Quantitative Analysis of Web Content in Support of Qualitative Research. Examples from the Study of Post-Soviet De Facto States

Author(s): Giorgio Comai / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2017

In recent years, the internet has been increasingly adopted as a key means of communication by local authorities, organisations and news media throughout the post-Soviet context. This has led to the creation and on-line publication of content that is routinely consulted and quoted by scholars of area studies, who, however, seemingly approach the web as an inordinate mass of content that can be superficially explored thanks to search engines and meaningful keywords. Structured analysis of content is still uncommon in area studies for a few reasons: it is considered to be time consuming, difficult to learn and, fundamentally, relevant datasets are usually not readily available. This paper briefly presents how to overcome these obstacles by introducing an open source package developed by the author that facilitates the creation of structured textual datasets from web content, and allows for basic word frequency analysis in a straightforward web interface.This article argues in favour of a wider use of quantitative methods based on the analysis of word frequency in textual datasets extracted from the internet as a starting point for in depth research with established qualitative methods. The examples presented in this paper relate to the study of post-Soviet de facto states.

Regionalna i lokalna uporišta političkih stranaka i koalicija

Razlike u procentu osvojenih glasova na lokalnom i republičkom nivou – parlamentarni izbori 2014. godine

Author(s): Nikola Tamburkovski / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 11/2014

The aim of this paper is to analyze the phenomenon of regional and local strongholds of different parties, i.e. their strongholds in towns and municipalities in Serbia, where some electoral lists for the parliamentary and local elections win a far greater percentage of votes compared to their overall support throughout the country. In the first place, we are offeringseveral answers to the question of what might be called the stronghold of a list. Then we analyze the trend of increase of the number of these local communities in the last few election cycles. Afterwards, we present a number of different tactics used by parties to form a stronghold – empirical examples are given on the basis of the 2014 parliamentary elections and the campaign that preceded them. The final part of the paper tries to answer the question of whether an increase or decrease in support for certain parties in certain strategically important parts of the country in recent years could have a significant impact on their overall electoral success.

RELIGIOSITY AND POLITICAL TOLERANCE: REASSESING THE RELATIONSHIP

Author(s): Jonathan R. Peterson / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2020

Political tolerance––the willingness to afford basic civil rights to individuals or groups that one finds disagreeable––is fundamental to liberal democracy. For several decades, political scientists believed that widespread religious adherence in the United States threatened political tolerance. Recent research casts doubt on the direct relationship between religiosity and political tolerance. However, this research is based on decades-old data or a sample collected from a single county. My study tests the relationship between religiosity and political tolerance using more recent national survey data. It confirms that, although religiosity is related to dogmatism, no direct relationship exists between religiosity and political tolerance.

RESEARCH METHODS IN SAFETY AND DEFENCE STUDIES, A PRAGMATIC APPROACH

Author(s): Joanna Hoffmann,Tomasz Hoffmann / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2014

Safety and defence studies have a very short history, as they were created quite recently. Hence the possible assumption that research methods that are used in them are in a sowing stage. In spite of it, there are researchers that decided to undertake a variety of explorative challenges and they try to use different research method, very often choosing them in reference to investigated reality. Therefore, it can be assumed that the methodology of safety and defence studies has not completely developed (yet). Borrowing methods from different sciences is a very difficult venture which causes situations when research results are false or they do not support any of the stated hypotheses. In the objective article, a review of research methods used for now in safety studies has been made. Of course, it can not be suggested that they are the only and the best ones. Actually, scarcely the quantity of conducted researches and investigated issues can let researchers make an observation which method is a leading one. For now, researchers try to look for accurate solutions for them and the investigated matter at the same time. It is very similar to a promotional work (such as essays, researches). In universities, where degree dissertations and Masters’ theses are being created, different research methods are used to apply to them. It happens quite often that the used methodology derives from pedagogical sciences. Some of the universities use research methods borrowed from political sciences. Another ones use methods that are quite sophisticated and very often draw from a variety of scientific disciplines. To recapitulate, one can hope that it is only the matter of time until together with maturating of the new discipline which is safety and defence studies, some methodological patterns will also be created.

