Suchergebnisse

This paper investigates the implications of the rentier theory thesis to the political changes in a rentier state. First of all, it is clear that in the current analyses of the Middle Eastern societies a dominant theme is the search for democratization. This paper challenges this view by arguing that such approach leads to the analytical (and sometimes practical) dead end. To investigate the processes in the Middle East, we should direct our focus to regime stability without having democracy prerequisites involved in our analysis. The theory of a rientier state describes the state-society relations as dismissing the importance o taxation. Thus, receiving huge amounts of external rent, the regime is autonomous from the society. This will prevent any changes in the future, if no fiscal crisis occurs. Fiscal crisis may deter the autonomy of the regime and thus provoke the change in politics. It is clear that although useful, such view obscures the importance of internal changes in the regime. The Kuwait case study reveals that some groups (merchants) of the society were important before the oil. Contrary to the rentier state thesis, they were not coopted by the wealth provided by the regime. Moreover, other groups were supported by the ruling family to counterbalance the strength of the merchants. In the context of the fiscal and other external crises the interplay between these groups and the regime were vital to regime legitimacy as such. The analysis refutes the hypothesis that fiscal crisis leads to the efforts of society to change the regime.

This paper investigates the implications of the rentier theory thesis to the political changes in a rentier state. First of all, it is clear that in the current analyses of the Middle Eastern societies a dominant theme is the search for democratization. This paper challenges this view by arguing that such approach leads to the analytical (and sometimes practical) dead end. To investigate the processes in the Middle East, we should direct our focus to regime stability without having democracy prerequisites involved in our analysis. The theory of a rientier state describes the state-society relations as dismissing the importance o taxation. Thus, receiving huge amounts of external rent, the regime is autonomous from the society. This will prevent any changes in the future, if no fiscal crisis occurs. Fiscal crisis may deter the autonomy of the regime and thus provoke the change in politics. It is clear that although useful, such view obscures the importance of internal changes in the regime. The Kuwait case study reveals that some groups (merchants) of the society were important before the oil. Contrary to the rentier state thesis, they were not coopted by the wealth provided by the regime. Moreover, other groups were supported by the ruling family to counterbalance the strength of the merchants. In the context of the fiscal and other external crises the interplay between these groups and the regime were vital to regime legitimacy as such. The analysis refutes the hypothesis that fiscal crisis leads to the efforts of society to change the regime.

Democratisation and Europeanisation of Post-socialist states can be regarded as long-lasting and complex processes. Mainly because of fragmented development of statehood and subordination to external states with distinct nature, post-communist states face transformations which are marked with much wider capacity than classical transitologists expected them to be. According to the emerged situation, it enforces to take more accurate glance at the very specific nature of the post-communist state. The case of Moldova democratisation and europeanization perfectly suits these analytical aspirations. First of all, very weak background of Moldovan state determines emergence of distinct opinions about particular historical-cultural artifacts, statehood and possible trajectories of further state development. Division of opinions not only fragments approach towards national identity, but also exacerbates democratisation and europeanisation processes. Secondly, Moldova lacks not only the experience with statehood, but also faces political and normative heritage of ancient regimes. Because of that there are certain problems of implementing democratic values in Moldova. It means struggle with widespread corruption, as well as with the Soviet-style methods and practices. Namely the legacy of the Soviet system, such as a politically passive and apathetic population, authoritarian political aspirations shading with the formal mechanisms of democracy, the weak and poor democratic political culture - all of this undermines the country's democratisation and its European ambitions. Thirdly, Moldova is small post-soviet country, which geopolitically stands in the core of intersection between European Union and Russian interests. Because of that Moldova has to balance between two structural powers and respectively to design its further development path. Thus, the development of Moldova's democratisation and europeanisation is crucially dependent on two competing subjects, namely European Union and Russia, and their capacity to influence Moldova's political processes. In the context of transitology approach case study of Moldova reveals that internal design and external orientation of post-soviet state strongly depends on both, internal and external dynamics. Thus, post-communist transition can be regarded as much more complicated comparing with scholarly efforts to conceptualize transition processes that took place in Latin America or Southern Europe.

