Abstract:

The political systems of the 1960s-1980s in Western Europe witnessed a pas de deux of two political blocks, the moderate left and the moderate right, which both collaborate in order to achieve stability, welfare state and European integration. As most of the successful stories, this one came eventually to an end: starting with the 1990s, the centre-left and centre-right parties were not able to replicate their previous results. Moreover, due to different circumstances in the recent years they could only achieve half of the percentages they gained decades ago. The aim of this article is to evaluate the shape of the centre-right and centre-left nowadays in Europe and also to find out whether such a consensus would be possible once more. Some explanation of why party systems changed dramatically in recent years will be provided.

• Keywords: PISA, cultural capital, reading performance, Romania, quality of education
• DOI:10.24193/OJMNE.2017.24.01

Abstract: 

The main purpose of this article is to outline the various current theoretical positions in the discourse on cultural diversity at the organizational level and the practical implications deriving from these different types of discourses. The analysis identifies two major types of positioning: the managerial perspective and critical studies in diversity management. The practical consequences of certain theoretical stances are varied. Hence, in the first case, the emphasis is put on diversity  management, on the advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity in relation to organizational performance. In the second case, the emphasis is placed on power relations, social exclusion and the need to create inclusive professional climates.

• Keywords: cultural diversity, workplace, managerial perspective, critical studies in diversity management
• DOI:10.24193/OJMNE.2017.24.02

Abstract:

The Israeli government appoints committees to manage failing local authorities based on the assumption that failure was due to deterioration in human resources, expressed in lack of managerial skills. Additionally, many times a committee comprised of members from one culture are appointed to manage a local authority from another culture. The purpose of this article is to present partial findings emerging from a qualitative research that focused on cross-cultural factors involved in the management of those failing Arab local authorities managed by Jewish committee members. The findings show that culture embodies a significant component in the committees’ practice. Therefore appointed committees wishing to succeed in rehabilitating failing local authorities should strive to bridge the culture gap.

• Keywords: cross-cultural processes, intercultural negotiation, managing local authority, appointed committee, culture gap.
• DOI:10.24193/OJMNE.2017.24.03

Abstract:

The current study attempts to provide a comparative analysis of dissent art in America of the 20th century and the social media of the 21st regarding the protests which took place in the USA during the two centuries. The results reveal the fading of some tactics used by protesters such as poetry and music and the rise of other methods such as images, videos and interactive content shared in the virtual space, putting a heavy accent on the role of social media as a communication channel for both gathering and uniting the people for a common goal

• Keywords: Dissent Art, Social Media, Protests, Protesters, USA
• DOI:10.24193/OJMNE.2017.24.04

Abstract:

In a truly internationalised world, where the mobility of workers and students is encouraged, the transfer of skilled individuals (geographical brain drain) is a problem that affects many of the developing countries around the globe. The purpose of our research is to see whether Romania is still a country strongly affected by the geographical brain drain, as well as to find out the reasons behind the intention to seek employment abroad. As such, we wanted to find out if the students enrolled at the Faculty of European Studies within Babeș-Bolyai University already know what they want to do after graduation, i.e. leave the country / stay in their country of origin, and to find out to what extent the possibility to study abroad for one semester or a year through the Erasmus+ Programme or to go on a ‘Work & Travel’ programme influences students’ decision of leaving the country after graduation.

• Keywords: brain drain, human capital flight, employment, study mobility, work and travel mobility, Romanian students  
• DOI:10.24193/OJMNE.2017.24.05

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the main aspects of the relationship between Great Britain and the European Union (EU) from the time of accession (1973) up to the time of Brexit’s initiation (2016) and to outline the future relationship between them, after the exit procedure of Great Britain from the EU (2019) is finished. In this context, the attention will be directed toward classifying the relations between Great Britain and the EU, from a historical perspective in an attempt to identify the premises that contributed tacitly to the choice of the British to withdraw from the EU. The study then continues with a radiography of the ante and post Brexit events, in order to try to contribute to solving the most important problems caused by Brexit: setting the borders of Great Britain and Ireland, determining Great Britain’s bill concerning the “divorce’ from the EU and last but not least, establishing the situation of European citizens settled in Great Britain and of British citizens settled in the EU countries. A special section of this study is dedicated to summarizing the future socio-economic-political-cultural relations between Romania and Great Britain. The end of the study is dedicated to the presentation of the Brexit phenomenon as cultural element in the Community, met in painting, literature and theatre, form of manifestation generally embraced by the British supporters of Great Britain’s remaining in the EU, who succeeded to create, combining reality with fiction, true works of art in every sense of the word. Keywords: European Union, European Parliament, citizens’ participation, awareness, accountability.

• Keywords: Brexit, historical perspective, new borders, Great Britain’s bill, the status of the EU citizens, the British-Romanian relations, Brexit as element of culture.
• DOI:10.24193/OJMNE.2017.24.06