The Impact of Interplay Between Formal and Informal Institutions on the Development of Innovation Networks: A Comparative Study of CEECs

The aim of this paper is to present the results of comparative case study research concerning the impact of the interplay between formal and informal institutions on the development of innovation networks of the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs). The primary contribution this article makes is to link the literature on the interplay between institutions related to innovation networks in a broad range of economies in transition like CEECs. This paper provides an understanding of how interplay between these institutions may influence the development of innovation networks of CEECs. Practical policy recommendations are to introduce a risk guarantee mechanism, which may promote the innovation process at different levels and influence the development of innovation networks later.

Bezpieczeństwo ekonomiczne Republiki Białoruś w dobie kryzysu polityczno-gospodarczego lat 2020-połowa 2021

Republic of Belarus begins the third decade of the 21st century with numerous problems, which include the unstable socio-political situation, broken dialogue and relations with the international environment, and Western sanctions. All these factors have caused a lot of turbulence in the Belarusian economy. This article is an attempt to examine the economic security of Belarus in the period of the depletion of the current economic model, the reduction of Russian energy subsidies, the Covid-19 pandemic and the political crisis resulting from the rigged presidential elections in August 2020. Data from the Belarusian Bielstat database, the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and rating agencies will be used as source materials.

American Commonalities and Roots of European Integration

This article looks deeply into the historical parallels between the American and European experiences of state integration, which have resulted in the United States of America and the European Union, respectively. It first defines the key international relations concept of state integration and compares American and European thought on the idea. It then turns to examine some of the highpoints in the history of integration in the American and European cases. Given the remarkable historical commonalties between the two processes, the article puts forward the idea of the American experience as a chief inspiration and source for European integration. It concludes by suggesting that without the historical example of the United States, as well as massive American post-war assistance to Europe, it is highly doubtful that European integration would have commenced when and as it did.

Addressing Russian Threat. Changes to Defence Policies of the Nordic States After 2014

The substantial deterioration of the security environment after Russian aggression against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 was a catalyst for significant changes in the Nordic states’ approach to security and defence. Common perceptions of the Russian threat focused defence policies of the Nordic states around rebuilding total defence capabilities, which would combine military and civilian efforts. Besides these efforts to reinforce national capacity to defend against an armed attack, the Nordic states increased regional security and defence cooperation, along with cooperation with NATO, the EU and the United States. The article explores the developments in defence policies of the Nordic states that were a result of changes in the security environment caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. It tries to discuss differences in national threat assessment, and then compare and contrast unique national approaches to defence policies that were adopted by the Nordic states. The conclusion conceptualizes unique features of the Nordic approach to defence stemming from the common threat to their security.

Życie codzienne podczas pandemii Covid-19 w perspektywie współczesnej polskiej prasy

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the professional and private lives of most societies around the world. At that time, traditional media began to play an important role as an intermediary in contact with the outside world. This article is a kind of calendar of events that took place during the successive waves of the coronavirus pandemic in Poland, and were noticed, recorded and analyzed by reporters of the contemporary Polish press. The main research method used by the author is a press analysis of materials obtained mainly from weekly magazines (Polityka, Newsweek, Do Rzeczy) and the daily Gazeta Wyborcza.

Transforming Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation Systems for African Intellectual Decolonization and Renaissance

The application of knowledge (measured in term of entrepreneurship and innovations, research and development, and software and product design) has become one of the spring boards of economic growth. The paper highlights six hindrances to renaissance explosion in knowledge in Africa with special emphasis on inefficiency in indigenous knowledge systems following colonialism. It further highlighted major challenges such as low capacity to invest in advanced human capital, low scientific and analytical capacity, low level of access to education, low digital capacity, low public interest in knowledge systems and low strategic aspiration facing Africa in developing efficient indigenous knowledge systems. The authors, drawing on existing literature and expert consultations, clearly identified and established major challenges being faced by African countries in leveraging on intellectual advances and suggest ways to transform the knowledge and innovation system in moving the continent towards the knowledge economy.

Towards an Instrument of Measuring the Construct of Leadership by The 10 Cs for Employee Engagement

This paper seeks to operationalized the construct of leadership with the influence of 10 Cs of employee engagement with the intention of measuring it. In addition, it addresses the intellectual curiosity to know the intensity of leadership of the managerial employees by using this instrument. The relationship between leadership and employee engagement is also examined. The archival method was used in the literature review. In order to analyze the data relating to 272 managerial employees, structural equation modeling was used. The construct of leadership operationalized using the 10 Cs formula for employee engagement is suggested. The link between leadership and employee engagement is also identified based on the theoretical background and literature-based evidence. The study emphasizes the magnitude leadership instrument using the 10 Cs formula for employee engagement in measuring the relationship between leadership and employee engagement.