Przegląd Politologiczny, 2015, nr 3
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Item EU energy security in the context of The Russian Federation’s change in energy strategy: the geopolitical aspect(Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa UAM, 2015) Chornii, NazariiThe article analyses the significance of the relationships between the EU and Russia concerning energy, and the primary disadvantages stemming from latter day EU security issues in this field. Particular attention is paid to the peculiarities of European energy geopolitics with the influence of the processes between the EU and Russia, which outlines the relationship between the geopolitical processes and the changes in the energy sector, allowing the author to determine the impact of globalisation due to the changing EU energy strategy regarding security issues. Furthermore, attention is also given to how relevant is the aggressive nature of falling oil prices, by characterising the changing geopolitical effects and the assumed prospects of the strategy adopted by the Russians and its influence regarding the European political processes, whilst accounting for the reluctance of some EU countries to participate in the creation of a more secure common energy policy, emphasising the political impact on Russia and its relevance to Europe. Consequently, the author stresses the need for a consolidated EU approach to create a common energy strategy. In the absence of a common approach regarding the issue of energy security, it could lead to increased Russian political influence in the EU, triggering more threats to energy security.Item Between International Relations and Arms Controls: Understanding Export Controls for Surveillance Technologies(Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa UAM, 2015) Wagner, Ben; Bronowicka, JoannaExport Controls are becoming an increasingly important dimension of international relations, however there is still relatively little literature on their usage and implementation. The following article attempts to show the development and problems surrounding export controls in a new area: surveillance technologies. These have recently been integrated into international frameworks for export controls, bringing with them a row of challenges and questions for policy makers. Based on extensive conversations with practitioners and key experts in the field, this paper attempts to sketch out key ideas and solutions in this area as well as important responses that have been developed to (perceived) challenges.Item “The Monument of Wojtek the Bear” or Polish Projects to Commemorate Animals Involved in World War II(Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa UAM, 2015) Lorenc, MagdalenaA monument is not an imitation or representation of the past, but a cultural construct. The choice of a theme and the way it is presented in a monumental sculpture show what a particular group considered important and worthy of commemoration. Although it refers to the past, it is primarily concerned with the reality in which it was created. It is a response to a demand. The monuments of Wojtek which were founded in Poland in 2013–2014 contributed to the consolidation and dissemination of ideas about the bear-hero of Monte Cassino. By exposing patriotic themes and national symbols, the fate of the bear has been linked with the history of Poland during and after World War II. This clear and unequivocal message about the unusual relationship between Wojtek and the Anders’ Army soldiers does not mention how the animal was treated. Thus, the chance to problematize the fate of the bear in man’s captivity has been missed.Item Transformation of the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe – an Attempt at Comparing Croatia and Slovenia(Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa UAM, 2015) Lubik-Reczek, NataszaFor over a dozen years changes have been taking place in Central and Eastern Europe which are explained in the categories of systemic transformation. “Systemic transformation” is the term most widely used to describe the social change that began in that part of Europe after 1989. A term close, albeit narrower, in meaning is the “political transformation” which describes the phase of radical change of social order in the formal and legal aspect. Analysing the transformation of Central and East European countries one should not disregard the Balkan states. Those states have new constitutions, laws concerning political parties and new electoral statutes. They have opened the road to a competitive party system and the political system based on democratic principles.Item Counterterrorism Systems of Spain and Poland: Comparative Studies(Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa UAM, 2015) Zięba, AleksandraThis paper analyses the counter-terrorism systems in Spain and Poland. This comparative study looks at legal, institutional, and conceptual solutions. In particular, criminal legal regulations and various institutions fighting terrorism are analysed, as are the main goals and tasks of these bodies. The paper shows the scale of terrorist incidents and evolution of terrorist threats in both countries.Item Labour market flexibility v. job security – a comparative analysis of Swiss and Polish labour law regulations on fixed-term employment contracts(Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa UAM, 2015) Ludera-Ruszel, AgataIn the time of a knowledge-based economy, flexibility has become increasingly important for both employers and employees. The process of making the labour market flexible leads to the greater popularity of atypical forms of employment, with fixed-term employment contracts among them, which are considered to be less consistent with the protective function of labour law in comparison with indefinite- term employment contracts. The right balance between labour market flexibility and job security has become a real concern. Taking into account the legal regulations on fixed-term employment contracts which are now in force in Poland and Switzerland, this paper determines how that relationship has been shaped in those countries with reference to fixed-term employment contracts.Item The migration policy of Switzerland(Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa UAM, 2015) Perkowska, MagdalenaThe main aim of the paper is to present Swiss migration policy from the second part of the 