|
|
Normative power as a Source of EU Peacebuilding: Diffusion of Normative Power Europe in the Western Balkans
Petrlová, Eva ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
This thesis aims to interconnect a theory of normative power Europe with the activities of the EU and its affect on the Western Balkans. The theoretical concept of normative power is based on the assumption of the EU as a normative actor who is able through its norms, values and principles to become a major civilian actor in international relations, especially in the area of conflict management. The theoretical part of the paper therefore focuses on the concept of normative power EU (NPE) as it is presented by Ian Manners, and how its normative character is reflected in the common security and defense policy. It is analysed how the NPE is diffused in selected countries of the Western Balkans through four chosen transfer mechanisms by Manners that comprise the operationalization of the thesis at the same time. Therefore the aim of this work is to contribute to the further broadening the debate over the EU's role in the international system, but also to find out how the norms and values are transmitted in selected countries of the near neighborhood - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Kosovo. All of this with regard to democracy, human and minority rights, peaceful settlement of disputes, good governance etc., which encompass the basic values of the EU. The selected operationalization has allowed...
|
|
|
Between Liberal Policies and Conservative Values: The Role of the EU in Improving Sexual Minority Rights in Albania
Vinther, Christian Kjaelder ; Šístek, František (advisor) ; Žíla, Ondřej (referee)
Master Thesis by Christian K. Vinther, Charles University, Prague (77110981) 21/05/2015 Between Liberal Policies and Conservative Values: The Role of the EU in Improving Sexual Minority Rights in Albania Abstract In 2009 the People's Advocate in Albania announced their suggestion that Albania should become the first Balkan country to legalize gay marriage, a suggestion backed by the country's Prime Minister Sali Berisha. The odd thing is that this suggestion was presented in the same country voted the "most homophobic in Europe" according to a recent study, and simultaneously the suggestion came at a time when Albania did not even have an anti-discrimination law, and, assumingly, at a time when LGBT activist groups seemed more or less nonexistent. Since 2009, Albania has progressed severely in relation to LGBT matters, and the small Balkan country has adopted noteworthy liberal sexual minority policies. Yet, as stated above, this appears as a rather paradoxical fact, since homophobia in Albania appears widespread, and since it could be questioned why a country would even need to legalize gay marriage, since the gay population are unlikely to benefit from this kind of legislation, due to the harassment and marginalization of this particular minority group. The mismatch between the conservative values in...
|
|
|
Balkans as a geopolitical and geoeconomic ground between the European Union and Russian federation
Fojtík, Petr ; Romancov, Michael (advisor) ; Bureš, Oldřich (referee)
There were several changes from the global point of view during last decades. The European Union has enlarged itself by more than half of new members and it represents the biggest area of free trade in the world. Political integration of this unique international organization has also taken a place by accepting new treaties. Russia after the breakup of the Soviet Union overcame with the legacy of this empire and not only due to its geographical area is one of the world superpower now. The Balkans was from the historical view area of clashes between European powers and it is valid until now. The European Union has offered to Western Balkans countries full membership on behalf of Stabilisation and association agreement. On the other hand Russia expands its mainly economic interests with regional overlap and that's why the researched region swelled its geopolitical and geoeconomic significance. Thesis called "Balkans as geopolitical and geoconomic area between the European Union and Russian Federation" separated up to three connected parts. Theoretical and methodological part anchors thesis from theoretical perspective, presents operationalization of variables and defines the hypothesis. The most quantitatively extensive analytical part, which is divided into two parts, is focused on application of...
|
|
|
Turkey and the Balkans in the Geopolitics of the Contemporary Regional Development.
Huseynli, Javid ; Šístek, František (advisor) ; Žíla, Ondřej (referee)
The aim of the thesis is to explain how and why Turkey influences the development of the Balkan region in contemporary geopolitics. In order to determine the areas of influence I used Saul Cohen's book about the Geopolitics of the World System. I chose the geopolitical approaches and features, which are related to Turkey's activeness in the Balkan region. Moreover, Saul Cohen's equilibrium is taken into consideration in order to show how Turkey shifts, and will shift, the equilibrium to a new level. In the thesis I talk about sustainable development and corporate social responsibility to show that Turkish companies, as well as the government, are creating mutual needs in order to develop the region for further cooperation on an economic and political level. Additionally, I argue that energy cooperation can lead to greater benefits for Turkey, as an energy hub, and also for the Balkans, as a gateway to the European Union. In that sense, I argue that it is not a competition but rather cooperation between the European Union and Turkey in the Balkan region. By analyzing the economic and political activities of Turkey in the Balkan region, I came to the conclusion that Turkey is influencing the Balkan region for five reasons; these are shared history, human aspects, geography, economy and regional...
|
|
|
The Balkans after 1991 through the prism of geopolitics
Sharevski, Mario ; Romancov, Michael (advisor) ; Kofroň, Jan (referee)
Thesis deals with the issue of the conceptualization, analysis and understanding of the Balkans after 1991 as a specific geopolitical area in order to examine the proclivity of the region towards conflicts and give general idea of the geopolitical position of the Balkans in local and global context. First, the definition of the Balkans and its borders in physic and politico geographical structure along with the historical definitions and geopolitical position settings and significance prior 1991 are tackled. Then follows the application of the geopolitical theories and concepts on the geopolitical map with the states of the Balkans after 1991 in order to conceptualize the area and thus having a framework for examination and comparison of the territorial changes and geopolitical events that occurred in this historical period as well as for better understanding of strategic significance of internal and external geopolitical position of the Balkans. As a third step follows the explanation and outline of the greater territorial irredentist and geopolitical concepts of the Balkan nation states which have been revived and actualized in the period after 1991 serving as a background and basic platform for their geopolitical agenda. Lastly, the thesis tackles the territorial changes that came as a result of...
