Suchergebnisse

This study of the education system of the Russian Federation is part of the handbook "The education systems of Europe" which presents an analytical description of the education systems of all European countries, following common guidelines. The study begins with the historical background and the socio-cultural and political context of the Russian educational system which is followed by the description of the organizational and administrative context of the current education system. The next step is the functioning of the current education system, beginning with a structural overview and followed by an analysis of the different levels of the education system, including post-secondary and tertiary education. The country study ends with an analysis of current problems and discussions, and opens perspectives for further development. A diagram illustrating the structural scheme of the Russian educational system is part of this article. (DIPF/Orig./Kie.).

Since the 1990s, there has been considerable debate about the feasibility & desirability of establishing Euro-parties as a way to allow voters in European Union member states to express their opinions regarding EU policy. The idea is not new, dating back to the 1970s when three 'transnational party federations' were established in expectation of their necessity in an EC-level party political democracy: the Confederation of Socialist Parties of the EC, the Federation of Liberal & Democratic Parties of the EC, & the European People's Party, which federated the Christian Democratic parties. However, the federations never gained a sustainable level of power. The history of this effort is recounted, demonstrating the federations', & subsequently the parties', membership, organization, & systemic functionality. A mix of two models of party-based democracy is suggested to be the most viable political party system for the EU today: European domestic party systems & the American-style competitive system. Tables, References. J. Stanton

"Ukraine and the European Union" published on by Oxford University Press.

Investigates transnational links between European political parties & political groups in the European Parliament using the party-theoretical conception of arenas developed by G. Sjoblom (1968). Transnational party organizations are conceived as networks with vertical linkages that are amalgams of national subunits, such that party behavior at the European level is determined by negotiation of the interests, concerns, & strategies of subunits in the internal party arena. Analysis of transnational party performance in elections of the European Parliament indicates that they have failed to live up to their role of bringing a transnational dimension to those elections. Moreover, in political negotiations within the European Parliament, it is suggested that the influence of transnational parties has made the Parliament less fragmented but more bipolarized, as consensus is reached only in very large groupings that encompass broad ideological clashes. It is argued that, while the formation of genuine supranational European parties is difficult to predict, the analogy between party organizations of federal political systems & transnational party federations is helpful in making sense of this process. 1 Appendix, 145 References. D. M. Smith

Despite their markedly different origins, the US & the EU embody two systems that are more or less designed to serve the identical objective: the union of distinct polities in a shared endeavor within an overarching authoritative framework. The essence of their respective systems is in one case federal & the other confederal. How each became a world model of its type of union is explored in terms of historical development & political philosophy; debates over federation, confederation, & constitutionalism; the structure of subsidiarity; the influence (in the EU) of the Roman Catholic Church, or "Catholic federalism"; & the expansion of federal & confederal arrangements. The closing sections consider implications for democracy, the impact of the French tradition on the formation of the EU, & challenges arising from the EU's confederalism compared to the US system. K. Coddon

A comparative analysis of the influence of global & regional integration upon institutional arrangements, political identities, & political stability in federal political systems is performed. Scrutiny of the impact of global & regional integration upon federal institutional arrangements in Australia, Canada, the European Union, Germany, India, South Africa, Switzerland, & the US revealed that only the European Union experienced substantial formal reform & that Australia, Germany, & India underwent minor formal & informal reform. It is subsequently revealed that only the federalist political system of the European Union produced new transnational identities. Moreover, it is asserted that the political equilibrium within the aforementioned nations has been relatively stable & that there is no common trend toward centralization or decentralization within those countries. A framework constructed upon two axes -- the concentration of global power & the expansion of existing regulations -- is then introduced to comprehend the future effects of global & regional integration upon federal political systems. 1 Figure, 21 References. J. W. Parker

Explores why the distinctive form of European constitutional federalism articulates not only its most unique political strength but also its most profound values. A formal constitution is not an efficacious redress to other challenges such as the matter of competences. An anecdote concerning submission, virtue & obedience, & emancipation is followed by a normative analysis of the European constitutional structure. In particular, the concept & praxis of tolerance, which undergirds European constitutionalism, is examined. The distinction between European & "non-European" is inescapable, determined at least by numbers. But just as in the realm of high politics integration has shaped a different norm of intergovernmental relations, so can it shape a different mode of public relations with aliens under the present form of constitutional federation. K. Coddon

"Federalism as a Theory of Regional Integration" published on by Oxford University Press.

The question of whether global & regional integration processes will render Switzerland more amenable to European regional integration is addressed. It is contended that Switzerland's linguistic diversity has historically been characterized by relative harmony; institutional features of the Swiss federal political system that contributed to peaceful relations between groups that speak different languages are highlighted, eg, the full participation of Swiss cantons in federal politics. Nevertheless, a strong correlation between the increased tension between different language groups & global & regional integration processes is noted. Indeed, it is speculated that globalization & regionalization could encourage cantons that are composed predominantly of French-, German-, or Italian-speakers to pursue greater political autonomy. It is speculated that global governance schemes based on Harvey Lazar et al.'s (2003) cyberwave & shared governance scenarios would best preserve Swiss federalism. 12 References. J. W. Parker