Fighting illiberalism: The role of awareness raising projects

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Mihai Radu ◽  
◽  
Daniela Angi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Political System ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Theoretical Knowledge ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
The World ◽  
Awareness Raising ◽  
Education Campaigns

Illiberalism recently became a favorite catchphrase of several political actors around the world. Although not necessarily precise, the term conjures alternative understandings of democracy, by contesting the inherent need of a democratic political system to be intimately tied to liberal values. This lack of precision is often instrumentalized to boost popular support for taking measures leading to discrimination and resisting or even fighting pluralism. This text aims to familiarize the reader with the existing conceptual debates surrounding the concept of illiberalism, while also offering a glimpse into the causes responsible for its popularity. Theoretical knowledge is then juxtaposed with information regarding an awareness raising project aiming to fight illiberalism in countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The conclusion stresses the need for communication and education campaigns regarding the perils of illiberalism, especially in the more fragile democratic contexts of post-communist Europe. Citizens need to be aware of how illiberalism endangers democracy and have at their disposal mechanisms for raising awareness regarding illiberal measures taken by various governments.

scholarly journals Creating Suspicion and Vigilance

Intersections ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ákos Kopper ◽  
Pál Susánszky ◽  
Gergely Tóth ◽  
Márton Gerő
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Political System ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Liberal Democracies ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Significant Case ◽  
The Government ◽  
Government Rules ◽  
The Right

In recent years, many theoretical and empirical analyses about the changing regimes of Central and Eastern Europe have been written, pointing out the authoritarian tendencies and radicalization in the region. Hungary is a significant case in the changing landscape of Central and Eastern Europe. The right-wing government rules the country with incontestable force, despising and disrespecting the norms of liberal democracies. Although the general impression is that the government has such a strong grip on power that resisting it is futile, in fact, it only enjoys only the support of 30 per cent of Hungarian citizens. Thus, it would be reasonable to expect the opposition to be able to effectively mobilize against the regime. In reality, no political opponent seems to stand a chance of defeating it. In order to explain why this is so, we focus on the way Orbán constantly creates images of ‘the enemy’ that keep alive an atmosphere of vigilance that blocks the efforts of critical actors to efficiently mobilize citizens. Since the political system in Hungary is highly centralized, the prime-minister’s speeches epitomize the logic and ideology of the regime. Our aim is to understand the mechanism through which the dominant political actors frame the enemy in a system of images, thereby creating an environment where critical actors are stripped of the resources needed to mobilize against them.

Limited Influence? The Role of the Party of European Socialists in Shaping Social Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe

2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Holmes ◽  
Simon Lightfoot
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Social Democracy ◽  
Social Democratic ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
European Norm ◽  
Democratic Parties ◽  
Social Democratic Parties

AbstractThis article looks at the role of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in its attempts to shape social democratic parties in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) towards a West European norm. It discusses how existing views in the academic literature on the role of transnational parties are inadequate. We argue that the PES did not play a key role in encouraging the establishment and development of parties in the CEE states from the 2004 enlargement in the early stages of accession. We contend that the overall influence of party federations has been limited, and that these limitations were as much in evidence before enlargement took place as they were afterwards.

scholarly journals State Sovereignty of the Russian Federation in View of Amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation Adopted in 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 21-23
Author(s):  
Aleksey L. Bredikhin ◽  
◽  
Evgeniy D. Protsenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Political System ◽  
The State ◽  
State Sovereignty ◽  
The World ◽  
The Russian Federation

In this article, the authors analyze the amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, adopted in 2020, with a view to their influence on the state of Russian sovereignty and note that the topic of sovereignty is central to these amendments. Researchers conclude that the amendments constitute, first and foremost, the strengthening of the sovereignty of the Russian Federation, the autonomy of state jurisdiction, and the increasing status and role of Russia in the world political system.

scholarly journals Accountability on Sustainability in Central and Eastern Europe: An Empirical Assessment of Sustainability-Related Assurance

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 27-52
Author(s):  
Oleh Pasko ◽  
Inna Balla ◽  
Inna Levytska ◽  
Nataliia Semenyshena
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Provider Type ◽  
Accountability Standards ◽  
Coding Rules ◽  
A Company ◽  
Big Four

The paper explores how companies from Central and Eastern Europe adopt assurance practices to provide accountability for sustainability. Drawing on modified coding rules from prior research, a conventional content analysis of 36 assurance statements companies from nine countries was conducted. The results imply differences in the content of reports, processes, and implementation of the standards. Exclusively large and multinational enterprises from the energy sectors domiciled in Poland and Hungary are a typical portrait of a company from the study’s sample, striving to issue and assure sustainability reporting. Of the nine countries represented in the study, sustainability assurance statements of companies from Poland, Hungary, and Romania tend to excel in terms of quality. The vast majority of assurance providers belong to the Big Four, who use ISAE3000 as opposed to AA1100AS. Yet, irrespective of the assurance provider type, stakeholders are neglected. It is argued that just transferring the experience of financial auditing to the field of sustainability, which, by and large, has taken place, is not an option. Authors state that following this route, we are heading in the wrong direction, and in technical terms, the wider proliferation of AA1100AS and its principles, with greater emphasis on reasonable assurance as opposed to the limited and enhanced role of stakeholders, are vital to get back on track. The paper contributes to the emerging literature on accountability standards and stresses the need to enhance sustainability-related assurance.

scholarly journals СОФІЯ ДЛЯ АВІА

2019 ◽  
pp. 87-96
Author(s):  
А. Л. Свящук
Keyword(s):  
System Theory ◽  
Political System ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Aircraft Industry ◽  
Philosophical Foundations ◽  
Black Swans ◽  
The World ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Probabilistic Nature

In the time when the basic formulas and approaches of the aircraft industry are based on the principles of classical science, the nature of the observed phenomena seems non-linear. Such phenomena as turbulence, flutter, buffering, disruption of the air flow can be explained by means of synergetics and system theory in the context of the post-non-classical paradigm. However, a certain contradiction can be observed: non-linear phenomena are explained by linear traditional science. That is why many formulas of aerodynamics and strength have a large empirical part. Therefore, it becomes necessary to revise the philosophical foundations of most approaches and the overall picture of the world as a whole. The use of the concepts of synergetics and system theory allows us to describe more accurately certain phenomena in aviation, which ultimately will lead to the creation of more efficient and safer aircraft. For example, we can design our aircraft not only as a complex system, but also as part of other complex systems, evaluating its effectiveness from the point of view of more ambitious and higher levels, predicting its operation and modernization in the changing conditions of the socio-political system. Moreover, the very nature of engineering creativity based on synergistic approaches will become more efficient and effective by increasing the intensity of aviation thought. Therefore, understanding the role of chance, the effect of emergence will allow us to be prepared for many surprises and black swans and also be wary about our knowledge, assessing their probabilistic nature.

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