The article focuses on the question, which conception about the future Lithuanian state the members of the Taryba had and how these perceptions should be seen a century later. The beliefs of the Taryba will be shown in three central issues: the inner order of the future state, the relations with the neigbouring countries, the minority policy. ; Straipsnis nagrinėja klausimą, kokią Lietuvos Tarybos nariai įsivaizdavo Lietuvą būsiant ateityje ir kaip į šiuos jų įsivaizdavimus reikėtų žiūrėti praėjus šimtui metų. Straipsnyje aptariami Tarybos narių įsitikinimai trimis svarbiais klausimais: būsimos valstybės vidaus tvarka, santykiai su kaimyninėmis valstybėmis, valstybės politika mažumų atžvilgiu.

The Baltic States began implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs aimed at reducing the oncologic disease-related mortality. Several problems were encountered in the course of implementation of the prevention programs. Aim of the Thesis: to make an analysis of the problems encountered in the course of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs. Objectives of the Thesis: to reveal the meaning and effectiveness of the oncologic disease prevention programs and to describe the disease control measures in the context of the public health policy; to make an analysis of the current situation in the field of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs; to discover the problems encountered in the course of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs in Kaunas, Vilnius, Kėdainiai and Raseiniai Cities. In the first part of the Thesis, the health care policy concept was analysed and the fact that the treatment of the specific diseases was getting more attention in the sector of health care than the public health measures, i.e. prevention, allowing early detection of the diseases or removal of their causes. Many problems, such as the high rates of morbidity, mortality, expensive treatment, and etc. were encountered due this fact. We found out that the main problem impeding implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs was low funding of the oncologic disease prevention programs. However, the finances needed for the treatment of the diseases not always were sufficient; therefore, not every patient was receiving the high quality, innovative and timely services. Other important problems were arising due to the low funding as well, for example: scarce information about the prevention programs, low rate of participation in the prevention programs, and overemphasis on the treatment over prevention. In the second part of the Thesis, the current situation in the field of administration of the oncologic disease prevention programs in the Baltic States was analysed. The effectiveness of the prevention programs differed in the states of Lithuania and Latvia. Aim of the Thesis: to make an analysis of the problems encountered in the course of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs

The Baltic States began implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs aimed at reducing the oncologic disease-related mortality. Several problems were encountered in the course of implementation of the prevention programs. Aim of the Thesis: to make an analysis of the problems encountered in the course of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs. Objectives of the Thesis: to reveal the meaning and effectiveness of the oncologic disease prevention programs and to describe the disease control measures in the context of the public health policy; to make an analysis of the current situation in the field of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs; to discover the problems encountered in the course of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs in Kaunas, Vilnius, Kėdainiai and Raseiniai Cities. In the first part of the Thesis, the health care policy concept was analysed and the fact that the treatment of the specific diseases was getting more attention in the sector of health care than the public health measures, i.e. prevention, allowing early detection of the diseases or removal of their causes. Many problems, such as the high rates of morbidity, mortality, expensive treatment, and etc. were encountered due this fact. We found out that the main problem impeding implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs was low funding of the oncologic disease prevention programs. However, the finances needed for the treatment of the diseases not always were sufficient; therefore, not every patient was receiving the high quality, innovative and timely services. Other important problems were arising due to the low funding as well, for example: scarce information about the prevention programs, low rate of participation in the prevention programs, and overemphasis on the treatment over prevention. In the second part of the Thesis, the current situation in the field of administration of the oncologic disease prevention programs in the Baltic States was analysed. The effectiveness of the prevention programs differed in the states of Lithuania and Latvia. Aim of the Thesis: to make an analysis of the problems encountered in the course of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs

The Baltic States began implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs aimed at reducing the oncologic disease-related mortality. Several problems were encountered in the course of implementation of the prevention programs. Aim of the Thesis: to make an analysis of the problems encountered in the course of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs. Objectives of the Thesis: to reveal the meaning and effectiveness of the oncologic disease prevention programs and to describe the disease control measures in the context of the public health policy; to make an analysis of the current situation in the field of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs; to discover the problems encountered in the course of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs in Kaunas, Vilnius, Kėdainiai and Raseiniai Cities. In the first part of the Thesis, the health care policy concept was analysed and the fact that the treatment of the specific diseases was getting more attention in the sector of health care than the public health measures, i.e. prevention, allowing early detection of the diseases or removal of their causes. Many problems, such as the high rates of morbidity, mortality, expensive treatment, and etc. were encountered due this fact. We found out that the main problem impeding implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs was low funding of the oncologic disease prevention programs. However, the finances needed for the treatment of the diseases not always were sufficient; therefore, not every patient was receiving the high quality, innovative and timely services. Other important problems were arising due to the low funding as well, for example: scarce information about the prevention programs, low rate of participation in the prevention programs, and overemphasis on the treatment over prevention. In the second part of the Thesis, the current situation in the field of administration of the oncologic disease prevention programs in the Baltic States was analysed. The effectiveness of the prevention programs differed in the states of Lithuania and Latvia. Aim of the Thesis: to make an analysis of the problems encountered in the course of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs

