Exploring Russian-Speaking Identity from Below: The Case of Latvia

Recent research on the acculturation strategies of Russian speakers in Latvia has demonstrated that there is a high level of support for integration (identifying with both Latvian and Russian cultures) compared to marginalization, separation, or assimilation. However, a number of researchers have also highlighted the negative impact of top-down narratives and discourses produced by the country's politicians and journalists. These discourses, it is argued, hamper the integration process by creating incompatible identity positions between ‘Russian-speakers’ and ‘Latvians’. Accordingly, this research turns to focus group interviews with Russian speakers in Latvia in order to uncover the nuances of their identity-forming processes, their relations with the respective Russian and Latvian states, and their acculturation strategies, which are commonly overlooked in top-down accounts. Based on the analysis of the qualitative data it will be argued that there is great potential for an integrated, yet culturally distinct Latvian-Russian identity in Latvia.     

清代对边疆多民族地区的司法管辖与多元法律的一体化构建——以新疆为例

由于复杂的人文与地理等因素,清代新疆法律呈现国家制定法、宗教法、习惯法等多元法律并存的基本格局和样态。为实现政权稳固的政治目的,清政府始终致力于边疆地区法制的统一与多元法律的内部整合,其中主要通过对重要刑、民案件的司法管辖权的掌握与监控推动法律适用的统一与清代新疆法律与内地的一致。     

广域组织RCEP下我国货物贸易流量的影响因素——基于静态面板数据的贸易引力模型

在广域一体化组织RCEP的区域范围内,运用基于静态面板数据的贸易引力模型分析方法,对我国货物贸易流量影响因素的问题进行了研究。首先探讨了什么是RCEP及其发展历程,其次对我国与其他RCEP成员国间的货物贸易流量进行描述性统计,接着对货物出口流量与GDP等诸多影响因素间的关系进行实证研究,再通过对描述性统计和计量研究进行总结,认为我国与其他RCEP成员国间的货物贸易增长较快但增长率并不稳定,GDP和距离因素是影响相互间贸易的主要因素,人口数量、TPP及FTA是次要因素。     

城乡体化发展启新篇章———学习党的十八届三中全会精神体会

党的十八届三中全会制定了全面深化改革的总体方案,对城乡一体化发展从加快构建新型农业经营体系、赋予农民更多财产权利、推进城乡要素平等交换和公共资源均衡配置、完善城镇化健康发展体制机制四个方面作出部署,体现了从农业、农民、农村、城镇化四个方面着力推进城乡互补发展、共促发展的制度安排,对破除二元结构、开启城乡一体化发展具有重要意义。     

动员与整合:群众路线实践的政治过程

群众路线是共产党的根本工作路线和组织路线的统一,是被经验证明正确的党的认识路线。中国共产党与人民群众的互动过程即群众路线的实践过程,这一过程主要包括政治动员和政治整合两个层面。政治动员是群众路线实践的政治基础,政治整合是群众路实践的政治目标,有效的政治动员和政治整合过程共同推动群众路线的丰富和实践。为推动群众路线实践的丰富发展,关键在于群众路线中的政治动员和政治整合在党的执政水平、群众的政治参与、机制实践的路径拓宽和道德规范及意识形态的构建这些方面应得到进一步完善和发展。     

区域一体化发展的再思考——兼论促进长三角地区一体化发展的政策与手段

区域经济一体化发展是习近平经济发展思想中的重要组成部分,在新的国家战略和国家治理能力建设中占有极其重要的地位。区域经济一体化发展具有大规模的对内开放和进一步对外开放的双重含义。在一系列影响和扭曲区域一体化发展进程和发展水平的因素中,真正有可能发生系统性作用的只有政府的行政力量和行政壁垒。因此限制地方政府参与市场竞争的功能、范围、边界和程度,破除行政壁垒,是实现地区间竞相开放、推进区域经济一体化的主要措施。为实现长三角率先发展、一体化发展,充分发挥上海在长三角地区合作和交流中的龙头带动作用,要从具体的项目合作开始做起,避免在范围广泛的领域中进行抽象议论;要把企业作为推进区域经济一体化的主体;要选择合适区域经济一体化发展的产业组织形式;要把产业集群升级作为区域一体化的重要载体;要从注重产业政策转向注重竞争政策;要鼓励区域内企业的收购兼并动,以及发挥上海自由贸易区在区域经济一体化中的作用。     

The Impact of Socio-Cultural Integration on Return Intentions: Evidence from a Survey on Romanian Migrants

Abstract

This article analyzes the impact of socio-cultural integration on migrants’ intention to return to their country of origin. It distinguishes between the potential effects of inter-ethnic relations, language proficiency and perception of discrimination as components of integration. It uses individual-level data collected through an original survey among Romanian migrants in January 2018. It aims to test the effects of socio-cultural integration against those of alternative explanations provided in the literature. The findings indicate that the perception of discrimination, assessment of public institutions’ performance and belonging feelings are important predictors for return intentions.     

Human Services Providers’ Perspectives on Refugee Resettlement in the United States before and after the 2016 Presidential Election

Abstract

The United States has historically accepted and resettled refugees by opening its doors to those fleeing violence, armed conflict, or persecution around the world. However, the degree of receptivity toward refugee resettlement has vacillated over time. This study examines the challenges and opportunities that Refugee Resettlement Agencies (RRAs) experienced prior to and after the 2016?U.S. Presidential election. The findings presented in this paper, based on focus groups with the RRA staff, revealed that there is a greater need for understanding the refugee resettlement process and how changing immigration policies impact state-federal funding.     

United against a common foe? The nature and origins of Euroscepticism among left-wing and right-wing citizens

In Western European democracies opposition to the European Union is commonly found at the ideological extremes. Yet, the Euroscepticism of radical left-wing and radical right-wing parties has been shown to have distinct roots and manifestations. The article investigates whether these differences are mirrored at the citizen level. Using data from the European Election Study (2009/2014) and the European Social Survey (2008/2012) in 15 West European countries, it is found that left-wing and right-wing citizens not only differ in the object of their Euroscepticism, but also in their motivations for being sceptical of the EU. Left-wing Eurosceptics are dissatisfied with the current functioning of the EU, but do not oppose further European integration per se, while right-wing Eurosceptics categorically reject European integration. Euroscepticism among left-wing citizens is motivated by economic and cultural concerns, whereas for right-wing citizens Euroscepticism is solely anchored in cultural attitudes. These results refine the common ‘horseshoe’ understanding of ideology and Euroscepticism.     

Good governance and differentiated integration: Graded membership in the European Union

The study of European integration has traditionally focused on organisational growth: the deepening and widening of the European Union (EU). By contrast, this article analyses organisational differentiation, a process in which states refuse, or are being refused, full integration but find value in establishing in‐between grades of membership. It describes how the EU's system of graded membership has developed, and it explains the positioning of states in this system. The core countries of the EU set a standard of ‘good governance’. The closer European countries are to this standard, the closer their membership grade is to the core. Some countries fall short of this standard and are refused further integration by the core: their membership grade increases with better governance. Other countries refuse further integration because they outperform the standards of the core countries: their membership grade decreases as governance improves. These conjectures are corroborated in a panel analysis of European countries.