Evropski identitet - kontroverzije i refleksije

Author(s): Mirjana Nadaždin Defterdarević / Language(s): Serbian Publication Year: 0

The author of the article examines the question of European identity as a newly created identity, with particular attention to the foundations which the collective European identity should build to serve its primarily task-the loyalty of EU citizens, In that sense, the creation of the European identity coincides with some critical Questions from the legal-political discourse within which it seeks affirmation and legislation.The Research starts from the assumption that in the EU, as a political entity sui generis, in the best tradition of European citizenship, by creating European identity, democracy has transformed from the political from that legitimizes the powers and sovereignty of the national state into a political form that legitimizes human rights, whereas the national identity in the context of the inclusive European identity acquires the function of double legitimacy- cultural and political. By analyzing the content and by using teleological method, the research focuses in particular on the aspect of determination and variability of the content of the concept of identity, the justification for creating a European identity, its political recognition, its connection with human rights and the integrative role that multiculturalism plays in their implementation.

Изкуственият интелект и ролята на човека в системите за сигурност

Author(s): / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Man-made automated intellectual systems will always facilitate his work. However, they are not able to completely ignore it. Therefore, it should be borne in mind that the nature of the work with intellectual security systems requires the operator to resort to various ways to reduce the stress inherent in this activity. Mankind is moving with incomparably fast steps towards a new information revolution, which on its scale can surpass the advent of the Internet. This revolution is artificial intelligence.

Аспекти на сигурността в режима за оценяване на изпълнението на служителите в българската държавна администрация

Author(s): Daniela Petkova Krasteva / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The security of performance evaluations of employees in the state administration is a function of its regulation in the normative documents on evaluation and the quality of their implementation. This proposition mainly shows the practical determinism of security and the forms of its manifestation. The latter are measurable with the evaluation competencies of the evaluator and supervising manager, as well as with the self-evaluation of the evaluated employees. In this sense, estimates are presented for the security of the evaluations of the performance of the employees in the Bulgarian state administration generated in the last 10 years.

Understanding Climate Risks: A Banking Perspective

Author(s): Panagiotis Mavridis / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Climate change effects on financial assets, either from natural disasters or shifts in policy and technology, can no longer be disregarded. Despite the fact that most countries have committed to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, the great majority of private and public financial capital is still being allocated to economic activities that are deviating from this direction or worse in some cases are in opposition to those goals. How much of a risk does this discrepancy pose for financial institutions and in particular, for financial stability? This paper aims at presenting key points on a banking perspective of climate risks.

Културата на националното в политическия дискурс на съвременна Гърция

Author(s): Kristina Simeonova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The paper focuses on the concepts of culture, identity and nation in an attempt to present the most popular perceptions of their range and specifics. Political discourse is also at focus as a specific social form of language. The aim of the paper is to study the penetration of national culture in political discourse. Fragments of political speeches in modern Greece have been examined in an attempt to represent the significant role of national identity in political speaking.

Международната сигурност като елемент на съвременната международна система

Author(s): Nadia Boyadjieva / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The article is devoted to current issues of international security in contemporary international politics. It is stated that after the period of bipolar world there are changes in the international system, which lead to a change in the understanding of the concepts of "security" and "international security". The emergence of new threats, risks and challenges to international security that affects the internal and external security of states is examined in a summary manner, blurring the lines between the two concepts to some extent. The role of the United Nations (UN) and regional international organizations as contributors to stability and international security is emphasized.

Abstracts

Author(s): / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Rezumate

Author(s): / Language(s): Romanian Publication Year: 0

The Foreign Exchange Policy of China – Is the Country a “Currency Manipulator”?

Author(s): Paskal Zhelev / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

China’s exchange rate policy has been one of the most contentious economic issues in present times. The large open economy with a state-led development model has been often accused of deliberately keeping its currency undervalued, thereby conferring unfair competitive advantagesto its exporters, and fuelling global imbalances. The experts’ opinions on that however are greatly divided. The paper’s main goal is to evaluate whether China has been manipulatingthe exchange rate of the RMB through its exchange rate policy over the last decade. Based on various indicators, the results show that there is no evidence of China engaging in currency manipulation to the detriment of its trading partners.

