This article addresses the deficiency in the area of human rights scholarship in International Relations (IR) by examining the theoretical advancements in IR theory that have led to the emergence of non-state collective actors as a pertinent research topic. It provides a review of the trajectory of the constructivist theoretical approach, which has brought major advancements in how international non-state actors are conceptualised in the human rights IR literature. This considers the limitations and implications of side-lining collective non-state actors within IR theory, arguing that expanding the theoretical understanding of how different collective actors are constituted and attributed with agency can enrich IR human rights scholarship. The article also proposes a potential way forward with respect to non-state collective actors in human rights in IR by identifying a research programme based on practiceoriented approaches to help broaden the ability of scholars to foster interdisciplinary conversations. Expanding along these lines would bridge the existing boundaries within scholarly and disciplinary contexts. Keywords: non-state actors, state-centrism, collectives, international relations, human rights, international actors, constructivism
Erasmus+ je program Evropske Unije (EU) na področju izobraževanja, usposabljanja, mladine in športa, ki omogoča mednarodno učno mobilnost. Tako Evropska komisija kot akademski strokovnjaki velikokrat navajajo Erasmus+ za uspešen primer evropske integracije in kot spodbujevalec evropske identitete. To magistrsko delo s pomočjo interpretativne paradigme poskuša osvetliti presečišče med teorijo evropskih integracij, vrednotenjem programa Erasmus+ in osmišljanjem evropske identitete. Analiza EU dokumentov je pokazala, da termin evropska identiteta izrazito nekonsistentno uporabljen znotraj upravljavskih organov EU. Poleg tega se je pomen evropske identitete, kakor jo je navzven predstavljala Skupnost, od sedemdesetih let prejšnjega stoletja naprej izrazito spreminjal. Prvotni zunanje-politični pomen je zamenjalo vrednotenje evropske identitete v odnosu do nacionalne države. Raziskave na področju vplivov programa Erasmus+ (oziroma mednarodne mobilnosti) na izgradnjo evropske identitete sicer prinašajo zelo različne rezultate, skoraj vse pa pesti problem metodološkega nacionalizma. Učinki programa Erasmus+ so sicer pozitivni, vendar težko ovrednoteni, saj so se od začetkov programa leta 1987 do danes drastično spreminjali. Opazna je neoliberalna logika prostega pretoka delovne sile v smislu spodbujanja mednarodne mobilnosti in posledično izgrajevanja konkurenčnega trga delovne sile na katerem štejejo kompetence posameznika/ posameznice. ; Erasmus+ is the European Union's (the EU) programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport, which enables international learning mobility. Both the European Commission and academic experts often cite Erasmus+ as a successful example of European integration and as a facilitator of a European identity. This thesis seeks to illuminate the intersection between the theory of European integration, the evaluation of the Erasmus + programme and European identity. This is done with interpretive paradigm. An analysis of the EU' documents has shown that the term European identity is used in a highly inconsistent way within the EU's bodies. In addition, the meaning of European identity, as initially represented by the Community, has changed markedly since the 1970s. The original meaning reflected the foreign policy aspirations of the Community ; later this was replaced with the emphasis of European identity in relation to the nation-state. Research in the field of measuring the impact of the Erasmus+ programme (or international mobility) on the construction of the European identity brings a variety of results. The common problem of such research is the one of methodological nationalism. The effects of the Erasmus+ programme are positive, but difficult to evaluate, as they have changed drastically since the beginning of the programme in 1987. The neoliberal logic behind the free movement of labour is noticeable, especially in the light of boosting international mobility to create a competitive labour market, where one's competencies are all that matters.
