Suchergebnisse

Chiara Pierobon analyzes the relationship existing between political youth organizations, music and national identity in contemporary Russia. In particular, she focuses the most important political youth organizations present in the city of St. Petersburg and describes their contribution to the conceptualization of post-Soviet national identity(ies), as captured through an analysis of their music. The book distinguishes itself for its conceptualization of music and provides new empirical insights into the use of this medium as a research tool and as an analytic device for the study and comparison of political youth organizations. It also suggests the adoption of a new approach looking at the national identity issue as an "operational category offering a [new] relevant framework for the study of contemporary Russia" (Laruelle 2010). Contents Russia and the national identity issue On the role of music The case of St. Petersburg Web Analysis Music and Russian national identity Target Groups Students as well as researchers of political sociology, political communication or cultural studies Readers interested in sociology of music, nationalism, social movements and organizations, post-soviet politics The Author Chiara Pierobon works as post-doctoral fellow at the Center for German and European Studies (CGES/ZDES) of the Bielefeld University, Germany

Abstract
Although a number of previous studies have investigated violent extremism in Central Asia, rigorous research concerning the international efforts in preventing this phenomenon in the region is still limited. In response to this gap in the literature, the paper examines the EU's engagement in preventing violent extremism (PVE) through the involvement of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Kyrgyzstan. In particular, by providing new insights into the EU-funded civil society projects under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) and its program Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism (STRIVE), it deepens our understanding of the security–development nexus and the approach to stability and peace that characterizes EU assistance on the ground. At the same time, by looking at the concrete activities carried out by EU-funded organizations in Kyrgyzstan, this article presents a classification of CSO forms of engagement in PVE that is relevant for the selected country and beyond.

In the last decade, several studies have been devoted to the analysis of the EU's support to civil society abroad, but only recently has scholarly attention turned to Central Asia. Most of the research in this field has adopted a macro-level perspective, concerned with the supply side of external democratization, and has examined external assistance to civil society in terms of democratization ideal types and typologies. The main contribution of this study consists of a meso-level analysis of the outcomes of the EU's support to civil society in terms of production of social capital, conceived as the raw material of civil society itself. More precisely, the article evaluates the first wave of grants awarded to civil society organizations in Kazakhstan as part of two EU funding schemes—the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights and the Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development. The article sheds new light on the use of social capital and its two dimensions-structural and cognitive-as heuristic tools for evaluating civil society support programs.

This article analyses the relationship between political youth organisations, music and national identity in contemporary Russia. It focuses on four of the most representative political youth groups present in the city of St. Petersburg – the Young Guard, the National Bolsheviks, the Movement Against Illegal Immigration (DPNI), and Oborona [Defence] – and describes their conceptualisation of post-Soviet Russianness, as captured through an analysis of their lyrics. The main contribution of this empirical study is the detection of convergences and divergences with regard to the national identity issue characterising youth organisations that position themselves diff erently in the Russian political spectrum.

This article analyses the relationship between political youth organisations, music and national identity in contemporary Russia. It focuses on four of the most representative political youth groups present in the city of St. Petersburg – the Young Guard, the National Bolsheviks, the Movement Against Illegal Immigration (DPNI), and Oborona [Defence] – and describes their conceptualisation of post-Soviet Russianness, as captured through an analysis of their lyrics. The main contribution of this empirical study is the detection of convergences and divergences with regard to the national identity issue characterising youth organisations that position themselves differently in the Russian political spectrum.

