Studia Politica, vol. XVI, no. 1, 2016
ARTICULI
MYKOLA KAPITONENKO, Ukrainian Crisis as an Ongoing Threat to Regional Security (pp. 9-20)
Abstract
The article covers current Ukrainian crisis by exploring its sources, possible scenarios, and impact on regional security. The impact of the Russian factor before and during the crisis is given special attention. Transformations in general regional arrangements are assessed. A broader context, including possible challenges for the EU, is provided.
Keywords
Ukrainian crisis, European security, Eastern Partnership.
MYKOLA KAPITONENKO, Associate Professor at the Institute of International Relations of Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University, Ukraine, nickolay.kapitonenko@gmail.com
ARMAND GOȘU, Republic of Moldova. The Year 2015 in Politics (pp. 21-51)
Abstract
The year 2015 was a long and deep political crisis in the Republic of Moldova, caused by the public announcement that Moldavian banks were missing a billion dollars. The first major protest took place on February 22, 2015. After the demonstration on September 6, protesters occupied the Grand Assembly Square, setting up a tent camp. Shortly after, it was replicated by another tent camp, a few hundred meters away, in front of Parliament, organized by the pro-Russian parties. Between the first rally in February and September, demands have evolved from investigation of the billion dollar theft to demanding the resignation of the general prosecutor. The lack of reaction from the establishment, not impressed by the greatest wave of protest, radicalized the mob that demanded in September the resignation of the government and of the President. The political crisis erupted after October 15, when the former PM Filat’s immunity was lifted by the Parliament and the Streleț government was brought down by a censure motion. The most controversial public personality in Moldova, oligarch Vladimir Plakhotniuk wanted to became PM which generated a new wave of protests in Chișinău. Plakhotniuk created a new majority in the Parliament for promoting his candidacy, but President Timofti refused to nominate the controversial oligarch. In the very last moment, Mr. Pavel Filip, a close associate of Plakhotniuk, was nominated and voted by the Parliament as the PM of the Republic of Moldova.
Keywords
Platform for Dignity and Truth Party, oligarch Plakhotniuk, captive state, the stolen billion, Victoria Nuland.
ARMAND GOȘU, Associate Professor, Faculty of Political Science, University of Bucharest, armand.gosu@fpsub.unibuc.ro
LESYA DORОSH, YARYNA TURCHYN, Alternative New Collective Security Models. Options for Countries of Eastern Europe (pp. 53-67)
Abstract
The article dwells upon suggestions concerning the creation of new security systems which would include states under the threat of probable attack from an aggressor at the new stage of establishing the global international order. The analysis and survey was carried out in order to demonstrate the level of public support concerning Ukraine’s membership in NATO and its probability. It is alleged that, under the condition that the alliance directly borders with Ukraine and in the context of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, appropriate response to this conflict in particular and the situation in the Euro-Atlantic and global security space in general is of significant importance. The article proves the necessity of a common strategic approach to security in the European space, especially vital for Central and Eastern Europe. The article is an attempt to define possible ways of Ukraine’s effective cooperation with NATO and Eastern European countries, taking into consideration differences in the views of NATO members and certain European states on developments related to the latest threats, aggression and behaviour of the Russian Federation. The necessity to take the liberty in launching the creation of a new security system and actively participate in its formation along with other states in the region is proven.
Keywords
Collective defence, NATO, conflict in Donbass, Ukraine, national security, alliance.
LESYA DORОSH, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, National University “Lviv Polytechnic”, Ukraine, lesua3@yandex.ua
YARYNA TURCHYN, Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine, turchynj@ukr.net
CHRISTIAN WEVELSIEP, Die Gewaltfähigkeit des modernen Staates. Über das Verhältnis von Staat und Krieg (Power and Violence of the Modern State. The Relationship between State and War) (pp. 69-84)
Abstract
In the centre of this reflection stands the radical change of the state in the modern age. We argue that the ability of the state to use power in its external relations has been distorted in a particular manner, and a new form of power appears as a signature of the modern age. This ability is to be described as a new category of the political. Hence, our argument will revolve around the following question: to what extent the connection of state and war can be led back? The following criteria must be considered: the forms of the organisation of violence, the means of violence, and finally the specific consciousness of violence.
