Rola malowanych jaj w ukraińskiej obrzędowości

Author(s): Yuliya Zlochevska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2022

The article describes the phenomenon of one of the oldest and most significant fields of Ukrainian folk art ‒ Ukrainian Easter dyed eggs, represents the mythical origins of Easter dyed eggs, explains the process of making decorated eggs and highlights their role in Ukrainian folk ceremonies, mainly spring and Easter rites and traditions. In purpose to demonstrate the phenomenon of Ukrainian painted eggs, the author formulates a hypothesis from which it follows that the Easter dyed egg plays a very important role in Ukrainian rituals, both pagan springtime and Christian Easter. The article refers to the achievements of Ukrainian researchers in this area of study, notably the scientific studies of Mykoly Sumcova, Erasta Biniashevskiego, Vasylia Sapigi, Oleksy Voropaja and others.

Przełamywanie milczenia. Przemiany sposobów prezentacji problematyki LGBT+ we współczesnej prozie słowackiej

Author(s): Rafał Majerek / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2022

In Slovakia after the Velvet Revolution of 1989 groups previously marginalized and discriminated against in the communism era, including the LGBT+ community, began activities aimed at obtaining full civil rights and developing forms of cultural representation. Gradually, the issues of non-heteronormativity began to appear in various areas of culture. As regards prose texts, which are the basis for the reflections presented in this paper, non-heteronormativity was initially portrayed in a stigmatizing, stereotype-based manner. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the dominant approach has been to expose the problem of LGBT+ people living in the closet, hiding their identity due to the homophobia in the society; the sphere of intimacy is considered as the only one that allows a sense of security and the free expression of affection and desire. In more recent works, examples of characters who have come out of the closet and have no problems with functioning openly in the family and social contexts begin to appear. The specificity of Slovak fiction featuring the themes of non-heteronormativity lies mainly in the lack of works of a clearly emancipatory nature, the domination of stories focused on intimate relations between women, and only occasionally introducing gay or transgender themes.

La modernité baudelairienne et ses parages

Author(s): Wacław Rapak / Language(s): French Issue: Sp. Iss./2022

The following text takes up the problem of modernity in its canonical formulation proposed in 1863 by Charles Baudelaire in his important essay entitled Le peintre de la vie moderne. The author of the article tries to show the basic framework of this concept with the definition of modernity itself and the category of beauty, remaining at Baudelaire’s conception in natural connection with it. The author highlights the importance of Baudelaire’s earlier views and the influence that the Paris World Exhibition of 1855 had on him.

In memoriam Вера Гашпарикова

Author(s): Vladimir Penchev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 46/2023

From a Centralised to a Diversified Common Agricultural Policy in the Light of Liberal Intergovernmentalism Theory

Author(s): Renata Grochowska / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

The aim of this study was to identify the circumstances in which the Common Agricultural Policy, once the most centralised policy in the EU, changed, after 2013, into one which is the most decentralised and diversified. The following hypothesis was put forward that the introduction of significant flexibility in the CAP reflects the search by Member States for the most effective ways to identify and implement their own preferences on the EU forum. The research was conducted from the perspective of the liberal intergovernmentalism theory based on a critical analysis of the respective literature and the applicable strategic documents and regulations. In the study, a large heterogeneity of agricultural sectors in the EU has been shown, resulting from several enlargements of the EU. Consequently, it has led to an increasing diversification of national preferences, signifi cantly affecting the shape of the CAP reforms proposed on the EU forum. Other important drivers influencing the changes in the CAP were the introduction of a co¬decision procedure in the area of agriculture, along with the increasing impact of Member States on the decision-making process since the economic crisis of 2008–2009. As a consequence, EU budget negotiations have been dominated by narrowly-defined sectoral and national interests. The concentration of Member States on an acceptable net position contributes to maintaining the status quo in terms of the expenditure part of the EU budget or its reduction. Thus, there is a risk that the deficit of European integration in areas assuming the distribution of costs and benefi ts between Member States may have a negative impact on the future of the EU.

The Attempted Destruction of Western Values

Author(s): Vija Sīle,Elina Graudiņa / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

An attempt to shake the established world order of Western society, based on International Law, by the waging of war, has reached its peak. This is evidenced not only by Russia’s war in Ukraine, but also by Russia’s political attempts to destabilise Moldova’s approach to Western values, along with the recent unrest in Georgia, where there is a risk of restricting individual freedom of expression, and the constant threats against the Baltic States. Conflicts of values have existed throughout world history, but the events we are witnessing now are not an accident, but a systematic reiteration of Russia’s influence, with the aim of maintaining its influence and, perhaps, increasing its power in the region. The aim of this article is to show the clash of contemporary values in the current socio-political situation from the perspectives of theory and practice. Russian political leaders had long used alarming language in their rhetoric, up to and including the moment of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In Europe and throughout the Western world there was a belief in universal values with peaceful/stable global institutions, a belief which has proved to be misguided. On the other hand, military aggression against a free and independent country can be interpreted as a direct and clear attempt to destabilise the values of Western civilisation, without which no democratic society can exist. The timing of the military aggression was chosen after a decline in civic confidence from the perspective of the COVID-19 crisis; European countries were experiencing a reduction in political activity among their citizens, dissatisfaction with the political elite, and a certain decline in confidence in the EU institutions. The course of the pandemic reflected the lack of critical thinking in societies, as individuals were also at risk of manipulation in the information sphere. The Russian invasion of Ukraine caused some indignation in the Western world and a failure to react quickly to the rapid turn of events. After the first year of the war, the EU Member States managed not only to change their position but also to give unwavering and unequivocal support to the victim of the war, namely, Ukraine. So far, the EU slogan “United in Diversity” has become “United in Solidarity”, helping Ukraine to hold on and possibly win the war against the aggressor state, because no war, especially a war of values, ends on the front lines. As a result of current events, EU and transatlantic cooperation has undergone a major transformation involving extensive cooperation, a clear position on international law, and a desire to preserve and strengthen Western values.

