Volume 42 (2013)

Globalization — Politics — Education

  • Author: Andrzej Chodubski
  • Institution: University of Gdańsk (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 7-20
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013001
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013001.pdf

In the contemporary world, the development of education is given special importance. Education is considered as a basic force of civilization changes. Interdisciplinary education, focused on innovation, is seen as a necessary challenge to cultural changes. The level of education is becoming an increasingly important factor in determining the economic, political and social behaviour as well as values shaping systems. Currently, educational challenges are of interest to different actors of cultural life. They draw attention to the types of education, institutional arrangements, curricula, the teachers image, educators and students, teaching methods, forms of extracurricular education, financial aspects, etc. These issues are awakening big disputability, and even controversy, both political factors, responsible for shaping educational policy and public opinion, including teachers and researchers interested in various aspects of education. There is on the one hand – pursuance to preserve tradition, cultivating patterns developed in the historical process and enrich them through the elements of civilization challenges and on the other hand – promotes belief in the need for education outgoing to meet civilization challenges of education called modern, rejecting the existing patterns of development; moreover, in a Polish cultural reality, the traditional school model is known as a little – friendly institution for teacher and student. 

Education politics public opinion globalisation

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Peace Studies: Basics and Issues

  • Author: Egon Spiegel
  • Institution: University of Vechta (Germany)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 21-33
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013002
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013002.pdf

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

Basics and Issues Peace Studies peace

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The Need for New Research on Terrorism

  • Author: Sebastian Wojciechowski
  • Institution: Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 34-46
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013003
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013003.pdf

Terrorist attacks in various parts of the world evidence’s what a complex and dangerous problem we are facing, even though a great number of states and organizations have committed themselves to combating it, deploying a  variety of resources and mechanisms for this purpose. Ne vertheless, there is no fully efficient method or system to counter terrorism. It is no use hoping that it will emerge soon (or ever), either. Therefore, combating terrorism resembles the struggle of the ‘global community’ with a globally operating enemy.

Research on Terrorism terrorism

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Compulsory Partnership Activities: the Biggest Challenges for Local Governments in the Local Democracy in France. The Case of the Implementation of the Local Directive on Advertising (RLP)

  • Author: Fabrice Morin
  • Institution: University of Franche-Comté in Besançon (France)
  • Author: Joanna Marszałek–Kawa
  • Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 47-59
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013004
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013004.pdf

The 5th French Republic was established after a period of parliamentary instability of the 4th Republic. It emerged from the concept of Charles de Gaulle, who presented its main ideas in his speech in Bayeux in 1946. As researchers indicate, the Constitution of the 5th Republic of 1958 met a wave of criticism after it came into force. For some it meant the introduction of the authoritarian political system in the state; others saw it as a system that will stabilize the situation in France and will prompt its development. It must also be noted that, although the French constitution has been amended a few times, its structure has never been questioned – even when some politicians changed their political stance and electorate. It is also worth pointing out that the critics of the existing political system focus on the excessive centralization of power in the executive bodies and on the minor role of public opinion in the formation of state ss policy. It should be noted here that until the constitutional reform of 2008, only the executive branch had initiated a referendum.

Challenges Local Democracy in France France

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The Construction of Civil Local Communities – the Challenge of the 21st Century

  • Author: Agnieszka Lipska–Sondecka
  • Institution: Koszalin Higher School of Humanities (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 60-69
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013005
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013005.pdf

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

21st Century Civil Local Communities Challenges local communities

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Democracy at the Service of the Community

  • Author: Danuta Plecka
  • Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 70-90
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013006
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013006.pdf

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

community Service of the Community democracy

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Political Trust and Electoral Behaviour

  • Author: Agnieszka Turska–Kawa
  • Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 91-108
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013007
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013007.pdf

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

Electoral Electoral Behaviour Political

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The Rivalry Strategies of Political Parties in Elections to the Assembly of Citizens of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg

  • Author: Ewa Ganowicz
  • Institution: University of Opole (Poland)
  • Author: Bożena Wroniszewska
  • Institution: University of Opole (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 109-138
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013008
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013008.pdf

