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        <title>Politics in Central Europe Feed</title>
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            <title><![CDATA[Concepts and Dangers of Authoritarian Law and Politics]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0020</link>
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            <pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The rise of authoritarian populism and hybrid regimes has become a pressing challenge to liberal democracy, raising urgent questions about the role of law in these political transformations. This paper examines how authoritarian regimes reshape legal systems by creating and deploying what will be termed ‘authoritarian law’. The study applies a comparative and theory-oriented approach, systematically engaging with major conceptual frameworks to examine how authoritarian regimes manipulate legal structures for the purpose of political consolidation. The paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of the process of how authoritarian regimes manipulate legal structures and legislative processes, the aim is to identify the specific ways in which populist governments bypass or erode democratic norms. The paper is based on the theoretical investigation on five conceptual traditions: authoritarian legalism, which highlights the emergence of a distinct authoritarian conception of law; the dual state theory, which distinguishes between normative and prerogative forms of law; populist constitutionalism, which uncovers constitutional paradigms departing from liberal norms; the Unitary Executive Theory, which reveals transatlantic dimensions of authoritarian law; and the concept of constitutional dictatorship, which emphasises the use of exceptional measures. Results indicate that authoritarian regimes use law not to safeguard democratic institutions but to erode them through political instrumentalisation and weaponisation of legal processes. The paper concludes that law itself becomes a central institutional framework for stabilising authoritarian rule, undermining its own normative integrity.]]></description>
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            <title><![CDATA[Converging Narratives on the European Green Deal: Polarised Homogeneity in Central European MEPs’ Facebook Discourse]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0021</link>
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            <pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This study examines political narratives surrounding the European Green Deal (EGD) in seven Central European countries, revealing four separate dominant framings of the EGD, as well a pattern of strategic narrative convergence and interpretative polarization. Analysing 351 Facebook posts from 82 MEPs from 2019 to 2024, I identify four distinct meta-narratives: a strongly anti-EGD narrative, an uncritical pro-EGD narrative, a critical pro-EGD narrative advocating for greater ambition, and an opportunistic, pragmatic pro-EGD narrative that strategically co-opts populist and far-right themes. Despite varying national contexts, all narratives converge within these four dominant framings, indicating a strategic focus on mobilization rather than intergroup engagement and dialogue. The method used was an original synthesis of framing analysis, narrative analysis and affective analysis, focused on the general stance towards the EGD, the characterizations used, and emotional appeals of the posts. This research contributes to understanding the nuanced dynamics of climate policy discourse and the challenges of fostering constructive debate.]]></description>
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        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[How Czech Politicians and Parties Securitise Refugees: Comparing the MENA and Ukrainian Crises]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0022</link>
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            <pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This comparative analysis scrutinises the distinctive features of the 2015 MENA and 2022 Ukrainian refugee crises in the Czech Republic, revealing notable differences in threat perceptions and stakeholder engagement while answering who was finally portrayed as the victim and by whom. Hence, the MENA crisis prompted EU-level action and migration system reform, and the Czech government was the leading securitisation actor; meanwhile, the Ukrainian crisis differs. Cultural and religious dimensions influenced negative perceptions of Muslim migrants, contrasting with the positive reception of Ukrainian refugees rooted in cultural affinities with the West rejection of Russian aggression. Despite that, during the Ukrainian case, the shift in threat perceptions from sovereignty to socio-economic concerns marked the latter. Our study shows that this was not done by the Czech government but by the opposition party groups. With a potential new MENA crisis on the horizon, both opposition and government persist in securitising migration. The 2025 parliamentary election is expected to spotlight migration, necessitating further exploration of evolving securitisation in Czechia.]]></description>
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        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Gradual EU Integration of the Western Balkans in Times of War in Europe: Security and the Politics of EU Enlargement in the 2020s]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0025</link>
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            <pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This article contributes to debates on the politics of European Union (EU) enlargement to the Western Balkans (WB) in the 2020s. During the 2010s, the enlargement process stalled due to a lack of progress on the EU’s fundamental requirements of ‘rule of law’ and ‘democracy’. Since 2022, Russia’s protracted war against Ukraine suggests that geopolitical considerations have become more important in the politics of EU enlargement. In order to overcome the enlargement impasse, the EU has recently proposed a gradual approach to integration, particularly with regard to market integration, which is to be facilitated by a new growth plan for the Western Balkans. This article argues that this ‘carrot’ and greater flexibility in general are intended to re-legitimise the EU-WB relationship. The EU can demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the region in a political process that remains open-ended, while WB governments can benefit from new opportunities and new budgets. Despite the ‘new momentum’ in EU enlargement policies, I argue that Serbian political discourse and action have become more violent in recent years and that a negligence of the security needs of the most fragile WB states has the power to derail the enlargement process. Reinforced commitments to KFOR and EUFOR Althea as well as reinvigorated EU assistance efforts in the fundamental requirements are needed to make full WB EU membership eventually happen.]]></description>
