Létezik-e szocialocén?

Author(s): Zsuzsa Gille / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 25/2019

The goal of this essay is to reevaluate state socialism’s environmental record. Zsuzsa Gille argues that state socialist modernity had its own view of nature and materials, as well as a largely misunderstood ethical stance to consumption that is ignored in today’s studies of capitalocene examining the interrelations of capitalism and climate crisis. This article provides a view not so much of the environmental advantages and disadvantages of central planning or “backwardness,” but rather demonstrate a unique economic logic that arguably carried some potential for a greener postsocialism. Instead of returning to the rightfully criticized Anthropocene term, however, Zsuzsa Gille argues for a more central role for waste and materiality in our understanding of the current dilemmas around global environmental problems.

A parasztok maguk csinálják történelmüket, de nem szabadon

Author(s): Philip McMichael / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 25/2019

This essay employs contemporary peasant mobilizing discourses and practices to evaluate the terms in which we understand agrarian movements today, through an exercise of historical specification. First, it considers why the terms of the original agrarian question no longer apply to agrarian change today. The shift in the terms corresponds to the movement from the late‐nineteenth century and twentieth century, when states were the organizing principle of political‐economy, to the twenty‐first century, when capital has become the organizing principle. Second, and related, agrarian mobilizations are viewed here as barometers of contemporary political‐economic relations. In politicizing the socio‐ecological crisis of neoliberalism, they problematize extant categories of political and sociological analysis, re‐centring agriculture and food as key to democratic and sustainable relations of social production.

Üzemanyag és társadalmi változás (Andreas Malm: Fossil Capital; Timothy Mitchell: Carbon Democracy)

Author(s): Mátyás Domschitz / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 25/2019

For thousands of years Sun was the source of energy that was necessary to the reproduction of human communities. Sunlight gave energy to plants that served as food for people and for their domesticated animals. In the 19th century this renewable source of energy was replaced by coal and later by oil. These two, more effective energy sources are the results of million years of rotting. As Sartre put it, they are "capital bequeathed to mankind by other living beings". This review confronts the competing arguments of Andreas Malm and Timothy Mitchell on the rise of fossil energy sources and on its social implications.

Az állam mi vagyunk

Author(s): Zoltán Sidó / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 27/2020

According to international case studies on the topic, the rapid and efficient scaling of solidarity economy initiatives requires interventions from the state. This paper analyses three types of state interventions: first, changes in the financial and legal regulations of cooperatives and solidarity economy projects; second, policies that aim to relocalize the economy on a municipal level; and third, efforts to transform state infrastructure in a green and democratic way. We illustrate all three types of interventions with actual case studies.

„Ha frankó, akkor úgy megy, mint a zsebóra” Szövetkezetiség, csettegők és technológiai önrendelkezés

Author(s): Márton Szarvas,Soma Ábrahám Kiss / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 27/2020

The article shows the importance of technological autonomy for the reproduction of social solidarity economy networks through international and Hungarian examples. It argues that technological innovation is necessary for such projects. Through an example of a handmade agricultural vehicle the article demonstrates the way people tend to organize the necessary technological tools for their social reproduction. The case study is situated in a region called the “Golden Triangle”. Here specialized cooperatives were established where the local lands could be cultivated only through technologically or labor-intensive ways, while the goods produced, like grape, sour-cherry or elderberry, were profitable enough on a small scale. Parallel to the development of specialist cooperatives, locksmiths started to put together vehicles, which were capable of maneuvering in tight rows and deep sand. These were adapted from engines and chassis of Soviet military vehicles. According to our argument the liberalization of the production of agricultural vehicles in the region stimulated employment through the creation of entrepreneurs, while at the same time it enabled the necessary technological innovation required to maintain productivity.

Defining the Components of Student Training for Participation in International Programs

Author(s): Iryna Liashenko / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2021

The integration of Ukraine into the European and transatlantic community is increasingly becoming more dynamic and vital. Ukrainian scholars, students, and professionals establish new diversified educational, business, cultural, scientific contacts in all spheres of life with European countries and throughout the world, which requires a number of special communication and activities skills. This paper investigates the student training process components, such as language learning, social and cultural skills development, psychological training, and patriotic attitude towards Ukraine abroad for developing a specific course for students. The students of Sumy National Agrarian University were surveyed about the ideal state of completing the international programs, both those who participated in the international programs and those who did not, but could assume the challenges they would encounter. The main problems which related to the participation in the international programs were found to be associated with language proficiency and social and cultural skills (about 45%), psychological and cultural adaptation to the foreign environment (about 25%), as well as the attitude towards Ukraine and the ability to represent oneself abroad adequately (about 30%). Many factors could influence the successful participation in international programs. However, we found clear indications that besides the language acquiring the course on preparing for the international programs should also include the social and cultural, psychological, and patriotic components.