The author undertakes to discuss the problem of rivalry strategies of political parties in elections to the Citizens’ Assembly of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The broadness and multidimensional character of the subject area requires moving beyond the limits of political science and entering other related domains, like broadly-conceived historical sciences, also reaching for a number of establishments within legal-historical domains. Firmly grounded historical, legal, polity-related and political aspects of the unification of Germany in the context of German federalism, encouraged and obligated the author, to attempt to bring the above problem up to date. I think that thanks to a broader analysis of elections to the Hamburg Citizens’ Assembly over the last 50 years, the real state of the problem area can acquire a fuller context, with an emphasis on the foundations of local government functioning. To prepare this paper I made use of Polish and German sources published by Polish, American and German researchers. Polish and German literature off ered a valuable source to become acquainted with the history and the foreseeable future of Hamburg’s local government, in particular – the assumptions behind territorial and functional reforms, the evolution of which we have been able to follow in the Federal Republic of Germany since the 1970s. The main source of the presented conclusions and facts are data obtained from Statistisches Amt Für Hamburg und Schlezwig-Holstein (the Statistical Office in Hamburg). Among the Polish reference sources the most useful proved to be the book edited by Konstanty Adam Wojtaszczyk and Marta Jarosińska, under the title Kraje Związkowe Republiki Federalnej Niemiec (The Federal States of the Federal Republic of Germany).

Hamburg Rivalry Strategies of Political Parties political parties

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Political Paranoia – a Rule or a Chance?

  • Author: Rafał Miernik
  • Institution: Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce (Poland)
  • Author: Agnieszka Kasińska–Metryka
  • Institution: Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 139-150
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013009
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013009.pdf

Politics is a particular field of social activity where accusing an opponent of mental incapacitation occurs as a frequent element of the conducted narrative. Moreover, public opinion discrediting a profession of a politician is very eager to question the mental health of political actors. Vocabulary used in the public is a vital testimony of societies attitude towards people with mental disorders. However, we refer paranoia to personality traits of individuals while political paranoia refers to reaction to events, facts or to the way it is seen by individuals or groups. The authors do not have any ambition to carry out a psychological analysis of politicians. What is intriguing is the issue of using political paranoia (searching for enemies, tracking plots, fighting in defence of ideals, irrational justifi - cation of failures) in the group spectrum for elections. What is also intriguing is the answer to the question whether politicians are paranoid, or it is a well planned election strategy which aims to identify an opponent to consolidate a group of voters around the leader.

rule chance Political Paranoia Political

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Modern Conceptual–Theoretical Transformations of Political Leadership

  • Author: Filip Pierzchalski
  • Institution: Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 151-162
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013010
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013010.pdf

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

modern transformations Modern Conceptual–Theoretical Transformations Political political leadership

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Discrimination, Democracy, and Postmodern Human Rights

  • Author: Bartosz Wypych
  • Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 163-184
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013011
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013011.pdf

The question of discrimination, as far as it is considered in the field of philosophy, cannot be perceived as a problem which can be effectively combated. Even the most precise diagnosis of human nature will not restrain people from defining others as evil and inferior. The most universal and spacious conventions, declarations, cards or bills will not solve the problem either. They can be regarded as an example of applied philosophy at most. On the other hand, we should pose the question what the world would look like if political pragmatism were the main obligatory rule. Thus, the situation finds us between philosophical wishful thinking about a global order free from discrimination and macro – or micropolitical pragmatism.

Postmodern Human Rights Discrimination democracy human rights

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Determinants of Political Decisions in the Polish Political System

  • Author: Marek Górka
  • Institution: Koszalin University of Technology (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 185-206
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013012
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013012.pdf

The changes in political life in Poland in the period 2005–2011, which restructured the existing balance of power (dominance of post-Solidarity parties at the expense of the post-communist party) force us to consider whether the party system evolution involves changes in the sphere of ideological divisions. But there also arises another question about the crisis of the left, which could mean the end of the previous model, intergroup rivalry. But there is no doubt that it occurred after 2005 events. Initiated processes took a completely different direction than those in the 90s. The purpose of the article is to explain the ongoing political disputes, and also attempt to answer the question: what factors shape the profile of program-ideological political formations in Poland.

Polish Political System Political Decisions Political political system

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The Regulatory Function of Religion in Social Control. Enlightenment Concepts

  • Author: Ryszard Stefański
  • Institution: Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 207-212
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013013
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013013.pdf

Andrzej Wierciński (1930–2003) wrote that the period Enlightenment (he did not use the term, however) saw the separation of philosophy and religion as a consequence of the development of empirical sciences, mathematics and logic: The rationalised philosophical world-model was advanced to the rank of an ICS [Ideological Control Subsystem]. Its institutional carriers were bourgeois groups and political parties which caused the first breakdown in the feudal system during the French and American Revolution. Mechanicism was therefore to replace animism as a principal generator of the world-view. Wierciński’s approach does not contradict the perspective generally accepted by historians. Probably never before had the fight against revealed religions, including Roman Catholicism, been so intense. The best example is the attitude of Enlightenment authors towards Catholicism and church institutions.