Revolucija i/ili politologija? Dvojba iz povijesti hrvatske politologije

Author(s): Tonči Kursar / Language(s): Croatian / Publication Year: 0

Kad su se 2002. godine pojavile prve sustavnije studije (Knežević i Ravlić, 2002; Prpić, 2002) povijesti hrvatske politologije, bilo je jasno da smo se pridružili globalnom trendu istraživanja povijesti discipline, koji je počeo još prije pedesetak godina. Studije te vrste općenito su namijenjene prikazu povijesnog razvoja discipline i davanju nekih umjerenih preporuka za njezin budući razvoj. Takvo je stanje, s jedne strane, znak sazrijevanja politologije općenito, pa tako i hrvatske, a s druge je strane to možda i znak krize identiteta. Kriza identiteta politologije obično se može definirati na osnovi “boljki” većine društvenih znanosti. John G. Gunnell, američki politolog i jedan od vodećih promicatelja povijesti discipline kao “žanra”, kaže da su posrijedi dvojbe o spoznajnim kapacitetima discipline, nejasne granice prema drugim disciplinama, dramatične promjene u predmetnom području. Sve su se te krize obično odmah preobražavale u “sporenja o budućem usmjerenju, greškama i postignućama u prošlosti i uvijek su imale povijesnu dimenziju” (Gunnell, 2002, 341). U tom smislu vjerojatno imaju pravo Dryzek i Leonard kad kažu da se povijesne rekonstrukcije u našoj disciplini “koriste za legitimiranje određene perspektive, a delegitimiranje konkurentskih pristupa” (Dryzek i Leonard, 1988, 1247).

Rola statystyki w życiu społeczeństwa i funkcjonowaniu państwa

Author(s): Andrzej Iwasiewicz / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 2/2011

Rozpoznawalność agencji ratingowych a wpływ na kursy akcji

Author(s): Patrycja Chodnicka - Jaworska / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 8.2/2016

The aim of this article is to examine the impact of credit rating changes on the rate of return of stock prices of selected European banks. In covers literature reviews and gives hypotheses: the banks’ credit ratings changes significantly the influence on the abnormal rates of return of stock prices for both increasing and decreasing notes; the impact on the strength of banks’ stock prices on credit rating changes is determined by the political division. The data were collected from the Thomson Reuters database. For analysis the daily logarithmized rates of return of stock prices and long-term banks’ credit ratings are used. The hypotheses were verified by taking the event study methodology.

Rozważania nad naukami o bezpieczeństwie i bezpieczeństwem społeczności lokalnych

Author(s): Bogdan Chmieliński / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 23/2018

The science of safety as a discipline in the field of social sciences is already six years old. Attempts are made to search for the identity of science, to introduce the terminology, definition and methodology. Theoretical reflections concern, inter alia, the name of the discipline, safety science or safety sciences sub-disciplines and specializations in discipline, methodological identity, educational activity in the field of security, and the functioning of leading scientific centers. One area of interest for safety sciences is the local community and the threats that affect their functioning. In the discussion on the separation of sub-disciplines and specialties, the security of local communities can be considered as a separate area of scientific exploration having a specific subject and area of scientific exploration.

RUCHY SPOŁECZNE I MYŚL POLITYCZNA – CO, JAK I PO CO BADAĆ?

Author(s): Paweł Malendowicz / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 04/2016

The article is a form of reflection upon the research subject, the research methods and the aim of research on social movements and political thought. The author of the article suggests that in the research being carried out one should use methods characteristic of other scientific disciplines and the terms used in other sciences, for example in medicine, cognitive science or sociology. Replying to the question of the aim of research, the author explains that science is to serve the cognition and understanding of the world. Science is not supposed to be an art cultivated by a small circle of scholars in order not to contribute to the degeneration of the social system.