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            <title><![CDATA[Dimensions and Effects of Poland’s Socio-Economic Support for Ukrainian Women in the Face of the War in Ukraine]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0023</link>
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            <pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The article explores Poland’s socio-economic support for Ukrainian women during the war in Ukraine, emphasising how this assistance has enabled their integration into the workforce. The article explores Poland’s socio-economic support and presents the socio-economic dimension of Poland’s support for Ukrainian women amid the war in Ukraine, highlighting how this support has facilitated their participation in the workforce. The aim of the article is to analyse the decisions of the Polish government and local authorities, as well as the actions of employers, nongovernmental organisations and the Polish public in providing assistance to Ukrainian women who fled the war in Ukraine. It addresses the following research questions: What actions have the Polish government and other entities taken to provide socio-economic support for Ukrainian women? What factors have influenced the establishment of sole proprietorships in Poland by Ukrainian women? Were there any barriers hindering the professional activity of Ukrainian women in Poland? The research reported in this paper covers the years 2022–2023 and focuses on Ukrainian women, who represented the largest demographic group among refugees. Due to various barriers, most were employed below their qualifications. However, some demonstrated significant creativity by establishing their own businesses.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
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        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Public Attitudes and Societal Influences on Hungarian Foreign Policy]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0024</link>
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            <pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This study examines Hungarian foreign policy attitudes and assesses the influence of public perceptions and societal interests on policymaking. Using theoretical frameworks, secondary sources and an opinion poll, it analyses Hungary’s foreign policy orientation since 2010, decision-making structures, the patterns of public perceptions and the impact of societal influences. Findings reveal a multi-layered model of foreign policy formation in which institutional centralisation, control over policy networks and dominance in communication enable the government to monopolise decision-making. This top-down control coexists with selective representation of public preferences and limited pluralism, allowing the government to pursue its strategic interests while maintaining the appearance of majority consensus. Theoretically, the article challenges the binary notion that democratic systems promote pluralism while autocracies suppress alternative policy ideas. Instead, it argues that Hungary’s competitive authoritarian regime represents a hybrid configuration in which diverse foreign policy preferences exist across both elites and the public, but have limited influence on policymaking due to high levels of centralisation and constrained participation.]]></description>
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        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Personality Traits, Trust in Institutions and Interpersonal Relationships Insights from Slovakia]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0017</link>
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            <pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This paper examines the association between personality traits and trust. In this paper, trust is divided into two types: interpersonal and institutional. Both are fundamental for cohesion, reduction of social fragmentation, effective governance and institutional legitimacy. The literature primarily identifies personal experience and anticipated adherence to norms as key drivers of trust. In this context, understanding whether and how personality influences trust is crucial, as trust may be partially hereditary and thus only partly shaped by behaviour. This suggests that some population segments may remain distrustful, regardless of the efforts to build trustworthiness. Hence, this paper examines the effect of personality on trust in diverse entities. Personality traits are operationalised through the Big Five personality model. Effect of personality on both types of trust, i.e. institutional and interpersonal, is measured.For both types, subcategories of trustees are examined; for instance, friends and family are included in interpersonal trust subcategories. This paper focuses on the Slovak population and uses data from the World Values Survey. The results show that conscientiousness, openness and agreeableness are positively related to trust in certain institutions. On the other hand, interpersonal trust was positively related only to openness and agreeableness. Neuroticism has been negatively associated with both institutional and interpersonal trust.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
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        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Democratic Innovations in Central and Eastern Europe – The Perspective of Policymakers and Civil Society Organisations]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0015</link>
