Prizivanje građanskog društva

Author(s): Charles Taylor / Language(s): Serbian

I am very pleased that this collection of my papers, edited by Obrad Savic, is appearing in Belgrade. Work of this kind positively calls out for translation and publication in a new context. I hope that the fact that I come at familiar questions from an unfamiliar angle might be helpful to some readers. And even more, I hope that the reactions to and criticisms of this highly partial work will eventually help me to think about these matters more effectively. I think of this publication as one move in an ongoing exchange, which I hope we will one day be able to continue through meetings and other publications. I am of course aware of the difficult times and struggles which Serbian society is now going through, and I know that the experience of those who are working there for democracy and human rights, however dismaying to them, will have something to say to all of us. (Charles Taylor, Introduction)

Гражданското общество в България: от социално предприемачество до завладяване от държавата

Author(s): Todor Yalamov,Maria Doichinova,Lyubomir Kutin / Language(s): Bulgarian

This publication analyses the changes in the third sector during the 2010 – 2013 period and at the same time outlines the positive practices in the social entrepreneurship as well as the risks that reduce the chances for nongovernmental organisations to effectively impact the democracy and well-being of Bulgaria.

Poznań w działaniu. Społeczne inicjatywy dawniej i dziś

Author(s): / Language(s): Polish

The book Poznań in Action: Social Initiatives, Past and Present presents grassroots initiatives and the tradition of “organic work” that arose in Poznań, from the birth of the idea of organic work in the nineteenth century, to contemporary actions taken by Poznanians. The publication is a record of specific actions taken by the residents of Poznań (and Wielkopolska) to promote the values they cherished. It is a testament to belief in the ability to express one’s opinion in the public sphere, and to the agency of various social groups which expressed their disagreement with the status quo or sought to achieve social objectives that were important to them. It reflects the struggles and hardships resulting from social engagement, but also the successes and benefits achieved by means of such activity.The book consists of three main parts. The first – Past Actions – recalls the history of social initiatives in Poznań and Wielkopolska. In three chapters, writers discuss topics related to “organic work” in the nineteenth century and the continuation of grassroots action in the interwar period and in the Polish People's Republic. The articles that comprise this part also reflect critically on efforts to continue the ideas of organic work in the twentieth century.The second part of the book, entitled Actions Today, consists of four articles discussing the grassroots initiatives and self-organization efforts initiated by Poznanians after the political transformations of 1989. These texts concern various spheres of social and cultural life in modern-day Poznań. Some articles consider historical contexts, while others describe events in the recent history of the city that were important for particular initiatives. This section opens with an extensive article about Poznań’s urban movements and civic organizations. There are also articles on ecology, Poznań’s alternative theatres and the crisis in the sphere of cultural activities in Poznań.The third part of the book, The Current Polylogue, contains interviews that complement the map of grassroots actions in Poznań over the last quarter century. It opens with a conversation on Poznań’s anarchist movement. The next piece deals with housing issues, including the tenants’ movement and the problem of evictions. There are also discussions with Poznań feminists, showing the history, contemporary state, and multidimensionality of feminist initiatives in Poznań. Another important issue taken up in this section concerns assistance provided to migrants and their integration into the Poznań community. The final interview presents the ideas behind the Hipolit Cegielski Society and the grassroots actions it has carried out drawing specifically on the tradition of organic work in Poznań.The last part of the book is a Handbook designed as a practical guide meant to encourage action and organising on the part of all those who want to effect changes that are important to them and are ready to do something about it. Those looking for specific information will learn step-by-step how to set up a cooperative and create the social structures needed for self-organization.

