<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Amongst the various indigenous societies across the planet, alcohol has always played a pivotal role in shaping and preserving different forms of social, cultural, communal, personal, and familial values in an inter-generational and transcultural manner. With the advent of European colonisation, over different segments of time and space across the globe, this community practice was disrupted and dismantled as unmodern, unhygienic, non-civilising, and dehumanising. However, such community practices in Bhutan remained unaffected till the beginning of the 21st century. In 2007, with the establishment of a democratic governing system, as Bhutan started welcoming foreign investors, the West (Europe and USA) invaded the local markets of Bhutan. Gradually, the individuals were attracted towards the western-branded alcoholic drinks and the consumption of the locally brewed alcoholic drinks started declining. Keeping these arguments at the forefront, this article makes an effort to socio-historically analyse the various ways through which the culture of brewing, consuming, and sharing the locally brewed alcoholic drinks functions as a tool to resist the westernisation of the culture of drinking in contemporary Bhutan.
</abstract>

Postdoctoral Fellow, Wits Centre for Diversity Studies

Faculty Fellow, The Harriet Tubman Research Institute

Brewing Indigenisation, Filtering Westernisation: A Socio-Historical Study of Locally Brewed Alcoholic Drinks in Bhutan

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Regional innovation became a mainstream topic in the modern development paradigm. This topic is especially relevant in the European Union (EU), given its developmental gap on the national and sub-national levels. The research considered testing four hypotheses, conceptualising the importance of endogenous and exogenous (regional) factors for the innovation process. The results revealed that Regional Innovation System and Global Production Networks (GPN) approaches could offer necessary models to interpret innovation performance in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Regional cooperation, institutional support, implementation of innovation policy, positive attitude towards competitors, and the implication of international partners embedded in the region in the innovation process showed a high degree of association with innovation. Additionally, various configurations of conditions highlighted many paths to achieve innovativeness by combining endogenous and exogenous parameters. This leads to the conclusion that the outcome's equifinality depends on the regional context and circumstantiality of conjunction between local and global forces.
</abstract>

The Impact of Endogenous and Exogenous Forces on Innovation: A Logical Analysis of Regional Innovation Systems in Central and Eastern Europe

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The main goal of Agenda 2030, the third and current strategic document of the European Union (EU), is to steer its development in pursuit of its Sustainable Development Goals. However, both policy research and policy practice have revealed a relatively poor implementation record of the EU grand strategy. The implementation of Agenda 2030 may be even more challenging, since it is not only an official EU grand strategy, but, more pervasively, a document accepted by the United Nations and whose implementation has global ambitions and also encounters many obstacles deriving their origin from beyond the borders of the EU. This promises that implementation and factors contributing to successes and failures of the EU grand strategies will remain an interesting research topic. In this article we present the possible application of Cultural Political Economy (CPE) approach in this research and present its application in the framework of Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence titled Strategic Observatory for Europe 2030 (SOE2030).
</abstract>

Strategic Observatory for Europe 2030: Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence SOE2030 and Its Impact

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This study aims to analyse the evolution of the relationship between the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in the recent decades, particularly with the implementation of the EU's Common Security and defence Policy (CSDP). This study also aims to improve knowledge of the trends of different approaches in the EU about this relationship. Strengthening the cooperation in the field of security and defence is vital for the EU, considering the implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the current hostile international environment, with increasing geopolitical competition between the great powers.
</abstract>

Strengthen EU/NATO Relationship: A Necessity, Now More Than Ever

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The article explores whether and how the performance of European countries in terms of digital social innovations is conditioned by inclusive and effective governance, prevailing cultural patterns and the existing level of socio-economic development. The analysis demonstrates that inclusive and effective governance is a necessary and sufficient condition for digital social innovations. This means that the existence of channels for widespread participation of the people as well as effective and transparent conduct of political institutions leads to a boom of creativity and utilisation of human capital in all key areas of society. We cannot confirm any significant conditioning of digital social innovations by culture or pre-existing socio-economic development. At least in the European Union (EU) context, our results provide some reasons for optimism, since the highest levels of socio-economic development are not necessary for impressive performance in terms of digital social innovation.
</abstract>

Effective and Democratic Governance as the Condition of Digital Social Innovations in Europe

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This research addresses challenges of the intercultural business encounters of Slovenian and Montenegrin business partners with a focus on the non-verbal communication (NVC; body language, physical appearance, proxemics, haptics, chronemics, oculesics) during intercultural business meetings between partners. Analysis was built on the theoretical framework on the basis of Hofstede's six dimensions of culture. The comparison between the two countries was performed, showing that there are no significant differences except for the masculinity–femininity aspects, but when considering the Indulgence and Long Term Orientation, Slovenia exhibits equally dispersed traits of both extremes. This comparison served as a starting point for developing a research structure. Before conducting the qualitative study, nine managers from Slovenian and Montenegrin companies were sampled using snowball technique, conveniently being from partner companies in both countries. They were interviewed by the semi-structured interview technique, which addresses differences and similarities within NVCs: their posture, eye contact, physical appearance, chronemics and proxemics during onsite business meetings. The research data findings demonstrate that respondents did not perceive significant differences, which could impact the quality of NVC or lead to greater conflicts. In the comparative analysis of two business cultures, several aspects were identified within two areas, namely paralanguage and chronemics: Montenegrins are reported to be more talkative, louder and fast-speaking, more gesticulating, and rushing decisions and discussions, while Slovenians are reported to be more reserved, calm, less expressive during the meetings, and taking more time for decisions and discussions. Analysis also revealed that both sides show a relatively low level of awareness of the NVC and not paying enough attention to these specific NVCs and their impact during intercultural business communication. The findings indicate that some cultural differences exist between the cultures; however, respondents showed a low level of awareness and reported no ability to approach or manage NVC during the business encounters.
</abstract>

