Bohdan Khovruk

The level of trust in government is usually declining as a result of the economic crisis and corruption scandals in the government. Trust in government institutions is an essential part of the functioning of any democracy. It is very important to keep being a legitimate authority to promote democracy. Conflicts and instability of power often happen because of people's lack of trust in the authorities. Level of trust in a country is a result of the historical development of that country. The history of France is very broad and there have been many historical events that could affect the trust of people today. French citizens are always ready to protest or go to strike, because the French culture has a high level of political engagement and they are willing to fight for a better future, and it depends on trust towards public institutions. What the level of trust is in France and how have the crises of the last 15 years within the EU impact the level of trust in France. Trust towards political institutions is going down because of global crises or important events where political institutions are incapable of resolving problems. Then, people tend to vote for radical politics with expectations that it will bring stable policy.

Natália Dikošová, Laura Habudová, Simona Jaďuďová, Klára Klačanová, Nina Višňovská

The Rohingya, a Muslim minority in Myanmar, have suffered decades of systemic discrimination, statelessness, and targeted violence. The crisis escalated significantly in 2017 when the Myanmar military launched brutal "clearance operations" that forced over 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. Despite widespread international condemnation including the recognition of ethnic cleansing by the United Nations and various human rights organizations, the European Union has not officially recognized these acts as genocide. Its response has remained limited and inconsistent, which stands in contrast to its self-identification as a normative power committed to human rights, international law, and human dignity.

Simona Badíková and Paulína Miklová

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly the use of autonomous weapon systems (AWS) in military operations in Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has raised ethical and humanitarian concerns. “According to a major investigation published last month by the Israeli outlet +972 Magazine” reports state that AI systems are being used to identify and target individuals with minimal human oversight (tech-speak for a person who affirms or contradicts the AI’s recommendation), leading to a high number of civilian casualties and accusations of genocide.

Andrej Hofer

Arguably, dignity rests at the core of most, if not all, modern political issues. Movements for the equality of racial, religious, or sexual minorities present themselves as the most obvious example of politics splitting on the anvil of dignity (Fukuyama, 2018). However, the same goes for the economy, too. When parliaments debate systems of pensions, distribution of taxes, social welfare, or developments in demography, the underlying question of all such discussions is “who gets what and why?”. The notions of worth and merit are inherently present. The discourse around migration revolves around dignity as well — the calling of the dislocated and uprooted for a decent life among strangers versus the supposed security and cultural integrity of domestic populations.

Klára Klačanová

The 21st-century marks within democratic European roam a crucial period of thematizing and dealing with important, forgotten, or tabooed social topics such as sexuality, (gender) equality, women’s and minorities’ rights, or mental health. Additionally, crucial changes in the environment and international order opened topics such as carbon neutrality, safeguarding of biodiversity, or open condemnation of war and deeds of aggression in Ukraine (with humanitarian, financial, and by some countries even military assistance included). The Scandinavian countries were no exception to this trend, however, it is very interesting to observe, that such topics were positively and actively approached by the traditional social democratic parties of Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

Tamás Fehér

The Basque separatist organization ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) has had a tremendous influence on Spain's political climate and has fueled the country's continuous discussion about regional autonomy and self-determination. The ideological position, tactics, and historical background of ETA all contribute to this impact. A complex and multidimensional political environment has been created in Spain as a result of ETA's violent fight for Basque independence, which has shaped a political culture that balances national unity with accommodating demands for further regional autonomy.

Laura Dukátová

Child abuse, an ever-present issue globally, finds its origins deeply implanted within the historical context and political evolution of nations. In Vietnam, a country steeped in a rich tapestry of history and cultural heritage, the discourse surrounding child protection is complexly interwoven with the nation's complex political landscape and socio-economic structures. Understanding the historical trajectory of Vietnam, from its premodern agrarian roots to its modernization struggles and state-building endeavors, is essential for unraveling the multifaceted challenges and opportunities in safeguarding the rights and well-being of its children.

Melinda Vincze

Due to Slovakia’s unique position after the Velvet Revolution, its predominantly agrarian past, and the newly regained independence, its political culture lacked enough intelligence and elites who would be able to guide it through the regime changes. The privatization process, initially intended for denationalization and property return, took a dark turn, enabling organized crime groups to take advantage of it, meanwhile ruining former state property, and  political figures for misusing their power.