The Management of Teaching in Online and Blended Learning Applied in the Project “Modern Competences of Academic Teachers – the Key to Modern Higher Education Institutions” – Acronym MOCAT

Author(s): Roxana Ştefănescu,Mariana Iatagan,Cristian Uţă / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

The management of teaching is connected and could be increased by using a wide range of different methods especially when we refer to Online and Blended learning. In the first part, the paper is aiming at reviewing the literature regarding the concepts and benefits of Online and Blended learning. Based on this considerations, 8 partner universities from 8 countries jointly developed the Project “Modern competences of academic teachers – the key to modern Higher Education Institutions (HEI)” – Acronym MOCAT. The paper underlines the goals and achievements of the MOCAT project that proposes a conceptual process to increase the management performance in teaching. The paper shows in an organized manner the main deficiencies that are altering the teaching competencies of academic teachers and in connection with this, the project offers solutions to improve the methodological competency of the teachers regarding the development and use of modern approaches. The outcomes of the project consist in the development and implementation of a Multicultural Model of an Academic Teacher Competencies and in 10online courses that represent modern training materials in the field of teaching methodology. In the end are exposed the way the results of the project can be evaluated in time as well as the anticipated effects of the project implementation.

Premises for a Multicultural Approach to Education

Author(s): Anzhelina A. Koriakina,Lyudmila Amanbaeva / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

The goal of education at the present stage is development of a person able to participate in intercultural communication in modern multicultural conditions. Based on this goal, modern education should be based on the principles of a multicultural approach to education that can serve as a response to the challenges of ethnic diversity. In order to more fully disclose the value of a multicultural approach to education, we need to examine its premises. In the article, the premises for a multicultural approach to education are analyzed. It is revealed that there are some pedagogical, philosophical, and psychological premises for it.

The Phenomenon of Match-Fixing in Football

Author(s): Korneliya Naydenova / Language(s): English Issue: 4s/2021

One aspect of the security of sport, which is rarely considered by the organizers of sports events, concerns the different manifestations of match-fixing. The match-fixing of the result of a sports event or any component of it contradicts the established norms and values of the sporting competition, drawn up at the end of the XIX century by Baron Pierre de Coubertin and known as Olympism. Today, match-fixing is one of the phenomena in modern sport. Advertising, publicity, profit largely regulate relations in professional sport, and in full force, this applies to football as the most popular sport in the world. If we look at what has been said so far through the prism of Bulgarian football, it is enough to look at the Bulgarian football championships, whose official sponsor is an online betting company at sporting events and the first football league is named after this company. This same company has sponsorship relations with more than 10football clubs, and to them we can add the volleyball and basketball federations, as well as some of the brightest representatives of these federations. Noticing this trend of business entering the sport, we set out to explore the opinion of players and their coaches about the manifestation of the phenomenon of match-fixing in Bulgarian football. The results of the survey show the existence of match-fixing at both professional and amateur level and allow us to indicate some steps to prevent such non-sporting techniques from winning.

Иновативни образователни практики и политики чрез прилагане на геоинформационни системи и технологии

Author(s): Kliment Naydenov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5/2021

Modern global education is characterized by an active transition to the use of new geographic information technologies. The new educational policy orients teachers and university professors towards the introduction of modern teaching methods based on the use of geoinformation and communication technologies. Modern educational technologies provide an opportunity for maximum solution of the problems for the development of education and its individualization. The system for retraining and in-service training of teachers (and teachers in pedagogical universities)also does not sufficiently take into account the vital need to master information technology by working teachers. So far, the processes of self-education predominate in the development of such technologies. Information and communication technologies(ICT) are evolving rapidly on a daily basis. Geographic information technologies, such as geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS) or global positioning systems (GPS) are important parts of ICT. They are used especially in geography education, but are not limited to this. Geographic information technologies provide such new methods and means of information processing that provide high visibility for displaying diverse information and an accessible set of tools for reality analysis. GIS has great potential for information analysis in order to make management decisions in the socio-economic sphere. The publication reveals the problems of higher and secondary education related to modern geoinformation technologies for searching, interpreting and demonstrating various geographical data. Basic guidelines for the development of the implementation of geoinformation technologies in the learning environment are presented.