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            <pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Political representation and democracy in several European countries have faced considerable challenges in recent decades. Especially worrying are the decline in electoral turnout and party membership, along with the decline in political trust and growing dissatisfaction with the functioning of representative democracy. These are all linked to the quality of democracy. Many scholars believe that a possible solution to such problems is democratic innovations, largely due to their participatory nature. Although in recent times democratic innovations have been put into practice, and analysed from multiple perspectives in multiple European countries, this has not happened with regard to Central and Eastern European countries. Based on face- to- face interviews conducted in 2024 with policymakers as well as representatives of civil society organisations in four Central and Eastern European countries, exploratory analysis reveals (different) views, rhetorical stances, sentiments and narratives concerning the meaning and importance of democratic innovations, including for maintaining/increasing political trust. The analysis points not only to differences among countries, but also between the groups of respondents.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
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        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Artificial Intelligence and Political Trust]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0014</link>
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            <pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This article is based on understanding political trust as a relational concept. In the frame of liberal democratic thought, the article refers to the relationship between citizens and political institutions, and the role played by political trust as the crucial glue that holds it together, thereby enabling the democratic political system to function successfully. Based on a narrative literature review, we have developed a conceptual model that illustrates the complex relationship between trust in artificial intelligence (AI), political trust and the broader context in which these relationships are co -constructed by various actors.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The Effect of Collective Narcissism, Populism and Trust of Older Adults on Conspiracy Mentality: Evidence from Poland]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0018</link>
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            <pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The article examines the impact of collective narcissism, trust and populism on conspiracy mentality among citizens aged 65 and older in Poland. Understanding their behaviours and attitudes is crucial for at least two reasons. First, demographic shifts are leading to a growing proportion of seniors in European societies. Second, as life expectancy increases, older adults remain socially and politically active for longer. This article presents findings from two waves of a longitudinal study (N = 379). Our model confirms that collective narcissism and populism drive generic conspiracist beliefs, while interpersonal and institutional trust have no significant effect.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Democratic Innovations as a Tool to Restore Trust and Citizens’ Participation: A Comparison Between Stakeholder Groups in Italy]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0019</link>
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            <pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Recent changes in European countries have stimulated the search for multilevel policy interventions to restore citizens’ trust and engagement, focusing specifically on democratic innovations. Our paper presents the results of a survey conducted in 2025 as part of the Horizon TRUEDEM project, focusing on the views of civil society organisations’ leaders and activists on the Italian case. Despite positive experiences, such as local initiatives and referendums, the paper highlights the crisis of trust weighing on democratic participation in Italy, testified by rising abstention rates and disaffection with institutions. By analysing the opinions that emerged in focus groups, we identify significant differences between the various stakeholders and propose concrete actions to revitalise democratic practices, including the need for civic education and the creation of spaces for dialogue. The paper highlights the complexity of the interactions between democratic innovations and political trust in Italy and proposes an integration of perspectives from different levels of civil society to address the current crisis.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Engagement or Expression? A Comparative Study of Facebook Politics in Twelve European Countries]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0013</link>
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            <pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This article examines how citizens engage with political actors on Facebook across twelve European countries, focusing on the nature and intensity of user interaction. Drawing on a dataset of over 70,000 Facebook comments on posts by national -level political leaders, we conduct a comparative content analysis to categorise digital expressions such as clicktivism, civic engagement or political participation. We also assess how political actors use Facebook to promote interaction and participatory behaviour. Our findings reveal that while Facebook provides a platform for political communication, most user engagement consists of low -effort, expressive behaviours with limited deliberative depth. Substantive forms of civic engagement and political participation are comparatively rare. The analysis also shows that few politicians use Facebook to encourage citizen participation or engage in two -way communication. These findings highlight the discrepancy between the platform’s participatory affordances and their actual utilisation. Rather than driving transformative political participation, Facebook serves primarily as a space for symbolic and affective expression. By mapping variations across countries and political roles, this study contributes to a more grounded understanding of digital engagement in contemporary democracies.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The Political and Economic Context Contributing to the Problem of Political (Dis)Trust in Slovenia]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0016</link>
