bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kontynuuj czytanie Book review: Jarosław Zbieranek (ed.), “Subwencje z budżetu państwa dla partii politycznych. Jawność i kontrola” [Subsidies for Political Parties from the State’s Budget: Transparency and Control], Warsaw 2008, pp. 112
Authors:   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), Marszałek–Kawa Joanna
Published: October 2019

In 2008, a very interesting and modern work published by the Institute of Public Affairs, could be noticed, entitled Subwencje z budżetu państwa dla partii politycznych. Jawność i kontrola [Subsidies for Political Parties from the State’s Budget: Transparency and Control]. As the editor of the book, Jarosław Zbieranek, states in the introduction, the ISP [the Institute of Public Affairs] has been initiating research for years, as well as organising academic sessions, whose core is an analysis of the Polish solutions as to the fi nancing of political parties passed by an amendment of the political parties act of 12 April 2001. Resultingly, the reviewed work constitutes an outcome of these activities. It is a conclusion from the research project Transparentność fi nansów partii politycznych [Transparency of Finances of Political Parties] of 2008, whose members devoted their research predominantly to the evaluation of two, considerable from the point of view of proper and clear functioning of democracy, issues, namely the case of transparency of the parties’ use of fi nancial means from the state’s budget, as well as the control of their expenditure.
Book review: Stephen Tanner, “The Wars of the Bushes. A Father and Son as Military Leaders”, Wydawnictwo Dolnośląskie, Wrocław 2007, pp. 280
Authors: Gałan Michał
Published: October 2019

The discussed book by Stephen Tanner is not the author’s debut. He has been analyzing various issues of military history for a long time. He is the author of works on the great retreats of armies during various periods of history, the fortunes of American airmen operating in Switzerland during World War II and the history of Afghanistan. Tanner’s book can be considered as the author’s personal opinion on the military policy of the United States a! er the Cold War.
Book rewiev: Stanisław Michalczyk, “The Media Society. Study of Mass Media Communications Theory” [Społeczeństwo medialne. Studia z teorii komunikowania masowego], Katowice 2008, pp. 478
Authors: Maguś Wojciech
Published: October 2019

In times we live the system of social communication is developing much faster than other fi elds of social life. Attempt to describe this phenomenon in the context of the media is the book of Stanisław Michalczyk –  e Media Society. The book is written in form of an academic elaboration it consists of eight chapters. Each of one is dedicated to separate issues.
Instruments of Polish Foreign Policy towards the Post–Yugoslav States
Authors:   University of Gdańsk (Poland), Podgórzańska Renata
Published: October 2019

The realization of Polish foreign policy after 1989 was carried out in the dynamically changing international situation. Political transformation in Poland and the redefi nition of its foreign policy was parallel to farreaching events occurring in Europe. These were brought about by political transformation in Central and Eastern Europe, that is the collapse of the Easter block, reunifi cation of the German states, break-up of the USSR and the independence of former Soviet republics.
The Unfulfilled Promise? Deliberative Democracy vs. Political Participation
Authors:   University of Łódź (Poland), Potz Maciej
Published: October 2019

The article aims to, first, critically assess the idea and practice of deliberative democracy and, second, find it a proper place in the democratic theory. I start with defining the concept as it emerges from the works of some of its most prominent proponents (such as Fishkin, Cohen or Habermas), reiterating several of the important arguments in support of it. I then present various criticisms of deliberative democracy, regarding philosophical assumptions that inform it (the idea of common good, the conditions of rational deliberation etc.) and its modus operandi (its alleged procedural superiority over aggregative methods). I then off er further criticism of deliberative democracy as a model of democracy, an alternative to the dominant model of representative democracy, arguing from its ineff ectiveness in influencing political decisions. Instead, in the final section, I propose to establish deliberation as one of the two criteria of classifi cation and assessment of democratic systems, thus restoring its importance in the democratic theory.
The Myth of Autonomy: Subjectivity, Heteronomy and the Violence of Liberalism Individualism
Authors:   University of St Andrews (United Kingdom), Stevenson Murer Jeffrey
Published: October 2019

