EUROPOLITY, vol. 9, no. 1, 2015 EUROPOLITY - Continuity and Change in European Governance Europolity – Continuity and Change in European Governance is a biannual peer reviewed open access journal published under the aegis of the Department of International Relations and European Integration of the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, through the Centre of European Studies (CES). Designed in 2007, it was primarily addressed to young researchers, giving them the opportunity to publish academic papers and opinion articles on topics related to the study of the European Union. Nowadays, edited by CES, Europolity is mainly oriented towards multi-disciplinary scholarly work in European Studies, supporting therefore relevant theoretical, methodological and empirical analyses connected to this field and coming from EU Studies or International Relations, but also from International (Political) Economy, Law, Sociological Studies, Cultural Studies, etc. Journal articles and book reviews are therefore dedicated to in-depth innovative investigations of the European polity, politics and policies, stimulating debate and facilitating academic networking of scholars interested in these topics. 2 Continuity and Change in European Governance EUROPOLITY, vol. 9, no. 1, 2015 THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF POLITICAL STUDIES AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION EUROPOLITY Continuity and Change in European Governance Vol. 9, no. 1 (New Series), 2015 Centre for European Studies 3 Continuity and Change in European Governance EUROPOLITY, vol. 9, no. 1, 2015 Founding Director: Iordan Bărbulescu Director: George Anglițoiu Editor-in-Chief: Oana – Andreea Ion Executive editors: Mihai Cercel, Radu Ungureanu Book review editor: Radu Cucută Section editors: for Evaluation: Ioana Melenciuc, Monica Chiffa Editorial Board: Clayton Daniel Allen (Bush School of Government and Iulian Fota („Mihai Viteazul” National Intelligence Public Service, Texas A&M University) Academy) Mihail Caradaică (National University of Political Andreea Iancu (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest) Iasi) Răzvan Călin (National University of Political Studies Robert Tyler Jones (Bush School of Government and and Public Administration, Bucharest) Public Service, Texas A&M University) Ana – Maria Costea (Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj- Juan Andrés Ligero Lasa (Charles III University of Napoca) Madrid) Cristina Dogot (University of Oradea) Gabriela Mihailovici (National Bank of Romania) Radu Dudau (University of Bucharest) Adrian Popoviciu (University of Oradea) Dacian Duna (Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca) Constantin Țoca (University of Oradea) Editorial Staff: Graphic designer: Alexandra Prelipceanu DTP: Răzvan Cristea Scientific Board: Nader Ahmadi (University of Gävle) Ioan Mircea Pașcu (European Parliament, Enrique Banus (International University of Brussels/Strasbourg) Catalonia, Barcelona) Nicolae Păun (Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca) Cezar Birzea (National University of Political Studies Beatriz Peluffo (Central University of Chile, Santiago and Public Administration, Bucharest) de Chile) Mircea Brie (University of Oradea) George Poede (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Daniel J. Caron (École nationale d‟administration Iaşi) publique, Quebec) Joaquin Roy (University of Miami) Hector Casanueva Ojeda (Latin American Centre for Andrzej Rychard (Institute of Philosophy and Relations with Europe, Santiago de Chile) Sociology - Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw) Daniel Dăianu (Romanian Academy) Jonathan Scheele (St. Anthony‟s College, Oxford Cristina Dallara (University of Bologna) University) Kozma Gabor (University of Debrecen) Vasile Secăreș (Romanian Banking Institute) Ioan Horga (University of Oradea) Stefan Sjöberg (University of Gävle) Adrian Ivan (Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca) George Voicu (National University of Political Philippe Le Guen (Director - Association and Home Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest) of J. Monnet, Paris) Peter Volten (University of Groningen) Ioannis Lianos (University College London) Laurence Whitehead (Nuffield College, Oxford Francisco Aldecoa Luzzaraga (Complutense University) University of Madrid) Józef Niżnik (Institute of Philosophy and Sociology - Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw) EUROPOLITY - Continuity and Change in European Governance is published by the Department of International Relations and European Integration – National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, through the Centre for European Studies 30A Expoziției Bvd., Sector 1, Bucharest, Romania Printed by: Chronos Trade Media&Publishing, Bucharest, Romania © Centre for European Studies, 2015 ISSN (print) 2344-2247 ISSN (online) 2344-2255 ISSN-L 2344-2247 The Journal is indexed in CEEOL, EBSCO, HeinOnline, RePEc, SSRN, and Ulrichsweb. *** The views expressed in the articles, reviews and other contributions which appear in the journal are the responsibility of the individual authors and do not reflect the views of either the Editorial Board or the Scientific Board. 