Slovenian and Polish national religious mythologies. The comparative analysis. Part I

Słoweńskie i polskie mitologie religijno-narodowe. Analiza porównawcza. Część I

Author(s): Mitja Velikonja / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 3/2003

The text focuses on one specyfic aspect of contemporary Slovenian and Polish political construction of reality: their religious-national mythologies. Both nations are palced in „Latin (or Catholic) religio-cultural pattern”, therefore some common characteristic can be observed, but on the other side also considerable differences. In first part of the text some theoretical considerations – like the definition of „Christoslavism” – are presented, and after this the complex background of its historical formation among Slovenes and Poles is discussed. In the second part of the text, this Christoslavic structure and mythological features of Slovenian and Polish religious-national mythologies are analysed: the „immanent Catholicism” of both nations, religious differences with the neighbours, religious-national messianism, mythic interpretation of historic events, demonisation of the adversaries, strong popular devotion to the Holy Virgin; and folk religiosity. In the conclusion, some main similarities as well as differences between the two religious-national mythologies are summarized.

Table of Contents

Spis treści

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 3/2003

Science and the strive for truth

Nauka i dążenie do prawdy

Author(s): Włodzimierz Zięba / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 3/2003

Book Review: Adam Grobler, Prawda a względność, Aureus, Kraków 2000, ss. 173

Nikolaj Berdiajev and critical philosophy

Mikołaj Bierdiajew i filozofia krytyczna

Author(s): Marek Szulakiewicz / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 3/2003

The directions of civilizations’ repair work

Kierunki remontu cywilizacji

Author(s): Stefan Symotiuk / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 3/2003

To philosophers of Slav countries

Filozofom slovanskih dežel

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Slovenian / Issue: 3/2003

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Issue: 3/2003

The classical conception of truth: the conditions of its possibility and the limits of its sustainability

Klasyczna koncepcja prawdy: warunki jej możliwości i granice zasadności

Author(s): Andrzej Leszek Zachariasz / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 3/2003

The subject matter of this article is Truth as a theoretical category. Referring to the so-called classic definition one distinguishes three basic in-terpretations: 1) as a regulative idea, 2) a value, and 3) a judgment. Taking into account objective and subjective conditions of the formulation of Truth, in this latter case it is defined as: judgment concerning reality, in which it is represented in the way it is experienced and recognized by the one who wants to know it and can do it. This is accompanied by proving that the absoluteness of Truth is defined by the system of meanings, in the framework of which the judgment about reality was formulated. Truth as a theoretical category has thus a systemic character. This position is defined as that of cognitive relativism.

To philosophers of Slav countries

Filozofům slovanských zemí

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Czech / Issue: 3/2003

"Sovereign Democracy" - yeat another attempt to define Russia's regime

"Sovereign Democracy" - yeat another attempt to define Russia's regime

Author(s): Tomas Janeliūnas / Language(s): English / Issue: 18/2006

Keywords: sovereign democracy; Russia; regime; Surkov; authoritarianism

The article presents the new "doctrine" which serves to describe Russian political regime. It is stated that Russian politicians still try to use the word of "democracy" describing the political system of the country. However it is proved that Russia's political regime is far away from the main principles of demcracy. A "sovereignty" is used only as a pretext for nationalisation and militarization of national economy.

EU - Russia energy dialogue and Lithuania's energy security

EU - Russia energy dialogue and Lithuania's energy security

Author(s): Kęstutis Budrys / Language(s): English / Issue: 18/2006

Keywords: EU; Rusia; Lithuania; energy security; national security; cooperation; Nord Stream;

The article states that energy sector is far from a "normal busines" because it is based on geonergetic interests. Such situation is harmful for Lithuania. It could be changed in two ways: either the European Commission becomes a common focal point for energy policy, including security, or Lithuania makes its best effort to support the expansion of Russia-controlled enterprises to Western Europe to give the latter the chance to experience all the twist and turns of the Russian energy business

"Russian doctrine" - nationalist ideas of the right-wing conservatives of Russia

"Russian doctrine" - nationalis ideas of the right-wing conservatives of Russia

Author(s): Grigorijus Potašenko / Language(s): English / Issue: 18/2006

Keywords: Russia; nationalism; political movements; doctrine

In the article is analysed an attempt by Russian right-wing intelectuals to formulate so called "Russian doctrine". The examination of ideas and basic documents which could serve as "a unified ideological, methodological and strategic platform for building a broad social coalition of patriotic forces" is presented.

Repatriation: outlines of the Russian model

Repatriation: outlines of the Russian model

Author(s): Raimundas Lopata / Language(s): English / Issue: 18/2006

Keywords: Russia; soviet; the Baltic States; repatriation

The author presents cal appraisal of the Russian designs for repatriation of Russian speakers from the Baltic States and other former Soviet Republics

Motherland is calling you! Motives behind and prospects for the new Russian policy on compatriots abroad

Motherland is calling you! Motives behind and prospects for the new Russian policy on compatriots abroad

Author(s): Maria Nozhenko / Language(s): English / Issue: 18/2006

Keywords: Russia; foreign policy; compatriots; Russian-speaking;

The article deals with the issue of Russian policy on compatriots abroad. There is analysed the very meaning of "compatriots" for Russia and latest political decisions on this issue.