Kišobran patrijarha Pavla. Kritika palanačkog uma

Author(s): Mirko Đorđević / Language(s): Serbian

Znamo da honorar od svojih knjiga ostavlja Crkvi, da je stari budilnik zaveštao unuku, ali ne znamo još kome je zaveštao svoj stari kišobran. Godinama smo ga viđali na ulicama sa tim starinskim kišobranom. Budilnik je njega budio za jutrenje, ali nije uspevao da probudi sabraću arhijereje. I sada na sahrani, ko sve nije bio pod kišobranom njegovim – i ko sve godinama pod njim stajao nije. Naravno, ne pod onim starim, već pod onim koji se podrazumeva za ono vlasti što je imao među sabraćom arhijerejima u Sinodu i Saboru. I tu je sva muka njegova, možda i udes njegove misije tokom dvadesetak godina na čelu SPC. Došla je sada da potraži utehu nad odrom i sama “kosovka đevojka” B. Plavšić, koja je sa ratovođama Karadžićem i Mladićem dobar deo Bosne zasejala grobovima. U mučnim godinama raspada države – sa zločinima koji su užasnuli svet – pokojni patrijarh se nije baš snalazio. Izgovarao je opomene, ne da nije, ali sabraća arhijereji, barem dobar deo među njima, nisu krili svoje ratne ciljeve. Ne, ne Isusu mira i pravde, već balkanskom bogu Marsu do crne zemlje su se klanjali. I druge su vodili, i sve nas, do ambisa iz kojeg još izašli nismo. I skoro nećemo.

Talog. Ogledi o prednostima slobode

Author(s): Vladimir Gligorov / Language(s): English,Serbian

Pred vama su tekstovi koje je Vladimir Gligorov napisao za Peščanik, Blic, NIN, Helsinšku povelju, Ekonomist, Politiku, Danas, časopis Banka i Cord Magazine. Tekstovi su nastali između dva septembra, 2006. i 2010. godine. Na kraju knjige je izbor od devet eseja prevedenih na odličan British engleski, ljubaznošću The Bosnian Institute iz Londona i našeg prevodioca Ivice Pavlovića iz Novoga Sada. Naslov knjige je preuzet iz teksta Talog, napisanog u aprilu 2009, u kojem se analizira koliko rasizma i mržnje prema Albancima staje u jednu rečenicu Dobrice Ćosića.Ovo je knjiga sa poukom. Ona dokazuje da su ekonomija i politika povezane. Da društvo obilja naseljavaju slobodni ljudi. Najzabavniji deo su citati kojima autor počinje neke od tekstova. Tajno središte knjige je u eseju Identitet. Učite i uživajte: It is the thought, the smile, and the sound of the piano that matter.

Mniejszości narodowe i etniczne w polityce oświatowej państwa polskiego w latach 1944 - 1966

Author(s): Ewa Pogorzała / Language(s): Polish

Zasadniczym celem badania była próba opisu i ewolucji modelu polityki oświatowej państwa polskiego wobec mniejszości narodowych i etnicznych w badanym okresie. W odniesieniu do koncepcji polityki oświatowej państwa polskiego wobec mniejszości narodowych podjęta została próba określenia i zastosowania autorskiej periodyzacji. Wyróżniono następujące etapy polityki oświatowej wobec mniejszości: od polityki akceptacji do polityki restrykcji (1944–1948), okres polityki unifikacji (1949–1955), okres polityki aktywizacji (1956–1960), okres polityki marginalizacji (1961–1966). Analiza zebranych danych źródłowych pozwoliła stwierdzić, że mniejszości narodowe stanowiły istotny problem w polityce oświatowej państwa polskiego w latach 1944–1966. W szczególności dotyczyło to mniejszości słowackiej, żydowskiej, niemieckiej, białoruskiej, litewskiej i ukraińskiej, czyli grup, które od przełomu lat 40. i 50. XX w. objęte zostały jednolitym modelem kształcenia, na wzór radziecki, w państwowych szkołach z niepolskim językiem nauczania. Centralnym punktem analizy uczyniono szkolnictwo dla mniejszości narodowych jako główny przedmiot polityki oświatowej wobec mniejszości. W tym zakresie analizowano sytuację decyzyjną, tj. główne uwarunkowania i czynniki polityki oświatowej, treść decyzji i dyrektyw wykonawczych (założenia organizacyjne i wychowawczo-programowe szkolnictwa dla mniejszości), proces implementacji tych decyzji (polityka w zakresie sieci szkolnej) oraz jej efekty – w aspekcie ilościowym (struktura szkolnictwa) i jakościowym (stan szkolnictwa). W badaniach nad podjętą problematyką przyjęto rozumienie polityki oświatowej wobec mniejszości jako działalność władz państwowych regulujących sytuację tych grup w dziedzinie oświaty poprzez akty normatywne i decyzje stanowiące uprawnionych organów. Należy przy tym wskazać na dwa przeciwstawne wymiary polityki oświatowej wobec mniejszości: restrykcyjny – negujący prawo tych grup do oświaty w języku ojczystym oraz kompensacyjny – afirmujący prawo do oświaty w języku ojczystym jako wartość autoteliczną lub tylko je akceptujący jako wartość instrumentalną dla osiągnięcia określonych celów politycznych. W pierwszej połowie lat 50. XX w. PZPR, zawłaszczając podmiotowość polityczną ogółu społeczeństwa, w tym mniejszości narodowych, zdecydowała o kształcie systemu oświaty. Głównym celem polityki oświatowej stała się indoktrynacja społeczeństwa. W tej sytuacji ojczysty język nauczania stanowił tylko środek do osiągnięcia tego celu, nie zaś do podtrzymania tożsamości narodowej członków tych grup.

