Richard Filčák

• PhD
• Slovak Academy of Sciences

The transformation of the regional economy after the closure of the coal mines can be analysed from Joseph Schumpeter's perspective as a creative destruction and industrial mutation from the "old" to the "new". Policy narratives of decarbonisation operate with the goals of revolutionising the economic structure into a new climate-resilient system t...

The site known as Lipnica is a segregated Roma settlement built on the edge of a municipal landfill in the district town of Turčany, central Slovakia (fictitious names have been used for the site and the town). The settlement emerged as a result of processes rooted in neoliberal economic restructuring, accompanied by a sharp rise in unemployment in...

This case study report presents the results of the ENTRANCES project, (ENergy TRANsitions from Coal and carbon: Effects on Societies). ENTRANCES‘ overall goals developing a theoretically-based and empirically-grounded understanding of cross-cutting issues related to social aspects of the clean energy transition in European coal and carbon intensive...

he topic of biobanking has been anchoring in the world and Europe as well. The biobanking field today is characterised by heterogeneous entities that could be classified according to many different categories. This article aims to outline the process of the gradual embedding of the field of biobanking in the European Union (EU) from the point of vi...

This report seeks to open the box of emission pathways, by considering the multidimensional feasibility conditions-i.e. the technical, economic, political, social and institutional- that will enable the required far-reaching and systemic transformation towards the long-term goal. A detailed understanding of the transformations is indeed key to supp...

This article explores how multiple health risks in municipalities with Roma settlements in Slovakia are related to the varieties of local governance and the authorities’ conduct towards the local Roma population. The first part of the paper describes the situation in Roma settlements from the perspective of unequal access to sewerage and water pipe...

In Slovakia, energy poverty varies significantly from one region to another. Following the post-communist transition, Slovakian regions did not all follow similar paths of economic transformation. While some regions have been able to attract foreign investment, others have suffered from economic decline and from emigration toward wealthier regions....

An adequate access to energy and the basic necessities of household operation, such as electricity or heat in the apartment, has become increasingly challenging for many people. The term energy poverty is used for this broad and complicated issue. In its basic definition, it is described as „the inability to maintain household temperature at an ade...

The quality and implementation of climate change policies generally benefit from the involvement of diverse stakeholders. In 2018, the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic commissioned an elaboration of the National Action Plan (NAP) for implementation of the National Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change (NAS). A structured process, incl...

Transport infrastructure development is considered one of the basic structural preconditions of competitiveness, growth and economic development in Slovakia. Transport network upgrading in the country has recently been focused mainly on road and motorway networks. The goal of this paper is to contribute to existing approaches to transport infrastru...

This contribution critically explores labor activation, which is unpaid work activity for social benefits claimants in Slovakia. The chapter is based on empirical data gained from ethnographic field research in the rural regions of eastern Slovakia, characterised by the high share of the long-term unemployed and vast Roma population living there. I...

This article aims to position postsocialist cities in Central and Eastern Europe in the broader debate on urban environmental justice. The article crosscuts through all three dimensions of justice (distributive/distributional, procedural/participatory, and interactional/recognition) in the context of urban green and blue space provision. Environmen...

An adequate access to energy and the basic conditions of household operation, such as electricity or heat in the apartment, is becoming an increasing problem for many people. The term energy poverty is used for this broad and complicated issue. In its basic definition, it is described as "the inability to heat the house to an adequate (safe and com...

Business as usual plus four perspectives until 2050, each examining the potential future state of nature, but also the socio-economic factors that may lead to them. These scenarios include multiple possibilities of how our nature could develop in the future: Scenario 1: Traditions. Nature as a source of cultural identity; Scenario 2: Biodiversity....

The increased incidence of infectious diseases in localities with Roma population is one of the indicators of structural inequalities in Slovakia. The core of the problem is the absence of basic infrastructure for access to water and sewage collection and treatment. The framework of neoliberal transformation helps us to understand the economy of wa...

Terénna sociálna práca (TSP) je v súčasnosti nadrezortný program zameraný na marginalizované rómske komunity (MRK) a ľudí bez domova. Ide o nevyhnutný základný program na aktivizáciu potenciálu ľudí, podporujúci pozitívne zmeny v oblasti bývania, vzdelávania, zamestnania a sociálnej inklúzie. Rozsah a štruktúra záverečnej správy z Kontextovej evalu...

Terénna sociálna práca (TSP) je v súčasnosti nadrezortný program zameraný na marginalizované rómske komunity (MRK) a ľudí bez domova. Ide o nevyhnutný základný program na aktivizáciu potenciálu ľudí, podporujúci pozitívne zmeny v oblasti bývania, vzdelávania, zamestnania a sociálnej inklúzie. Rozsah a štruktúra záverečnej správy z Kontextovej evalu...

