scholarly journals Instant democracy: a look forward to the EU’s digital future

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-81
Author(s):  
Miguel Pereira

Democracy’s resilience is being put to the test by the 21st century. The impactof globalisation and digitalisation has disenfranchised many but so have traditional democratic practices. In an era of constant and immediate communication, with society embracing technological advances while struggling to cope with its inadvertent effects, democracy is still tethered to traditional practices that limit citizens’ roles to casting their ballots every few years. However, theory is now being put to the test and experiments with digital democracy are popping up across the globe. In this article, we cover three participative democracy instruments, namely the European Citizens Initiative, e-Voting and e-Participatory Budgeting, delving into their potential and identifying their limitations, in the context of the European Union. We also cover the unforeseen threats to democracy posed by information security issues and social media.

Author(s):  
Oleksandr Malashko ◽  
◽  
Serhii Yesimov ◽  

The article examines trends in the development of legal regulation of information security in Ukraine in the context of the implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union. The current information legislation and regulations on information security are analyzed. The tendencies in the legal regulation of information security that took place at the initial stage of the formation of information legislation are revealed. Based on the factors that took place before the adoption of the Doctrine of information security of Ukraine, the laws of Ukraine “On the basic principles of ensuring the cybersecurity of Ukraine”, “On the national security of Ukraine”, in the context of the current legislation, based on the methodology of legal forecasting, it is concluded that in the future the development of normative legal information security will be developed on the basis of by-laws, mainly at the departmental level.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 95-112
Author(s):  
Miroslava Kovaříková

This article deals with the issue of security management and its following application in education. The article focuses on the topic of armed attacks at schools. Based on a research probe aimed at teachers which focused on perception of security risks, there are chosen areas to which Central emergency system services should react. Further, knowledge of technical and organizational measures of emergency plans in the organization and the level of attention paid to this issue by the school management were investigated. In the text there are also international models of solutions of this issue introduced. The contribution also brings outline of how is the issue solved in the European Union countries, in particular in the Kingdom of Spain. Experience with the solution of security issues of schools in Latin America are also mentioned. In the conclusion the summary of measures for improvement of security at schools is presented.


Author(s):  
Robert E. Goodin ◽  
Kai Spiekermann

This chapter reflects on the election of Donald Trump and the vote of the British electorate in favour of ‘Brexit’ from the European Union. While we refrain from judging the outcomes of these votes, we do discuss concerns pertaining to the lack of truthfulness in both campaigns. After rehearsing the lies on which the Trump and Brexit campaigns were based, we consider different explanations as to why these campaigns were nevertheless successful, and where this leaves the argument for epistemic democracy. Particularly worrisome are tendencies towards ‘epistemic insouciance’, ‘epistemic malevolence’, and ‘epistemic agnosticism’. We also consider the problematic influence of social media in terms of echo chambers and filter bubbles. The core argument in favour of epistemic democracy is that the pooling of votes by majority rule has epistemically beneficial properties, assuming certain conditions. If these assumptions are not met, or are systematically corrupted, then epistemic democracy is under threat.


Napredak ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-102
Author(s):  
Žarko Obradović

The Chinese state has existed for more than five thousand years and in the history of human society it has always presented its own specific civilizational attainment, which exerted a considerable influence on the Asian region. In the years since its creation on October 1, 1949, and especially in the last decade, New China has stepped out beyond the region of Asia onto the global scene. With its economic power and international development projects (amongst which the Belt and Road projects stands out), China has become a leader of development and the promoter of the idea of international cooperation in the interests of peace and security in the world and the protection of the future of mankind. This paper will attempt to delineate the elements of the development of the People's Republic of China in the 21st century, placing a special focus on the realization of the Belt and Road initiative and the results of the struggle against the Covid-19 pandemic, all of which have made China an essential factor in the power relations between great global forces and the resultant change of attitude of the United States of America and the European Union towards China. Namely, China has always been a large country in terms of the size of its territory and population, but it is in the 21st century that the PR of China has become a strong state with the status of a global power. Such results in the organization of society and the state, the promotion of new development ideas and the achievement of set goals, would not have been possible without the Communist Party of China, as the main ideological, integrative and organizational factor within Chinese society. In its activities, the Chinese state sublimates the experiences of China's past with an understanding of the present moment in the international community and the need of Chinese citizens to improve the quality of life and to ensure stable development of the country. The United States and the European Union are taking various measures to oppose the strengthening of the People's Republic of China. These include looking after their interests and preserving their position in the international community, while simultaneously trying, if possible, to avoid jeopardizing their economic cooperation with China.