4 Continuity and Change in European Governance EUROPOLITY, vol. 9, no. 1, 2015 CONTENTS THE NEW CYCLE OF POWER IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND THE STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE USA AND CHINA Vasile SECĂREȘ 7 SECURITY IN CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE: EASTERN PARTNERSHIP LOOKING TOWARDS RIGA SUMMIT Ionela Maria CIOLAN 31 MASS-MEDIATED UKRAINIAN CONFLICT Teodora DOBRE 45 THE ROMANIAN CONSTITUTIONAL DISCOURSE BETWEEN MODERNIZATION AND EUROPENIZATION Gabriela GOUDENHOOFT 65 REFLECTIONS ON ROMANIA’S ROLE CONCEPTION IN NATIONAL STRATEGIC DOCUMENTS 1990-2014: AN EVOLVING SECURITY UNDERSTANDING Iulia-Sabina JOJA 89 COST AND BENEFITS OF CZECH ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION: MACROECONOMIC APPROACH Adam KUČERA and Aleš MARŠÁL 113 THE EMERGENCE OF AN EVALUATION CULTURE IN THE EU: BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL PRACTICES AND EUROPEANIZATION PRESSURES Ioana MELENCIUC 137 A THEORETICAL APPROACH TO THE EFFECTS OF EXTERNAL FUNDING ON WOMEN AND GENDER BASED NGOS IN ROMANIA AND POLAND Andrada NIMU 161 POLISH PERSPECTIVES ON CEE-CHINA 16+1 COOPERATION: THE UNEXPECTED UKRAINIAN FACTOR Rafał TUSZYŃSKI 189 BOOK REVIEW - Thomas Piketty. 2014. Capital in the Twenty-First Century. London: Harvard University Press, 685p Mihail CARADAICĂ 221 BOOK REVIEW - Alexander Dugin. 2015. Last War of the World-Island: The Geopolitics of Contemporary Russia. Arktos Media Ltd., 166p Radu Alexandru CUCUTĂ 227 BOOK REVIEW - Nikolaos Papakostas and Nikolaos Passamitros (editors). 2015. An Agenda for the Western Balkans. From Elite Politics to Social Sustainability. Stuttgart: ibidem Press, 246p Andreea IANCU 235 BOOK REVIEW - Dorin Dolghi and Octavian Țâcu (editors). 2014. The Security Dimension of European Frontier vs the Legitimacy of Political Priorities of EU and EU Member States. Eurolimes. Journal of the Institute for Euroregional Studies ”Jean Monnet” European Centre for Excellence, University of Oradea, University of Debrecen, volume 18, autumn, Oradea University Press, 235p Miruna TRONCOTĂ 239 Call for papers – Vol. 9, no. 2, 2015 243 5 Continuity and Change in European Governance EUROPOLITY, vol. 9, no. 1, 2015 THE NEW CYCLE OF POWER IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND THE STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE USA AND CHINA Prof. dr. Vasile SECĂREȘ Chairman of the Board of EximBank, Romania Former Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the President of Romania [email protected] Abstract We are witnessing an increased number of unexpected political and economic evolutions, of crises and conflicts, of hot spots on the geopolitical map - see the hybrid war in Eastern Ukraine, on the Euro-Atlantic frontier, the actions of ISIL and the changing nature of conflict and the dramatic follow-up of the so- called Arab Spring, the wars in Libya, Syria or Yemen and moreover China‘s new status as being ―on the rise‖, its assertively in South and East China Seas, etc. - which are all part of the new political and strategic landscape at the beginning of the XXI Century. These events happen in a stage of transition to a new cycle of systemic power/towards a new strategic environment which means that we are facing a redistribution of power, are designing of the geopolitical map. The aim of this paper is to analyse the strategic environment at the beginning of the XXI Century, to assess the impact of the main emerging security challenges on the configuration of the new cycle of power with a focus on Asia-Pacific and the strategic relationship between the USA and China. Keywords Asia-Pacific; New posture of China; Restructuring process; Strategic environment; Strategic partnership 7 Continuity and Change in European Governance EUROPOLITY, vol. 9, no. 1, 2015 Let me start by mentioning the old Chinese saying about ―living in interesting times‖.1 It is tough and dangerous. I would like to tell you that we live again in interesting times! We are witnessing an increased number of unexpected political and economic evolutions; of crises and conflicts; we see a lot of hot spots on the geopolitical map… I will only mention the hybrid war in Eastern Ukraine, on the Euro-Atlantic frontier and the dramatic follow-up of the so-called Arab Spring – now the wars in Libya, Syria or Yemen, etc. They are, all of them, part of the new political and strategic landscape which I intend to discuss here. I said ―again‖, ―we live again…‖, because some 25 years ago the world entered the most significant and interesting