The EU and Its Citizens: Identity, Politics, and Participation
The Complex Relationship Between Europeans and the EU
Europeans have ambivalent attitudes about the EU. While many are generally supportive of the European project and have a European identity above and beyond their national ones, others feel that their voices are not heard within the union, have low levels of trust in the EU, and express skepticism about its direction. This is the reason that some have failed to develop a strong psychological attachment to the EU.
Even as late as the 1980s, European
Read MoreInnovations for a Sustainable Future: Technology, Health, and Governance
Sustainable Agriculture: Fusion of Tradition and Technology
Merging traditional agricultural practices with modern technology—an approach often labeled the “fusion” model—brings significant advantages for food security and the sustainability of farming systems. Traditional methods such as crop rotation, intercropping, mixed farming, and water harvesting embody deep ecological wisdom: they preserve soil fertility, support biodiversity, and help sequester carbon.
When combined with precision
Read MoreCore Concepts of Environmental Governance and Sustainability
Foundational Concepts in Environmental Politics
Anthropocene Epoch Defined
Viewed as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment.
Environmental Contamination: Sources, Sinks, and Sites
- Sources: What produces contamination.
- Sinks: Forms in which contamination is absorbed or assimilated.
- Sites: Where the contamination event happens.
I=PAT Formula: Impact, Population, Affluence, Technology
The formula states: Impact = Population x Affluence x Technology.
Read MoreTalcott Parsons and W. W. Rostow: Foundations of Modernization Theory
Talcott Parsons and Structural Functionalism
Parsons: The 1940s and 1950s marked the heyday of structural functionalism theory. Its theoretical basis legitimized U.S. global power and ideas, suggesting that optimal social change involved adherence to existing rules and guidelines. This approach, which contributes to the preservation and survival of the system, helped consolidate U.S. world hegemony.
Parsons proposed a functional theory of social change in social systems, following the organic analogy,
Read MoreIndia’s Foreign Policy: Determinants, Diplomacy, and Global Role
Determinants of India’s Post-Independence Foreign Policy
India’s foreign policy post-1947 has been shaped by its historical experience, developmental needs, strategic concerns, and ideological commitments. As a newly independent state emerging from colonial rule, India’s priorities were sovereignty, territorial integrity, economic development, and global recognition.
- Historical Legacy and Civilizational Values: Ancient Indian philosophies of peace, coexistence, and universal brotherhood (e.g.,
Key Theories of Development and Citizenship Rights
Theories of Development and Underdevelopment
Development is a complex and contested concept that carries different meanings in different contexts. Broadly, it refers to the process through which societies improve their economic, political, and social conditions. It is often linked to economic growth, political democracy, modernization, and improvement in human well-being. However, over time, several scholars have proposed different approaches to understanding development, depending on how they view
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