bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing Russia’s doctrine of Realpolitik as strategic re-contouring of regional power -balance in the post-Soviet periphery
Authors: Eriksen Monika
Published: March 2018

The Ukraine conflict escalated in early 2014 and resulted in Russia’s annexation of Crimea. This illustrates a troublesome pattern in the region. The author claims that this most recent political crisis is in fact emblematic of Russian’s narrative for some time, as exemplified by the Russia-Georgian War, or Putin’s support of Moldavian separatists. The article attempts to conceptualize Russian “mingling” in the region in light of several relevant events such as the recent creation of the Eurasian Economic Union as well as the annexation of Crimea as a deliberate strategy that reflects a much larger pattern of potential destabilization and expansionism, which begun more than a decade ago. The argument will be analyzed through the prism of two theoretical perspectives, the redefined domino theory and Kohr’s power theory of social misery. Moreover, the article will place a particular emphasis on the increasing influence of the concept of Eurasianism on Russian geopolitics in recent years. The increasing regional vulnerabilities in light of Russia’s antagonistic policy of Realpolitik, stresses the need for a protracted dialogue about other potential security threats that could further destabilize the region. The article discusses recent events in Ukraine as an emblematic example of Russian geopolitical strategy as a potential warning for other sovereign States in the post-Soviet “near-abroad”.
Polityka etniczna Republiki Łotewskiej
Authors: Szabaciuk Andrzej
Published: March 2018

Ethnic Policy of Republic of Latvia
This article aims to analyze the factors and significance of particular subjects and instruments of the Latvian ethnic policy. It will be examined in the context of relationships occurring between Latvia’s policy on ethnic minorities, the attitude of the Russian-speaking minority and the Russian Federation’s foreign policy on its fellow-countrymen abroad. We will also attempt to answer the question of how the Latvian ethnic policy influences horizontal interrelations between the state’s individual ethnic groups – whether it alleviates social tensions or intensifies them.
Zjawisko dysfunkcji państwa na przykładzie Ukrainy – analiza problemowa
Authors: Olejarz Tomasz , Stępniewski Tomasz
Published: March 2018

Dysfunctional states based on the example of Ukraine – a problem analysis The analysis of Ukraine’s dysfunction and dependence, both in national and international dimension, presents a clear picture that the dilemma of whether we are faced with a consolidation of a truly liberal democracy or its non-liberal (hybrid) variety, is still valid. Debates in political sciences are dominated by the view that independent Ukraine ought to be considered a specific case of the so-called “hybrid state”. Such countries are characterized by stagnation, corruption, and a dominant position of elites, who offer few benefits to the state and have little public support. In addition, the following are clearly visible in Ukraine: little representation of public interests by state institutions; little political involvement of the society and little social activity in between elections; no respect for regulations of the state under the rule of the law; little public legitimization in elections; little public trust in state institutions/the institution of the state; inadequate operation of the state in general. Therefore, the fact that transformation processes which have been emerging in Ukraine, ought not be considered linear, should be acknowledged. Consequently, describing the character of these processes in view of their complexity and multidimensionality seems more relevant.
African Studies in the Other Europe: A Legitimate Perspective on Africa
Authors: Skalník Petr
Published: March 2018

African Studies in the countries that were under communist rule and that today are known as post‑communist, have originally developed an interest in Africa based on ideological, political and economic interests of the state. There has been a gradual shift from ideology to economy while the study of African politics seems to follow the vagaries of the influence that Africa exerts on the world scene. Characteristically, until recently AEGIS did not include a single centre or association based in post‑communist Europe even though in countries such as Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary African studies currently experience considerable growth. This reflects both the hegemony of Western Europe with its strong colonial and neo‑colonial emphases and weak official interest that post‑communist Europe shows for Africa. The article describes changing emphases of eastern European Africanist scholarship and discusses the question of legitimacy of the marginal but non‑colonial approach to African studies. In contradistinction to the Western European African studies and with Eastern European approaches it shows that the latter perspective is useful for a critical look at the hitherto dominant paternalistic style of African studies in Europe.
Central African Republic: Portrait of a Collapsed State after the Last Rebellion
Authors: Kłosowicz Robert
Published: March 2018

Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world and has occupied the top place in all possible rankings of failed states, instability, poverty, corruption etc. for many years. However, although the CAR has experienced almost constant instability for the last few decades it was only in recent years that it has received the media attention which was unseen before. Such an unusual interest has resulted from two successive internal conflicts: first, in 2012 the anti‑government rebellion drawing together the alliance of rebel militia factions, the Séléka, and a year later the insurrection of the opposing Anti‑Balaka forces. The article is an attempt to analyse the causes of the instability of the CAR and the current political and security situation in the country, taking into account, among other things, the results of the fieldwork conducted by the author in the Central African Republic, as well as his long‑time research on the phenomenon of dysfunctional states.
How Theoretically Opposite Models of Interethnic Power‑Sharing Can Complement Each Other and Contribute to Political Stabilization: The Case of Nigeria
Authors: Trzciński Krzysztof
Published: March 2018

