Suchergebnisse

The article aims to present selected aspects of the transformation of the automotive market in Africa, especially in the sub-Saharan part of the continent. In the introduction, the sui generis fetishization of the concept of technicization is described. Then, the impact of the automotive revolution on the lifestyle of African people during the period of decolonization is discussed, as well as the impact of related phenomena on the sphere of cultural and political practices. Next, the negative – in ecological and civilizational terms – effects of the development of the automotive industry and the widespread practice of importing used cars from the global North to Africa are presented. Finally, the evolution of the system of production and sale of cars on the continent in the 21st century is outlined – on the one hand, it reproduces the logic of the colonial trade, while on the other hand, it provides an opportunity for GDP growth, unemployment reduction, and socio-economic advancement of millions of Africans.

Celem artykułu jest prezentacja psychospołecznych i kulturowych reakcji Afrykanów na epidemię eboli w latach 2014–2016 i pandemię koronawirusa ogłoszoną w 2020 roku i trwającą do dzisiaj, a także ukazanie kolizji – zarówno na poziomie praktyk, jak i sensów i wyobrażeń – religijności z naukowo umotywowanym zwalczaniem zagrożenia epidemicznego. W pierwszej części opracowania zrekonstruowano "socjologię wiedzy" o wirusach w społeczeństwach afrykańskich. Ukazano znaczenie teorii spiskowych tłumaczących źródła chorób; indolencję rządów w uświadamianiu obywateli co do skali zagrożeń; rolę systemów eksperckich w kształtowaniu percepcji chorób zakaźnych. Następnie omówiono postrzeganie przez Afrykanów medycyny zachodniej, w tym szczepień. W drugiej części tekstu przedstawiono ewolucję obyczajowości afrykańskiej w czasie plag, między innymi zwyczajów funeralnych i praktyk religijnych. Przybliżono wybrane mechanizmy oswojenia plag: konstruowania figury kozła ofiarnego, a także współczesne formy tańca śmierci. Kontekstem analizy są wybrane zjawiska polityczne i ekonomiczne, kwestie wiary, ścierania się tradycji i nowoczesności oraz – jak to określił niemiecki fenomenolog Dietrich von Hildebrand – metafizyki wspólnoty.

The article aims to characterize the multidimensional crisis of Nigeria on the basis of the novel Fishermen written by Chigozie Obioma. Obioma, a representative of the third generation of Nigerian writers, constructs a narrative around a self-fulfilling prophecy about the annihilation of interpersonal relations, as well as the macrosocial, the political, and ecological crisis in West Africa. Finally, the ethnic and political views of Obioma in the context of the collapse of statehood in Africa are characterized.

Diplomatic Politolinguistics. The Analysis of the Perception of Sub-Saharan Africa in the Exposé of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Second and Third Polish Republics
The aim of the article is to present the image of sub-Saharan Africa in the exposé of the ministers of foreign affairs of the Second andThird Republics of Poland, in the context of changes in the ideological imaginary of the Polish diplomacy. The introduction describes a political linguistic perspective which was adopted in the work, treating the discourse of political actors as one of the main determinants of the political universe. Then the "parliamentary custom" of delivering an exposé was characterised. The next part discusses the perception of the colonial and imperial idea in the Second Polish Republic. Research on the information provided by the chiefs of the diplomacy after 1989 was focused on the description of the transfer of democracy to the South, the clash of civilizations, and securitization in the international relations.

The aim of the article is to characterize the perception of exotic plants in Poland – the process of their demostication in the cultural and social senses. As an example for the analysis, cocoa was selected. In the introduction, the mechanisms of constructing the concept of exotica were described. Then, the changes in the cultural significance of cocoa from pre-colonial times to the present were discussed. In the following part, the perception of cocoa cultivation in Poland was outlined.

The aim of this article is to describe and evaluate fair trade – a form of development assistance and trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. Fair trade contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to and securing the rights of marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South. Fair trade focuses in particular on commodities or products which are typically exported from developing countries to developed countries such as coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, fresh fruit or flowers. The genesis of fair trade (the United Nations Conference on Aid and Development held in 1968 embraces the "Trade not Aid" concept, bringing fair trade into development policies), its main assumptions (for example: fair trading practices; ensuring no child labour and forced labour; payment of a fair price; respect for the environment; non-discrimination, gender equity and freedom of association) and controversies related to the implementation of the system are presented.

The aim of the article is to discuss the significance of historical anniversaries in the
period of People's Poland by comparing the celebrations of the Year of Copernicus in 1953
and 1973. First, the focus is placed on the institutional analysis of the celebrations and
the characteristics of their main participants. Then, the discursive mechanisms of attributing
significance to the figure of Nicolaus Copernicus are presented, with a particular emphasis
on the value of progressiveness, revolution, anticlericalism. Finally, the author makes an
attempt to evaluate the effects of commemoration policy in the Polish society.

This paper discusses the phenomenon of atomic tourism in the light of the Fukushima I
nuclear disaster. The first part outlines research problems and examines the character of
dark tourism at various sites of accidents, disasters and nuclear attacks. The other part brings
into focus the disaster at Fukushima I together with its consequences. The tragic events in
Japan soon gave rise to a tourist movement that has drawn visitors to the ravaged sites.
The paper presents the matter as seen by the Japanese people themselves: journalists, makers
of culture and social activists.

The aim of the article is to deconstruct the Africanization of migration destined for Europe, to disprove several cognitive scripts on migration from Africa, most frequently quoted in the conservative media discourse. In the introduction, the migration of Africans destined for Europe in relations to the migration of Asians via Africa destined for Europe were characterized inter alia on the basis of the official documents, UNHCR and FRONTEX reports. Then, the dynamics of transcontinental and intra-Africa migrations -in synchronous and diachronic approach, with the reference to the research results of scholars specialized in the demography, social policy, history of migration- were discussed. Finally, the cultural meanings of migration among Africans is presented.

The objective of the study is to carry out a meaningful comparison that demonstrates the similarities and differences of various conflict theatres where proxy forces were employed. The analyses of the discussed cases focused on different aspects of the conflict and nature of the proxy use. The analyses presented on the following pages were conducted on the basis of the literature on the subject, governmental research and reports, and supporting sources reporting recent developments that complemented academic sources. Various non-state actors such as ethnic militias, paramilitary units, and private military companies have become more and more visible on contemporary battlegrounds. Modern states employ those actors to further their objectives, as this limits their own political and financial costs. This increasingly visible phenomenon points to an emerging new model of warfare where state actors are relying ever more on proxies of various character and nature. It is highly likely that any future conflict will be characterised by a proxy-based model of warfare, which will consist of a limited footprint made by regular forces (or none at all) and, consequently, the extended use of proxies supported by special forces. Because such an approach is less costly, proxies will be more often employed by low-budget states, previously reluctant to carry out such costly military endeavours. Denying the actions and affiliations of these proxies will inevitably follow and, in turn, a lack of political accountability and responsibility for the conflict's outcome.