Monografia je výsledkpm tímovej práce a zapojenia širokého spektra odborníkov z rôznych oblastí. Zároveň poskytuje verejnosti možnosť zoznámiť sa s problematikou výhľadových štúdií, životného prostredia a ochrany prírody v širšom kontexte. Štátna ochrany prírody na Slovensku nedávno oslávila storočnicu. Bolo to turbulentné obdobie, ktoré zahŕňalo v...

In this article, we explore populist politics, discourses and social practices regarding the ethnic Roma in the rural regions of eastern Slovakia. Our approach was guided by a theoretical discussion of right‐wing populism and social inequalities. Methodologically, we relied on Bourdieu’s conceptual apparatus as a useful scholastic device to transla...

Publikácia analyzuje nerovný prístup ku základnej infraštruktúre medzi rómskymi a nerómskymi časťami obcí a miest z hľadiska prevalencie infekčných chorôb a chorôb prenášaných vodou. V rokoch 2014 – 2018 bolo na Slovensku dokumentovaných 4693 prípadov ochorení, ktorých pôvod je možné spájať s nedostatočným prístupom ku kanalizácii, čistej vode aleb...

This paper examines changing regional patterns of energy and emission efficiency in the Slovak regions in the period of 2008–18. Firstly; we review literature on key approaches to evaluating energy and emission efficiency; followed by discussing the pros and cons of specific methods. A slacks-based model of data envelopment analysis is applied in o...

The political decision to phase out coal mining in Upper Nitra (Slo-vak Republic) has been made and discussion is now focused on policies , activities and steps in the transition. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are seen to be the key stakeholder in the process. Although the regional position of the mining industry has been steadily decli...

This paper analyses four specific technological innovations-artificial meat, blockchain, drones for delivery, and off-grid electricity-by looking at them as weak signals and emerging issues with potentially positive and negative impacts on the environment. They are arising at a remarkably fast pace and this work examines the patterns of their emerg...

While Slovakia has made many progressive environmental improvements by introducing new measures and approaches, many of the key identified challenges and threats linked to our production and consumption patterns must be more adequately addressed. Here, the ‘Pilot Scenáre 2020’ study is the first complex experiment to apply quantitative and qualitat...

There is increasing effort in the exploration of complex social and environmental systems to move from examination of individual trends to their comprehensive assessment and predictions using the Global Megatrend concept (GMT). This is defined as a set of trends that influence each other, act on a global scale and have great local impact. The Megat...

The chapter follows the story of a small distrcit town, Laborov, in Slovakia. The local environmental agenda has been evolving around two highly controversial issues: campaigns against a plan to build a coal burning power plant and waste management practices stigmatising local Roma community. The endeavour to prohibit the construction of the power...

Introduction It was the bleak December of 2007. Petitioners were walking door to door to collect signatures. Ultimately, almost 9,000 people decided to sign and stand up against the planned construction of a massive coalburning power plant. It was a rather good achievement in the eastern Slovakian district of Laborov, comprising 100,000 inhabitants...

Community development takes place in contested spaces in which the interests of people living, working and surviving in communities come up against the interests of powerful groups and classes in the structures of exploitation, colonisation and neoliberalism. Where community development practices respond to issues of environmental concerns, this br...

The question of phasing out coal mining in Horná Nitra is not if, but when and how? Although the regional position of the mining industry has been steadily declining, it is still the economic backbone of the region. The most recent number of mining company employees is 3 782 (July 2018). Besides a threat to direct employees of losing their jobs, we...

Otázka upustenia od ťažby uhlia v hornonitrianskom regióne nestojí či, ale kedy a ako. Hoci regionálny význam ťažobného priemyslu postupne klesá, stále predstavuje ekonomickú kostru regiónu. Posledné údaje o zamestnanosti v ťažobnej spoločnosti hovoria o počte 3782 osôb (júl 2018). Okrem priamej hrozby pre zamestnanosť môžu byť podľa našich výpočto...

Investing into water infrastructure and water and sewerage construction is not just a matter of meeting the technical standards required by law. In the wider context of local development, it is a local policy of improving the quality of life, creating attractiveness and competitiveness, and last but not least, it is the issue of safe access to drin...

The publication was elaborated as a part of the activities of the National Reference Center for Forward Looking Information and Services (FLIS) and in cooperation with Slovak Environment Agency, Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic and Center for Social and Psychological Sciences of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The outcomes of the anal...