|
|
|
Jiří Viktor Daneš (1880-1928)
Hanták, Daniel ; Hnilica, Jiří (advisor) ; Martínek, Jiří (referee)
This study is biography of Jiří Viktor Daneš (1880 - 1928). First chapter summarizes fundamental stages of his life (studies, First World War, diplomatic activity in Australia), his death and legacy. Second chapter is approaching his travelling with emphasis on big travels - to Java and Australia with Karel Domin (1909 - 1910) and his journey around the world (1920 - 1923). Last chapter approaches his scientific work in basic outline.
|
|
|
Traditional Bulgarian Music in Interetnic context
Bečev, Georgi ; Tyllner, Lubomír (advisor) ; Kratochvíl, Matěj (referee) ; Kouba, Miroslav (referee)
The work deals with interethnic contexts in the traditional Bulgarian music, which in the past were often neglected or marginalized for various reasons. Convergent processes which take place as a result of cultural interaction between the Balkan ethnicities are assessed. A role of the long-term affiliation of the Balkan region with one state structure (the Ottoman Empire) is examined as one of the factors, which could significantly help mutual contacts between involved ethnicities. The author's starting points are based on the philological concept of the Balkan Linguistic Union, in which a set of phenomena and convergent tendencies in genetically unrelated languages of the Balkan area are researched. The author raises the question whether it is possible to formulate a similar thesis in the field of music and to define a notional Balkan Music Union based on the assessment of the main converging processes. For this purpose, two distinctive phenomena, which are both present in the Bulgarian folklore as well as, to certain extent, in a broader Balkan context, are selected. Musical and cultural interaction between two ethnic groups is examined at the ceremony of the Nestinarstvo/Anastenaria, folk mysteries which culminate with a dance on hot coals and is practised by small communities of Bulgarians and...
|
|
|
The way to the independence of Montenegro: the role of Milo Djukanovic
Hurajčíková, Veronika ; Šístek, František (advisor) ; Tejchman, Miroslav (referee)
The Bachelor Thesis deals with the way of Montenegro to the independence in its final stage, respectively, in the period from the collapse of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the emergence of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992 to declaration of an independent Montenegro in 2006. In connection with this attention will be focused primarily on policy of Milo Djukanovic and his transformation from communist socialite ally of Slobodan Milosevic to the men, who began working with the West and making an effort to independence of Montenegro. Based on these information the author will try to summarize and evaluate the role played by Djukanovic's policy and what its significance lay on Montenegro's way to independence. In conclusion, the author will try to think how one person can change and influence the development of the entire state. Besides policy of Milo Djukanovic attention will be focused also on the media and political party of Milo Djukanovic, Democratic Party of Socialist (DPS). Specifically, the author will focus on their role and importance on Montenegro's way to independence and how it influenced policy and behavior of Milo Djukanovic.
|
|
|
Changes of geopolitical map of the Balkans and their influence on the security and stability of the European Union
Friček, Michal ; Hnízdo, Bořivoj (advisor) ; Romancov, Michael (referee)
Friček, Michal.. Changes of geopolitical map of Balkan and their influence on security of the Czech Republic. Prague: Charles University in Prague. Faculty of Social Sciences. 2012. Number of words: 20 435. Number of letters: 125 104. Supervisor: Doc. PhDr. Bořivoj Hnízdo, PhD. This work evaluates objective risks for security of the Czech Republic resulting from geopolitical changes in Balkan according to respective security sectors. It is done specifically in military, social and political security. Evolution of these threats is compared with dynamic of military conflicts on territory of western Balkan. That is base for assessment of adequacy of securitization of these problems on the part of Czech security authorities. Keywords: security of the Czech Republic - Balkan geopolitics
|
|
|
The aspects of neo-Ottomanism in the Turkish foreign policies toward Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo
Nagy, Gergely ; Aslan, Emil (advisor) ; Pikal, Kamil (referee)
The thesis examines the aspects of neo-Ottomanism in Turkish foreign policies toward three Balkan countries - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo -, focusing on the developments of the last decade. Turkey has become quite active in the Balkans and in these countries in the last few years, however, this activism is not without any antecendents. These areas were the core European territories of the Ottoman Empire and after the dissolution of this entity, Turkey still attached special importance to these countries, albeit during the Cold War relations were cooler. On the other hand, with the fall of the Iron Curtain, the rise of the AK Party to government position and Ahmet Davutoglu becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs in Turkey, the Balkans started to receive particular "limelight" in Turkish foreign policy. New ideas, expressions, approaches were incorporated into the forming self-confident and assertive foreign policy of Turkey. However, this new policy, referred to as neo- Ottomanism in many cases, infered criticisms too, from the West and from local politicians in the Balkans too. The thesis aims to remake and remodel this expression by highlighting other, more positive elements of it. Turkey's political, economic, cultural and military relations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and...
|
guest ::
