The Soviet and the Post-Soviet: Street Names and National Discourse in Almaty

Abstract

While discussing Kazakhstan's post-Soviet identity, scholars treat ‘Kazakhisation’ as a given, and the substance of the process of developing such an identity is usually ignored. This article gives an insight into this process by analysing the politics of street names in Almaty and its relation to collective memory in post-Soviet Kazakhstan. It is argued that the so-called ‘Kazakhisation’ of the country has been shaped primarily by the Soviet legacy, and it is in no sense pursuing the elimination of the Soviet past, or moving essentially anti-Russian lines. In fact, the post-Soviet discourse of the Kazakh nation is not a rupture but a continuation of Soviet discourses.     

Making space for a new role – gender differences in identity changes in couples transitioning to parenthood

Changes in life roles reflect the process of reorganization of identity, which is an important component of adaptation during transition to parenthood. During this family transition gender differences are significant. Despite the fact that in Western societies women and men are encouraged to share family and work responsibilities, female self-concept is more strongly associated with motherhood, whereas men still highly value the role of a breadwinner. Therefore, relative perceived and desired salience, and directly assessed importance of main life roles (a spouse, a worker and a parent) before and after the birth of the child were examined. One hundred and eighty-seven couples participated in the study. The perceived (relative and directly assessed), and relative desired salience of a parental role increased after the child’s birth in both genders. Women valued the parent role higher than men who deemed the worker role more salient to their identity after the child’s birth. Spouse identity seemed to be created in the couple itself as both partners assessed it similarly. Inclusion of couples and repeated measurement of all variables allowed for the analysis of complex changes in self-perceptions in transitions to motherhood and fatherhood.     

生活质量与社会质量:一项有关理论和方法论的比较研究

生活质量理论和社会质量理论都采用社会指标进行社会测量,但其方法和侧重点各有不同。生活质量理论的视野有助于我们了解人们的生活状况及其水平的提高,而社会质量理论的视角则能够帮助我们认识社会结构和社会体系的特点。基于亚洲社会质量研究联合会所进行的社会调查数据,从这两个视野同时对资料展开分析,展示这两个理论在方法论上所具有的差异和特点,可以看出,我们在强调社会质量理论的运用时,不能低估生活质量所具有的政策意义。同时,由于中国正在经历着快速的收入差距的扩大,倡导社会质量理论对于我们提升社会和谐程度、增进人民福祉,具有直接的现实意义。所以,两种理论的导向和分析方法是相互补充而不是相互排斥的。     

Experimental Effect of Shots Caused by Projectiles Fired from Air Guns with Kinetic Energy Below 17 J

Pursuant to the Polish Weapons and Ammunitions Law (Legal Gazette No 53/1999 item 549 with subsequent amendments), air guns with kinetic energy of the fired projectiles below 17 J are not regarded as weapons. The aim of the study was to assess the potential effect of shots caused by projectiles of various mass and structure fired from air guns with kinetic energy below 17 J on human soft tissues. As a model of soft tissue, we used 20% gelatin blocks. After shooting, we measured the depth of gelatin block penetration by pellets fired from various distances and compared these results with autopsy findings. The results demonstrated that examined pneumatic guns may cause serious injuries, including damage to the pleura, pericardium, liver, spleen, kidneys, femoral artery, and thoracic and abdominal aorta. Experiment shown that gelatin blocks do not reflect fully the properties of the human body.     

Trade Structure and the Effectiveness of America's "Aggressively Unilateral" Trade Policy

When does America's "aggressively unilateral" trade policy work best to open overseas markets? This paper revisits the determinants and effectiveness of Section 301 of U.S. trade law and develops a modified two-level game model for understanding the conditions under which domestic interests and institutions support the use of aggressive negotiation tactics. It argues that a system-level variable, the structure of trade, systematically affects threat effectiveness by influencing both the level of unity among domestic interest groups and the degree of divided government in the sender of threats (the United States). America's sanction threats will enjoy more unified domestic support and hence be more credible when the dispute involves a country having a competitive trade relationship with the U.S. (such as Japan, Canada, and the European Union) rather than one having a complementary trade relationship with the U.S. (such as China, India, and Brazil). Statistical tests based on the universe of Section 301 cases concluded between 1975 and 1995 yield evidence in support of this contention.     

以党的十八大精神为指导,进一步推进社会主义学院正规化建设

当前,全党全国都在深入学习贯彻党的十八大精神;而对我们统一战线的成员而言,以十八大精神为指导,进一步推进社会主义学院正规化建设,是其中的一项重要工作。文章从深入学习贯彻党的十八大精神,强化党外代表人士的政治共识;深入贯彻《2010-2020年党外代表人士教育培训改革和发展纲要》和《加强新形势下党外代表人士队伍建设的意见》精神,推进社会主义学院正规化建设迈上新台阶;加强领导,明确责任,切实推动党外代表人士教育培训改革和发展工作等三个方面进行阐述。     

Democratic theorizing in Taiwan: A reconstruction

This study reconstructs Taiwan people's existing discursive structures on democracy by replicating Dryzek and Berejikian's Q methodological study of American democratic discourses. It finds that under the existing specific historical circumstances, Taiwan people's democratic attitudes manifest a complex, pluralistic and interrelated discursivity, in which at least five democratic discourses can be identified, namely democratic pragmatism, democratic communitarianism, democratic liberalism, democratic elitism and democratic populism. Yet, among these five discourses, there are a number of commonly held views. In particular, they all accept democratic pluralism, reject communism and violence, believe in the fallibility of state leaders and the necessity to limit government power, and are optimistic about the future democratic development in Taiwan. This broad consensus reflects the specific historical experience of Taiwan people's democratic pursuit on the one hand and provides a broad common ground for dialogue and interaction among the five discourses on the other. These findings should significantly enrich our understanding of the democratic theorizing in Taiwan and serve as a basis for future comparison with the American as well as other countries’ experiences.     

论女性主义研究的方法论意义

作者认为目前中国涉及性别和女性主义研究的文章,有关妇女家庭状况的调查研究多,但理论阐释少;对问题的描述多,但系统分析少;关于性别的意识形态呼吁多,但把女性主义研究放到一个广泛的社会系统中研究少;在分析中,对文化规范注重得多,但与制度因素相关的理论解释少.有鉴于此,本文从五个方面阐述了西方女性主义的理论贡献,并阐释了研究西方女性主义理论对中国性别研究所具有的重要意义.