China and UN environmental policy: institutional growth,learning and implementation

The focus of this article is on whether, and to what extent, the major UN bodies for environmental issues—the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD), and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)—have had any impact upon how China addresses and approaches its environmental issues. The UN bodies seem to have had some degree of day-to-day influence in a range of fields. UNEP has provided assistance in terms of policy formulation, technical assistance, training of personnel, public awareness and networking. The CSD seems to have made fewer practical and concrete contributions to China’s environmental policies; it serves as an arena for learning and discussion of environmental issues, rather than as a body for policy implementation. The GEF, on the other hand, has been an important source for the implementation of environmental policies in China. As to China’s contribution to environmental issues on the global arena, China does not seem to give priority to the international level of environmental policies. It is an active participant and stakeholder in international bodies such as UNEP and the CSD, but it is currently not providing any leadership. This is in clear contrast to domestic policy, where environmental issues are becoming increasingly important, attracting the attention of the media, policy-makers and the public. The article concludes that should this trend consolidate, establishing the management of the environment and natural resources as major issues in Chinese politics, it is reasonable to expect that China will in the future aim to play a leading role in environmental politics at the international level.     

Linking the global to the national: an application of the international pathways model to examine the influence of international environmental agreements on Cameroon’s forest policy

Cameroon’s tropical forest cover is one of the largest in the world. It is home to some of the world’s rarest plant and animal species. However, the country has suffered extensive forest loss for many decades as a result of socioeconomic and political factors. The growing global concern for the health of the world’s forests and related global issues has placed pressure on Cameroon to sustainably manage its forests. The intricacies of domestic and international pressures on Cameroon’s forest sector means that policy makers have to take into consideration the dynamics of the domestic-international nexus in developing the country’s forest policies. The increasingly integrated global governance of the world’s forests—international agreements, protocols and treaties, international program, international institutions, international actors, and international norms—together constitute international policy regimes that have influenced the direction of Cameroon’s forest policy. Employing the international pathways framework model, an analytic model which describes how transnational actors and international institutions affect domestic policies and policy making, this paper examines the extent to which international environmental agreements have influenced the direction of Cameroon’s forest policy and policy making. The application of the international pathways model facilitated analytic review and allowed for a better understanding of how Cameroon has utilized the complex global forest governance arrangements to enhance its domestic forest policy.     

Access and allocation in food governance,a decadal view 2008–2018

Achieving food security worldwide raises a number of issues with regard to the distribution of global resources. On the one hand, access to resources and ecospace is essential for individuals in order to survive; on the other hand, the allocation of the earth’s resources as well as risks and responsibilities are relevant for the global community. Yet, elements of access and allocation are various and complex, encompassing social, environmental, and economic dimensions in an increasingly fragmented global governance structure. Drawing on the multidisciplinary governance framework on access and allocation by Gupta and Lebel, this paper provides a synoptical review of the literature on food security of the past decade from the perspective of the earth system governance scholarship. This article addresses the question: what have we learnt about access and allocation issues in the area of food governance and its implications for food security? In addressing this question, this review examines how institutions, norms and power affect access to and allocation of resources. The paper draws out key trends and lessons from the literature to conclude that research needs to be sensitive to the complexity and intersectionality of food, the systemic challenges that it poses, and the broader political economy around it.

     

中国企业在美国反垄断诉讼中的挑战与应对:基于对相关判决的质疑

中国企业在美国的一系列反垄断诉讼发生在中国加入世界贸易组织后与美国在经贸关系中博弈摩擦不断升级的背景之下,其中涉及了美国反托拉斯法的域外适用、国际礼让原则、外国法查明、外国政府对本国法律解释的效力等一系列焦点问题。在相关案件的判决中,美国法院就上述问题的观点和论述存在诸多漏洞和偏颇之处,包括限缩适用"国际礼让原则"中"真实冲突"的条件、外国法查明中客观性的缺失等。而未来随着中国企业日益成为美国反托拉斯重点关注对象,中国企业会面临更多挑战,需从美国国内法、国际法、中国相关政策法规的制定以及企业自身行为的合规性等方面积极应对。     

An appraisal of the legal frameworks for the control of environmental pollution in Nigeria

This article examines Nigeria’s pollution abatement laws. It highlights some of the problems of these laws, as well as other factors hindering the control of environmental pollution in Nigeria. The article suggests a comprehensive review of most pollution abatement laws with a view to entrenching adequate penal sanctions and enhancing the powers of regulatory institutions and also increasing public participation in environmental protection.     

