Volume 41 (2012)

The Horizons of Polish Political Thought

  • Author: Michał Śliwa
  • Institution: Jagiellonian University of Kraków (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 9-21
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012001
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012001.pdf

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.

 

Polish political thought political thought Political

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The Vectors of Polish Migration in the World

  • Author: Andrzej Chodubski
  • Institution: University of Gdańsk (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 22-37
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012002
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012002.pdf

The migrations of population are considered to be one of fundamental values in the life of cultures and civilisations . They are regarded as a force that generates social and economic progress, political aspirations, a “school” of attitudes, behaviour, tolerance, entrepreneurship, criticism. At the same time it is pointed out that they should not be a spontaneous phenomena and process. It is essential to prepare oneself for functioning in an immigration reality, for various barriers reveal themselves in it and are overcome by immigrants only with effort. The psychological factor is important in this respect. A number of people encounter difficulties to adapt to a new cultural reality because of their personality (e.g. because of neuroticism, distrust towards the outside world, introvertism).

migration in the world polish migration

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Debating the Concept of "Good Law"

  • Author: Krzysztof Pałecki
  • Institution: Jagiellonian University of Kraków (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 38-61
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012003
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012003.pdf

Establishing good law has been an old dream of humanity. Back in ancient times leaders such as Hammurabi, Solon, and especially Justinian the Great, and many others, while attempting to codify and reform the law, were driven by the ideal of “good law”. ! is same idea inspired Montesquieu in his De l’esprit des lois (“! e Spirit of the Laws”). Monumental legal acts in Napoleon’s times or the time of German unifi cation, as well as copying these acts into the legal systems of the countries of the Far East, for example, Japan, serve as additional examples on how tempted leaders have been able to implement the idea of “good law”, which, quite frequently, is directly stated in the preamble to leading legal acts.

theory of law good law political theory

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Broken Europe. The International Order in Central and Eastern Europe

  • Author: Marek Pietraś
  • Institution: Marie Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 62-97
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012004
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012004.pdf

After the collapse of the bipolar international system, a new line of “soft” division in Europe has been established in East-Central Europe. The article seeks to verify the hypothesis that Central and Eastern Europe is an international relations area but is not a cohesive, tightly-knit region united by common institutions, historical experience and the resulting awareness of a separate identity and a sense of community vis-à-vis the external world whereas the international order herein is a dynamic process undergoing evolution. Despite the passage of over twenty years since the collapse of the bipolar system, this process has not yet been completed.

international relations theory East-Central Europe international relations

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Sub–Saharan African Borderlands. Towards New Theoretical and Practical Approach to the Development of Africa

  • Author: Arkadiusz Żukowski
  • Institution: University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 98-115
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012005
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012005.pdf

Cooperation in terms of Afro-regions should largely be based on the experience of Euro-regions, but necessarily must take into account African specifics, especially through the use of a far greater degree of informal cross-border economy and trade. Borderlands as regions of cooperation constitute the realization of the idea of integration from the bottom. This will foster a process of open borders, which in turn will lead to a real acceleration of the integration processes. Moreover, on both sides of the border / boundaries it is possible to start the process of regional identity, especially among the young generation, which would be a kind of “resurrection” of existing links from the pre-colonial past.

african borderlands sub-saharan colonial history development of africa

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The Struggle Over the Form of the Political System of the Karachay–Circassian Republic Among the Ruling Elites

  • Author: Przemysław J. Sieradzan
  • Institution: University of Gdańsk (Poland)
  • Author: Tadeusz Bodio
  • Institution: University of Warszawa (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 116-143
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012006
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012006.pdf

Karachay-Circassia, is very small both in the territorial and demographic aspect and is widely considered as one of the most politically unstable state-subjects of the Russian Federation. This instability is implied by a combination of many factors occurring against a relatively stable historical and cultural background. This background consists of: multiethnicity, colonization and sovietization, deportations, migrations, ethnic segmentation of the society, ethno-clanishness, ethnic and territorial conflicts and the geopolitical situation. The latter has often decomposed the natural development of nation-creating and state-creating processes. Moreover, it has also been the main cause of numerous tragedies of the local populace which sometimes has put its very biological existence under threat.