МЕЖДУНАРОДНИЯТ ТРАНСФЕР НА АДМИНИСТРАТИВНИ МОДЕЛИ И ИНСТРУМЕНТИ: ВЪЗМОЖНОСТИ, ОГРАНИЧЕНИЯ И РИСКОВЕ. Доклади от Първа международна конференция по публична администрация София, СУ „Св. Климент Охридски“, април 2017 г.

Author(s): Aleksandar Marinov,Georgi Peev,Mariana Dimitrova,Milena Stefanova,Snežana Ilieva,Yana Chakarova,Todor Tanev,Fabrice Larat,Andrei Velchev,Atanas Slavov,Elena Kalfova,Kliment Naydenov,Metodi Ivanov,Vladyslav Akulov-Muratov,Boril Mechkov,Petia Branzova,Simeon Petrov,Tatiana Tomova,Jaroslav Dvorak,Gabrielė Burbulytė – Tsiskarishvili,Edita Stumbraitė-Vilkišienė,Liudmila Guzikova,Lyubimka Andreeva,Georgi Vuldjev,Georgy Ganev,Georgy Sarakostov,Nikolai Valkanov,Ognian Boyukliev,Stoyan Panchev,Krassen Stanchev,Maria Kotseva-Tikova,Milkana Mochurova,Venko Petkov,Galina Stoyanova,Georgi Temelkov,Detelin Dimitrov,Iskra Mileva,Liliya Elenkova,Mariela Yordanova,Nikoleta Efremova,Petya Krasteva,Todor Izhbehov / Language(s): English,Bulgarian