Self-actualization is often touted but rarely achieved. The Liberal frame that champions autonomy requires strict conformity: conformity to laws assured by state force, conformity to market transaction assured by privileging private property, conformity to limited collective action assured by the social atomization which comes from the construction of negative rights. This paper explores the many impediments to autonomous self-actualization within the rubric of liberalism, including the superegoistic internalizations of mores and taboos elucidated by Western-oriented psychoanalysis. It further explores the possibility that self-actualization may be more readily achieved through what Gramsci referred to as “heteronomy:” selfconsciously engaged collective social action. By examining the mechanisms of self-limitation through the dynamics of superego development, the paper posits that self-actualization may best be realized through collective articulation of ethics and morality which are constantly situational. In this, the paper takes up the Deleuzian and Guattarian propositions of simultaneous, multiplicitious identities, deterritorialized and evaluated only within the multitude of a given moment in time and space. The dynamic and contextual quality of this discursive engagement is not one of relativity, but characterized by the intersubjectivity of the participants. ! is specifi city – specifi city of interlocutors, specifi city of locality, and specifi city of time – provides for unique self-actualization, which neither reifi es nor objectifi es selves, but suggests that individuals are not essences, but subjective beings which are as dynamic as the social situations they create. Thus self-actualization cannot be achieved alone, but only within a collective discursive context. This context must be characterized as a social forum of praxis, for instrumentality or technical motivations disrupt the contributions not only of the actor guided by techne, but the contributions of the whole for disingenuousness makes intersubjectivity impossible. Collectively articulated ethics and morals cannot be adjudicated by a discursive forum which is tainted by motives of self-gain. Instrumentality of one impedes the ability of all others to self-actualize. Thus, self-actualization only comes within the context of heteronymous action. ! is paper will thus interrogate the consequences of inverting the age-old problem of public action – autonomous self-actualization is threatened by free-loading – and suggests that collective self-actualization is impeded by self-oriented, atomistic, instrumentality.
The relations between the Republic of Poland and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The historical analysis
Authors:   University of Gdańsk (Poland), Burdelski Marceli
Published: October 2019

The sixtieth anniversary of entering into diplomatic relations between Republic of Poland and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea inclines to draw up a balance sheet. Korea is located far away from Poland, in a very different civilization circle, the neo-Confucian one. It has 5 thousand years of history; the legendary Tangun in a year 2333 B.C. has founded the first Korean state Kodzoson. The history is generally difficult, numerous invasions of grand neighbors (China, Japan). The Korean chronicle compared Korea to a prawn swimming in between of two whales. Such difficult history is also the attribute of Poland. Poland was also a subject of partitions, numerous invasions of the neighbors. Polish and Koreans have common national features: pride, inexorability and independence.
Ethnic diversity or ethnic disintegration for the existence of a contemporary conflict
Authors: J. Piątek Jarosław
Published: October 2019

In many analysis of contemporary military conflicts, their ethnicity is emphasized. Ethnic dissimilarities are indicated as the main element which causes diversity leading to even very dramatic events. For some people dissimilarity is a possibility of marginalization, for others a possibility of arousing some values which nowadays are very often treated as secondary. Ethnicity has a changeable character resulting from the process of its settling. It cannot be seen according to the rights characteristic for former processes. To what extend does the category change in the contemporary world? Isn’t it used only in order to hide a lack of communication and reluctance to compromises? Isn’t ethnicity manipulated by polititians, very o! en temporarily understanding interest of people communities, who because of very low reasons oppose symbolism of ethnicity to arising processes of modernization? Or maybe ethnicity is another “magic charm” which we use so easily sitting in a “quiet” of a political stability. The process which can be easily placed in universalism and hardly in rationalism.
Book review: Karolina J. Helnarska, “Od Europejskiej Wspólnoty Obronnej do Europejskiej Agencji Obrony”, Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, Toruń 2009, pp. 245
Authors: J. Piątek Jarosław
Published: October 2019

The publication is another title falling into the subject: Common European Safety and Defense Policy. However, it diff ers from previous depictions of European Union’s activity in the second pillar. The author’s aim was an analysis of a development of European identity in the fi eld of safety and defense from its origins, that is activities taken and decisions made in the second half of the 1940s.  e author has followed through the European safety and defense policy from the moment of shaping its conception (Pleven plan) and setting up the European Defence Community until setting up the European Defence Agency. The treaty instituting the European Defence Community deserves a special attention. It is the first presentation of such important Western Europe’s striving for creating the European armed forces in the literature of the subject.
Book review: “Local government in Central and Eastern Europe”, Marek Barański (ed.), Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, Toruń 2009, pp. 293
Authors: Słobodzian Beata
Published: October 2019

The work is a compilation of well-chosen and documented works on local governments in the states of Central and Eastern Europe. The timeline that the authors have assumed has its starting point in the beginning of the 1990s, when the transformation processes of the states of the former Soviet block had begun. This also marks the beginning of the process of forming of democratic state structures, including local governments.
Portraits of Asian Statehood. Civilisational, Cultural, Political, Legal, & Economic Aspects. The Third International Scientific Conference. Toruń, 21–22 May, 2009
Authors: Kawa Daniel
Published: October 2019

