Suchergebnisse

Cover -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 Historical and cultural conditions -- 1. Name of the state, ethnogenesis, the state- and nation-building process, Belarusian identity -- 2. The Union of Krewo and the Union of Lublin -- 3. The Union of Brest and its consequences -- 4. Polish-Russian rivalry over Belarusian "souls" -- 5. The beginnings of Belarusian nationalism -- 6. The First World War and the October Revolution in Russia -- 7. The reborn Republic and the lands of Belarus -- 8. Belarusians in the Second Republic and the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic -- 9. The Second World War and the post-war period -- Chapter 2 Polish-Belarusian relations from the perspective of Polish policy towards the east -- 1. Transformation of the foreign policy of Poland and Belarus -- 2. Geopolitical situation and social and economic potential -- 3. Poland's policy towards the east -- Chapter 3 Political relations -- 1. A good beginning and a lost opportunity -- 2. "Critical dialogue" -- 3. New challenges and problems after the expansion of the European Union -- 4. The "Ukrainian factor" and the honeymoon -- Chapter 4 "Difficult issues" -- 1. The historical dialogue -- 2. National minorities - Poles in Belarus and Belarusians in Poland -- 3. Border and visa traffic -- Chapter 5 Economic relations -- 1. The legal and treaty foundations of economic cooperation -- 2. Trade -- 3. Investment and capital cooperation -- 4. Cross-border cooperation -- 5. Energy -- 6. Other areas, prospects for and barriers to cooperation -- Chapter 6 Cultural cooperation -- 1. Cultural contacts -- 2. Cooperation in the field of education -- Conclusions -- Bibliography -- Appendix -- Index of names

This book examines Polish-Belarusian relations, which, according to the Polish historian Marcel Kosman, were 'very close, though not always idyllic' (Kosman, 1979, p. 6), or, as the Belarusian author Piotra Rudkoŭski puts it, 'Historically and culturally, Belarus and Poland are Siamese twins' (Rudkoŭski, 2007, p. 185). According to the author of this book, the nature of Polish-Belarusian relations is determined by their historical and cultural positions, identities and geopolitical situations. He underlines that Polish-Belarusian relations are subordinate to Polish-Russian relations and, to a significant extent, play a role in Belarusian-Russian relations. The author pays attention to historical and cultural determinants, Polish policy towards the East, political, economic and cultural relations, and 'difficult issues' such as historical dialogue, national minorities (Poles in Belarus and Belarusians in Poland) and border and visa traffic. He tries to understand the circumstances and international interests of both states, which undoubtedly adds to the book's value.

Referring to the concept of the nation by Ernst Renan and the nation-building process of Antonina Kłoskowska, as well as based on Samuel Huntington's statements the author attempts to verify the hypothesis that the Polish national community retaining its demographic and ethnocultural core, undergoes Ukrainization in the sphere of collective consciousness. For this purpose, using the causal explanation and integral explanation of political actions and phenomena developed by Tadeusz Klementewicz, analyzes the impact of migration on nation-building processes, the status of Ukrainian citizens in Poland, the problems of assimilation and integration, and what speaks for the Ukrainization of the Polish nation.

Ethnosocial Stratification in Central Asia and its Challenges for Ethnopolitics (the Case of Kazakhstan)
The article concerns different dimensions and criteria of ethnosocial stratification in Central Asia and its influence on ethnopolitics, concentrating on case Kazakhstan. The author considers theoretical aspects of the problem and pays attention to circumstances of forming ethno-social stratification and ethnic division of work. He tries to explain the principles of The Doctrine of The National Unity of Kazakhstan. Especially he pays attention to ethnic and sub‑ethnic division of work in authorities and state administration. He concentrates on factors and criteria of ethnic and sub-ethnic division of work. Author of the article underlines that ethno-social stratification can disturb of creation of nation of Kazakhstan as a civil community which is the aim of the state authorities.

Acknowledgments -- Contents -- About the Author -- 1 Introduction -- Abstract -- References -- 2 Ethical Premises and Values -- Abstract -- References -- 3 Technological Progress in Economics, Market and Democracy Versus Informational Revolution -- Abstract -- References -- 4 End of Communism and a Beginning of the End of Capitalism -- Abstract -- References -- 5 A Vision of the End of Work and the Emergence of Precariat -- Abstract -- References -- 6 A Possible Scenario of Annihilation -- Abstract -- References -- 7 A Vision of Informed Society and a Sustainable Redistribution System

AbstractOne of the basic concepts of the theory of coalition games is the core of the game, together with its various extensions. However, the core is usually a set, a subset of Pareto set. Therefore, all problems of vector optimization and multiple criteria decision support arise when selecting points within a core. One of interactive decision support approaches is the use of reference points and the maximization of corresponding achievement functions. The paper proposes some ways of defining and using reference points that result in equitable allocations. One way of defining such reference points is to use known solutions of coalition games, such as Shapley value or Banzhaf value. Another way of defining such reference points might be an extension of Raiffa–Kalai–Smorodinski solution to coalition games, proposed in the paper. The properties of resulting equitable allocations in the core of the game are examined. The possibility of empty core and allocations in an extended core is also examined and the concept of maximal robustness point is introduced; this point might also be used as a reference point. Possible applications of this extension of the theory of coalition games concern business negotiations. An illustrative example of negotiating a cooperative merger of three or four high‐tech firms is given.The basic conclusion from the analysis and the examples presented in the paper is that axiomatic solutions of coalition games, e.g. Shapley and Banzhaf values, should be considered as reference points for vector optimization and multicriteria decision support rather than as normative solutions. Moreover, beside these axiomatic solutions there are several other possible definitions of reference points, such as the Raiffa solution or the maximal robustness point, that might be preferred by negotiators when solving practical coalition games. This has been confirmed by simulated gaming exercises performed by students under a strong motivation to treat simulated game seriously. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.