Permanent Crisis Research Articles

Conceptualisations of good care and conflicts in live-in migrant care arrangements for people with dementia – perspectives of family caregivers in Germany

BackgroundIn Germany, live-in migrant carers provide essential social, emotional and physical support to a growing number of community-dwelling people with dementia. However, opaque legal regulations and employment models as well as a lack of formal supervision for families employing live-in migrant carers contribute to the vulnerability of these already strained arrangements. This study analyses the family caregivers’ perspective, their conceptualisations of good dementia live-in migrant care and conflicts that arise in live-in care arrangements.MethodsThe study adopted a qualitative-explorative approach. We conducted focus groups with family caregivers (n = 15) to learn about their perspectives on and experiences with live-in care as a model of home-based dementia care. Due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, data collection took place online, which enabled us to include participants from all over Germany in our sample. Data were analysed with qualitative content analysis.ResultsIn this paper, two main categories, Indicators of good live-in migrant care for people with dementia and perceived conflicts, are presented. We identified indicators applied by family caregivers to assess the quality of care provided by migrant live-in carers and its outcomes for the person with dementia. These relate primarily to interpersonal and emotional aspects and a person-centred attitude towards the person with dementia. Conflicts arise when the needs and personalities within the triad do not match, due to intransparent and unreliable work of and communication with the placement agencies, or permanent crisis as a result of the German model with alternating live-in carers.ConclusionOur findings point to the complex dynamics and relationships within live-in care triads and support the theoretical assumption that taking into account the needs of all actors involved is essential for good and stable care arrangements. The conceptualisations of family caregivers of good dementia live-in migrant care offer starting points for a scientific as well as a social and health policy debate about the future regulation of this model of care.

From crisis to "permacrisis" in media communication in Romania

The article examines how the crisis phenomenon is discussed in the Romanian public communication environment. The authors argue that in the current context, where society is marked by multiple crises, the term "permacrisis" has become relevant, describing a state of permanent crisis affecting the society at multiple levels. The authors analysed how the topic of crisis has been represented in the Romanian media, focusing on articles published online between 2017 and 2022. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, the study highlights a significant increase in crisis-related mentions since 2020, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase indicates a shift in public perception and media discourse, suggesting the normalisation and acceptance of the crisis as a constant state. Four dominant themes associated with the crisis were identified in media discourse: the economic crisis, the health crisis generated by COVID-19, the domestic political crisis and the crisis generated by the war in Ukraine. These themes illustrate the different facets of the permacrisis in Romania, from the economic and social impact, to political uncertainty and the consequences of pandemics and geopolitical conflicts. The paper highlights the importance of recognising and understanding the phenomenon of permacrisis in Romanian society in order to develop more effective strategies for managing crises and building a more resilient society.

STRATEGIC ASPECTS OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF MILITARY OPERATIONS: UKRAINIAN EXPERIENCE

The purpose of the article is to study the strategic aspects of human resource management in the context of military operations and to substantiate the ways to minimise the negative effects of permanent crisis phenomena. Theoretical research has shown that when quarantine is lifted and during martial law, it is not about increasing the company's efficiency, but about how not to lose it. The research forms the theoretical and methodological basis for the practical aspects of HR management under martial law, but further study is needed to adapt the methods of HR management of organisations and enterprises to the conditions of military operations. An important aspect of management is to create conditions for the development of innovation, team spirit and the pursuit of high quality. Encouraging employees to be flexible in the interests of an adaptive organisation and continuously improving the quality of work are key. In addition, it is important to maintain working conditions that guarantee a high level of employee health and safety. By summarising theoretical studies and expert assessments, the article provides general approaches to the development of a human resources management strategy in the context of armed conflict. In the context of a permanent armed conflict localised in certain regions, it is important to have sufficiently qualified and trained personnel capable of effectively performing the tasks assigned. It is substantiated that motivation and recognition are important factors of personnel management in organisations. Ensuring the safety of personnel is the main task in wartime. The importance of effective internal communications in wartime increases significantly. The conditions of armed conflict can change very quickly, making flexibility and adaptability important qualities in human resources management. Organisations need to be prepared for rapid changes in plans and objectives, as well as changes in staffing levels. Effective management and leadership can ensure staff cohesion and motivation and ensure that tasks are completed successfully. Organisations should be prepared for changes in plans and strategies, as well as in the composition of their staff. The use of integrated approaches to strategy development will help organisations to effectively manage their workforce in times of war and ensure the functioning of their organisations.