It is already the third time when the International Scientifi c Conference has taken place in Torun, attended by more than 100 scholars from all scientific centres as well as several participants from abroad. The initiator and scientific manager of all so far conferences has been dr Joanna Marszałek-Kawa, assistant director of the Faculty of Political Sciences of Nicolaus Copernicus University. The conference was arranged by the Asia – Pacific Society and the Faculty of Political Sciences, Faculty of International Studies of Nicolaus Copernicus University and Polish-Chinese Friendship Society.
Reality of Politics [estimates, comments, forecasts]. Transatlantism – Euroatlantism 1949–2009
Authors: Podgórzańska Renata , J. Piątek Jarosław
Published: October 2019

On the workers’ of the Institute of the Political Science and European Studies of University of Szczecin initiative, with a support of the Council of the Institute of the Political Science and European Studies, a Yearbook Reality of Politics [estimates, comments, forecasts] has been brought into existence. The aim of the community of political scientist from Szczecin has been creating a magazine which by its character could present a wide spectrum of opinions, views and refl ections within the scope of contemporary issues concerning political science.
New media – challenge for the rulers
Authors:   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), Dorenda Marta
Published: October 2019

Political life in western democracies, even beyond the periods of subsequent elections, resembles permanent electoral campaign. All the actions of politicians and public relations of professionals are calculated to maintain supporters, attract hesitant citizens and persuade opponents. There is a common perception of media as a channel serving politicians, supported by spin doctors, to submit messages, aiming at achievement of political success. Analysis of changes in terms of communication and political marketing requires redefinition of classical categories operated by political marketing and communication, namely the notions of sender, message and receiver. While reformulating these categories, it is necessary to also analyze new tools and devices used by domains mentioned above. Presentation and explanation of their new content, definitions and relations between them leads to the conclusions concerning new role of media in the world dominated by high technologies.
The Anti–systemness of the Protest Parties
Authors:   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), Michalak Bartłomiej
Published: October 2019

Last decades of the past century, as well as the current one, may be characterized by the increase of political role of the movements that are called “the protest parties.” Scholars, journalists and politicians put a lot of attention to that phenomenon. However, it is focused just on selected elements of the problem. Beginning from the 1980s European public opinion may observe the rise and development of groups of ecologists. The unexpected electoral success of the new type of party is called “the New Populism.” Back in the 1990s it caused many concerns, opinions and discussions on the issue whether such parties are harmful for modern and stabilized western European democracies. At the turn of the century the political scene has been dominated by new forms of activity, which are the anti-globalization and alternative globalization movements.
E–voting as a new form of Civic Participationin democratic procedures
Authors:   Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland), Musiał–Karg Magdalena
Published: October 2019

Times are changing. The second half of the 19th century and the following years stood for rapid development of various tools based on electricity. Expansion of telecommunication and progress of electronic media constitute important elements of this period. It may be said, we now live in the Internet era, and there is a perception that anyone who does not jump on the technology bandwagon is going to be left far behind. The growth of online interactions can be observed by the inconceivable increase in the number of people with home PC and Internet access.
Maria Skłodowska–Curie – a sketch to the portrait
Authors:   Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin (Poland), Olszewski Edward
Published: October 2019

Biographers of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, characterizing her features of personality, underline her pragmatism, consequence in action and logical mind. Her studies in the fields of mathematics, physics and chemistry developed these features of personality and, at the same time, paved her way to achievements on the world’s scale.
Maria Skłodowska–Curie – Woman, Wife and Mother
Authors:   Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin (Poland), Leszczyńska Krystyna
Published: October 2019

On May 20, 1921 during the ceremony of presenting a gram of radium to Maria Skłodowska-Curie, the President of the United States, Warren Harding, called the Polish scientist “the most noble of human beings, the best wife and a loving mother who could combine all the woman’s duties with the immense effort of her fabulous work.” It is unquestionable that scientific research in the field of experimental physics was the main aim and sense of Maria Skłodowska-Curie’s life. But this field of science, which a two-time Noble laureate has chosen, was, at those times, “exclusively male.”
Book Review: “Syndrome of a Peacock and a Parrot. 20 years of Political Transformation in Poland” [Syndrom pawia i papugi. 20 lat transformacji ustrojowej Polski], ed. Marek Sokołowski, Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, Toruń 2010, pp. 264
Authors:   Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland), Kamola–Cieślik Małgorzata
Published: October 2019

