(Re)acting Together: Grexit as Revival of Intellectuals

Author(s): Gazela Pudar Draško / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2015

The paper explores the messages of engaged global intellectuals in the case of Grexit, the case of Greek attempt to break up with neoliberal practices and produce a left turn in politics and society, which was followed worldwide. How their words contribute to the general understanding (if there is one) and change (if there should be change)? What kind of action we can expect from intellectuals, as it is intrinsic to the concept? The issues examined in this paper deal with the intellectuals as bearers of articulating social critique, focusing on the specific Greek case in the time of temptations.

Anselm Jappe: La fin du capitalisme ne sera pas une fin pacifique

Author(s): Mark Losoncz / Language(s): French Issue: 4/2015

DEPENDENŢĂ ȘI DEZVOLTARE. ECONOMIA POLITICĂ A CAPITALISMULUI ROMÂNESC (DEPENDENCY AND DEVELOPMENT. THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF ROMANIAN CAPITALISM) BY CORNEL BAN. CLUJ-NAPOCA: TACT PUBLISHING HOUSE, 2014, 293 PAGES.

Author(s): Anca Simionca / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2015

The book takes us through the past century and a half of Romanian history, analyzing in each of its seven chapters what Cornel Ban sees as distinct phases of the country’s position in relation to the world economy: the early departure from a feudalistic organization in the 19th century that marked the actual constitution of the Romanian nation state and its position of classical and then semiperipheral dependency (Chapter One), the five decades of state socialism (Chapter Two) followed by the various stages of post-socialist capitalism (Chapters Three to Seven). Coherent with the Polanyian framework it stems from, the analysis simultaneously follows the indicators of a gradual transformation of an agrarian economy into one of complex industry and services, and the ones related to the extent and depth of social rights (health, education and labour protection).

Indeks suwerenności gospodarczej - założenia teoretyczne.

Author(s): Tomasz Tarnawski,Paweł Ukielski,Kamil Zubelewicz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 41/2016

This paper introduces the Economic Sovereignty Index (ESI), which is a numerical measure of economic sovereignty (ES). Economic sovereignty of an economic entity (especially a state) means that it possesses a permanent ability to follow its own path in the face of relatively rigid links with other entities under potentially worsening economic conditions. This sovereignty rests on three pillars: the lack of the economy’s dependence on other economies, the ability of the economy to make others dependent on it and the inner strength of the economy.

LIBERALIZATION OF AUTHORITY: ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS' PRIVATIZATION IN THEORY AND COMPARATIVELY

Author(s): Polona Kovač / Language(s): English Issue: 03/2016

Besides the traditional forms of liberalization of public services and authority, public administration reforms also involve the privatization of (state) administrative tasks. In some countries, including Slovenia, private holders perform public tasks in such a way based on “public authority”. The main reason for granting public authority is increased efficiency of administrative tasks, which private entities achieve through liberalization of political influence and rationalization of work. However, due protection of public interest has to be maintained by strategic control of public authority. The article addresses by theoretical analysis aspects of administrative tasks’ privatization based and analyzed on the example of multiple OECD and the EU countries, especially Slovenia, in the context of good governance concept in order to offer guidelines for similar reforms in other countries.

PROBLEM DEFINIOWANIA MARKETINGU POLITYCZNEGO

Author(s): Artur Łuszczyński / Language(s): Polish Issue: 06/2009

The paper is dedicated to an analysis of problems related to defining the concept of political marketing. Following an overview of selected definitions found in the Polish literature on the subject, the Author presents a conception within which political marketing is taken to constitute a set of intentional activities aimed at shaping political behaviour. References to concrete examples of behaviour registered during past political campaigns serve to illustrate dangers resulting from unrestrained operation of scientific categories. This approach stresses these elements which are crucial for a scientific character of marketing activities. In Poland – a country of systemic transformation, rooted in historical experiences different from the experience of Western European countries, this is of paramont importance since the practice shows that simple implementation of foreign models is not possible. According to the Author, the definition of political marketing should contain the crucial element of reflexivity of the implemented action and their complexity. Not including these aspects in definitions of political marketing verges on error since it leads to too broad drawing of the boundaries of the research field.

