THE POSITION AND ROLE OF STATE AND NON-STATE ACTORS IN THE 21st CENTURY

Author(s): Oliver Bakreski,Leta Bardjieva Miovska / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

According to the classical dichotomy of the realist theory of interest representation, the subjects acting on the national and international scene are defined as state and nonstate actors in the context of their content and position. Until the turn of the 21st century, the state-centric model of interaction is characteristic, where states are the main actors dominating national and world politics, although they are not the sole ones. Examples of state actors are bureaucratically organized state institutions and governing bodies, foreign policy institutions, the army, the police, intelligence agencies, etc. The gradual rise of non-state actors, as a result of the diffusion of power and monopolistic authorities of the state, seen through the prism of recent events such as the Arab Spring, the rise of ISIS, the migrant crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, etc., illustrate that many contemporary challenges to international order and security inevitably involve, among others, non-state actors. Examples of non-state actors include private military and security companies, the media, criminal organizations, terrorist groups, non-governmental organizations, as well as multinational corporations, lobby groups, organized social or ethnic group movements, and others. Through the application of qualitative deductive methodology, analysis of case studies and through linear interpolation of quantitative data in the context of this paper, the main questions arising from this social phenomenology are elaborated: their adjunction, regulation, with special reference to their place and role in society, in the direction of their positioning and categorization of meaning, from where the main hypothesis of this paper is drawn.

GENDER PARTICIPATION – GENDER PROTECTION PENDULUM

Author(s): Nermina Jerkovic / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

International law safeguards our universal commons and international peace and security while protecting those the most vulnerable to human rights abuses, such as participants in existing migration towards the European Union. This article aims to shed light on the link between two international law fields: gender equality and the protection of victims of human trafficking among migrants who diverted their journey through the Western Balkan Route embracing Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2018. The research’s relevance is found in statistics from 2018 to 2022 and recent studies on the inadequate protection of migrants from human traffickers and smugglers along the Western Balkan Route. Thus, the article argues that the gender inequality in the law enforcement agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina hinders proper identification and protection of VHT in joint migrations of men, women and children, enabling their further trafficking towards the European Union. The methodological framework includes the desk analysis of the gender mainstreaming legal framework and goes over international and national regulations on combating human trafficking. Qualitative research on the main impediments to the identification of the victims of human trafficking includes responses from NGO practitioners mandated to protect migrants in the temporary reception centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighting the presence of the VHT among migrants. Research results present the flagship components of migrants’ negligence in reporting human trafficking; one of the principal reasons is their non-confidence in law enforcement agencies, which are seriously discriminated against women regarding participation and management position holding. The article demonstrates the intersectionality of international law focus are as in the gender participation-gender protection pendulum and urges for increased participation of women in the security sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina and enhanced protection of the victims of human trafficking through international law implementation.

EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF MIGRATION, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE ON NORTH MACEDONIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Author(s): Aleksandar Petrovski,Ljupcho Shosholovski,Aleksandar Grizhev / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

The question of how migration, environment and climate change interact has been a topic of increasing interest in North Macedonia. Estimates of the numbers of people who may be displaced by climate change-related phenomena by 2050 range from 50 million to 1 billion people, with the most cited number, 200 million, being based on projections by Norman Myers in 1995 and 2000 [1]. However, Myers himself has admitted to uncertainty in his estimate and that necessary extrapolations were made due to a lack of available data [1]. Additionally, the high-end estimate, of 1 billion people displaced by 2050, comes from a Christian Aid report [1]. It is acknowledged that climate change will not alone cause conflict, but it is also accepted that it has the potential to exacerbate or catalyze conflict in conjunction with other factors [1]. Examining the impact of migration, environment, and climate change on North Macedonia: a systematic review, the pathway is non-linear, and, in some cases, climate-induced conflict may in turn cause migration [1]. Current research indicates that climate migration will not necessarily increase the risk of conflict, however, linking climate migration to conflict is difficult since the relative importance of climate migration, among the many other drivers, must be determined [1]. All factors involved in the system, which are linking climate, migration and conflict are location dependent, and the relationship between climate change, migration and conflict depends on social, demographic, economic and political drivers [1]. Future research should focus on the local interplay of multiple drivers that influence whether the climate will increase the risk of conflict, and Neo-Malthusian theory suggesting that as populations continue to increase, competition for resources will also increase, and could lead to conflict as the inequalities increase between those in control of resources and those who do not have access [1]. Even though the climate-migration-conflict pathway is viewed as linear and even deterministic in the media, scholars are increasingly cautious when discussing the pathway, and the potential impacts of climate variability and change on migration and conflict will remain an important area of research and policy planning [1].