The monograph deals with identities in Slovenia at the time of current breaks and turbulences. The first part of the monograph addresses the majority identities; first, European identity at the time of the rise of nationalism, and then Slovenian national identity in the context of the economic crisis and new populist policies in Europe and beyond. In the second part, the authors deal with minority identities - from religious and ethnic to sexual - that place them in the time span from Slovenia's accession to the EU until the time of the economic crisis, the rise of populism and neoconservative policies. In the third section, minority identities are placed in the context of culture, which is one of the important elements of identity construction and preservation.--Publisher's website
Obnovljivi viri energije so viri prihodnosti. Hidroenergija je pomemben obnovljiv vir energije, treba pa je vzeti v zakup, da ima izgradnja hidroelektrarne določen vpliv na okolje. Slovenija na področju rabe električne energije še zdaleč ni samozadostna in je v veliki meri odvisna od uvoza. V Sloveniji imamo velik potencial pri obnovljivih virih energije, vendar ga na žalost premalo izkoriščamo, predvsem zaradi različnih birokratskih oziroma slabo argumentiranih razlogov. Eden večjih, premalo izkoriščenih obnovljivih virov energije je tudi hidroenergija. Reka Sava je naša najdaljša reka, ki je energetsko že izkoriščena v zgornjem in spodnjem delu, srednji del pa je trenutno energetsko neizkoriščen. Predvideva se gradnja verige hidroelektrarn na srednji Savi, v nalogi sem ekonomsko preučil gradnjo prvih treh hidroelektrarn v verigi, in sicer HE Suhadol, HE Trbovlje in HE Renke. Vse tri obravnavane HE so pretočno-akumulacijskega tipa. V nalogi sem finančno ovrednotil prihodke od prodaje električne energije in odhodke, vezane na financiranje naložbe ter samo obratovanje. Naložba izkazuje pozitivne ekonomsko merljive kazalnike, prav tako interna stopnja donosnosti presega določeno z uredbo. V nalogi je za naložbo izdelana tudi analiza občutljivosti za najpomembnejše parametre. Naložba je vsekakor ekonomsko opravičljiva in potrebna za zagotovitev energetske neodvisnosti in hkrati za izpolnitev obljube o samozadostnosti. Treba se je zavedati, da neizpolnjevanje obljube EU o rabi obnovljivih virov energije, pomeni plačevanje kazni, ki pa vsekakor ni zanemarljiva. ; Renewable energy sources are the sources of the future. Hydropower is an important resource, but we have to keep in mind that the construction of a hydroelectric power plant has a certain environmental impact. Slovenia is still far from being self-sufficient in the field of the use of electrical energy and largely depends on imports. Our country has a great potential for renewable energy sources, but they are unfortunately underutilized, mainly for various bureaucratic reasons. One of the larger underutilized renewables is hydropower. River Sava is our longest river and is already being exploited for energy in the upper and lower part, but the middle is still neglected and currently underutilized. There is a plan of a construction of a chain of hydroelectric power plants in the middle Sava region. In my thesis, I economically examined the construction of the first three power plants in the chain, namely HPP Suhadol, HPP Trbovlje and HPP Renke. All three considered are of the flow-reservoir type. In the assignment, I financially evaluated the revenue from the sale of the electricity and included the expenses, related to the financing of the investment, and the operation itself. The investment shows positive economically measurable indicators and the internal rate of return exceeds the stipulated by the regulation as well. The thesis also includes a sensitivity analysis for the most important parameters. In any case, the investment is economically viable and necessary for ensuring energy independence, while fulfilling the promise of self-sufficiency. It is crucial to keep in mind that failure to deliver on the EU's promise to use renewable sources means paying penalties, which is certainly not insignificant.
The Law Amending the General Administrative Procedure Act refers to a variety of provisions. New solutions should contribute to a more rapid, more efficient and more cost-effective procedure. Primarily due to elimination of the inconsistent use of individual provisions in practice, the amending law regulates more definitely the issues of authorizing the persons to manage and make decisions at different decision-making levels in administrative procedures in municipalities. The law also develops electronic operations and it especially amends the electronic service provisions. There is a fairly large number of amendments in the Service Chapter. And an important novelty needs to be emphasized. This is the institute of the waiver of the right to appeal which the General Administrative Procedure Act did not know. However, it is well-known in foreign legal regulations and in the Construction Act adopted in our country. Adapted from the source document.
A comparative study of housing policy & conditions in five European Union (EU) member states: the UK, Germany, Sweden, Spain, & Slovenia. Similarities & differences are demonstrated in a discussion of the housing regulations enacted in each country & in a series of quantitative tables illustrating: (1) rentals vs private ownership, (2) government-subsidized housing, (3) availability of homes/apartments for rent/ownership, (4) private-government housing agencies, (5) rent control laws, (6) home ownership, (7) average housing standards & quality data (eg, dwelling size & amenities), (8) annual housing unit construction, (9) house/apartment prices, (10) housing affordability index, & (11) housing debt (eg, mortgage debt per capita/GDP). It is concluded that unlike in the older EU members, with clearly detectable trends of housing value appreciation, decline, or stagnation, the housing situation in Slovenia seems to be erratic with illogical price fluctuations that are not explainable in terms of clearly identifiable factors. Adapted from the source document.