In Poland’s most recent history, year 2009 was a time to celebrate a special anniversary. Twenty years ago, events that started a political transformation in Poland took place. They were connected with the Round Table Talks, elections to the so-called Contract Sejm and the fact that Tadeusz Mazowiecki became the Prime Minister. In 2009 Poland also celebrated 70th anniversary of II World War, 10th anniversary of its admission to NATO and 5th anniversary of joining the European Union. The celebrations of these events involved exhibitions, conferences and scientific seminars. Articles were written and television networks broadcast interviews and documentaries about the recent historical events that happened in Poland’s history.
Book Review: “New media and politics. Internet, democracy, electoral campaigns” [Nowe media i polityka. Internet, demokracja, kampanie wyborcze], ed. Marek Jeziński, Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, Toruń 2009, pp. 291
Authors:   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), Dorenda Marta
Published: October 2019

The expression (and concept) of “new media”, initially describing the facilities which permitted the spread of information in real time amongst many recipients, although present in western literature for sixty years, still merits thorough analysis. The rapid development of new media, signifying nowadays communication methods of a more digital nature, necessitates a thorough analysis of its infl uence on several aspects of social and political life. New media and politics. Internet, democracy, electoral campaigns, a work edited by Marek Jeziński, provides such an analysis in terms of political marketing, theories of political systems, ethics and other fields of interest of social and political studies. The book consists of two parts, one of which concentrates on relations between media and democracy. The second one covers the impact of the Internet on political life and the role of new technologies in providing information, shaping attitudes, changing the forms of political participation and exercising social control.
Book Review: “The theory and practice of mass media functioning” [Teoria i praktyka funkcjonowania mediów], ed. Joanna Marszałek–Kawa, Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, Toruń 2010, pp. 320
Authors:   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), Orzeł Joanna
Published: October 2019

A widely held belief has it that mass media is the fourth power. A question arises, however, as to whether the media create information instead of simply providing it. The editor of the book under review indicates that this situation leads to a number of pathologies, such as sponsoring, lack of objectivity, manipulations etc. The media, especially those in the hands of private owners, are profi t-driven. Sensational journalism is aimed at attracting as wide audience as possible.
Book Review: “Practical Aspects of the Freedom of Speech” [Praktyczne aspekty wolności wypowiedzi], eds. Wojciech Lis, Zbigniew Husak, Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, Toruń 2011, pp. 551
Authors:   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), Orzeł Joanna
Published: October 2019

The freedom of speech and the right to information are essential human and citizenship rights, which are guaranteed in the constitution and numerous international conventions. The book under review focuses on widely understood issues of the free expression of views. The authors of the articles are either scholars who deal with the legal aspects of mass media or journalists, who are part of those media. As a result, the authors’ opinions and proposals for change not only deepen our knowledge, but also broaden the scope of thinking about the freedom of speech as practised by the media.
52 Years of the Existence of the Polish–Chinese Friendship Association
Authors:   Independent Researcher (Poland), Góralczyk Zdzisław
Published: October 2019

The victory of Chinese communists over the Kuomintang, backed by the United States, in the Chinese Civil War, which resulted in the foundation of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, was the most signifi cant international event a er the Second World War. It reverberated not only through the whole world, but also around Poland. The People’s Republic of Poland broke diplomatic relations with the Kuomintang government of the Republic of China in August 1949. It was the seventh country of the world to recognize the People’s Republic of China on October 5, 1949, and, two days later, Poland and China reestablished diplomatic relations. It is worth mentioning that this fact was generally well received by the Polish society of the 1950s.
The Horizons of Polish Political Thought
Authors:   Jagiellonian University of Kraków (Poland), Śliwa Michał
Published: October 2019

It is not without reason that we reflect more and more on the causes of the current state of political thinking in Polish society. Indeed, in modern times, difficult and uncertain, and turbulent times of great transformation, human thought is clearly not keeping pace. Given the rapidly changing external circumstances we have become increasingly confused and inept. We do not really know how to deal with the emerging threats and challenges of modern times, described by the eminent sociologist and philosopher Zygmunt Bauman as the era of “liquid modernity”. It is noticeable that our perception and image of social reality and our role in it, including its political dimension, is quite imperfect and restricted, and that our ideological life is in deep crisis or has perhaps even disappeared.
Political Celebrities – a New Dimension of Political Leadership
Authors:   Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce (Poland), Kasińska–Metryka Agnieszka
Published: October 2019

