The basic questions of this book concern the contemporary role and importance of the presidency i... more The basic questions of this book concern the contemporary role and importance of the presidency in the European Union. How has the presidency – initially quite a modest function – been able to gain such a significant role for the EU proceedings? It managed to initiate far reaching projects, solve basic negotiating problems, or – until the Lisbon treaty – to represent the Union externally. What are the main challenges related to its preparations and how it is run? Answers to these questions seem to be necessary to capture the elements of the contemporary dispute over the political leadership in the European Union, narrowed down to the issue of the presidency and its institutional
role in the EU decision-making system. Hence, another question arises: What is the significance of the presidency for the general models of European integration? Understanding that would help us not only to explain the long-term integration trends, but would also provide a reference framework for practical projects that might be undertaken by future presidencies. The basic theory of European integration tested here is institutionalism in its various formulations.
Obviously, the Europeanization process has not yet brought the expected “common house of Europe” ... more Obviously, the Europeanization process has not yet brought the expected “common house of Europe” with all the freedoms and values linked to the symbol of 1989. It is true that Europe has been able to give important support to the transformation processes in Central and Eastern Europe. But it is equally
true that the underlying ideas of Europe have not found their way to almost all countries of the former Soviet Union. In this regard Russia stands for an ideologically and power oriented regime, contrasting its authoritarian “model” to the Europeanization process and particularly to all the “coloured” democratic
experiments in its neighbourhood. The eastwards movement of experiments with democracy, as it could be observed in the “colour revolutions” in Ukraine and Georgia, is challenged by a westwards movement of the quasiauthoritarian Russian model. The recent repressions in Belarus followed by the rigged elections in December 2010 obviously stand for the westwards move of the Russian model. And it remains to be seen to what extent the achievements of the “colour revolutions” can be at least partially maintained in Ukraine and in Georgia. Freedom is not an uncontested value in the post-Soviet space. But it has been claimed at its periphery where a lot of hybrid and transitional
situations can still be observed. Typically countries characterised by transitional or hybrid regimes are oscillating somewhere in a grey zone between the democratic and the authoritarian poles. They may have halted, delayed or impeded their transformation process. In order to prevent the risk of an authoritarian
backlash, an European democracy promotion strategy would make sense in those countries that show unclear prospects for democracy. This would be in line with what 1989 was about: overcoming the division of Europe and avoiding new division lines between East and West.
It is precisely the challenges of ambiguous transitions that the contributions to the volume try to address from their various regional and disciplinary perspectives. The book is organized into three larger parts, respectively, (1) covering ambiguities of unfinished transformations, (2) attempting to make sense of the past and its implications for the present, and (3) deliberating over
values and meanings in changing contexts. They do not assemble the countries regionally, but rather attempt to organize various narratives around problems, as there seem to be three large areas of difficulties experienced along the different paths of transformation.
The questions explored are: Does a major transformation on a member state's internal political sc... more The questions explored are: Does a major transformation on a member state's internal political scene result in substantial changes in its relations within the EU? Does an internal policy change result in European policy adjustment?
The book aims to portray and understand variety of modes and methods of European Union activity. ... more The book aims to portray and understand variety of modes and methods of European Union activity. The EU is addressed here as an entity, a centralised political power centre, as well as decentralised implementator of legislation (Member States). It attempts to compare and juxtapose the variety of modes and methods of the EU action in order to find common links between policies and possible ways of improving EU activity by showing similarities and differences among its policies.
Kompendium wiedzy o podstawowych politykach Unii Europejskiej. W przekrojowy sposób przedstawione... more Kompendium wiedzy o podstawowych politykach Unii Europejskiej. W przekrojowy sposób przedstawione zostało działanie jednolitego rynku UE, polityka konkurencji, wspólna polityka rolna, polityka przemysłowa, polityka ochrony środowiska, polityka transportowa, polityka audiowizualna, wspólna polityka zagraniczna i polityka bezpieczeństwa oraz współpraca w dziedzinie spraw wewnętrznych i wymiaru sprawiedliwości. Celem było uchwycenie współzależności pomiędzy politykami i ukazanie ich historycznej ewolucji.
Jesien focuses on the influential figure of Jan Kulakowski. From the mid-1950s until the end of t... more Jesien focuses on the influential figure of Jan Kulakowski. From the mid-1950s until the end of the Cold War, this Belgian-based Polish Christian Democrat served as one of the principal architects of Christian trade unionism, not only in Western Europe but across multiple continents. In 1989, he returned to Poland and became the country’s new ambassador to the European Community; a decade later, he would negotiate the terms of Poland’s accession to the European Union. As Jesien demonstrates, Kulakowski moved away from political Christian Democracy to pluralism in a manner that has heralded the larger trajectory of political Catholicism in Europe.
