Reinventing the Baltic Sea Region: From the Hansa to the Eu-Strategy of 2009

Reinventing the Baltic Sea Region: From the Hansa to the Eu-Strategy of 2009

Author(s): Michael North / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: Baltic Sea Region; Hansa; Adam of Bremen; EU-Strategy; spatial turn; dominium maris Baltici; model region

The political changes of 1989 stimulated a new perception and perspective of the Baltic Sea Region. And this gained momentum with the Eastern Enlargement of the EU. The new situation encouraged research as well. In this context the “Baltic Sea” is not an unchangeable physical setting, but also a construction of different actors or protagonists. People and powers continuously reinvent the Baltic Sea Region. That is why; the following paper focuses on the different notions of the Baltic Sea Region from the Middle Ages up to now and also examines the recent EU-Strategy of this region.

The Third Conference on Baltic and Nordic Studies in Romania, May 2012

The Third Conference on Baltic and Nordic Studies in Romania, May 2012

Author(s): Silviu-Marian Miloiu / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: Baltic; Nordic; conference; 2012; Romania

The Romanian Association for Baltic and Nordic Studies continued to organize in 2012 a series of events, one of the most meaningful of which was the third international conference on Baltic and Nordic Studies entitled European networks: the Balkans, Scandinavia and the Baltic world in a time of economic and ideological crisis opened on 25 May at Valahia University of Târgoviște and sponsored by the Romanian National Research Council, Niro Investment Group and other partners (http://www.arsbn.ro/conference-2012.htm). The main goal of the conference was to foster debate and academic discussion with regard to the challenges the Balkan and Baltic regions face today, within a time of severe global economic instability. The participants discussed and advanced solutions to problems such as the accession of Balkan states to the EU and/or NATO, with particular reference to the experiences of the relatively new EU and/or NATO Member States from South-Eastern Europe and the Eastern Baltic region; the economic, security or cultural threats posed by Balkan and/or Eastern European states or non-state actors to the Western or Nordic Europe as perceived there; the development of extremist movements and the Balkan organized crime in the Scandinavian countries; the Balkan Roma peoples as a “threat” for Western and Nordic Europe; strategies for integrating minorities in the Baltic Sea rim countries and the Black Sea areas.

Mafia links between the Balkans and Scandinavia. State of affairs

Mafia links between the Balkans and Scandinavia. State of affairs

Author(s): Matteo Albertini / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: Transnational organized crime; Western Balkans; Scandinavia; European law enforcement; European enlargement

The last twenty years has seen an increasing presence of Balkan organized crime groups in security reports and newspapers' headlines. This does not mean that mafia groups did not exist during Socialist Yugoslavia – even if its collapse and the following war made criminals and smugglers useful for politicians and leaders to maintain their power; it rather means that Balkan organized crime came outside its traditional areas of action in Serbia, Montenegro and Albania: less territorial and nationalist than it was before, it is now gaining prominence in an international scenario, making agreements with Italian and South American mafias – the so-called Holy Alliance – to manage drug routes towards Western Europe. One of the most interesting factors concerning Balkan mafia groups today is their presence in countries which traditionally do not have a history of organized crime, such as the Scandinavian states. One of the reasons lies in the wide percentage of immigrants moving from Balkan countries to Sweden or Norway. Since the wars of the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia, war-crimes fugitives were able to become common criminals in these countries, such as the infamous Želiko Raznjatović (“Arkan”). However, year by year, these gangs grew larger, taking advantage of the “expertise” and the resources gained during the war. In particular, the most spectacular case – the Våstberga helicopter robbery in 2009 – showed how these groups operate with military-style precision, utilize a wide number of participants, and have at their disposal laerge amounts of weapons and money. This paper will draw on the importance of Scandinavian – Balkan mafia relations in relation to three main criminal areas: drug and weapon smuggling and human trafficking, in order to underline the role of diasporas in enforcing organized crime groups and the extent to which these mafias could be a threat for the stability in both Eastern and Western Europe.

Multiculturalism versus Nationalism and the role of ethnic minorities in the public life of Lithuania

Multiculturalism versus Nationalism and the role of ethnic minorities in the public life of Lithuania

Author(s): Lucia Andrievschi-Bartkiene,Raluca Glavan / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: Lithuania; minorities; citizenship; education; nationalism; multiculturalism