Enlightenment Concepts Religion in Social Control religion

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Why the Cultural Identities of the Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic are more Endangered than They Seem

  • Author: Krzysztof Kaczmarek
  • Institution: Independent Researcher (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 213-217
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013014
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013014.pdf

Global warming is a fact. The reason for this can only be a guess. There are hypotheses claiming that the climate changes are consequences of human activities. Other hypotheses say that such occurrences appear regularly every few thousand years. As early as the beginning of the twentieth century some scientists noticed indicators of the growth of the global average temperature. Regardless of the reason global warming is observable mostly in polar areas. Nowadays about four million people live in the Arctic including native inhabitants. Global warming impacts on all of these including indigenous peoples of the Arctic whose cultural identities have always been related to nature. They have always lived in harmony together with nature, they have been a part of it and have never tried to fight against it. A changing climate can make them give up the way their ancestors used to live. Afterwards it can cause the disappearance of their languages and cultures that languages are parts of. Besides for many decades all indigenous people had been thought to be at a lower development level than new arrivals so today almost all languages spoken by indigenous peoples of the Arctic are endangered. All indigenous peoples of the Arctic have common points in their histories like deprivation of lands and suppression of languages and traditions. Most of their ancient customs and religions are forgotten but there are many material marks that are important for future generations. It is very important to preserve the marks and the knowledge of their languages because the value of them is priceless. 

climate changes Arctic Peoples Arctic Cultural Identities Cultural

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Britain's Membership in the European Communities and the European Union

  • Author: Grzegorz Ronek
  • Institution: John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 218-243
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013015
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013015.pdf

One of the most important factors affecting British politics is its membership to the European Communities (EC) and latter the European Union (EU), which has already had massive implications for this country. Th e relationship between Britain and Europe has always been problematic. In Britain there has been little enthusiasm for European integration per se, and equally little understanding of the enthusiasm felt on the continent. Europe has been seen as a menace rather than an opportunity and very few British politicians have attempted to argue (as is commonplace on the continent) about monetary union, for instance, it is the only way of regaining control over financial policy. The European idea of pursuing economic integration as a means to political union has also been met with blank incomprehension, if not outright hostility. Britain has always been attempting to slow down the process of integration and, consequently, has often fallen behind and had no choice but to catch up. However, the portrayal of Britain as a “difficult partner” or “laggard leader” in European affairs is only partly justified. Based on its specific understanding of national sovereignty, Britain has developed a much more pragmatic and instrumental approach towards Europe than most of its partners on the continent. Nevertheless, the country was a strong driving force in favor of integration in many crucial policy fields like the single market or trade policy. According to Alan Milward, the process of European integration entails “pooling” the sovereignty in order to protect national interests and extend national governments’ control of their own destinies. In Britain, contrary to the continent, national interests dictated a different line and it was only when exclusion from the Communities appeared to threaten them that the then British government began to accept the need for membership. The very different motivation behind British entry ensured that the British aims inside the Communities would be limited or “defensive”. The most controversial aspect of Britain’s membership of the EC has always related to “erosion” of its sovereignty. 

European Communities Britain's Membership in the European Union Britain European Union

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The United Kingdom's Legal Response to Terrorism

  • Author: Wojciech Stankiewicz
  • Institution: University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 244-267
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013016
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013016.pdf

Terrorist violence has a long history in the United Kingdom and the Government has a long experience in adopting the legal measures to counter the danger. It was the Irish terrorist activity, which started in the XIX century and continued almost till the end of the XX century, that caused the developing of a well – regarded competency in counter – terrorism in the UK. Nevertheless, the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001 and attacks in Great Britain on 7 and 21 of July 2005 compiled the UK Government to change its counter – terrorism policy. The UK had to provide legislation which could deal with the new terror provided by extreme radical Islamic networks waging a global jihad. The UK Government started to deal with this new international terrorism, by introducing the new anti – terrorist acts in 2001, 2005 and 2006. The Islamic terrorist treat started to reform the institutions for domestic counter – terrorism and create new international relations among the CT activities of national governments.

Response to Terrorism terrorism United Kingdom

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The National security of France in White Papers on Defense. Continuity or change?