The Baltic States began implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs aimed at reducing the oncologic disease-related mortality. Several problems were encountered in the course of implementation of the prevention programs. Aim of the Thesis: to make an analysis of the problems encountered in the course of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs. Objectives of the Thesis: to reveal the meaning and effectiveness of the oncologic disease prevention programs and to describe the disease control measures in the context of the public health policy; to make an analysis of the current situation in the field of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs; to discover the problems encountered in the course of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs in Kaunas, Vilnius, Kėdainiai and Raseiniai Cities. In the first part of the Thesis, the health care policy concept was analysed and the fact that the treatment of the specific diseases was getting more attention in the sector of health care than the public health measures, i.e. prevention, allowing early detection of the diseases or removal of their causes. Many problems, such as the high rates of morbidity, mortality, expensive treatment, and etc. were encountered due this fact. We found out that the main problem impeding implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs was low funding of the oncologic disease prevention programs. However, the finances needed for the treatment of the diseases not always were sufficient; therefore, not every patient was receiving the high quality, innovative and timely services. Other important problems were arising due to the low funding as well, for example: scarce information about the prevention programs, low rate of participation in the prevention programs, and overemphasis on the treatment over prevention. In the second part of the Thesis, the current situation in the field of administration of the oncologic disease prevention programs in the Baltic States was analysed. The effectiveness of the prevention programs differed in the states of Lithuania and Latvia. Aim of the Thesis: to make an analysis of the problems encountered in the course of implementation of the oncologic disease prevention programs

The words "there is nothing certain in this world except death and taxes" proclaimed by Benjamin Franklin do not lose meaning after more than two centuries. Let us leave the problem of death or life to another publication and discuss taxes. A bit different from usual. I will disappoint a reader, an analyst or a government representative who sees taxes together through the prism of the base and the tariff, but does not ask the question "why?". For decades, the psychological motives of consumers have been discovered and established as a way to economic science. And taxes are not an exception here, but there is little due cause, especially in practice. And unnecessarily, because the work here would make it possible to enrich the arum of the state — all of us

The words "there is nothing certain in this world except death and taxes" proclaimed by Benjamin Franklin do not lose meaning after more than two centuries. Let us leave the problem of death or life to another publication and discuss taxes. A bit different from usual. I will disappoint a reader, an analyst or a government representative who sees taxes together through the prism of the base and the tariff, but does not ask the question "why?". For decades, the psychological motives of consumers have been discovered and established as a way to economic science. And taxes are not an exception here, but there is little due cause, especially in practice. And unnecessarily, because the work here would make it possible to enrich the arum of the state — all of us

The words "there is nothing certain in this world except death and taxes" proclaimed by Benjamin Franklin do not lose meaning after more than two centuries. Let us leave the problem of death or life to another publication and discuss taxes. A bit different from usual. I will disappoint a reader, an analyst or a government representative who sees taxes together through the prism of the base and the tariff, but does not ask the question "why?". For decades, the psychological motives of consumers have been discovered and established as a way to economic science. And taxes are not an exception here, but there is little due cause, especially in practice. And unnecessarily, because the work here would make it possible to enrich the arum of the state — all of us

The words "there is nothing certain in this world except death and taxes" proclaimed by Benjamin Franklin do not lose meaning after more than two centuries. Let us leave the problem of death or life to another publication and discuss taxes. A bit different from usual. I will disappoint a reader, an analyst or a government representative who sees taxes together through the prism of the base and the tariff, but does not ask the question "why?". For decades, the psychological motives of consumers have been discovered and established as a way to economic science. And taxes are not an exception here, but there is little due cause, especially in practice. And unnecessarily, because the work here would make it possible to enrich the arum of the state — all of us