Bureaucratic structure of management of the organization in today’s conditions of uncertainty

Aim. To prove the facts of inefficiency of application of bureaucratic type of organizational structure of management, lack of its influence on economic growth in the conditions of growing global economic uncertainty. Objectives. To systematize the negative features of the bureaucratic model of management, reflected in the works of researchers of the XX century (among them - E. Downs, M. Crozier, B. Guy Peters, D. Flemming, V. Wriston, L. O’Tol), in particular, the lack of flexibility to external uncertain conditions, slow reengineering of business processes under the current realities of economic reality, the lack of motivation to develop the innovative potential of the subject; to study the impact of strong bureaucratic management on economic growth in the works of scientists of the late XX century. (P. Evans, D. Rauch); to reveal the contradiction in the XX century studies and prove that the bureaucratic organizational structure of management has a fading, sometimes stagnating influence on economic growth in the conditions of increasing economic uncertainty.Results. The paper investigated and found that the theory of the influence of the bureaucratic model on economic growth is confirmed on the example of 1960-2000. However, since the 2000s, which is proved in the research process, the bureaucratic organizational structure of management has a waning, sometimes stagnant effect on economic growth under conditions of increasing economic uncertainty. Consequently, bureaucratization of processes and bureaucratic organization is unable to respond to uncertainty. This is because the transition to the new century is marked by the introduction of the antipatterns of bureaucracy: digital technologies, artificial intelligence economy, flexible methods focused on situational management.Conclusions. The results revealed in this study prove the necessity of choosing a different type of organizational structure, not based on the bureaucratic model, in the conditions of permanent crisis and increasing uncertainty in the economy

Social Control of Everyday Life and Political Construction of (Montenegrin) Identity

Abstract The research problem is the influence of global crisis on identity and daily life of Montenegrin people. The subject is the political construction of (Montenegrin) identity, as a result of social control on everyday life, where identities are born. For the purpose of researching this relation, the starting point is the explanatory potential of J. Habermas’s contemporary socio-political theory about the colonization of the lifeworld by an expansionist logic of the political-economic constellation (system). Scientific goals are: 1) description of the colonization of the lifeworld and the construction of (Montenegrin) identity, as an indicator of social crisis (in Montenegro); 2) understanding the causal factors (causes, motives) of (Montenegrin) identity construction; 3) generic explanation of the political construction of (Montenegrin) identity, through strategies, policies, educational and media influences. Social goals refer to: 1) expansion of the fund of knowledge about contemporary (Montenegrin) society and its problematic aspects; 2) pragmatic explanations of the problem of social control of everyday life through the re-actualization of socio-political concepts; 3) indication of guidelines for possible changes for the better in the sphere of everyday life in the foreseeable future. The methodology concerns the main hypothesis that by constructing the identity of people in the post-industrial society, social control of everyday life is realized. Auxiliary hypotheses are: 1) Identity construction takes place through strategies, policies, educational and media influences as segments of social control aimed at managing social resources from the local to the global level. 2) With instruments of social control, a desirable system of values of individuals and social groups is established with the aim of preventing, delaying, compensating, and transforming their potential subversive action (undermining the system from within). The independent or causal variable is the social control of everyday life, while the dependent or consequential variable is the constructed identity. Making final findings will be facilitated by the synthesis, inductive and deductive methods of reasoning, as well as the method of comparison with a case study. The results refer to the achieved goals and the general conclusion that the system’s power logic reduces the sphere of free and open communication of individuals, thus their identity becomes a place of permanent crisis due to the threat of the meaning of everyday life within which identity is formulated. This crisis is the reason that identities will remain endangered until the question of alienation of life is raised, in accordance with the capitalist imperatives of unlimited economic growth and consumption, and instrumental-rational interaction. As a reaction to the system dominance, the forces of resistance are strengthening, in the form of new alternative grassroots social movements, such as Civil Movement United Reform Action (URA), in Montenegro, which is pro-European green political party of the left center and social-liberal ideological provenance.

