From discourse to policy: US policy communities’ perceptions of and approaches to climate change and security

ABSTRACT

Increasingly, a diverse set of policy communities, including those with defence, development and environmental mandates, frame climate change as a security threat. Most often this discursive formation labels climate change as a ‘threat multiplier’. This framing, however, is vague, linear and leaves many questions unanswered regarding how institutions can develop and implement policy that addresses the joint challenges of climate change, conflict and security. Utilising a mixed-methods approach, and grounding data collection in US policy communities, this article examines how policy actors and institutions integrate climate-security discourses into policy processes. The objective of this research is to provide direct insight into how the discourses and technical understandings of climate-security transition into policy priorities and implementation realities. This research identified three common approaches to climate-security: (1) A challenge of adaptation and resilience; (2) A potent political argument; and (3) An issue of limited importance and feasibility. These approaches, however, are inconsistent across sectors and within organisations, suggesting a lack of cohesion and considerable challenges in identifying and responding to climate change as a ‘threat multiplier’.     

Gaughran vs the UK and public acceptability of forensic biometrics retention

This commentary provides a response to the European Court of Human Rights ruling in the case of Gaughran vs the United Kingdom on 13 February 2020. The Court ruled that the indefinite retention of DNA, fingerprints and facial images from all convicted adults was disproportionate. Using data from a survey on public attitudes, we examine the public acceptability of the police retention of forensic biometrics from the population.     

大治安格局的理念与全新的工作方式

大治安格局是以指挥中心为龙头,以社区警务建设为基础,以强化社会控制为手段,以公安科技建设为保障,各警种和社会力量广泛参与,采取专群结合,打防结合,动静结合,点线面结合,人防、物防、技防等方式方法,形成集预防、发现、打击犯罪等功能于一体的社会治安防控的大治安格局。     

构建和谐社会要努力搞好社会保障工作

构建和谐社会,需要搞好社会保障工作。共产党对构建和谐社会与搞好社会保障工作进行了理论探索,我们研究社会保障工作实践中的问题,提出解决问题的思路、对策,有助于构建和谐社会。     

治安状况评价的价值及其原则

治安状况评价是运用社会评价的原理,依据一定的指标体系和统计调查资料对治安秩序状况进行评估的活动。它是准确把握治安状况的基本方法,是确定治安目标、制定治安对策、进行治安控制的重要基础。治安状况评价不能脱离社会发展水平,应以原有治安秩序为基础和参照物,着重考察治安秩序破坏力与控制力的动态平衡状态,将客观现象与主观感受、整体评价与具体分析相结合进行综合测评。     

简论公安院校学管工作中的柔性管理

柔性管理是相对于刚性管理而提出来的。在公安院校警务化管理中,多重视刚性管理而轻柔性管理。其实,柔性管理思想也有其独特的效用。在公安院校学生管理中应亦刚亦柔,刚柔并济。     

共产党执政的实质是人民当家作主

政党的性质是由它所代表的阶级或者阶层的性质决定的。共产党执政的实质是人民当家作主,这是由党的性质、宗旨、任务决定的,共产党执政只有坚持党的性质,牢固树立宗旨意识,紧紧抓住发展这个执政兴国的第一要务,才能代表最广大人民的利益。所谓最广大人民的根本利益其实质就是人民当家作主,这也是对共产党执政的目的和要求的最充分的体现。     

中国传统和谐思想概要

中国传统和谐思想极为丰富,主要包括民本执政理念、富民经济战略、公平分配定律、社会救助体系、民主决策模式、中庸治国方法、和平邦交策略等。这些思想都是中国古代社会治理实践的理论精华,对于加强社会主义和谐社会建设,仍具有积极意义。     

Failed States After 9/11: What Did We Know and What Have We Learned?

This paper addresses the relationship between accumulated knowledge and U.S. policy dealing with failed states and terrorism. The central thesis is threefold: (1) that more was known about the possible linkages between failing states and terrorism than appears in pre-9/11 U.S. policies; (2) that since 9/11 some important realignment of knowledge and practice has occurred, but it remains partial and incomplete; and (3) that new knowledge, especially about the policies to sustain and promote legitimate governance, needs to be generated in order to support an effective grand strategy for addressing the threats and challenges of the twenty-first century. The paper recommends such a grand strategy and, in addition to the required new knowledge, a significant reorganization of the U.S. national security policy-making apparatus. International studies curricula appear well suited for contributing to that new knowledge and the practitioners we require.