对优化基层行政执法环境的探讨

行政执法环境是直接或间接地影响或作用于执法活动的环境因素,它决定了执法的难易程度和最终落实程度,直接关系到国家法律法规的正确实施。本文在探讨基层行政执法环境的现状和影响基层行政执法环境因素的基础上,从更新执法理念,追求执法合力,营造和谐的执法环境等方面对优化基层行政执法环境提出建议。     

Messages from a middle power: participation by the Republic of Korea in regional environmental cooperation on transboundary air pollution issues

This paper addresses the question whether or not regional middle power states are capable of making a significant contribution to enhancing regional cooperation via regime creation processes. A combination of “nonregime” and the middle power analysis is applied to produce hypotheses about less-developed cases of regime creation in Northeast Asia. Among the attractions of such an approach are that (1) cases of failure to create international regimes as well as cases of success are important to understand the emergence of global governance institutions, and (2) the different roles of various state actors should be understood beyond hegemonic power. The explanatory power of this approach is illustrated by transboundary air pollution issues in Northeast Asia, chosen because the international relations literature has emphasized the development of European regional environmental cooperation and global environmental issues. The paper examines participation by the Republic of Korea (ROK) in both comprehensive and issue-specific environmental cooperative mechanisms to tackle transboundary air pollution. It concludes that the ROK as a middle power has played a promising role to initiate and lead some positive competition between member countries, but at the same time, it highlights challenges that need to be met for creating solid regional environmental cooperation.     

社会治理现代化的法治路径——从党的十九大报告到十九届四中全会决定

现代化进程是一个从传统农业社会迈向现代工业社会的社会转型过程,也是各种社会问题不断产生和不断被解决的转型治理过程。其中,从效率优先转向公平正义优先体现了现代化背景下的社会转型与法律治理的一般规律。党的十九大报告和四中全会决定体现了我们党对现代化建设和社会转型治理规律的深刻认识,也展示了中国特色社会治理的法治路径。具体表现为:明确提出国家治理体系和治理能力现代化,体现对社会现代化和转型治理基本规律的自觉把握;健全党的全面领导制度和为人民执政、靠人民执政的制度,完善以法律法规制度为基础的社会治理体系的整体构建;坚持经济发展、民生保障与社会治理相结合,在法治轨道上实现社会转型问题的系统治理;把公平正义作为坚持完善法治体系、基本经济制度和民生保障制度的逻辑主线,科学把握现代化后期转型治理的重要内容;坚持法律治理和道德治理相结合,展示了中国社会转型治理的社会主义风貌。     

基层法院的执行生态与非均衡执行

执行生态是指法院执行活动所处的环境和氛围,主要包括组织纵向生态、横向生态组成的法院内生态,以及政治生态、经济生态和社会生态组成的法院外生态。对基层法院的调研表明,当前执行工作面临的来自法院外生态的压力过大,这些压力包括政治生态的治理压力、经济生态的救济压力和社会生态的互动压力,而法院内部生态也在一定程度上加大了这些压力。执行生态的过重压力催生出法院对非均衡执行策略的需求与偏好,导致法院一方面通过终结本次执行及执行和解来规避压力,另一方面通过周期性启动运动式执行来缓解压力。非均衡执行策略容易诱发执行不规范现象,有损执行权威。要实现“切实解决执行难”的目标,需要改善执行生态,弱化法院对非均衡执行策略的需求,其中的关键是要建构社会场景下的执行权威,实现良性的执行生态与能动的均衡执行的相互促进。     