This article deals with the problems Foucault's work is faced with when entering its later phase. The analysis of discontinuities in history is replaced by an analysis of continuities in subjectifying sexuality. If in the first part of The History of Sexuality the subject was still the effect of power relations, the latter two parts introduce the possibility of the subject of mastery over pleasures, which can only affect politics through ethics. In analyzing the late Foucault & two contemporary authors inspired by his work, namely Judith Butler & Giorgio Agamben, we assert that Foucault's project encounters difficulties precisely at the point where it is supposed to be the strongest: thinking the ruptures & the excesses in both the flux of power relations as well as on the level of the singularity of enjoyment. Why can he not cope with this in a different manner than by animating the antique subject of "the care of the self," which searches for its consistency in self-control? Instead of resorting to the virtues of moderation, why does he not rather deal with the problems of the discontinued subject with the construction of a subject that would subjectify the discontinuity itself? Adapted from the source document.
V današnjem času se soočamo s številnimi varnostnimi grožnjami, med katerimi se pojavljajo tudi naravne nesreče, (ne)nalezljive bolezni ter lakota in žeja. Vpliv na manifestacijo teh groženj je moč posredno ali neposredno pripisati tudi stanju v našem okolju. V Evropi Zahodni Balkan izstopa s slabšim stanjem okolja in z višjo stopnjo okoljske degradacije v primerjavi s preostalimi regijami na kontinentu. V tem magistrskem delu sem preučeval stanje okolja v državah Zahodnega Balkana ter njegovo povezavo z varnostno paradigmo. Pri tem sem uporabil kombinacijo različnih raziskovalnih metod: analiza primarnih in sekundarnih virov, deskriptivna metoda, metoda primerjalne analize ter analiza statističnih podatkov. Prek analize sem ugotovil povezanost med stanjem okolja in varnostnimi grožnjami. Najvišjo stopnjo ogrožanja zaradi stanja okolja sta po indikatorjih imeli BiH in Črna gora, medtem ko sta najnižjo stopnjo ogrožanja zaradi stanja okolja imeli Severna Makedonija in Albanija. Pozitivni del okoljske varnostne paradigme Zahodnega Balkana, v primerjavi s preteklostjo, so zvišanje kakovosti vodnih virov ; gradnja sanitarne, vodne in okolju prijazne energetske infrastrukture, ter izboljšanje pravnih in regulativnih okvirjev za zaščito in varovanje okolja. Kljub napredku se Zahodni Balkan še vedno sooča z nekaterimi okoljskimi izzivi, kot so slabo stanje ozračja, slabo upravljanje z odpadki, ter slaba implementacija okoljskih strategij in pravnih aktov. Države Zahodnega Balkana bodo tako v prihodnosti morale še veliko postoriti za izboljšanje stanja svojega okolja, s čimer bi se znižala ogroženost ljudi, ki na tem prostoru živijo. ; We are currently facing numerous security threats, including natural disasters, diseases, hunger, and thirst. Some of the influence for the manifestation of these threats can be ascribed, either directly or indirectly, to the condition of our environment. In Europe, the region of the Western Balkans stands out as being in one of the worst environmental conditions and having some of the worst levels of environmental degradation, when compared to other regions. In this Master's thesis I studied the condition of the environment in the states of the Western Balkans and its connection with the security paradigm. I utilised the following research methods: primary and secondary source analysis, descriptive method, comparative analysis, and statistical analysis. Through this analysis I established the connection between the condition of the environment and security threats. According to the indicators, the two states with the highest security risk due to environmental conditions were Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, while the two states which had the lowest risk were North Macedonia and Albania. The positive parts of the environmental security paradigm of the Western Balkans, when compared to the past, are the increase in the quality of water sources, the construction of sanitation and water treatment infrastructure, the construction of environmentally friendly energy infrastructure, and the improvement of legal and regulatory frameworks for the protection of the environment. Despite this progress, the Western Balkans are still facing problems such as poor air quality, inadequate waste management, and poor implementation of environmental strategies and legal acts. The states of the Western Balkans, therefore, still have a long way to go in order to improve the condition of their environment, which would also lower the security threat to the people who live in the region.