Neo-liberalism and Welfare State

Author(s): Vlado Puljiz / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The Welfare State was historically preceded by the so called Night Watchman State (L’Etat protecteur). The Welfare State was laconically defined in Leviathan by Hobbes saying that the aim of the Republic is to protect the individual. Welfare State (L’Etat providence, Sozialstaat) is actually an extension of the “Night Watchman State” into the social sphere. Its origins can be traced back to the end of the 19th century when the industrial society developed in the West, the market intensified, when serious social problems emerged on the surface of society, which could no longer be solved by church charity, state control or even repression over beggars and vagrants. The Welfare State expresses the idea that the insecurity of church care should be replaced by state protection security.

Historical Euroscepticism Compared: The Case of the French and Italian Communist Parties in the Cold War

Author(s): Giacomo Benedetto / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Euroscepticism has, in recent years, become a focus for research by political scientists interested in the politics of antagonism and position- taking among outlier parties. However, Euroscepticism (applied retrospectively) is a long-term phenomenon, which dates back to the early stages of European integration in the late 1940s. Much of the empirical work has taken the form of single case studies, rather than following a comparative framework. Batory and Sitter (2004), Marks and Wilson (2000), and Marks, Wilson and Ray (2002) are notably different in dealing with party families over the period of more than a decade. They conclude that ideology and cleavages are the main explanatory factors in determining the orientations of political parties and party families towards the European Community (EC).

Geopolitics Undermined

Author(s): Matko Meštrović / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Despite the diversity of the approaches, most scholars of political science and international relations still share a common assumption: that the division of the world into sovereign states is a permanent trait of politics, and not historically transitory. But as Lucio Levi argues the state-centric paradigm must not only be viewed as the theory of politics of a given historical epoch – that of the sovereign states – it has also ceased being a guide for political research in our time.

Does the EU Promote Democracy in Palestine?

Author(s): Natalie Tocci / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Particularly since the late 1990s, EU actors have become increasingly vocal about the need for democracy and good governance in Palestine. Palestinian democracy is viewed officially both as desirable per se as well as instrumental to the peace process since the eruption of the second intifada. To support Palestinian democracy, the Union has used diplomatic instruments, as well as bilateral aid and trade policies, delivered conditionally upon the fulfilment of political and legal benchmarks. The Palestinian Authority (PA) is also included in the nascent European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). Compared to other cases in the southern neighbourhood, the EU can take pride in achieving relative success when it comes to strengthening Palestinian democracy and good governance. Palestine’s economic and political dependence on Europe has translated into a high degree of potential EU influence on the PA. This influence has been exerted by graduating the delivery of EU (principally aid-related) benefits in compliance with specified and monitored obligations. Yet the Union’s potential influence has not been fully realised. At times, reforms passed have been inadequate, superficial or implemented for the primary purpose of acquiescing to foreign demands. The reasons explaining the limits in EU conditionality are manifold. The most critical are those linked to the sui generis context in Palestine. The deteriorating economic and humanitarian situation, the deepening Israeli occupation, the blunt US approach to Palestinian reform during Arafat’s rule and internal Palestinian political dynamics in a non-state context have all hindered the potential impact of EU conditionality.

PROCESSES

Author(s): Saša Gavrić,Damir Banović,Mariña Barreiro / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The Dayton Peace Agreement and the Electoral Law laid the legal ground for elections and the electoral system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many compromises influencing the electoral system have been made. These compromises are based on the combination of two principles: constituent people and national sovereignty. International democratic standards related to electoral systems such as universal suffrage, equal voting rights, direct ballot, secret ballot, and limited right to stand for elections were incorporated into the constitutional system. The Dayton Peace Agreement addresses elections and the electoral system in several instances.