Segâh TEKİN, Brezilya Dış Politikası: Gelenek ve Değişim, DER Yayınları, İstanbul, 2017, ISBN: 9753534659

Author(s): Taner Karakuzu,İlker Limon / Language(s): Turkish / Issue: 16/2018

Review of: Book Review, Segâh TEKİN, Brazilian Foreign Policy: Tradition and Change, DER Yayınları, İstanbul, 2017, ISBN: 9753534659

Selected national approaches for achieving global standards in public administration

Education and training

Author(s): Polya Katsamunska / Language(s): English / Issue: 02/2020

The new reality of modern world places greater pressure on governments to put in place effective programs for education and training of public administrators. Indeed, this is the way to achieve greater excellence in public administration education and training, which has a main purpose to provide public administrators with the competencies and capacities to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life. This context outlines the focus of the article to examines and provide interesting insights into various national approaches for the delivery of public administration education and training from selected countries in the Americas and Europe. These countries have been chosen basically for two reasons; first, they represent traditional practice in their regions and second, they have excellent programs in public administration education and training for which they have had no major difficulties in seeking to reach the international standards of excellence in public administration education and training.

Slovo na úvod

Author(s): Alexander Duleba / Language(s): Slovak / Issue: 1/2017

Smart leadership for smart cities

Author(s): Takele Bekele BAYU / Language(s): English / Issue: 02/2020

This paper examines the issue of smart leadership for smart cities and the challenges they are facing. Particular emphasis is given to Africa (Rwanda and Ethiopia) which undergoing impressive urban growth at the rate of 3.5% annually that makes Africa the fastest urbanizing place in the world. However, the development of infrastructure and industries has not kept pace with the growth in urban population. Then how should Africa leaders be prepared and deal with the booming urbanization process? Smart Leadership for Smart Cities: a solution to the booming urbanization process in the continent. Indeed, as indicated in African Smart Cities Strategies for Agenda 2063, smart leaders- smarter citizens-smarter cities can alleviate African urban challenges. Indeed, only a little research discusses political leadership and commitment/political rationalities while the literature of technology innovation/technical rationalities is abundant. Recognizing the fact that Smart cities will not succeed without developing smart leadership, Rwanda under Paul Kagame and Ethiopia under Abiy Ahmed- have launched Smart Kigali initiative and “Beautifying Sheger” project respectively with the aims to develop the entire urban eco-system and realize smarter and sustainable neighborhoods and cities in their respective capital cities. The study employed a secondary method of data collection and analysis in combination with observation. Thus, the study concludes that political leadership is indispensable and leaders in both countries are undertaking impressive measures in transforming their country while building alliances and partnerships with various stakeholders. However, such initiatives are challenged by factors like trust and transparency, debt burden, public participation, and poor existing infrastructure. African leaders and their policymakers can learn a lot from the experiences of the two countries and their leadership style and moreover it provides a valuable contribution to the much-untouched areas of smart leadership for smart cities.

Social Cognition and Political Values. Inquires in Political Psychology

Author(s): Silviu-Petru Grecu / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2018

The aim of this article is to evaluate the quantitative relationship between social cognition, political values and political attitudes and behaviours. In practice, this study analyses two different samples from Germany (N=2030) and Romania (N=1503) and tests if there is a significant relationship between political cognition, values and political action. In this respect we can estimate that the Romanian political system is characterised by political apathy and alienation. All the quantitative results are representative for the statistical time series between 2010 and 2014. There is no statistical correlation between political cognition and political behaviour (r = 0.02, p = 0.001). In contrast, in Germany we observe an educated citizen able to develop personal beliefs regarding the political sphere and, also, to participate, in different manners, in the political life. We can identify a medium positive correlation between political cognition and political behaviour (r = 0.552, p = 0.001). Also, we can underline the fact that political cognition in full democracies, like in Germany, is structured on several values such as: independence (r = 0.504), responsibility (r = 0.602), tolerance and respect for others (r = 0.536). In the Romanian case, political cognition is structured on residual values of the communist society: hard work (r = 0.541) and obedience (r = 0.466). For understanding this psychological process at the theoretical level, we presented two main perspectives about social and political cognition: a neuropsychological perspective derived from the Theory of Mind (ToM) and a perspective derived from “sharing reality”.