What thoughts the following theme does evoke – “International transfer of administrative models and instruments: opportunities, constraints and risks?” It became an object of “love at first sight” for me immediately after it was proposed as a unifying “crown” of the international scientific conference on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Sofia University’s Department of Public Administration. What broader content could be set which nevertheless presupposes most specific definitions? What more dynamic context might exist which in fact supports the opposite of dynamics – the sustainability of administrative models resistant to pressures for change? What other topic bundles better tradition and reform of administrative systems? First and foremost, it is the host of the conference – the jubilee Department of Public Administration at Sofia University – that is a living example of the international transfer of theories and trends in the field of administrative science. This small scientific community had to meet all challenges of that transfer during its formative years. On the one hand it was pressed to accept the changing political trends in Western societies by theorizing the administrative models backed by them as a manifestation of progressiveness. On the other hand, the need to create an explanation and prescription for his own Bulgarian administrative practice as a manifestation of elementary adequacy it has always existed. The conclusion from the distance of the past 20 years is that these two lines were combined continuously and successfully. If the themes of international forums on public administration in the 90s of the 20th century are considered it will become clear that the separation of administration from politics was the prevailing problem. This sturdy preference was supported by the use of the authority of classic authors such as Max Weber or Woodrow Wilson. It seemed that the emancipation of administrative science was thus achieved once forever. It happened so that the Department of Public Administration got separated structurally and thematically from other disciplines in Sofia University exactly during the same moment. Similar matching of global trends with local developments within the field of administrative science in few other universities paralleled Sofia University’s Department of PA emancipation from Political Science. As a result, Bulgarian versions of the ideal of what is “civil service” started being sought for with skeptical optimism. Should the administration in the democratic future of the country, however, follow imported Victorian models of “civil service”, or, on the contrary, more creative and proactive participation in decision making should be hammered out? The answer to this dilemma followed quite soon. The tempestuous liberal development in the West considered an objective by the Bulgarian leaders changed the emphasis in administrative science. It was not enough to Theorizing the functional distinction between politics and administration per se became insufficient. It was a matter of good scientific tone to find ways and reasons to minimize government intervention in sector management and place the latter as a new unprecedented major task of public administration. The development of a Bulgarian version of apolitical governance through public policies designed and managed by special networks formed ad hoc by citizens and economic operators became the main task of administrative science in the first years of the 21st century. It was in this way that the original thematic field of administration expanded in Bulgaria by inclusion of research on issues of public policy. The emerging soon after concept of “Good Governance” in the Western world undermined confidence in the traditional rational “Management by Objectives”. The period of initial harmonization of Bulgaria with the European directives in the first years after the country as an EU member somehow naturally draw the attention of our researchers to lists of desirable qualities called “good governance” created by international banks and global organizations. Quite naturally, observing the transitive setting that determined the entry of the good governance principles in the Bulgarian administrative practice made our researchers for the first time be attentive to the problems that the direct import of standard projects for good governance in the country could create. For example, the National Ombudsman institution led by Mr. Ginyo Ganev developed a concise Bulgarian conceptual framework for good governance with the help of the Department of PA at Sofia. It started being applied actively with an increasing success to diverse cases in the focus of attention of this institution. Developments in this regard expanded as much as the creation of an entirely Bulgarian concept of a new human “right of good governance”. The Department of PA consulted and developed strategic projects of the Council of Ministers in the bosom of “good governance” and public policy. The original purely theoretical interest in global paradigms in the field of economic management such as “quality management” and “total quality management” gradually evolved into an interest for their practical application in the Bulgarian administrative practice. As it is in countries with developed democracy over the last decade, it is looked for project appraisals, impact assessment of policies, etc. in context of quality management in Bulgaria as well. It is in this way that certain doubts emerged for the first time. First, how possible is it to successfully transfer, adapt and develop economic theories in the socio-political field without losing their basic sense? Second, if the quality management in the public sphere is examined, how is the object to be tested to be defined? What does quality of public governance mean? What are the legitimate criteria for it to be funded, adopted, and maintained? Until this moment versions of Western administrative mindset penetrating via European directives and other vehicles of influence were intensively developed. However, Bulgaria’s own development from this moment on started imposing a brand new round of research. The past decade uncorked the bottle with the spirit of administrative reforms. A whole arsenal of new problems: what is reform, what is change, what is direction, what is progress and so on was added to the issues already accumulated by the transfer of ideas and best practices considered as “best”. A genuine Bulgarian view on issues of local administrative reforms started getting formed by separate members of Sofia University’s scientific community more and more boldly. What has never been done so far in sufficient size, however, is the development of the old theme of sustainable development from a national perspective. It was left in the hands of political bureaucracy and I hope that it is not abandoned there by our researchers. Sustainable development does not only look like but is generally an issue of key importance. It amalgamates the political, administrative, economic and social problems. The pressure for direct application of practices arising from the so-called “Global sustainable development goals” became tumultuous form of formal accountability. The parameters of the polar sets resistance-development, global-local, political-administrative, etc. remain unclear. Thus the meanders of the development of Bulgarian administrative science that followed up to this moment gradually the sequence of changes in the same area in the world for its own reasons found at last the main problem hidden all the time. This problem is: what are the opportunities, limitations and risks of international transfers of administrative models and instruments? However, this is the theme of the conference. In other words, the wall separating political and administrative management is already raised – administrative decisions today are taken in agreement with the so called social partners, NGOs, networks, etc. Various formulas of good governance, in particular lawfulness, transparency, etc., are applied since long ago be it in one degree or another. Management in the public sphere is fragmented by sector policies and hence by separate projects driven by networking teams. The quality of management activities is measured although only by the proportion between the invested funds and tasks performed such as numbers of training pf administrators, etc. Why is the widespread opinion then that the administration is not working well despite all the good intentions with which people work behind the counters of state and local institutions? I think the key answer is modernization, not modernity. Modernization is a continuous process of an existing human community with a will of life. In contrast, modernity is a condition that those inferior according to someone's perspective should or should not, may or may not adopt. Modernization is moving forward in the name of preserving the general essence intact. Conversely, the movement toward modernity is changing the nature of those perceived as non-modern whereby however no one guarantees either the meaning or the consequences, or even the opportunity that this could happen. What are the ultimate objectives of administrative science keeping modernization in mind if this really is the most general question? Modernization implies preserving the identity of the human community under changing circumstances. Why identity must be maintained is another question that is absurd per se, least according Kant’s Categorical imperative. Without “subjectivity”, at least according to Hegel’s philosophy (why not according to classical economic and legal theory), it no action is possible at all, including actions for “improving the situation.” Values separate at least as much as they unite. Could Eastern European societies follow some winning value model at the beginning of the political changes? Was it only their totalitarian political past that made them different from foreign models? The Anglo-Saxon model of governance is based on the culture of urban individualism. The culture of successful Asian “dragons” is based on collectivist Confucian rationalism. Seen at this background, the Western model based on Roman law is offering rational norms. Although somewhat differing one from the other, Eastern European societies, including Bulgarian, proved to be different from all that. In an effort to get modernized once again they had to make hard choices for their future. The triple eclecticism between Eastern European value system, the successful Asian “developmental dictatorship” and the victorious superindividualistic urban West was even more impossible. However, it turns out that the Western and Eastern universe have defended themselves for centuries by modernization cast in strictly defined areas and volumes sufficient only to maintain their own development model. It seems that the task of the Bulgarian administration and administrative science after 20 years of establishment is no more and no less the same. So, the international scientific conference on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the Sofia University’s Public Administration Department turns out to be something like a membrane separating past from future development. The transition from the former to the latter is a clarification of how possible and how necessary the international transfer of administrative models and instruments is.

