Suchergebnisse

This paper analyzes the features of formation of the deputy corps of the representative bodies in Tatarstan with an emphasis on gender. In the focus of the study were the election campaign of the President of Tatarstan and the federal, regional and local elections. The conclusion is made about a not enough developed gender-sensitive policy in the republic.
Оксана Красильникова; Красильникова, Оксана

Der Autor legt in diesem Einführungsbeitrag zu dem Sammelband die verbindenden Fragen und Forschungskonzepte dar. Gemeinsam ist allen Beiträgen die Frage nach den Formen, in denen sich Zusammenhänge zwischen der jeweiligen Sozialstruktur und den politischen Konflikten historisch in verschiedenen europäischen Gesellschaften ausprägten. Nach dem Verweis auf die Einbindung in die Forschungstradition der historisch-politischen Soziologie und in die Eliteforschung wird gezeigt, daß erst seit ein paar Jahren eine intertemporal-interkulturelle Erforschung der Genese und des Wandels der politischen Konfliktstrukturen in West- und Mitteleuropa empirisch verfolgt werden kann. Ermöglicht wird dies durch das methodische Instrument der Mehrebenenanalyse, das heißt, einer den "ökologischen Fehlschluß" überwindenden Analyse, in der Aggregatdaten (auf der Ebene regionaler Einheiten) mit Individualdaten (Abstimmungsverhalten in Parlamenten bei namentlicher Abstimmung) verknüpft werden. Es wird dargestellt, daß sich die Beiträge des Sammelbandes an einer Theorietradition orientieren und eine Forschungsrichtung dokumentieren, deren Schlüsselbegriffe "Spannungslinien" (Cleavages) und "Milieus" sind. Abschließend werden die fünf Phasen des "Lebenszyklus" der Cleavages, vier Variablenkomplexe der Cleavagestruktur, die Variablenbeziehungen und Untersuchungskategorien für eine Analyse des Zusammenhangs zwischen Sozialsystem und Machtorganisation dargestellt. (ICF)

The paper "Israel in the European neighborhood policy" attempts to explain the importance of the relation EU-Israel for the security of the European Union, but also for the global security. This task will be accomplished by analyzing basic documents vital for European political architecture, such as the European Security Strategy, Strategy Paper for Israel for the period 2007-2013, or EU/Israel Action Plan. The speeches of members of European Commission about the relation of EU with Israel are also important sources of the present paper, bringing valuable ideas who successfully complete the content of EU-Israel treaties. This paper attempts, also, to explain the functionning and the role of European neighborhood policy, its principles of action and objectives and, later on, to analyse the importance of Israel as a country found in the proximity of European Union. The reason for choosing Israel from all the other neighbors of the European Union, as subjects of European neighborhood policy, was the common values reflected in tradition and culture of the Jews from Israel and of the Europeans, enhanced by the European Jewry Heritage from Europe. We consider that the relationship between European Union and Israel is very normal and useful.
Among the priorities of action established by the two parts as a consequence of European Union-Israel treaties, we would like to point out the assignment to fight against anti-Semitism and against terrorist actions. The Jewish people are a people who passed through a lot of difficulties and inconveniences during history and through a great tragedy during the Holocaust. Israel represents the refuge they longed for centuries and democratic states do support Israeli aspiration towards having their own fatherland. Anti-Semitism increased now in the Arab world being the consequence of the conflicts between Palestinians and Israelites in the last decades. Some times it can take the form of terrorist action and hence the connection with terrorist networks. The fight against terrorism is not strictly connected with anti-Semitism; terrorist networks are acting more and more widely, including actions versus western civilization. So it is both in the interest of Europeans and Israel to act against the ones who put in danger the basic human values. Both Israel and European Union and United States also, have to reconsider their relation with Arab world whose aggression increased as being home for numerous extremist and terrorist Islamic movements. Terrorism is the present day threat and not a global war. But terrorism can cause much more damage than a war as affecting the entire world and mainly civilians. No place can be safe enough when confronting with such a threat. But the treaties between Israel and European Union have also economic, social, political, security related objectives. They have at their base the common values that Israel and European Union countries share: democracy, human rights and respect for fundamental freedoms. They wish to create more prosperous and secure countries. And they open European economy to Israeli participation. Strenghtening the economic ties between Israel and European Union, all sectors of cooperation will be strenghtened because economic interest is at the basis of long term relations. The method of work will be critical interpretation of the documents concerning European neighbourhood policy and its connection to Israel. The purpose is to understand the written base of EU and Israel relations as a precondition for further possible analysis of the diplomatic relations and politics of the two entities. Our position is to encourage the relationship between Israel and European Union. Israel and the European Union countries are united through historical ties as Jews from whole Europe contributed after 1948 to the creation and development of the Israelian state. Their relationship appears us very normal and an expected result.