The basic questions of this book concern the contemporary role and importance of the presidency i... more The basic questions of this book concern the contemporary role and importance of the presidency in the European Union. How has the presidency – initially quite a modest function – been able to gain such a significant role for the EU proceedings? It managed to initiate far reaching projects, solve basic negotiating problems, or – until the Lisbon treaty – to represent the Union externally. What are the main challenges related to its preparations and how it is run? Answers to these questions seem to be necessary to capture the elements of the contemporary dispute over the political leadership in the European Union, narrowed down to the issue of the presidency and its institutional
role in the EU decision-making system. Hence, another question arises: What is the significance of the presidency for the general models of European integration? Understanding that would help us not only to explain the long-term integration trends, but would also provide a reference framework for practical projects that might be undertaken by future presidencies. The basic theory of European integration tested here is institutionalism in its various formulations.
Obviously, the Europeanization process has not yet brought the expected “common house of Europe” ... more Obviously, the Europeanization process has not yet brought the expected “common house of Europe” with all the freedoms and values linked to the symbol of 1989. It is true that Europe has been able to give important support to the transformation processes in Central and Eastern Europe. But it is equally
true that the underlying ideas of Europe have not found their way to almost all countries of the former Soviet Union. In this regard Russia stands for an ideologically and power oriented regime, contrasting its authoritarian “model” to the Europeanization process and particularly to all the “coloured” democratic
experiments in its neighbourhood. The eastwards movement of experiments with democracy, as it could be observed in the “colour revolutions” in Ukraine and Georgia, is challenged by a westwards movement of the quasiauthoritarian Russian model. The recent repressions in Belarus followed by the rigged elections in December 2010 obviously stand for the westwards move of the Russian model. And it remains to be seen to what extent the achievements of the “colour revolutions” can be at least partially maintained in Ukraine and in Georgia. Freedom is not an uncontested value in the post-Soviet space. But it has been claimed at its periphery where a lot of hybrid and transitional
situations can still be observed. Typically countries characterised by transitional or hybrid regimes are oscillating somewhere in a grey zone between the democratic and the authoritarian poles. They may have halted, delayed or impeded their transformation process. In order to prevent the risk of an authoritarian
backlash, an European democracy promotion strategy would make sense in those countries that show unclear prospects for democracy. This would be in line with what 1989 was about: overcoming the division of Europe and avoiding new division lines between East and West.
It is precisely the challenges of ambiguous transitions that the contributions to the volume try to address from their various regional and disciplinary perspectives. The book is organized into three larger parts, respectively, (1) covering ambiguities of unfinished transformations, (2) attempting to make sense of the past and its implications for the present, and (3) deliberating over
values and meanings in changing contexts. They do not assemble the countries regionally, but rather attempt to organize various narratives around problems, as there seem to be three large areas of difficulties experienced along the different paths of transformation.
The questions explored are: Does a major transformation on a member state's internal political sc... more The questions explored are: Does a major transformation on a member state's internal political scene result in substantial changes in its relations within the EU? Does an internal policy change result in European policy adjustment?
The book aims to portray and understand variety of modes and methods of European Union activity. ... more The book aims to portray and understand variety of modes and methods of European Union activity. The EU is addressed here as an entity, a centralised political power centre, as well as decentralised implementator of legislation (Member States). It attempts to compare and juxtapose the variety of modes and methods of the EU action in order to find common links between policies and possible ways of improving EU activity by showing similarities and differences among its policies.
Kompendium wiedzy o podstawowych politykach Unii Europejskiej. W przekrojowy sposób przedstawione... more Kompendium wiedzy o podstawowych politykach Unii Europejskiej. W przekrojowy sposób przedstawione zostało działanie jednolitego rynku UE, polityka konkurencji, wspólna polityka rolna, polityka przemysłowa, polityka ochrony środowiska, polityka transportowa, polityka audiowizualna, wspólna polityka zagraniczna i polityka bezpieczeństwa oraz współpraca w dziedzinie spraw wewnętrznych i wymiaru sprawiedliwości. Celem było uchwycenie współzależności pomiędzy politykami i ukazanie ich historycznej ewolucji.
Jesien focuses on the influential figure of Jan Kulakowski. From the mid-1950s until the end of t... more Jesien focuses on the influential figure of Jan Kulakowski. From the mid-1950s until the end of the Cold War, this Belgian-based Polish Christian Democrat served as one of the principal architects of Christian trade unionism, not only in Western Europe but across multiple continents. In 1989, he returned to Poland and became the country’s new ambassador to the European Community; a decade later, he would negotiate the terms of Poland’s accession to the European Union. As Jesien demonstrates, Kulakowski moved away from political Christian Democracy to pluralism in a manner that has heralded the larger trajectory of political Catholicism in Europe.
Jesien focuses on the influential figure of Jan Kulakowski. From the mid-1950s until the end of t... more Jesien focuses on the influential figure of Jan Kulakowski. From the mid-1950s until the end of the Cold War, this Belgian-based Polish Christian Democrat served as one of the principal architects of Christian trade unionism, not only in Western Europe but across multiple continents. In 1989, he returned to Poland and became the country’s new ambassador to the European Community; a decade later, he would negotiate the terms of Poland’s accession to the European Union. As Jesien demonstrates, Kulakowski moved away from political Christian Democracy to pluralism in a manner that has heralded the larger trajectory of political Catholicism in Europe.
