The Role of Social Capital in Developing Democracies

Author(s): Žarko Đorić / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2016

The term social capital is characterized by a proliferation of meanings which give rise to different debates. The aim of this paper is to analyze the role of social capital in developing democracies. To this end, Argentina and Nicaragua, as two Latin American nations, ideally illustrate two novel theoretical positions which can serve as representative models for developing democracies. In these two countries, the process of democratization had quite a different course, method and dynamics. Nicaragua employed more "social-centrist" style of democratization, while Argentina used more "state-centrist" path to democracy. In Nicaragua, it was a "bottom-up" process in the development of democracy based on the social capital, where civil society and horizontal connections among citizens were the engine of the political process. As a developing democracy, Argentina offers an interesting opposite scenario. In Argentina, it was a "top-down" institutional process of democratization, where the political institutions have done most of the work and compensated for the absence of initiatives to strengthen the civil society.

John the Baptist Approach to Corruption: A Recipe for the Church in Africa

Author(s): Abiodun Simeon Ige / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2016

This article discuses how to curb the menace of corruption in Africa. It employs a biblical account of how John the Baptist fearlessly confronted corrupt cases headlong during his day. Typologically, it is observed that in pristine Africa, Africans cherished values like honesty, love for neighbours among other values distinct from what obtains today. The article established the fact of the high rate of corruption in Nigeria and in Africa in general today, to the point that corruption has almost become if not part of the African culture. The aim of the article is to carefully examine the menace of corruption in Africa and to suggest Johns’ approach as a recipe for the church so as to curb the devastating act of corruption in Nigeria and on the African continent.

The doctrine of implied powers of international organizations in the case law of international tribunals

Author(s): Andrzej Gadkowski / Language(s): English Issue: 6/2016

The aim of this article is to present the contribution of international tribunals to the development of the doctrine of implied powers of international organizations. The author discusses the case law and the position presented by the PCIJ and the ICJ regarding the powers of international organizations. He points to the basis for implication of powers of international organizations and the limitation of such implication and presents a noticeable evolution of the tribunals view on the issue of implied powers.

Opportunities and Risks Associated with Exploitation of New Oilfields in Brazil

Author(s): Edyta Chwiej / Language(s): English Issue: 17/2016

Brazil’s domestic energy production has risen in recent years, particularly since the discovery in 2007 of large oil and gas deposits in its pre-salt oilfields. This was an important event in the history of the energy sector in Brazil. The discovery of the new oil fields may be an opportunity for Brazil to improve its energy security and strengthen its position in the international arena. But the future of energy security of Brazil may be threatened by a recent scandal with country’s biggest energy company, Petrobras, mired in national debt, low oil prices, and the potential hazards of the oil industry for the environment. This article reviews the potential benefits and risks of exploitation of Brazil’s new oil deposits.

Nowe podstawy formalnoprawne dla dialogu pomiędzy sądami krajowymi a Europejskim Trybunałem Praw Człowieka

Author(s): Adam Wiśniewski / Language(s): Polish Issue: XXXIII/2015

The protocol 16 to the European Convention of Human Rights introduces for the first time the procedure allowing national courts to request the European Court of Human Rights to give advisory opinions on question of principle relating to the interpretation or application of the rights and freedoms defined in the Convention or the protocols. Despite the critical voices as regards the particular solutions adopted in Protocol 16, an overall assessment of the main idea of this Protocol is positive. It creates undoubtedly the first formal legal basis for a dialogue between key judicial authorities in the Member-Sides of the Convention and the (Strasbourg Court). Although the primary objective of this dialogues to strengthen the implementation of the provisions of the Convention in the domestic sphere, the institution of request for an advisory opinion by national courts will act as a constructive instrument in shaping European human rights standards. The introduction of a new mechanism will be also another step towards making the Strasbourg Court the constitutional court determining the most important issues concerning the human rights standards at the European level.

Kształtowanie się państwowości Polski i Litwy w czasach nowoczesnych

Author(s): Ryszard Balicki,Artur Ławniczak / Language(s): Polish Issue: XXXI/2014

The article is devoted to the similarities and distinct solutions of the Polish and Lithuanian political systems at the time when both states again returned to the map of Europe. This issue becomes particularly important considering the fact that for several centuries both countries formed an ever closer union state, which was ended up by the final partition of Poland. However, after regaining independence in the early twentieth century the two countries followed their own way, interpreting the meaning and significance of a common past in a different way. Although the analysis of contemporary models of Polish and Lithuanian political systems indicates that there are significant similarities, they are not the consequence of a common history or common constitutional traditions but the results of solutions deemed as the most appropriate for the parliamentary systems implemented in each of these states.

