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The October Surprises Came Early
No. 48, Jul.-Aug. 2024 In American politics, there is talk of the “October surprise”, an event that precipitates a spectacular reversal of the situation just before the presidential elections at the beginning of November, having the potential to radically change the outcome of the elections. After a prelude to the presidential race on autopilot, in which President Biden and former President Trump avoided primary debates and were their parties’ presumptive nominees with few expected surprises, July brought shocking events on both sides, that may change the course of the elections. Firstly, the June 26 early presidential debate precipitated a crisis of confidence in Joe Biden. Later, on the one hand, we have the assassination attempt against Donald Trump, resulting in one of the most powerful political images in modern history and precipitating a crisis of confidence in key organizations and a new Republican populist radicalization. On the other hand, Joe Biden announced, just a month before the Democratic National Convention that would have confirmed him as the candidate of the Party he leads for the American Presidency, that he is withdrawing from a role of candidate that he has tenaciously held onto and that he supports Kamala Harris as his successor. Donald Trump, meanwhile, picked a campaign partner with ideological weight as a promise to his supporters about his second-term commitment to the populist causes he launched but rarely followed through on. There are still more than three months until election night, and after such an inauspicious start to the real presidential campaign, we should not be surprised that the “October surprises” may keep on coming. More
Romania, the Lowest Number of Working Years among the EU Member States
No. 48, Jul.-Aug. 2024 Last year, Romania recorded the lowest number of years of work among EU member states, according to data published by Eurostat. With an average of only 32.2 years, we ranked below Italy (32.8 years), Croatia (34 years), Greece (34.2 years) and Bulgaria (34.5 years). Which, socio-culturally, shows that we are, simultaneously, both Latins and Balkans. More
Rising Temperatures and Rising Extremism
No. 48, Jul.-Aug. 2024 The political temperature is rising within the European Union. The political landscape within the European Union is currently undergoing a significant transformation, characterized by a noticeable increase in extremist ideologies. This shift is particularly evident among the younger generation, who are becoming increasingly disenchanted with traditional political parties and with yesteryear radicals like the Greens. The established political order, which was once viewed as the foundation of stability and progress, is now being challenged by movements that promise radical change. More
Navigating the Intersection of Race and Identity: Understanding the Complex Tapestry of Human Experience
No. 48, Jul.-Aug. 2024 The intersection of race and identity is a complex human experience with profound implications for individuals and society. To deepen the understanding of contemporary social issues and foster intellectual discourse, this article explores how race intersects with individual identity, shaping personal narratives and societal structures. It draws on scholarly research and real-life examples, in examining the multifaceted dynamics through which racial identity influences perceptions, experiences, and opportunities. More
The Inescapable Gap
No. 48, Jul.-Aug. 2024 Much awaited as any other major football tournament, the UEFA Euro 2024 brought along controversies regarding the competition format. Critics (or nostalgic fans) argued over the expansion of the tournament to 24 teams, considering that the old system, with 16 teams divided into groups of 4, would have been simpler and better. Better, meaning, more competitive (?). The current format sees the top two teams from each of the six groups (of four) qualify for the round of 16, joined by the best four third ranked teams of each group. More
“The American Claimants”
No. 48, Jul.-Aug. 2024 We know, the US is short for the USA, in turn an acronym for the United States of America, which could very well stand for The-Somehow-Still-United-Despite-Constant-Divisions-and-Bickering-States-of-America. Race and class, gender and religion, all craftily packed in (debilitating) ideologies, are some of the cruxes for (or rather, causes of) the many fault lines that stubbornly drive wedges within the highly regarded and widely praised “land of the free, home of the brave”. These boundaries date back to the time of pilgrims and pioneers and will endure in an idiosyncratic form of patriotism, just like their political coalescence has become, paradoxically enough, the driver of American society and statehood. The polarity between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, aka “the left” versus “the right”, aka “liberals” versus “conservatives”, keeps America in motion, even if the image of the debate (debacle?) Biden-Trump on the evening/morning of June 28/29, was one of an American political class that “went to pot” than of candidates “running for POTUS” (President of the United States). More
“The Future of Europe” – To Be Scrutinized by Academics and Practitioners