The text of the summaryis based on publication LUBYOVÁ, M. & FILČÁK, R. (eds.) 2016. Global megatrends: Evaluation and challenges from the point of view of the Slovak Republic. Bratislava: Centre for Social and Psychological Sciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences. Authors: Pavol Baboš, Miroslav Balog, Dušana Dokupilová, Elena Fifeková, Richard Filčák...

This article contributes to the emerging critiques of inequalities in the access to water by focusing on three inter-related aspects: affordability, accessibility and quality of water. Based on extensive fieldwork, the paper explores the situation in segregated Roma settlements in Slovakia and highlights the critical role of power asymmetries at a...

This article contributes to the emerging critiques of inequalities in the access to water by focusing on three inter-related aspects: affordability, accessibility and quality of water. Based on extensive fieldwork, the paper explores the situation in segregated Roma settlements in Slovakia and highlights the critical role of power asymmetries at a...

Cieľom štúdie je na základe analýzy globálnych megatrendov a lokálnych trendov sformulovať základné východiská pre prípravu národných priorít implementácie Agendy 2030 pre udržateľný rozvoj. Štúdia je prvotným expertným vstupom do širokej verejnej diskusie o dlhodobých národných prioritách do roku 2030, ktorá je naplánovaná na začiatok roku 2018. M...

According to conservative estimates, paying utility bills on time is a serious problem for more than 50 million households in the EU. Energy poverty can be broadly defined as a household’s inability to obtain the socially and materially necessary level of energy services. This has far reaching impacts, affecting people’s well-being and health, and...

English: The purpose of the evaluation was to evaluate the progress made in the implementation of the Partnership Agreement by the end of 2016, thus preparing the basis for the preparation of the Progress Report of the Slovak Republic in 2017. The evaluation should respond how the country's development needs changed compared to the situation at the...

The methodology manual is designed for mapping and evaluating impacts of the investment priorities and synergy effects, which are created during implementation of the smart, inclusive and sustainable growth priorities. The manual also is useful for evaluation of the specific operational programmes. It relates to mutual impacts of interventions and...

Infrastructure in Marginalised Roma Settlements: Towards a Typology of Unequal Outcomes of EU Funded Projects. The social exclusion of the Roma population in Slovakia is manifested in many areas of life– from housing, education, access to healthcare and services, to employment and spatial distance. More than half of the Roma live in segregated sett...

Climate change is not a salient policy issue in the Slovak Republic. This is for at least three main reasons. Firstly, the country has been going through rather turbulent economic times. The collapse of most of the heavy industry in 1990s radically decreased environmental pressures. The adoption of progressive policies and laws (to a great extend a...

The social exclusion of the Roma population in Slovakia is manifested in many areas of life– from housing, education, access to healthcare and services, to employment and spatial distance. More than half of the Roma live in segregated settlements, which are characterized by a lack of fundamental infrastructure. Although a substantial number of infr...

you can download the file at http://www.cspv.sav.sk/fileadmin/user_upload/Aktuality/Publikacia_GMT/Global_Megatrends_from_Slovak_Point_of_View_06.pdf

This paper revisits environmental activism in CEE before and after the introduction of multi-party, free market based regimes during the late 1980s and early 1990s. We draw particular attention to the professionalization of environmental activism and environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs), and explore the implications for promoting en...

This chapter applies Bourdieu's concept of the ´field´ in order to identify barriers that hinder access to clean, safe sources of drinking water for the Roma population at local level. The study builds on the data from the Roma living conditions survey by the United Nations Development Programme 2010 and the Atlas of Roma Communities 2013, as well...

The past two decades in Slovakia were the years of rapid development of the new environmental policies and institutional frameworks, mostly propelled by the European Union integration process. On the same time, it was the time of rapid economic transformation, opening to the global market, privatization and changes in the labour market. Environment...

The Pilot project ‘Contribution to the EU 2020 –– Research and Development’ aimed at methodology testing, and determining the adjustment required for planned comprehensive analysis of the results of initiatives supported by European funds, vis-a-vis assessment of their contribution to reach the Europe 2020 Strategy targets in Slovakia. The assessme...

The Europe 2020 strategy is a key EU strategy focused on growth, employment and the environment. I tis oriented on three priorities – smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, five headline targets concerning employment, research and development, climate change, energy (consisting of three objectives), education (consisting of two objectives) and co...

The education pilot project is aimed at methodology testing and determining the adjustment required for planned comprehensive analysis of the results of initiatives supported by ESIF, vis-a-vis assessment of their contribution to reach the Europe 2020 Strategy targets in Slovakia (i.e., to achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive growth). The ass...