The article presents theoretical and methodical grounds for identification of the subject of public opinion. The author finds out that functional features of public opinion determine the features of subjects too. These features tell about the subject range, structure, how it is organized, how it exerts influence on human behavior and activity of the social institutions which have the status of public opinion object.

In seiner ethnographischen Untersuchung der Art und Weise, wie in Asylverfahren Entscheidungen getroffen werden, bezieht sich der Autor auf seinen halbjährigen Feldaufenthalt beim Bundesamt für die Anerkennung ausländischer Flüchtlinge (BAFI) und legt seiner Fallrekonstruktion eine Vielzahl von Anhörungsprotokollen, Bescheiden, Handreichungen des BAFI sowie eigene Feldnotizen, Mitschriften, Interviews und transkribierte Anhörungen zugrunde. Er beschreibt die amtliche Prüfdiagnostik im Asylverfahren in drei Schritten: Er zeigt zunächst, welche "legitimen" Anforderungen, z.B. die Forderung von Teilnehmer- und Mitgliedschaftskompetenz, an den Prüfling gestellt werden. Diese Anforderungsprofile produzieren das Material für eine Reihe von Tests, die sich anhand der Selbst- und Fremdreferenz des Prüfwissens unterscheiden lassen und die anschließend in den Blick genommen werden. Hier wird gezeigt, dass die Asylprüfung wie eine Testreihe funktioniert und als "Falsifikationsverfahren" von künstlich produzierten Aussagen konzipiert wird. Im dritten Abschnitt wird das Urteilsvermögen des Entscheiders kritisch hinterfragt und eine "chronisch knappe Urteilskraft" diagnostiziert. Die beobachtete Tendenz zur Selbstbezogenheit der Asylprüfung lässt vor diesem Hintergrund erkennen, dass sie die Urteilskraft auf Seiten "unwissender" Prüfer generiert und die Prüfung "verschult". (ICI2)

Examines past & present religious & political fundamentalism in Japan & assesses its societal impact. Central to the analysis are the institutional (expressed in religious & political structures) & diffuse (general public awareness spread by mass media) aspects of these fundamentalisms. Japanese prewar political fundamentalism is described as expressing both these aspects as a civil religion founded & enforced by the government & spread through official religions, parareligious groups, & the media. The actions & ideologies of contemporary Japanese political fundamentalist groups, expressed in terrorist acts, legal challenges, textbook revision efforts, & nationalist sentiments, are analyzed. The growth & ideologies of Japan's pre-& post-WWII "new religions," which present alternatives to Shintoism & Buddhism, are discussed, arguing that these movements are more opportunistic than fundamentalist. While political fundamentalism has for the moment been limited to select, underground groups, the conditions for its success could arise again. Bibliog. T. Arnold