political system political theory

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Legal President’s Position in the Structure of State Organs (after 1993)

  • Author: Sylwester Gardocki
  • Institution: University of Warszawa (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 144-186
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012007
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012007.pdf

The difficult and dramatic birth of the Constitution of the Russian Federation in December 1993 does not mean that it is a statute burdened by numerous faults and chaotic as the situation in which it originated. This is quite a consistent constitutional act looking for a strong presidency model, similar to the Fifth French Republic. It is doubtful, however, that, according to an eminent scholar of Russian law, William E. Butler, at that time “enacting of the truly democratic constitution for the first time in Russian history” took a place.

presidency model Russian law structure of state organs

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Political Instability in the Countries of North Africa and its Impact on the Transport of Energy Materials

  • Author: Józef Zawadzki
  • Institution: the School of Business and Administration of the name of Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski in Gdynia (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 187-211
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012008
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012008.pdf

The events that took place in Tunisia in early 2011, proved to be very important for the whole international environment. The northern part of Africa is signifi cant for the Western countries for natural resources which are available there for these reasons, stable and politically predictable, situation in the countries situated there is a strategically important element of a global security system. Tunisia since mid December 2010 has witnessed riots of young people throughout the country who, in the desperate acts of the self burning claimed democracy in their country, reduction of unemployment (13%), improving the living conditions and prospects for a better tomorrow for young people. „Jasmine Revolution”, the name given by the French journal Le Monde to the riots, led to the overthrowing of President Ben Ali, after 23 years of rule and his escape to Saudi Arabia. 

oil exports transport of energy materials North Africa political system

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Political Celebrities – a New Dimension of Political Leadership

  • Author: Agnieszka Kasińska–Metryka
  • Institution: Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 212-221
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012009
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012009.pdf

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.

mediated politics public relations political leadership

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The AKP in Turkey: Interior Politics and Foreign Issues

  • Author: Paweł Sus
  • Institution: University of Wrocław (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 222-247
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012010
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012010.pdf

The purpose of this paper is to make a contribution to the understanding of the domestic patterns of the political competition in Turkey. Moreover, the paper will also focus on the new doctrine of Turkish foreign policy implemented after the electoral victory of the pro-Islamic Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi – AKP) in November 2002. In this article the AKP political platform is analyzed as a moderate pro-Islamic party because of its past connections with the Islamic National Outlook Movement of Necmettin Erbakan. In literature on the topic, all the Islamic political parties were connected to the political thought of N. Erbakan and known as the organizations of the National Outlook Movement tradition (Milli Görüş Hareketi). It should be noted that on this point, the first party was the National Order Party (Milli Nizam Partisi), second, the National Salvation Party (Milli Selamet Partisi), third the Welfare Party (Refah Partisi) and fourth the Virtue Party (Fazilet Partisi).

Middle East political competition in Turkey political system

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The Armed Forces in the Process of Transformation of the State – the Case of Venezuela

  • Author: Katarzyna Krzywicka
  • Institution: Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 248-271
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012011
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012011.pdf

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.

process of formation politics Venezuela armed forces

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Perspectives for the Treaty Closing the Korean War

  • Author: Eugeniusz Jendraszczak
  • Institution: Independent Researcher (Poland)
  • Author: Marceli Burdelski
  • Institution: Independent Researcher (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 272-286
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012012
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012012.pdf

The Korean Peninsula has a strategic place in East Asia. According to Korean historic sources the early beginnings of Korean statehood can be traced back many centuries before Christ. Korean history, when considering some events, has some similarities to the history of Poland. Very often Koreans, during the official meetings compare their historic struggles with ours, for example times of partitions and fi ghting against numerous occupying powers. In the past due to its geographic location, Korea had to continuously withstand the expansion of its neighbours, especially China and Japan. Particularly painful was the period of fighting against the Japanese invader at the beginning of 20th century, when after the annexation of Korea, the Japanese were imposing the policy of assimilation and were trying to completely colonize this country. It has unleashed very strong nationalist sentiments within the Korean nation.

