Homeless Youth Seeking Health and Life-Meaning Through Popular Culture and the Arts

This pilot study demonstrates the roles of popular culture, media and the arts in the health and self-esteem of homeless youth. Reflecting focus group findings from a representative sample of street and sheltered youth, this article provides a qualitative assessment of what they advocated as an effective intervention that would promote the receipt of health services within their vulnerable community. Unlike alienating disease models where adverse health behaviors and outcomes determine intervention success or failure, a culturally-sensitive approach which provided skills mentoring and engaged the youth as health advocates seemed likely to produce important recovery incentives and enhanced health outcomes.     

中美关系:在合作与竞争中前行

奥巴马第一任期内的中美关系总体来讲还是比较平稳的,但也出现了起伏。一方面,中美之间的相互依赖不断加深,彼此需要对方的合作;另一方面,中美之间又存在着结构性的矛盾,分歧和摩擦不可避免。随着美国亚太再平衡的推进,双方加强合作的同时,中美互疑加深,博弈加剧。回顾过去四年中美关系发展的轨迹,有助于我们判断未来中美关系的走向。随着奥巴马的连任成功,未来美国对华政策的基本框架不会有根本性的改变,连续性要大于变化,未来中美关系还将是合作与竞争并存的状态。不过,未来美国对华政策的两面性会进一步凸显:在寻求对华合作的同时,美国对华的牵制和防范也在加强。中美关系的复杂性决定了中国必须以自己的两手对付美国的两手,而加强协商与沟通、妥善处理相互之间的分歧和矛盾将成为中美关系能否良性发展的关键。作为一个正在崛起的大国,中国也可以通过自身的努力为民族复兴营造更好的环境,推动中美关系的健康发展。     

论奥巴马政府对外战路的调整

自奥巴马入主白宫以来，美国的对外政策与过去相比有了较大的变化，主要表现为：信奉多边主义，重视多边机制的参与和合作；注重“软实力”的运用，致力于改善美国的国际形象：强调接触和对话．注重通过外交手段解决争端；讲求原则和实用主义相结合，从而更加务实。然而，奥巴马政府对外战略的调整也是有限的：一是不会改变维护美国“一超独霸”地位的战略目标；二是美国对外战略始终受国内政党政治和利益集团的制约；三是面临中期选举，民主党为确保胜选，不能过度调整其内外政策。当前的伊核问题、阿富汗局势、巴以和平进程等已经成为奥巴马政府无法回避的挑战。     

Rethinking Democratisation and Citizenship: Legal Pluralism and Institutional Reform in Guatemala

The December 1996 peace settlement in Guatemala agreed a series of institutional reforms in order to recognise the rights of the country's indigenous peoples; some 23 different ethno‐linguistic groups which make up 60% of the overall population. This article explores the relationship between pluri‐culturalism, citizenship, democracy and law in the contemporary politics of Guatemala. While territorially autonomous regions or separate legal jurisdictions are often proposed as a means to ensure indigenous rights, I argue that within a framework of post‐conflict reconstruction, integration with a measure of autonomy for democratically organised communities is the ideal. This is linked to development of an integrative form of citizenship which combines both social membership and identity and rights. Finally, I argue that support for pro‐active efforts to challenge the legacies of authoritarianism, militarisation and inequality will be necessary in order to strengthen democracy, build a culture of citizenship and increase justice.     

The Need for Comprehensive Evaluation in Science Education

This article argues for policies regarding the implementation of evaluation as an integral part of science education reform. Approaches to evaluation should be made comprehensive enough to include multiple methods and, through their use, to gain in‐depth information on large‐scale science education programs and projects. There must be a sustained commitment from stakeholders such as the National Science Foundation to support the training of specialists in the evaluation of science education. Specialists who are able to arrive at independent conclusions that are meaningful and beneficial for science teaching and learning are needed. Evaluation recommendations posited by the authors should be put through careful analysis and feasibility testing before moving to widespread adoption.     

The Role of the European Union Budget in View of EU Enlargement

What is the role of the European Union (EU) budget in the upcoming EU enlargement? This article attempts to answer this question by focusing on the EU budgetary system before and after the enlargement. The analysis of the EU budget helps us understand the political and economic philosophy as well as the practical achievements of the European construction. The upcoming enlargement urges the elaboration of a new vision of Europe, its missions and democratic institutions, and the power sharing between the EU and its member states, with a consequent major reform of EU fiscal and budgetary discipline.     

试析2008年大选后的美国对外政策走向

美国总统大选在即，从候选人当前辩论的焦点看，两党政策主张既有一定差别，也有趋同迹象。从外交方面看，美国单边主义外交政策将会进一步收敛，对外（特别是同盟国）协商与合作将会得到加强。美国对华政策取决于其国家利益的需要，中美关系发展的内在动力将会主导双边关系的发展，不会因美国总统的更迭而发生逆转。     

Understanding China's Relations with Latin America

This essay deals with the fast growing Sino-Latin American relations,touching upon the issues of the importance of Latin America to China;pros and cons of the bilateral relations;the U.S.factor;the opportunities that might be emerged from the financial crisis for the bilateral relations;China's first policy paper towards the region;the overseas Chinese contribution to the bilateral relations;Taiwan problem;the so-called neo-colonialism and the role of Europe.     

布什政府对朝关系战略评估

布什政府执政八年,美国对朝政策有重大调整。布什在两届任期内奉行了两种迥然不同的战略模式,从而直接造成了东北亚安全的动荡与朝核危机的升级。总结布什政府的对朝政策演变过程并对之进行战略评估,将可以揭示出美国在新形势下处理敌对国家关系,以及解决国际危机的战略构想与内在困境。