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            <pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The article analyses the political and economic context of the growing distrust in politics in Slovenia over the last 15 years. Focus is given to the changes in the power relations, policy changes and roles of different national and international institutions. It is established that the fundamental element of the specific class trade -off which underpinned the broader political legitimacy from the early 1990s up until 2008 – a strong welfare state and low economic inequalities – was partly dissolved after the crisis of 2008. However, no new joint programme emerged to replace it due to the weakening of the trade unions, the EU’s stronger role in policymaking processes coupled with the shrinking differences between political parties in their social and economic policies. These changes are not only seen in the high levels of political distrust in public opinion surveys or decreasing voter turnout, but in the instability of the party arena as well.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[EU Energy Transformation and Diversification: Energy Security in the Context of Geopolitical Changes]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0011</link>
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            <pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The presented topic deals with the transformation and diversification of the EU energy sector. Energy security is examined in the context of geopolitical changes and viewed through the lens of the interdependence between the EU and Russia in the import and export of fossil fuels. The topic is studied on the demand side and on the supply side. The political element plays a fundamental role in the territorial structure of energy flows. The descriptive analysis employed two case studies, which illustrated the transformation of the EU energy mix as well as the extent of the EU’s import dependence on Russian gas. It is possible to observe the (a)symmetry of mutual dependence in the context of energy transformation. The key theme of the article is the assessment of EU energy security based on changes in energy resource flows through the lens of geopolitical changes. The research has demonstrated the need for a dramatic change in the EU energy mix, one which will reduce reliance on fossil fuels and increase the role of renewable energy sources. This trend is positive for the diversification of fossil fuel imports to the EU. Additionally, proposals and recommendations are put forward to help strengthen the EU’s energy security in the future.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[This is not an Arena for Party Leaders: Presidential Elections in the 3rd Republic of Poland]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0007</link>
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            <pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Next to parliamentary elections, presidential elections in Poland are regarded as the key arena of political competition in Poland. On the one hand, the specific nature of the political system dictates that the significant, albeit negative, role of the head of state in shaping the law and the President’s relatively broad prerogatives regarding the conduct of public business as compared to the standards of the parliamentary-cabinet system should be pointed out. On the other hand, the limitation of the real power of the President compared to the position of the Prime Minister does not provide an incentive for the leaders of the key political parties in Poland to abandon the struggle for the position of the head of government in favour of the presidency. This text addresses the issue of the nomination of candidates for the analysed office, attempting to answer the question of why it is not the party leaders who face off against each other, but rather the arena of competition between candidates from the second row of party structures. Conclusions from the case study suggest that the reasons for this are that party leaders, burdened by the negative consequences of political power, fear that they will not be able to surpass the ‘glass ceiling’ of party support. Thus, they fear that they will not only suffer a personal loss, but reckon with the consequences for the party as a whole. For each of the main parties, fielding a different candidate is seen as an opportunity to reach beyond the committed party electorate and escape the high negative sentiment around each of the two main leaders.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The Integration of the Eastern Partnership Countries’ Digital Markets into the EU Digital Single Market]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0012</link>
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            <pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The aim of the article is to analyse the motives for integrating the digital markets of the Eastern Partnership countries into the EU Digital Single Market, as well as the challenges and opportunities that this integration creates. The EU Roadmap ‘Digital Compass 2030’, i.e. the Union’s strategic goals for Europe’s digital sovereignty, was highlighted. The position of each of the recipient countries of the EaP in the digitalisation indices was represented. The issues and prospects of the integration of digital markets of the Eastern Partnership countries on the way to the EU Digital Single Market were pinpointed. It was proved that both the EU and the member states of the EaP are striving to remain competitive and to not be outsiders of technological transformations. The motivation for the integration of the digital markets of these countries into the Digital Single Market of the EU is, above all, the desire to be a full member of the Community.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Possibilities of Implementing E-Voting System in Ukraine]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0009</link>