Keywords
Modern state, war, power, violence, monopole of power, politics.
CHRISTIAN WEVELSIEP, External Lecturer of Political Sociology, Free University of Berlin, FamilieWevelsiep@t-online.de
ANDRADA CREȚANU, Charles de Gaulle et le Moyen Orient après 1967. La lecture des événements politiques et leur influence sur la prise de position de De Gaulle en 1967 (Charles de Gaulle and the Middle Est after 1967. Understanding the Political events and their Influence on Charles de Gaulle's Stance in 1967) (pp. 85-120)
Abstract
In 1958, during the Algerian crisis, the return of General de Gaulle to power had a significant impact on the conduct of Franco-Israeli relations. Thus, after the Algerian independence completed in 1962, Gaullist policy moved towards the restoration of the old relations of “friendship and cooperation” with the Arab world, in line with “his reason and his feelings”. This change of direction is noticeable in 1967, when France is the only Western country to have taken a critical stance toward Israel during the Six-day war. The position of the president of the Republic is, however, heavily criticized in France as in Israel, considering it even the rehabilitation of anti-Semitism. In this context, what interests us is the reconstruction of the stages of this change of course in foreign policy from the Algerian war, passing by the Viet Nam war and the Six-day war. Starting from the famous speech about the Six-day war, this analysis proposes to explain the attitude of the General towards the Hebrew State, not as proof of anti-Semitism or change in foreign policy, but as an evolution in terms of political thought, embodied in the different key-concepts for the Gaullist policy in general: occupation, self-determination, immigration, and the great intervention.
Keywords
French foreign policy, Charles de Gaulle, Gaullism, Six-Day war, Franco-Arab relations, Franco-Israeli relations.
ANDRADA CREȚANU, PhD Candidate in Political Science, University of Bordeaux, France, cretanu.andrada@gmail.com
LOTFI SOUR, Understanding Political Islam in Algeria. Experiences, Past and Present (pp. 121-137)
Abstract
This paper addresses the issue of the political Islam which has a long history in Algeria, since the link between Islam and politics is not a new phenomenon in contemporary Algeria. The various resistance movements against the French Colonization gained justification not only in the name of Algeria but also of Islam. Thus, Algeria's specific historical experience largely determined the timing and particular nature of its own Islamist movement. This article attempts to trace the modern origins of the Islamist movement from the role Islam played in resistance to French colonial rule, to contemporary Algeria which is a key test case for the role of Islam in politics and its influence on both internal and external policies. Aside from analyzing the politicoreligious landscape in Algeria and the relationship between the state and religion, the paper also examines how Algerian Islamism has evolved into transnational terrorism under the light of the analytical background.
Keywords
Islamism, Algeria, political Islam, Islamic parties, radicalization.
LOTFI SOUR, Assistant professor, Political Sciences Department, Mustapha Stambouli University of Mascara, Algeria, lotfi.sour@univ-mascara.dz
BOGDAN ALEXANDRU DUCA, Proprietatea în doctrina socială catolică. Magisteriu şi praxis (Property in the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church. Magisterium and Praxis) (pp.139-155)
Abstract
This article is following the evolution of the understanding of the concept of “property” in the Catholic Church’s social doctrine, during a period of 120 years, starting with the pontificate of Leo XIII and ending with the one of Pope Benedict XVI. Being about the various understandings related to the concept of “property” in the Church’s social doctrine, only the official discourse of the popes will be followed (magisterium) together with the input brought by the Second Vatican Council in interpreting and defining the concept.
Keywords
Social doctrine, property, Catholic Church, social magisterium, distributism.
BOGDAN ALEXANDRU DUCA, Researcher, Center for Studies “Constantin Noica”, Bucharest, albogdanduca@gmail.com
MARY LOUISE ROBERTS, What Soldiers Do: Sex and the American GI in World War II France, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2013 (CONSTANTIN ALIN THEODOR) (pp. 159-161)