Środkowoeuropejskie Studia Polityczne, 2017, nr 4

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    Democratic deficit in the European Union between rhetoric and hermeneutics
    (Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNPiD UAM w Poznaniu, 2017) Szymczyński, Tomasz R.
    Multidimensionality and dynamics of the European integration process generate almost continuous requirement for adaptation and improvement of its understanding. The situation remains similar in reference to the specific inspection(s) of this process known as a democratic deficit in the European Union. This concept at its general level consists of two highly ambiguous labels: democracy and European Union. On the one hand, the concept of democracy with its almost two and half thousand years of history may be easily presented as a typical “umbrella term” with plenty of strong connotations and lack of one clear unequivocal denotation. On the other hand, the notion of European Union perhaps only seems to be less controversial. The foremost source of ambiguities in this respect comes from the fact, that the concept of the EU is directly connected with the notion of supranationality – fundamental idea functioning as a basis for specificity of European integration process, which may be interpreted as a source of constant challenges of a definitional character both for theoreticians and practitioners of the process. Problems with defining crucial aspects of the European integration process lead to problems of an identity kind. In other words, definitional and identificational challenges maintain in a strong mutual interdependence. In this case hermeneutical point of view helps to set in order this complex matter by proposing the list of issues directly connected with the challenge of adequate interpretation of it. Additionally, the rhetorical aspect of such a challenge is incorporated into the proposed perspective.
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    Opposition in authoritarian regimes – a case study of Russian non-systemic opposition
    (Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNPiD UAM w Poznaniu, 2017) Nadskakuła-Kaczmarek, Olga
    According to Juan Linz, authoritarian rulers permit limited, powerless political pluralism and organization of elections, but they make it very clear that a change in power is impossible and the opposition cannot take over. Elections in authoritarian regimes are a part of nominally democratic institutions and help rulers to legitimize the regime. They are not free or fair, and therefore do not present any opportunity for the opposition to win and change the political system afterward. The question could be asked, what kind of action the opposition should undertake in order to improve its strength. That is the main problem nowadays for non-systemic opposition in the Russian Federation. On the one hand, the opposition has a problem gaining access to elections, but on the other hand, it knows that even if it could take part, the elections would not be democratic. This article tries to shed light on the strategies of the non-systemic Russian opposition and the possibility of its impact on Russian society when the government tries to marginalize, weaken and eventually destroy the non-systemic opposition.
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    Identity and collective memory in the process of Europeanization
    (Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNPiD UAM w Poznaniu, 2017) Lesiewicz, Elżbieta
    The paper discusses the issues of identity and collective memory in the process of Europeanization. These issues have long been the subject of lively debates among scholars and politicians because for the integration process to succeed it is necessary to construct a European identity and collective memory which are indispensable in order to legitimize this process. The paper presents considerations pertaining to the definition and scope of such notions as Europeanization, European identity and collective memory and seeks to answer the question whether it is conceivable to develop a European identity and collective memory of EU citizens. The author concludes by saying that despite the European Union’s long-lasting efforts, it has failed to form a collective European identity even though certain types of this identity have found expression through EU institutions and community laws. Collective memory formation is a difficult task since collective memory is divided as it is a confluence of different perspectives and versions. A shared or dialogical memory is what the Old Continent may hope to develop: an agreed memory which transcends respective national horizons. Both European identity and collective memory are still being forged.
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    Gender equality in the policies of media organizations – selected issues
    (Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNPiD UAM w Poznaniu, 2017) Balczyńska-Kosman, Alina
    Gender equality, interpreted as the just treatment of men and women in any area of social life, is a priority in the contemporary policies of many countries. The article presents the issues of equal gender opportunities in media companies and in journalism. The issues of journalism as a profession of equal opportunities are discussed, and the limitations faced by female journalists presented. The multi-dimensional and complex position of women in the media is a result of many important historical, social, cultural, political and economic circumstances. The article also presents diversity management in media companies and defines the major indicators of gender equality in editorial team policies. The conclusions pinpoint the need for diversity, counteracting unequal treatment and considering both men’s and women’s rights in the policy of media organizations with respect to recruitment, remuneration, professional promotion and social benefits.
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    Network Neutrality: Potential impact on free speech and the right to information
    (Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNPiD UAM w Poznaniu, 2017) Wyszyński, Jacek
    The ongoing debate in the EU and the US over the shape of the Internet focuses mainly on the technological and economical aspects of the issue. This paper is meant to be an introduction to the debate on the impact of the network neutrality on free speech and the right to information in the field of political science. The author tries to identify potential threats from the economic, technological and political perspective, as they are strongly interconnected. Fundamental human rights can benefit from enforcing network neutrality regulations; however, a much more important issue is related to the question of what would happen to the freedom of speech and the right of information if the regulations were gone.
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    ENP as an External Border Policy: Textual Analysis
    (Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNPiD UAM w Poznaniu, 2017) Dvalishvili, Tinatini
    The paper considers the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) as a byproduct of the EU’s external governance. It identifies the vital role of external borders in the integration processes of the European Union (EU). The paper analyzes the border component of the ENP’s key documents and respective communications covering the period from 2003 to 2017. The ENP texts recognize external borders as zones of contact and dynamic collaboration. The documents reveal the imperialistic incentives of the EU and identify the management of external borders as a matter of joint responsibilities among the Union and partners.