Społeczny potencjał odrodzenia miast poprzemysłowych

Author(s): Paweł Starosta / Language(s): Polish

The book considers the evaluation of the significance of social potential in diversification of the development of postindustrial cities – cities that once used to serve similar functions, yet, nowadays function in different cultural conditionings. The analyses have been made on the basis of author’s concept of “social potential of territorial community development”. The work is dedicated to academics, to those interested in the local communities, especially of the postindustrial cities affected by the negative influence of globalization, as well as to activists in the field of urban issues.

Срби и рат у Југославији 1941. године

Author(s): / Language(s): English,Croatian,Russian,German,Serbian

Почетак Другог светског рата у Југославији обележили су брзи војни слом, комадање југословенске територије и грађански рат који је отпочео на простору Србије. Све то било је последица како непријатељске агресије тако и бројних политичких, социјалних и економских противречности нагомиланих у међуратном раздобљу југословенске државе. Југославија је између два светска рата била земља великих социјалних разлике, привредне неинтегрисаности и културолошких различитости, што је, нарочито после Велике економске кризе, избацило на површину радикалне покрете и на левици и на десници који су у својим програмима нудили привлачна социјална мерила. Југословенска државна идеја, идеја националног јединства, у коју се посумњало убрзо по формирању заједничке државе, дефинитивно је званично напуштена стварањем Бановине Хрватске. Међутим, на плану међунационалних односа, стварање Бановине Хрватске не само да није смирило хрватско-српске супротности, нити задовољило национално-политичке тежње Хрвата и учврстило нестабилне државне темеље него је допринело јачању раздора, изазвало незадовољство Срба и подстакло потребу за преиспитивањем југословенске државне идеје. Стога је у овом периоду, из угла национално-политичких потреба српске нације, једно од најтежих питања националне политике чинила дилема за или против Југославије. [...]

