Content

ARTICLES

Shirak Safaryan: The EU–Russia Power Struggle over Eastern Partnership Countries: Stability and Influence in the “Near Abroad”

Abstract: This article investigates the geopolitical dynamics and security strategies shaping the “Near Abroad,” i.e. the states bordering Russia that emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Utilizing a dual theoretical framework of institutionalism and realism, the study explores how the European Union (EU) and Russia engage in strategic competition over influence in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus. Focusing on the Eastern Partnership (EaP) and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as case studies, the analysis reveals the EU’s reliance on soft power, emphasizing economic integration and democratic reforms, in contrast to Russia’s hard power approach grounded in security and control. Based on a qualitative methodology that includes document analysis and historical-political contextualization, the findings highlight how these competing strategies impact regional stability and the foreign policy decisions of EaP countries. The study underscores the complexity of EU–Russia relations and provides new insights in the challenges faced by Eastern Partnership states navigating between these rival influences.

Keywords: European Union, Russia, Eastern partnership, near abroad, near neighbourhood

How to cite: Safaryan, S. 2024. “The EU–Russia Power Struggle over Eastern Partnership Countries: Stability and Influence in the “Near Abroad.” Central European Journal of Politics 10 (2): 1–13. DOI: 10.21062/cejp.2024.005

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21062/cejp.2024.005

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Alžběta Mucinová & Aneta Kůsová & Štěpánka Pospíchalová: Populistický storytelling Igora Matoviče a Roberta Fica v době pandemie covidu-19 [Populist storytelling of Igor Matovič and Robert Fico during the COVID-19 pandemic]

Abstract: This paper focuses on two leading Slovak politicians (Igor Matovič and Robert Fico) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on ongoing debates about the relationship between the pandemic and populism and using Nordensvard and Ketola’s theoretical framework of populism as storytelling, the analysis shows how similar in structure (though mutually antagonistic in content) the COVID-19 narratives produced by the two politicians on Facebook in 2020 and 2021 were. The differences were mainly due to the different status of the two politicians – while Fico was in opposition at the time, Matovič served as prime minister. Therefore, a significant part of Matovič’s narrative consisted of presenting his own actions, while Fico focused mainly on criticising other actors. Nevertheless, both presented themselves in clearly populist terms, namely as candid men revealing the truth to the ‘people’ and criticising the ‘elite’.

Keywords: Slovak politics, populism, populist storytelling, COVID-19

How to cite: Mucinová, A., Kůsová, A., and Pospíchalová, Š. 2024. “Populistický storytelling Igora Matoviče a Roberta Fica v době pandemie covidu-19.” Central European Journal of Politics 10 (2): 14–31. DOI: 10.21062/cejp.2025.01

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21062/cejp.2025.01

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Martina Hurčalová & Alexander Onufrák: Prezidentské voľby v Poľsku počas pandémie Covid-19 – poučenie pre Slovensko? Využívanie alternatívnych spôsobov hlasovania počas mimoriadnych situácií [Polish presidential elections during the COVID-19 pandemic – Slovakia’s lesson learned? Using different voting modalities during emergencies]

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has made a significant impact on all areas of society and caused temporary restrictions on fundamental human rights and freedoms, including the right to vote. The study deals with the 2020 presidential elections in Poland, which were accompanied by many controversial issues and as a whole did not contribute to trust in political authorities and the democratic system. At the most critical time of the pandemic, although there were no national elections in Slovakia, the legislation in this area is insufficient.  The main aim of the study is to characterise the current legal situation regarding electoral rules during emergencies in Poland and Slovakia and to identify their shortcomings. The study analyses and compares existing electoral legislation of both states, presents the course of the Polish presidential elections in 2020 and suggests possible lessons for Slovakia in case of the need to face a similar emergency. To improve the shortcomings identified, it is essential to regulate the exercise of the right to vote during emergencies, to build trust in state institutions and to create mechanisms for using different voting modalities. Taken as a whole, the study highlights alternative ways of exercising the right to vote (not only) during crises, thus contributing to the scholarly debate on the topic.

Keywords: Poland, Slovakia, presidential elections, COVID-19 pandemic, electoral legislation

How to cite: Hurčalová, M. and Onufrák, A. 2024. “Prezidentské voľby v Poľsku počas pandémie Covid-19 – poučenie pre Slovensko? Využívanie alternatívnych spôsobov hlasovania počas mimoriadnych situácií.” Central European Journal of Politics 10 (2): 32–52. DOI: 10.21062/cejp.2025.04

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21062/cejp.2025.04

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BOOK REVIEWS

Stanislava Formánková: Jana KOČIŠKOVÁ: Ženy v politice. Role a postavení vrcholných političek v Československu 1948–1968

How to cite: Formánková, S. 2024. “Jana KOČIŠKOVÁ: Ženy v politice. Role a postavení vrcholných političek v Československu 1948–1968.” Central European Journal of Politics 10 (2): 53–54. DOI: 10.21062/cejp.2025.02

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21062/cejp.2025.02