Adam David Soki, Tamás Fehér, and Petar Tumbov

Despite tensions with the countries that surround Japan, it is not really possible for the nation to get up to the same standard as the other parties involved. This is due to Article 9 in the Japanese constitution, which is a remnant of the demilitarization initiative after the World Wars. This article is not necessarily a unique instance, as other countries have similar provisions in their legislation. However, the most important change that should take place is the allowing of the implementation of long-range missiles, as this would up Japan’s ability to defend itself in case of a heated conflict.

Nina Višňovská

The history of violence is embedded in the identities of South African peoples which resulted in a parochial, antagonistic political culture. The power of the institutions can be measured by civicness and arguably in South Africa, there is a phenomenon of the rise in organizations that practice institutional roles. Such as the provision of private security. Financially well-off citizens continue to choose private social services thus enlarging the difference between private security institutions and government security which creates more inequality of service delivery.

Viktória Novosádová, Adela Sadloňová

March 30, 2023

This policy brief emphasizes the pressing need to protect the Yanomami people, an indigenous group that inhabits the Amazon rainforest, from the catastrophic effects of unauthorized mining. The Yanomami's cultural legacy, way of life, and the rich biodiversity of the Amazon are all gravely threatened by the invasion of their original homelands by gold prospectors known as Garimpeiros. This policy brief is addressed to the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil, calling for immediate action and imposing measures regarding the implementation of existing laws, enhancing protections for indigenous rights, and fostering sustainable development in the area.

Simona Jaďuďová

Literature and history taught me that what we have, had to be won by other brave heroines. The lack of a right to vote or freedom of expression was powerfully portrayed in classic stories about heroines struggling for their rights.

Paulína Miklová

In The Guarded Palace, Conor C. O’Brien reflects on the moral and psychological condition of Western civilisation. Central to my prompth is the notion that the Western world is burdened by a deep, inescapable sense of guilt—a sentiment that stems not from individual failings alone, but from the very structure and history of its global position.

Tomáš Čorej

March 13 2023

Few African countries have experienced as sharp economic growth as Rwanda has in the past two decades (Adesina, 2022). President Paul Kagame has openly declared his ambition to transform it into the so-called "new Singapore" and talks about rapid digitalization (Musoni, 2022). Rwanda is becoming one of the leaders in the region despite an economic slowdown in recent years. Our main research question is if the economic growth can be transferred into a more liberal Rwandan regime in terms of political and civic freedoms as well.

Nikola Orlovská

February 15, 2023

he communist regime directly affected people’s identity which is understood as their attitude towards change, their behavior and willingness or reluctance to change the narrative in society. Narrative in this work is understood as the public space, more specifically communist monuments because those serve as a narrative tool. Specific behavioral patterns such as not taking responsibility for certain actions, collaborating with representatives of the regime, resisting, not taking action, and simply not breaking from the past all fall under a typology classification system which categorizes people into victims, perpetrators, resisters, beneficiaries, and bystanders. These classifications remain strongly embedded within Slovak identity and, in turn, influence public space, a tool of remembrance and representation of the communist past.

Markus Formel

February 15, 2023

The size of the French state is enormous and its  structure Leviathan-esque, encompassing all from a law protecting the smell of the rural areas (Guy, 2015) to the law against the intentional harm to devices by the manufacturer (Za „kazítka“ v elektronice bude ve Francii vězení, 2015). The French state is more or less everywhere the eye can see. But what are the reasons for this bureaucratic paternalistic development? 

Lucia Ozaniaková

December 20 2022

Due to  the guilds’ communal elements, players can acquire social capital benefits including  skills and social ties. Study findings suggest that by being an active member, players  can build new skills, relationships and even reinforce their existing friendships. This  might be interesting to examine in more depth, especially in the light of the ongoing  pandemic that forces people to isolate and decrease face to face contact. 

Tomáš Štrba

December 20, 2022

What is the story behind the success of AfD in Eastern regions?

This paper studies Germany from the 18th century until the present day, through the processes of democratization, modernization, post-modernization. The story of German is a story of success, but it is a shame that it took more than 70 years to understand Mann’s message about “a harmful truth is better”.