Projects / Programmes
Slovenia and its actors in international relations and European integrations
January 1, 2015
- December 31, 2021
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.06.00 |
Social sciences |
Political science |
|
| 5.02.00 |
Social sciences |
Economics |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S170 |
Social sciences |
Political and administrative sciences |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.06 |
Social Sciences |
Political science |
Globalisation, internationalisation, international relations, international economic relations, European Union, global governance, regionalisation, norms, exports, foreign direct investment, research and development, innovation, services, global value chains, Slovenia, Western Balkans, Mediterranean
Researchers (29)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
In the globalisation processes, the governance in world economy and politics is facing numerous challenges, from the financial and economic crisis, unequal economic development, insufficient development of institutions, to social crisis and increasing democratic deficit at the global, and especially at the regional level. Research, addressing these challenges and the ways of dealing with them is a subject of the science of international relations. Due to the importance of economic dimension, the research combines the interdisciplinary field of international economic relations and European integrations. The basic theoretical framework of our research is thus, on one hand, the discipline of international relations, including theories of international political economy, foreign policy, international economic relations and international business as well as the contemporary theories of endogenous growth/development and different theories dealing with the role and development of actors entering globalisation processes. Interdisciplinary approach is to be applied throughout the research.
The key objective of the research programme is to increase the knowledge on the activity and role of Slovenia and its actors within the regional and global framework of international relations and international economy, based on the interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks and by applying original empirical research. The derived goals are: strengthening of the international position of Slovenia and its actors within European integrations and broader; strengthening of the competitiveness of Slovenia, of its enterprises and other actors; suggesting strategies and policies that would adequately address global and regional challenges.
The research will focus on the following:
1. Changes in the global politics and their impact on the foreign policy of Slovenia, with an emphasis on the role of the state in the European and transatlantic institutions. We will analyse: the regional dimension of governance; norms and values underpinning governance practices; the role of international institutions.
2. The factors of development of (Slovenian) business entities (firms) and the national economy within the globalisation framework. We will analyse: 'efficiency' of various forms of international involvement of firms and their impact on competitiveness of firms and national economies; competitive advantages of firms in the circumstances of globalisation, with an emphasis on innovation; multidimensional effects of service activities; the impact of the external environment on the processes of internationalisation of the Slovenian economy, and economic policy for successful integration in globalisation processes.
In acquiring and collecting data for the research we will use individual unit level statistical data (e.g. firm level), questionnaire surveys and interviews. In analysing the data, we will apply various statistical methods, qualitative analysis and case studies.
Significance for science
The relevance of the research programme for the development of science is in the following contributions:
a/ Identification of the existence and types of specific factors requiring eventual adaptation/modification of the existing theories on small catching-up countries and for innovation/ technology and internationalisation laggards. Slovenian experience will be contrasted via comparative analyses with other new EU member states and catching-up countries.
b/ Verification of the overall validity of the theories that form the basis of our research in the context of globalised international relations and economy, and with regard to redistribution of power/market shares. Our starting hypothesis is that prevailing paradigms of established theories do not recognise sufficiently contemporary circumstances in international relations and global economy, and should therefore be subjected to critical reconsideration.
c/ Design of multi-disciplinary theoretical framework, overarching the mono-disciplinary approach of most base theories.
d/ Merging of various individual, firm-level data bases in the safe room of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia enables much more complex, exact and robust econometric analyses of various aspects of firms' internationalisation activities.
e/ Placement of our scientific findings in the global knowledge flow through intensive international research co-operation and via publication of our research results in international journals and books.
f/ Building of original empirical data-bases and knowledge, building valuable resource available also to other researchers as well as to policy-makers.
Significance for the country
The research programme focuses on the strengthening of the position of Slovenia and its actors in the globalisation processes. Close integration of the programme in the socio-economic development of Slovenia is reflected also through high participation of the researchers in ‘Target research programme: Competitiveness of Slovenia 2006-2013’, in the work of IMAD, in several studies and expert analyses prepared for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy and Technological Development, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, SPIRIT, SID, Chamber of Commerce and a number of enterprises. By presenting their findings in international publications and conferences, the members of the research group actively promote Slovenia abroad. Through their teaching activities, they transfer novel global knowledge to Slovenia. More specifically, the importance of the research programme for development of Slovenia is reflected in:
a/ Increased knowledge on the factors affecting innovation capacity of Slovenian enterprises and their absorption capacity for knowledge transfer. Research is focused on the development of required capabilities within the enterprises as well as on identification of appropriate policies to the new challenges in the international environment, to strengthening of internationalisation and growing importance of services. This will contribute to shaping of the R&D and innovation policy and decreasing the development gap between Slovenia and more advanced countries.
b/ Contribution to creation of the knowledge needed in Slovenia for its transition to knowledge based society and participation in the globalisation processes. The findings will contribute to the creation of policy measures directed to strengthening the competitiveness of the country and its enterprises, and to the development of civil society.
c/ Due to the fact that national identity affirms itself globally in relation to others, the activity of the research group, aimed at active participation of Slovenia and its actors in international environment, will contribute to promotion of the country and to the strengthening of national identity. Through this, it will contribute also to the improvement of structural position of Slovenia and its actors in the international community.
d/ In view of the high level of participation of the research group in the education process at the Faculty of Social Sciences at University of Ljubljana as well as at other higher education institutions in Slovenia and abroad (Great Britain, Austria, Italy, Netherlands, Finland, Estonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, USA), the transfer of research results to education programmes is significant.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2015,
interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2015,
interim report