UVOD

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Bosnian Publication Year: 0

Zbornik koji je pred Vama rezultat je jednogodišnjeg istraživačkog projekta Komparativna analiza demokratskih performansi parlamenata Srbije, Bosne i Hercegovine i Crne Gore. Istraživački tim projekta čine istraživači i saradnici Fakulteta političkih nauka Univerziteta u Beogradu, Fakulteta političkih nauka Univerziteta u Podgorici i Sarajevskog otvorenog centra, koji su i autori ovog zbornika. Projekat je finansiran u okviru šireg regionalnog projekta Političke, društvene i ekonomske promene na Zapadnom Balkanu, u okviru Programa za promociju regionalnog istraživanja Zapadnog Balkana (RRPP) (http://www.rrppwesternbalkans.net/). RRPP ima za cilj unapređenje i razvoj istraživanja u oblasti društvenih nauka u Albaniji, Bosni i Hercegovini, Kosovu, Makedoniji, Crnoj Gori i Srbiji. Program pruža podršku istraživačima kroz istraživačke grantove, metodološke treninge i mogućnosti regionalne i međunarodne razmene i umrežavanja istraživača. Program finansira Švajcarska agencija za razvoj i saradnju, a operativno ga sprovodi Univerzitet u Friburgu iz Švajcarske (http://www.rrppwesternbalkans.net/en/about.html). Zbog toga je jedan od ciljeva našeg projekta bilo i osnaživanje institucionalnih veza između istraživačkih organizacija u regionu, ali i uspostavljanje kontakata između mladih istraživača i stvaranje regionalne akademske mreže koja će služiti kao baza budućih zajedničkih projekata.

LOKALNA SAMOUPRAVA U BOSNI I HERCEGOVINI

Author(s): Miroslav Živanović / Language(s): Bosnian Publication Year: 0

Sasvim je logično i neophodno omogućiti da svaki obrazovni program posvećen političkom liderstvu sadrži i osvrt koji će predstaviti i objasniti ulogu i značaj lokalne samouprave u društvu, a naročito u društvu koje se smatra demokratskom zajednicom slobodnih građana i građanki. Također, svaki pojedinac i pojedinka koji shvataju i prepoznaju značaj aktivnog građanstva za razvoj društva u kojem žive, imaju obavezu da se upoznaju i uzmu aktivno učešće u životu svoje lokalne zajednice kroz postojeće organizacije i organe koji čine jedinicu lokalne samouprave.

The SOE and Preparations for the Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich

Author(s): Eduard Stehlík / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

On Wednesday, 27 May 1942, at 10:35 AM, Warrant Officers Josef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš, sent from the UK, carried out the assassination of the acting Reich Protector, SS-Obergruppenführer and Police General Reinhard Heydrich, who was travelling from his home in Panenské Břežany to Prague. We are at present marking the seven decades that have elapsed since this important historical moment (it really was a moment – about twenty seconds long). What role in the whole operation was played by the Special Operations Executive (SOE)?

Coming to Terms With the 20th Century Totalitarian Past

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Od lašvanskog do gučogorskog samostana

Author(s): Velimir Valjan / Language(s): Croatian Publication Year: 0

The monastery in Guča Gora was built from 1857 to 1859, when it was legalized to exist in full juridical sense. In the building of the monastery the bishop fra Marijan Šunjić especially was engaged. Although 2009 celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the monastery, its history is much longer and reaches back deep into the middle age history of Lašva’s monastery and Lašna-Travnik parish. The goal of the article From the Lašva to the Guča Gora Monastery is to shed more light upon its stormy history. The article is composed of two parts. In the first part the monastery in Lašva and Lašva-Travnik parish are presented according to the reports of the provincials and apostolic vicars in Bosnia and concludes with the moving of the parish residence to Guča Gora. In the second part the division of Lašva parish, Guča Gora as curacy office of the parish Dolac, the parish Guča Gora as an independent parish, and finally the erection of the church and the monastery and their legalization are described.