The aim of this article is to demonstrate the thesis that the stabilization of Nigeria’s complicated political situation is furthered by the functioning in that country of institutions based on two models of interethnic power‑sharing – consociationalism and centripetalism – and that the two are to some extent complementary in Nigerian practice, despite the fact that political theory sees the two as opposites of each other. The article begins with a short analysis of the political situation in Nigeria. This is followed by a presentation of the problem of defining the notion of political stability and an assessment of the same in the Nigerian context. The article then goes on to discuss the nature of centripetalism and consociationalism and of specific centripetal and consociational institutions involved in the stabilization of the political situation in Nigeria. The article ends with the author’s conclusions about the initial thesis.
Education and Development in the Sino‑African Context of Relations
Authors: Tarrósy István , Vörös Zoltán
Published: March 2018

This study focuses on the involvement of China in the above two African states, arguing that the development of the education sector, therefore the development via education is crucial for any of the states of the continent. It gives an overview of education as a significant aspect of human development in the context of opposing policies of the international financial institutions (IFIs) and the Chinese government. In the light of the FOCAC process, China’s involvement in the development of human resources on African soil will be looked at closely, also questioning whether or not China may present an ‘alternative’ to the IFIs in the field.
EPA as a Tool for the Development of Sub‑Saharan Countries
Authors: Kołodziejczyk Katarzyna
Published: March 2018

The article discusses Economic Partnership Agreements, which have become a tool for transforming trade relations between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), including the countries of Sub‑Saharan Africa. The agreements combine trade and development into a single whole, and as envisaged by the European Union, they are to become an instrument for achieving the development goals of the ACP states. Their common characteristic is free access to markets under the principle of reciprocity. Given the development asymmetry between the European Union and the ACP states, there arises a question of whether EPAs will be an instrument serving their development, and this article is an attempt at providing an answer to this question.
The Role of Moroccan Salafist Radicalism in Creating a Threat to Spain’s Security
Authors: Kosmynka Stanisław
Published: March 2018

The paper is focused on the mechanisms and manifestations of Moroccan jihadism in Spain. It analyses how fighting Salafist radicalism from Mahgreb emerged in Spain and how it created challenges and threats for the security of the country. Europe has become one of the key fields of battle in the global war on jihadist terror. Today, in the age of decentralized terrorism, Al‑Qaeda is seen as a symbol of extremism legitimizing the use of violence by religious references. Jihadist ideology inspires the phenomenon of home‑grown terrorism in many European countries. The paper shows the background of the activity of some radical groups and movements in Morocco and then explains the ways it came to Spain. Moroccan jihadists played an increasingly important role in the activity of different Salafist cells in Spain. The article analyses the causes of the bomb attack carried out on 11 March 2004 in Madrid, which constituted an expression of open forms of terrorism, and the forms and factors of jihadist radicalism over the following years. It shows the links of the Moroccan Salafist movement with Islamic immigrant communities in Spain.
From Africans in India to African Indians
Authors: Czekalska Renata , Kuczkiewicz-Fraś Agnieszka
Published: March 2018

The first migrations of people from Africa to the Indian Subcontinent took place about fifty‑sixty thousand years ago. However, most of the Indo‑African population of India came to the Subcontinent in the last five hundred years. They became naturalized to both the Indian culture and the Indian way of life reasonably quickly, they became involved in politics and social disputes, and many of them rose to a high authority in the Indian society. The aim of the article is to show the status development of Africans in India and the change in social attitude towards them, by means of an analysis of examples chosen from the history of African settlement in India.
Ethiopian foreign policy in the Horn of Africa: Informal relations with Somaliland and their possible future development
Authors: Rudnicová Kateřina
Published: March 2018

The paper deals with the foreign policy of Ethiopia toward Somalia and issues connected to the informal relations with Somaliland and its possible international recognition in particular. Somaliland is de facto state which declared its independence unilaterally as a response to the outbreak of the Somali civil war in 1991. Even though it managed to promote peace and stability in its territory, it has not been recognized by any state of international community yet. However, it has developed strategic partnerships and relations with European and African countries. The most important ally or partner of Somaliland in the Horn of Africa is Ethiopia. It cooperates with Somaliland in the field of economy, politics and security. However, due to certain political and geopolitical factors, Ethiopia is not willing to recognize Somaliland de iure and is dedicated to the idea of united Somalia. Therefore, the strategies Ethiopia uses when dealing with this de facto state and also the geopolitical factors why Ethiopia is still not willing to recognize Somaliland de jure will be analysed in this paper. The possibilities of future development of Ethiopia‑Somaliland relations will be evaluated considering geopolitical and political factors.
Patterns of Libya’s instability in the aftermath of the collapse of Gaddafi’s regime
Authors: Szczepankiewicz-Rudzka Ewa
Published: March 2018