Political leadership is still a research area requiring the most up-to-date approaches, since, being a constant phenomenon in its essence, it is subject to the processes of form transformation. Throughout history, we can indicate the directions of change of the leadership phenomenon. From tribal communities, where often quasi-political functions were combined with religious functions (based on the charismatic authority of shamans), through the time of statesmen and ideological leadership, we have now arrived at the era of media leaders.
The Armed Forces in the Process of Transformation of the State – the Case of Venezuela
Authors:   Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin (Poland), Krzywicka Katarzyna
Published: October 2019

The National Armed Forces were created in Venezuela at the beginning of the 20th century. Gradually they became the main instrument in the political game and were used in forming a centralized national state. Along with subsequent transformations of the political system the position of the Armed Forces was getting stronger and they started to expand their role. The present article offers an analysis of the position and role of the Armed Forces in the process of transformation of the state in Venezuela. I will focus my attention on the changes that took place in the period of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. I will also analyze some earlier crucial phases in the 20th century history of the formation of the Venezuelan state.
The Arab Awakening and Its Political Economy
Authors:   Koszalin University of Technology, Pomerian University in Słupsk (Poland), Rewizorski Marek
Published: October 2019

Many commentators suggest that the Middle East political turbulence was foreseeable and it cannot be said it had been unexpected. However, the diplomatic and intelligence establishments in the United States and the European Union, which have the most crucial stakes in this region, seemed to have been so preoccupied with focusing on Al Qaeda, Hezbol-lah, Hammas, and the Taliban that in a narrow picture they seem to have lost sight of the revolutionary wave, which has altered the governments in Tunis and Cairo and shaved off some of the most hated and oppressive regimes with the sheer example of Hosni Mubarak and Muammar Qaddafi . The spectacular fall of such dictators as Mubarak, has led to the question, whether the “Arab Awakening” was a transformation or a revolution. There are also questions concerning the idea of democratisation of the third world and corruption, which change the Arab governments into “bad apples”. According to the western view, democracy is a Janus-faced ideological god, pulling the strings of both politics and economics. One cannot exist without the other, therefore, when we reconsider the political aspect of the Arab uprising, we should not forget about the economy.
Polish Election to the European Parliament in 2009 at a Regional Level. The Analysis of Competition in the Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship
Authors:   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), Peszyński Wojciech
Published: October 2019

The Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship constitutes one of the smallest of the Polish voivodeships. It is composed of nineteen land districts and four city counties, including Bydgoszcz, Torun, Wloclawek and Grudziadz. According to the data provided by the Public Electoral Commission (PKW), in 2009 the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship was inhabited by more than 2 million people, 1.65 million of whom had the right to vote. Despite the relatively small number of inhabitants, due to provisions of the act regulating the process of voting for the Members of the European Parliament, the voivodeship in question became a separate electoral district with the electoral commission located in Bydgoszcz. This decision was infl uenced mostly by members of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) representing this region in the Polish Parliament. This lobbing activity seemed benefi cial from the party’s perspective, since SLD has been gaining extraordinary support in the region. But for this lobbing, the voivodeship under consideration would have been included in one district together with the Pomeranian Voivodeship, where the majority of voters are prone to give their support to the right-wing and centre-wing parties.
Commercialization of the Media – TVP Case
Authors:   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), Seklecka Aleksandra
Published: October 2019

In the process of political, economic and social changes that have taken place in Poland since 1989, state radio and television, so far carefully controlled by the communist government, could not remain unaff ected. The establishment of a new order required several years and involved numerous changes in management and the content of programs. It is often said that this process has not been completed yet. What can be observed a$ er twenty years of transformation is the commercialization of media, whose “public” status is present only in their name. This is particularly apparent in the analysis of Polish television. In fact, the activity of this media is based on certain market mechanisms, including the desire to reach high viewership, attract the attention of advertisers and as a consequence, to maximize profit.
The Catholic Church in Poland as an Entity Influencing Parliamentary Elections (1989–2010)
Authors:   University of Szczecin (Poland), Kowalczyk Krzysztof
Published: October 2019