Predsedníctvo Slovenskej republiky vo Výbore ministrov Rady Európy

Author(s): Martina Hrvolová / Language(s): Slovak Publication Year: 0

In 2007 and 2008, the foreign policy of the Slovak Republic in the field of human rights was dominated by two major events. Firstly, the preparations required for Slovakia’s chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the consequent act of chairing the Committee and secondly, the campaign for the successful candidacy of Slovakia in the UN Human Rights Council. In assessing the significance of these events, we should note that in the history of the independent Slovak Republic this signaled the beginning of a period in which Slovakia started to focus on human rights on an institutional basis within its foreign policy. Slovakia continues to do so both intensively and systematically. The aim of this contribution is to offer different perspectives on Slovakia’s chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. This was the very first time that Slovakia had held the chairmanship of a regional international organization with such an exceptionally broad array of member countries.

Pôsobenie Slovenskej republiky v Bezpečnostnej rade OSN (2006 – 2007)

Author(s): Peter Burian / Language(s): Slovak Publication Year: 0

Our membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was a unique opportunity to show that the Slovak Republic is a responsible member of the international community capable of contributing to the resolution of both global and regional issues. It was historically the first membership of the independent Slovak Republic in the UNSC, which is generally considered the most effective instrument for dealing with the questions of international peace and security. Slovakia was thus given the historically first opportunity to assume an appropriate share of global responsibility and directly take part in the resolution of current security issues and challenges in the world and in the adoption of the relevant decisions of this body. In this spirit, we pursued the following basic objectives and principles during the UNSC membership: • promotion of democratic values and rigorous application of the principles of international law with the goal of contributing to both the resolution of crisis situations in the world and to the effective operation of this UN body; • reinforcement of the international standing of the SR as a country capable of contributing to the resolution of complex international problems; • utilization of the SR’s unique transition experience, Slovak diplomacy’s expert potential, and comprehensive knowledge of certain regions to enrich the UNSC debate and to seek effective solutions intended to reinforce regional as well as global security and stability; • rigorous defense of SR’s interests and security priorities as laid down in The Security Strategy of the SR; effective application of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU; • active contribution to the effective operation of the UNSC and to the reinforcement of its transparency and openness, in particular towards other UN member states, including complex reform of the UNSC and the reform of its working methods. I believe that the results we achieved while pursuing the afore-mentioned objectives, as well as the impression we have left behind in the UNSC thanks to the superior and responsible execution of our membership, fully reaffirm that we have handled the exceptionally demanding task very well. The experience and reputation our foreign service has gained during the Security Council membership needs to be utilized adequately in the upcoming years to further our standing on the international scene. One of the ways of achieving this is also building upon what we have started and accomplished in the Security Council.

Východná politika Európskej únie: fínske a nemecké predsedníctvo

Author(s): Alexander Duleba / Language(s): Slovak Publication Year: 0

Both Finland and Germany are countries with traditional interest in developing relations with East European neighbors. Thanks to their coordinated effort during the consequent EU presidencies in 2006 – 2007, including close interaction with the Commission, they managed to advance the strategic framework for the EU policy towards Eastern Europe. First of all, the Finnish and German presidencies made the first real steps towards addressing the main deficit of the existing strategic framework for the EU’s policy on Eastern Europe.

Mid-Year Review of Trump Presidency

Author(s): Jadwiga Kiwerska / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

As he bid his final farewell to the presidential office in January 2017, Barack Obama left the world in a fairly poor condition. Although the outgoing president can hardly be blamed for any of the international problems and threats, he could not be absolved from such responsibility being a leader of the world’s most powerful nation. On the other hand, on assuming his country’s highest office in January 2009, he too inherited a range of challenges and unresolved conflicts from his predecessor, George W. Bush Jr. These included the global financial and economic crises, the unresolved war on terrorism, the threat of the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the failure to benefit in any way from the deployment of US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, the rise of new global centers of power and ambition, tensions in relations with Russia, and finally, highly strained transatlantic relations.