DESTRUKTIVNI PROCESI PRIVATIZACIJE – EKONOMSKI I SOCIJALNI SUNOVRAT

In the world economy the historical conflict between labor and capital is intensifying in the process of the dominance of speculative financial capital. The rise of unemployment in the new global crisis leads to the spread of fear for the existence of the masses. There is a general decline in the share of employees' income in the national income, along with a real decline in salaries and wages. The functioning of globalized capitalism and the creation of the precariat are investigated. The aggravation of the conflict between labor and large speculative capital is the path to a permanent crisis. The relationship between private capital, profit and the welfare state are the basis of new crises in capitalism. A critical finding of the process of privatization and its destructive action in society is needed. A special part of the paper refers to the creation of a dependent and indebted economy, along with the discovery of the mechanism of creation of the debt burden. Finally, it investigates where modern economies and society have led to the devastating concept of neoliberalism, privatization and the separation of labor from capital and the results of development. Key words: economy, privatization, capital, debt economy.

Akcioni plan zelene tranzicije za Srbiju - zahtev za hitnom, sistemskom, sveobuhvatnom i promišljenom akcijom

The dominance habit, at the core of human nature, continually pushes people into conflict with each other as well as against nature. This tendency has been exacerbated to the extreme during the period of economic neoliberalism. Since economic neoliberalism has lasted for more than four decades, a great many structural imbalances and anomalies of the economic system have emerged. Consequently, the economy, society, and the entire planet have remained in an unsustainable mode. In contrast to the exponential progress made since the start of economic liberalism, during the period of economic neoliberalism the economy and society entered regression, incapable of capitalizing on the growth potential from the last two industrial revolutions (3IR and 4IR). The economy entered a structural crisis because economic rules and policy platform brutally ignored planetary boundaries and the laws of nature as well. Precisely, without inbuilt corrective mechanisms aimed at mitigating the main fractures of the system, the economy has been floating between simultaneous destructions on the supply and demand side, and finally entered a structural, multi, and permanent crisis, simply, a "permacrisis". Furthermore, external asymmetric shocks, such as climate change, pandemics, and geopolitical disputes, have continuously deepened the fractures of the system and created new ones. In this paper, we intend to argue that when the pieces relevant for the functioning of the planet, envisioned as the "system dynamics" of three layers, cannot fit together, it is necessary to start with the reshuffling of the socio-economic layer, as the root cause of today's major planetary problems not only in the economy and society but also in the physical system and biosphere. The imperative of a new era is that economic rules should respect planetary boundaries and be compatible with the laws of nature, primarily reversibility and evolution. The aforementioned implies the necessity to initiate the transition from a "new normal", actually, abnormal, to a "better normal". Negative rebounds can only be reversed through the creation of a new context capable of internalizing negative externalities resulting from prior development. The ultimate outcome of such a radical change could be the birth of a sustainable (and inclusive) economy, both towards people and nature. The transition from an old to a new system is inevitable to steer the economy and society away from the permacrisis and put it on a sustainable trajectory. If the new economy intends to be in harmony with nature, the related transition could be named the "green transition" or the path back to a green planet as the context in which the seeds of human life were originally nurtured. Following the aforementioned logic, the paper is organized into six parts, excluding the Introduction and Conclusion. In Part 1 and Part 2, our focus will be on the root causes of structural imbalances (and anomalies) within the socio-economic system and the physical system, respectively, in the Anthropocene era. Part 3 presents a literature review of the attempts to mitigate inbuilt structural imbalances of economic neoliberalism. The intention is to address the green transition as a prerequisite for a sustainable economy and society. In Part 4, we delve into the strategic audit of Serbia's economy fact sheet at the outset of the green transition. The starting point in advocating for Serbia's return to a sustainable economy path is to provide an accurate diagnosis of the situation, addressing both macro and micro aspects, including everything in between. Part 5 offers an empirical test of attitudes towards SDGs/ESG sustainability metrics in Serbia's business community. Empirical data suggests a subtle inclination toward the environmentalization of the economy and sustainability-related disclosure. Consequently, in Part 6 we discuss the government's role in preparing the green transition action plan.

Мера упорядоченности социально-экономической системы для оценки её эффективности

This article presents the results of theoretical research in the field of management of socio-economic systems, which include clusters, corporations, regional economic complexes, as well as socio-economic systems of countries. The relevance of this issue is determined by the permanent crisis phenomena in the economy and the lack of adequate methods to eliminate the risks of crisis phenomena. The adequacy of management of this sphere of economy is determined by methods and criteria for assessing the efficiency of management sys-tems based on the results of its functioning. Traditionally, economic criteria of efficiency are used: gross do-mestic product, margin, productivity, amount of profit, etc. The above criteria are aimed at obtaining the gross domestic product, margin, productivity, amount of profit, etc. The specified criteria are aimed at obtaining a re-sult in a given time period. They do not involve managing the effectiveness of the economic system in a strate-gic aspect. The modern method of using entropy as a measure of efficiency and for evaluating the effective-ness of an economic system allows us to assess not only the current state of the system, but also the trend of its development. On the basis of the relationship established by V.A. Trapeznikov between the effect of the func-tioning of the economic system and the amount of information, theoretical prerequisites for using the initially thermodynamic concept of entropy to assess the effectiveness of the management of the economic system have been developed. The measure of the chaos of the system is justified – M, -factor and the area of its definition,   х. Sets of acceptable and unacceptable states are defined – M.