Lithuania became a European Union member in 2004 and it is intensively preparing nowadays to take over the EU’s presidency in the second half of 2013. As today EU’s agenda is oriented with priority to tackle the economic crisis, the survival of EURO zone and euro-scepticism, Lithuania’s foreign policy is focused, among others, on further development of the area of freedom and security, promoting further enlargement and development of relations with Eastern countries. In this respect, Lithuania is keen to share its integration experience with candidate and potentially candidate countries and to make the further enlargement of the E. U. in the Western Balkans countries a successful story similar to the 2004 enlargement campaign, with Croatia joining the EU on 1st of July 2013 during Lithuanian presidency and planning to have an impact on the finalization of negotiations with other candidate countries. Since joining the EU, Lithuania has experienced difficulties arising from its role as a destination, source and transit country for legal and irregular international migration. As Lithuania is one of the Member States that have external borders with non-candidate countries (Byelorussia and Russia – Kaliningrad oblast), it is as well concerned about security issues, migration and integration of minorities in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy. Minorities account for 16% of the population of Lithuania, out of which Poles-6.1 %, Russians and Byelorussians-6% and Ukrainians-0.6 %. Other minorities such as Jews, Germans, Tartars, Latvians, Roma, Armenians etc. account together for 0.7 % of the total population. Lithuanians generally have a positive relationship with their national minorities and the integration of former may be regarded as somewhat advanced, but discrimination cannot be excluded, especially on the labour market. The juridical situation of these minorities and the issues concerning them is the focus of this article.

Economic challenges in Early Modern Ages and different responses of European margins. Comparative considerations based on historiography: the cases of

Economic challenges in Early Modern Ages and different responses of European margins. Comparative considerations based on historiography: the cases of

Author(s): Nerijus Babinskas / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: second serfdom; manorial-serf system (Folwark); corvée (labour rent); international trade; Marxism

This paper desires to draw attention to some stereotypes that simplify perception of historical reality, but nevertheless still prevail in historiography. There is a very common statement about the so-called second edition of serfdom (based on manorial-serve economy) that spread all around the Eastern Europe region in the 16th century. This turn in social development is usually explained as determined by internal as well as external factors. If the problem considered is placed under Marxist views, one can distinguish two extreme poles: traditional Marxism and world-system approach. Supporters of traditional Marxism emphasize internal factors while adherents of world-system attitude accentuate external factors. The author argues that the regime of serfdom established in Moldova until 1600 is not consistent with the classic model. In this case, one can talk only about another type of second serfdom that differs from that of Eastern Germany as well as from Central Europe. It would be also a gross simplification to claim that second serfdom phenomenon was caused exclusively by external reasons. Internal causes are not less but probably even more decisive, at least in some cases. As the work of Darius Žiemelis has showed recently, statements of world-system approach toward certain societies are worth of critical reconsideration.

The common denominator. Romania and the Nordic countries, 1966-1969

The common denominator. Romania and the Nordic countries, 1966-1969

Author(s): Cezar Stanciu / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: Romania; Nordic Europe; Cold War; economic cooperation; neutrality; small states; state visits

One of Nicolae Ceauşescu’s beliefs was that international security and cooperation could not rely on Cold War bipolarity, but on active involvement from every state in promoting its interests and points of view. In defending such policies, Romania sought not only to affirm its sovereignty in front of Moscow, but also to build bridges towards other countries sharing similar ideas. Starting from the early 1960s, Romania developed a coherent policy towards Nordic Europe, consisting in both economic and political cooperation. The neutrality of countries such as Sweden or Finland was regarded in Bucharest as directed against superpowers bipolarity which served as a common denominator. This paper deals with Romania’s relations in Nordic Europe during the 1960s, investigating the rationalities and factors which contributed to the emergence of constructive cooperation among countries with such different backgrounds.

Construction of Resistance Discourse in Latvian Post-Soviet Literature about Deportations and Imprisonments

Construction of Resistance Discourse in Latvian Post-Soviet Literature about Deportations and Imprisonments

Author(s): Eva Birzniece / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: Post-Soviet Latvia; Soviet Latvia; silenced experience; female narratives; Baltic deportations; Soviet repression; women in the USSR; resistance

During the Soviet era there were no publicly available published literary representations of the Soviet deportations and imprisonment of civilians and Latvian Army officers to Siberia and the Far East. If there were any, these were very scarce and available to very few people. Deportations and imprisonments were marginalized and silenced themes in all possible respects – politically, socially and culturally. Many narratives (in books published in state publishing houses) emerged only in the beginning of the 1990ies when the Soviet Union collapsed and Latvia regained its independence. Those narratives were written secretly during the Soviet time, as the authors were or could be repressed for talking about forbidden topics. The female experience was not only totally silenced but it was also different from men’s experience of imprisonments and deportations as men and women with children were separated – men were sent to forced labour camps and women to places of settlement. Even when writing about deportations was dangerous, the narratives of that experience construct strong resistance to the Soviet repressions against Latvia and its people. Many female narratives about these experiences emerged later adding to the testimonials studies of archives and historical documents thus making resistance discourse more pointed and stronger.

