AUTHOR’S SYNOPSES
UDK 316.344.32:331.556.46
Branko ILIČ, Sabina BERNJAK, Andrej RUS: INTELEKTUALNI KAPITAL
KOT KAZALNIK USPEŠNOSTI POMURSKE REGIJE
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 579–604
Eden od ključnih dejavnikov uspeha vsake regije je ustrezna raven intelektualnega kapitala, ki ga prispevajo njeni prebivalci. V članku skušamo
pokazati, da nizka raven regionalnega razvoja v Pomurju kot najmanj razviti
regiji Slovenije sovpada z nizko ravnijo intelektualnega kapitala. V članku
pregledamo literaturo o konceptu in merjenju intelektualnega kapitala ter
ponudimo operacionalizacijo, ki je primerna za merjenje intelektualnega
kapitala na regionalni ravni. Rezultati pokažejo, da ima Pomurje nižjo raven
intelektualnega kapitala, kot je nacionalno povprečje. Analiza stopenj rasti
intelektualnega kapitala skozi sedemletno obdobje nakazuje sistematično
zaostajanje Pomurja za slovenskim povprečjem. Študija primera pokaže, da
je beg možganov poglavitni kontekstualni dejavnik, ki vpliva na raven intelektualnega kapitala in ki negativno vpliva na uspešnost regije. Ugotovitve
pokažejo na prioritete za bolj uspešno razvojno politiko.
Ključni pojmi: intelektualni kapital, beg možganov, regionalni razvoj,
Pomurje
UDK 328.184:061.1EU
Mitja HAFNER-FINK, Meta NOVAK, Danica FINK-HAFNER, Rainer
EISING, Daniel RASCH, Patrycja ROZBICKA: VELIKANI IN PALČKI:
MNOGORAVENSKE STRATEGIJE LOBIRANJA NACIONALNIH
INTERESNIH ORGANIZACIJ
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 605–624
Članek z raziskovanjem lobističnih strategij nacionalnih interesnih organizacij v okviru političnega sistema EU opozarja na popačenost interesnega predstavništva v okviru EU. Tako teoretski okvir o določnicah odločitve
nacionalnih interesnih organizacij (IO), da delujejo na ravni EU, kot tudi
analiza podatkov projekta INTEREURO Multi-Level Governance Module
(MLG) (www.intereuro.eu) razkrivata tri ključne ugotovitve. Prvič, največje
razlike med interesnimi organizacijami nastajajo med IO iz starejših članic
EU (Nemčije, Združenega kraljestva in Nizozemske), kar se kaže v njihovi
nadpovprečni aktivnosti, ter IO iz novejših članic EU (Švedske in Slovenije),
ki so podpovprečno aktivne na ravni EU. Drugič, razlike med ravnmi aktivnosti IO med različnimi javnopolitičnimi področji so manjše kot razlike med
državami. Tretjič, čeprav IO iz vseh držav uporabljajo medije in strategije
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objavljanja (informacijsko politiko) pogosteje kot mobilizacijo svojih članov in podpornikov (protestno politiko), lahko vendarle opazimo nacionalne vzorce pri izbiri strategij IO in v intenzivnosti uporabe teh strategij.
Ključni pojmi: EU, interesne skupine, interesne organizacije, lobiranje,
strategije
UDK 321.01 Locke J.
Igor LUKŠIČ: ACTUALITY AND ACUTENESS OF LOCKE’S CONCEPTION
OF PROPERTY
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 625–644
840
John Locke placed the concept of private property as the main concept
of his political theory. Private property is natural and therefore legitimates
natural political power compared to the divine legitimation of feudal political power. Locke is a great advocate of capitalist society against feudal
monarchy based on theological ideology. His criticism of Filmer's idea of
the Christian foundation of monarchic power provides the base for his concepts of private property, civil society, state, law and judge. The final end of
all state and social institutions is the defence of private property as the most
important natural thing.
Keywords: John Locke, Robert Filmer, private property, state, state of
nature, civil society, capitalism
UDC 355.019.2:341.123
Anton BEBLER: THE UNITED NATIONS AND DISARMAMENT
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 645–658
The purpose of this article is to show the link between the functioning of
the United Nations (UN) in the field of arms limitation and earlier international activities in this field. Specifically, the article focuses on efforts undertaken throughout the UN system of principal organs and other bodies. It
looks at the UN’s role in the context of a wider international effort as the
initiator, supporter, convenor, depositary of international conventions and
treaties, and as the institution that monitors states’ compliance with those
international agreements.
Keywords: disarmament, United Nations, disarmament conference,
international conventions, nuclear arms
TEORIJA IN PRAKSA let. 53, 3/2016
UDC 341.123(569.4-076)
Primož ŠTERBENC: THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE QUESTION
OF THE PALESTINE
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 659–675
The article deals with the activities of the United Nations (UN) regarding
the problem of Palestine. On one hand, the UN has coped with the issue as
it set up the legal basis for its resolution, established the Palestinian people’s
right to self-determination, and created an institutional place for membership of the State of Palestine in the UN. However, the UN has been unable
to stop the continuing Israeli violations of international law which have
considerably reduced the possibility of creating a Palestinian state. This has
been the result of the United States of America’s consistent pro-Israeli policies in the UN Security Council. In sum, one can argue that the UN’s activities have been a great failure. Yet, the General Assembly of the UN is much
less responsible for this failure than the UN Security Council.
