Od transfromacji do integracji: wybrane uwagi nt. “bezpośredniej” partycypacji obywateli w procesie podejmowania decyzji politycznych po 1989 r. na przykładzie państw Grupy Wyszehradzkiej

The subject of this paper concerns selected experiences of citizens from the Visegrad Group countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) participating in the process of ‘direct’ (that is, exercised by means of the tools of direct democracy) decision making as regards the most important matters, ranging from those related to the process of political transformation to the decision on accession to the European Union. The present considerations dwell on the experiences of Central and East European countries.

Demokracja bezpośrednia a wprowadzenie praw wyborczych dla kobiet. Przykład Szwajcarii

Over the centuries, Switzerland has developed a unique and inimitable statehood that functions in peculiar geographical, social and political conditions, shaped by the tradition of exercising direct forms of power. It appears, however, that these tools of direct democracy can sometimes obstruct the changes of utmost significance for the development of modern statehood and democracy. This was the case of granting voting rights to women. Although many European and other states granted the rights to vote and stand for election to women in the 1920s and 1930s, Switzerland needed much longer to introduce this change: on the federal level, women’s suffrage was granted as late as in 1971, and the last to enjoy the right to partake in the political life of their canton were the women of Appenzell Innerrhoden, granted the right in 1990. The objective of this paper is to analyze the influence of the mechanisms of direct democracy on the introduction of voting rights for Swiss women.

The Polish EU presidency in Polish press: Did we actually notice it?

The aim of this paper is to present the findings of a quantitative content analysis of the Polish print media. Sharing the codebook and procedures with an international team, we were able to gain a broad perspective on the media coverage of the first Polish EU presidency. In particular, we focused on: (1) the number of items covering events related to the presidency, (2) the prominence of the topic, (3) genres, (4) main topics, (5) authors of news, (6) authors of opinions, and (7) the way Polish journalists evaluated Poland’s performance during the EU presidency. The findings showed that although Polish print press reported the first Polish EU presidency, the topic’s prominence was not very high. Media organizations rather rarely presented the topic on the front page and they did not change their regular editorial policy. Most of the news items, as well as opinions and comments, were written by staff members. Furthermore, journalists seemed to be more interested in the opinions of national politicians, rather than experts. As a result, the framework of the coverage was predominantly domestic. Journalists working for daily newspapers focused mostly on providing news and their own interpretations of the reported events. On the contrary weekly magazines provided comments and interviews, but again, most of the opinions were expressed by their own journalists and editors.

De/montaż miasta w prozie Stanisława Lema

Interpretacja trylogii Stanisława Lema "Czas nieutracony" ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem historycznego kontekstu związanego z okresem okupacji Lwowa.

Integracja europejska w mikroperspektywie. Graniczne miasta blizniacze w Europie Zachodniej i Srodkowo-Wschodniej

The dynamization of integration processes in Europe has generated numerous research topics for political analysis. Border integration is an expression of the broader unification processes of certain structures. It is also a manifestation of the observation that people think globally, but function locally. The European integration perspective is therefore practically implemented in micro structures, exemplified by border twin towns. The objective of this paper is to revive the micro perspective as a useful approach in the investigation of integration processes. This perspective is applied in the field of border studies, which focus on research into the transformation of European borders resulting from integration processes, as well as on the transformations of the concepts of statehood, territoriality and sovereignty. It is assumed that these phenomena are definitely more observable at the outskirts of states than in their centers. Theoretical and empirical considerations are based on the example of border twin towns, as the European units of local government that integrate across borders. The main differences between the integration of towns in Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe are also indicated in the analysis.

Na granicy Unii Europejskiej – pozycja europejskich terytoriów autonomicznych w dobie globalizacji i integracji. Przypadek Wysp Alandzkich

The model of autonomy developed by the Aland Isles can provide a number of interesting solutions applicable in other territories. Territorial autonomy as a manner of ensuring the political and economic rights of the minority involves facing up to the challenges of European integration and globalization. It seems that the Aland Isles have successfully coped with this challenge. Firstly, they were able to present and promote their own interests during the accession negotiations in an efficient manner. Secondly, they maintained (and additionally strengthened by including it in the aquis communitaire) their separate, autonomous status and the guarantees of identity protection by virtue of limiting the rights of persons without domicile rights to purchase land and run business activity. Thirdly, they managed to obtain a special status excluding them from the process of indirect tax harmonization, thus ensuring considerable economic benefits. Fourthly, both Finland and the European Union confirmed their autonomy, demilitarization and neutrality allowing the Isles to retain their former status under the new circumstances. Fifthly, they obtained representation in the Committee of the Regions and a defined position on European matters in Finland. The skillful application of the existing solutions and the winning of an advantageous set of derogations and exceptions strengthened the position of the Isles both with respect to Finland and the international surroundings. The Isles’ economic, cultural and political protection was augmented. Alongside their participation in international organizations, such as The Nordic Board, the Aland Isles have remained active and discernible on the international arena.

The priorities of the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union

The paper discusses the Polish presidency of the EU Council in terms of its priorities. It analyzes the circumstances of their formulation, selection and implementation. The authors answer the question of what influenced the selection of Poland’s priorities and what selection mechanisms were applied. Additionally, they examine how the national agenda was ‘concealed’ in Community rhetoric. Thus, the analytical part discusses the political and legal path that determined the priorities. The EU agenda, Polish ambitions and the context of the trio is also presented. The paper concludes with the authors’ assessment of the implementation of the priorities.

Dynamika dostępu kobiet do studiów politechnicznych. Studium z socjologii edukacji

Wydział Studiów Edukacyjnych: Zakład Edukacji Wielokulturowej i Badań Nad Nierównościami Społecznymi

Podstawy planowania rozwoju „turystyki dostępnej”

Artykuł przybliża podstawowe założenia, dotyczące planowania rozwoju „turystyki dostępnej”, związane z: rozpoznaniem jej uwarunkowań (społeczno-demograficznych, ekonomicznych, prawnych), czynników ograniczających (barier) oraz doborem narzędzi polityki wspierającej ten rozwój. Materiały źródłowe stanowią dane zaczerpnięte z literatury, dokumentów, aktów prawnych, rekomendacji związanych z tematem, jak również wyniki wcześniejszych badań autorek, omówione w wielu opracowaniach. W oparciu o przeprowadzone analizy, do podstawowych zasad planowania rozwoju „turystyki dostępnej”, istotnych na wszystkich etapach prac zaliczono: (1) systemowe ujmowanie turystyki, (2) współpracę podmiotów tworzących ofertę turystyczną, (3) partycypację OzN na wszystkich etapach planowania, (4) personalizację i dywersyfikację oferty turystycznej, (5) spójność informacji turystycznej z ofertą, (6) wypracowanie i wdrażanie standardów dostępności, (7) projektowanie uniwersalne oraz (8) kształtowanie świadomości społecznej i kompetencji kadry obsługującej turystów w zakresie obsługi osób z niepełnosprawnością.

Społeczno-kulturowe konstrukcje piłki nożnej: męskość, kolektywna tożsamość i japonizacja

The purpose of this article is to present three selected contemporary socio-cultural constructs of football. Due to its immense popularity and media exposure, this sport is an area of expressing and crystallizing many social trends and concerns as well as the diversity of cultural (re-)adaptation. There is no doubt that football is a sport associated with the “male culture”. However, in the context of globalization, adapting football for the local requirements of the Japanese consumer market so unexpectedly has brought its feminization. One can even observe an inversion of traditional gender roles in this field: the female audience evaluates and admires the football players’ male bodies.