Informační technologie – prostor pro ženy

Author(s): Alexandra Jachanová Doleželová,Kateřina Fialová,Leona Hozová,Jana Konečná,Markéta Kristová,Linda Sokačová,Marek Tichý,Anna Valouchová,Lenka Zemanová / Language(s): Czech

Vážené čtenářky, vážení čtenáři, v rukou právě držíte jednu z prvních publikací o informačních a komunikačních technologiích (ICT) a ženách v České republice, kterou pro Vás společně připravily Gender Studies, o.p.s. a Síť mateřských center. Najdete v ní informace o tom, co vlastně ICT jsou a proč jsou v současnosti skloňovány ve všech pádech. Představíme Vám také jejich využívání v praxi neziskových organizací i fi rem. ICT totiž velkou měrou přispívají ke slaďování osobního a pracovního života – právě ony umožňují pracovat z domova a přitom zůstat v úzkém kontaktu s kolegy a kolegyněmi v práci a předávat všechny potřebné informace a dokončené úkoly včas. Počítač a internet také otevřely nový prostor pro rozvoj podnikání. Určitě jste si již někdy vybrali a objednali zboží v internetovém obchodě. Je to levnější a pohodlné. Pohodlné může být i vaše podnikání po internetu – pracujete z domova a volíte si pracovní dobu podle vlastních potřeb. I na toto téma se zaměřuje jedna z kapitol publikace: navíc Vám přináší základní informace o evropských strukturálních fondech, odkud můžete získat fi nanční zdroje pro podnikání. Věřím, že Vás publikace zaujme a naleznete v ní nové pohledy na trh práce a podnikání v České republice.

Ljudska prava. Pravno-sistemski okvir

Author(s): Saša Gajin / Language(s): Serbian

Pravno-sistemski okvir poštovanja i zaštite ljudskih prava može se teorijski izgraditi na tri različita nivoa refleksije pravnih pravila o pravima i slobodama pojedinaca. Prvo, putem određivanja pravnog pojma ljudskih prava, moguće je pružiti jedinstven odgovor na pitanje o tome šta su to ljudska prava. Drugo, na temelju celovitog korpusa pravila o ljudskim pravima, moguće je teorijski odrediti sadržinu prava ljudskih prava. Treće, moguće je pokazati da su ljudska prava nužan sastavni i konstitutivni deo pravnog poretka i na taj način ih pravno utemeljiti. Pravni pojam ljudskih prava ne izvodi se neposredno iz teksta pravnog propisa. Međunarodni dokumenti, kao ni ustavni i zakonski tekstovi, ne sadrže odredbe koje definišu pojam ljudskih prava. Istina, nekad su u pojedinim odredbama ovih pravnih dokumenata sadržana rudimentarna upućivanja na ideju o suštini ljudskih prava, kao na primer kad se kaže da je čovek slobodan, da prava i slobode čoveka izviru iz njegovog dostojanstva, ili da se jemstvima prava i sloboda omogućava slobodan razvoj ličnosti čoveka i sl. [...]

Between Salvation and Terror: Radicalization and the Foreign Fighter Phenomenon in the Western Balkans

Author(s): / Language(s): English

The mobilisation of jihadist foreign fighters that has taken place as a result of the conflict in Syria and Iraq has been unprecedented. According to the United Nations, up to 40,000 foreigners from nearly 100 countries have participated in the war. Not all of them will remain part of the movement. Many, have already become disillusioned, turned against their comrades, and “retired“ from fighting. Others, however, will turn up in other conflicts, become involved in terrorist networks, or use their credibility as “veterans“ to recruit new followers. There can be no doubt that the consequences of this mobilisation will be profound and long-lasting. In one of my recent books, I predicted that it will result in a “fifth wave“ of terrorism. Much of the public interest in the foreign fighter phenomenon has focused on Western Europe and the Middle East. The situation in the Balkans, by contrast, has received comparatively little attention. This book is the first comprehensive account of who the foreign fighters from the Balkans are, where they come from, and how they have been radicalised. All the chapters are based on in-depth research and written by leading experts from the region. Their analysis and conclusions are based on empirical facts and a profound understanding of the social and political dynamics in their respective countries. It is this depth of local knowledge that makes the various chapters so interesting and informative.

Do Germans support the euro?