The issue of occupation in Lithuanian-Russian relations: information security aspects

The issue of occupation in Lithuanian-Russian relations: information security aspects

Author(s): Diana Jurgelevičiūtė / Language(s): English / Issue: 18/2006

Keywords: Lithuania; Russia; information security; national security; occupation; compensation

The article presents an analysis of the issue of occupation and compensation for it in the Lithuanian-Russian relations. Attention is paid on Russia's information campaigns regarding the issue.

High time for reflection: 15 years of Lithuanian-Russian relations

High time for reflection: 15 years of Lithuanian-Russian relations

Author(s): Gediminas Vitkus / Language(s): English / Issue: 18/2006

Keywords: Lithuania; Russia; foreign relations

The author provides a short review of the main issues in the Lithuanian-Russian relations during the last 15 years.

New vision of Lithuania's foreign policy

New vision of Lithuania's foreign policy

Author(s): Česlovas Laurinavičius / Language(s): English / Issue: 18/2006

Keywords: Lithuania; foreign policy

The author presents an opinion about new options for Lithuania's foreign policy after joining NATO and EU. It is argued that not only Lithuania's geopolitical location creates preconditions for becoming a target of eventual hostile Russian policy, but the policy that Lithuania deliberately pursues, makes Lithuania a target for Russia.

Some Segments of Primary Social Relations between Croats and Serbs after the War

Neki segmenti primarnih i socijalnih veza Hrvata i Srba nakon ratnih sukoba

Author(s): Dragutin Babić / Language(s): Croatian / Issue: 96+97/2008

Keywords: social interaction; Croats; Serbs; post-war period; coexistence

In the text the author analyses the quality and scope of social interaction between Croats and Serbs after the war and the return/settlement of war migrants in former areas of conflict. In the pre-war period the network of primary social relations in the micro-social ambience of local communities consisted of neighbourhood, marital and generational ties, friendship and other socio-interactive patterns of members of different ethnic groups. Croats and Serbs participated significantly in these networks, while a majority of members of both groups had friends in the other ethnic group. The research shows that friends ended their contacts or simply parted, but there were also many cases when both Croatian and Serbian friends protected each other during the war. What is indicative is that in addition to mutual protection, friends did not more significantly take part in threats and physical attacks against friends of other nationalities. This made their meeting after the war easier, so they mostly cautiously or unreservedly renewed their communication, which can be regarded in the post-war situation as social capital for regenerating networks of primary social ties in a local ambience. The answers of the respondents in these cases as well indicate a relatively tolerant atmosphere, at least in the field of attitudes, which will certainly in part have a positive influence on post-war processes, one of the more important goals of which is the integration of all actors from the former war areas into the social habitus of local communities.

Social and Legal Aspects of Deserting a Newborn

Društveni i pravni apekti napuštanja novorođenčeta

Author(s): Nenad Hlača / Language(s): Croatian / Issue: 96+97/2008

Keywords: foundling adoption; right of the child

The phenomenon of deserting newborns is examined in the introduction using the historical and comparative methods. Different solutions adopted in national legislations and in case law reveal development of social treatment of the deserted children. It is concluded that in the course of history the morals, religion and customs have influenced desirability of political goals additionally reinforced by the laws related to sexuality and treatment of the deserted children by the community. The phraseology employed in Art. 7 of the UN Convention on the Right of the Child of 1989, which qualifies the right of the child to know his or her parents and fails to elevate it to the level of the child’s absolute rights, seems acceptable and appropriate to the stage of civilisation reached by the majority of the UN member states. The modern social state substitutes the lack of mother’s love for her child, expressed in the act of deserting the newborn, by means of other institutes of family law, such as foster care and adoption, protecting the right to life as the elementary human right.

Exit Polls: International and Croatian Experience

Izlazne ankete: iskustva u svijetu i u Hrvatskoj

Author(s): Vesna Lamza Posavec,Dragan Bagić / Language(s): Croatian / Issue: 96+97/2008

Keywords: exit polls; public opinion research; research methodology; Croatian elections

The paper consists of two main parts. The first comprises a short presentation of the development of exit polls worldwide as well as a description of the most common methodological approaches and prognostic validity of this type of research. The second part analyses the validity of exit polls conducted to date in Croatia and evaluates them from the point of view of statistical prediction of election results as well as predicting the political outcome of the election. It is concluded that the results of previous exit polls, although relatively satisfactory in a statistical sense, mostly contained certain biases which, in close election races, resulted in a mistaken prognosis of the order of the leading electoral competitors. In addition, in all the research regarding election situations, the exit poll data were inadequately interpreted in public presentations because in projections of election results the important methodological circumstances that could influence their prognostic value were not taken into consideration.