The book aims to portray and understand variety of modes and methods of European Union activity. ... more The book aims to portray and understand variety of modes and methods of European Union activity. The EU is addressed here as an entity, a centralised political power centre, as well as decentralised implementator of legislation (Member States). It attempts to compare and juxtapose the variety of modes and methods of the EU action in order to find common links between policies and possible ways of improving EU activity by showing similarities and differences among its policies.
Kształt instytucjonalny Unii Europejskiej jest wciąż pod kontrolą państw członkowskich, które tes... more Kształt instytucjonalny Unii Europejskiej jest wciąż pod kontrolą państw członkowskich, które testują różne formy współpracy.
Well in the spirit of Montesquieu it might be useful today to ponder upon the nature of contempor... more Well in the spirit of Montesquieu it might be useful today to ponder upon the nature of contemporary form of the European Union and its democracy. Indeed, would has he lived today, we can be sure he would have tackled the issue of relations between the European states and the their Union. This is what today defines the very core of European democracy.
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Books by Leszek Jesien
role in the EU decision-making system. Hence, another question arises: What is the significance of the presidency for the general models of European integration? Understanding that would help us not only to explain the long-term integration trends, but would also provide a reference framework for practical projects that might be undertaken by future presidencies. The basic theory of European integration tested here is institutionalism in its various formulations.
true that the underlying ideas of Europe have not found their way to almost all countries of the former Soviet Union. In this regard Russia stands for an ideologically and power oriented regime, contrasting its authoritarian “model” to the Europeanization process and particularly to all the “coloured” democratic
experiments in its neighbourhood. The eastwards movement of experiments with democracy, as it could be observed in the “colour revolutions” in Ukraine and Georgia, is challenged by a westwards movement of the quasiauthoritarian Russian model. The recent repressions in Belarus followed by the rigged elections in December 2010 obviously stand for the westwards move of the Russian model. And it remains to be seen to what extent the achievements of the “colour revolutions” can be at least partially maintained in Ukraine and in Georgia. Freedom is not an uncontested value in the post-Soviet space. But it has been claimed at its periphery where a lot of hybrid and transitional
situations can still be observed. Typically countries characterised by transitional or hybrid regimes are oscillating somewhere in a grey zone between the democratic and the authoritarian poles. They may have halted, delayed or impeded their transformation process. In order to prevent the risk of an authoritarian
backlash, an European democracy promotion strategy would make sense in those countries that show unclear prospects for democracy. This would be in line with what 1989 was about: overcoming the division of Europe and avoiding new division lines between East and West.
It is precisely the challenges of ambiguous transitions that the contributions to the volume try to address from their various regional and disciplinary perspectives. The book is organized into three larger parts, respectively, (1) covering ambiguities of unfinished transformations, (2) attempting to make sense of the past and its implications for the present, and (3) deliberating over
values and meanings in changing contexts. They do not assemble the countries regionally, but rather attempt to organize various narratives around problems, as there seem to be three large areas of difficulties experienced along the different paths of transformation.
Papers by Leszek Jesien
role in the EU decision-making system. Hence, another question arises: What is the significance of the presidency for the general models of European integration? Understanding that would help us not only to explain the long-term integration trends, but would also provide a reference framework for practical projects that might be undertaken by future presidencies. The basic theory of European integration tested here is institutionalism in its various formulations.
true that the underlying ideas of Europe have not found their way to almost all countries of the former Soviet Union. In this regard Russia stands for an ideologically and power oriented regime, contrasting its authoritarian “model” to the Europeanization process and particularly to all the “coloured” democratic
experiments in its neighbourhood. The eastwards movement of experiments with democracy, as it could be observed in the “colour revolutions” in Ukraine and Georgia, is challenged by a westwards movement of the quasiauthoritarian Russian model. The recent repressions in Belarus followed by the rigged elections in December 2010 obviously stand for the westwards move of the Russian model. And it remains to be seen to what extent the achievements of the “colour revolutions” can be at least partially maintained in Ukraine and in Georgia. Freedom is not an uncontested value in the post-Soviet space. But it has been claimed at its periphery where a lot of hybrid and transitional
situations can still be observed. Typically countries characterised by transitional or hybrid regimes are oscillating somewhere in a grey zone between the democratic and the authoritarian poles. They may have halted, delayed or impeded their transformation process. In order to prevent the risk of an authoritarian
backlash, an European democracy promotion strategy would make sense in those countries that show unclear prospects for democracy. This would be in line with what 1989 was about: overcoming the division of Europe and avoiding new division lines between East and West.
It is precisely the challenges of ambiguous transitions that the contributions to the volume try to address from their various regional and disciplinary perspectives. The book is organized into three larger parts, respectively, (1) covering ambiguities of unfinished transformations, (2) attempting to make sense of the past and its implications for the present, and (3) deliberating over
values and meanings in changing contexts. They do not assemble the countries regionally, but rather attempt to organize various narratives around problems, as there seem to be three large areas of difficulties experienced along the different paths of transformation.