Archive 4/2007

Abstract

The article deals with the political theory of social movements, as formulated by several key thinkers of the Frankfurt School. The mode of their explanation of mobilization, nature, and political potential of social movements is derived from their general theories of society and societal change, associated with the decline of influence of the classic Marxist paradigm of political protest, and presented as an attribute of the increasing importance of culturally oriented collective action analysis in this tradition of political thought. The closing part highlights several crucial joint features of these approaches, thus emphasizing their existence as a distinctive, internally coherent, and analytically inspirational theoretical perspective.

Key words

Critical Theory; Marxism; political theory, collective action; social movements

Abstract

After ten years of research on party based euroscepticism, political science still has not succeed in creating a respected and accepted typology of euroscepticsm. This article tries both to summarize and review this research up to the present and subsequently propose a new innovative typology. This typology is based upon two phenomena. The first consists of the incorporation of positive party attitudes towards European integration. The second pillar of the new typology is the understanding of European integration as a variable phenomenon where support cannot be identified with the maintenance of the current EU model.

Key words

Euroscepticism, Party Attitudes to the European Union, Intergovernmentalism, Supra- nationalism

Abstract

The European Constitutional Treaty is the most important document in the last decade of EU history not only because of its content, but also due to the process of its development. The European Convention on the future of the EU, as the founding platform of this treaty, reveals a number of controversial areas. It is questionable whether it is possible to declare the European Convention a genuinely democratic body and to accept its procedures as part of the EU’s future. The aim of this paper is to outline the specifics of the Convention, especially its working methods, strategies and aspirations. The author maintains that the Convention can serve as an inspiration and possible supplement to current treaty procedures, but considering experience to date it cannot be an acceptable procedure for the EU treaties revision.

Key words

EU, European constitution, Convention on the Future of Europe, treaty revision, Laeken declaration

Abstract

Strengthening presidential powers in the Turkish parliamentary system has been the aim of many political actors since the beginning of discussions about the new constitutional framework in 1980. Direct presidential election, as one of the main features of the semi-presidential and presidential systems, has become especially salient with the turbulent events following the recent presidential election. Introducing direct presidential election is the main ambition of a new constitutional amendment which has already been passed in the Turkish parliament. In the case of a favourable result for the referendum, the amendment will bring about futher strengthening of the Turkish president’s position and possibly change the entire Turkish political system. The aim of my contribution is to analyze the existing powers of the Turkish president as well as the consequences of this prospective constitutional change. The analysis concludes that in the Turkish political system, the president has a stronger position than is usual in classic parliamentary systems, and the constitutional change would strengthen the semi-presidential features of the Turkish political system even more. Consequently, the advantages and disadvantages of both presidential and semi-presidential systems are briefly evaluated and applied to the Turkish situation. The aim is to predict how these systems might function in the specific conditions of Turkey, and to offer some optimal measures to support the stability of Turkey.

Key words

Turkey, political system, presidential powers, presidential, semi-presidential and parliamentary system

Abstract

This short paper deals with the 2006 parliamentary elections in Italy, looking at these election results to evaluate the importance of their new electoral system and estimating its possible consequences. Therefore the authors firstly try to focus attention on the description of new electoral rules that stress the logic of majority premium. The analytic part of the text consists of an evaluation of electoral results: the 2001 and 2006 election results are compared and differences in results between the two chambers examined.

Key words

Italy, electoral systems, elections, majority premium

Abstract

This paper seeks to find out to what extent the process of EU accession has influenced legal regulations concerning the creation and functioning of social and political actors. Through the analysis of various statutes and changes made to them, the paper tries to determine the role the EU plays in amending assembly legislation. The actors under scrutiny include political parties, professional organizations, labour unions, and civil society organizations. The paper concludes that the most influenced field of actors was the area of chambers of professionals which was obliged to conform to requirements for the free movement of people and services in the European Union in order to comply with European law. The Czech Republic was quite leisurely in their harmonization of statutes, with the majority of them passed just before accession to the EU. An interesting part of the problem concerns the question of political party membership, which is still reserved only for Czech citizens. However, European citizenship, with its voting rights to the European Parliament and local magistrates, is arguably going to push slowly for change even in this domain.

Key words

the Czech Republic, interest groups, legal europeanization, freedom of assembly

Abstract

The Concept of the Political is the first book by Carl Schmitt translated and published in the Czech Republic. As such it deserves a treatise that would put it into the larger context of Schmitt’s life and work, which is the aim of this review essay. Therefore key concepts (not only) from The Concept of the Political are explained. The essay also goes beyond the classical labeling of Schmitt as realist and focuses also on his more general critique of modernity and of the technological thought characteristic of our epoch. This way we can better understand why Schmitt fascinates the contemporary left as well as right. It also shows his relevance to many current discussions, for example those concerning the War on Terror. How shall we classify Guantanamo? As an example par excellence of a decision of a sovereign in exceptional circumstances, or as a result of the depoliticisation of the political? This essay, however, does not give a specific answer to this question. Rather, it is intended as an introduction of this „Schmittian“ debate to the Czech academic milieu.

Key words

Carl Schmitt, depoliticisation, critique of modernity, realism, war on terror, exceptionalism

Abstract

Šárka Waisová a kolektiv. 2007. Atlas mezinárodních vztahů. Prostor a politika po skončení studené války, Plzeň: Vydavatelství a nakladatelství Aleš Čeněk, s. r. o., 158 pages.

Key words

Abstract

John Gillingham. 2006. Design for a New Europe, Cambridge University Press, Londýn.

Key words

Abstract

Petr Fiala, Miroslav Mareš, Petr Sokol. 2007. Eurostrany. Politické strany na evropské úrovni, Brno, Společnost pro odbornou literaturu, Barrister & Principal, 1. vydání. 269 pages.

Key words