INFLUENCE OF CYBER THREATS ON THE AIR FORCE COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM

Author(s): Vasile-Cristian Onesimiuc,Sorin Topor / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Cyber threats are found in all domains, both civil, and military, but their effects are more important for the Air Forces. Cyber threats have dual functions, that is, as expected, they can have negative effects, but, surprisingly, Air Forces could use the negative effects of cyber threats for the support of its own missions. From the cyber security point of view, being aware of its own limitations as well as those of the adversary’s is never completed, but it represents one of the elements that can bring about the success for the Air Forces mission, whichever that may be: defending its own capabilities or attacking the enemy. The only certainty within this process is the increase in future influence over the Air Force actions.

DESIGNING CYBERSECURITY SOLUTION USING BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY

Author(s): Adriana Meda Udroiu / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

In this paper we aim to analyse the impact of Blockchain technology in the current context of cyber-security, especially in the area of smart cities and financial transactions. For this, we will first describe the current state of cyber-security and the problems it faces. Because blockchain technology only addresses part of the cyber-security matters, we will explain the response of this technology to each of the domain-specific issues. It is equally well-known that blockchain technology is the basis of many current applications (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric). For smart cities, blockchain technology is used in designing cybersecurity for traffic control, financial transaction between organisation and authorities and so on.

THE INFLUENCE OF POPULISM IN UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF SECURITY

Author(s): GAL Dorin Alin / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

With populism becoming one of the buzzwords that characterize international relations today, its ideas stand to influence the way leaders and actors worldwide now understand the meaning of security. Since this is a term with an exceptional ability to transcend traditional ideological lines, it has the potential to cause an impact regardless of the space where it is being used and, as a result, is able to have an impact through modern-day populist leaders regardless of their original affiliation. By stating a working definition of populism as we understand it right now and also of the traditional concept of security, we stand to analyze the way in which security issues and any subsequent decisions made are being influenced under this new context that we find ourselves in today.

THE POTENTIAL OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION IN THE PURSUIT OF NATIONAL SECURITY OBJECTIVES

Author(s): Iulia-Alexandra COJOCARU / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Under the assumption that communication is the most convenient way to know and understand the world we live in, this paper focuses on the importance of effective strategic communication, in line with the national security objectives. The potential of the communication process in achieving the desired effects has long been exploited by organizations and businesses. Nowadays, the actors in the international arena use this potential to pursue their own interests, giving rise of new threats, which in terms of security are placed under the umbrella of hybrid threats (propaganda, disinformation, fake news etc.). It is, therefore, necessary to develop new ways of combating such threats, adapted to the contemporary security environment, and to the security trends brought by current phenomena that the world is facing - such as globalization or technological advances. In this respect, international organisations such as NATO or the EU – at the regional level –, and states – at the national level –, shall endeavour to develop a framework for effective use of strategic communication. Thus, the paper aims to present solid arguments regarding the potential of strategic communication in supporting a state’s instruments of power pursuing national security objectives, when it is conceived in an effective manner. The paper also emphasizes the benefits that an efficient strategic communication process can bring to a state’s society, compared to the negative effects that the lack of it brings to other ones.

DEFINING CENTRES OF GRAVITY WITHIN THE STRATEGIC NUCLEAR BALANCE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Author(s): Mario MARINOV / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The concept of “Centres of Gravity”, and its varied interpretations across history, has been a traditional staple when producing comparisons and analysis on competing military organisations and structures. The following paper aims to extend this specific approach to the less conventional state of affairs existing in the “strategic nuclear balance” between the United States of America and the Russian Federation, through the utilisation of traditional interpretations of the concepts involved, their implementation to the given case studies within the scientific method and the overarching interpretation of two competing organisations within the systemic approach. The paper thus identifies the contemporary centres of gravity within the two structures, the specific dynamic that derives from their present relationship and, consequently, the hallmarks of their nuclear strategy.

ROMANIA IN THE NEW SECURITY ENVIRONMENT AFTER THE 2021 BRUSSELS SUMMIT

Author(s): Raul Nistor / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The recent actions of the Russian Federation have raised major concerns among the Euro-Atlantic community. At a time when the security environment we face is becoming increasingly complex, at the NATO Summit in Brussels in 2021, member states reaffirmed their unity, solidarity, cohesion and agreement to open a new chapter in the transatlantic relations. At the same time, NATO remains the foundation of collective security and the essential forum for security consultations and decisions between allies. Romania will also play an extremely important role on NATO's vulnerable south-eastern flank, in the face of the Russian Federation's offensive. Thus, we aim to evaluate the place and role that Romania has as a contributing member of the alliance in ensuring security.