The Art of Self-selection or the Intervention of the Voters? The 2023 Election and the Shifting Social Bias of Slovak Parliamentary Elites since 2006

Author(s): Elisabeth Bakke / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2024

Recent research has shown a trend towards more participatory nomination procedures in new as well as more established parties. However, in Slovakia most politically relevant parties have equally centralised, leadership dominated, and exclusive candidate selection modes. In the first part of the article I draw on the elite literature to investigate cross-party variation in the social bias of parliamentary elites since 2006. Using the 2023 election as a point of departure, I go on to assess how representative MPs are of their own voters, and why social bias varies across parties despite their similar selection modes. The analysis demonstrates that the impact of the selection mode as well as of voter preferences is contingent on the nomination practices of the individual parties. I found strong elements of self-selection in nearly all parties: the members of the presidium nominated themselves, and the composition of the parliamentary elites thus to a considerable extent reflects who the presidium members are. The influence of the voters is limited, because they tend to confirm the priorities of the selectorates; however, in the case of the four smallest parties in 2023, preference voting to some extent mitigated the effect of self-selection. The main drivers of preference voting were the idiosyncratic nomination practice of Ordinary People, and the presence of organised groups and parties on the list (informal alliances).

The Never-ending revolution

Author(s): Petar M. Matić / Language(s): English,Serbian Issue: 3/2024

Review of: the Collection of Papers Dušan Dostanić, Аleksandar Novaković (Editors) THE NEVER-ENDING REVOLUTION, Philosophical and Historiographic Reflections on the French Revolution and its Legacies, Institute for Political Studies, Belgrade, 2023

Wojna w Ukrainie i jej społeczne, psychologiczne oraz polityczne konsekwencje. Wprowadzenie

Author(s): Piotr Długosz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2024

Polskie społeczeństwo wobec uchodźców wojennych z Ukrainy

Author(s): Piotr Długosz,Dominika Izdebska-Długosz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2024

Upon a mass influx of Ukrainian war refugees to Poland, initially positive attitudes were gradually accompanied by negative stances. This article aims to characterize the attitudes of the Polish society towards Ukrainian war refugees, and identify the areas where dysfunctions emerge due to the arrival of a large group of war refugees. The study also demonstrates the factors associated with the development of negative attitudes towards the war refugees. Empirical material for this research is derived from survey research carried out with the use of the Ariadna panel. The respondents were selected using stratified-random sampling. The research sample consisted of 1141 respondents from all regions in Poland. The survey was conducted with the use of the Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) technique. The results of the study indicate that one-third of the respondents hold negative attitudes towards the refugees. The respondents stated that the arrival of Ukrainian war refugees in Poland would have a negative impact on the housing market, increase in the prices of goods and services and the condition of healthcare services. Factors such as poor financial status, younger age, the conviction of a decrease in one’s social status, a diminished sense of security, subjective experience of anomie, lack of trust and neuroticism significantly impact the attitudes of the surveyed Poles towards the war refugees from Ukraine.

Niepewny optymizm i nadzieja. Stosunek do przyszłości osób uchodźczych z Ukrainy. Wyniki badania ankietowego

Author(s): Michał Szewczyk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2024

The survey is an exploration of the opinions and attitudes of refugee people from Ukraine about their perceived future, in relation to current experiences and past experiences. A total of 832 people residing in Poland participated in the survey, answering 46 closed and one open-ended question. The aim of the research was to identify the perspectives of people from Ukraine, in the context of the ongoing war and the experience of displacement (as of the first half of 2023). The questions touched on feelings of guilt, discrimination, plans to leave Poland, support for one’s own country, assessment of one’s own psychological and economic position, willingness to learn the Polish language, and private opinion on Ukraine’s geopolitical future. The survey included people taking part in, or interested in, personal development courses offered in Warsaw. The results show a wide variety of experiences, opinions and attitudes, but converge to a few dominant types of responses. Despite negative experiences and declared fears, hope is the key word that dominated respondents’ answers when asked about associations with the future. Furthermore, the majority of respondents are also optimistic about Ukraine’s chances of joining the EU and NATO. The study fills a gap in the existing scientific knowledge on the experience of migration, revealing the impact of displacement on the perceived future.

