Z niekłamaną dumą i satysfakcją przekazujemy do rąk Czytelników dziesiąty już tom publikacji „Studia Politicae Universitatis Silesiensis”. Jak wszystkie poprzednie, ma on formułę otwartą, co sprawia, że zamieszczone w nim teksty są zróżnicowane pod względem tematycznym. Wszystkie jednak wpisują się w obszar badawczy współczesnej politologii, ukazując jej interdyscyplinarność. Autorami zdecydowanej większości artykułów, które znalazły się w niniejszym tomie, są pracownicy i doktoranci Instytutu Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa Uniwersytetu Śląskiego w Katowicach. Niemniej jednak, jak zwykle, na łamach naszego periodyku znalazło się miejsce na tekst osoby z zaprzyjaźnionego ośrodka naukowo‑dydaktycznego. Tym razem jest to opracowanie Şule Toktaş z Kadir Has University w Stambule, które postanowiliśmy opublikować w języku angielskim, co, mamy nadzieję, nie tylko nie utrudni Czytelnikom jego odbioru, ale pozwoli na zachowanie oryginalności wywodu i uniknięcie niebezpieczeństwa związanego z przekładem na język polski. Uwzględniając problematykę poruszaną przez autorów poszczególnych artykułów, postanowiliśmy je pomieścić w trzech blokach tematycznych: „Systemy polityczne”, „Komunikowanie społeczne” i „Stosunki międzynarodowe”. Uzupełnieniem całości jest dział „Recenzje i omówienia”. Znaleźć w nim można informacje o publikacjach z dziedziny nauk politycznych, które ukazały się w ostatnim czasie na rodzimym rynku wydawniczym i na rynkach zagranicznych.

Abstract: Regional and local political system

Considerations on political systems on a regional and local level are tightly connected with decentralization processes of political systems. Contemporary state structures have become dysfunctional in many cases in relation to developmental challenges of societies. After the period of excessive centralization, finished with a deep crisis, strong and deep decentralization processes, the result of which was giving a harmonious power division back happened several dozen years ago. A well-known division of political systems according to system (constitutional) criteria that was formed years ago and took into account above all the relationship between a legislative power, the government and the head of state, that is, between the legislative and the executive level can be extended by a classification of political systems on a regional and local level nowadays. The main criterion of typology can be the relations (competence scope) between central (general) and regional as well as local authorities. The proposed division of system forms of democratic countries would be the following: 1. Unitary countries with a self-government system, 2. Unitary countries with a territory autonomy and self-government, 3. Federal countries with a self-government system, and 4. Federal countries with a territory autonomy and self-government.

Abstract: Youth district councils as an instance of youth participation in socio-political life

The aim of this article is to present the issue of youth councils of municipalities in the broader context, namely in this case, the social and political participation of young people in the local communities. Author systematise the knowledge about the forms of youth activity at the local level, proposes a comprehensive definition of youth district councils, and also shows the functions that perform this type of structure. The article is a political science analysis of the phenomenon rather not discussed in field of self-government literature.

Key words: youth district councils, social participation, political participation

Abstract: Transformation of polish party system after 1989 year

With a collapse of the real socialism in the Polish political life the competitive mechanisms appeared deciding upon the substitution of a hegemonic party system with a pluralist system. The very evolution was reflected not only in an increase in the number of subjects politically active, but also in working out the rules concerning their functioning. The nature of the rela­tions between the subjects creating a party system is conditioned by many factors providing certain dynamics to the processes of its transformation.

Incessantly from the first fully free election to the parliament in 1991, the Polish party system belongs to the multiparty system. This multiparty character was changing for the last twenty years. Was it possible? Following the changes that happened within the party system in the Third Republic of Poland the question will be answered.

Key words: transformation, political system, pluralist system

Abstract: The dynamics of contemporary Turkish politics has its roots in several crucial issues in the history of the Republic. Bearing in mind the classic periodization, the author attempts to outline the characteristic features of decisive periods in political history of Turkey, particularly: the problems accompanying the transition from single party semi ‑authoritarianism to multi-party politics. The paper introduces the reader into intricacies of the Turkish parliamentary system, which is instructive to understand the country’s present orientation towards EU accession.

Key words: Turkish parliamentary system, authoritarianism, single party rule, multi-party politics, periodization

Abstract: Political graffiti as an subform of express of political conviction by the symbolic activities (display of symbols): Buenos Aires in crisis period of 2001—2002

History provides many examples of ups and downs of modern countries, which are called, in professional literature, as terms of economic trends and contractions in the country’s econo­my, social sphere, international relations and so on. They are most often observed in countries with permanent internal dismay, poorly developed economies and especially prone to the influence of global markets. Without any doubts, Argentina is one of such countries, its history is marked with economical crises, coup d’états, rampant bursts of social discontent and so on… Discontent or the lack of acceptance with the present reality, are very often demonstrated by symbolic actions, such as painting on the walls. Political graffiti, which is described, is one of the simplest and least vulnerable to victimization means of articulating political views.