What the membership has taught? National identity construction in Lithuanian public discourse after accession to the European Union

What the membership has taught? National identity construction in Lithuanian public discourse after accession to the European Union

Author(s): Andrius Švarplys / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: Lithuania; national collective identity; public discourse; Central Eastern Europe; European Union; Russia; civilizational identity; integrational identity

‘Europe’ and ‘Russia’ have historically been the most remarkable landmarks, playing geopolitical, cultural, and moral guide-role in the construction of national collective identities in the Central Eastern European countries, including Lithuania. This ‘civilizational identity’ helped to unite Lithuanian political elites as well as society towards the direction to West and Europe after the collapse of Soviet Union. The question article addresses is: does the factual belonging to the European Union after the 1st May, 2004 give the impulse to re-define ‘Europe’ and ‘Russia’ as the old essentials of collective identity of Lithuanians? The article presents the research based on monitoring of national public discourse (five Lithuanian national newspapers) in 2004-2007, i.e. enjoying three years of membership in the European Union and NATO. The main result is that the role of Russia in the Lithuanian collective identity has not changed and still continues to play the major threat. The membership in the European Union and NATO has not solved Lithuanian security problem. According to the perceived threat, Russia has started to penetrate softly into Lithuania’s economy (especially energy sector) and has silently begun to make an impact to the domestic political parties and political elite. The traditional role of Europe, however, is slowly but gradually shifting from mythical ‘Paradise’ image to more critical understandings about divided Europe and selfish member-states. Already being in the EU and NATO, Lithuania should balance sometimes unfriendly westerners’ reluctance to understand the situation and help against Russia with the economic power that Russia uses as a political instrument against Lithuania on the international arena, as well as in domestic politics. This results in the feelings of „lost and forgotten” between Europe and Russia. Nevertheless, Europe continues to earn a positive meaning in national collective identity of Lithuanians, but all these trends in public discourse show that the state and society have only just started to realize its interests and learn how to handle the major challenges through the cooperation within the European Union, i.e. to build integrational European identity.

Illegal education of Polish children in Independent Lithuania in the 1930s: circumstances and development trends

Illegal education of Polish children in Independent Lithuania in the 1930s: circumstances and development trends

Author(s): Saulius Kaubrys / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: secret education of Polish children; “Pochodnia”; the Law on Primary Education of 1936

The circular of the Minister of Education Konstantinas Šakenis on the amendment to the 1925 Law on Primary Education, dated August 6th 1927 and the 1936 Law on Primary Education created the precedent demanding that children of mixed families (only one parent of Lithuanian nationality) should be taught at Lithuanian schools. As a result of this demand, the need to evade this provision arose because the contingent of pupils in Polish schools suffered losses due to this restriction. Polish organisations (“Pochodnia”) seeking to compensate losses due to restriction of spread of Polish people started organising illegal (secret) Polish schools. To contain their activities, official authorities used the mechanism of punishment, which partly suppressed that process. Polish organisations changed the tactics of their activities in seeking to maintain vitality of secret schools. The analysis of contents of some financial sources shows that almost the same amount of funds was allocated to both legal and illegal schools (the case of 1937). Establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Poland in 1938 activated secret education of Polish children, developed it even to a greater extent, and enhanced self-confidence of secret teachers in doing their work.

Beggars, scammers, discriminated against by the whole of Europe: Romania’s Roma in Finnish tabloids, 2008-2011

Beggars, scammers, discriminated against by the whole of Europe: Romania’s Roma in Finnish tabloids, 2008-2011

Author(s): Kari ALENIUS / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

Keywords: Roma; newspapers; public debate; image; stereotypes; Finland; Romania

The unrestricted movement of EU citizens from one country to another has been one of the fundamental principles of the Union. On the other hand, this issue has also attracted criticism, particularly from the radical right and so-called populist parties, or the supporters of these movements. Part of the population of Europe regards immigration and the unrestricted movement of people as a threat to the stability and prosperity of their own society. Through these critical perspectives, permanent immigration is viewed as a larger problem, as its effects on the host countries are more permanent than in the case of temporary residence. Through the same perspectives, the short-term but uncontrolled stay of foreigners is often linked to crime. This study concentrates on what kind of image a significant part of the Finnish media has given of a recent case of the foreigners that have attracted large attention in the country.

Freedom of Mass-media in Europe

Libertatea presei în Europa

Author(s): Mircea Vasilescu / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 516/2003

Keywords: freedom of press in Europe

Mircea Vasilescu writes an article about the freedom of press in Europe. He suggests that most of the European countries have some abuses to be discussed and solved, either with journalists or with media institutions. The journalists offers some examples: Berlusconi in Italy and OTV in Romania.