Korean armistice East Asia politics korean war region of East Asia

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Maritime Operation "Atalanta" – the Example of the Effectiveness of the European Union Activities in Solving Problems of Think Failing States

  • Author: Katarzyna Wardin
  • Institution: Naval University in Gdynia (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 287-306
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012013
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012013.pdf

A very rapid technological development at the turn of the 20th and 21th century, and the transition from an industrial society to an IT society marked even more the division of the “rich North” and “poor South”. Drastic differences in the distribution of world income have caused intensifi cation of old problems such as illegal immigration in many parts of the world, smuggling weapons, drugs, organised crime and terrorism as well as the emergence of new challenges related to the rapid development of so called “falling or failed states” especially in some parts of the world. Among the categories of countries in international political relations, increasingly often it can be found the category of “falling or failed state”, which is not in a position to operate internally as well as on the international scene. Problems that are related to the status of the bankruptcy of a state unfortunately are not problems of such a state only, but this is a challenge for the entire international community and international organizations. For this reason the European Union, as a signifi cant participant in world policies, cannot remain passive against these challenges and threats so it should and shall take actions to help in the stabilization of the situation in such countries. The primary question to be asked is whether this aid and other activities are effective with respect to the future of those countries or whether it is only the ad hoc attempt trying to control the situation.

modern piracy failed states operation Atlanta

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The Essence, Premises and Perspectives of Modernisation of the European Union

  • Author: Józef M. Fiszer
  • Institution: Lazarski University in Warszawa, ISP PAN (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 307-322
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012014
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012014.pdf

Modernisation of the European Union or just another modifi cation? Such a dilemma appears regularly during all inter-governmental conferences, specially before and after approving another revision treaty for the European Union. To answer such a question, fi rst the essence and meaning of these terms has to be explained, and to do so, the best option is to refer to their etymology. And so, according to the PWN “Dictionary of Foreign Words”, ‘modification’ »latin modification = measuring« is a change, transformation, remake; a modifi ed object, while ‘modernisation’ »fr. moderne = modern« is making something modern or making something contemporary’. Therefore, modernisation shall mean a broader and deeper process, these are actions leading to radical transformations and changes as compared to modifi cation, which usually precedes modernisation. It may then be said that as far as the European Union is concerned, commencing from its origination by the Maastricht treaty of 7th February 1992 till the latest revision treaty, i.e. the Lisbon treaty which became eff ective on 1st December 2009, we only witnessed its successive (permanent) modifi cation, that is slow transformations which were generally named extension and enhancement processes. Today, after nearly twenty years of remakes and use, the European Union needs not only a radical overhaul but rather modernisation, meaning its update and adapting to contemporary times. Today, the European Union requires adaptation to challenges and requirements of the 21st century determined by acceleration and globalisation progressing within all spheres of life.

modernisation of policy the European Union

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The Arab Awakening and Its Political Economy

  • Author: Marek Rewizorski
  • Institution: Koszalin University of Technology, Pomerian University in Słupsk (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 323-340
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012015
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012015.pdf

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.

economic reform political economy Middle East

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New Dimensions of the Political Communication. Chances and Limits

  • Author: Teresa Sasińska–Klas
  • Institution: Jagiellonian University in Kraków (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 341-353
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012016
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012016.pdf

Media and communication are subjects which are closely related. For quite some time in each public debate references are made to an increasing dependence between media and communication processes. Explicit attention is paid to a changing context of the communication process, and especially the process of political communication. The role of media in the process of public communication is, on the one hand, quite traditional; that is to inform the public, popularize information and mobilize citizens to action, all in the name of the public good. On the other hand, it is also noticeable that modern media play new roles such as providers of entertainment, scandals, sensation, enjoyment. All this brings a question: which of these functions tell us about the future of the media, and – consequently – how do they change the process of political communication in the public sphere? And is this what we want?