Keywords: United Nations, Palestine, Palestinian state, international law,
Security Council, United States of America
UDC 341.123:355.357
Mateja PETER: LEGITIMACY AND RELEVANCE: THE FUTURE
OF UNITED NATIONS PEACE OPERATIONS
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 676–693
Peace operations are more than just an activity of the United Nations
(UN), they symbolise what the organisation stands for. This contribution
analyses past and recent trends in UN peacekeeping. It sees its transformations as a reflection of changes in the global order and a sign of the organisation’s legitimacy deficit. Major reforms of the UN and its peace operations
are unlikely. The UN will therefore remain preoccupied with its own legitimacy and the relevance of its peace operations for contemporary conflicts.
Parallel to this, we can expect the development of new ad hoc approaches
to conflicts.
Keywords: peace operations, peacekeeping, United Nations, African
Union, use of force, legitimacy
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841
UDC 341.123:34.018
Katarina VATOVEC: UN SANCTIONS: TOWARDS CREATING A GLOBAL
SANCTIONS POLICY
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 694–711
842
The use of sanctions – particularly since the end of bipolarity – characterises the functioning of the United Nations (UN). The article argues that it
was precisely the development of this particular tool of international relations within the framework of the world organisation that made a significant contribution to its integration and meaning within the context of multilateral organisations. The shift from comprehensive to targeted sanctions
which, by deviating from the traditional, country-related measures mainly
focuses on targeted individuals, has shaped contemporary understanding
of the concept of sanctions. The use of sanctions, adjusted to the requirements of the changing international environment and time, widens the gap
between their dual nature pertaining to law and politics. The author’s findings are based on a theoretical approach and an analysis of the sanctions
adopted by the decision-making body, the bearer of UN sanctions policy,
i.e. the Security Council. Due to the increased intensity of the sanctions and
their characteristics, mainly the flexibility of the Security Council, its involvement in international politics, and the narrowness of the normative basis, it
is possible to evaluate the UN’s contribution in the area of the use of sanctions. This also gives impetus to considering the creation of a global sanctions policy with the protection of human rights at its centre.
Keywords: UN sanctions, sanctions policy, Security Council, protection
of human rights
UDC 341.123:343.211.3
Petra ROTER: THE UNITED NATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 712–728
The paper aims to analyse the role of the United Nations (UN) in the area
of international protection of human rights, in terms of both norm development (i.e. through international conventions) and the development of
mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of norms. To achieve this
goal, the paper applies a historical analysis. Special attention is paid to the
significance of the Cold War as an obstacle to further development of the
global human rights regime. The paper relies on extensive use of primary
sources – human rights documents adopted by the UN over the period of
TEORIJA IN PRAKSA let. 53, 3/2016
seven decades. The paper ends by reflecting on further challenges for the
UN in the field of international protection of human rights.
Keywords: international protection of human rights, United Nations,
norms, monitoring mechanisms, politics of human rights
UDC 061.2:343.211.3
Metka NAGLIČ: CARRYING OUT THE WORK OF INTERNATIONAL
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS AT THE UNITED NATIONS:
THE CASE OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 729–745
The main focus of this article is the evolving role of non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) in the United Nations (UN). It is striking that, although
70 years have passed since the UN was created, intergovernmentalism continues to represent an obstacle, if not an opposition, to the more active role
of NGOs in the UN system. This is especially the case when human rights
issues are discussed. Amnesty International (AI) serves as a case study for
this article because it is arguably the most influential NGO committed to
protecting human rights. Since 1964, it has enjoyed consultation status with
the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) in which
it actively promotes human rights as an important topic in the work of the
UN. In this respect, the article discusses the work of AI within the UN to
illustrate the potential of NGOs in (co)operating with and within the UN. It
assesses the impact of AI in terms of both contributing to setting the standards of human rights law and monitoring their implementation, but also in
terms of its ability to call for action when human rights are being violated.
Finally, the article evaluates the role of AI as an actor in the process of the
UN’s institutional development.