Who Do You Love More?

Pe cine iubeşti mai mult?

Author(s): Andrei Pleşu / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 516/2003

Keywords: Romania assists USA; Romania needs both USA and European Union

Andrei Pleşu suggests that there is a artificial problem for Romania to choose between USA and European Union, as some of the European leaders recently advised. The commenter believes that the Romanian politicians can easily deal this problem with no more divergences.

Theory, Application, Specific Paradox

Teorie, practică, paradoxuri specifice

Author(s): Elena Ştefoi / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 516/2003

Keywords: Romanian cultural diplomacy; the duality as a paradox of Romanians

Elena Ştefoi writes an article about the Romanian cultural diplomacy before and after 1989. The journalist suggests that the Romanians are still a victim of a paradox: the same person can be respected in the same time as good and bad; the same action can be treasured as valuable and worthless according to out own interest. This is not a satisfactory choice for a real cultural diplomacy.

A Fancied Power

O putere imaginară

Author(s): Anca Manolescu / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 516/2003

Keywords: Romanian Political Security (Securitate) in the Communism; former officers as businesspersons or politicians

Anca Manolescu writes an article about the activity of the Romanian Political Security (Securitate) in the Communism. The journalist tries to see how the Romanian contemporary society and political power refer to the activity of the former Security and to the former officers. It seems they are just fine, either businesspersons or politicians.

An Incompetent Dictator

Un dictator incompetent

Author(s): Magdalena Boiangiu / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 516/2003

Keywords: Hugo Chavez' leadership;

Hugo Chavez was pushed from office in April 2002, as a result of his attempts to take control of the world's fifth-biggest oil industry. However, just two days later, after his supporters - mainly Venezuela's poor - took the streets, he was back in the presidential palace. Nowadays, Chavez is facing a new national strike - one that is threatening to severely disrupt the country's economy. This is why, Magdalena Boiangiu considers his an incompetent dictator.

The Totalitarianism of the Century (II)

Totalitarismul acestui secol (II)

Author(s): Sever Voinescu / Language(s): Romanian / Issue: 516/2003

Keywords: totalitarianism; new pressures on the contemporary democracies;

Sever Voinescu continues the essay about totalitarianism. This time he starts from a study published by Vladimir Tismăneanu. The commenter suggests that there are new pressures on the contemporary democracies such as the strange alliances between parties that do not look alike at all. The journalist suggests that there is a favorable background for totalitarianism.

Microcognitive functioning and managerial behaviour

Микрокогнитивно функциониране и управленско поведение

Author(s): Victor Hadjiev / Language(s): Bulgarian / Issue: 3/2013

Keywords: JEL: D03; D22

This paper introduces a conceptual model of cognitive functioning – an overarching cognitive structure model, and determines the impact of each cognitive level upon the establishment of a more coherent and sustainable managerial behavior. It analyses the micro-cognitive level, which examines the compatibility between cognitive abilities and managerial activities. On this ground, the paper determines the valence of twenty three cognitive indicators and analyzes their significance for the enhancement of managerial effectiveness and performance.

Detailed study of the impact of the economic crisis in Bulgaria

Задълбочено изследване на влиянието на икономическата криза в България

Author(s): Todorka Atanasova-Kalaydjieva / Language(s): Bulgarian / Issue: 3/2013

REFERENCE to: Гарабед Минасян, Димитрина Стоянчева. Българската икономика в криза: специфика и вариантни решения. Ст. Загора: РИК “Исра-М-И”, 2012, 173 с.

CORRUPTION IN PUBLIC TENDERS CONCEPT OF SELF-CLEANING

CORRUPTION IN PUBLIC TENDERS CONCEPT OF SELF-CLEANING

Author(s): Ľubica Páleníková / Language(s): English / Issue: 09/2012

Keywords: Public tender; reliability; corruption; exclusion; self-cleaning

Public tender procedures shall be conducted according to the fundamental principle of transparency. Candidates and bidders who have been the subject of a conviction by final judgment for a statutory offence (e.g. due to corruption, fraud, money laundering) shall generally be excluded from the participation in a public tender. According to the new proposal of the European Commission regarding the reform of the current directives on public procurement, the bidder shall be given the opportunity to demonstrate its reliability, despite the existence of an exclusion ground. For the purpose of the re-admission into the public procurement process, the bidder shall implement appropriate preventive measures in the technical, organisational and personal respect (e.g. dismissal of employees responsible for the criminal offence, implementation of an effective compliance programme). If the new proposal of the European Commission is adopted, it could establish an EU-wide level playing field regarding the concept of self-cleaning. Furthermore, it could result in the strengthening of the fair and open competition among reliable economic operators.