Australian and New Zealand Journal of European Studies

The role of the European Union in third-country immigrant integration

2024-05-15T08:07:39+10:00

This paper investigates the effectiveness of current approach to third-country immigrant integration in Europe and assesses the potential for increased EU involvement in shaping integration strategies. Analysing disparities in immigrants' treatment and rights across EU member states, the paper reveals barriers to achieving successful integration and equal rights. The paper contemplates the complex interplay between integration, national sovereignty, and rising nationalism, necessitating careful consideration in any proposed EU intervention. Ultimately, the paper underscores the importance of a comprehensive two-way approach to integration, grounded in respect and empathy, highlighting the potential for EU involvement to address systemic challenges and foster a more inclusive European society.

What can the 1985 Soviet film The Most Charming and Attractive tell us about attitudes toward the consumer culture of the late Soviet era?

2024-05-10T12:26:35+10:00

This essay explores whether the 1985 Soviet film The Most Charming and Attractive, which presents a negative attitude toward late Soviet consumer culture, can tell us anything about real Soviet attitudes toward the consumer culture of the late Soviet era. This essay explores the film’s status as a form of popular entertainment and a propaganda device and argues that this status significantly limits the film’s ability to act as a reliable historical source since ideological and financial pressures would likely have been prioritised over historical accuracy. Ultimately, The Most Charming and Attractive cannot tell us anything useful about real attitudes toward consumer culture in the Soviet Union.

To be or not to be a state? The alignment behaviours of Abkhazia and South Ossetia with Russia

2024-05-10T12:29:51+10:00

This article presents an adaptation of Kuik's hedging theory to analyse the secessionist movements in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both seeking independence from Georgia with Russian support. By examining their distinctive strategies, this study addresses the extent to which these regions seek to maintain their independence from Russia, as their patron state. The article argues for the need to modify hedging theory to accommodate the unique context of former Soviet actors and de facto states. The adaptation develops the concept of a "political hedge," with a focus on elite-driven nation-building as a mechanism to influence the likelihood of Russian integration. Abkhazia is identified as an illustrative case of hedging behaviour, whereas South Ossetia displays characteristics resembling but distinct from bandwagoning. This analysis contributes to refining the applicability of hedging theory within novel political environments and underscores the significance of elite-led nation-building in shaping state and national legitimacy in secessionist regions.

In the shadow of famine: How do Russo–Ukrainian and Russo–Kazakh relations impact memorialisation of the Holodomor and Kazakh famine?

2024-05-10T12:33:07+10:00

The trajectories of public memory and memorialisation of the famines of the 1930s have been vastly different for Kazakhstan and Ukraine, despite the common causation of these national tragedies. Many of the disparities between memorialisation of these events emerge from these nations’ different post–collapse trajectories. A not insignificant amount of vacillation on memory policy occurred as both nations grappled with the past, owing to the various orientations of national leadership and popular sentiment as contexts shifted. While Ukraine sought to forge an independent path quickly post–collapse, Kazakhstan maintained close relations with Russia until recently. Changes to Kazakhstan’s foreign policy spurred, in part, by the Russian full–scale invasion of Ukraine have in turn prompted a revaluation of famine memory. This article seeks to illustrate the complexity of nations coming to terms with their Soviet pasts alongside new domestic and international concerns and illustrate the value of comparative analysis of famine memory through a post–colonial lens.

A critical analysis of the European Union’s structure and approach to economic recovery during times of crisis

2024-05-10T12:37:05+10:00

This essay critically analyses the European Union's (EU) approach to economic recovery during times of crisis, focusing on the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent eurozone debt crisis. The EU's response included various measures such as bailouts, fiscal stimulus packages, and structural reforms. However, shortcomings in these responses are evident, including a lack of long-term planning and the exacerbation of negative effects by bailout announcements. Moreover, the essay examines structural issues within the EU, particularly regarding the European Central Bank's monetary policies and the lack of cohesive fiscal policies among member states. These structural deficiencies contributed to the severity of the crises. Despite lessons learned, including the need for stricter financial regulations and improved coordination among member states, challenges remain. The analysis suggests that while the EU has undergone reforms, its resilience to future crises remains uncertain.

Putin’s retelling of the Great Patriotic War myth and the construction of Russian national identity

2024-05-10T12:43:40+10:00

Political elites often use the nation’s past to construct the nation’s present identity. In his speeches about the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin frequently uses the Russian national myth of the Great Patriotic War to construct Russia’s present duties, values, and identity. Charges of neo-Nazism and fascism against Ukraine are made to construct the Russian national identity as one that fights proactively against Nazism. However, by using a myth set in the Soviet period, the status of Ukraine as either part of the Russian Self or constituting the foreign Other is highly ambiguous. Although cynical and deeply offensive, Putin’s use of Nazi imagery therefore has a purpose deeper than causing shock and offence.