WHEN THE MEANS BECOMES THE END. SOME NON-OPPORTUNISTIC THOUGHTS ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY AND UNIVERSITIES

Political and social changes following the collapse of communism in the last quarter of the 20th century and the globalization that progressed in the early 21st century led to the need of rebuilding academic institutions. This has also initiated discussions about the condition of the University. In this article, the author, taking Fr. Jacek Woroniecki's article Pupil or book (first printing 1918) as a starting point, shows that the university is in a state of permanent crisis. Its source is alienation, i.e. a situation in which what is only a means becomes an end through the activities of people and institutions, "art for art's sake." Just as in the days of Fr. Woroniecki's activity writing scientific books became an end in itself, the shortest and surest way to achieve a professorship, so in our modern times the tools of the so-called parameterization of scientific achievements have become alienated. Reading Fr. Woroniecki's article inevitably leads to the conclusion that alienation creates pathologies in social life. However, in each era it manifests itself in a different way.

Emergency Power in Hungary and the COVID-19

We live in an era of overlapping states of exceptions: the climate and ecological emergency, the permanent crisis of global capitalism, the migration crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic. Relying on the Hungarian political regime, this paper investigates how and why exceptional measures restructure our life. It can be argued that the main outcome of the exceptional measures is the rise of a new executive power, and it is demonstrated how heavily authoritarian regimes rely on the state of exception. It has been argued here that behind the strengthening of the emergency power there is the new rise of unlimited executive power, which is nothing more than the legal and political fulfilment of two-thirds majority power. Upon the case of the permanent state of exception of the Orbán regime, it can be said that the COVID-19 as an epidemiological crisis cannot be traced back to the Orbán administration, but the executive power has found a way to create a new political crisis based on the epidemic. The paper briefly discusses the impact of the 2022 Hungarian national election campaign period and the Russian aggression against Ukraine in February 2022 on the Hungarian emergency powers.

Myth of the near future? Assessing the European Green Deal’s potential to become a political myth for the European Union

ABSTRACT Questions have long revolved around the European Union’s (EU) capacity to develop ‘post-national’ political myths – sacred narratives that provide a basis for long-term political legitimacy. The need for new EU political myths has become particularly severe with the declining power of the Union’s foundational myths of peace and prosperity, and as the EU has entered an era of almost permanent crisis. This article critically assesses whether one contemporary EU policy innovation – the European Green Deal (EGD) – has the potential to transform from a set of policies and an accompanying narrative into a sacred narrative for the Union. The analysis is conducted by applying a novel framework that assesses a myth’s features, including significance, development, and impact, to draw conclusions about the EGD’s mythic capacity. Drawing on key speeches, texts, and Eurobarometer findings, the conclusion is drawn that the EGD does have mythic capacity in terms of its significance and development. However, its impact has been limited by critical voices on both sides of the climate action debate. This conclusion has important implications for the possibilities of post-national mythmaking.

Satisfaction of rural and urban high school students with the functioning of the general secondary education system

The modern system of Russian general education is in a state of permanent crisis. The thing is that during the transition from the Soviet educational system to modern educational standards, all the fundamental foundations of the educational process were changed, while the new standards did not receive due verification. As a result, modern educational standards and programs are regularly adjusted, shifting the vector of study from one direction of school subjects to another. In this case, the most vulnerable element in the educational system is the subject of the educational process – schoolchildren, especially high school students – persons studying from 9th to 11th grade. The existence of a crisis in the education system is confirmed by a wide range of educational services on the market, ranging from private tutors to online schools for preparing for the Unified State Exam. At first glance, there is nothing surprising in the fact that a high school student goes to classes with a tutor or studies at an online school – this will allow him to successfully pass the main state or unified state exam and enroll in a particular educational institution on a budget. But at the same time, this means the fact that the knowledge that is given to the student at school does not satisfy the educational needs of the student, namely the key request regarding the successful passing of the state exam.