How to Live as a Refugee? Anchoring of the Ukrainian Female Refugees in the Labour Market through Activities of State Institutions and Non-formal Organisations in the Case Study of Krakow

Author(s): Krystyna Slany,Magdalena Ślusarczyk,Ewa Krzaklewska,Anastasiya Stelmakh / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2024

Russia’s aggression in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, has marked a new chapter in European history, generating masses of war refugees who sought refuge in many countries and in large numbers, including Poland. In this article, we analyse the assistance and support provided to Ukrainian women refugees in the city of Krakow, with focus on the labour market integration. The data consists of 19 expert interviews with the representatives of the organisations and institutions, as well as researchers in the migration field. We start with analysing the immediate state response at the national policy level, which created a legal framework allowing refugees, among others, fast entrance to the labour market and to set up businesses. Then, we examine how the responses of public institutions were accompanied by enormous grassroot mobilisation of support provided to Ukrainian refugees in Krakow. As we argue, integration into the labour market is critical for integration, but currently lack of evaluation of policy solutions and informalisation of the labour market may result in the reproduction of vulnerability of female refugees.

Green Jobs: Barriers and Drivers in the EU

Author(s): Justas Streimikis,Ladislav Mura,Grigorios Kyriakopoulos,Arturas Simanavicius,Milica Delibacic / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2024

There are many barriers to green job expansion in the EU linked to cultural, economic barriers, organizational, political, technological technical, social, and behavioral barriers. The main drivers of green job creation include social norms and rules, governance policies, cultural values, demographic data, socio-economic inclusion, technical, and technological elements, etc. The aim of this paper is to analyze barriers and drivers that can influence green job expansion. The case study on green jobs expansion in the EU is provided based on statistical data from EUROSTAT. The policies and measures aiming to cope with barriers to green job expansion and support drivers of these processes are recommended for EU countries based on research conducted.

CONTEMPORARY ARMED CONFLICTS: AN OUTLINE OF A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Author(s): Jerzy J. Wiatr / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

After the second world war armed conflicts between states underwent changes causedby the effects of the invention of weapons of mass destruction and of the division of Europe between two blocs of states dominated by the two superpowers: USA and USSR. Most of the armed conflicts during the cold war period were caused either by the crisis of colonialism or by the ethnic rivalries, mostly in the new states. The Korean war was the only armed conflict between states with the direct involvement of two great powers (USA and China) and caused by the ideological division of the world. After the end of the cold war the dissolution of the Soviet Union and of Yugoslavia caused several ethnic wars, with the NATO intervention in the former Yugoslavia. A new wave of armed conflicts was caused by the Islamic radicalism in Iran and in some Arab states and by the growing strength of China as an emerging superpower. The Russian aggression against Ukraine created a new international situation with the indirect involvement of the democratic states. Future architecture of international relations depends on the outcome of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

DISCRIMINATION POLICIES THAT LEAD TO FORCED MIGRATION: THE QUESTION OF THE BULGARIAN TURKS WITHIN UNITED NATIONS (1988-1989)

Author(s): Drenusha KAMBER,Hava REXHEPI,Gojart KAMBERI / Language(s): English Issue: 22-23/2024