Społeczne usytuowanie pedagoga resocjalizacynego w terenowych badaniach jakościowych Dylematy metodologiczne i etyczne badacza w „trudnym terenie”

Author(s): Małgorzata Michel / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 2/2015

Celem artykułu jest ukazanie pewnych trudności, problemów natury etycznej i dylematów moralnych jakie napotyka badacz jakościowy w terenie. Poruszane zagadnienia są własnymi refleksjami autorki po przeprowadzonych badaniach terenowych w przestrzeni miasta z perspektywy pedagogiki resocjalizacyjnej.

Správa státních hmotných rezerv v zrcadle bezpečnostního výzkumu

Author(s): Stanislav Kulhánek,František Ochrana / Language(s): Czech / Issue: 4/2013

The control of emergency economic measures, namely state material reserves, is an important part of Czech security system. From the institutional point of view, all is run under the authority of a central institution—the Administration of State Material Reserves (ASMR). This paper deals with its role in the management of state material reserves, reflects problems and consequences resulting from the changes in security surrounding, re-evaluates opinions and views both by experts of state administrations and academic community. Those are the main key questions the study seeks an answer.

Stosunki międzynarodowe – pojęcie, zakres oraz forma z perspektywy wybranych teorii i podejść badawczych

Author(s): Beata Molo / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 3/2018

The article discusses the essence of contemporary international relations based on selected definitional approaches, their expanding subject (states, other actors, including transnational ones) and object scope. In particular, the activity of transnational actors leads to the expansion of international relations, which cover more and more new fields. In addition, the study presents the main forms of rivalry, cooperation and struggle manifestation in international relations in the context of selected research theories and approaches.

Strategy for Economic Change Management in a Commune

Author(s): Diana Dryglas / Language(s): English / Issue: 9.2/2016

The purpose of this paper is to present a methodological proposal of an effective strategy for the management of economic change (SMEC) in a commune which will enable a faster adaptation to the changing environment and help gain a competitive advantage over other communes in the future. This paper defines a model of strategy for the management of economic change (SMEC) in a commune which consists of six general stages: partnership, diagnosis, strategic analysis, designing a strategy, implementation of a strategy, and evaluation of results based on the strategic management process. The paper provides implications for local partnerships established by entities initiating economic change in a commune, arguing that by using tools of a SMEC and understanding change initiatives, commune is likely to be more competitive. Proposed model of SMEC in a commune can be used by the researchers and practitioners to solve the particular issues in response to change which will broaden the theory relating to territorial units’ context.

STUDENT AND PARENTAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS VOUCHERIZATION OF EDUCATION

Author(s): Admir Čavalić,Damir Bećirović,Amela Bešlagić / Language(s): English / Issue: 03/2018

Voucher system of education implies the use of vouchers as instruments of financing public and private education. Unlike the traditional ways of financing education, the voucher system creates the assumptions for increasing the freedom of choice regarding educational programs within different levels of education. Paper will use scientific methods of systematization and analysis of existing literature regarding school vouchers, in order to give a critical review of the influence of vouchers on increasing the competitiveness of education. The paper will also present the results of the research of student and parental attitudes about towards voucherization of education. Research sample includes respondents from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia and Republic of Serbia. Along with the conclusion, the paper also offers some recommendations regarding the use of vouchers for the improvement of local education systems.

Studija slučaja u komparativnoj politici

Author(s): Nikolina Jožanc / Language(s): Croatian / Issue: 03/2015

Paradoxical status of case studies in social sciences is particularly evident in comparative politics, where theoretical relevance of a case study method is repeatedly undermined despite the overwhelming amount of empirical research that employs it. For this reason, the paper explores under which conditions a single case study can be defined as a method of comparative politics, as well as its specific strengths and weaknesses for theory development in comparative politics. The first part of the paper tries to clarify definitional disputes which contribute to unjustifiable dismissals of case study as a comparative method. The second part examines in more detail the potential contribution of case studies in accomplishing the goals of comparative research. Arguments put forward in both parts of the paper point to positive evaluation of case study as a legitimate method of comparative politics.