Author(s): Daniel Gros,Felix Roth / Language(s): English

This paper analyses public support for the euro in Germany. Drawing from the results of regular Eurobarometer surveys, it finds that the ongoing financial and sovereign debt crisis has reduced support for the euro among German citizens, but not dramatically so – at least not yet. In the 1990s, the German public was sceptical towards the euro. But since the introduction of euro bank notes and coins, a clear majority of citizens supports the euro –despite the financial and sovereign debt crisis. Moreover, on average, support for the euro isat a similar level in Germany as it is elsewhere in the euro area. This salient finding, however, appears to contradict the results of a survey conducted by the Allensbach Institute, an influential public opinion polling centre in Germany, which concludes that an overwhelming majority of Germans do not trust the euro any more. We suggest that this striking difference in findings could be due to three factors: a) the fact that the Allensbach Institute and Eurobarometer were measuring different concepts: trust in the euro and support for the euro, respectively; b) the Allensbach Institute’s results might be biased, given the scaling of their trust question and c) the fact that Eurobarometer frames its survey questions explicitly in a European context, where as the Allensbach surveys have a purely national context.

Civil Society Impact on the EU Climate Change Policy

Author(s): Selma Şekercioğlu / Language(s): English

“In today’s world climate change has come to a point where national, regional and global actors are forced to re-make or re-design their policies in order to reduce the negative influences of this phenomenon. The European Union (EU) is no exception to these actors that are in need of making new arrangements on climate change. In this book I intended to evaluate the transition in the EU’s energy related climate policies; the changing roles of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the European institutions. In fact, lobbying taking place at the CSOs level is and must be directly linked with the role of the EU institutions whilst evaluating the new approaches of the EU on climate change matters. More specifically, Brussels based CSOs are particularly important whilst analysing their access to the decision-making mechanisms of the EU as well as the pressure mechanisms they impose on the EU-level policy changes. Readers will see that there is hard evidence that CSOs has some influence on the EU’s energy related climate change policy decisions. Particularly the interviews conducted in this work places this book apart from the rest of the literature. I hope all readers will find this work on the influence of the EU-wide civil society organizations on climate policies of the Union of their interest and appealing.”

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS IN CRISIS: HOW EAST ASIAN GOVERNMENTS RESPONDED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Author(s): Monika Izandra Hanley,Kristina Van Sant,Rueban Manokara / Language(s): English

The COVID-19 outbreak has confirmed that, in an era of globalisation, local disasters quickly and unexpectedly escalate into world-spanning crises. What began as a local viral infection in Wuhan grew into a global pandemic in less than two months. The COVID-19 crisis is an unprecedented event in almost every way, not least from a strategic communications perspective. Faced with uncertainty about the development of the virus and its impact on society, governments are underenormous pressure to communicate policy initiatives and advice to their publics under extraordinary circumstances. While recognising that the crisis is still unfolding at a global level, this report explores how countries chose to act and communicate in relation to the outbreak of the virus during the initial period of the crisis. Although it is still far too early to evaluate the effectiveness of any approach, comparing and contrasting different courses of action at an early stage provides valuable insight into different crisis communication strategies when swift and unanticipated communications were required.

Antreprenoriatul în mediul rural românesc. Trecut, Prezent și Perspective

Author(s): Bogdan Chiripuci / Language(s): Romanian

The research focused on identifying the impact of possible investments in all sectors of activity, but also on listing the measures which aimed the economic development of the romanian rural area in the period 2000-2020. In this regard, the sectors of activity which have registered the highest values of entrepreneurship in rural areas are: manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, transport, storage, and construction. On the opposite side, the most disadvantaged areas in regards to possible investment in the rural areas have proven to be public administration and defense; social security in the public system, and also education. These sectors of activity are generally under the public coordination. At the core of economic activity there is a public-private partnership. Additionally, these variables would achieve a qualitative increase, if large investments were made in the future. Therefore, this would also lead to the development of other fields, being that currently there is no balance at national or regional level.

Neispričana povijest

Author(s): / Language(s): Croatian

Historijski revizionizam, govor mržnje i nasilje prema Srbima u 2018.