Argues that microanalytic & macroanalytic migration theories both tend to ignore the political dimension of international migrations. A political perspective approach to migration issues is offered that incorporates some of the most useful aspects of micro- & macro- theories by emphasizing the transfer of jurisdiction as the constitutive element of international migrations. International migration is viewed as a "deviance from the prevailing norm of social organization at the world level." It is suggested that international migration can best be understood as a social phenomenon that includes tension between the preferences of individuals & the interests of societies. Any thorough evaluation of the costs & benefits of migration requires an examination of both individual & collective accounts. The analytical ramifications of the political perspective are pointed out, noting that it is also an effective framework for analyzing the behavior of societies. The implications of the conflict between the freedom to leave deprived regions of the world & the freedom of more fortunate countries to preserve their favorable endowment by restricting entry are discussed. J. Lindroth

Argues that microanalytic & macroanalytic migration theories both tend to ignore the political dimension of international migrations. A political perspective approach to migration issues is offered that incorporates some of the most useful aspects of micro- & macro- theories by emphasizing the transfer of jurisdiction as the constitutive element of international migrations. International migration is viewed as a "deviance from the prevailing norm of social organization at the world level." It is suggested that international migration can best be understood as a social phenomenon that includes tension between the preferences of individuals & the interests of societies. Any thorough evaluation of the costs & benefits of migration requires an examination of both individual & collective accounts. The analytical ramifications of the political perspective are pointed out, noting that it is also an effective framework for analyzing the behavior of societies. The implications of the conflict between the freedom to leave deprived regions of the world & the freedom of more fortunate countries to preserve their favorable endowment by restricting entry are discussed. J. Lindroth

Characterizing various approaches according to "elective affinities" shared in practice, considered is how historical institutionalism defines research agendas & develops explanations. Substantive agendas, temporal arguments (historical process), & attention to context & configuration characterize historical institutionalism; these aspects are detailed to identify distinctive core strategies & discern the advantages & limits of the approach relative to others employed in empirical political science. In conclusion, broad issues of empirical research method & strategies of knowledge cumulation are addressed. J. Zendejas

"This paper reviews research on the role of communication in political socialization. Starting from a basic definition the impact of different agents (family, peers, school, mass media) and communicative processes (interpersonal vs. mass communication) on various outcomes of political socialization (i.e. political knowledge, norms and values, attitudes, participation) is discussed. It is argued that research has amply demonstrated the role of media and communication as agents of socialization. However, the paper highlights that changes in parental generations, the media landscape, and in adolescents themselves provide good reason to revisit questions of how communication impacts how adolescents develop into citizens in democratic societies. Finally, the chapter addresses several aspects that researchers should consider in their future work on political socialization." (publisher's description).

"This paper reviews research on the role of communication in political socialization. Starting from a basic definition the impact of different agents (family, peers, school, mass media) and communicative processes (interpersonal vs. mass communication) on various outcomes of political socialization (i.e. political knowledge, norms and values, attitudes, participation) is discussed. It is argued that research has amply demonstrated the role of media and communication as agents of socialization. However, the paper highlights that changes in parental generations, the media landscape, and in adolescents themselves provide good reason to revisit questions of how communication impacts how adolescents develop into citizens in democratic societies. Finally, the chapter addresses several aspects that researchers should consider in their future work on political socialization." (publisher's description)

The relevance of Alexis de Tocqueville's assessment of the American media for studying the media in the contemporary US is examined. Tocqueville's assertion that the newspaper media encourages the establishment of collective identity & facilitates collective action is reviewed. Several aspects of Tocqueville's evaluation of the American media that are contradicted by developments since the 1830s are identified; although contemporary newspapers & media outlets generate significant revenues compared to their 19th century counterparts, it is stressed that creating a newspaper or media outlet is much more difficult than during the 1830s. Nevertheless, multiple facets of Tocqueville's treatment of the American press that remain relevant are noted; for instance, Tocqueville correctly noted newspapers' capacity to influence Americans' psychological dispositions. It is subsequently asserted that the amalgamation of popular culture & media commercialization has engendered a form of "soft tyranny" among the present-day American media. Articles that examine additional aspects of political communication are also introduced. J. W. Parker