Archive 2/2012

Petr Kratochvíl
Institute of International Relations, Czech Republic
email: kratochvil@iir.cz

Lukáš Tichý
Institute of International Relations, Czech Republic
email: tichy@iir.cz

Abstract

The article explores the energy relations between the European Union and the Russian Federation. The focus is, however, not on the technical and institutional aspects of the relationship, but rather on the discursive formations that determine the prevailing interpretation of the relationship by each party. Building on the discourse analysis of 74 textual units produced by EU leaders and institutions, the article discovers the three most salient discursive formations, which centre respectively around three concepts: a) integration, b) liberalization, and c) diversification. The text goes on to assess the main features of these formations, their possible overlaps, and their influence upon EU-Russian energy ties.

Key words

discourse analysis, energy security, European Union, Russian Federation

Tomáš Černohous
Department of International Relations and European Studies, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
email: cernohous@mail.muni.cz

Zdeněk Kříž
Department of International Relations and European Studies, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
email: kriz.zdenek@seznam.cz

Abstract

For several decades, the territory of Ogaden in Ethiopia has witnessed bloody conflicts between various groups that have claimed control over this region throughout history. In this study, the authors analyze the sources of the incompatibility of the goals of the main actors, the escalatory event that resulted in open conflict, attempts at internal and external mediation and their success, and the success of attempts to de-escalate the conflict. The study reaches the conclusion that the domestic conflict over the status of the Ogaden province follows a logic that is common to most armed conflicts.

Key words

Ethiopia, Ogaden, conflict

Marek Antoš
Department of Constitutional Law, Faculty of Law, Charles University, Czech Republic
email: antos@prf.cuni.cz

Abstract

Traditionally, political rights are an important component of the relationship between the state and its citizens, and therefore only citizens are entitled to bear them. Nevertheless, due to international migration this approach is subject to change and nowadays many countries give voting rights also to foreigners who are resident there. The attitude of the Czech Republic has so far been conservative, which means that only the minimum standard enacted by European law is accommodated. However, preparatory work on a new electoral code has given rise to a discussion on the possible extension of voting rights also to foreigners from third countries resident in the country. This article tries to enhance the discussion in three ways. The first part consists of an analysis of what the potential percentage of foreign voters is, taking into consideration their geographic distribution in particular municipalities and thus providing an estimate of their influence on local councils. According to the results, potential foreign voters form a relevant minority only in 11 out of 6251 municipalities. The second part is focused on the actual exercise of voting rights by European citizens resident in the Czech Republic, who have it already. A representative survey conducted on a sample of 5% of municipalities shows that the turnout of these voters is negligible (approx. 2.4%), far below the EU average. The last part of the article deals with the legislation in this area which causes crucial obstacles to the real exercise of political rights by foreigners, and therefore is incompatible with the European law.

Key words

political rights of foreigners, European citizenship, local elections

Luboš Brim
Faculty of Law, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
email: 257073@mail.muni.cz

Pavel Dufek
Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
email: dufek@fss.muni.cz

Abstract

The article deals with the question of who is to be represented within the institutions of modern representative democracy and systemizes the answers on the basis of fundamental approaches in political theory which address this problem. The exploration is contextualized within recent debates on transnational democracy, where the issue of political representation acquires renewed relevance. The article first outlines the liberal theory of representation, identified primarily as having an individualistic nature although it does incorporate certain elements of group representation in the setting of the modern state. Subsequently, the article explores the conservative and communitarian theory of representation, which builds upon the notions of representation of collectivities as morally relevant subjects endowed with distinct interests of their own. Finally, it covers the radical democratic theory of representation, which emphasizes chiefly the themes of acknowledging group difference and the necessity of recognizing the claims of disadvantaged groups in the area of political representation. The article concludes by assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the respective approaches with regard to democratic functioning on the transnational level.

Key words

political representation, individuals, collectivities, liberalism, communitarianism, conservatism, radical democracy

Abstract

Magda Leichtová. 2010. Pod maskou medvěda. Neporozumění ve vztazích Ruska a Západu po skončení studené války, Brno: Václav Klemm, 246 pages.

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Michael Romancov et al. 2011. Mezinárodní organizace, Plzeň: Aleš Čeněk, 192 pages.

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José M. Magone. 2011. Contemporary European Politics: A Comparative Introduction, London and New York: Routledge, 651 pages.

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Abstract

Prešovská univerzita v Prešove, 15.–16. 2. 2012

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