Four years after the end of its uprising against the Gaddafi regime, Libya remains in chaos. It is worth noting that for the third time since their independence in 1951, the Libyans’ attempts to create a modern and powerful state seem to be ‘wishful thinking’. The first two failed attempts – in 1951 and 1969 – were essentially local affairs without significant consequences beyond the country’s borders. The ongoing turmoil which followed in the wake of the Arab Spring in 2011 is leading to serious regional and international destabilization. This paper discusses the main factors of the instability in post‑Gaddafi Libya. According to the authors’ analysis, there are the following main obstacles in the process of transition toward democracy and peace: two competing governments, multiplicity of militias and combat groups operating in Libya, jihadism rising in power as well as the regional and ethnic claims for recognition and autonomy. The last part of this paper is devoted to potential scenarios for the future of Libya.
The systems of government of Senegal and Ivory Coast
Authors: Jakubiak Łukasz
Published: March 2018

The paper deals with the contemporary systems of government in two Sub‑Saharan African states which belonged to the French colonial empire – Senegal and Ivory Coast. The Senegalese constitution of 2001 contains regulations based on the semi‑presidential model, whereas the Ivorian basic law of 2000 – on the presidential one (although it was not adopted in a pure form). Special attention is devoted to the similarities and differences between the two systems, taking into consideration their constitutional structure (e.g. powers of the head of state, political responsibility of ministers and other aspects of relations within the executive branch, as well as between the latter and the legislative one). It is also pointed out that since the two countries gained their independence in 1960 Senegal and Ivory Coast have had quite different political experiences, which have exerted a visible influence on the functioning of their systems of government in practice. One of the key factors that deserve to be taken into account is the ability to produce democratic alternation of power between presidential candidates and political parties taking part in the electoral process.
Ethio‑Djiboutian Relations in the 21st century – towards New African Cooperation
Authors: Mormul Joanna
Published: March 2018

Very good political and economic relations between Djibouti and Ethiopia can be treated as an exceptional case in such a conflict‑ridden region as the Horn of Africa. Ethio‑Djiboutian cooperation owes its ‘renaissance’ mostly to the consequences of the Eritrean‑Ethiopian War (1998‑2000) that left Ethiopia without direct access to a sea basin. Today, almost 90 per cent of Ethiopia’s imports arrive via the port of Djibouti, while Ethiopia receives 95 per cent of the Djiboutian regional exports. One of the major infrastructure projects that should even enhance this interstate cooperation is the renovation of the Addis Ababa‑Djibouti railway network. On the international level both countries are committed to the question of security, peace, and stability in the Horn of Africa (e.g. they are engaged in Somali and South Sudanese peace processes). The aim of the article is to analyze this specific personification of interstate cooperation, taking into account the conceptual framework imposed by the definition of ‘interstate cooperation’ proposed by Robert Keohane back in the 1980s. Moreover, the author attempts to look into the reasons behind the development of such good relations, seeking an answer to the question whether or not they are really mutually beneficial .
Between high hopes and moderate results – a decade of the African Peace and Security Architecture
Authors: Tlałka Krzysztof
Published: March 2018

The aim of the paper is to present a comprehensive analysis of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). This term refers to the set of institutions responsible for conflict prevention, management and resolution that has been established within the framework of the African Union. The APSA is comprised of five elements: the Peace and Security Council (PSC), the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS), the Panel of the Wise (PoW), the African Standby Force (ASF) with the Military Staff Committee (MSC), and the Peace Fund (PF). The paper is organized as follows. First, the origins of the project are presented. Then, the paper focuses on five elements of the APSA with special reference to two of them – the PSC and the ASF. Subsequently, the issue of the relations between the AU and other international actors, in particular the UN, is addressed. The paper concludes with remarks on the adequacy of the APSA to African peace and security challenges. The main finding is that despite extensive agenda, the first decade of the APSA was marked by moderate results caused by the scarcity of resources, lack of experience and opposition of some member states.
The African contribution to the penalization of war crimes of sexual nature
Authors: Dudkiewicz Hubert
Published: March 2018

Rape and other forms of sexual violence have been inseparably linked with the ongoing military conflicts. Despite the condemnation of war rape in modern times, its penalization arrived extraordinarily slowly. The last twenty years brought about a huge progress in the approach to the penalization of international crimes of sexual nature, which was developed in a hitherto unprecedented range in the jurisprudence of the international criminal tribunals, especially in Africa. The aim of this article is to present the cases of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) which had a significant influence on the penalization of war crimes of sexual nature in the Statute of the International Criminal Court and two trials of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), concerning the penalization of forced marriage. It shows how the African juridical traditions contributed to the problem of the penalization of sexual war crimes.
Between tradition and modernity – the role of chiefs in the national development and local governance in Ghana
Authors: Różalska Monika
Published: March 2018