Keywords: non-governmental organisations, human rights, international
law of human rights, United Nations, Amnesty International
UDC 341.123.02(497.4)
Dimitrij RUPEL: CRUMPLED FLAG, REMARKS ON THE 70TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE UN AND SOME OTHER ANNIVERSARIES
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 746–760
The article presents new historical facts and personal observations concerning Slovenia’s accession to membership of the United Nations (UN) in
TEORIJA IN PRAKSA let. 53, 3/2016
843
844
1991. Personal comments are connected with the author’s diplomatic career
and his experience at the helm of the Foreign Ministry between 1991 and
2008. The author compares the UN with other international organisations,
and finds that it has hardly adapted to the circumstances that have arisen
since the end of the Cold War. From this point of view, the author considers as interesting the sympathies the UN enjoys in (mostly) the left-leaning
part of the Slovenian political community. The lively interest of Yugoslav
diplomats from Slovenia in positions within the UN system before 1992 is
also mentioned. The article details the moment when Slovenia became the
176th member of the organisation. He describes the structure and operation
of the UN system, and emphasises the Slovenian foreign policy after the fall
of the Berlin Wall. In connection with these, he discusses new challenges,
particularly the migrant/refugee crisis and solidarity. He finds that the UN
did not distinguish itself in resolution of the Yugoslav crisis. He sums up
his speech at the General Assembly in New York in autumn 2006 and his
conversation with Ban Ki-moon in 2008 when Slovenia held the Presidency
of the EU. According to the author, the UN needs reform but, given the interests of the permanent members of the Security Council, there is little hope
of seeing that happen soon.
Keywords: UN membership, WWII, Berlin Wall, Milan Kučan, Boutros
Boutros Ghali
UDC 341.123.02(497.4)
Boštjan UDOVIČ: Boštjan UDOVIČ: “FIGHTING FOR OUR PLANS”:
THE CONTRIBUTION OF SLOVENIAN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 761–776
The article introduces the work of Slovenians serving as permanent representatives to the United Nations (UN). The main purpose of the article is to
emphasise that Slovenian permanent representatives, whether they served
as Yugoslav or Slovenian permanent representatives to the UN, had three
characteristics. First, they were ‘figures’, meaning they had a solid political
or diplomatic career before entering the UN system. Second, Slovenians in
New York were committed to the UN and to multilateralism, understood as
a precondition for symmetric relations and equality among states. As such,
Slovenian permanent representatives in the UN were always taken into consideration when the debate was on human rights, legal issues, sovereign
equality and the right of nations to independence and to their own development path. Due to all these characteristics, one can say that Slovenian
TEORIJA IN PRAKSA let. 53, 3/2016
permanent representatives to the UN significantly influenced the progressive development of the UN.
Keywords: permanent representatives, United Nations, Yugoslavia,
Slovenia
UDC 316.42:341.123(497.4)
Adriana ARALICA: UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS AS ADVOCATES
AND CRITICAL OBSERVERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 777–794
The article analyses the role of civil society in the United Nations (UN)
system with United Nations Associations (UNAs) as a case study. UNAs –
national civil society organisations with diverse programmes and memberships – represent a link between citizens of the world and the UN. The article presents UNA Slovenia's success stories and focuses on the pioneering
role of UNA Slovenia in the field of global education in former Yugoslavia
and opportunities to reinforce this role. UNAs will continue to be flag-bearers of UN issues and values. Establishing dialogue with relevant stakeholders, advocating UN values and goals and taking a critical look at UN activities with a special focus on youth as a target group presents an opportunity
to strengthen UNA Slovenia as the central forum for discussions on global
challenges.
Keywords: United Nations, civil society, United Nations Associations,
advocacy, information service, global education
UDC 341.123:32-053.81
KATJA CIMERMANČIČ and Miha PONGRAC: THE POTENTIAL OF THE
INSTITUTE OF UN YOUTH DELEGATE
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 795–809
The 70th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) represents a great
opportunity to highlight the position of a UN Youth delegate, which was
recently introduced in Slovenia, and to answer the question of what is the
added value of this particular institution. The article begins with a historical
overview of the position of UN Youth delegate, illustrated by comparing
approaches of certain UN member states to the Youth delegate programme.
In this respect, the article underscores the messages the UN member states
and indeed the UN itself try to convey, especially to young people, through
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the Youth Delegate programme. Finally, the article offers some policy suggestions for Slovenia as to the future development and work of the UN
Youth Delegate programme in this country.
Keywords: UN, Youth Delegate, youth policies, National Youth Council
of Slovenia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
UDC 341.123:355.357
Zlatko ŠABIČ: THE ROLE OF SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED
NATIONS: JOB IMPOSSIBLE?
Teorija in praksa, Ljubljana 2016, Vol. LIII, No. 3, pg. 810–830
846
The aim of this paper is to analyse the role and importance of the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN). This article is based
on the thesis that a high level of independence of the Secretary-General in
formulating and implementing UN policies brings certain risks because
member states, especially the permanent members of the Security Council,
are unwilling to accept the role of the Secretary-General as an equal player.
The lessons learned from past mandates indicate there is considerable mistrust in Secretaries-General. However, this is inconsistent with the challenges from the external environment the UN has to deal with. In the contemporary international community, which is becoming increasingly conflictual,
there is a realistic need for a Secretary-General whose primary task, even at
the expense of states’ interests, would be to actively strengthen the role and
image of the UN as an organisation whose existence is critical in any effort
to prevent a new world war.
Keywords: UN, Secretary-General, actorness, UN Charter, peace operations
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