Suchergebnisse

The aim of the presented paper is to frame specific alternatives for the regional reform of the second chamber of the Czech legislature on the basis of a comparative analysis of regional second chambers in Western Europe. The similarities and differences between second chambers of parliament in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and France are identified (with respect to their historical origin, the method of election, size, political composition, constitutional powers, relation to the first chamber and relation to the executive branch of power). Also the strength of the second chambers is analyzed and the chambers are put on Lijphart's typological scale according to the criteria of congruence and symmetry. The analysis is then the source for two main alternatives for the possible regional reform of the Czech Senate - representative regional reform and functional regional reform. Adapted from the source document.

The spatial polarisation of society is open to various research perspectives. It takes several forms and involves various epiphenomena. Consequently, it is the subject of research interest to scholars in various fi elds, especially sociologists, economists, regionalists, and regional geographers. The article focuses on selected aspects of peripherality and peripheral regions. The first part is devoted to the theoretical aspects of the polarisation of society, developmental interactions between the centre and the periphery, the relationship between peripherality and levels of hierarchy, peripherality and time, and the primary criteria of peripherality in inland and borderland regions. The second part applies theoretical-methodological findings to regions of Slovakia using selected quantitative methods. The author attempts to describe peripherality in multidimensional terms, and to identify the interconnections between various types of peripherality. Based on detailed statistical data on municipalities, he uses a broad range of indicators divided into four groups: human resources, economic potential, personal amenities, and access to centres. In conclusion the author identifies and categorises the peripheral regions of Slovakia and notes the existence of peripherality at regional and local levels.

"The aim of this paper is to introduce one of the classical sociological research conducted by Paul F. Lazarsfeld and Elihu Katz in the city of Decatur (Illinois) in the Midwest of United States in 1955. The subject of the research was nonformal everyday interpersonal influence in areas of marketing, fashion, public affairs and movie going and the object was the population of women older 16 years (n = 718). By means of indicators of life cycle, social status and gregariousness the research report describes the profiles of opinion leaders in given areas and provides an answer to question if the two step flow of communication hypotheses is applicable in mentioned spheres of social life." (author's abstract)