Elites and masses in the political process in Ukraine since 1991
Abstract This article analyses the political process in the present day Ukraine with a focus on the ruling elites and masses and attempts to explain what keeps the country from successful transition. It is argued that the mere existence of the formal attributes of democracy such as elections and party system are not enough. The nature of the social relation, inherited by Ukraine from socialist rule and the deeply ingrained behaviour and value system of both masses and elites is one of the major factors hindering democratisation. To substantiate this claim, the article examines the public stances, attitudes, composition, and character of the ruling elite, and the institutions through which it exerts its political influence. The final part is devoted to an exploration of the social preconditions for change in light of the recent political events connected with the rise of the opposition.
Doing business in Ukraine – multinational companies in the trap of regional institutions?
The transition process in Ukraine is far from being completed and large differences among the regions prevail. The adaptation of market-based and reliable institutional arrangements differs strongly among the capital region, the western (Lviv), and the eastern part (Kharkiv) of the country. Conducive regional institutions are necessary for two reasons. First, multinational corporations (MNCs) need transparent and reliable institutions to fully exploit benefits from their investment decision. Second, MNCs might only deliver positive impacts to the regional economy which are envisaged by the local governments under these circumstances. This paper aims to assess the quality of regional institutions from the perspective of MNCs and the interdependence between institutional quality and investment motives by using data from an explorative enterprise survey of 153 foreign firms in three Ukrainian regions. The analysis of the World Bank’s Doing Business indicators clearly shows strong regional variation in institutional quality in Ukraine. Due to higher institutional quality, investors are attracted to the capital region and are potentially performing more sophisticated activities and create a higher value for the regional economy. Whereas the capital region can be seen as the frontrunner in the transition process, the regional economic system of Kharkiv is still strongly based on persisting networks from the Soviet time which leads to worse evaluations of the institutional quality. In Lviv, the post-Soviet legacy is less pronounced and institutional quality is assessed more positive than in Kharkiv, but still falls behind the capital region. As a result of the very distinct assessment of the regional quality of institutions, region-specific policy measures are proposed.
Assessment of fractures in endodontically treated teeth restored with and without root canal posts using high-resolution cone beam computed tomography
Background Root fractures are a diagnostic challenge for dentists in endodontic treatment. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the characteristics of tooth fractures and the presence of root canal posts in endodontically treated teeth using high-resolution cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Material and Methods Fifty high-resolution CBCT scans of endodontically treated teeth with a diagnosis of fracture were obtained, of which 30 were from women and 20 were from men. These scans were acquired with three Veraviewepocs 3D units and one 3D Accuitomo 170 unit, with a 40 × 40-mm field of view and 125 μm voxel size. The variables assessed included the type of fracture, extent of fracture, type of retention, post length, cause of endodontic failure, location of the lesion, and time required to detect the fracture (difficulty score). For data analysis, the chi-squared test, Student’s t-test, and multiple linear regression (α <0.05) were used. Results No association was found between the type of fracture and type of retention or between the type of fracture and its extent (P>0.05). On the other hand, the type of fracture significantly influenced the time required for its detection. Additionally, the most difficult plane for detecting the fracture and the difficulty score were associated, with statistically significant results. Conclusions The type of fracture in endodontically treated teeth was not associated with the type of post used for restoration. All of the CBCT systems used to detect tooth fracture showed the same efficiency. Key words:Cone-Beam CT, Tooth Fracture, Root Canal Post.