Author(s):  
Peter Shields

ICT-related initiatives have dominated the border security strategies of the United States and the European Union in recent years. One set of surveillance systems fortifies the borderline. Another set is creating new frontiers away from the traditional boundary. The objectives of this chapter are to provide a detailed mapping and critical assessment of this two-pronged approach. With respect to the assessment, two arguments are made. First, there are good reasons to believe the approach is not enabling the authorities to deter identified border threats. Second, the approach is contributing to a border management regime that is having an increasingly divergent impact on the mobility and life chances of different groups and populations. In conclusion, it is suggested the inefficacy of the approach is due to contradictions and blind spots embedded in policy maker’s approaches to security issues. Remarks are offered as to why US and EU decision makers emphasize the role of ICTs as they seek to reconstitute their respective borders.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-244
Author(s):  
João Serrado ◽  
Ruben Filipe Pereira ◽  
Miguel Mira da Silva ◽  
Isaías Scalabrin Bianchi

Purpose Data can nowadays be seen as the main asset of organizations and data leaks have a considerable impact on the organization’s image, revenues and possible consequences to the affected clients. One of the most critical industries is the bank. Information security frameworks (ISF) have been created to assist organizations and other frameworks evolved to update these domain practices. Recently, the European Union decided to create the general data protection regulation (GDPR), applicable to all organizations dealing with personal data of citizens residing in the European Union. Although considered a general regulation, GDPR implementation needs to align with some industries’ laws and policies. Especially in the Bank industry. How these ISF can assist the implementation of GDPR is not clear. Design/methodology/approach The design science research process was followed and semi-structured interviews performed. Findings A list of practices to assist the bank industry in GDPR implementation is provided. How each practice map with assessed ISF and GDPR requirements is also presented. Research limitations/implications As GDPR is a relatively recent subject, it is hard to find experts in the area. It is more difficult if the authors intend to find experienced people in the GDPR and bank industry. That is one of the main reasons this study does not include more interviews. Originality/value This research provides a novel artefact to the body of knowledge. The proposed artefact lists which ISF practices banks should implement to comply with GDPR. By doing it the artefact provides a centralized view about which ISF frameworks (or part of them) could be implemented to help banks comply with GDPR.


Author(s):  
Franco Frabboni

With the third millennium a new and attractive scenario has opened up, giving voice to an old face of culture: knowledge. Its “new” identity—holistic, multidimensional, and ecosystemic—was highlighted by the European Union in 2000 at the Lisbon conference. In the 21st century there is a star carrying out on its tail these words: welcome to the knowledge society. Knowledge is an immaterial good needed by any nation, because it’s like a bank account that any complex and changing society needs to have. It’s a capital with three faces: economic, social and human (Frabboni, 2006). a. As an economic resource, knowledge promotes a mass-school, a school for everybody: the competitiveness and reliability of a productive system are based on schooling and on the “well-made heads” of younger generations, b. As a social resource it promotes democracy, because knowledge provides all citizens with the necessary alphabets to create a widespread social cohesion; therefore education must be spread during all the seasons of life, from childhood to old age, c. As a human resource it helps the person-subject to move away from the devastating mass-subject. A school of knowledge and of values (i.e., of mind and heart) will have to invest on a person that is nonduplicable, noneasily influenced, and nonuseful; with his or her eyes open on dreams, utopias, and enchantment. School has the task of forming a plural mind and an ethic of solidarity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-113
Author(s):  
Cristina Hermida del Llano

The 21st century is witness to a globalization of indifference that derives from an erroneous understanding of the concepts of tolerance and solidarity, which especially affects immigrants. Here, we analyze the importance of immigrants achieving a true cultural integration within the European Union. We advocate for minority rights, and freedom to congregate, worship and to speak one’s own language. This requires a broader discourse on identifying the structure factors that underlie discrimination and creating policies to facilitate equality of opportunity and outcome. The essential task is to decide what constitutes the maximum acceptance of diversity, and what is the minimum acceptance. Tolerance should be considered as being distinct from the sentiment of indifference. One should turn to positive tolerance and the value of solidarity as a relational concept, as these two are the cornerstones for the construction of a democratic Europe that is both coherent and truly capable of resolving the issues concerning migration in the European Union.


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