Various aspects of the term Catholic Church can be considered: theological, sociological, legal or politological. For the purpose of this article the defi nition of the Church as formulated by political science will be essential, although in this discipline various connotations exist. The Church is referred to as a denomination, religious community, an interest group or a political entity. Among authors writing about the Church as a denomination are Wolfgang Ernst Böckenförde and Heindrun Abromeit. Both of them focus on the spiritual-religious aspect of Church activities, at the same time emphasizing that political activity is not the principal aim of the Church. Broader theories of Church activities as an interest group are presented by Carolyn M. Warner and Dietrich Hierlemann. Classifying the Catholic Church as an interest group C.M. Warner claims that this institution makes eff orts to get preferential treatment by political authorities, and its goal is to gain certain resources from the economic and political systems. The Church attempts to lobby democratic governments through political parties and other means, as it intends to have an infl uence on the educational system, impose its moral values on society through legislation, or retain certain tax reliefs. The Church tries to provide its members with certain collective goods (such as answers to moral and philosophical dilemmas), affiliation-based (e.g. cult site), or individual incentives (e.g. sacraments). The Catholic Church, therefore, in addition to an organized religion, can be referred to as an untypical interest group D. Hierlemann similarly states that the Church acts as a representative of interests and a lobbyist that attempts to make infl uential contacts, establish good relations with decision makers and play for resources. The Church acting in the secular sphere is subject to the same priciples as other associations (Verbände). This entity tries to promote its interests in the political process. In reference to theories describing the functioning of associations in the lay-political area we can examine the activities of the Church within the political system. From this perspective D. Hierlemann analyzes various forms of lobbying done by the Catholic Church in Poland.
The Remembrance of the Katyń Massacre and President Lech Kaczyński's Concept of Polish–Russian Relations [2005–2010]
Authors:   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), Wawrzyński Patryk
Published: October 2019

Lech Kaczyński’s tragic death was a direct cause of the détente in PolishRussian relations, proclaimed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin just after the Polish Air Force Tu-154 Crash. However this rapprochement is far from the political concept of the President. Considering the Polish internal debate on a proper form of Polish-Russian relations, I would like – in this short article to present a way as to how President Kaczyński understood challenges, that both nations have to pick up.
Book Review: Jean–Paul Guichard, Antoine Brunet, China the International Hegemonic Leader? Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Emka, 2011, pp. 324
Authors: Marszałek–Kawa Joanna
Published: October 2019

Two renowned French economists Antoine Brunet and Jean-Paul Guichard are the authors of the interesting book entitled “China the international hegemonic leader? Professor Guichard from a University in Nice deals with the economic analysis as well as with the international relations and Antoine Brunet, the founder of AB Marches, in the years 2003–2007 won first place in the French economists ranking. For ten years he was chief of the strategic HSBC France bank. Since the date the book was published a discussion broke out over the question asked in the title. The intention of the authors was to uncover the totalitarian aspirations of China for domination over the world. They propose a thesis that the western world faces a war and the means of defense is the economy.
Book Review: Jakub Nowak, Online Activity of Citizens. Theories and Practice, Lublin: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Marii Curie–Skłodowskiej, 2011, pp. 270
Authors: Adamik–Szysiak Małgorzata
Published: October 2019

Dynamic changes occurring within the area of the new media include not only technological, but also social, cultural and political transformations. The increasing role of the Internet in contemporary democratic societies is the subject more and more often studied by scientists. Jakub Nowak’s book Online Activity of Citizens.
Peace Studies: Basics and Issues
Authors:   University of Vechta (Germany), Spiegel Egon
Published: October 2019

Although questions of peace are different in context, for specific questions today, we need a science of peace in a universal sense. It is true that sometimes talking about peace is too unspecified and therefore too general. The term peace in its common sense has passed its peak. Instead of talking about peace we prefer talking much more concretely and bindingly for example about (racism and) intercultural learning, (violence in family and) nonviolent education, (exploitation and) fair economic structures, (war and) nonviolent conflict transformation, (patriarchalism and) gender awareness, (ecological destruction and) animal protection. Developments of differentiation are positive. We can meet questions of peace on different levels of living together and in different parts of our life and therefore in a lot of terms describe special problem areas. Anyway we have to reflect on the universal dimensions as well as the principles of peace. Using the term makes sense furthermore.
The Construction of Civil Local Communities – the Challenge of the 21st Century
Authors:   Koszalin Higher School of Humanities (Poland), Lipska–Sondecka Agnieszka
Published: October 2019

The modern world is very complex and complicated matter. New communication technologies have changed perception of time and space, the states and their governments are no longer the main actors on a public life stage. Unimaginably rapid progress of science and technology has been the main reason for which more and more people do not understand or have clear difficulties in assimilating and using the achievements of civilization. Economy based on knowledge and development of innovative society forced modern homo sapiens to faster absorption of changes, flexibility in action and much greater mobility than ever before.
Democracy at the Service of the Community
Authors:   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), Plecka Danuta
Published: October 2019