Ghana is regarded as a leader of democracy and stability in Sub‑Saharan Africa. Owing to two decades of rapid economic growth and relatively peaceful transitions of power after elections, it is also one of the fastest developing and safest countries in the region. However, some challenges for internal stability and development are still to be addressed, for instance: the quality of leadership, poverty, environmental problems or inadequate and ineffective regulations. While solving these problems Ghanaian politicians and citizens have to either choose between or bring together both tradition and modernity. One of the aspects to analyse is traditional form of governance, in particular the role of traditional leaders, such as chiefs and queen mothers, in development, as well as their relationships and coexistence with the local and state government institutions. Therefore, this article focuses on understanding how traditional ways of thinking and acting, especially in the case of traditional leaders, influence Ghana’s strive for national development. The main questions are: whether they can be used as resources or rather constitute impediments? and how are they changing to address contemporary challenges?
Is the state necessary ?
Authors: Szafruga Piotr
Published: March 2018

The state is often considered a necessary condition for the existence of social order and economic development. However, except for the group of developed countries, most states are incapable of providing services which are commonly attributed to them. In this paper an approach, according to which the state is the best possible form of political organisation, is confronted with the case of stateless Somalia. Without government since 1991 this country provides an opportunity to investigate the emergence of institutions and supply of public goods in a stateless society. Using the comparative institutional approach the situation in Somalia is compared with the period before the collapse of the state as well as with the situation in other countries of the Horn of Africa region, showing a relative economic improvement after 1991. Considering economic development as an essential indicator describing the stability of social institutions, this corroborates the argument according to which a hierarchical form of political organisation not only may destabilise social order, but also that anarchy can be more successful than the state in providing stabilisation and economic development.
The influence of the crisis in the Republic of Mali on the political situation of the Sahel
Authors: Kwiatkowska Olga
Published: March 2018

The aim of this article is to present the crisis in the Republic of Mali, a country with the largest democratic advances in West Africa in the nineties. However, in 2012 and 2013 Mali experienced a crisis which had led to a military coup. The collapse of state institutions in Mali destabilized the entire region. The author of article devoted particular attention to the process of decentralization of power in the nineties. A series of reforms that gave hope to alleviate the Tuareg issue. The author tried to describe the origins of the crisis in Mali in 2012/2013. She focused on the issue of the Tuareg returning from Libya and an accurate description of the course of events. The declarations of independence of Azawad, the military coup, Tuareg denial by the Islamists or the entry of the French army to Mali are the key points of these events. The author mentioned also the presidential elections that bring a chance for stabilization in Mali. As the events in the Sahel have an impact on other countries in the region the author would like to present the effects of the crisis on the situation in Niger, Mali and Libya. The author’s aim was to present a forecast of opportunities and threats for Mali and the region. This topic is very dynamic, the situation in Mali seemed to stabilize but the violence erupted further in the northern part of the country.
Kryzys Unii, idei , polityki ? Oferta programowa głównych europartii w kontekście wybor ów 2014 r.
Authors: Skrzypek Anna A.
Published: March 2018

Crisis of the Union, of its’ idea, of its’ politics? The programmatic offer of the leading europarties in the context of the European elections 2014

The aim of this article is to comperatively evaluate the electoral manifestoes of the 4 largest Europarties, which thee had presented in the context of the European Elections 2014. Respectively the material that is subjected to qualitative analyses are the documents voted by: EPP (European People’s Party), PES (Party of European Socialists), ALDE (Alliance of the Liberals and Democrats) and EGP (European Greens Party). The findings built on the earlier studies that had been completed by the same author on the subject, whilst introducing a new, two‑piers analytical dimenssion. The first is the lense of the evolution of the europarties in the aftermath of the Lisbon Treaty. And the second is the persitent tripple‑folded crisis: of the European Union, of the idea of the European integration and of the so called “traditional (political) parties”. Having that in mind, the author seeks to determine in how far the renewal of the European project can be expected to result from the proposals of the europarties.
Good Governance as a New Form of Management in the Context of the Europe 2020 Strategy
Authors: Świstak Marek
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this article is to analyse the concept of good governance in the context of the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The analysis of the application of “good governance” in the implementation of the EU individual policies shows that it is an issue to which an important role from the point of view of grouping as a whole is assigned. As the crisis in the EU deepens, it becomes increasingly important. Meanwhile, the analysis of the state of “good governance” implementation in the aspect proposed by the EU indicates that the appropriate role was assigned to “good governance” at the level of strategic documents. The situation is different when it comes to the relation between “good governance” concept and its implementation in practice. It concerns not only the EU as a whole but also the individual countries such as Poland. Here, progress is mainly dependent on whether the implementation of a particular policy which is characterised by the relevant priorities and principles brings tangible benefits for national interests.
Bliskowschodni wymiar doktryny bezpieczeństwa narodowego USA po 11 września 2001 r.
Authors: Milczanowski Maciej
Published: March 2018