On August 21, 1989, Turkey’s decision to close the borders with Bulgaria it was interpreted by the authorities in Ankara as an attempt to force Sofia through dialogue both governments to reach an immigration agreement. Turkey considering itself as the kin state several times tried to sensibilize and prove that ethnic Turks living in Bulgaria experienced continued repression and forced assimilation while Bulgaria perceived those attempts as long-term policy of Turkey in interfering on internal issues of Bulgaria. The confrontations between Turkey and Bulgaria increased with the decision of Turkey to address this problem within United Nations. In the recent academic literature, most of the studies are focused on the internal factors and practices related to the assimilation campaign, for the period 1985-1989. The purpose of this paper, it is to contextualize the arguments used in favor and against internationalization of the question of the Bulgarian Turks through multilateral diplomacy as an instrument used by state authorities in Turkey and Bulgaria. The term Bulgarian Turks it is used in the sense of ethnicity referring to the ethnic Turks living in Bulgaria and having the status of the minority group. In this paper will be analyzed the content of the documents delivered by the Permanent Representatives of Turkey and Bulgaria in UN to the UN Secretary General and UN General Assembly, and the reports of the UN Special Rapporteur appointed in accordance with resolution 1986/20. The paper it is guided by two research questions: What kind of engagement Turkey chose in raising the question of the Bulgarian Turks into UN level? What actions took Bulgaria within UN in negating the accusations for an assimilation campaign?

THE IMPACT OF THE NEW SILK ROAD INITIATIVE ON THE INTERNATIONAL BALANCE OF POWER

Author(s): Nacer BOUKROU / Language(s): English Issue: 22-23/2024

This article examines the effects of the new Silk Road initiative, known as the "Belt and Road Initiative," on the international balance of power. It addresses its impact on revitalizing trade and relations among world nations, both culturally and geopolitically. It also discusses the role of the road in cultural exchange, intellectual and cultural interchange, and its contribution to reducing Western dominance and promoting global peace. The study concludes that the new Silk Road holds strategic importance in reshaping global power balances and the existing international system.The descriptive and analytical methods were employed to review the motives, causes, and challenges of reviving and re-establishing the Silk Road, along with analyzing trade-related figures. Additionally, historical methodology was occasionally used to recount the establishment of the Silk Road.

Pakt senacki jako strategia polskich partii demokratycznych w wyborach parlamentarnych 2019–2023

Author(s): Jakub Kuźniarski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 58/2024

In 2019, the parties representing the Polish democratic opposition, decided to conclude an informal agreement before the parliamentary elections, called the Senate Pact. This agreement not only increased the chances of gaining an advantage over the ruling party in the Senate of the Republic of Poland, but also – was successfully repeated before the next elections. The author of the article points out that the Senate pact is a completely new and at the same time thoroughly thought-out handout of the democratic opposition, which brought the expected results. He also makes a characterization of the rule of Law and Justice in 2015–2023, which was the main reason for the establishment of the agreement. The thesis of this paper is the statement of the impact of the Senate pact on the advantage of democratic political groups in the parliamentary elections for the Polish Senate. The hypothesis adopted, on the other hand, assumes that prior to the establishment of the Senate pact, there was a real threat of the Law and Justice party’s use of the so-called “legislative express”, which led to the implementation of important laws that hooked on the amendment of the Constitution or harmful bills that were questionable in terms of legal legality. The research method used in the article is descriptive and predictive. Because the subject of the establishment of the Senate pact and its analysis as a novelty in Polish politics, is a relatively new phenomenon, not many scientific studies have yet been written that exhaust the subject of the impact of the agreement on parliamentary elections.

“Politics of memory” in Poland in the first half of the 21st Century: Historical narratives, challenges and disputes. A case study

Author(s): Przemysław Łukasik / Language(s): English Issue: 58/2024

The aim of the article is to present the specifics of Polish memory policy at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries and to trace the most important threads of the discourse surrounding it. The aim of the author is to characterize the conditions of continuation and modifications, and, above all, the challenges facing the Polish historical narrative. The research method used in analysis was the case study. The shaping of Polish politics of memory in the last three decades has been the result of many factors, including the post-communist nature of the state, the dispute over its role in narrating history, the Polish-Russian conflict over memory, the discourse on Polish-Jewish wartime relations, the internationalization of Polish historical narrative, as well as the “memory boom” and the development of public diplomacy. All the factors mentioned above influence the content of the Polish historical narrative. The Polish historical narrative, as in the case of many countries, includes a path of narrative about freedom and the presentation of the greatest scientific and cultural achievements. Regardless of the content of the Polish historical narrative, its greatest challenge is the asymmetry of knowledge about Polish past beyond its borders, not only in the context of losses suffered during World War II.

