Modes of Comparative Studies of the Communist States in Eastern Europe – Towards a Theory of Detotalitarization
Regime and Society in the Countries of Eastern Europe (1956–1989)
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Regime and Society in the Countries of Eastern Europe (1956–1989)
More...Някои политико-философски разсъждения върху понятието за солидарност и неговата история
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The present article aims at introducing Edward de Bono’s “Six Thinking Hats” method and the way it is applied to the system of education. This method can be applied in various ways and contexts, but the aim is to illustrate how it can be used in the classroom to enhance and develop creativity. In order to find solutions, the method consists in analyzing the situation from various points of view.
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The paper outlines basic elements of the sociological analysis of economic inequalities. The baseline argument of the paper is that economic inequalities are a sociological concept which carries different content in comparison with economic differentiation and heterogeneity of incomes, which in turn are most often perceived as direct proxies of economic inequalities. The theoretical analysis of the concepts of economic differentiation and economic inequality made is focused on their specific interpretation schemes and measurement strategies and methods. The main problematic areas of classic measures of economic differentiation and are outlined including an analysis of most common research findings. The focus on the sociological analysis of economic inequalities (interpreted as status distances between economic roles and resources associated with these roles) includes the principle aspects of this analysis and a comprehensive research program (including concepts and indicators). Some methodological conclusions regarding the interpretations of economic inequalities are made, based on three ISSP surveys (1992, 1999, and 2009). Also based on empirical data some of elements of the outlined research program with regards to Bulgaria are explored: economic differentiation (Gini and extraction ratio), status identification its relationship to subjective social class, etc.
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In the light of the official statements made by the capitals of its coastal states, there is probably not a single centimetre of free space left in this sea, to which a claim has not been issued. In some parts of the sea, the claims of three, four of even five states overlap, creating a truly Gordian knot. The significance of the South China Sea causes that if the dispute over the archipelagos is not settled by implementing peaceful methods and means, at the negotiation table, East Asia region is likely to become a potential source of destabilisation and conflict whose size, in respect to the location and the number of parties directly or indirectly engaged in the dispute might turn out to be extremely hazardous.
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Eastern European immigrants coming to the UK since 2004 (in 2/3 from Poland) by their amount of work have concurred to serious growth of the GDP. But simultaneously they have been burden for British welfare system (among others by taking benefits for family members living outside the UK) and taking job even for minimum salary what have caused growth of native British unemployment. In this situation Conservative-Liberal Government leading by David Cameron have decided to limit an access to the UK labour market by language knowledge tests and tightening social benefits policy to job seekers. With informal support of main opposition parties (i.e. the Labour Party and the UKIP) D. Cameron have taken risky game showing he has been able to fight for his nation’s interests even in spite of huge protests of Polish and other Eastern European countries politicians and against the European Parliament resolution of 16 January 2014. But when turning out into a defender of Britons’ rights he also has showed that there have been deep divisions between “old” and “new” Europe still after 10 years of the EU’s biggest enlargement in 2004.
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The development of the civil society in Poland post-1989 has put the LGBT movement on the map of the country’s social landscape. As a corollary, it has also led to a greater social engagement of the non-heterosexual community striving for recognition of its demands. The establishment of the Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH) and the spread of the Internet in Poland have raised the Polish society’s awareness of the LGBT movement and made it part of the country’s political discourse. On the other hand, the perceived threat to the established conservative values of the Polish society has galvanised the opponents of the non-heterosexual community and its demands. The resulting dispute between the supporters and opponents of the LGBT movement and its professed ideas has placed the issue on the agenda of the Polish political parties.
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Article presents the strategy of the European Union to improve the situation of disabled people particularly in the area of employment. The first part discusses the basic statistics relating to the number of disabled persons in the European Union and in the Member States, as well as indicators on employment. In the next section cites key European regulations governing the issues of people with disabilities. A little more attention was paid to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which has become a reference point for European legislation. The last part is a brief characteristics of activation policies of people with disabilities in selected European countries.
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The study investigates the ghettoization of regions and countries in the time of globalization. It is a process similar to the one that took place in 16 century in Europe when ghettos were found. The outcomes of that process are some specifics in marketing that companies are implementing on those markets. Different cases were studied. Main point is Bulgaria and its situation as the poorest country in EU.
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The gradual joining of the post-socialist states to the European Union turned out to be a long and comparatively difficult process. The inclusion of these states in the structures of the Union is not just a political, economic and juridical act, but also an act containing cultural dimensions. It is important to know the historically determined social and cultural specifics of these states and to evaluate the possible impact resulting from them in order to understand and analyze the specific route of development of the post-socialist societies within the European Union. The present article aims at the revealing of some of these peculiarities present at the level of the everyday culture and stemming from the social logic of everyday life. They are integral elements of the cultural system and of the identity, being at the same time not constant and, as the practice shows, liable to change under certain conditions. The text analyzes the apprehension and the attitudes to the private and public sphere, the ways to build trust and social capital, as well as the role and the meaning of the informal nets of relations in the post-socialist societies. It also follows the changes in the mentioned above cultural characteristics after 1989 and studies the reasons for the dissimilarities in the processes of change in the different states.
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