This article is one of many voices in the continuing debate about Greece as a nation and as a member of the European Union. It emphasises the following facts: characteristics of Greece’s relationship with the state and the citizen, understanding of the European Union and Greece’s role in the organisation, difficulties in the dialog between Brussels and Athens. Due to the diversity and complexity of the issues presented, the troublesome relationship between Greece and its European partners has not been explored in full here. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the Greek point of view on current affairs as well as to show the difference in wider public opinion towards Greek politics. Consequently, this article invites discussion about Greek public affairs and allows the reader to acknowledge the very different Greek attitude towards political actions performed by the European Union institutions and politicians.
Cities young and old, big and small, rich and somewhat more humble – all bear features that once conditioned their development and now shape their image. In this context Gdynia does not appear to be an especially outstanding place. What makes it special is its legend and the emotions which have accompanied it ever since the construction of this port agglomeration started, myths about it which have intensified over the years and the capital that they yielded which is today used by the citizens. The myth surrounding the city, skillfully fuelled, continues and enhances the attractiveness of the place even until today. A city is first and foremost its people – both its former citizens and the present generation. Here, in Gdynia, everyone is at the same time an immigrant and a native. It is a place of paradoxes, where modernity encounters tradition, development is connected with history, and today’s citizens cultivate the memory of past generations. The history of the beginnings of the port and the city subtends decisions concerning the current directions of the city’s development, its modernization or expansion. Images of Gdynia are linked with the modernistic character of its white buildings, the lifestyle of the sailors and dreamers who arrived here over eighty over years ago and dared to turn their visions into reality.
The article relates to the issue of diff erences in understanding assimilation both in European states and in the USA. Diff erences in the forming of European coun-tries and USA together with diff erent historical, political and social experiences infl uenced the way in which ethnic minorities are defi ned. However, comparison of these diff erent viewpoints enables considerations of the following doubts: “Who is responsible for forming ethnic minorities?”, “Why are they defi ned as ethnic?” or “How big is the infl uence of so called “dominant communities” on the process of assimilation of the members of ethnic minorities?”
PL
Prezentowany artykuł stanowi przyczynek do dyskusji na temat różnic w pojmowaniu „etniczności” oraz „asymilacji” w państwach europejskich i w Ameryce Północnej. Odmienne kształtowanie się narodów europejskich oraz społeczeństwa amerykańskiego, a także inne – po obu stronach Atlantyku – doświadczenia historyczne, społeczne i polityczne wpłynęły na sposób defi niowania grup uznawanych za mniejszości etniczne. Jednak porównanie obu tych spojrzeń pozwala na postawienie pytań: „Kto faktycznie tworzy te grupy?”, „Jakie są przyczyny rozróżniania ich jako etniczne?” oraz „W jakim zakresie tzw. społeczności dominujące wpływają na procesy asymilacji członków omawianych grup?”
Autorka podejmuje problem mniejszości narodowych i etnicznych we współczesnej Polsce. W artykule szczegółowo omawia ewolucję prawodawstwa polskiego, regulującego kwestie mniejszości, w aspekcie przemian ustrojowych, które nastąpiły po roku 1989. Podkreśla ona, że obecnie relacje między grupą dominującą a zamieszkującymi ten sam obszar mniejszościami wpływa pośrednio na poczucie bezpieczeństwa nie tylko mieszkańców danego kraju, ale także całego kontynentu europejskiego. Uporządkowanie przepisów prawnych rozwiązujących kwestie ich wzajemnej koegzystencji w ramach jednego organizmu państwowego jest zatem niezwykle istotne, gdyż służy niwelowaniu ewentualnych sporów.
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