SOCIAL CAPITAL AND ITS CHANGES IN ARMENIA: CHALLENGES AND EXPECTATIONS

Author(s): Albert Hayrapetyan,Liana Isayan / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2022

Social capital was the Achilles’ heel of the economic competitiveness of Armenia. In the meantime, the country made significant progress in solidifying it since the Velvet Revolution. In this article, we tried to present and analyze those elements of social capital which demonstrated significant progress in post-revolutionary Armenia, as well as the changes thereof. For that purpose, we have formulated the following research questions: What factors led to this growth, and what factors still lag? What hidden challenges can be observed through factual indicators which probably resulted from the slight decrease in the updated scores? What changes can be expected from the turbulent world and in the post-war society? The applied methodology is quantitative. In particular, to answer the research questions we used index analysis, graphic analysis, and comparison, correlation analysis techniques, pared t-test of the mathematical-statistical significance of changes, and Principal Component Analysis. The results of the analysis showed that a significant increase in the level of social capital was recorded in post-revolutionary Armenia, which was mainly due to the progress in institutional trust. Nevertheless, some revealed anomalies and encountered challenges undermined the archived progress in the growth of trust. Therefore, we put forward several recommendations.

Przemyt środków odurzających i substancji psychotropowych w przesyłkach skonteneryzowanych do portów morskich Unii Europejskiej na przykładzie kokainy

Author(s): Mariusz Majewski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2021

The aim of this article is to present the case on modern methods of smuggling narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances to the European Union. There is particular emphasis on rip-on / rip-off methods, which play a key role in transporting cocaine from Latin American countries via containerized sea shipments. The author used materials and studies obtained through extensive research with the services working to combat drug crime at the largest seaports in the European Union, namely: Rotterdam (Netherlands), Antwerp (Belgium), Le Havre (France), and Hamburg (Germany) in 2019-2020. The article addresses the research problem of smuggling via maritime transport, most often used by international criminal groups to trafficking narcotic substances to the European Union. The paper presents the method of critical analysis (studies, reports, scientific articles, literature on the subject, and materials from meetings under the EU Customs 2020 project). The author presents three main theses which, in his opinion, contribute to the choice of the method: low transport costs of containerized shipments, mass volume, ease of access, a small percentage of detailed checks conducted by border services, insufficient security of port infrastructure in Latin America, unrestricted access to seals forwarding, and the ease of falsification. This article supplements the literature on the subject of the methods of drug smuggling into the European Union.

ETHNO-NATIONALISM AS A FOUNDATION OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

Author(s): Andrei-Cristian Moraru / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2022

The understanding of ethnonationalism as the foundation of terrorist groups was long suspected to be true, yet only in the last decade, could the research prove to be so. These non-statal actors, which do not act in a violent manner, can become important threats for the national of international security, if provided with the right interest. Stating this, the implications for the regional and European security can be tremendous, as the civilian society will suffer greatly as an aftermath of a terrorist attack. Following this study, knowledge will be gained that will help to better understand the dynamics of relations developed between statal and non-statal actors. This paper is also an instrument underlying the concept of ethnonationalism and the connection of the term with terrorism, as we presently know it. From a methodological point of view, a qualitative method of research was used – the analysis of a case study, alongside a brief specialty literature review, in which research results regarding the topic were described. This article is open to any and all society members and can raise awareness of the public regarding the phenomenon of transformation of a non-statal actor, by providing some well-needed indicators.

В НОВИТЕ БРОЕВЕ НА СПИСАНИЯТА НА ,,АЗ-БУКИ“ ЧЕТЕТЕ

Author(s): / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2022

SLIDING INTO ANARCHY: AN APPRAISAL OF LAWLESSNESS IN NIGERIA AND THE QUEST FOR HUMAN SECURITY

Author(s): Olagoke Oluwafemi Awotayo,Olawale Olufemi Akinrinde,Ewube John Mbeng / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2022

The notion of human security has become a dominant theme in international political discussions. This is partly explained by the fact that the production of arms and ammunition does guarantee security. Economic, food, health, environmental, and personal safety are all components of human security. In Nigeria, the country is grappling with security hitches cutting across the six geo-political regions. Kidnapping, banditry, robbery, murder, and wanton killings are common items in the daily news. More worrying is that, despite huge resources being injected into the defense sector, the Nigerian government seems unable to curb this menace that has been troubling the nation's well-being. The government, security agencies, and intelligence organizations, on the other hand, appear to be caught off guard by the atrocities committed by terrorists, herders, and instances of interethnic violence pointing to the fact that Nigeria is prone to anarchy. Against this background, this paper contextualized the lawlessness in Nigeria with specific reference to human security. The paper employs the qualitative method of data collection that utilizes secondary sources such as newspapers, the internet, and extant scholarly works. Based on findings, the rate at which schools are closing, frequent jailbreaks, rising food prices, citizen apathy toward the government, the obvious inability of the government to uphold its own end of the social contract it made with its subjects, and failure of all security containment strategies are all overt signs of a failing state. It is submitted that there is a need for government to be conscious of its primary goals, which include welfare and the protection of people's lives and property. The article suggests that Nigeria should employ artificial intelligence to combat the threat to the nation's status as a sovereign republic, which is being posed by groups that have taken over the numerous ungoverned spaces that dot the country's territory. Nigeria should also invest in digital learning methods and coordinate its numerous security agencies. The political order, authority, law, and structures must all be rebuilt because they have all fallen apart.

