Archive 1/2011

Abstract

This article explores one of the key dimensions of EU actorness – external recognition. First, it analyzes the four fundamental dimensions of EU actorness (recognition, legitimacy, framing, and attractiveness) and shows in what ways recognition is linked to the three other aspects of actorness. Second, our text tackles the four dilemmas related to the debate about the EU’s external recognition. These dilemmas include the source of recognition (external vs. internal); the conditions of recognition (material vs. formal); the nature of recognition (voluntaristic vs. non-voluntaristic); and the extent of recognition (comprehensive vs. partial or issue-related). Finally, the article draws some theoretical conclusions from this debate.

Key words

European Union, actorness, external recognition, European integration theory

Abstract

The EU enlargement process is a vital part of European integration. Previous research into EU enlargement aimed especially at the process itself or at the appoaches of member states or EU institutions towards enlargement. We focus on political parties and their positions towards future enlargement of the EU. Comparing the opinions of the CDU and CSU on EU enlargement, we try to find out whether these two parties can be, at a European level, considered as one homogeneous actor and whether the CDU and CSU’s declaratory opinions are consistent with the parties’ MEP voting. Analysis thus deals both with the programme documents and statements of relevant politicians and with roll call votes in the European parliament.

Key words

CDU/CSU, European Parliament, EU enlargement, Turkey

Abstract

This article focuses on proving some of the earlier published hypotheses that criticized the possibility applying the electoral bonus (bonus seats) to elections to the Chamber of Deputies in the Czech Republic. The results of the Czech parliamentary elections held at the very end of May 2010 provide some empirical data for this analysis and help to prove that the mechanism of the electoral bonus is not useful in the Czech political system. The main reasons for this claim are the hypotheses that the electoral bonus should not reinforce the position of the government coalition and that it erodes the will of the people, whose votes in fact count towards the bonus seat(s) of another party (namely that party which receives the electoral bonus).

Key words

Czech Republic, elections 2010, electoral bonus, Chamber of Deputies, Greek variant

Abstract

This article deals with Czech organized crime, thus with a phenomenon that has never been widely examined. This descriptive thesis arises from Finckenauer’s definition of organized crime, which is used as a basic framework, but not as a self-standing theory. The primary goal of this article is to introduce Czech structures and activities of Czech organized crime: their history and present state, as well as middle range perspectives on their future development. The data used in this article are based on qualitative research into organized crime undertaken in the years 2008–2010.

Key words

rganized crime, Czech Republic, history of organized crime

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the current use of public diplomacy in foreign relations. It attempts to show how necessary public diplomacy strategy is for the formation of diplomatic relations. The first part of the study focuses on the analysis of changes in political communication in international relations. Presented are factors such as the transnationalisation or medialisation of foreign policy and the role of soft power in international relations. Then it presents a three dimensional model of public diplomacy that takes into account short-term and long-term goals. The main part of the text presents a change in the operation of today’s foreign policy actors. This mainly concerns classical diplomacy, which has transformed its role, primarily by heavily engaging professional public affairs agencies and non-state actors in foreign policy. The article also cites examples from Europe and the United States of America of successful and unsuccessful strategies of public diplomacy.

Key words

veřejná diplomacie/public diplomaty, public relations, public affairs, lobbing, kation branding

Abstract

Sverker Gustavsson, Christer Karlsson a Thomas Persson, eds. 2009. The Illusion of Accountability in the European Union, London/New York: Routledge,192 pages.

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Abstract

Rikard Bengtsson (red.) 2010. I Europas Tjänst. Sveriges Ordförandeskapet I EU 2009, Stockholm: SNS Förlag, 338 pages.

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Abstract

Jan Bureš, Jakub Charvát, Petr Just a kol.. 2010. Levice v České republice a na Slovensku 1989 - 2009, Plzeň: Aleš Čeněk, 176 pages.

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