Education is among the main declared objectives of cooperation cohesion politics concerning marginalised Roman communities. Support of education has been done through series of targeted financial interventions supported by structural and cohesion funds. The Trebišov region district, according to the results of The Atlas of Roma communities, belongs...

More than half of the Roma population in Slovakia lives in spaces that are segregated or separated from dominant non-Roma communities. The socio-spatial marginalization of Roma is both generated and reinforced through open and discrete social processes and measures largely orchestrated by local governments, enabled by an ineffective state and reinf...

Barriers to Access to Potable Water as an Aspect of Social Exclusion of the Roma Population. The main objective of this study is to explore and critically apply Bourdieu's concept of the field to identify barriers that hinder access to clean, safe sources of drinking water for the Roma population at a local level. The main barriers identified are p...

v prístupe k pitnej vode ako aspekt sociálneho vylúčenia rómskej populácie 1 Daniel Škobla 2 Inštitút pre výskum práce a rodiny, Bratislava Richard Filčák 3 Prognostický ústav SAV, Bratislava Barriers in Access to Potable Water as an Aspect of Social Exclusion of the Roma Population. The main objective of the study is to explore and critically to a...

Poverty is a multi-dimensional phenomenon, with a complicated nature, roots and multiple impacts. Although generally missing in the mainstream definitions, access to energy has become an increasingly important aspect of this poverty. In modern societies access to energy is a basic condition for full participation. In this context, even short-term d...

Poverty is a multi-dimensional phenomenon, with a complicated nature, roots and multiple impacts. Although generally missing in the mainstream definitions, access to energy has become an increasingly important aspect of this poverty. In modern societies access to energy is a basic condition for full participation. In this context, even short-term d...

Walls may be tangible or intangible. They may be made of brick, concrete, or just a perceived line. Those segregating Roma ethnic minority in Central and Eastern European countries are increasingly solid and palpable. They are a visible illustration of much deeper and ongoing social processes in the cities and villages, where construction of a bric...

Ferghana valley represents an unique case for the demonstration of environmental and social conflicts imposed on the inhabitant by the deteriorating environment and impacts of the socio-economic development patterns. Environmental legacy of the past liabilities from the centrally planned economy, economic trasformation, growing social inequalities...

We find Roma settlements on the outskirts of villages, separated from the majority population by roads, railways or other barriers, disconnected from water pipelines and sewage treatment. Why are some people (or groups) better off than others when it comes to the distribution of environmental benefits? In order to understand the present situation a...

Exposure of the Roma ethnic minority to social exclusion, segregation, and racial discrimination is well documented in the literature. How these tendencies are reflected in the access to environmental benefits and exposure to environmental risks in the majority and the minority populations is the subject of this article. Using a comparative evaluat...

This chapter argues that the continuing presence of widespread inequalities across European societies militates against the achievement of solidarity. Manifested also as disparities in access to important resources for daily living, these inequalities represent a growing challenge as the liberalization and privatization of water and energy markets...

Introduction Inhabitants regularly, especially in the summer time, suffer from lack of water and they usually travel to the cooperative farm for water, carrying it back to their houses. This is labor usually performed by women and children. They often take water from streams in the forest, which is of doubtful quality, especially after the rains wh...

As Europe's public realms face upheaval, this book identifies how social solidarity is being reinvented from below and redefined from above. Interdisciplinary transnational approaches provide new insights into the relationship between national and transnational social solidarity across Europe. The book reveals social solidarity as the defining pill...

Porto Romano, on the outskirts of the Albanian port of Durres on the Adriatic Coast, is an old leather-tanning and pesticide-producing complex abandoned since 1990. Following the collapse of the totalitarian regime, waves of rural migrants from northeast Albania looking for economic prosperity settled in the area. In the late 1990s, refugees of the...

Environmental injustice and the social exclusion of Roma communities in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has roots in historical patterns of ethnic exclusion and widening socioeconomic inequalities following the collapse of state socialism and the transition to multi-party parliamentary governments in 1989. In this article, we discuss some of the m...

Recent scientific reports have shown that we are living in an era in which human activities are having a negative influence on the earth system on an unprecedented scale. The provision of ecosystem services, such as food production, clean air and water or a stable climate, is under severe and growing pres - sure. The rate of global environmental ch...

The need for better environmental protection, human rights, and health has been widely asserted. Poorer and minority communities, namely those with the least economic and political participation capacity and targets of discrimination, benefit the least and take on more than their fair share of the burdens accruing from industrialized society. In th...

The European Union (EU) has confined its moves and plans on the front of human rights law and environmental regulation to the matter of securing standing for individuals and civil society organizations in environmental proceedings in the context of environmental protection, health and human rights although a basis exists to extend anti-discriminati...