  • Author: Karolina J. Helnarska
  • Institution: University of Warsaw (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 268-278
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013017
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013017.pdf

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

Defense National security of France national security

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The Dominant Position of China in the Global Economy

  • Author: Beata Jaroszewska
  • Institution: Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 279-296
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013018
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013018.pdf

After a few decades of transformation China is becoming a major contender for the number two position in the world. Is it really possible? Will China balance the power of the United States? Today the United States supremacy is so great that it seems to be undeniable. The situation was similar at the end of the twentieth century when U.S. domination was obvious and any other reality was hard to imagine. Recently though, more and more often America’s political decisions are criticised. A few decades ago, in Beijing a new idea was developed. The essence of that idea was to transform the People’s Republic of China into a superpower. Since China was very vast and densely populated, but mostly a poor and backward country, it was a very daring vision. Years of consistent and painful reforms changed the way the world is looking at China, even though some of them were not accepted by international opinion.

Position of China in the Global Economy global economy China

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The Influence of Doi Moi on the Internal Security of Vietnam in the 21st Century

  • Author: Karol Kościelniak
  • Institution: Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 297-316
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013019
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013019.pdf

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, just like other countries, functions in determined conditions which influence the way of determining and understanding the security and shaping of the security policy. There prevails a division to problems of an internal and external nature. While talking about and indicating global problems which in consequence can influence the internal security of a country, challenges and threats that countries face need to be noticed. These are ecological, demographic, political, economic and social threats. While looking at factors determining the internal security of a country, special attention needs to be paid to the state of relations and its surroundings, a state of system stability, a level of social peace, a level of public safety and a level of public order.

21st Century Internal Security of Vietnam Doi Moi Influence

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Music in the Field of Political Science. Research Questions and Trends

  • Author: Iwona Massaka
  • Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 317-330
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013020
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013020.pdf

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

music political science

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The Jubilee of Professor Tadeusz Godlewski Ph.D. and Handing the Jubilee Volume (Toruń, 13th November 2012)

  • Author: Paweł Jaroniak
  • Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 332-334
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013021
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013021.pdf

On 13th November a jubilee celebrating the 70th birthday of Professor Tadeusz Godlewski – an excellent political scientist; an expert in the Polish political system, political parties and systems in France and Poland; and, most of all, a teacher and an educator for many generations of political specialists – was held in Gallery 44 in Toruń. The event was kept secret from its main participant.

jubilee Tadeusz Godlewski

Book Review: Joanna Marszałek–Kawa, Constitutional Status and Functions of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Following the Accession to the European Union, ELIPSA Publishing House, Warsaw 2012, p. 713

  • Author: Jerzy Jaskiernia
  • Institution: Jan Kochanowski University of Humanities and Science in Kielce (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 335-339
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013022
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013022.pdf

The monograph of Joanna Marszałek-Kawa concerns one of the key problems of the European integration process: the impact of European Union membership on the position of the national parliament. It is clear that EU membership affects the constitutional status and functions of national legislature in a number of ways. The author hypothesised the following: „After the accession of Poland to the European Union, both the Polish constitutional status and functions of the Sejm of the RP have significantly changed. The Council of Ministers became an authority that partly assumed its competences, which in practice should be viewed as dominance of an executive over a legislative branch. As a result of accession, prerogatives of the Sejm were significantly reduced in favour of the government. The fall of legislative sovereignty took place when the amendments made were more and more oft en assessed.” 

European Parliament book review the European Union

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Book Review: Poland's Security: Contemporary Domestic and International Issues, eds. Sebastian Wojciechowski, Anna Potyrała, Logos Verlag, Berlin 2013, pp. 225

  • Author: Vera–Karin Brazova
  • Institution: Charles University in Prague (the Czech Republic)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 340-344
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013023
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013023.pdf

Bringing together distinguished Polish scholars and researchers, the book Poland’s Security: Contemporary Domestic and International Issues presents different aspects of security of present-day Poland. The volume’s primary intent is to “emphasize the complex, multi-faceted, dynamic, and evolutionary nature of the subject, the multiplicity of problems in the area of security, and the diversity of its determinants”. Attention is paid not only to the military (or “hard”) security, but also to other sectors, such as economic, societal or energy security. A specific gap, which the editors set out to cover, is the scarcity of a practical application of theoretical considerations in the respective field.