Velitelská struktura a základní činnosti vojenských pozorovatelů v operaci MINUSCA

Author(s): Jan Drozd / Language(s): Czech Issue: 1/2016

The article is linked with two articles from 2013 (United Nations military observer and Preparation of Military Observers of ACR before Dispatchfor Operation) and describes command structure of military observer in MINUSCA operation in Central African Republic. The article also deals with description of basic duties of the military observer team sites as well as some specifics of their live within the operation. The goal of the article is to provide information concerning structure and responsibilities of military observers in this operation. The paper is determined for future military observers, military observers deployed in MINUSCA operation as well as training purposes.

Poselski projekt ustawy o powiecie metropolitalnym – progres czy regres w reformowaniu samorządu terytorialnego w Polsce?

Author(s): Paweł Antkowiak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2016

The development of local government is one of the key factors that contributed to the democratization of the political system in Poland. The process of building local government in Poland is still not finished, and there are new challenges. One of the important issues is the question of increasing role of metropolitan areas and large urban areas. The subject of the article was an analysis of the parliamentary Act on the metropolitan district. The proposed project does not ft the local reality. The good thing was that this project provoked the debate. As a result, it developed a new solution – the Act on metropolitan associations.

Dlaczego wy, biali, jesteście bogaci?

Author(s): Marta Titaniec / Language(s): Polish Issue: 669/2017

Analiza aktualnych stosunków rosyjsko-ukraińskich jako przykład zastosowania politologicznej analizy decyzyjnej

Author(s): Marcin Orzechowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 22/2009

The topic of the article is the presentation of modern Russian-Ukrainian relations basing on the principles of the politological making-decision analysis. It is the scientific method which is very often used for the purpose of the presentation and estimation of the processes which take place in the modern world. The author purposefully uses variety of the concepts connected with the politological making-decision analysis, therefore in article are constantly used following concepts: the making-decision situation, the making-decision process, the political decision and the political implementation.

SPÓR O NIEZALEŻNOŚĆ MACEDONII WE WSPÓŁCZESNEJ ,,ZJEDNOCZONEJ” EUROPIE. CZĘŚĆ 2. OD II WOJNY ŚWIATOWEJ DO WSPÓŁCZESNOŚCI

Author(s): Waldemar Potkański / Language(s): Polish Issue: 25/2012

The problem of the recognition of the sovereignty of the Republic of Macedonia has been presented in this article. Macedonia was established in 1991, just after the demise of the Yugoslavian Federation. Greece, a member of NATO and the EU, is the main adversary that does not want to recognise Macedonian independence. This State safeguards the division which was made after so-called the Balkan Wars in 1913. The division has lasted since the Second World War. In this way, the former lands inhabited by this population were partitioned into: Vardar (Serbian) Macedonia, Aegean (Greek) Macedonia and Pirin (Bulgarian) Macedonia. The State, over which the dispute arose, was established on 17th November 2001 as a result of “a bloodless revolution”. The People’s Republic of Macedonia (existing in former Yugoslavia) was the base for establishing the State. The dispute, which has lasted since then, is supposed to lead to the full international recognition of the State of Macedonia. But, for the time being, Macedonia has been recognised (within the UN) under a name imposed by Greece “Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia” (FYROM). Apart from that the Greek government is torpedoing further Macedonian initiatives which aim at a full union. It is also against the membership of this State in NATO and EU structures.

Systém údržby a oprav techniky v misích Organizace Spojených národů

Author(s): Martin Kurka / Language(s): Czech Issue: 2/2014

The article informs about methods and ways of maintenance and repairing military equipment, armament, materiel, for the duration of UN international missions. It depicts the whole system, including personnel duties during maintenance and recovery of materiel in the areas of United Nations peacekeeping operations. Further it explains some maintenance rules and activities done while scheduling the maintenance and repairing scheme, as well as contracted services.

DISCOURSE ON NATIONAL IDENTITY IN MOLDOVAN POLITICS AFTER 2009

Author(s): Piotr Oleksy / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2012

Throughout the 20 years of independence, different concepts of a Moldovan nation have competed in public, scientific, and political discourse. A turning point came in 2009, when the ruling Communist Party of Moldova was replaced by a pro-European coalition of self-styled liberal-democratic parties who brought about a significant pluralisation of Moldovan public life. The goal of this article is to analyse the discourse on national identity in Moldovan politics since 2009.

FINANŢAREA CERCETĂRII ŞTIINŢIFICE ROMÂNEŞTI – O FORMĂ FĂRĂ FOND

Author(s): I. Gabriel Năstase / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 18/2014

The system research, development and innovation (RDI) existing in Romania is not able to ensure the promotion of industrial development, due to its vulnerability.