new media social media political communication

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Philosophy and Politics in the Contemporary Age

  • Author: Marek Szulakiewicz
  • Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 354-366
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012017
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012017.pdf

Political wisdom, judgement or genius do not stem from the spirit of science and is not the upshot of theoretical generalizations or learning. There is of course “political science” and “political philosophy” but politicians can properly act without them because it is neither the discovery of laws or generalizations in the field of politics nor “knowledge about political things” but “political sense” that is crucial for his actions. As Isaiah Berlin put it years ago: “What makes statesmen, like drivers of cars, successful is that they do not think in general terms – that is, they do not primarily ask themselves in what respect a given situation is like or unlike other situations in the long course of human history (which is what historical sociologists, or theologians in historical clothing, such as Vico or Toynbee, are fond of doing). Their merit is that they grasp the unique combination of characteristics that constitute this particular situation – this and no other. What they are said to be able to do is to understand the character of particular movement, of a particular individual, of a unique state of affairs, of unique atmosphere, of some particular combination of economic, political, personal factors; and we do not readily suppose that this capacity can literally be taught”. Therefore politics is not a quest for “general terms” or general features of political phenomena but a direct and individual insight into concrete reality. Being a politician takes not learning but talent, not expertise but intuition, not knowledge but sense; it takes looking not at general but the particular dimension of human actions. Politicians can be taunted for their posture as Napoleon, they can be uneducated as farmer George Washington or act against morality as Cardinal Richelieu but frankly speaking all these vices are unimportant in the political realm.

philosophy contemporary politics political philosophy

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"Join the Cause" – Human Rights on the Internet

  • Author: Marta Dorenda–Zaborowicz
  • Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 367-382
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012018
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012018.pdf

Human rights are “basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled”. Proponents of the concept usually assert that all humans are endowed with certain entitlements merely by reason of being human. Human rights are thus conceived in a universalist and egalitarian fashion. Such entitlements can exist as shared norms of actual human moralities, as justifi ed moral norms or natural rights supported by strong reasons, or as legal rights either at a national level or within international law. However, there is no consensus as to the precise nature of what in particular should or should not be regarded as a human right in any of the preceding senses, and the abstract concept of human rights has been a subject of intense philosophical debate and criticism. As the new millennium emerges, trends in global human rights are changing. Human rights issues are crossing sovereign boundaries and are no longer just issues of the state. As more and more non-governmental organizations are growing, and the Internet expands and facilitates a quicker spread of information, there are more and more people raising concerns about human rights related issues. Some of these come from the increasingly larger and infl uential commercial sector including large, multinational companies, while the others are raised by ordinary people, being parts of diff erent networks. The aim of this article is to examine the way social networks influence and change the methods of raising the awareness concerning human rights on one hand, but, on the other hand, to analyse how new media contribute to deepening global inequalities.

digital divide social network new media civil society

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Ideological Identification of Medium–Level Party Cadres in Poland

  • Author: Jean–Michel De Waele
  • Institution: Free University of Brussels (Belgium)
  • Author: Michał Jacuński
  • Institution: University of Wrocław (Poland)
  • Author: Anna Pacześniak
  • Institution: University of Wrocław (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 383-407
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012019
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012019.pdf

Ideologies are fundamental in categorising, defi ning and evaluating political reality. They also condition the aims inspiring actors on the political stage, constituting, as it were, a bond providing parties, social groups and societies with sets of values and convictions that unite them. We are now witnessing an evolution of traditional political ideologies, triggered off by new challenges, the changing world order, processes of globalisation and Europeanisation, while political parties in Europe seem to resign from clear–cut ideological identifi cations, opting for the pragmatic, thus maximising their voting scores and, subsequently, efficient management of the public sphere. Politics is ever more frequently perceived as a mere struggle for power, political ideas are seen as slogans serving the purpose of winning votes or popular support, while ideologies have become “goods on display”, hiding deeper meanings of political life. Yet, at the same time ideologies still retain their purpose, infl uencing the functioning of political parties or political communities.

politics in Poland political ideologies political theory

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Polish Election to the European Parliament in 2009 at a Regional Level. The Analysis of Competition in the Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship

  • Author: Wojciech Peszyński
  • Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 408-427
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012020
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012020.pdf

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.

Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship European Parliament

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Is Electronic Voting a Panacea for Low Election Turnout? Examples of Estonian e–Elections and Swiss e–Referendums

  • Author: Magdalena Musiał–Karg
  • Institution: Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 428-443
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012021
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012021.pdf

One of the most apparent signs of the crisis of the democratic system is a systematically decreasing turnout level in national and supranational elections and referenda. In reports and analyses concerning the level of political participation, experts more and more frequently notice a decreasing tendency of the citizen’s involvement in numerous types of elections. As Ola Pettersson points out, “according to the sources, less and less citizens appear at the ballot boxes”. Jacek Raciborski indicates that one of the most signifi cant consequences of the low citizen’s participation at the election procedures is the considerable legitimacy deficit. A number of countries attempt to prevent these phenomena from happening by undertaking various actions aimed at increasing the level of citizens’ involvement in political life (notably by increasing their participation in elections). That would infl uence the growth of the legitimacy level of the undertaken political decisions. It is worth noticing, that apart from the commonly used ways of increasing election attendance (such as correspondence voting, mobile ballot boxes), over the last few years politicians in many countries have had numerous discussions aimed at the implementation of electronic voting (e-voting). Its followers claim that thanks to e-voting, election and referenda turnout may be increased, as this method enables disabled people and people who are abroad to take part in elections. Furthermore, a considerable advantage of e voting, compared to traditional voting in polling stations is of greater convenience than the former. The aim of the following text is to attempt to provide an answer to the question whether electronic voting can be treated as a panacea for low election turnouts, whether this form of voting may be a warranty of a higher level of voter’s attendance than before. In the article, the author bases on the experience connected with e voting in two European countries – Estonia and Switzerland, which can be referred to as the pioneers in the use of e voting.

Switzerland Estonia electronic voting elections

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Independence of Central Bank as a Basis for Institutional Politics of Monetary Policy

  • Author: Ireneusz Kraś
  • Institution: Jan Długosz Academy of Częstochowa (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 444-460
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012022
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012022.pdf

The course of economic processes of economy is regulated by its products and production factors in which supply and demand are equalized. The most important role is given to money as a measurement of value (ensuring valuation), means of payment (allowing the settling the payments) as well as a means of hoarding (allowing savings). Primarily the market economy is a monetary economy. Money is used for buying and selling, for granting loans, accumulating savings. Every functional entity of the market such as enterprises, households are taking part in these processes. An important role of these processes is taken by the purchasing power of money, which has an eff ect on those participating in economy and social life. If the value of the money is constant it brings safety in life not only from the economic but also the social point of view. We can not agree more than to say that stable currency is of great social value. The central bank takes a major role to a guard keeping the currency at a stable level. Proper functioning of the central bank is strictly connected with its independence. It allows the monetary policy to be conducted properly in a country.

Central Bank monetary policy

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Commercialization of the Media – TVP Case

  • Author: Aleksandra Seklecka
  • Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 461-471
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012023
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012023.pdf

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.

public media commercialization media

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The Catholic Church in Poland as an Entity Influencing Parliamentary Elections (1989–2010)

  • Author: Krzysztof Kowalczyk
  • Institution: University of Szczecin (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 472-485
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012024
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012024.pdf

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.

parliamentary elections church in Poland catholic church

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A Toruń Publishing House Two Decades Later

  • Author: Marceli Kosman
  • Institution: Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 486-497
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012025
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012025.pdf

The 18th day of June 2010 marked the twentieth anniversary of the Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek (WAM) publishing house. It was celebrated with a concert, entitled 20 years have passed, attended by numerous eminent guests from the world of politics, academia and culture who filled the theater to the brim. In the foyer they could see an exhibition of photographs illustrating the rich history of the publishing house. I use the term ‘publishing house’ as the company fully deserves this name, which is associated with the noblest traditions of Polish editorial work. Owing to Adam Marszałek, Toruń has grown to assume the leading position in this respect, leaving in its wake both companies of long standing tradition as well as those that have emerged over the last two decades, only a handful of which have survived till the present day.