This tendency is illustrated in the present article, in which the understanding of the pre­sentation of selected issues concerning the political graffiti in Buenos Aires, during the crisis years of 2001—2002, has fallen.

Key words: political graffiti, symbolic activities, display of symbols, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract: Theory of information values: History and contemporary times

The author of the article analyses the main factors in selecting information in journalism. More or less coherent theories were many a time built on this very topic in communication sciences. The journalists choose those materials for publication that are characterized by particular features. They focus mainly on controversial issues, containing conflicts and scan­dals. What is also important is participating in the events of people considered to be the social elite such as politicians, businessmen, scientists and outstanding sportsmen. All this influences the reception of media information and a general content of the media. As a consequence of these mechanisms, the contents of the media do not reflect the social reality in an accurate way. The article also differentiates between the theory of information value and related theories functioning in the communication sciences.

Key words: gate-keeping, information selection, media, journalism, audience

Abstract: The role of media in fulfilling the basic needs. Considerations in the context of the “uses and gratifications” theory

The impact of media on both individuals and societies has always attracted much attention in the work of scholars engaged in communicational sciences. The paper is a reflection on the relationship between media and the needs of individuals. The author presents a number of studies that have contributed to the consolidation of the “uses and gratifications” theory and in the same time have designated the stages of its development. By examining the relationship between psychological classifications of needs (in particular Saymour Epstein’s Cognitive Self Theory – CEST) and the benefits of individual’s contact with media (in the classification of Denis McQuail), the author shows the role of media in the fulfilling the basic needs, indicating their high impact on the lives of individuals.

Key words: uses and gratifications theory, media, communicational sciences, fulfilling the basic needs

Abstract: In the search of results… European Union Politics to Belarus

The way A. Łukaszenka, a Belarusian president has a power, a political situation in this country and its foreign policy have shaped the relationship between Belarus and European Union as well as its members differently than the EU relationships with other European coun­tries for more or less the 1950’s. As a result, the EU policy towards Belarus differs a lot from other East-European countries. The aim of the article is to present an outline of the EU Policy towards Belarus within the scope of two decades (from getting independence by Belarus in 1991 to the beginning of 2011), and the most important factors that influence the EU-Belarusian relationship. The first part of the article also shows the factors that make Belarus an important country for the EU, while in conclusion there is an attempt to analyse and evaluate the effects of the EU policy towards Belarus.

Key words: EU — Belarusian relationships, Belarus in politics, Common Foreign and EU Safety Policy, EU neighbourhood policy

Zaletą publikacji jest nieskrywany subiektywizm zawartych w niej refleksji, pozwalający Autorowi stawiać wiele ważnych kwestii w nowy sposób, często sprzeczny z dotychczasową tradycją i czasami otwarcie prowokujący do dyskusji. Pozostając wierny faktom, zachęca on do spojrzenia na nie inaczej niż dotąd, wieloaspektowo, wskazując jednocześnie, że taki zabieg jest warunkiem koniecznym (choć nie wystarczającym) zrozumienia ich sensu. Jest to jednakowoż bardzo ważny głos sprzeciwu wobec hasła końca wieku historii i ideologii, wskazujący wyraźnie na to, że nacjonalizmy pozostają ważnym aspektem przestrzeni politycznej, rzutując nie tylko na stosunki międzynarodowe, ale i na wewnętrzne przeobrażenia poszczególnych państw i społeczeństw.

Na rynku wydawniczym pojawiło się sporo publikacji poświęconych podsumowaniu pierwszych dwudziestu lat przemian systemowych w Polsce. Stanowią one mniej bądź bardziej udane próby bilansu tego okresu. Rozległość procesów transformacyjnych zmusza autorów do wyboru zagadnień, które wydają się szczególnie istotne. Dlatego też dobór tych zagadnień, mimo że ma charakter arbitralny, musi być uzasadniony i mieć odzwierciedlenie w jasnej konstrukcji pracy. Właśnie ten wymóg spełnia publikacja Rzeczpospolita Polska 1989—2009. Problemy wybrane, pod redakcją Krystyny Leszczyńskiej. Rzadko się zdarza, aby praca zbiorowa miała tak spójny charakter. Dobór dziesięciu kwestii, które zostały poddane analizie przez grono najwybitniejszych polskich politologów i historyków, uznaję za przemyślany i w pełni uzasadniony. To ogromny walor tej publikacji.