European Assessment of Trump Presidency

Author(s): Jacek Kubera,Tomasz Morozowski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Barack Obama’s presidency brought a great deal of changes to US foreign policy. While even in its preliminary premises of the new administration, the United States was to continue playing a leading role in strengthening the world order, the assumption was that it would mainly rely on diplomatic efforts rather than military interventions and that it would minimize the cost. By “leading from behind”, following through with the previously announced “reset” in Russian relations and pivoting towards Asia and the Pacific Rim in foreign policy, the United States sent a message that understandably upset its European allies. Without a doubt, the new approach would impact the Transatlantic Alliance. There was a neccessity for Europe to become more active internationally and more responsible for its own security.

The European Union and the United States vs. Terrorism

Author(s): Sebastian Wojciechowski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The interests of the European Union and its member states and those of the United States are divergent if not mutually exclusive on a range of issues. During the first six months of Donald Trump’s presidency, such differences came into sharp relief. Nevertheless, there are still a number of issues in transatlantic relations on which cooperation continues to be good due to shared security priorities. Other than drug and weapons trafficking, an excellent example is the fight against terrorism. Close cooperation in combatting terrorism began after the 9/11 al-Qaeda attack on America. Ties grew even closer after the terrorist attacks on Europe, first in Madrid on March 11, 2004, and then in London on July 7-21, 2005. Another factor was the escalation of threats from ISIS.

Prospects for Transatlantic Relations

Author(s): Jadwiga Kiwerska,Jacek Kubera,Tomasz Morozowski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Prior experience with Donald Trump’s Presidency reveals a likely ongoing shift away from the decades-old paradigm of close relations between the United States and Europe. Such relations extend not only to politics, defense and the economy but also to culture and social issues. Forged after World War II and bolstered with the experience and effectiveness of the Transatlantic Alliance, the relationship became highly uncertain through the steps of the new administration and European reactions. Its dismantling is not a done deal. It is still conceivable that, after a period of turbulence and chaos observed in the wake of the White House changeover, the transatlantic community may regain strength.

Kormányzati pozícióban

Author(s): István Pál / Language(s): Hungarian Publication Year: 0

Droga do zrównoważonej gospodarki światowej

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

Dynamiczne i głębokie zmiany w środowisku naturalnym naszej planety wymuszają przedefiniowanie dotychczasowych modeli konsumpcji i produkcji. W tym kontekście koncepcja zrównoważonego rozwoju staje się jedną z najważniejszych determinant kształtujących procesy gospodarcze oraz decyzje konsumentów, przedsiębiorstw i państw, a działania w tym zakresie muszą być podejmowane na poziomie globalnym. Szczególne miejsce w tym obszarze zajmuje Unia Europejska, która postawiła sobie za cel osiągnięcie neutralności klimatycznej do 2050 roku. Jest to zarówno wyzwanie, jak i szansa dla europejskiej gospodarki. To ambitne założenie ma zostać osiągnięte przez połączenie działań podejmowanych jednocześnie w obszarze transformacji cyfrowej i środowiskowej. Przedstawiona monografia stanowi próbę odpowiedzi na pytania, w jaki sposób stawić czoła najważniejszym przeobrażeniom związanym z transformacją cyfrowo-środowiskową oraz przemianami społecznymi i globalnymi.

Международна научна конференция на тема „Синя икономика и синьо развитие“

Author(s): / Language(s): English,Bulgarian,Russian

Burgas Free University is organising the International Scientific Conference “Blue Economy and Blue Development”. Two years ago Burgas was nominated as the European maritime capital of 2018, with the BFU to host the annual high level forum for the European Maritime Day. The forum is led by the General Directorate “Maritime and Fisheries” to the European Commission and the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport, and is a part of the calendar of the Bulgarian chairmanship of the Council of the European Union. Right after the official forum and as a fist side event, the Burgas Free University (BFU) is honoured to launch the International Scientific Conference “Blue Economy and Blue Development”. It will be held on June 1 and 2, 2018 and in its focus will be the economic, regulatory, technological and societal aspects of the development of the maritime and the water spaces.