Groupthink and Terrorist Radicalization

Why do groups adopt terrorism? Major theories of terrorist radicalization assume it to be a rational process whereby groups select terrorism as the policy most likely to advance their goals. Not all terrorism is rational, however, and these theories cannot explain cases when groups pursue terrorism despite it being self-defeating. We distinguish between rational and irrational terrorism, and explain the latter using social psychology's groupthink mechanism. Although terrorists are widely assumed to be vulnerable to groupthink, empirical work on the phenomenon has focused overwhelmingly on decision-making by national executives. We firmly establish the link between groupthink and terrorist radicalization by tracing groupthink's operation through the development of the Weather Underground, an American terrorist group that emerged in the late 1960s and conducted six years of bombings against the U.S. government. All of the antecedent conditions, symptoms, and decision-making defects predicted by groupthink are evident in the Weather Underground, providing valuable evidence of the dangers of irrational radicalization and offering lessons for its prevention.     

The European Union's human security discourse: where are we now?

The language of human security has been prominent in the European Union's (EU) official discourse for a number of years. However, whilst it has been promoted as a new approach for the EU in the development of its security and defence policy, the aim of this article is to assess the extent to which it actually features in the EU's contemporary strategic discourse and practice. It seeks to uncover where and how the concept is spoken within the EU's institutional milieu, how it is understood by the relevant policy-makers in the EU and the implication of this across key areas of human security practice. It is argued in the article that human security has not been embedded as the driving strategic concept for Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in an era of crisis and change in Europe and beyond and that the prospects for this materialising in the near future are rather thin.     

Incidental findings and future testing methodologies: potential application of the ACMG 2013 recommendations

Reactions to the first clinical recommendations for the return of incidental findings (IFs) from genomic sequencing published by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) were polarized and resolute. Exploring the three main points of controversy: mandatory testing, testing children for adult conditions, and selection of conditions to be reported on, illuminates concerns for and conservation of bioethical principles—specifically, autonomy and non-directiveness. With the historical context of genetic testing in mind, this article studies the potential application of the ACMG recommendations to embryonic testing in the form of preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Theoretical extension of the current recommendations assists in the identification of bioethical dilemmas and possible societal impacts. The recommendations make a statement on the importance of diagnosis and intervention for specific genetic conditions, setting a precedent for disease classification and patient autonomy. In the extreme, the clinical application of such recommendations prenatally may result in discarded embryos, and less societal tolerance of specific conditions. Skilled professionals, such as genetic counselors, researchers, and lawmakers must work together to maintain patient autonomy, providing care in the best interest of each patient.     

新时期陈云对抵御执政风险问题的战略思考及其当代价值

陈云对抵御执政风险问题的战略思考有其深刻的背景因素,是他总结历史、面对现实、着眼未来综合性认识的成果。陈云对抵御执政风险问题的战略思考包括对党和国家的政治发展、经济发展、民生建设、精神文明建设、党的建设等多方面。这种思考表现出强烈的忧患意识,对我们今天居安思危、拒腐防变具有很强的警示作用;蕴含着深刻的科学理念对我们今天把握规律、安全执政具有重要的指导作用;体现出坚定的理想信念,对我们今天排除干扰、奋勇前行具有巨大的激励作用。     

中国竞技体育不正之风的法律规制

近年来,竞技体育不正之风蔓延,＂假赌黑＂、服用兴奋剂、修改年龄等事件层出不穷,中国竞技体育亟需用法律对其进行全方位的规制。应采取的措施主要有：界定体育行政管理机关的管理权限和体育社会团体的自治管理权限,探索设立专门的体育仲裁机构,建立与体育社会团体自治范畴有效对接的体育仲裁规则;确定专门的体育博彩监管部门,将发行销售与监督相互分离,加强预防与制约的制度设置,以疏代堵;将违反兴奋剂管理的行为纳入《刑法》规制范畴,明确兴奋剂查禁的主体、对象、权限、强制措施范围、程序等,并在查禁中配合信息公开、查禁人员回避、被查禁人权利救济等相关制度。     

私人自治与私法品性

我国学界普遍忽视私人自治与作为其生存环境与运行背景的私法之间的关系。私人自治与私法品性之间具有密切关联。由于实行私人自治原则,私法呈现出抽象性、目的独立性、否定性、程序性、形式性、自治性、工具理性等形式主义品性。由私人自治在民法中的基石性地位所决定,形式主义品性在私法中居于主导地位。民事立法应坚守形式主义品性,若必须创设例外,应有正当充分的理由。中国现行民法还存在着上述诸品性程度不高的缺憾,形式主义品性有待提升。     

分权改革背景下的地方财政自主权

为实现政治统治的合法化,近现代国家在民主的基础上形成了以规范为中心的权力认知模式。建国与改革为主题的国家制度建设所呈现的渐进性和试验性,使我国在中央与地方的财政关系上,形成了规范内外不同的权力生长与存续机理。碎片化的规范,赋予了地方在特定领域内的财政自主权。同时,依赖政治过程的分散化策略,引致了权力的制度外溢,形成了诸多所谓的"事实上的财政自主权"。尽管正当的制度只能逐步建设和改进,但如果始终存在超越于法律规范之上的权力,法治秩序终将会崩裂。地方财政自主权,必须在规范主义的立场上循序形成。     

新时代中国特色知识产权发展之路

中国特色知识产权发展历经了"从无到有"到"从有到大",现在已进入"从大到强"知识产权强国建设的战略转换阶段.新时代全面加强知识产权保护工作应当从战略高度把握习近平总书记提出的"五大关系",同时从"加强知识产权保护工作顶层设计""提高知识产权工作法治化水平""强化知识产权全链条保护""深化知识产权保护工作体制机制改革""...     

董必武民族法制思想述论

董必武同志在几十年的革命生涯中十分关注我国的民族问题,民族法制思想是其法学思想的重要组成部分.文章以历史发展的脉络为主线,考察了董必武同志在各历史阶段有关民族法制建设问题的重要论述,概述了董必武同志民族法制思想的精髓坚持民族区域自治,维护宪法权威;坚持民族平等,维护民族团结;加强民族合作,促进民族发展;大力培养少数民族干部,保障国家法律在民族地区的有效实施;加强人民代表大会制度建设,让各民族人民参与国家管理.并指出了董必武同志的民族法制思想在新的历史时期仍具有的重要现实意义.