No. 2

Author: Marián Bušša

Abstract: The paper examines the relationship between bu-reaucratic responsiveness of local governments and the size of municipalities in Slovakia. Using quantitative method, it finds that despite the theo-retical expectations, there is only weak positive correlation between the two variables. The paper also introduces our measured data on responsive-ness of local governments for the entire Slovak ter-ritory in the late 2019 and early 2020 time period and compares it to the data form a previous meas-urement in the early 2019. The values of respon-siveness are calculated for individual districts. The paper finds that the values the two measurements – both using probability samples of Slovak munici-palities, but with different municipalities in each measurement – are not always consistent, although both show the lowest values to be in Eastern Slo-vakia, especially in the Prešov Region. We argue that one of the main reasons for that is small size of municipalities in this region, which makes bu-reaucracy understaffed and shorthanded there. But this relationship is clearly only part of the expla-nation and other influences are also interfering, otherwise the data would have shown a stronger correlation there.

Keywords: local government, bureaucratic responsiveness, Slovakia, social capital

Vol. 15, 2021, No. 2, p. 1-6

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Author: Pavol HRIVIK, Matej MINDAR

Abstract: The article deals with issues of human rights, lib-erty and democracy in the context of a widely per-ceived concept security, including protection of public health in the European Union and Slovak Republic during the long-term coronavirus pan-demics of Covid-19. In the text of contribution, there are critically judged a solitary relation of human rights and democracy in an European rate, reasons of deformation of the agenda of human rights, thereinafter some aspects of the contempo-rary human rights discourse and potential incom-patibility in a field of human rights and finally re-strictions of human rights and principles of democ-racy within a fight against Covid pandemics in Slovakia.

Keywords: human rights, democracy, security, public health, pandemics Covid-19, limitations of democracy and legally consistent state

Vol. 15, 2021, No. 2, p. 7-11

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Author: Marcela BARČÁKOVÁ

Abstract: In this article, we address the issues of the coun-tries of the Western Balkans related to the acces-sion to the European Union. We focus on areas to which we have so far had the opportunity to obtain information on the countries belonging to the Western Balkans region.
In our paper, we aim to introduce the region of the Western Balkans in more detail and look at the arguments that support the integration of countries into the EU. For the European Union, but also for the countries of the Western Balkans, to point out what enlargement policy is like and what the bene-fits are.
From a methodological point of view, we classify the paper among qualitative research, using a de-scriptive, comparative and analytical method. As part of enlargement policy, it can be seen that this policy is constantly changing. It can be said that nothing is more permanent than change, which brings with it benefits as well as certain challenges and benefits, which we want to point out in this paper.

Keywords: European Union, enlargement policy, Western Balkans, inte-gration process, benefits, challenges

Vol. 15, 2021, No. 2, p. 12-16

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Author: Jaroslav Čársky, Marcel Lincényi

Abstract: This work aims to describe and analyze aspects of politicians credibility in the Slovak Republic. I will perform the given description and analysis through the following terms: political culture, ethics, mo-rality, virtue. In this work, I will focus on the analysis of nega-tive manifestations of selected politicians. For the plurality of opinions and ideas, I chose one politi-cian from the governing coalition and the other from the opposition. From the government coali-tion, I chose the chairman of the strongest govern-ment political party, Igor Matovič, and from the opposition, I chose the chairman of the Smer-SD party, Robert Fico. In the case of Robert Fico, I will discuss his populism, statements, relationship with journalists and the degree of self-reflection.

Keywords: politics, statements, political culture, political credibility, Slovak republic

Vol. 15, 2021, No. 2, p. 17-21

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Author: prof. Dr. Štefan Volner, CSc.

Abstract: 

Keywords: 

Vol. 15, 2021, No. 2, p. 22-28

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