‘European Governance’ or Governmentality? The European Commission and the Future of Democratic Government

The word ‘governance’ has become an increasingly central policy motif in the European Union and elsewhere yet its meanings are ambiguous and often poorly understood. This article examines the genealogy of that concept focusing in particular on the European Commission's claim to have developed a new, more open and progressive model of ‘European governance’. The paper is set out in four steps. The first analyses the European Commission's claims for ‘governance’ as a concept integral to its new vision for Europe. The second interrogates some of the conflicting definitions and meanings inherent in the term and examines the highly selective paradigm of governance that has been developed in official Commission discourse. The third addresses two specific areas where the Commission's governance model has been applied: the Green paper on The Future of Parliamentary Democracy and the Open Method of Coordination. The fourth turns to analyse these findings using critical social theory. I conclude that far from laying the grounds for a more inclusive, participatory and democratic political order, the Commission's model to governance represents a form of neoliberal governmentality that is actually undermining democratic government and promoting a politics of exclusion.     

乡村基层执法的空间制约与机制再造

中国的基层执法深受政治体制和社会生态的影响和塑造,“治理空间”可以同时容纳这两种因素,是理解中国基层执法的新视角。乡村治理空间为基层执法提供具体场景,其“拥挤社会”特性和“权力分散”特性,严重制约着基层执法能力。空间区域化机制通过建立综合治理(执法)体系,实现了执法机构的统合和区域化;通过将村级组织、村干部、网格员等纳入执法体系,实现了执法空间的分界和局部化;通过对时间和资源进行情境化配置,实现了时空分区。区域化机制重构着乡村治理空间,回应了基层执法权薄弱和执法能力不足的问题,通过再造基层执法,提高了基层执法效度。     

我国公共场所图像监视法律治理路径分析

在过去的近十年中，我国的公共图像监视在政策、项目及资金等支持下得到迅猛发展。在我国特定的政治与社会背景下，公共场所图像监视是社会治安综合治理与公共安全技术防范系统的一个组成部分．呈现出政策创议、项目推动的发展历程。在法律治理和回应性法制视角下，公共图像监视法律治理是对公共图像监视实践的法律回应。目前，我国已初步构建起涵盖宪法、社会治安综合治理法律文件、公共安全技术防范法律文件、具体领域法律文件以及公共场所图像监视法律文件等公共场所图像监视法律治理的体系，但该体系仍然存在急需健全和完善的层面。     

Economic Crime and Casinos: China’s Wager on Macau

Notwithstanding the results of some empirical studies, casinos and gambling are widely considered to be breeding grounds for a range of deviant behavior and criminal offenses. As one writer expressed it, “the world of gambling offers a portfolio of anonymous expenditure” which allows for money laundering and other illegal activities associated with the legal operation of casinos. This paper examines economic and white-collar criminal activities and case histories of offenses related to Macau’s growing casino industry, now the highest revenue generating in the world. A Portuguese colony from 1557 until 1999 when it was returned to China, Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) with its own governing officials operating under the PRC maxim of “one country, two systems.” The dramatic recent growth of the casino industry in Macau offers a unique opportunity to examine issues of economic crime and law enforcement within the context of the People’s Republic of China’s recently acquired political and economic stewardship in this SAR. The paper documents white-collar and organized crimes that present new challenges and risks to China now that Macau has become an international marquee.     

RULE OF LAW IN CHINA-- LEGISLATION REASONING AND ENFORCEMENT OF ANTI-MONOPOLY LAW IN CHINA AND THE WEST

It is a long debate over whether rule of law is reliable in China, when some Chinese regulations are considered to be decided for political interests rather than the law itself. Furthermore, Chinese court decisions are often criticized for not according with statutes, even though the latter are properly written. The author examines these issues by comparing the legislation reasoning and enforcement of competition law in China, the European Union and the United States, which will not lead to endorsement of or objection to the view that rule of law is properly enforced in China, but it shall be an inevitable responsibility for the Chinese judiciary to demonstrate efforts it has taken.     