EU Global Leadership in Trustworthy AI: High Risk Applications – Implementation and Gabs

Author(s): Galya Mancheva / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The paper is devoted to the European Union regulatory framework on Artificial Intelligence related to SME and the EU global position in this aspect. The objective is to follow up the readiness of the EU to have a global leadership in trustworthy AI. The thesis of the study is that the EU is not ready to have a global leadership in trustworthy AI. For the purposes of the analysis firstly the position of the EU globally is observed within the global trends in Artificial intelligence. Secondly, content analysis and cross-check of current the EU regulatory framework and legislation is performed in order to investigate the main raised issues and their stage of completion. It was found that the main unsolved and unregulated issues are related to adaptation of current legislation of national AI strategies and new and adapted liability rules to be established. As of the national AI strategies a total of 19 Member States, including Norway have adopted national AI strategies. Some Member States (e.g. Finland, Cyprus and Germany), have already updated and reviewed their initial strategies. Forthcoming national action have to be taken by Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Romania, and Slovenia. As of the new and adapted liability rules, it is postponed to the end of 2022 the EU to measure adapting the liability framework to the challenges of new technologies, including AI. As per global trends, the inconsistency of the EU members will prolong the process of implementation the legislation and achieving the main EU goal to have a global leadership in trustworthy AI.

TOWARDS AN EU STRATEGIC CULTURE: THE CHALLENGE OF RECONCILING NATIONAL CHARACTERS AND A COMMON EU SECURITY AND DEFENSE POLICY IN THE BLACK SEA

Author(s): Olga Raluca CHIRIAC / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

In the current global context of great power competition and while fighting to overcome and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU has embarked on the ambitious undertaking to redefine itself as a more capable, credible, independent when necessary, defence stakeholder, the EU strategic autonomy process. Throughout this endeavour, it is becoming more and more apparent that one of the more challenging dimensions of the EU strategic autonomy debate is dial of national characters and strategic cultures within the union. The aim of the paper is conceptualizing the strategic culture framework in EU context and to identify both positive and negative factors that carry the potential to influence the formation of an authentic European strategic culture. The final conclusions will assess whether any subsequent actionable policy is, in fact, possible in the foreseeable future, mainly to what extent an autonomous European strategic culture could act as either a facilitator or inhibitor of EU security and defence decision making.

UKRAINE – STUCK BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WEST

Author(s): POPESCU Lara-Teodora / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

For some time now, Ukraine has been internally divided between those who support Russia and those who fight for the westernization of the country through its affiliation with NATO and the EU. Both the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) – and later the EasternPartnership (EaP) policy – as well as Russia’s foreign policy, have been fuelling more and more this internal divide, with every strategy implemented by the EU in that direction leading to violent responses from Russia, which had very significant consequences on Ukraine. This paper aims to present, through qualitative analysis, the present geopolitical situation of Ukraine, which seems to be unable to move forward in a definitive direction. Throughout this essay I will analyse the events that led to the impasse in which Kyiv is stuck now, also touching upon the tense relation between the EU and Russia. Towards the end of the paper, further possible strategies and scenarios are suggested, considering and examining the tense situation in the whole Eastern Neighbourhood. Comparisons between other EaP states and Ukraine are also going to be presented in order to obtain a complete picture of the situation.

SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

Author(s): Octavian Dacin / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Special Operation Forces had started to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping operations not long ago, but the consensus on acceptability of their use in peacekeeping operations has already been reached. Present article analyzes views on SOF use in peacekeeping, as expressed by the specialist and enshrined in guidance documents of different countries, explores normative regulation formalized in mandates of respective peacekeeping operations and contemplates typical SOF tasks in peacekeeping operations as defined by the UN in “United Nations Peacekeeping Missions Military Special Forces Manual”.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TERRORISM

Author(s): Luiza-Andreea ULMET,Ivona RĂPAN,Cornelia-Rodica JUDE,Loredana Larisa VĂDUVA / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Terrorism is one of the main dangers facing democratic states today. The effects of terrorist activities and their economic impact on society are very difficult to determine, but in the following, we will try to understand and analyses the main dangers to which states are exposed and the countermeasures carried out by the main states facing this scourge. At the same time, we will try in the analysis carried out in this article to establish the future measures to be taken so that the objectives of terrorist organizations, those of implicitly affecting the targeted countries economically, do not lead to the desired results.