In popular consciousness, the dispute between the communitarians and the liberals focuses on citizens’ individualism and the role and place of the community in contemporary society. However, it is merely a simpli-fied vision of the topic of discussion between supporters of the currents of political thought indicated above. Indeed, a no less essential part of the debate concerns problems associated with the interpretation of the idea and the principles of democracy, their uses and importance in human life. The canon of fundamental values of democratic government includes freedom and equality. These principles are inherently conducive to the emergence of conflicts, as illustrated by the classic dilemma „the more freedom, the less equality, and the more equality, the less freedom.“ This particular problem has determined the emergence of two major theories of democracy: individualistic and collectivist. The main difference between these approaches to democracy concerns the view of the relationship between the state and society, and between the state and it‘s citizens. And thus, the individualistic current (procedural) derived from the traditions of the English Revolution aims to reduce the area of activity and competence of the government to the minimum specified explicitly in the rules of law. Consequently, both Society and citizens are free from the state, the latter becoming only the guardian of the laws.
Political Trust and Electoral Behaviour
Authors:   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), Turska–Kawa Agnieszka
Published: October 2019

The concept of trust in the context of voting behavior is difficult to define, because it is not a factor specific solely to this domain. Firstly, trust is an essential element of social life. It is the essence of social capital that has signifi can't impact on many issues – education, economic growth, crime level, quality of functioning of the democratic institutions, community of the citizens. Secondly, in large partly due to the multiple contexts of use of this concept, there are difficulties as regards distinguishing it from related concepts such as empathy, community, respect, kindness, brotherhood, esteem, unity. Despite the many shortcomings and imperfections in the concept of trust, it appears that the concept is well understood intuitively – individuals answering questions in surveys on trust seem to understand the concept very well, and their expressed trust level is proportionate to their individually observable behaviour.
Modern Conceptual–Theoretical Transformations of Political Leadership
Authors:   Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz (Poland), Pierzchalski Filip
Published: October 2019

Scientific discussion on political leadership increasingly takes on the form of interdisciplinary argumentation, in which different research perspectives, models and explanatory conceptual grids overlap. This state of affairs is on the one hand dictated by the contemporary trends in scientific research, especially in the broadly defined social sciences, where the cognitive, explanatory or descriptive relevance is achieved only by taking into account a broader, inter-disciplinary nature of scientific knowledge. In this sense, a thorough, reliable research practice consists primarily in crossing the formal borders of scientific disciplines, where researchers renounce the “complex” of detailed and firm definitions of their own subject of study to turn instead towards integration of knowledge from various, often very different, areas. The above is mainly due to the dispersion of objective scientific knowledge, which is conditioned, among others by: scientific and technical progress, the phenomenon of intertextuality (modern researchers in humanities concentrate their research effort on the texts and practices associated with this phenomenon, which means that their primary method in analyses of political phenomena is to fortify the text – specifically, to prepare the scientific text in such a way as to meet the standards of scientific writing and withstand criticism in the absence of the writer; as well as conceptual-theoretical pluralism present in social sciences. On the other hand, it is the result of scientific analysis of the given forms and practices of leadership, where nowadays greater attention is paid to the multi-dimensionality of leadership processes in politics, related to: the multi-level nature of concepts and research (meso, micro and macro-theoretical level analyses) and the need to take into account a large number of variables in the study of leadership (personality and environmental, situational, institutional factors, economic, political or religious variables). The consequence of this state of affairs is the multi-paradigm character of leadership, which in this case means that very often highly different ways of defining and explaining the complex relationship between a particular political leader and followers co-exist within the discipline. In addition, the multiplicity of paradigms of political leadership is a feature demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge generated by political science, where various claims, theses, observations or conclusions complement each other, for example those originating in disciplines such as sociology, law, psychology, management sciences and cultural studies.
Discrimination, Democracy, and Postmodern Human Rights
Authors:   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), Wypych Bartosz
Published: October 2019

The question of discrimination, as far as it is considered in the field of philosophy, cannot be perceived as a problem which can be effectively combated. Even the most precise diagnosis of human nature will not restrain people from defining others as evil and inferior. The most universal and spacious conventions, declarations, cards or bills will not solve the problem either. They can be regarded as an example of applied philosophy at most. On the other hand, we should pose the question what the world would look like if political pragmatism were the main obligatory rule. Thus, the situation finds us between philosophical wishful thinking about a global order free from discrimination and macro – or micropolitical pragmatism.
The National security of France in White Papers on Defense. Continuity or change?
Authors:   University of Warsaw (Poland), J. Helnarska Karolina
Published: October 2019

