Public Diplomacy & Soft Power
The Political Protection of Transdanubian Protestantism...
Transdanubian Protestantism; Miklós Bethlen; religious persecution; political pamphlets; galley-slave pastors; Protestant diplomacy
The article examines Miklós Bethlen’s political and diplomatic efforts to protect persecuted Hungarian Protestant pastors and teachers during the “decade of mourning.” It analyses pamphlets, correspondence, legal proceedings, and international Protestant intervention against Habsburg religious persecution.
ALBERT, ANDRÁS
Ukraine – A Freezing or a Frozen Conflict? Or: “Russians Are Already in the Cupboard?”
Ukraine conflict; Russia–EU relations; frozen conflict; Crimea; energy security; economic sanctions
The article interprets the Ukrainian conflict through Russian–Ukrainian–EU relations, historical and cultural factors, energy dependence, sanctions, and the strategic importance of Crimea. It argues that competing geopolitical interests and unresolved territorial claims may transform the crisis into a prolonged frozen conflict.
SPINDLER, ZSOLT
The European Union and Russia: History of the Relationship and Cooperation Prospects
EU–Russia relations; strategic partnership; Partnership and Cooperation Agreement; energy policy; Eastern Partnership; Eurasian integration
The article traces the development of EU–Russia relations from the late Soviet period to strategic partnership. It examines the principal legal frameworks and contested areas of cooperation, including trade, energy, visas, human rights, and competing regional integration projects.
LAZAREVA, MARINA
Nation Branding in the Decade of Crises – Italy
Crisis, Italy, nation branding, public diplomacy, soft power
Italy, as most countries in the world, has been facing a long period of crises which has brought unprecedented challenges. Italian politicians and scientists interpret this period as the so-called “decade of crises” (2015–2024), starting with the migration crisis of 2015, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the escalation of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. These challenges have been generating health, financial and social crises and have profoundly affected our lives and our habits. The new challenges also influenced political leadership, and national governments and international organisations had to react to situations without precedent.
The new situation caused by the different crises forced nations to rethink the strategies, priorities and instruments they use for nation branding and public diplomacy. In this new and increasingly competitive and interconnected world, nation branding has become a crucial way to promote a country in a period when nation states have more need than ever to be assessed positively.
The research analyses how Italy has adjusted its policies, strategies and institutional system responsible for nation branding accordingly in this new and sometimes very conflictual and controversial context. The research examines primary sources, the relevant legislation, strategies, programmes and the institutional structure responsible for their implementation, and uses interviews with senior officials to assess the efficiency of the government's response to crises, the results of the introduced integrated approach and “shared” governance. The analysis of the efficiency will be completed by analysing the evolution of Italy's position in international rankings, assessing whether the measures introduced during the crisis period have had a measurable positive impact.
TANÁCS-MANDÁK, FANNI
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