Construction et légitimation des hiérarchies dans des organisations transnationales est-européennes (Pologne, Roumanie)

Author(s): Antoine Heemeryck / Language(s): French Issue: 4/2020

Cet article prend pour objet la légitimation des constructions hiérarchiques dans deux entreprises des pays d’Europe de l’est. La première est une multinationale en Pologne, la seconde une ONG de démocratisation en Roumanie. Le travail en Pologne et la démocratisation en Roumanie sont les secteurs qui ont été les plus exposés au changement dans la période postcommuniste dans ces deux pays. Pour comprendre le sens que donnent les acteurs à leurs relations sociales dans ces champs sociaux, trois dimensions doivent être rapportés aux enjeux actuels : le rapport au passé communiste, l’articulation à l’Occident et à l’État qui se conjuguent dans les imaginaires collectifs.

Трудова миграция на българите към Урал и Сибир и българската общност в гр. Сургут (1970 – 2022 г.)

Author(s): Julia Popcheva,Mila Maeva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 3/2022

The present study focuses on the labour mobility and settlement of Bulgarian citizens in Siberia and the Urals in the period between 1980-2022. The Bulgarian community in the city of Surgut, Tyumen region, is cited as an example. The research is based on archival and field materials and was conducted in the period from September 2019 – September 2022. It is a part of the research project “Bulgarians in the Urals and Siberia in the 20th – 21st centuries: history, culture, identity”, financed by the “NationalScience Fund” under contract KP-06-Russia-2 – 27.09.2019, within the framework of the bilateral cooperation program Bulgaria – Russia (2018 – 2022).

От Молдовския Кортен до Алтай и обратно в Тарутино, Украйна. „Голямата“ тема за съветските депортации в „малките“ истории на българите от Бесарабия. 1.

Author(s): Galin Georgiev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 3/2022

The present study once again directs the interest to the topic of deportations, or the so-called moving-away in the vernacular tongue, of Bulgarians from Bessarabia to the regions of the Urals and Siberia, and also in other remote parts of the USSR in the 1940s and 1950s, as a result of the policy of collectivization and the related repressions. The study was implemented in relation to a project of the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with the Ethnographic Museum – BAS, named“Bulgarians in the Urals and Siberia in the 20th – 21st centuries: history, culture, identity”, financed by the “National Science Fund” under contract KP-06-Russia-2 –27.09.2019, within the framework of the bilateral cooperation program Bulgaria –Russia (2018 - 2022) and the Russian Fund for Fundamental Research (Российскийфонд фондументальных иследование) – project Number 19-59-18003. The author of the study conducted field ethnographic research in the town of Tarutino, Odesa region, Ukraine, where in 1958-1959, in several waves, some of the 80 families fromCorten, Moldova– previously deported to Siberia in 1949, returned and settled. Along with the percentage of deported families, a special impression in the case under consideration is made by their compact settlement in several vicinities of the Altai krai, as well as their return and reestablishment in the same place altogether – in the present-day city of Tarutino, Odesa Region, Ukraine, in the nearby settlements ofPodgornoe, Berezino – all former German colonies, as well as in Corten itself. Thus, evacuation, emigration and life away from the place of birth, spent in an isolated, foreign ethnocultural and geographical environment, can be seen as a kind of ahistorical experiment regarding culture as a system of persistent and dynamic elements, of interrelationships and influences, as well as of stable, non-changing components.

Ekonomia polityczna „wyborczych autokracji”

Author(s): Bartłomiej Nowotarski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2022

„Electoral autocracy” (electoral authoritarianism), as shared by other nondemocracies, consists of the political monopoly of power. However this monopoly is due to elections which always, in populist assumptions, should only confirm incumbents’ ruling legitimacy even when competetive. Why such regimes are so succsessful worldwidely in a contemporary period? The answer is not simple, but to some extent it is because of political rent-seeking and limited so called transactional costs, both beneficial for incumbents as well as for their strict followers, and as a result usually leading to the hegemonic party system. Because incumbents are able – thanks to the credibility of different stable social transfers – to build enough solid „selectorate” needed for repeated reelections. It is not difficult to guess that such relations bring important costs for the rest of the excluded part of society, very often a majority. The price of the electoral autocracy, seen in a longer perspective, will be paid by the whole society.

Пета конференция на Националните асоциации в Международната социологическа асоциация „Социални трансформации и социология: лишености и овластявания“, 21‒24.11.2022 г., Нова Горица

Author(s): Mila Mineva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2023