The dynamics and challenges of elections and democratic consolidation in Nigeria: A study of the 2019 and 2023 gubernatorial elections in Kano State

Author(s): Abdulrasheed Abdulyakeen,Haruna Adamu Aliero / Language(s): English Issue: 58/2024

This study examines the elections and democratic consolidation in Nigeria: A study of the 2019 and 2023 gubernatorial elections in Kano State. An multi-stage cluster sampling procedure was used in sampling the population for this study. First, clusters of local governments in each of the selected states were randomly selected. Secondly, clusters of political wards in each of the selected Local Government Areas were randomly selected. A total of four hundred questionnaires were distributed across all the selected areas to elicit information on the subject matter but three hundred and eighty four were retrieved. The findings revealed that most voters were induced with money by politicians, both those in power and those seeking to be in power, to influence voters’ choice of candidate or political party in order to retain or capture political power during elections, particularly during the 2019 and 2023 general elections. The findings also revealed that voter turnout during presidential and national assembly elections was higher than during gubernatorial and state assembly elections, posing a challenge to grassroots democracy. Additionally, the degree of rigging, malpractices, and irregularities was found to be higher in presidential and national assembly elections compared to gubernatorial and state assembly elections. To address this, for Nigeria to maintain international legitimacy, the value orientation of politicians must change. Elections should no longer be viewed as the ultimate goal.

Influence of corporate governance practices on small and medium-sized enterprises competitiveness in South Afric

Author(s): Eugine Nkwinika,Lawrence Obokoh,Akinola Segun / Language(s): English Issue: 58/2024

This study aims to investigate how effective governance frameworks impact the capacity of SMEs to thrive and compete at both national and international levels. It acknowledges the pivotal role SMEs play in the economy and explores core corporate governance concepts applied to South African SMEs, blending agency theory and stakeholder theory within a robust theoretical framework. A comprehensive analysis of governance techniques assesses their effects on decision-making, transparency, and risk management, influencing SME decency and resilience. The study underscores the importance of tailoring governance principles to address unique challenges and opportunities in South African SMEs. Practical examples illustrate the benefits of stronger governance, such as improved financing access, enhanced credibility, and long-term sustainability. Emerging trends and advice for enhancing competitiveness through governance are discussed. The research contributes to the academic understanding of how governance frameworks impact SMEs in South Africa. The findings suggest that an all-encompassing strategy, which combines legal compliance, stakeholder engagement, and strategic decision-making, can significantly enhance the competitiveness of South African SMEs. This insight has practical implications for both SMEs and policymakers in the region. Interests.

Disability as a diversity and inclusion factor in recruiting

Author(s): Toyin Solomon Olaniyan,Kayode Wakili OLAWOYIN,Isaac Ojo Okunade / Language(s): English Issue: 58/2024

Above all, the population of individuals with impairments is constantly increasing, making them one of the largest groups in the diverse workforce. Jobs for people with impairments require the implementation and development of special processes within enterprises. This is because the details of employment for persons with disabilities must be considered organizationally and legally. Examining current diversity and inclusion policies of companies and states concerning the hiring of people with disabilities is the aim of this research. According to the study’s findings, there were no appreciable differences between employees with disabilities and those without them at various stages of the hiring process. Nonetheless, it should be noted that corporate behavior regarding the employment of persons with disabilities is largely influenced by the Nigerian legal system

Sprawozdanie z debaty „Konieczne zmiany prawa wyborczego” (Poznań, 28.02.2024)

Author(s): Radosław Zych / Language(s): Polish Issue: 58/2024

Автономността – (не)решената задача на съвременността

Author(s): Ilinida Markova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Issue: 2/2024

The social development of goodness into virtue, of duty into due action, and of freedom into autonomy, pose enormous questions concerning the potentials of the individual, but only according to his limitations. This resignation to the restrictive regime of society is an indispensable requirement for the individual’s commitment and solidarity to social structures. Social negotiation, available a priori, gives the illusory “taste” of any self-presence. The misunderstanding of limited relations leads as a result in its wake the misunderstanding of the Self as “itself”. It provokes its primitive rebellion and distances it from the meanings of the truth to bring it closer to a deeper profanation.