Book review of "Permanent Crisis: The Humanities in a Disenchanted Age"

A book review.

The Bulgarian Media after 1989

Abstract This article offers an overview of the most important developments in the Bulgarian media sphere after the changes of 1989. It fills a conceptual gap by analyzing the place of Bulgarian media in the context of the relationship between democracy and capitalism. The transition from socialist to private and market-oriented media, Bulgaria’s opening up to foreign media companies, the expansion of media into the internet environment, and the role of media regulation are identified as the key – and ambivalent – factors of change in the media sphere. The article argues that the tension between media democracy and media capitalism unfolded in the form of a permanent crisis in the media field. The analysis leads to the conclusion that indeterminacy and hybridity are key characteristics of the Bulgarian media system.

Global food systems under risk: Are we facing a permanent crisis?

Global food systems under risk: Are we facing a permanent crisis?

Permanent Crisis: The Humanities in a Disenchanted Age, by Paul Reitter and Chad Wellmon

<i>Permanent Crisis: The Humanities in a Disenchanted Age</i>, by Paul Reitter and Chad Wellmon

Book publishing houses of Ukraine in conditions of permanent crisis

Book publishing houses of Ukraine in conditions of permanent crisis

Solidarity, Care and Permanent Crisis

Solidarity is a contested concept whose definition needs to be clarified, especially in the context of the recent pandemic and in a world in permanent crisis. It is necessary to review certain stages of how solidarity develops and to relate the stages to the current status of solidarity in this post-pandemic period, with the aim of establishing some lines of approach to proposals for viable bioethics in the context of a post-foundational philosophy as the present one.

Funkcje polityczne parlamentu w Republice Austriackiej

The republican Austrian parliamentarianism has been in a state of permanent crisis since the day it was brought to existence by the Constitution of 1920. Generally speaking, this was due to the fact that the model of liberal parliamentarianism, set up by the constitution, has never corresponded to the requirements and aspirations of the political parties which in 1919 and 1945 stood behind all endeavours after reviving the Austrian state.In the last thirty years the period between 1945—664 witnessed the decline of the functions of the National Council (Nationalrat), whereas in 1966—76 the situation improved to the benefit of the latter. Nevertheless due mention should be made that the revival of the parliamentarianism, after a transfer had been made in Austria into one-party system, brought about the emergence of a new model of parliamentarianism, where authority rested with the government, the party and pressure groups. Consequently the parliament could not remain insensitive to this transformation. The latter resulted in present political functions and the form of constitutional functions, which were the outcome of the changing political situation in the country. Thus the division into three bodies of authority was retained (this, however, did not protect against the overgrowth of the latter), and the reform of the parliament was carried out. When its position in the political system was being established, there was oscilating between „modernizing” on the one hand and limitation of its constitutional powers on the other. The modernizing stood for a new role that the Council was endowed with — i.e. to articulate the interests of the party and pressure groups rather than the nation. With the assistance of the former two the Ausrian parliament became one of the most significant stabilizers of the existing system of political forces. It has transformed from a resolving and supervising organ into an institution which, within a determined political framework, is to safeguard the inviolability of the capitalist system. Thus determined positionnof the Council has already, become permanent within the political system and no changes should be expected in this respect. This is guaranteed by constantly increasing tasks of the state relating to socio-economic issues, as well as by the class-interests of the ruling forces.

Crises

One British publishing company has chosen ‘permacrisis’ as the word of the year for 2022. In fact, the crisis has been permanent for the time longer than one year. Over the last few decades, crises have become so integrated into our lives that they look like a familiar and permanent backdrop. Crises of all kinds succeed one another: economic, epidemiological, ideological, political ... But in spite of everything, life goes on and the end of a difficult year was brightly coloured by regional conferences, governor’s prizes (14–22), glorious anniversaries and accompanying magnificent exhibitions (8–13) in the field of architecture.The first part of the issue’s main section is devoted to different kinds of crises: complex, professional, energy and climate ones. Crisis phenomena are found even in the sphere of toponymy and architectural details. Paradoxically, any crisis is also a window of opportunity, and this is the focus of the second part of the issue’s main section.The issue about crises would not be complete without the heritage section. Despite the devoted work of restoration architects (14), researchers of the history of regional architecture (120–160) and certain achievements in comprehensive regeneration of quarters in Russian cities, heritage has firmly stuck in permanent crisis, and the “protected by the state” signs often don’t calm down, but rather provoke rejection because of their discrepancy with harsh reality.