No. 47, May-Jun. 2024 “The Future of Europe” International Conference, organized by the Faculty of International Business and Economics, of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, on 24-25 October 2024 and marking this year its 15th edition, aims to bring together academics and practitioners from all over the world to present research papers, share their knowledge and expertise, as well as to debate ideas in a wide range of thematic areas, including but not limited to:- international business, innovation and competitiveness, digital transformation, supply chain resilience, and sustainability challenges;- EU governance and enlargement, business cycles and economic crises, role of the state, mobility and infrastructure development, finance and banking in the EU, circular economy, climate change economics, green energy, and energy security;- multiculturalism & diversity across the European Union, with particular emphasis on business communication and negotiation, leadership, organizational culture, migration issues. More
The Political and Economic Impact of the Conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia
No. 47, May-Jun. 2024 The Middle East, a region endowed with vast natural resources, notably oil, has historically been a hotspot of geopolitical tensions. Two of the region’s most influential nations, Iran and Saudi Arabia, have been at the heart of these conflicts. Their rivalry, deeply rooted in political, economic, and religious differences, significantly impacts regional stability and global economic trends. This article examines the historical context, economic influence, geopolitical tensions, international involvement, and the broader implications of the conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia. More
The Budget Deficit in the Last 20 Years. Some Observations
No. 47, May-Jun. 2024 Romania has systematically recorded a negative budget execution result over the last 20 years. Essentially, the idea of the normalcy of the budget deficit has taken root, with the only discussion being about its size. In fact, in the long term, we should aim for a balance between revenues and expenditures. Otherwise, everything we accumulate at specific points, for various reasons (be it justified or not), will translate into systematic interest payments. These payments represented no less than 2.1% of GDP in 2022 (note, 70% of the space allowed by the Maastricht rule of 3%), and in 2023 they represented 1.9% of GDP, one-third of the deficit recorded in public finances. More
Russia and China: The Limits of the Unlimited Partnership Have Not Been Reached Yet
No. 47, May-Jun. 2024 The relationship between Russia and China is an important subject of debate for the West in the context of the war in Ukraine and of the invaluable support which China gives to Russia in order to hold its ground against the Western sanctions and to continue the fight against Ukraine. The two countries are, also, engaged in an ample project of organising the Global South and the major emerging economies (plus important non-aligned actors such as the United Arab Emirates and nominal US allies like Saudi Arabia) in structures parallel to the ones supposedly dominated by the West, capable of producing alternate governance models which mark the transition towards multipolarity. Under such conditions, could Western commentators hope for a moderate/-ing Chinese influence on Russia’s actions in Ukraine or for an eventual split between these two powers? More
Romania’s Odyssey to OECD Membership: A Journey of Progress and Promise
No. 47, May-Jun. 2024 Romania’s path to OECD accession and its development are examined in this article, which also presents the stages followed and conformity with the organization’s standards. Romania encountered difficulties throughout the accession process, its enacted reforms and fulfilling the technical requirements for membership. Key stages are highlighted: submission of the initial memorandum, the 2024 economic study, roadmap acquisition, and obtaining the first formal notice. Additionally, the article discusses the benefits of Romania’s OECD accession, reflecting on the ongoing efforts required for successful integration. It focuses on the broader context of the 2022 enlargement wave and emphasizes the significant role of democratic institutions in meeting OECD standards. It underscores the need for improving the educational system and internal challenges within the investment environment. The conclusion highlights how crucial it is to keep an eye on political and economic trends throughout the world in order to adjust plans accordingly, guarantee Romania’s preparation for OECD membership, and integrate Romania into international governance frameworks. More
Extractive Behaviours in Datacracy 4.0
No. 47, May-Jun. 2024 Planet Earth is both an immense habitat – our cradle – and a gravitational vehicle – with circumsolar motion. With its array of natural (im)balances, the Earth is a venerable 4.54 billion years old; the (industrial) imprint left by the human species on it, deemed not negligible, barely exceeds two centuries; and our digital/IT&C/virtual existence, in what we call cyberspace, makes us feel still too young. This quite new frontier to be conquered is competing with the expansive cosmic imagination (Universe), but inverted into a quantum-ritual dreamscape (Metaverse), somehow simplistically assimilated with the internet. Yet, cyberspace is more than the sum, it is the synergy of computers (and all assimilable devices), servers, routers, and other globally connective digital infrastructures (hardware), “animated” by software, including here the omni-technology of our utopias/dystopias, Artificial Intelligence. In our quest for space and sense we do struggle to understand whether AI is a friend or a foe. More