European Security Strategies and the War in Ukraine

Author(s): Agata Dziewulska / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

The war in Ukraine made European societies wonder how ready they were for it, and exposed new dangers that European leaders had believed gone. First and foremost, once again, a vision of territorial aggression has returned to the list of threats to European security. Does the EU have adequate security strategies to guideline its response to such dangers? Do the strategies structure the development of instruments so that its institutions and Member States can successfully deal with the threat that the war in Ukraine poses to EU societies?The EU has two security strategies, from 2003 and 2016, and it stands to reason to verify their adequateness vis-á-vis the war in Ukraine. This article studies the provisions of these strategies, presents the progress of the war in Ukraine, and verifies the reactions of EU institutions and Member States in face of these events. While it reflects on the provisions of the security strategies in light of the ways the EU and its Member States have reacted to war, it concludes with a proposal of elements that need adjusting within the EU catalogue of possibilities.

Концепцията на Уолзър за войната и необходимостта от радикализъм

Author(s): Georgi Iliev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2023

The text asks the question whether political radicalism is indispensable in the conceptualization of an ongoing war, and moreover is it morally righteous to think of war in a non-radical way. The article does that with the help of one of the most prominent theorists of war, Michael Walzer. The text is a kind of a critique of his conceptions. Besides being an inventor of the modern concept of „just war“, Walzer is also a rightwing anti-radical due to his path of philosophical development as a whole. His early work analyses the Book of Exodus as a source of all radical politics and finds a new interpretation of the story from the Scripture. The text presents it in parallel with a short story by William Faulkner – „Go Down, Moses“. Then the author examines Walzer’s idea of „distributive justice“ and juxtaposes it with some Bulgarian theoretical examples. Walzer’s doctrine of „just war“ is discussed with reference to the views of Hannah Arendt on violence and war. Finally, the text opposes some recent reactions to the war in Ukraine.

Образите на съюзника и врага за българския войник по време на Първата световна война

Author(s): Zhivko Lefterov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2023

Bulgarian society’s efforts to achieve national unification culminated in the Bulgarian Kingdom joining the First World War in 1915 on the side of the Central Powers. In 1917, the military and political leaders of the country began to pay special attention to the Bulgarian army’s spirit and morale which influenced its resilience and willingness to fight the enemy for a prolonged period of time. For this reason, a Guidance was drafted on collecting specific data and information that played a decisive role in forming the army’s attitude. On the basis of this guidance, hundreds of reports and information from all parts of the army were submitted to the Headquarters of the Active Army. The article is devoted to a specific aspect of the content of this massive documentation, namely the information collected on the impressions and opinions of Bulgarian soldiers about the other people participating in the war – allies and enemies. Based on that, the „notion of the other“ – the result of both pre-war stereotypes and first-hand experience and observation – can be distinguished in a relatively clear manner. The dynamics in attitudes related to specific military and political events and their impact on the shaping of this image can also be distinguished and traced. The Bulgarian soldier outlined a number of positive and negative character traits in his allies and enemies. Available evidence reveal an indisputable link between the army’s spirit and the image of the ally and the enemy.

Пропаганда и обществено мнение: Липман, Дюи и Бернайс, четени днес

Author(s): Georgi Medarov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2023

Public fears of post-truth, hybrid warfare and foreign propaganda are gaining prominence. The purpose of this article is to show such concerns are hardly novel. I will make analogies between the contemporary debate and the problematization of public opinion and propaganda in the United States in the 1920s, juxtaposing the works of Edward Bernays, Walter Lippmann and John Dewey. I examine the incommensurabilities and overlaps in their understandings to extract three types of perspectives towards propaganda: liberal, neoliberal and democratic. Furthermore, I am interested in how to theoretically make sense of the internal contradictions and paradoxes in anti-propaganda attitudes and discourses.

Modeling seasonality of net electrical consumption in Bulgaria

Author(s): Latchezar Tomov / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2021

Net electrical consumption in many countries exhibit strong seasonal patterns, due to consumer behavior and the need of the industry to maintain constant temperature in facilities independently of the seasonal variation of mean temperature and its long-term trend. We use Arima models and Fourier transformation in order to capture the dependency between net electrical consumption and mean monthly temperature. We use our interpolation algorithm to construct mean national monthly temperature.

Съществува ли колективна памет

Author(s): Reinhart Koselleck / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2004

Събитие и колективна памет в средновековния рицарски роман

Author(s): Stoyan Athanassov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2004

Да си спомним социализма: социализмът в мемоарите на видни комунистически функционери

Author(s): Roumen Daskalov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2004

Места на памет между триумфа и травмата

Author(s): Aleida Assmann / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2004

Култура на паметта и историография

Author(s): Heinz Dieter Kittsteiner / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2004

Изместени памети, кръстосани памети: френско-немски преплитания в конструирането на някои места на памет

Author(s): Michael Werner / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2004

В търсене на изгубените места: конструиране на алтернативно минало

Author(s): Rayna Gavrilova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2004

Чудноватата текстуалност на етно-национализма

Author(s): Ugo Vlaisavljević / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2002

Превратностите на деконструкцията на Изток. За апокалиптичния тон, възприет от балканските философи

Author(s): Ciprian Mihali / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2002