From the 1990s onwards, Central Asia has been the target of numerous projects and initiatives on behalf of Western states and international institutions. Most of the initiatives of Western donors were focused on the strengthening of civil society by using an instrumental approach. In their action, international donors were misled by their own experience and interpretation of Western civil society. In so doing, they overlooked two very important aspects: firstly, modern Western society took two centuries to evolve; secondly, they were operating in a different social, economic, political and cultural context. Since 2006, a new concept of democracy assistance was implemented by Western donors; a pivotal role was assigned to 'community development' on the grassroots level. The paper examines the ways in which, through its new forms of engagement in Central Asia, the EU is trying to overcome the pitfalls and limitations of the Western-oriented approach in the region, promoting the creation of a genuine and effective civil society.Key words: EU, Central Asia, democracy assistance ; С 90-х гг. Центральная Азия была объектом многочисленных инициатив западных государств и международных организаций, большинство из которых было направлено на усиление гражданского общества как инструмента демократизации. Международные доноры, прилагая усилия по развитию демократии в Центральной Азии, не учли, что гражданское общество в Европе имело длительную историю развития и что Центральная Азия является иной экономической, политической и культурной средой. С 2000-х гг. складывается новое понимание поддержки демократии, построенное на понятии «поддержка сообществ» на низовом уровне. Автор рассматривает, каким образом ЕС посредством новых проектов в странах Центральной Азии преодолевал провалы и ограничения европоцентричного подхода к региону.Ключевые слова: Евросоюз, Центральная Азия, поддержка демократии.

Chapter 1. Migration Policies in the OSCE Region (Anisa Abeytia) -- Chapter 2. Early Warning Models in the OSCE: Adoption and Re-Invention (Alina Isakova) -- Chapter 3. NATO and EU Strategic Security Environment (Aybike Yalcin-Ispir) -- Chapter 4. Patterns of Border Disputes Amongst OSCE Countries (Halina Sapeha) -- Chapter 5. Assessing Water (Ir)Rationality in the Disputed Region of Nagorno-Karabakh (Leonardo Zanatta) -- Chapter 6. Vetting as a Tool for Strengthening Judicial Integrity in the OSCE Region (Teodora Miljojkovic) -- Chapter 7. Human Rights Adjudication in Central Asia (Saniia Toktogazieva) -- Chapter 8. Human Rights and Social Media: Challenges and Opportunities for Human Rights Education (Joanna Kulesza) -- Chapter 9. Digital Citizen Activism in Central Asia: Beyond Contestation and Cooperation (Bakhytzhan Kurmanov) -- Chapter 10. The Dilemma of Good Governance vs. Power Grab in Georgia (Shalva Dzebisashvili) -- Chapter 11. Transformations of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine towards EU Membership (Malkhaz Nakashidze) -- Chapter 12. Backsliding Rule of Law and "Stabilotocracy" in Montenegro (Mirko Đuković).

This open-access book explores the security dynamics amid the polarization, shifting borders, and liquid governance that define the Zeitenwende era in Europe's eastern neighbourhood and Central Asia. Presenting various case studies, the volume unveils the intricate web of border dynamics and practices, including the nuanced interplay of border disputes within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) member states. The contributions shed new light on how contested borders and liquid modes of governance have impacted the engagement of international organizations such as the European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and OSCE in security crises and conflict prevention. Delving deeper, a special part dissects the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and examines European and international responses. By analyzing the stances of diverse European countries, their neighborhood, and international organizations, this section uncovers commonalities and disparities in their approaches to the Ukrainian crisis.

This open-access book explores the security dynamics amid the polarization, shifting borders, and liquid governance that define the Zeitenwende era in Europe's eastern neighbourhood and Central Asia. Presenting various case studies, the volume unveils the intricate web of border dynamics and practices, including the nuanced interplay of border disputes within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) member states. The contributions shed new light on how contested borders and liquid modes of governance have impacted the engagement of international organizations such as the European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and OSCE in security crises and conflict prevention. Delving deeper, a special part dissects the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and examines European and international responses. By analyzing the stances of diverse European countries, their neighborhood, and international organizations, this section uncovers commonalities and disparities in their approaches to the Ukrainian crisis.

This book investigates the power of civil society in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), in the context of the post-Arab Spring era, as well as more long-standing challenges and constraints in the region. In recent years, local civil society actors have faced significant challenges from social conservatism, conflict, violence, and the absence of democracy and exclusive political systems. Over the course of the book, the authors investigate how the sector has succeeded in achieving its own objectives despite these shifting conditions, the restrictive political environment and the complexity of the socio-cultural and economic context. Structured around the three themes of peace-building, development, and change, the book also addresses challenges faced by civil society organizations linked to ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversities as well as religious salient differences that are crucial markers of social and political identity. Case studies are drawn from the Palestinian Occupied Territories, Jordan, Iran, Nigeria, Niger, Egypt, and Morocco, and particular effort has been made to showcase original research from contributors who are from the region .