Abstract ▼

There are numerous studies of the process of globalisation which not been conducted only recently. Globalisation is always present in any subject that deals with the contemporary economy and contemporary business environment. The paper will analyse the process of globalisation from a new angle attempting to establish through theoretical debates the level, which has been achieved. The analysis of the attained level of the world economy globalisation is very significant since it determines the business environment framing business surroundings. There are numerous controversies in considering the achieved level of globalisation and the main disagreement concerns the degree and significance of changes in the world economy.

Abstract ▼

Euro-Asian security integrations take place within a plethora of organizations and initiatives, yet those most relevant to the security concerns of the Western Balkans inevitably maintain a key reference point at NATO and PfP. While the initiatives inspired by the Russian Federation, due to legitimate Russian security concerns arising from NATO’s expansion plans, are primarily motivated by a desire to provide various alternatives to NATO as a unique European instrument of collective security, the experience in EuroAsia so far has proven less than successful in accomplishing this goal. Similarly, the dilemmas in the Western Balkans, now focused on Serbia as factually the only country that is not either a NATO member, or part of the NATO enlargement process, need to be informed by this relative lack of success of Russia’s security initiatives in the Euro-Asian area. While the various aspects of security that connect Serbia and Euro-Asia — primarily the energy security considerations — do generate their own dimension of the impending deliberations with regard to the trans-Atlantic security integrations, the experiences of the Euro-Asian countries need to be factored in when decisions in the Western Balkans are made on the future course of such integrations.

Abstract ▼

Тhe term “future” covers the period of the EU’s development in the next ten years (2010-2020). The analysis starts from the time when the Lisbon Treaty entered into force (from December 1st, 2009). More important than the symbolism of years are the complex socio-political relations, both at the international level and within the EU, together with probable consequences of the economic and financial crisis. All that could have a long-term influence on EU decisions, meaning that the EU needs to make necessary adjustments in line with the changing conditions in the world, is viewed in within the context of the realisation of the vision of its work by the year 2020.

Abstract ▼

The Justice and Development Party’s rise to power in 2002 has initiated an unprecedented momentum of the Turkish foreign policy, which has not been seen since the era of the late Turkish Prime Minister and President Turgut Ozal. In this paper, by presenting the deterioration of Turkey’s relations with Syria, we shall deal with the uncertain future of the “Zero Problems with Neighbors” policy, which is considered one of the basic principles of Davutoğlu’s foreign policy. The abandonment of this principle has raised doubts that Turkey, despite the fact that it has proclaimed the necessity of obtaining “central country” status, has not given up its Cold War role of “NATO’s frontline outpost” in the Middle East. In other words, Turkey’s sudden “democratic self-awakening” has caused fears in Iran and also in Moscow, which apart from its clear support to Damascus has increased its military presence in the highly sensitive area of Northern Caucasus.

Abstract ▼

The article analyzes the structure of two regional organizations in South America and one in Central America trying to determine whether there are similarities in their organization and forms of cooperation between member states with the model applied in the case of the European Union. Based on the comparative analysis of the three cases the author draws wider implications of the increased influence of the European Union in Latin America for the attractiveness of its economic model.

Abstract ▼

Martin Krpan is the most important Slovene myth that surpasses the framework of literature, art, and history. The simple story sets up an example of how one should write; amongst other things, one must”wrap the truth in a pleasant joke”. It contains many layers of meaning, reaches beyond its time and is appealing as well as educational. We take a new understanding of the story and try to interpret Martin Krpan as an ad hoc diplomat. Krpan possesses a number of characteristics, which define diplomats: he is realistic, clever, experienced, reliable, masters protocol and the art of negotiations and knows when to speak indirectly and when to stand up directly for his own interests. In spite of all these aspects, we would say that Krpan was not a diplomat. However, he provides a role model for it, which is applicable in different social and international circumstances.

Abstract ▼

In this article, we discuss the idea and the legal-political principle of sovereignty and also the transformation that this concept has lived to see since the creation of the modern state at the dawn of the new century and especially in the period after World War II. As a kind of catalyst of this change, a significant role was played by supranational international organizations, which de facto and de iure have institutionalized the limitation of state sovereignty both in a formal and material sense. Equal to that, the great powers and the military alliances they founded and especially the military interventions they led have had a great influence on the relativisation of sovereignty as an attribute of statehood.

Abstract ▼

The author analyses the contemporary nuclear powers\' strategies trying to explain the factors that cause contradictions among them. In these contradictions, he sees the major obstacle to further nuclear disarmament, let alone achieving of “nuclear zero”. Different geographical, demographic, economic and political factors lead to conflicted political goals of the states, while contradictory views on the role and purpose of nuclear weapons rely on these goals. A dialogue between great powers on resolving or at least softening of the conflicts in the political goals is a necessary step towards a successful continuation of nuclear disarmament.

Abstract ▼

The authors analyze the problems that have occurred in the Russian Federation after the ratification of the European Council Convention on Corruption Criminal Liability and the OUN Convention against Corruption. The ratification of the mentioned conventions by the Russian Federation is a very important step in the Russian anti-corruption development. The authors criticize the deceleration of the implementation process in Russia in the past three years. By conducting a comparative-legal analysis of the implementation of the conventions mentioned above, the authors propose possible solutions for the implementation of the conventions texts (adjustment or adaptation) in the already existing Russian criminal legislation system. The authors are of the opinion that the implementation process should be conducted with maximum appreciation of the tradition and principles in the Russian criminal legislation. The purpose of this implementation method would be to maintain the conceptual ideas in the international documents in the Russian legislation, which would be directed towards the effective fight against corruption as well as towards the creation of conditions for cooperation among countries in this sphere.