20th century till present. This policy has evolved over recent decades. It was strongly influenced by the economic need for workers on the one hand, and by xenophobic opinions that made this policy more strict. The central part of the paper concerns the popular initiative voted through on 9 February 2014, when the Swiss nation decided to limit the free movement of people between Switzerland and the European Union.Item The difference in under-expenditure of the social welfare budget in Korea(Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa UAM, 2015) Lee, YoungThis research investigates the relationship between under-expenditure of the social welfare budget within a limited budget and the determinants that have an effect on them. Relationships and determinants between under-expenditure of the social welfare budget have generally received relatively little attention from academics. The aim of this article is to examine the differences in the under- expenditures of the social welfare budget in the Korea between 1965 and 2008. It is shown that public assistance and social service expenditures are not comparable with national insurance expenditure according to the Box-Jenkins’ multi-variant ARIMA models. The appearance of them being commensurate is spurious because it is affected by political economic factors. The research findings in this paper can contribute to the development of budgetary theory and budgetary politics. However some findings within in the ARIMA models were incapable of being interpreted within existing theories and conjecture such as those with a 9 year time lag, etc. Further studies are therefore required.Item The Integration of China into the World Trade System and the Increase in its Role in International Business(Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa UAM, 2015) Puślecki, Zdzisław W.In this research, the author focuses on an analysis of the integration of China into the World Trade System and the increase in its role in international business. The importance and innovativeness of the research is indicated by the presentation of the new circumstances for the development of the global economy and global trade, where the People’s Republic of China seems to be a production superpower, able to change world trade. In many areas it possesses comparative advantages. China may continue its development, to specialise in electronics and increasingly in services. With or without further trade agreements, services will be traded more and Chinese trade policies will have to adjust to changes in the global organisation. The question that arises is whether the West will see China’s rise as an opportunity for co-operation or for conflict. Economic growth in China is generally more preferable to its extensive military expansion. With new investment, a country can transform its position through industrial expansion at home and sustain it through international trade. China is especially sensitive to the advantages of intensive growth and will not wish to disrupt the essential economic arrangements that have been crucial to its success. The main aim of the paper is to present the integration of China into the World Trade System and the increase in its role in international business.Item Microstate and monarchy in the face of the challenges of the modern world. The political system of Liechtenstein and its specificity (an outline of the problem)(Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa UAM, 2015) Łukaszewski, MarcinThe p is an attempt to analyse the functioning of the political system of monarchy and microstate in the conditions of modern processes of integration and globalisation with which we are dealing in Europe. The author attempts to analyse the functioning of the state based on an interview with the main political actor of the Duchy – HSH Alois, who since 2004, under Article 13 bis of the Constitution of the Principality, fulfils the duties of head of state. The author is also tries to draw attention to the specific features of the political system of Liechtenstein.Item Culture and Foreign Policy(Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa UAM, 2015) Banús, EnriqueThe Maastricht Treaty includes as the “second pillar” of the European Union a Common Foreign and Security Policy that is designed to improve co-operation in foreign policy, co-operation which has existed informally since 1970. However in recent times (for example, the Libyan crisis), the European nations have not found the single voice that has been expected of them. The article asks for the reasons for the difficulty in improving this policy. As hypothesis a linkage to culture is established, understood as values and attitudes but also memories and remembrances. The article explores the possibility that the differences in the foreign policy are linked with the long life of these elements in the collective mentality.Item On any topic? Topics of publications of investigative journalism and journalistic intervention in the local press (on the examples of Poland and the USA)(Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa UAM, 2015) Adamczyk, WojciechThe author raises an interesting subject, hitherto unexplored comprehensively in American and Polish media studies, namely, the problem of topics of investigative journalism and journalistic intervention at the level of local newspaper publishers. In local media, just as in national media, disclosure of corruption and misconduct of local government happens quite rarely. Additionally, the checking activity – as the watchdog function of the press – is present in the Polish reality only in some local commercial media which are independent from local government. The author discusses the impact of the media’s checking function for the selection of topics by local investigative journalists and the nature of the activities of local political and business decision-makers limiting the subjects addressed by investigative reporters. A comparative analysis relates the problems of the functioning of local government and local communities which are aired in articles published by investigative journalists and journalistic intervention. For the comparison, articles recognised by the jury of the Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism 1926–2015 and texts submitted and recognised in the “Local Press” competition 2012–2013 organised by the Association of Local Newspapers were used.