Anna Potyrała Sebastian Wojciechowski Poland's Security book review

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Book Review: Wojciech Marcin Stankiewicz, Wektory rozwoju współczesnej rzeczywistości międzynarodowej a siła niektórych zagrożeń patologicznych, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego, Gdańsk 2012, pp. 224

  • Author: Andrzej Chodubski
  • Institution: University of Gdańsk (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 345-350
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013024
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013024.pdf

Pathologies are considered to be one of the cell elements of culture-civilization life. This phenomenon has been known since the beginning of the formation of organizational structures of humans, including social and political ones. High esteem should be taken to refer to the essence of revealing the scale of pathological phenomena in contemporary international realities. It is noted that the various entities that generate international order undertake actions to reduce and eliminate them. This is an extremely difficult cognitive challenge, due to the fact that violence is often regarded as the way of achieving objectives, as well as that it is very strongly associated with legitimate state structures.

Wojciech Marcin Stankiewicz book review

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Book Review: Karolina J. Helnarska, Cultural factor in French Foreign Affairs, Adam Marszałek Publishing House, Toruń 2013, p. 410

  • Author: Józef M. Fiszer
  • Institution: Lazarski University in Warsaw (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 350-355
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013025
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013025.pdf

France with its turbulent history, of foreign affairs and rich culture, has over the centuries been a fascinating topic of academic research for historians, political scientists, lawyers, sociologists, culture experts and publicists. And no wonder, since this country – as a continental superpower – was always conducting its politicson a global scale and was – still is – an important player in the international arena. From medieval times, the 17th century especially, France has been considered an important centre of European and world culture, even of civilisation in general, who’s status and role grew stronger in the Napoleonic era, when the French language became the language of diplomacy and politics, the language of people of science and culture. Culture, its rich content and spiritual values quickly became a part of France’s foreign policy. 

Karolina J. Helnarska book review

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Book Review: M. Chmaj, W. Skrzydło, System wyborczy w Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej [The Election System in the Republic of Poland], Wolters Kluwer Polska – LEX, Warsaw 2011, pp. 182

  • Author: Joanna Marszałek–Kawa
  • Institution: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 355-358
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013026
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013026.pdf

In 2011, the long-awaited fourth issue of the book System wyborczy w Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej was published by the Lex publishing house. The issue includes the codification of election law, which was enacted in 2011.The authors of the presented issue are two outstanding Polish constitutionalists.

Wiesław Skrzydło Marek Chmaj book review electoral system

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Book Review: The Civil Bill on Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Poland, ed. Stanisław Wykrętowicz, Scientific Publishing WNPiD UAM, Poznań 2012, pp. 164

  • Author: Beata Słobodzian
  • Institution: University of Gdańsk (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 359-362
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013027
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013027.pdf

Publication on the topic of the economic self-government regime in Poland deserve special cognitive attention. The book The Civil bill on Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Poland, edited by Stanisław Wykrętowicz – expert and researcher of these issues – is the result of years of research conducted by research centres (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Wrocław University of Economics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, University of Gdańsk) and cooperation between circles of researchers and the representatives of chambers of commerce and local government practices.

Stanisław Wykrętowicz Industry in Poland book review

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Book Review: Sebastian Wojciechowski, The Hybridity of Terrorism, Logos, Berlin 2013, pp. 216

  • Author: Artur Wejkszner
  • Institution: Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland)
  • Year of publication: 2013
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 363-366
  • DOI Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.15804/ppsy2013028
  • PDF: ppsy/42/ppsy2013028.pdf

The issue of modern terrorism is a significant subject of academic research. For decades the representatives of many branches of science, ranging from psychology and sociology, through history, law and political science to criminology, in particular, have been trying to find basic answers to a number of fundamental questions concerning the nature, manifestations, evolution of terrorism, and combating it. A definite majority of studies that have been around are fragmentary, selective or descriptive, and they do not make a significant contribution to the state of knowledge. There are very few studies that discuss the matter in question in a comprehensive, in-depth and original manner. This cognitive gap has clearly been to some extent filled by the latest publication by Professor Sebastian Wojciechowski, entitled The Hybridity of Terrorism. While the title may seem somewhat general, it actually points to a crucial feature (or a set of features) of the phenomenon it analyzes. In the simplest terms, dealing with terrorism we come across a cluster of elements, and relations between them, that sometimes are independent from one another, sometimes coexist side by side, and most frequently complement each other, constituting terrorism and influencing its evolution.

Sebastian Wojciechowski terrorism book review

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