The book deals with the analysis of key political actors in the ‘new democracies’ from Central and Eastern Europe. It is focused on character of elites, particularly political one, and their role in the process of societal change. The author argues that elite configuration in terms of relationships between different elite factions as well as their cultural profile has strong impact on developmental dynamics of these societies. Although – at least in some countries from the region – political elites have managed to build the institutional foundations of systems of a market economy and a parliamentary democracy, with only small chances of any reverses taking place, they have been much less successful in establishing mechanisms for society’ self-organisation.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4307707
The purpose of the article is to test the relationship between national identities and modernisation. We test the hypotheses that not all forms of identity are equally compatible with modernisation as measured by Human Development Index. The less developed societies are characterised by strong ascribed national identities based on birth, territory and religion, but also by strong voluntarist identities based on civic features selected and/or achieved by an individual. The results, which are also confirmed by multilevel regression models, thus demonstrate that increasing modernisation in terms of development contributes to the shifts from classical, especially ascribed, identities towards instrumental identifications.
COBISS.SI-ID: 29291303
In the paper, the authors argue that strategic steering is essentially a discursive practice influenced by both semiotic and extra-semiotic factors. Hence, success or failure of a strategy essentially depends on ability to steer the discourse. Recognizing limitations of direct and centralized interventions, we look for analytical and strategic solutions in sophisticated mechanisms of contextual steering: variation, selection and retention of strategic discourses. These mechanisms are integral to the cultural political economy approach.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1024575041
What is specific in the efforts of the Slovenian state institutions to handle the current economic, political, and cultural crisis in the country? The answer is searched for in the media representations of the building of a new government in February 2012. In the article, the analysis is focused on five major functions of modern states: security provision, regulation of macroeconomy, administration, reproduction of human resources, and environmental protection. The analysis identifies a large share of publications focusing on the administrative function of the state and rather limited share of publications on security issues and environmental protection.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1024608833
In the article, the authors deal with the nature of person-based politics in contemporary democracies on the case of two countries – Italy and Slovenia. Both countries experienced a rise of non-party politics in a form called ‘berlusconisation’. The article analyses the factors that contributed to this phenomenon. The thesis is that the main reason for the rise of personalised politics lies in weak structuration of party space. The kind of individualization that brings increased role of political leader’s personalities that has divergent consequences for functioning of democracy.
COBISS.SI-ID: 19893554