This article analyzes the relationship between the social and climate policies of the European Union member states and examines the concept of the eco–social state. In the climate crisis era, the need for a close link between social and climate policies is particularly acute. The European Green Deal and other EU strategies reflect a political agenda with a specific interest in social and ecological goals. We aim to answer whether more significant state efforts in the social field are related to a similarly more substantial commitment in climate policy or whether a greater focus on one means less attention on another. On a theoretical level, we discuss the challenges of climate change for social policy and present the concept of climate justice. The similarities and differences between the ecological and the welfare state are also examined. We argue that the concept of climate justice highlights the phenomenon of a double and even triple injustice on a global level, which requires joint efforts in spheres of social and climate policy. Eco-social state combines social and environmental institutions intending to ensure welfare and sustainability and thus complements the traditional concept of the welfare state. The Koch-Fritz (2014) classification, which distinguishes between the established, deadlocked, emerging, and failing eco-social states, is presented in the paper and used for the empirical analysis. The empirical part of the paper employs non-parametrical correlation and hierarchical cluster analysis. The former allows for exploring the links between the ecological and social indicators. The latter enables countries to be grouped according to social and climate indicators and compared to the traditional classification of welfare states and Koch-Fritz models of eco-social states. The analysis is based on social and climate indicators of the Europe 2020 strategy. The study found that countries that provide relatively more significant funding for traditional social problems also perform better in climate change adaptation and mitigation policies by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in an effort–sharing sectors and final energy consumption. We show that clusters of the EU member states in terms of social and climate indicators (eco–social state models) are very similar to their membership in the traditional welfare states' classification. Moreover, social democratic welfare states are better prepared to address climate change than countries representing other types of welfare states. Thus the analysis confirms the social democratic welfare states as established eco–social states, while the conservative-corporate and liberal welfare states can indeed be called deadlocked eco–social states with average results. We show, however, that Lithuania, together with other Eastern European and Southern European countries, fluctuates on both the best and the worst social and climate change mitigation outcomes. Hence those should be attributed to a group with the mixed results and can be named as failed-emerging eco-social states.

This article analyzes the relationship between the social and climate policies of the European Union member states and examines the concept of the eco–social state. In the climate crisis era, the need for a close link between social and climate policies is particularly acute. The European Green Deal and other EU strategies reflect a political agenda with a specific interest in social and ecological goals. We aim to answer whether more significant state efforts in the social field are related to a similarly more substantial commitment in climate policy or whether a greater focus on one means less attention on another. On a theoretical level, we discuss the challenges of climate change for social policy and present the concept of climate justice. The similarities and differences between the ecological and the welfare state are also examined. We argue that the concept of climate justice highlights the phenomenon of a double and even triple injustice on a global level, which requires joint efforts in spheres of social and climate policy. Eco-social state combines social and environmental institutions intending to ensure welfare and sustainability and thus complements the traditional concept of the welfare state. The Koch-Fritz (2014) classification, which distinguishes between the established, deadlocked, emerging, and failing eco-social states, is presented in the paper and used for the empirical analysis. The empirical part of the paper employs non-parametrical correlation and hierarchical cluster analysis. The former allows for exploring the links between the ecological and social indicators. The latter enables countries to be grouped according to social and climate indicators and compared to the traditional classification of welfare states and Koch-Fritz models of eco-social states. The analysis is based on social and climate indicators of the Europe 2020 strategy. The study found that countries that provide relatively more significant funding for traditional social problems also perform better in climate change adaptation and mitigation policies by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in an effort–sharing sectors and final energy consumption. We show that clusters of the EU member states in terms of social and climate indicators (eco–social state models) are very similar to their membership in the traditional welfare states' classification. Moreover, social democratic welfare states are better prepared to address climate change than countries representing other types of welfare states. Thus the analysis confirms the social democratic welfare states as established eco–social states, while the conservative-corporate and liberal welfare states can indeed be called deadlocked eco–social states with average results. We show, however, that Lithuania, together with other Eastern European and Southern European countries, fluctuates on both the best and the worst social and climate change mitigation outcomes. Hence those should be attributed to a group with the mixed results and can be named as failed-emerging eco-social states.