Middle Eastern dimension of US national security doctrine after 09/11. Doctrines of George W. Bush and Barack Obama The paper aims at analyzing of the foreign policy through the so called presidential doctrines after 11th September of 2001. Tremendous change in the viewing of the international security threats, influenced resolutely the political ideologies in the United States. Changed view of multiple issues important for the internal security leads to the conclusion, that new kind of international security policy came into being after those terroristic attacks. Such classification allows to send clear message to the recipients of those doctrines, that the stabilization and security are the basis for a new creation of international relations.
Greckie przywództwo polityczne w drugiej połowie XX w. – uwarunkowania i charakter
Authors: Dymarski Mirosław
Published: March 2018

Greek political leadership in the 2nd half of the 20th century: context and character
Over the centuries, difficult living conditions in Greece contributed to the development of the client‑patron system as a way of providing subsistence for the generally poor population. Following the establishment of the independent Greek state in 1830, clientelism was absorbed into the nation’s political life. Greek political leadership in the 2nd half of the 20th century remained under the pressure of this time‑honored heritage. The state’s social role was regarded as a priority for the Greeks by both the right of Konstantinos Karamanlis and the left of Andreas Papandreou. The leaders did not break away from clientelism even in the context of the stabilization of democracy after 1950. Quite the contrary, they developed it by transforming former clientelist relations into the system of sociopolitical control over the state, with the political parties and their administrative apparatus becoming the principal instrument for exercising this control. As a result, partisan clientelism emerged with electorates as its beneficiaries. Their attention focused on the perfecting of the system to which the state and national economy would eventually fall victim. In the later 1990s, with the deaths of K. Karamanlis and A. Papandreou, the time of charismatic leadership in Greek politics came to an end but the system they created has continued.
Reforma rolna w Zachodniej Prowincji Przylądkowej Republiki Południowej Afryki
Authors: Polus Andrzej , Cześnik Mikołaj
Published: March 2018

Land reform in Western Cape Province in Republic of South Africa
The principal aim of this paper is to critically examine the issue of land reform in Western Cape Province in Republic of South Africa. This paper is based primarily on discourse analyses and field research conducted in the Stellenbosch region in May 2015. Article is divided into five parts. The first part presents research questions and research techniques as well as author’s epistemological orientation. In the second part the general issue of land market in SSA was raised in order to put South African case into a continental and regional contexts. The next part is devoted to the developments of land reform in RSA and analyses of South African political discourse on land reform. The next part presents the results of field research in Western Cape Province. The last part concludes.
Relacje brazylijsko-amerykańskie w XXI w. - trudne partnerstwo
Authors: Sawicka Monika
Published: March 2018

Brazil‑U.S. Relations in the 21st Century – A Difficult Partnership The paper examines the evolution of US‑Brazilian relations at the turn of the 20th and 21st century. Factors such as the divergence of geopolitical views held in both countries after the end of the Cold War, Brazil’s longstanding aspirations to become a major power in a multipolar world, new tensions that arose after September 11 and the US “war on terror” as well as president Lula da Silva’s (2003‑2010) engagement in a fuel swap deal with Iran led to a complicated relation between the United States and Brazil in the first decade of the 21st century. Lula da Silva’s successor Dilma Rousseff (2011‑2016) declared to continue his policy. An analysis of her rule allows to claim that mutual relations were to a large extent overshadowed by controversial topics such as a UN Security Council reform and the NSA spying controversy. Yet, Mrs Rousseff ’s administration also managed to show visible efforts to focus on more pragmatic issues of economic and technological cooperation contributing to a possible improvement of future U.S.‑Brazil relations.
Energetyka jądrowa wobec wyzwań zmian klimatu w XXI wieku
Authors: Młynarski Tomasz
Published: March 2018

Nuclear power towards the challenges of climate change in the 21 Century

Climate change force to re‑evaluate the current model of the global energy system, based in majority on intensive use of fossil fuels. Reducing their share in the energy balance of the world economy and the promotion of low‑carbon technologies in practice favors low CO2 emission technologies. A special role in the transformation of energy from fossil fuels to the sources low emission energy sources can play a nuclear power – the most efficient energy source available nowadays. The article attempts to answer the question whether nuclear power is a source of “clean energy” and to what extent this technology has the opportunity to make an important contribution to a real reduction of world greenhouse gas emissions in the near future.
Wady i zalety członkostwa w Unii Europejskiej oraz nowe wyzwania dla polityki integracyjnej Polski
Authors: Fiszer Józef M.
Published: March 2018

