Sam Fisher and the “war on terror”: an analysis of Splinter Cell in a post-9/11 context

This article examines the values and attitudes present within the 2002 video game Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, and the methods employed to convey them. It compares the game’s message with the rhetoric contained in the Bush administration’s post-9/11 “war on terror” narrative. A qualitative content analysis of a Splinter Cell “game movie” and gameplay sessions is undertaken to examine the messages communicated through elements of simulation and representation. This article finds that Splinter Cell and the “war on terror” narrative express similar perspectives of terrorism and counterterrorism. First, both exaggerate the physical and normative threat of terrorism, and portray it as overwhelmingly powerful. Second, both sources justify violent counterterrorism action through claims of necessity, urgency and self-defence. Third, violence is consistently portrayed as effective for achieving the desired objective. Finally, violence and military action are represented as simple solutions that ultimately lead to victory over terrorism. The parallels between the messages within Splinter Cell and the “war on terror” rhetoric indicate that the game was shaped by the post-9/11 culture in which it was developed. More significantly, however, Splinter Cell perpetuates and legitimises the “war on terror” narrative by conveying its message through an immersive interactive environment.     

Inter-rater reliability of dynamic risk assessment with sexual offenders

Abstract

This paper describes the inter-rater reliability of the Structured Assessment of Risk and Need (SARN, formerly known as Structured Risk Assessment). The SARN is a structured framework for identifying sexual offenders’ dynamic risk factors. The SARN comprises 16 dynamic risk factors, categorized into four domains: Sexual Interests, Distorted Attitudes, Socio-Affective Functioning and Self-Management. Two studies, utilizing three samples, are reported. Study 1 examined the inter-rater reliability of four SARN cases with a sample of seven expert raters. Results indicated high inter-rater reliability amongst these participants. Study 2 examined the reliability of SARN with two samples who had received training before supplying inter-rater data (N=88). Results provided some support for the reliability of SARN. However, strength of reliability was dependent upon the method of analysis applied (percentage agreement, Cohen's Kappa, intra-class correlation coefficients). These results are discussed in terms of their clinical and methodological implications.     

笔迹动态特征研究

笔迹是通过书写运动形成的轨迹,由静态要素和动态要素所组成,承载着时间和空间信息。笔迹动态特征是客观存在的,它是书写人书写技能和书写习惯的外在表现,主要包括速度特征、笔力特征、脉冲特征、节奏特征等。对笔迹动态特征进行研究,多视域地挖掘和认识笔迹特征,可为笔迹检验鉴定意见提供更全面、更深层的支撑。     

“和而不同”:全面深化改革需要的共识智慧

在全面深化改革的今天,凝聚改革共识必须贯彻一种"和而不同"的思维方式,在承认差异、个性的前提下寻求共同利益。凝聚改革共识,必然会使人民的合理利益诉求在改革进程中得到充分彰显,必然能为改革提供强大的思想动力。     

社区治安信息采集与治安动态管控

社区治安信息是关于社区治安管理工作和社区治安形势、治安状况以及治安环境的具体表征和反映。强化社区治安信息采集是各级公安机关实现治安动态管控的基础工作,通过入户走访、访谈调查、现场观察、资料分析等方法,客观地获取各类治安信息,为有效开展社会治安动态管控打下坚实基础,实现社区治安信息效益最大化。     

Agricultural Policy Reform and Policy Convergence: An Actor-Centered Institutionalist Approach

This article examines the entry into the agricultural policy arena of a new market liberal vision. Battles over market liberalism are some of the defining struggles of the present age. The article develops a stylized framework designed to help understand some of these political struggles and some of the underlying dynamics of the complex policy debates that have occurred. It begins with a brief review of the changed economic context for farming that gradually took place in the 1990s and then provides an overview of how market liberal values and norms might be applied to agriculture. Constructing a stylized set of negotiations in a game-theoretic form that might take place in a debate over the merits of a market liberal approach, it shows two different paths for agricultural policy reform. The analysis suggests that policy change is likely to move more in a market-liberal direction under a center-left government than under a conservative one. This model isthen tested by looking at policy change in two sectors (cereal grains, dairy) in three countries (Australia, Canada, and the United States of America). The analysis suggests that the models are more helpful and policy convergence is more pronounced when sectors are open to international competition. In contrast, the models work less well and convergence is lower in highly protected sectors.     

企业劳动关系运行规则与工会博弈空间

在我国由计划经济向市场经济转型的过程中,虽然在国家法律制度的设计中,将工会作为企业内平衡劳动关系的主要制衡力量,赋予了代表和维护劳动者合法权益的制度要求,但企业改革的操作路径,却使资方对于企业规章制度的制定具有了单方面的控制权,造成了企业内劳动关系运行规则资方单决的局面.宏观层面的法律对于企业劳动关系运行规则的“软性”...     

Business model–dynamic capabilities and open innovation initiatives in research-intensive organisations: A case of Australia's national science agency

Publicly funded national science agencies create value as innovation catalysts and through their scientific and research missions, they tackle wicked problems. Understanding how dynamic capabilities and business model innovation enable research-intensive organisations to seize the market in the mission is key to translating bold new science that has impact. We qualitatively explore how Australia's national science agency—the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)—has pursued open innovation to support business model–dynamic capabilities in an evolving publicly funded landscape. We reflect on the value of open innovation initiatives that have allowed the CSIRO to ambidextrously pursue world-class science while achieving impact.

Points for practitioners

• Dynamic capabilities and business model innovation are strategic tools for publicly funded national science agencies seeking to seize the market in the mission.
• We examine a case of business model–dynamic capabilities in CSIRO.
• Open innovation has been important for CSIRO as part of an ambidextrous approach.

     

陪审团评议简论:一个群体动力学的分析

陪审团评议过程是组成陪审团这个特殊群体的陪审员们通过讨论相互影响 ,最终作出裁决的互动过程。本文运用群体动力学一般理论将陪审团视为一个功能性团体来研究其评议过程 ,从新的视角对陪审团审判制度作了深一步地研究。作者认为研究实践性很强的法律问题时 ,在注重理论研究的同时 ,应当适当采用新的方法 ,从新的研究角度入手 ,以实证材料来支持理论研究。