Główne założenia procesu globalizacji we współczesnym świecie

Author(s): Marek Rewizorski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 27/2010

Na relacje zachodzące pomiędzy podstawowymi podmiotami stosunków międzynarodowych wpływa w znacznej mierze proces globalizacji, który w swą obecną, trzecią już, fazę rozwoju wszedł w latach 80. XX w. Najczęściej analizuje się go od strony ekonomicznej, politycznej, społecznej i kulturowej. Problem sprawia jednak określenie jego istoty. Dzięki wysiłkom nakierowanym na określenie głównych założeń globalizacji wiadomo jest coraz więcej o jej funkcjonowaniu. Nadal utrzymuje się niepewność co do tego, czym właściwie jest wspominany proces. Poszukiwanie odpowiedzi utrudnia brak jednej, powszechnie akceptowanej definicji globalizacji. Przyczyną tego jest ogromna złożoność owego „super‑procesu”, który obejmuje coraz to nowe obszary życia społecznego.

Public Service Obligation – obowiązek świadczenia usług publicznych w zbiorowym transporcie kolejowym

Author(s): Łukasz Piekaj / Language(s): Polish Issue: 368/2014

The aim of this article is to explain the PSO issue and to discuss basic matters. Two basic acts in this domain are Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) Nos 1191/69 and 1107/70 and the act of the public common transport of 16 of December 2010. These two acts normalize issues of public service obligation in a complex way. The article is about possible interpretation doubts and law institutions which apply in this regard. Eventually EU and domestic court decisions issues are also taken.

A fáraó varázsol. A rezsicsökkentés beágyazottsága

Author(s): M. Tamás Horváth / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 3/2016

Prospects of Pluralist democracy in an age of economic Globalization and World-Wide Migration

Author(s): Rainer Eisfeld / Language(s): English Issue: 15/2015

the author inquires how are societies to cope with economic globalization, migration and ethnic and religious diversity without sacrificing electoral responsiveness and governmental accountability. His also asks how to deal with grossly unequal distribution of political resources, skewed power structures, structurally embedded participatory barriers that resurface in a more dangerous forms in the new context. For answers he turns to a classic of democratic theory robert dahl and his ideas that are in sharp contrast to the present trend of introducing corporate management as a best way to run political affairs. dahl, instead, proposes introducing democracy into the economic sphere and especially in large corporations. For the growing diversity of present societies, the author only partly advocates for the consociational recipes of Lijphart and the multiculturalism of Kymlicka pointing out that without resourceful political individuals and their political participation pluralist democracy cannot flourish. the author concludes that political science should again develop visions about how a “good society” might be designed – and how it might be politically brought even remotely closer to being attained. Such a discipline might then work as a science of democracy.

From Political Mythos to Economic Logos: Secularization in Aristotle’s Politics

Author(s): Miguel Herrero de Jauregui / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2017

The economic background of Aristotle’s Politics goes far beyond the considerations on oikonomia in the first book, or the scattered references to economic principles throughout the whole work. It is the method of analysis of politics as an empiric, measurable and secularized discipline where his work is most linked with modern social sciences, economy among them. Secularization will be exemplified through three case studies: the oath, the concept of justice, and the idea of salvation / preservation. In all these cases, there is no concession to mythological or religious notions, but they are instruments of the logos, which constitutes a unique enterprise in Antiquity.

Pope Francis: It Is the Politics!

Author(s): Emilce Cuda / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2017

This article will try to establish a relationship between economy and religion based on the speech of the new Latin American Pontiff, Pope Francis, for whom the problem of global crisis should not be sought in the economy but in politics. The pontiff believes that the economy should be subordinated to the politics and not the other way around. Trying to find a solution to the global political and economic crisis involves investigating the theological causes that sustain structural poverty. Francisco, as a new prophet in times of capitalism, relying on the documents of the Latin American archbishops, denounces that the lack of work that originates this system originates a culture of death. Political theology can unmask false gods that support this system, and proclaim the importance of a poor working people who must be treated with dignity.

INTEGRATION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD FOR THE WESTERN BALKANS

Author(s): Elena Makrevska-Disoska / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2017

By analyzing the impact of the economic crisis on the Western Balkan (WB) countries, the paper concludes that their export, inflow of remittances and FDI have suffered due to the crisis. Regarding the rapid credit growth in years before the crisis it spurred an increase in imports, which in context of relatively uncompetitive economies, led to increased current account deficits despite significant remittances and FDI inflows. The impact of the crisis in the region can be explained mainly by their degree of European integration. But, the European Union (EU) is more uncertain to embrace the economically weaker countries, causing loss of EU credibility. It seems that the EU integration is a double-edged sword for the WB: in good times EU delivers its prosperity, but at a time of crisis, it is creating instability.

Bİr liberal miyim?

