Law and Its Rhetoric of Violence

This article explores the manner in which politico-legal language makes use of metaphors of violence and destruction in order to describe state/legal functions and actions. It argues that although such use of a militaristic hyperbole is generally regarded as normal and appropriate, it is in fact harmful in the way that it presents complex and specific problems as being simple and abstract. From a semiotic point of view, and using the work of Roland Barthes, law is regarded as a system of signs and ‘combative’ legal language can be seen as ideological manipulation through the technique of so-called second-level signification (myth). Although it is conceded that law, similar to all other interpretive systems, cannot avoid the use of metaphoric language, it is argued that we should resist regarding legal language as neutral and ‘natural’ and that we should rather retain the memory of legal concepts and categories as historical, man-made, and therefore always open to revision.     

中国法律修辞（学）研究之反思

近几年,在西方法学研究的影响下,中国法律修辞(学)研究也日益繁盛起来。但与西方法律修辞(学)以批判逻辑理性为前提的兴起缘由不同,中国法律修辞(学)面对的现实是理性精神的缺失和恣意限制的缺乏。在这种情况下,法律修辞(学)研究如何能够做到既批判理性又维护理性,容许主观又限制主观,以避免其对法治形成消解。鉴于中国法治发展的现实与修辞传统的影响,再结合西方经验,我们只有对法律修辞研究作出客观化的努力,才能解决这个问题。     

当代法学的历史使命——以中国法治建设为指向的法对策学思考

法学的历史使命是维护并阐释某种法治秩序。当代法学首先是根植于中国法律实践,阐释实践中的两个法律样本即技术性样本和政治性样本。政治性样本始终与现实的政治话语纠葛在一起,但作为一种政治智慧,要将社会问题司法化,同时避免司法问题的泛政治化,特别是不能超越法律规范。从这个角度说,法律可以被利用,但却不能被违反。纵观法治建设的历史,有革命式和渐进式两种模式。中国法治建设不能生拉硬扯,应该顺应历史和时空条件,走中国特色的渐进式法治之道。在经济改革拉动下的私法制度基本形成之后,下一步,应该在社会建设和政治改革的推进下,寻找建构法治秩序的突破口,完善社会法域和公法域的基本制度,在实践中形成中国式的法治秩序。     

The Hermeneutic of Suspicion in Contemporary American Legal Thought

This article explores the ‘hermeneutic of suspicion’ that seems to drive contemporary American jurists to interpret their opponents’ arguments to be ideologically motivated wrong answers to legal questions. The first part situates the hermeneutic in the history of the critique of legal reasoning, in public and private law, particularly the critique that claims that ‘no right answer is possible’ to many high-stakes questions of legal interpretation. The second part locates the hermeneutic in the long running processes of juridification, judicialization and constitutionalization that characterize law in modern society. The last part interprets the hermeneutic as ‘projective identification’, in the sense of Freud’s analysis of jealousy, with the jurist solving the problem of role conflict by firmly externalizing the inevitable ideological element in doing justice onto his opponent while preserving the legalist element in doing justice for himself.     

The Legal Context of School Violence: The Effectiveness of Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Efforts to Reduce Gun Violence in Schools

In the wake of recent school shootings, communities and legislatures are searching for law enforcement solutions to the perceived epidemic of school violence. A variety of legal measures have been debated and proposed. These include: the enactment of tougher gun control laws and more vigorous federal and local enforcement of existing gun control laws; the enactment of laws imposing civil or criminal liability on parents for their children's violent behavior; the establishment of specialized courts and prosecution strategies for handling juveniles who are charged with weapons offenses; stricter enforcement of school disciplinary codes; reform of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to make it easier to expel students for weapons violations; and greater use of alternative schools as placements for students who are charged with weapons violations.
  This article provides a legal and empirical analysis of proposed legislation in these areas as informed by social science research on the patterns of school violence, gun acquisition by juveniles, and the effectiveness of various laws and law enforcement measures. It proposes and discusses recommendations for legal reform. While efforts to reduce school violence will be most effective at the state and local levels, the United States federal government has an important role to play, particularly in federal‐state partnerships aimed at disrupting illegal gun markets, and through the formulation of national standards and guidelines. These standards and guidelines are for the enforcement of existing laws; inter‐agency law enforcement cooperation and information‐sharing (particularly using computer‐based analysis); effective school discipline and alternative educational settings for disruptive youth; and psycho‐educational interventions designed to detect and prevent school violence in the first place.     