Advantages and disadvantages of membership in the European Union and the new challenges for Polish integration policy

The purpose of this article is an attempt to show from the perspective of the 12 years that have passed since Polish accession to the European Union, the pros and cons of our membership in this unprecedented European project, and the analysis of the importance of this fact for the Polish domestic and foreign policy. Furthermore, the article shows the current threats the Union is facing and against this background presents new challenges and tasks for the Polish integration policy. The main thesis of the article is the observation that the Polish accession to the EU has been and is still one of the most important events in recent Polish history and success of its international policy. She became almost a turning point in Polish domestic and foreign policy. Poland thanks to the accession to the EU has strengthened its position in Europe and in the world, but today we must develop a new strategy and to establish further tasks and goals for the Polish integration policy, which should be adequate for the rapidly changing international reality.
Polska wobec emancypacji politycznej Łotwy i Estonii w latach 1989‑1991
Authors: Kastory Agnieszka Małgorzata
Published: March 2018

Poland’s attitude towards political emancipation of Latvia and Estonia in 1989‑1991

Year 1988 saw the beginning of the political emancipation of Latvia and Estonia. Both republics declared that the decisions about their incorporation in the Soviet Union – taken by their respective parliaments in 1940 – were illegal, and therefore null and void. Both countries took advantage of the freedoms gained as a result of Mikhail Gorbachev’s political reforms, and obtained international support for their independence aspirations. Poland found itself in a tricky situation. On the one hand, it supported Latvia and Estonia’s endeavours, but on the other hand, it advocated the territorial integrity of the USSR. Minister of Foreign Affairs Krzysztof Skubiszewski defined the policy towards the former Soviet republics as a policy of adaptation to the progressing “pluralism” within the Soviet Union (so‑called ‘dual‑track policy’). Poland maintained interministerial contacts with the Baltic republics, accepted their delegations, supported their gradual emergence in the international arena as individual entities, even though within the framework of the Soviet delegation. However, Polish officials avoided actions that could be regarded as formal recognition of the Baltic states’ independence. Given the restrictions that tied up the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was the delegates and senators from the CPC club that performed a significant role in the Polish diplomatic efforts. Their visits to the Baltic republics, seen as part of interparliamentary contacts, encouraged trust in the mutual relations and contributed to the promotion of the Polish dual‑track policy. Once the independence of the Baltic states was officially recognised by the Soviet Union, Poland resumed the relations with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Transfer wiedzy i dobrych praktyk w zakresie rynku telekomunikacyjnego Ukrainy i Gruzji w latach 2005‑2012 realizowanych przez Urząd Komunikacji Elektronicznej jako przykład subsydiarności Polski na rzecz rozwoju
Authors: Kamińska Agnieszka
Published: March 2018

The transfer of knowledge and good practices in the telecommunications market of Ukraine and Georgia in 2005‑2012 carried out by the Office of Electronic Communications as an example of subsidiarity Polish development

This article is a brief summary of the role of subsidiarity (Polish Aid) in the process of telecommunications regulatory changes implemented in Georgia and Ukraine during 2005‑2012 years. It is characteristics of the aid granted in the framework of development for mentioned recipients for aid. It discusses the technical assistance granted under performed by the Office of Electronic Communications projects. Attention is paid to the factors that determine development activities, among which are m.in: limited effectiveness of current activities, the democratization of international relations and globalization. It was noted that development cooperation should take into account the demand, “recipient” and not focus only on offer “donor” of that assistance. Furthermore, this assistance should take into account the specific political and economic situation of the recipient country.
Polityka pojęć
Authors: Marzec Wiktor
Published: March 2018

The politics of concepts. Polish National Democrats and the concept of politics in early 20th century The article undertakes a conceptual analysis of the concept of politics in political writings of Polish National Democracy in the turn of 19th and 20th century. I argue, that due democratization and modernization, it was a time of conceptual change and emergence of modern social and political concepts in Polish. Drawing from conceptual history and rhetorical analysis of topoi, used to express the concept of politics, I investigate National Democratic invention in conceptual rendition of politics. The two major kinds of topoi are: temporal (politics as action); and spatial (politics as sphere). An investigation into their mutual relationshi passists understanding of a major change in National Democratic political thought and practice in that heated period. The gradual prevalence of spatial conceptualization and accompanying depoliticization of political enemies was an important factor in the process of sliding into authoritarian, antidemocratic and elitist understanding of politics among National Democrats in the forthcoming years.
Zmiany i projekty zmian w polskim systemie wyborczym po uchwaleniu Kodeksu wyborczego
Authors: Sieklucki Dominik
Published: March 2018