Author(s): John Maynard Keynes / Language(s): Turkish Issue: 1/2017

ТАДЕУШ КОВАЛИК – ВЕЛИКИ ПОЛИТЕКОНОМИСТ

Author(s): Rajko Bukvić / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 142/2013

The paper shows the life and work of Tadeusz Kowalik, one of the greatest Polish economists of the second half of XX and the beginning of XXI centuries. Born in the poor family, he early accepted the ideas of socio-democracy, which he combined with scientific activity during his whole life. He grew on traditions of O. Lange and M. Kalecki, and studied profoundly the work of Rosa Luxemburg. He was not only a great economist, but being a principled leftist, he also took part in the struggle to reform the hyper-centralized and bureaucratized economic and social system of Poland. Immediately after the political changes and the beginning of market reforms he distanced from the accepted reforms (Balcerowicz’s Program) becoming its sharpest critic. Kowalik adhered to the original leftist ideas from the initial period of the Solidarity activity. He was the irreconcilable opponent of the neoliberal economic theory, arguing in favor of pluralism and public debates on economic policy instead. He kept working by the same principles and with the same intensity until the end of his life.

A társadalombiztosítás politikai gazdaságtana. A racionális magyarázatkísérletek rövid története

Author(s): Béla Janky / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 4/2018

This paper provides a non-exhaustive survey of the political economy literature on intergenerational redistribution. We concentrate on the explanations of the emergence, persistence and some specific features of pay-as-you-go public pension systems. The major question of the surveyed literature is how to explain the popularity of a social security system which reduces the welfare of the median voter. After a short survey of the history of the field, we present four models which represent four distinct approaches to the problem, and belong to four different periods of the history of the research program. The studies presented here highlight the possible roles of rigid institutions, an implicit intergenerational contract, intergenerational altruism and uneven lobbying capacities in shaping modern social security systems. The major novel feature of our perspective is the strong emphasis on the analysis of empirical foundations of behavioral assumptions of political economy models.

Chalmers A. Johnson műveiről

Author(s): Katalin Ferber / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 2/2019

A NER gazdaságtana

Author(s): Rafael Pablo Labanino / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 2-3/2020

Scheiring Gábor: Egy demokrácia halála. Az autoriter kapitalizmus és a felhalmozó állam felemelkedése Magyarországon Budapest, Napvilág Kiadó, 2019, 342 oldal, 1920 Ft

(Nie)skuteczność kwot dla kobiet w polskim prawie wyborczym. Odgórne kreowanie procesu rekrutacji politycznej vs „wola ludu” w państwie demokratycznym

Author(s): Łukasz Wawrowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 32/2021

Politics is traditionally dominated by men. In recent years, women’s participation has increased as a result of, among other factors, targeted equality policy actions. Among the many possible ways to attain this result the most familiar is the quota mechanism, sometimes (mistakenly) equated with gender parity. Łukasz Wawrowski’s aim in this article is to examine the implementation of this mechanism in the Polish electoral law using solutions developed in 2011, and to indicate its effectiveness from the perspective of the elections to the Sejm in October 2019. Wawrowski uses a double prism to treat the “antinomies of democracy” referred to in the text. First, he discusses the conditions to be met in order for the quota mechanism to be effective. Secondly, he ponders the extent to which such a “top-down imposition of the number of women involved” agrees with the essence of democracy, often understood as the implementation of the “will of the people”.

Excerpt from Chapter One of Frank Engster’s Book: Das Geld als Maß, Mittel und Methode Das Rechnen mit der Identität der Zeit (Berlin: Neofelis Verlag UG, 2014)

Author(s): Frank Engster / Language(s): English Issue: 1-2/2021

The question of the book is how a radical critique of capitalism is possible when critique in the tradition of Kant and Hegel means that the criticized subject itself has to “give” the measure of its critique. The thesis is that, while in Kant this reflexivity is achieved by transcendental subjectivity and reason and in Hegel by self-consciousness, self-relation of the concept and the absolute reason of spirit, in Marx we find a materialist turn. The turn shows that capitalist society became reflexive by a kind of self-measurement, done by the functions of money, on the one hand, and the valorization of labour power and capital, on the other. Money, by its function as the measure of value and the means of its realization and mediation, measures in the commodities the productive relations of their production, thus determining from the past valorization of labour and capital the magnitudes necessary for their further productive valorization — and hence for a productive use of money itself. That is how, in money’s capital form, the measured magnitudes become reflexive, while money itself becomes in its capitalist self-relation the form to measure the same valorization process which by this form becomes possible in the first place. The aim of the book is to translate this process into an economy of time, showing that money’s quantification of social relations is nothing else than this translation itself.