Abstract ▼

In recent decades world supply of oil has been increasingly held in the Islamic countries around the Persian Gulf. The fact that the level of oil production is high in these countries and that they possess most of the world’s oil reserves could be extremely significant. This “petropower” could lead to strategic geopolitical developments when oil is used as economic and political weapons. It may be that the apocalyptic appeal of militant Islamism coming out of Iran can weld both Shia and Sunni people of the region to the cause of establishing a world Islamic “caliphate”. This may appear in a new world of a tripartite mix of superpowers, one of which could be an Iranian-led oil rich Islamic bloc of Gulf states. Each superpower would vie for advantage, and particularly two of these superpowers would seek favour in maintaining supplies of oil imports increasingly from a potentially Iran dominated mix of oil producing Islamic countries.

Abstract ▼

Adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance represents victory of a decade long initiative to fight the impunity for this hideous crime. The author presents the Convention and analyses some troubling issues which may undermine the overwhelming optimism about its adoption. First part of the article introduces the problem of enforced disappearance. Insight into the history of the legal regulation of the problem has been given in the second part. Third part presents key segments of the Convention, while final, fourth part, shed some light on the perspectives of the implementation of the Convention.

Abstract ▼

The paper explores the view of political transitions from the standpoint of capacity for collective action, and seeks to use a causal analysis of the motivation for collective action and its public articulation as a method of interpreting modern political systems that would be a feasible alternative to the traditional quantitative and comparative method that focuses on the specific aspects of transitions. The author argues that the capacity for collective action within a political system correlates directly to the degree of internal legitimacy of public policy. Such legitimacy is necessarily based on the dominant value system within the transitional process. In addition, the author stipulates that this capacity is reversely proportional to the degree of structural violence in society.

Abstract ▼

The position of small and medium size countries in international context has been studied. The main criteria of power in international relation is still the military and economic force, despite the fact that the size and resources of a country is not equivalent to its actual international influence. With the imposition of Vilsonian principles and with the creation of UN, the position of small and medium size countries has been somehow improved. It becomes even more favourable in the context of a well defined State coalition, which provides with some additional instruments of power. The European Union is the best example of a coalition providing a good framework for small and medium countries. In this article, six specifics mechanisms providing additional influence to small and medium size countries of the EU have been identified. They include the specificity of the EU legal system, decisionmaking, the functioning of the EU bodies, the process of “europeisation” etc.

Abstract ▼

The author considers the basic elements of terrorist propaganda and targets terrorist groups wish to achieve by informing mass media on their acts. In the field of propaganda, they endeavour to point to their presence, objectives and positions by committing certain acts. Every terrorist act is planned so to make its symbolism clearer pointing to the positions of terrorists on some political issue. In order to commit a successful terrorist act it is necessary to carry out a long-term planning in the sphere of propaganda. For that purpose terrorists apply various strategies and tactics. The information of the public in some country on the committed terrorist act is the basic objective of terrorist groups. For this reason they attempt to, above all, attract attention of mass media. In the field of information, terrorism could be best fought by the establishment of co-operation between the government and media that should exchange information. This also implies that media should be more involved in the public diplomacy.

Abstract ▼

The changes companies are facing at the beginning of this century result from the impact of three factors. The first factor is globalisation – a huge increase in exchange and availability of new products and services and a dramatic increase in mobility of foreign investment, movement of people and international competition. Another factor is the impact of modern communications technology. Rapid changes in all forms of technology allow a rapid access to various ways of communication with low cost, what leads to opening of markets to consumers worldwide. These two factors have contributed to the change of power in the market from producers to consumers or end users. Within this context, the availability of information in the company as well as the determination of global brands and services becomes a phenomenon of global markets.