Toruń publishing house

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International Academic Conference Report: Contemporary Latin America . Politics – Society – Economy (Toruń, April 18–19, 2011)

  • Author: Anna Ratke
  • Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 498-502
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012026
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012026.pdf

On April 18–19, 2011 the University Library in Toruń hosted an international academic conference entitled Contemporary Latin America. Politics – Society – Economy (Współczesna Ameryka Łacińska. Polityka – społeczeństwo – gospodarka). The conference was organised by the Faculty of Political Sciences and International Studies of the Nicolas Copernicus University under the honorary patronage of the Marshal of the KujawskoPomorskie Voivodeship Piotr Całbecki, the President of Toruń Michał Zaleski, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Peru in Toruń Stanisław Rakowicz, Ph. D. and the Rector of the NCU Prof. Andrzej Radzimiński, Ph. D. The participants represented higher education facilities from all over Poland as well as the international organisation, Community of Democracies.

Latin America society politics conference report economy

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On the Empire's Rumble: Toward New Political, Socio–Economical and International Order in Central and Eastern Europe 26–27th October, 2011 University of Lodz Training and Conference Centre

  • Author: Michał Słowikowski
  • Institution: University of Łódź (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 503-506
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012027
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012027.pdf

On 26–27th October 2011 at the University of Lodz Training and Conference Centre there took place an international conference “On the Empire Rumble: Toward New Political, Socio-Economical and International Order in Central and Eastern Europe”, organized by the Chair of Political Science, Institute of Political Science Faculty of International Studies and Political Science’s.

International Order Socio-Economical order conference report

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The Remembrance of the Katyń Massacre and President Lech Kaczyński's Concept of Polish–Russian Relations [2005–2010]

  • Author: Patryk Wawrzyński
  • Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 507-525
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012028
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012028.pdf

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.

president of Poland Katyń massacre polish air force

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Book Review: Jean–Paul Guichard, Antoine Brunet, China the International Hegemonic Leader? Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Emka, 2011, pp. 324

  • Author: Joanna Marszałek–Kawa
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 526-528
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012029
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012029.pdf

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.

Antoine Brunet Jean–Paul Guichard book review

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Book Review: Jakub Nowak, Online Activity of Citizens. Theories and Practice, Lublin: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Marii Curie–Skłodowskiej, 2011, pp. 270

  • Author: Małgorzata Adamik–Szysiak
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 528-532
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012030
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012030.pdf

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.

Małgorzata Adamik–Szysiak Jakub Nowak book review

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Book Review: Jacek Poniedziałek, Postemigrational Creation of a Regional Identity. Study of Contemporary Meaning of the Warmińskomazurski Region, Toruń: Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, 2011, pp. 435

  • Author: Alfred Lutrzykowski
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 532-534
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012031
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012031.pdf

Jacek Poniedziałek’s book is devoted to issues extremely important and current. Exploration of the social identity formation process, including a regional identity, has now a great importance not only from a cognitive point of view. Transformational changes in Poland after 1989 meant not only profound changes in the system of public authorities and the economic system. They also had a signifi cant impact on the consciousness of Polish society and its attitude towards the state, power apparatus, and the most important problems of collective life. Extremely important direction of changes in the public authority model became a more and more articulated desire for decentralization and deconcentration of unified and the indivisible sphere of state power so far.