新版《药品管理法》的主要内容与特色研究

经2019年8月修订后的《中华人民共和国药品管理法》的出台是国家药品管理的立法典范。它在完善卫生法律体系的立法架构下,通过采用修订立法方式,界定区分假、劣药品概念,强调信用监管,规范网络售药行为,鼓励科技创新,明确法律责任与处罚,突出法律的回应性立法特征,保障公民健康权利。法律的生命在于实施。应结合社会主义法治理念要求,建议健全药品的配套法规,严格药品监管执法,合理开展普法宣传,加强司法适用,实现"良法善治"的目的。     

Regulation and In-Company Environmental Management in the Netherlands*

This paper addresses the relationship between preventive systems of social control and regulation of the behavior of public bodies and private organizations. Illustrated with material on new developments in self-regulation concerning environmental management in companies in the Netherlands, the author argues that a combination of stimulated (or “regulated”) self-regulation and stringent enforcement policies is feasible and should lead to company compliance with environmental regulation. The article discusses the assertion that to reduce the social distance between government and individual citizen, between regulator and regulated, a mixture of policy instruments is needed, ergo: by involving societal groups of interested people in policy formation and self-regulation, enhancing the creation of normative systems (involvement “by association”) on the one hand and the availability of adequate law enforcement procedures on the other, corporations, through responsive government regulation, could promote an adequate and successful preventive system of social control.     

Are Public-Led Arts Incubating Programs a Double-Edged Sword? A Case Study of the Arts Council Korea’s Performing Arts Grant Program

A nation’s cultural policy is derived from its political and governance history, and its past practices. Taking the genealogical traits of South Korean cultural policies into account, the authors examine the contributions and risks of a public-led arts incubator program. One of the Arts Council Korea’s grant programs in the arts-incubating structure was involved with a public funding scandal of political intervention during the grant review process. Consequently, questions were raised about the current bureaucratic system for cultural policy. This article discusses the legitimacy of state intervention in the arts, and analyzes the case with relevant collected documents and interviews.     

Privatising the green police: the role of NGOs in wildlife law enforcement

This article examines the role of NGOs in wildlife law enforcement, drawing on empirical research conducted within UK environmental law enforcement but also drawing on a review of the academic literature and policy debates concerning NGOs and pressure group activity. It examines the theoretical basis for NGO actions and different policy perspectives, the ideologies employed by NGO's and how these manifest themselves in law enforcement policies and practice. While the focus of this essay is UK and US NGO activity with its professional enforcement activity and policy networks, the impact of wildlife and environmental NGOs is significant in a range of jurisdictions and is a vital component in effective policing of wildlife legislation.     

Unabated gas flaring menace in Nigeria. The need for proper gas utilization and strict enforcement of applicable laws

This paper examines unabated gas flaring menace in Nigeria and calls for the need for strict gas utilization and enforcement of applicable laws. It adopts the doctrinal method in tackling issues raised. For over sixty years, gas flaring continues unabated in the Niger Delta Region. This has resulted in adverse environmental impacts on the people. The government in a bid to end gas flaring, enacted flare abatement laws and introduced fiscal incentives. These laws and measures have not produced the desired results. The paper concludes by stating that the government needs to be more pro-active by strictly enforcing applicable laws pertaining to gas flaring.     

论我国环境执法机制的完善——从规制俘获的视角

规制俘获是被规制者对规制机构的一种支配和控制。由于规制机构所享有的宽泛的自由裁量权、被规制对象与规制受益人对规制过程参与的非对等性以及规制主体与被规制对象的利益结盟等原因,我国环境执法过程中出现了＂规制俘获＂,其表现为环境执法不严。为破解这一迷局,必须规范自由裁量权、强化环境保护目标责任制,并在各环境单行法中引入环境公民诉讼。