Polish electoral system in the process of change

The article is the critical examination of changes in the polish electoral system after codification in 2011 year. Author analyses all changes in electoral law since 5 January 2011 and all draft bills which have been submitted to the Marshall of the Sejm in two last terms. The most important aims of the article are the answers the questions about reasons, premises and purposes of the changes and draft bills. Author also identify three types of changes in electoral system – adjustments, reforms and modernizations – and tries to show basic threats and problems connected with changes in electoral law.
Prawne i organizacyjne uwarunkowania systemu odpowiedzialności członków korpusu służby cywilnej w Polsce
Authors: Mroczka Kamil
Published: March 2018

Legal and organizational conditions of a system of liability of members of the civil service in Poland

The main aim of this article is to present and discuss the fundamental aspects of selected types of liability of the civil service members. Responsibility, as a rule, consists of the use of punitive sanctions i.e. the penalties for violation of: the rules laid down in specific obligation‑imposing laws and regulations, the principles of community life (especially in the context of vague quantifiers like sufficiently good repute) and rules of conduct defined by the concept of dignity of the office. There is no doubt that the possibility of responsibility reflects on the performance of the civil servants. Legal regulations concerning various types of liability are therefore primarily aimed at taking care of the public interest and realization of tasks of the State in accordance with applicable laws. Under the current legal regime governing the sphere of responsibility of the members of the civil service, responsibility/liability can be divided into the following types: disciplinary, criminal, material and financial for a blatant violation of the law or a breach of public finance discipline.
Tożsamość narodowa w procesie globalizacji
Authors: Kisiel Roman , Kamiński Marcin , Idźkowska Katarzyna
Published: March 2018

National identity in the globalisation process

Globalisation is the notion that has no single, universal definition. Although every theoretician has a different perception and definition of it, there is no doubt concerning the fact that the process of the global economy internationalisation initiated already during the times of great geographic discoveries leads to deepening the relations across the national borders all over the world as concerns economic, social and technological relations. The integration understood in that way, as well as the ease of crossing the borders involved in it, leads to the questions concerning the national identity, sovereignty and feeling of belonging. In extreme cases, it may be the reason for aversion to citizens of other countries. The assume objective of the paper is to highlight the issue of national identity in the process of progressing globalisation and integration of countries and societies in the global scale as well as the analysis of contemporary values and customs at the background of progressing integration and melting of nationalities. For that purpose, questionnaire based survey covering 210 respondents (divided into three groups – high school students, students of tertiary schools and people over 50 years of age) living in Warmińsko‑Mazurskie voivodship was conducted. The studies on the attitude of the Poles to other nationalities were complemented by the results of the survey by the Public Opinion Research Centre presented in the work “Attitudes of the Poles towards other nations”.
Twórczość Harukiego Murakamiego w świetle zjawiska transkulturowości - muzyczne studium przypadku
Authors: Duda Anna
Published: March 2018

Haruki Murakami’s writings in the light of phenomenon of transculturalism – music case study

The main goal of the article is to show phenomenon of transculturalism in Haruki Murakami’s novels. Through analysis of western music on japanese ground I will try to demonstrate that there are pieces created with a completely new interpretative undertone. In his novels, among characters listening to Miles Davis, Radiohead or The Beatles, reading Franz Kafka or Fyodor Dostoyevsky and watching American westerns, we encounter traditions and aesthetic categories typical of Japan. Mono no aware, regardless of the writer’s intentions, builds up the background of all his novels. Moreover, this fact does not only result from his original style of writing but from the character of Japanese culture. I have employed this fact as a key to deciphering to what extent Murakami’s writings are postmodernist.
Docencia e investigación en Colombia desde la perspectiva del capitalismo académico
Authors: Montes Isabel C. , Mendoza Pilar
Published: March 2018

En este artículo analizamos cómo dos universidades colombianas, una pública y una privada, responden a reformas en las políticas públicas relacionadas con el desarrollo de la investigación y la docencia. El estudio lo realizamos por medio de un diseño cualitativo de caso de estudio múltiple que incluyó entrevistas a los rectores, grupos focales con profesores y estudiantes, y revisión documental para cada una de las dos universidades. Desde la perspectiva del capitalismo académico, encontramos una sobrevaloración de la función de investigación, tensiones dentro de las universidades por conservar la idea de universidad tradicional orientada a la formación de ciudadanos, y una adaptación a la idea de convertirse en universidad contemporánea basada en la lógica del mercado. Finalmente, también encontramos una falta de vínculo de la función de investigación con la docencia y el entorno social local.
The effect of education level on the food label reading habits
Eğitim düzeyinin besin etiketi okuma alışkanlıkları üzerine etkisi
Authors: Çoşkun Fatma , Kayışoğlu Serap
Published: March 2018