比较法学与近现代中国法制之命运

近现代中国法制以法律比较为起点,并通过法律比较而发展。近现代中国法制发展曲折徘徊之时,也是比较法学低谷沉默之时。近现代中国法制的建设与发展、法学的复兴与繁荣,都是循着法律比较的途径,并在比较法学的基础上进行的。法律比较对于一国法制建设具有不可或缺性,可以说比较法学与近现代中国法制建设是共命运的。     

法律方法与法治:以对纳粹司法的反思为中心

纳粹政权在司法领域的工具和帮凶,是反形式主义的法律方法论和政治目的司法,而非法律实证主义。以具体秩序思维和具体的一般性概念为代表的纳粹法律方法论,突破了形式主义司法准则,并将纳粹意识形态和价值观提升为一种新的法律渊源和裁判规范。这种反形式主义法律方法论,是法治的一个陷阱。去法制化的纳粹司法表明:法律方法论若无视基本权利和普遍价值观,就可能沦落为当权者的作恶工具;法的形式价值和实体价值是唇齿相依的,要实现法治,二者不可偏废。     

习近平法治思想要义的法理解读

习近平法治思想是一个内涵丰富、逻辑严谨、系统完备的科学思想体系,其核心要义就是习近平总书记在中央全面依法治国工作会议上提出的"十一个坚持":坚持党对全面依法治国的领导;坚持以人民为中心;坚持中国特色社会主义法治道路;坚持依宪治国、依宪执政;坚持在法治轨道上推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化;坚持建设中国特色社会主义法治体系;坚持依法治国、依法执政、依法行政共同推进,法治国家、法治政府、法治社会一体建设;坚持全面推进科学立法、严格执法、公正司法、全民守法;坚持统筹推进国内法治和涉外法治;坚持建设德才兼备的高素质法治工作队伍;坚持抓住领导干部这个"关键少数"。     

法律修辞的价值及其限度

古典的修辞学研究重心主要在于一种实践的说服行动以及与之相并行的说服方式,区别于当前的以修饰文辞为重心的修辞学研究,故而古典的修辞学与法律具有密切的关联。也正是在这个意义上,我们需要认真对待法律修辞,重新激活并发展法律修辞的当代价值。具体而言,法律修辞的价值主要体现在作为本体论的法律修辞和作为方法论的法律修辞这两个具有关联的方面。作为本体论的法律修辞主要是指法律本身也可看作一种修辞并可以从修辞学的视角对法律予以观照,作为方法论的法律修辞主要是指其于法律运行过程中的体现的诸多作用。当然,法律修辞的价值本身也存在限度,但这并不构成对法律修辞的否弃理由。     

对当前普法依法治理工作两个问题的思考

根据我们多年在普法依法治理工作当中的切身感受,我们对当前普法依法治理工作有两个最深的体会:一是要真正让基层广大干部群众了解我们的普法依法治理工作目标是什么,即要解决好“为了什么干”的问题;二是要下决心解决好普法依法治理的具体实践方式,实实在在地解决好普法依法治理工作“怎么干”的问题。我们认为,这两个问题能否从根本上得到有效地解决,是直接关系到普法依法治理工作最终成败的大事。目标认识问题仍然是普法依法治理实践的重要命题众所周知,法治的价值目标是为了建立一种可预期的社会秩序来维护人的尊严和权利。在健全的制度…     

香港基本法解释权的法律思考

香港回归祖国，体现“一国两制”精神的香港基本法在香港施行。以“居留权案”为开端，全国人大常委会共对基本法进行了三次释法活动。每次的释法都会引起内地与香港法律界的巨大争议。内地与香港法律解释制度的巨大差异性是基本法解释权问题产生的根本原因，以此提出协调方法，以保持香港高度自治的同时，维护基本法的权威。     

西方法治思想对我国现代法治建设的启示

在社会主义市场经济飞速发展的今天,依法治国、构建社会主义现代法治已成为人们所追求的目标。本文通过对西方法治思想的阐述,结合我国具体情况,分析其＂法治＂思想对我们的启示。其目的是借鉴西方法治思想的精髓,结合本土资源,培育国人的现代法治意识,明晰权力（利）关系,构建有中国特色的社会主义法治。     

Editor's Introduction: The Amherst Seminar and the Everyday Life of the Law

International Journal for the Semiotics of Law - Revue internationale de Sémiotique juridique -     

Early Models for Contemporary Thought on Domestic Violence and Women Who Kill Their Mates:

Women who kill abusive partners have become the focus of new social policy and research since 1970. A review of the early literature on women and domestic homicide from 1895 to 1970 shows that, while a specific focus on female homicide resulting from abuse was lacking, a rich heritage of ideas about homicidal women developed during this period. This heritage inevitably shaped the ways in which female offenders in general were viewed and presaged our most recent insights. A conceptual framework for recognizing the etiological themes which emerged is presented.     

国际货币制度重构的法律思考——从国际法角度分析

国际货币制度进入后布雷顿森林体系之后,金融危机频繁爆发,其制度性根源在于当今的国际货币制度存在缺陷。现行的牙买加体系并没有改变美元本位的状态,特里芬难题依然存在。通过缔结区域性货币合作条约、建立特别国际货币法院、建立政府间独立的国家主权信用评级机构对美元进行全方位的约束,是当下改革国际货币制度比较可行的方案。