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            <pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[There are constant risks and threats to fair elections against the background of the current crisis of democratic civic engagement and the global pursuit of convenience in the digital age. The political and institutional context in Ukraine, including wartime displacement, occupation of territories and a large diaspora abroad, requires innovative digital tools to ensure that all eligible voters can participate in elections. Therefore, the article aims to analyse the adherence to the principles of secret ballot and personal voting through alternative voting methods, such as e-voting. A four-level e-voting system is identified, having the legal, organisational, procedural and technological components. Moreover, the modern ways of securing, guaranteeing and ensuring the principles of secret ballot and personal voting in e-voting at these levels in Ukraine and abroad are clarified. To this end, the authors analyse legal approaches and electoral practice of foreign countries to determine how the substantive law is implemented in electoral procedures. It is established that the main problem of their unacceptability is the weak protection of confidentiality and the high probability of unauthorised interference with the voting procedure. However, it is possible to prevent such violations through a decentralised blockchain-based e-voting system. The article discusses the main advantages and disadvantages of using various platforms for e-voting, in particular Ethereum and the Hyperledger Fabric platform. Furthermore, the law of Ukraine is analysed concerning the possibility of using digital technologies in testing e-voting in elections and referendums.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
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        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The Advantage of Incumbency among Czech Mayors: Analysis of Election Results in the 128 Largest Cities in the Czech Republic]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0008</link>
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            <pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The incumbency effect, where incumbents have a higher likelihood of electoral success, is a well-documented phenomenon globally but remains under-researched in the Czech Republic. This article investigates whether and to what extent the incumbency effect is present among Czech mayors. Using a dataset of the 128 largest Czech cities by population (excluding Prague) and covering elections between 2002 and 2022, the study analyses the success of incumbent mayors in retaining their positions. The findings confirm that over 50% of mayors successfully defended their posts. The research also examines the dynamics of mayoral re-election, highlighting that first-time incumbents enjoy a notable advantage, which tends to diminish with each consecutive term. These results contribute to understanding the mechanics of incumbency in proportional electoral systems and offer directions for future research, including the exploration of causal relationships and the impact of socio-economic factors on re-election rates.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
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        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Building Resilience Against Populism: The Crucial Role of Education in Promoting Human Dignity]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0010</link>
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            <pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[In an era marked by the rise of populist movements, this article examines the role of education in reducing the effects of this phenomenon, particularly their often-detrimental impact on the concept of human dignity. The study investigates the ways incorporating ‘education on human dignity’ in the curricular activities can help counterbalance the divisive and sometimes dehumanising rhetoric of populism. The findings of the article point to the importance of education as a transformative force for making young minds able to critically assess and challenge the divisive narratives found in today’s political landscape. In that context, the article discusses educational policies that could assist in fostering the realisation of human dignity in countries encountering the rise of populist ideologies. Finally, the article provides valuable insights and practical recommendations for educators and policymakers with the aim of ensuring that human dignity is viewed more holistically in education.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
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        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Hungarian Foreign Policy towards the Turkic States: A Motivation for a More Authoritarian-Leaning Political Model or a Pragmatic Will for Economic Gain?]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.2478/pce-2025-0003</link>
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            <pubDate>Thu, 03 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This study examines the relationship between the recent discussions that Hungary has moved away from fundamental democratic values and turned into an illiberal democracy and the transformation of Hungarian foreign policy by taking Hungary’s relations with the Turkic states as a case. The dynamics of Hungarian foreign policy towards the Turkic states as part of Hungary’s post-2010 strategy of Eastern Opening are taken as a case study and the influences of these dynamics on perception differences about Hungarian democracy are analysed. It is discussed whether Hungary’s developing political and economic relations with the Turkic states since 2010 involve an emulation of the political models of these states and whether this has an impact on the so-called transformation of Hungarian democracy into an illiberal democracy. It attempts to reveal the extent to which foreign policy developments are decisive for Hungarian domestic politics and, in particular, to identify the triggering factors for Hungary’s rapprochement with the Turkic states. It seeks to answer the question of whether Hungary’s motivation to adapt a more authoritarian -leaning political model or pragmatic economic intentions are more hegemonic in the relationship between Hungary and the Turkic states.]]></description>
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