UN POSIBIL PREMIU NOBEL: ŞTEFANIA MĂRĂCINEANU (1882-1944)

Author(s): Liliana Aurora Constantinescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 15/2013

Dictionaries on the History of universal science associate the year 1934 to the moment when Frederic Joliot Curie (1900 – 1958) and Irene Loliot Curie discovered artificial radioactivity, a discovery for which, in the following year (1935), the distinguished researchers won the Nobel Prize. Making the discovery public, in one of that time`s newspaper “NEUES WIENER JOURNAL” from the 5th of June 1934, Irene Joliot Curie stated: … “We remember that the Romanian scholar, miss Maracineanu, announced in 1924 the discovery of the artificial radioactivity”… Who is in fact this “Romanian scholar, miss MARACINEANU” about whom Irene Joliot Curie remembers that she announced the discovery of artificial radioactivity 10 years before the Curies, laureates for the Nobel Prize for that discovery?

INSTITUTUL GEOLOGIC AL ROMÂNIEI

Author(s): I. Gabriel Năstase / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 15/2013

L’Institute Géologique de la Roumanie (IGR) est l’une de plus vieille institutions centrales crée par l’État roumain moderne. Les fondements de IGR ont été réalisés au début de XXe siècle et a eu comme missions d’élaborer de chartes géologiques unitaires au niveau national, au diverses escales, en vue de mieux connaitre des caractéristiques du sol et du sous-sol national. Les donnes accumulées au long des années, les techniques d’investigation toujours en bon ton avec le temps et l’expérience gagnée ont conduisent au développement continu des capacités de recherche, ainsi que, en présent, toutes ces attributs font, de l’IGR un point de référence pour l’activité géologique de Roumanie. Il y a, dans l’IGG, deux objectifs nationaux d’intérêt stratégique : Le Musée Géologique de la Roumanie et L’Observateur Géophysique National Soulari.

EVOLUŢIA UNEI NAŢIUNI NU IARTĂ GREŞELI…

Author(s): Milică Simion / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 12/2012

Une nation c’est une communauté stable durée sur les critères historiques, linguistique, de tradition commune, en ayant la conscience d’un avenir commun. Nous, le roumaines, avons-nous encore la conscience d’un avenir commun ? Nous, sommes-nous encore une nation ? Certainement, nous en avons eus. Mais en sommes-nous encore ? Que nous comparaisons les générations de la deuxième partie du XIXème siècle avec les générations actuelles (la fin du XXème siècle et le début du XXème siècle). Il n’y a pas presque rien en commun…

INSTITUTUL DE CERCETARE A CALITĂȚII VIEŢII (ICCV)

Author(s): Gheorghe Văduva / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 7/2011

In the early 1990s, the establishment of a social policy institute was a necessary thing in the face of the pre-transition period. ICCV is part of the research network being one of the nationally-established institutes and a modern organization that has always sought to come up with solutions in the social field related to the different periods that Romania has traveled since 1990 to the present.

TERAPIA DE SOC SAU CRIZA MONDIALA A CAPITALISMULUI. SĂGEATA TIMPULUI

Author(s): Nina Georgescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 6/2011

La structure sociopolitique du monde contemporain a subi, après les événements de 1989-1991 en Europe de l'Est, des changements majeurs dont la finalité n'est pas encore complètement matérialisée, étant à peine prévisibles dans les conditions de la troisième crise économique majeure du système capitaliste mondial qui a éclaté en 2008 aux États-Unis et qui a aggravé et élargi les graves problèmes sociaux du monde capitaliste. En conséquence, au début du XXIe siècle, le monde occidental et les États-Unis, mais aussi les pays périphériques de l'Europe de l'Est, ne peuvent plus endurer de grandes souffrances humaines.

ANALYZING THE EFFECT OF THE 500 BIGGEST CENTRAL EUROPEAN COMPANIES ON SPATIAL STRUCTURE

Author(s): Zoltán Nagy,Géza Tóth,Tekla Sebestyén Szép / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

Many theoretical and practical works deal with the spatial structure of Europe. This article gives an overview of these papers focusing on Central and Eastern Europe. Our goal is to contribute to understanding the Central and Eastern European spatial structure through a new methodological approach. The research question is how the biggest companies and cities which host the biggest corporate headquarters affect the economic spatial structure of Central and Eastern Europe. Is there any overlap with the former spatial structure models? To study these research questions many methods are applied, such as the Eastern European Command and Control Index, a kindly novel approach to measure the competitiveness of cities and the spatial cluster analysis as well. This research draws the attention to the increasing importance of the capital cities and to the fact that the New Banana model covers the largest area in the region.