Alfred Lutrzykowski Jacek Poniedziałek book review

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Book Review: Przemysław Jan Sieradzan, The Red and Brown. The Alliance of the Radical Right and Left in Present–day Russia, Warsaw: Oficyna Wydawnicza ASPR–JR, 2010

  • Author: Tadeusz Dmochowski
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 535-541
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012032
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012032.pdf

The monograph constitutes the fourth volume of an interesting series “Power, Elites, Leadership” edited by Tadeusz Bodio. The author divided his work into six chapters, of which two initial ones, focusing on the years 1991–1993, concern historical and genetic issues. The remaining chapters are devoted to the ideological standpoints of the major political trends of “the alliance of extremes”.

Tadeusz Dmochowski Przemysław Jan Sieradzan book review

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Book Review: Polityka zagraniczna. Aktorzy – potencjały – strategie, ed. T. Łoś–Nowak, Warszawa: Poltext, 2011, pp. 575

  • Author: Marcin Chełminiak
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 541-544
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012033
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012033.pdf

The question of what will be the shape of international policy in the next decades, especially at the moment, when the European Union (and other regions) struggle with a financial crisis is difficult to answer as a new international order is still in the stage of transformation. Berefore, the beginning of the twenty first century is a perfect opportunity to sum up the foreign policy of the selected countries including Poland.

Marcin Chełminiak Teresa Łoś-Nowak book review

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Book Review: Patryk Wawrzyński, Mit kulturowy jak czynnik kształtujący stosunki międzynarodowe, Toruń: Wydawnictwo MADO, 2011, pp. 170

  • Author: Dagmara Ogrodowska
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 545-548
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012034
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012034.pdf

Understanding cultural patterns and meaning of symbols, that show academics from George H. Mead, through Ruth Benedict, to Cliff ord Geertz, enable the cognition of human behavior and disquisition on its social importance. Commonness and universality of the cultural studies prove that the Humanities’ center of gravity moved from describing the natural and material to explaining the cultural and inter-subjective.

Dagmara Ogrodowska book review Patryk Wawrzyński

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Book Review: Luciano Canfora, Andrea Giardina, Chiara Frugoni, Alessandro Barbero, Alberto Mario Banti, Emilio Gentile, Andrea Graziosi, Vittorio Vidotto, Giovanni Sabbatucci, Andrea Riccardi, Michelle Perrot, I Volti Del Potere, Roma–Bari: Editori Late

  • Author: Agnieszka Latosińska
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 548-550
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012035
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012035.pdf

The book I Volti Del Potere (Eng. The Faces of Power) is a collective work consisting of eleven chapters. The authors in an interesting way present the political fates and changes made by the great heroes of history, as well as the pros and cons of their governments, the stigma of which is often felt to this day. In the opinion of the author of the reviewed book, the most interesting is chapter VI dedicated to Benito Mussolini and Fascism.

book review Luciano Canfora Andrea Giardina Chiara Frugoni Alessandro Barbero Alberto Mario Banti Emilio Gentile Andrea Graziosi Vittorio Vidotto Giovanni Sabbatucci Andrea Riccardi Michelle Perrot Agnieszka Latosińska

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Book Review: T. Lemke, Biopolitics, transl. by T. Dominiak, Warsaw: Editions Sic!, 2010, pp. 152

  • Author: Artur Filipowicz
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 551-553
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2012036
  • PDF: ppsy/41/ppsy2012036.pdf

A modern development of biological sciences, used by biomedicine with the help of biotechnology, has contributed largely to an artifi cial interference in natural life processes. Biotechnologies allow people a bigger and bigger control of their own nature, population and biosphere. Due to this fact, the character of traditional authority changes radically. In this context a notion of biopolitics has a growing popularity. The history and also the diversity of problems discussed in this fi eld is approached by the synthetic work of Thomas Lemke entitled Biopolitics. The author does a historical reconstruction of this concept, used for the fi rst time by Rudolf Kjellén in 1920. He dedicates a lot of time to the theme of antinaturalistic and antipolicistic interpretation of biopolitics, started in the seventies of the 20th century by Michel Foucault, and continued in the works of Giorgio Agamben, Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri.

Artur Filipowicz Thomas Lemke book review

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