Archive 2/2008

Abstract

It is obvious that lobbying in European institutions is an inseparable part of the EU legislative process. The growth of lobbying and the greater sensitivity of European institutions to their public image have resulted in lobbying being more closely regulated now. The basic purpose of all regulation and codes is to bring lobbying into the open. The regulation of lobbying in Brussels seems essential so as to introduce greater transparency in EU law making. The aim of this paper is to outline the particularities of lobbying regulation in the European Commission and the European Parliament, i.e. the two most lobbied EU institutions. The European Commission, with its monopoly of legislative initiative, offers a unique possibility to influence the process of legislation formation from the very beginning. The EP has been able to amend legislation since the enactment of the Single European Act in July 1987, thereby incorporating certain interests and policy aims in the decision making process. The paper aims to tackle the following questions: What is the development of European institutions’ attitudes towards interest group actions? Are there any explicit regulation criteria for the assertion of interests? In this respect, does the EU act homogenously or not? And in the casethat it does not, is there any substantiation for different approaches?

Key words

EU, lobbying, interest groups, European Commission, European Parliament

Abstract

This text analyses the development of internal procedures within the European Parliament through modifications to the Rules of Procedure, and how this impacts the legislative powers of the institution. The work assumes that the treaty revisions must be studied in a wider context to fully understand its real impact on European institutions and the EU as a whole. For a complete understanding of the European Parliament’s legislative role in the EU, it is not enough to chart formal increases to its powers in treaties; it is necessary to examine how these formal changes in law and treaties are reflected in the Parliament’s internal reforms. The aim of the text is to examine revisions to the EP Rules of Procedure, provide its analysis in historical sequence and to verify the hypothesis that the Rules of Procedure present an instrument through which this European institution can maximize its potential in the legislative sphere.

Key words

The European Parliament, legislative power, formal and informal rules, the Rules of Procedure, power of delay

Abstract

The presented article aims to answer the question of what the future of militant Islamism in Somalia will look like after the defeat of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) . This will be done by analysing the roots of this phenomenon. Operationalization is based on the violent non-state actor model, as defined by Thomas, Kiser and Casebeer. Next, the most important actors in contemporary Somalia regarding militant Islam will be presented. The Manwaring paradigm will be used to help us understand the success of the UIC. The findings will then be extrapolated into the future to resolve the original analytical question.

Key words

Militant Islamism; Somalia, the Union of Islamic Courts; Transitional Federal Government; al-Ittihad al-Islami; Violent Non-State Actor; Manwaring Paradigm

Abstract

The article summarizes basic theoretical approaches to the study of democracy and intelligence oversight. The author aims to provide a complex view on the topic of regulating intelligence institutions in a democracy. First, it is necessary to explain some basic questions like why we need extra measures to monitor intelligence agencies. Then we must separately identify two different areas of control: management and oversight. The author examines the oversight and management functions of particular institutional levels of control: internal, governmental, legislative, judicial, extra and societal level. Also considered are the special capabilities of regulatory bodies stemming from their different positions in the state institutional system. The text concludes with a catalog of intelligence failures and abuses, linking them with suitable monitoring bodies to prevent such occurences .

Key words

Intelligence; democracy; intelligence control; intelligence oversight

Abstract

Arnošt Veselý, Martin Nekola (eds.). 2007. Analýza a tvorba veřejných politik (přístupy, metody a praxe), Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 406 pages.

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Abstract

Vladimír Srb, Petra Hirtlová (eds.). 2007. Radikalismus a jeho projevy v současném světě, Kolín: Nezávislé centrum pro studium politiky, Academia Rerum Civilium, Vysoká škola politických a společen- ských věd, 336 pages. (Sborník z mezinárodní vědecké konference ARC-VŠPSV, 10. - 11. 5. 2007)

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Adéla Gjuričová, Michal Kopeček (eds.). 2008. Kapitoly z dějin české demokracie po roce 1989, Praha – Litomyšl: Paseka, 321 pages.

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