Author(s): / Language(s): English,Croatian

Pučka pravobraniteljica Lora Vidović objavila je 20. novembra 2018. godine analizu naslovljenu: Relativizacija zločina NDH narušava temeljne vrijednosti Ustava, a izostanak reakcija otvara prostor mržnji. U tom tekstu proziva čitav niz državnih i crkvenih institucija te desnocivilnih organizacija za toleriranje i poticanje rehabilitacije nasljeđa tzv. Nezavisne Države Hrvatske i ustaškog režima. Analiza pučke pravobraniteljice svakim slovom pogađa suštinu onoga što se u 2018. Godini iskristaliziralo kao predominantan trend u javnom prostoru, s posebnim naglaskom na djelovanju Rimokatoličke crkve, Hrvatske radiotelevizije, raznih ratno-veteranskih udruženja, desnih udruga civilnog društva, ali i samih vrhova državne vlasti. Tako, primjerice, kaže: “Unatoč tome, eksplicitni ustaški ili nacistički simboli ili oni koji asociraju na ustaški pokret prisutni su u javnom prostoru u Hrvatskoj. Tako se posljednjih godina tiskaju knjige, pišu i objavljuju članci i intervjui, održavaju tribine, snimaju dokumentarni filmovi i emitiraju televizijske emisije u kojima se negira ili umanjuje zločinački karakter NDH. Osim u huškačkim i nacionalistički obojenim medijima, ovakvi stavovi iznose se i u službenom glasilu Katoličke crkve, a prodrli su i u prevladavajuće medije, uključujući i na javnu televiziju.” [...]

Belarus Protests: Information Control and Technological Censorship vs Connected Societies

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

The Belarusian presidential election on 9 August 2020 was a turning point in the history of modern Belarus. Disagreeing with the apparently falsified results of the vote, protesting Belarusian citizens flooded the cities around the country. Lukashenko’s response was lightning fast and brutal. In order to conceal any information about the brutality of the law enforcement structures against peaceful protesters, Lukashenko attempted to take control of the information environment and restrict access to all information channels – especially Internet resources.

Strengthening the Role of Youth Work in Contesting Dynamics of Shrinking Cities

Author(s): / Language(s): English

A great deal has been written about the causes and impacts of shrinkage, as well as about policies and planning strategies. Nevertheless, the state of knowledge in a cross-national perspective is rather poor since studies have focused more on large cities with empirical evidence ignoring the contextual influence on local dynamics (Wolff, Wiechmann; 2017). A shrinking city is one that has experienced population loss, employment decline and social issues as symptoms of a structural crisis (Martinez-Fernandez; 2012). This shows how complex the shrinkage process is and thus requires a more detailed explanation of push factors. The idea that there is no future prospect for them in their place of residence seems to be the crucial push factor for people to leave their home. This project has focused on building new strategies of social inclusion and civic engagement for youth residing in Europe’s “shrinking cities” and is a result of a collaboration between eight partner organizations from four EU countries: Documenta and Croatian Youth Network from Croatia, EJBW and Culture Goes Europe from Germany, YouthCoop and UMAR from Portugal as well as Asociacion Caminos and ColPolSoc - Andalucia from Spain. In the planning process, the partner organizations conducted a preliminary research and provided information about shrinking cities and their relation to the youth in their countries. There has been a unanimous conclusion that the socio-economic problems cause the cities to shrink which in turn has enormous effects mainly on the youth. On the other hand, there is a great number of young people who believe that they can make a difference and change things for the better. For this, the youth needs access to the commonly accepted tools and improved practices that can be used in their own social and cultural contexts. Therefore, youth work should provide a bridge that strengthens young people at a personal level but also promotes public action as well as learning about translating key values of youth work into reality. Moreover, engagement in the wide variety of personal and social development activities will help young people to develop the knowledge and the skills that are needed in the labour market, given the fact that 3.5 million young people are unemployed in the EU (Eurostat, 2018). The organizations embraced the idea of conducting proper research as well as mapping that would ensure a better understanding of the similarities and differences between various problems while at the same time providing methods for learning how to deal with critical socio-economic dynamics at different local settings across the EU. It was also deemed important to investigate examples of successful youth work, to identify and document their innovativeness and then disseminate the results with a wider outreach.