Cultural Analysis of the Impact of Cultural Differences on Non-Verbal Communication during the On-Site Business Meetings of Slovenian and Montenegrin Partners

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The research analyses drivers of and barriers to highly skilled female applicants going through the recruitment process in Slovenia as highly skilled self-initiated international expatriates (SIEs). The qualitative research methodology was designed with six in-depth interviews with female respondents from Russia, Belarus, Latvia and Sweden. Theoretical frameworks of G. Hofstede, E.T. Hall, F. Trompenaars and C. Hampden-Turner and cultural intelligence competence models were applied to define HRM processes within the analysis. The findings demonstrate that the future female employees ought to consider not only general working aspects but also cultural differences and similarities, which affect the international HR selection and recruitment process and appear to be drivers of and barriers to SIEs. Necessary intercultural competences (cultural awareness, proactivity, sensitivity, flexibility, reflexivity, open mindset, readiness to challenges) and certain fields of knowledge (procedural, culture-specific, legal knowledge) for the entry level of the recruitment process in Slovenia are identified. The main contribution of this research is estimated within the IHRM perspective as the representation of the highly skilled female employees’ side within the recruitment process in the international arena. Moreover, it may improve intercultural cooperation within the female expatriates’ recruitment and selection process and enrich personal intercultural competences concerning the employment culture in Slovenia and the European Union.
</abstract>

Aspects of Intercultural Recruitment and Selection of Highly Skilled International Female Staff in Slovenia

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Since e-learning has become an increasingly established form of education, we are interested in its advantages, disadvantages and possibilities, which are not yet sufficiently explored, especially in the coronavirus or post-coronavirus period. This study analyses the literature and compares two of the world-leading online educational platforms – Coursera and edX – focusing on participants’ views, which are often neglected. We found that the greatest advantage of e-learning is the elimination of time and space constraints, while the greatest disadvantage is the poor motivation and concentration of learners. The Dex method showed that Coursera and edX online platforms are very similar, with Coursera online platform scoring only slightly better due to its affordability and greater variety in the learning content. The netnography analysis also showed that the predominant reason for participating in e-learning on these two platforms is to acquire new knowledge, followed by an interest in the chosen field.
</abstract>

E-Learning and a Case Study of Coursera and edX Online Platforms

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Leaders have a difficult task as managing employees becomes more and more demanding and complex. Leadership mechanisms that were valid in the past are not valid today. Competition on the market is increasing and there is less and less room for differentiation. Leadership is an area in which organisations increasingly seek to differentiate themselves. However, to be able to do this it is necessary to understand all the complexity and breadth of leadership, the elements that need to be considered and how they affect each other. Many studies examine individual elements, but none offers a single overarching pattern. Therefore, in the first step of this paper, the goal is to present various studies related to leadership. Based on these studies, a comprehensive analytical framework is proposed. The framework integrates several areas (Environment, Leadership, People, Performance) and represents the mechanism of their mutual influence. This is a novelty in the approach to leadership and as such can be a guide for leaders in making them aware of what they should focus on. Also, this framework could be the basis for future predicative and prescriptive analytics in the field of monitoring employee behaviour and their impact on organisational culture.
</abstract>

Effectus – Entrepreneurial Studies, University College

Impact of Leadership on Business Performance – Leadership Analytical Concept

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 15 (2023): Issue 1 (November 2023)

Volume 14 (2022): Issue 1 (December 2022)

Volume 13 (2021): Issue 1 (December 2021)

Volume 12 (2020): Issue 3 (September 2020)

Volume 12 (2020): Issue 2 (May 2020)

Volume 12 (2020): Issue 1 (January 2020)

Volume 11 (2019): Issue 3 (September 2019)

Volume 11 (2019): Issue 2 (May 2019)

Volume 11 (2019): Issue 1 (January 2019)

Research in Social Change

 Research in Social Change (RSC) is an interdisciplinary journal aiming to engage a wider academic audience by questioning and exploring the nature and impacts of changes in social institutions, changes in social behaviour and changes in social relations as they occur on a daily basis. RSC publishes original research articles with a clear contribution to the social sciences and here discussed through empirical or theoretical argumentations while the editors especially encourage new methodological approaches as well as innovative theoretical considerations. RSC welcomes but is not limited to, the contributions of young and prospective academics both at the start or on the advancement of their careers. In doing so, RSC aims to become a vivid platform discussing up-to-date topics dealing with the most prominent themes within the social sciences.  Engaging in discussions on the topic of social change, RSC aims to better understand the phenomenon through varied perspectives, including, but not being limited to:   sociology,　  political science,　  history,　  anthropology,　  philosophy,  psychology,  economics,　  law and administration,  business &amp; management,　  computer sciences and information technology,  cultural studies,  education,  gender/women's studies,  theology &amp; religion,  library &amp; information science,  environmental studies and　  all other related fields.   RSC is not thematically or geographically limited, however, it encourages thematically rounded contributions (eg. through a guest edition on set thematic issues).　 　  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 