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    Legal aspects of using the state language in radio broadcasts in Ukraine
    (Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNPiD UAM w Poznaniu, 2017) Hirina, Tatiana
    The article examines the stages of introducing the state language into the broadcasts of national, regional and local radio stations. The legislative regulation pertaining to the use of Ukrainian in radio broadcasts and music content of radio organizations in 2004–2016 is examined. The author concludes that the development of the language-based radio broadcasting is possible in the conditions of harmonious interaction between radio stations, musicians/songwriters and the audience.
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    Social Security as a Factor Contributing to the Evolution of the Political System in Poland after the Parliamentary Elections of 2015
    (Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNPiD UAM w Poznaniu, 2017) Marszałek-Kawa, Joanna; Plecka, Danuta
    The role and scope of the state’s activities in the field of social security are quite often problematic. This is related both to the attitude of citizens and to the use of social slogans, particularly in election campaigns. One could say that the electoral struggle is a kind of race, in which the winner is the politician or party whose promises are best suited to their voters. In order to address social security, politicians manipulate economic data. But above all, the influence of electoral promises (usually narrowed down to matters of welfare) on the evolution of the political system is not considered, despite the fact that this influence is considerable and very often neglected, as exemplified by the situation in the Republic of Poland after 2015.
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    The Morphology of Right Populism in the US and in the EU
    (Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNPiD UAM w Poznaniu, 2017) Diec, Joachim
    Right populism in the United States and in the European Union is one of the leading trends in their political reality. That is why we need to structurize our understanding of this phenomenon by listing its main indicators and by explaining its causal background. What seems to belong to the leading determinants of the phenomenon is: the hostility toward immigration, the perception of multinational companies as a threat to local labor markets, a postulate to reduce bureaucracy, anti-elitism, another understanding of international politics combined with a new opening in the relations with Russia. Various right populist movements result from several determinants such as a significant increase of immigration in Europe, the growth of national debt, expanding bureaucracy, growing importance of international corporations, a flood of terrorist attacks or negative demographic tendencies. The ideology of right populism can be referred.
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    Proponents of Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom from 1950 to 2017
    (Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNPiD UAM w Poznaniu, 2017) Tarnavskyi, Omelian
    The author of this article explores the issues of the Proponents of Euroscepticism in the UK from 1950 to 2017. The researcher claims that Winston Churchill was the first Eurosceptic Prime Minister. The author believes that Euroscepticism is not related to any political party, but is a non-party phenomenon, not linked to a particular ideology. However, the researcher concludes that the biggest number of Eurosceptics in the UK can be found among the Conservatives. In addition, in his study, the author identifies the main theorist of contemporary British Euroscepticism as well as the moderate and radical types of Euroscepticism.
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    Understanding the Conflict in Eastern Ukraine: The Role of Cultural Context
    (Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNPiD UAM w Poznaniu, 2017) Olzacka, Elżbieta
    The aim of the paper is to explore the cultural context of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. From this perspective, the conflict in Donbas has to be seen not only in the context of a political game, socio-economic transition and geopolitical interests, but also in the light of a cultural conflict rooted in history. According to Ukrainian researcher Mykola Riabchuk, Ukraine is divided, not between ethnic Russians and Ukrainians, but between two different types of Ukrainian identity. These profound differences have been exacerbated by the events of the “Euromaidan” and, subsequently, the violent conflict between the separatist forces of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics on the one hand and the post-revolutionary Ukrainian government on the other. This article focuses on how the cultural divisions of Ukrainian society have been used since the beginning of Ukrainian independence by the political elite as a tool of symbolic politics, contributing to the mass mobilization of Ukrainian society and the outbreak of a violent conflict.
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    The role of the European Council in the Brexit negotiations and in shaping the “new” foreign policy of the European Union
    (Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNPiD UAM w Poznaniu, 2017) Jaskulski, Adam
    The aim of the article is to analyze the role of the European Council in negotiations related to the planned withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. European Union law defines the key role of the European Council in these negotiations. It is this institution that is responsible for shaping the principles and guidelines on the basis of which the negotiations are being conducted. It is no less important to regulate the future relations of the UK with the EU after the British leave the European Union. The role of the European Council will be crucial there as well.
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    Memory Strategies in Contemporary Georgia
    (Wydawnictwo Naukowe WNPiD UAM w Poznaniu, 2017) Karaia, Tamar
    Georgia, as a former Soviet republic, began dealing with its Soviet past, but in the 1990s these processes were limited and delayed. Therefore, we cannot speak about a continuous politics of memory and this led to changeable foreign policy priorities. After the Rose Revolution, the new government introduced reforms in most of the key spheres of institutional life. Re-addressing the totalitarian past saw a number of problematic manifestations in political and cultural life in this post-Soviet country. For the renovation of the state system, it was essential to make corresponding boundaries with the pre-revolution state system. Analyzing the politics of memory, symbolism is the most notable attitude in this period. After 2006, when Georgian citizens were deported from the Russian Federation, the tendencies of the politics of memory changed rapidly. Terms such as “occupation,” “repression” etc. appeared in the political discourse. From this period on, the strategies of memory could be associated with a politics of victimization and the formation of the collective memory prioritized as a national security issue.