Policy brief: Improving teacher qualifications for equitable teacher workforce in Flemish - Belgium education

2024-05-10T12:47:58+10:00

This policy brief addresses persistent challenges in the Flemish-Belgian education system, including quality improvement, teacher shortages, student guidance, institutional capacity, and secondary school duration. Despite increased funding, the ongoing exodus of educators remains concerning. To achieve equitable learning outcomes, the brief advocates for enhancing teacher qualifications, aligning training with diverse learner needs, and providing continuous professional development. Additionally, it recommends bolstering educational leadership, promoting teaching as a respected profession, establishing a teacher career structure linked to certification, and improving data collection for accurate monitoring of teacher supply and demand. These measures aim to address teacher shortages, foster inclusivity, and ensure all students have equal access to quality education. Collaborative efforts among organizations like UNESCO, OECD, and EUROSTAT are highlighted for improved data collection, essential for informed policy decisions and resource allocation in the Flemish education sector.

Policy brief: Learning from Italy to promote sustainability education in Hong Kong

2024-05-10T12:50:30+10:00

Education is recognised as an integral part of building the capacity of all ages to drive the transformation toward sustainable development. While the Hong Kong government aspires to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and has ramped up efforts to integrate sustainability into school curricula and raise public awareness through educational activities, this policy brief argues that Hong Kong’s existing measures failed to empower and motivate individuals and the community to keep pace with its climate action ambition. Drawing on Sterling's framework of education for sustainability (EFS), this paper presents a diagnosis of Hong Kong’s major problems in sustainability education policies and suggests that the Hong Kong government should learn from the Italian experience to take a more systemic, empowering, and democratic approach in advancing its EFS policies.

Policy brief: Polish LGBTQIA+ students at risk: How can schools protect them?

2024-05-10T12:53:00+10:00

Recognising and meeting the social and emotional wellbeing needs of LGBTQIA+ students is an essential education policy issue globally. Yet, research suggests that this vulnerable group continues to face challenges to their ability to feel culturally safe at school. Negative experiences include verbal and physical abuse, and this often results in poor outcomes for students. Certain European countries such as Malta and The Netherlands have demonstrated positive progress towards enacting inclusive policy, while others, including Poland, are known to have made little or no development in this area. This paper provides a policy issue analysis on the current situation in Polish schools while considering the added threat of LGBT+ free zones that have plagued the political landscape and exist as a further barrier to tolerance and empowerment. Following this discourse, recommendations for school communities have been provided for the purpose of establishing safe learning environments for LGBTQIA+ students.

Policy brief: Addressing Poland’s teacher shortage: Are wage increases enough?

2024-05-10T12:55:22+10:00

Teachers in Poland have experienced a great deal of adversity over the last 10 years, from the overturning of evidence informed reforms, low wages, and an influx of non-Polish speaking Ukrainian students. As such, the teaching profession has struggled to attract new staff and retain current staff, contributing to a growing teacher shortage. This paper highlights most attempts to mitigate teacher shortages are isolated on wage growth. Analysis shows whilst wage growth is essential to staff satisfaction and professional status, failing to address other contributing factors, such as increasing workloads, limits success. As such, two recommendations are offered as a starting point to combat the growing shortages; however, their success is questionable because of decisions made by the then ruling right-wing government (2015-23). This poses a serious matter that the recently sworn in coalition government must address.

Policy brief: Responding to the influx of Ukrainian refugee students in Lesser Poland Voivodeship’s education system

2024-05-10T12:59:10+10:00

This brief explores how Poland’s education system has responded to the influx of Ukrainian refugee students since the start of the Ukraine-Russia War. In Poland, only 40% of Ukrainian refugee students are enrolled in schools, and the content taught in Polish classrooms can lack inclusivity. To combat this, Poland is offering segregated and immersive schooling options. Both approaches strive to enhance student learning and wellbeing. This brief recommends maintaining the option of both schooling approaches and supports Ukrainian refugee teachers being redeployed as multicultural assistants who can help engage parents and students in Polish schools and overcome the language barrier.

2024-05-10T11:53:12+10:00

Editors' note

2024-05-10T12:19:09+10:00

Notes on contributors

2024-05-10T13:01:30+10:00