Aim: The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of educational level on the habit of reading food labels. Method: 406 consumers aged 18 and over living in Suleymanpaşa district of Tekirdağ province created samples of research. Findings: According to results of the research; as the level of education increases,  the percentage of those who understand the information on the label and argue that the label is very important have increased (from 41.7% to 72.7% and from 10.3% to 59.1%, respectively). With the increase in educational level, the percentage of learners who interpreted label information from the television decreased (from 54.1% to 0%), the proportion of educators, doctors and dietitians increased (from 6.9% to 45.5% and from 0% to 18.2%, respectively). From the information on the label; Colorants, additives, artificial sweeteners, sugar and cholesterol are the most harmful. The information that consumers are most interested in on the label are statements relating to health problems the number of citations, vitamins, salt, sodium ratio and cholesterol amount, rerpectively. Generally, 72.2% of those surveyed stated that health problems were the factor in reading the nutritional label. Conclusion: It is necessary to simplify food labels and educate consumers about label information.Extended English summary is in the end of Full Text PDF (TURKISH) file. ÖzetAmaç: Araştırmanın amacı eğitim düzeyinin besin etiketi okuma alışkanlığı üzerine etkisini araştırmaktır. Metod: Tekirdağ ili Süleymanpaşa ilçesinde yaşayan 18 yaş ve üzeri 406 tüketici araştırmanın örneklemini oluşturmuştur. Bulgular: Araştırma sonuçlarına göre eğitim seviyesi yükseldikçe etiketteki bilgileri anlayanların ve etiketin çok önemli olduğunu savunanların oranı artmıştır (sırasıyla %41,7’den %72,7’ye ve %10,3’ten %59,1’e). Eğitim seviyesinin yükselmesi ile birlikte etiket bilgilerini yorumlamayı televizyondan öğrenenlerin oranı azalmış (%54,1’den %0’a),  eğitim kuruluşu, doktor ve diyetisyenden öğrenenlerin oranı artmıştır (sırasıyla %6,9’dan %45,5’e ve %0’dan %18,2’ye). Etiket üzerinde yer alan bilgilerden; renklendiriciler, katkı maddeleri, yapay tatlandırıcılar, şeker ve kolesterol en zararlı olarak görülenlerdir. Etiket üzerinde tüketicilerin en fazla dikkat ettikleri bilgiler sırayla, sağlık problemleri ile ilişkili olduğunu bildiren cümleler, içerdiği vitaminler, tuz, sodyum oranı ve kolesterol miktarıdır. Genel olarak araştırmaya katılanların %72,2’si sağlık sorunlarının besin etiketini okumada etken olduğunu belirtmişlerdir. Sonuç: Gıda etiketlerini basitleştirmek ve tüketicileri etiket bilgileri konusunda eğitmek gerekmektedir.
The relation between employment hope and emotional expression levels of music teacher candidates
Authors: Küpana Mürvet Nevra
Published: March 2018

The objective of this research is to present the relation between employment hope levels and emotional expressivity levels of music teacher candidates. A total of 226 music teacher candidates studying Music Education in Faculties of Fine Arts in Marmara University, Trakya University, Karadeniz Technical University and Necmettin Erbakan University in 2015-2016 academic year constituted the study group of the research. Employment Hope Scale, Berkeley Expressivity Scale and Personal Information Form were used as data collection tool. Data acquired through these scales were analyzed through Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. In this study, a significantly relation was found between employment hope levels and emotional expressivity levels of music teacher candidates.
Investigation of exam cheating attitudes of university students (Case of Kocaeli University)Investigation of exam cheating attitudes of university students (Case of Kocaeli University)
Authors: Keskin Ozlem , Uzuner Muhammet Eyup
Published: March 2018

Exam cheating is one of the biggest problems of the educational system of many different countries, from past to present. This problem is still continuing in many branches of education today. The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of the students of Kocaeli University towards exam cheating. 254 students studying at Kocaeli University voluntarily participated in the research. As a data collection tool, "Attractiveness Attitude Related to Exam Cheating" developed by Semerci (2003) was used. The attitudes of students of Kocaeli University on exam cheating were found to be moderate in the research (205,44±42,51). Although there was no statistically significant difference between the exam cheating attitude scores of university students according to gender, age group & department variables (p>0,05), there was a significant difference according to grade variables (p<0,05). This meaningful difference occurred from preparatory grades - 2nd grades, 2nd grades - 3rd grades and, 2nd grades - 4th grades. Precautions for exam cheating can be increased so that more conscious and well-educated students can be graduated. The courses that will be successful by exam cheating behavior should be emphasized by the relevant faculty members to the student who may need them in professional business life. Disciplinary policies should be implemented to prevent students from exam cheating behavior.