Problemem badawczym artykułu jest zastosowanie modelu centro-peryferyjnego Rokkana-Urwina w analizie relacji międzypaństwowych. Model ten opracowany pod koniec lat 70. XX w. służył badaczom do opisywania i wyjaśniania nierówności międzyregionalnych w skali wewnątrzpaństwowej. Punktem wyjścia obu autorów była analiza potencjału regionu, a punktem dojścia – zbadanie procesów mobilizacji politycznej na terenie różnych regionów, zwłaszcza w kontekście polityki partyjnej i samorządowej. Niniejszy tekst przenosi analizę na poziom międzypaństwowy. Celem autora jest identyfikacja procesów peryferyzacji regionów i państw w skali europejskiej oraz odpowiedź na pytanie o możliwości przezwyciężenia statusu peryferii w systemie międzynarodowym.

According to official statistics, older people are particularly vulnerable to severe illness. Especially those who suffer from frail health are more likely to have deadly coronavirus infection than other age groups. For sure, age and preexisting medical conditions are significant indicators of vulnerability risk to severe infection, but old age interact with many other factors that may render the elderly at risk. The important implication is that the options available to older people are contingent upon inequalities. Some of them will eventually face common difficulties later in life, while others will face the same problems but do it alone with few resources. In other words, aging itself is a stratified process. Disease impacts are not random, nor are the burdens of disease carried equally by all members of affected populations. The consequences of the disease most often heavily affect those who are in a socially vulnerable position.

Gender Equality in Education as a Theoretical Construct and in Educational Practice

Gender equality in education isn’t only a theoretical construct, it is also the positive daily experience of girls and boys. This article analizes areas of inequality in education and shows examples of good practice which works to eliminate negative gender experiences. Firstly, four theoretical approaches to gender equality are presented from the historical perspective. Then, the article describes and makes a critical analysis of the Polish experience with specific reference to the rules of The Amsterdam Treaty, from the moment of Poland’s EU accession. These two contexts (the theoretical and the practical) will provide the basis for looking for a good solution to the problem of gender inequality.