France after World War II was in a difficult situation. This involved a loss of position, not only as a superpower in the world but in Europe. Superpower, the global position of France, decided to rebuild, after the new president was elected in June 1959, Gen. Ch. de Gaulle. According to his conception of a foreign policy for France it should have a global dimension, supported by the independent French defense not only as a conventional but also nuclear power. Gen. Ch. De Gaulle took the position that France having regard to its independence in the political, military, economic and cultural center should not submit to any of the blocks. Independence in the foreign policy of France was understood as the freedom to determine their own place in the world, freely determine their fate, the defense of vital national interests and full freedom in the choice of ends, means and methods of foreign policy.
Music in the Field of Political Science. Research Questions and Trends
Authors:   Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), Massaka Iwona
Published: October 2019

Research on relations between art and politics has its tradition. However, it mainly refers to literature, whose part, as far as its authors’ intentions are concerned, is of a political character, in a lesser degree – of a picture. Sound, especially if it is not linked to a text and/or a picture, is considerably more seldom analyzed from the point of view of its importance in politics. As long as a word and a picture happen to convey unequivocal political meaning, qualifi ed as such by most recipients, sound cannot be obviously considered a political message. It is questionable whether music can convey any meaning in whatever sense. If one can manage to suppress this doubt, it will result in a question how to construe the senses conveyed through the medium of melodic – rhythmic structures. However, the findings in the field of widely understood humanities affirm that music serves as a creator’s message directed to both individual and collective receivers. Political science studies often bring up a matter of communication between authorities and the subjects (in authoritarian regimes), and also between representatives of a nation or people claiming their role and electorate (in democratic regimes). At the end of the 1960s, American and Canadian scientists made room for music, one of the most widespread communicators, i. a. in political sphere. At that time, interdisciplinary teams including American sociologists, political scientists, culture and media experts undertook multi – faceted research, focused mainly on popular music.
Book Review: Wojciech Marcin Stankiewicz, Wektory rozwoju współczesnej rzeczywistości międzynarodowej a siła niektórych zagrożeń patologicznych, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego, Gdańsk 2012, pp. 224
Authors:   University of Gdańsk (Poland), Chodubski Andrzej
Published: October 2019

Pathologies are considered to be one of the cell elements of culture-civilization life. This phenomenon has been known since the beginning of the formation of organizational structures of humans, including social and political ones. High esteem should be taken to refer to the essence of revealing the scale of pathological phenomena in contemporary international realities. It is noted that the various entities that generate international order undertake actions to reduce and eliminate them. This is an extremely difficult cognitive challenge, due to the fact that violence is often regarded as the way of achieving objectives, as well as that it is very strongly associated with legitimate state structures.
The Borderland and Its Cultural Separateness
Authors:   University of Gdańsk (Poland) & Gdańsk Higher School of Humanities (Poland), Chodubski Andrzej
Published: October 2019

In the reality of the creation of the new civilizational face of the world, caused primarily by scientifi c and technical progress, international legal and formal solutions, education oriented on shaping the understanding of directions of cultural changes, one can observe trends both to uni- fication and diversifi cation of the image of human life, and in that the blurring of the boundaries between the core values of cultural life. In this image the strength of tradition is confronted with a modernity. Political divisions of the world are an example of this reality, and in that the blurring of the boundaries between the states. In the formation of the new spatial-political division borderlands are becoming a specifi c stage. For them important tasks are appointed in close-up among states, nations and ethnic groups, which are directly adjacent, and in that remains in the tradition of mythologized relationship, usually about the negative colouring. Borderlands are diff erently comprehended in the global and local space.
Between the Centre and the Periphery of European Integration? Ten Years of Polish Membership in the European Union
Authors:   University of Łódź (Poland), Niedźwiecki Artur
Published: October 2019

Europe, slowly but surely, appears to be recovering from one of the most damaging financial crises ever, but still our continent dangles in a sort of political suspension. The “Eastern Enlargement” from 2004 has been digested badly by the European Union. Currently, we are witnessing an overwhelming shortage of common ideas for the Community consisting of the twenty eight Member States, which is striking and, is in fact a grievous phenomenon. A number of exclusive political and economic initiatives realized beyond the institutional skeleton of the Union evolve, at least partially, into disruption of pure solidarity and rudimentary concord among nations. The multi-tier Europe, evidently faltering at a political crossroads, is gradually rising from the diff erentiation of the Community and, in consequence, presupposes some kind of socio-political and economic Centre and Periphery.