture, Business, Labor, Households. The publication of the economic bulletins had two major impacts: a) improved the quality of national policy debates in Kazakhstan and Moldova, and b) significantly raised the public profiles of PPRC and IDIS.

US-Latin American Trade Relations: Path to the Future or Dead End Street?

US-Latin American Trade Relations: Path to the Future or Dead End Street?

Author(s): Cintia Quiliconi / Language(s): English

Keywords: USA - Latin-America relations; hegemony; FTAA;

This paper is divided into five sections. The first section analyzes the link between economic integration in the Americas and the hegemonic power that the US exerts on the region through the FTAA initiative. The second section addresses the change in Latin American economic policies, taking into account the different role that US hegemony has played in the region. The third section analyzes how trade structures shape the different Latin American positions in the FTAA. The fourth section addresses when and how anti-Americanism re-appeared in Latin America during the 1990s. The fifth section delineates possible future scenarios with regard to US hegemonic intentions in the region and the potential reactions to those policies. The final section concludes the paper.

Anti-Americanism and International Security. Indications in International Public Opinion

Anti-Americanism and International Security. Indications in International Public Opinion

Author(s): Davis B. Bobrow / Language(s): English

Keywords: Anti-Americanism;

International public opinion (that is, non-US public opinion) provides an important set of clues about the asserted rise of anti-Americanism and its implications for international security. Accordingly, this paper examines what polling in the first years of the 21st century reveals about the degree of anti-Americanism internationally, and prevailing differences between national publics. The polls examined were taken before and after September 11 and the invasion and occupation of Iraq. A central question is that of the extent to which negative views are specific to particular US policies and a particular American Administration (Bush II) or of a more encompassing nature. The former argues against the rise of the sort of anti-Americanism which would have broad international security implications; the latter argues for it. That appraisal should not assume that international public opinion can only take a pro-American or anti-American position. A third alternative would have publics less pro- or anti-American than they are uncertain, divided, or ambivalent about the US and its world role.

Anti-Americanism and Regionalism in East Asia

Anti-Americanism and Regionalism in East Asia

Author(s): Heribert Dieter / Language(s): English

Asian countries are intensifying their efforts for regional co-operation ever since the Asian crisis struck in 1997. In some countries, these attempts have been accompanied by strong criticism of American economic and foreign policies. However, this does not equal Anti-Americanism. Rather, we are confronted with a puzzle: on the one hand, East Asian societies continue to follow American culture as well as maintain strong security ties with Washington. On the other, East Asian countries are very eagerly trying to reduce their dependence on institutions that are heavily influenced by the US, namely the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The paper argues that the declining influence of the US in East Asia is the combined effect of a number of factors: The decreasing attractiveness of the US as an economic power, the increasing importance of China as well as its clever diplomacy, the disastrous policies of the American-led IMF in the Asian crisis and the unfortunate foreign policy of George W. Bush.

Roma Women’s Unemployment in Hungary

Roma Women’s Unemployment in Hungary

Author(s): Herta Toth / Language(s): English

Keywords: Roma women unemployment;

While several recent studies have explored the position of Roma in the labor market in Hungary and across Central Eastern Europe, most fail to integrate gender into their analyses. Responding to this gap, this paper calls attention to the invisibility of Roma women in research projects and publications, despite the fact that they maintain a specific and marginalized position in the labor market. This paper also goes beyond existing studies that reproduce a narrow interpretation of “economy” and “paid work,” by drawing attention to the connection between Roma women’s productive and reproductive roles. Based on a review of existing research and literature, this paper challenges the validity of traditional labor market concepts for understanding and addressing Roma women’s labor market position and employment potential. Analyzing a range of issues surrounding Roma women’s employment, the paper shows strong links between education and economic activity, and between Roma women’s economic activity and the potential for their families to avoid poverty. The study offers a series of recommendations to improve the position of Roma women, as well as that of Roma men, in the labor market in Hungary.

Anti-Americanism in Canada

Anti-Americanism in Canada

Author(s): Kim Richard Nossal / Language(s): English

The purpose of this paper is to examine Granatstein’s arguments in light of the developments since 1996, when he was writing. It begins by exploring the nature of anti-Americanism in Canada to confirm Granatstein’s contention that Canadian anti-Americanism is unique. I then look at the state of contemporary anti-Americanism in Canada—in the late 1990s and early 2000s. I will argue that Granatstein was correct to suggest that the kind of unique anti-Americanism that had marked Canadian political culture for much of the nineteenth century and all but the last decade of the twentieth century had largely disappeared. However, he was overly optimistic about the decline of this phenomenon. I will show that anti-Americanism is alive and well in Canada, but it is a particular and quite limited strand of anti-Americanism.

Anti-Americanism and Popular Culture

Anti-Americanism and Popular Culture

Author(s): Toby Miller / Language(s): English

If something about anti-Americanism has really changed since 2001, popular culture can hardly be blamed. But if the attitudes expressed and the policies enacted by the US population and government synchronize with the methods and messages of popular culture, then a proportion of anti-American feeling can be attributed to its influence. The rich vein of anti-US sentiment relates to four issues, each of which is given considerable attention in most parts of the world: • economics; • militarism; • politics; and • culture. This report is principally concerned with the last category, though as we shall see, it is inseparable from the others. The bulk of the report examines points of continuity since 2001 rather than rupture, since most of the infrastructure and impact of US popular culture on export were in place before that time. There is some consideration of new diplomatic attempts to influence the country’s image abroad. The report discusses the following topics: • key terms; • US cultural dominance; • opposition; • role of the state; and • conclusion and recommendations.