Beyond risk theory: suicidal behavior in its social and epidemiological context

The effect of exposure to risk factors for suicidal behavior varies from place to place and from period to period. This may be due to contextual influences, which arise if individuals' suicide risk depends not only on their personal exposure to risk or protective factors, but also on how these are distributed in their social, cultural, economic, or even physical environments. There has been relatively little explicit attention in suicide research for such contextual influences even though they are an important component of the cross-level bias, which can arise when aggregate level associations are assumed to also apply in individuals and vice versa. Contextual effects are conceptually related to the issues of social selection vs. causation, population density, and network effects. Because of a lack of prospective multilevel research, it is unclear exactly which mechanisms underlie the phenomenon that the distribution of risk factors in an individual's context may affect their suicide risk above and beyond their personal exposure. A number of mechanisms, like deviancy amplification, formalization of restraints, and buffering effects of social support are proposed. Contextual effects may result in a concentration of suicide risk in persons when the risk factors they are exposed to become rare--whether spontaneously or through focused prevention. This has important but mostly overlooked implications for population-based prevention strategies.     

Nationalism and social welfare in the post-Soviet context

This paper offers hypotheses on the role that state social welfare measures can play in reflecting nationalism and in aggravating interethnic tensions. Social welfare is often overlooked in theoretical literature on nationalism, because of the widespread assumption that the welfare state promotes social cohesion. However, social welfare systems may face contradictions between the goal of promoting universal access to all citizens on the one hand, and social pressures to recognize particular groups in distinct ways on the other. Examples from the post-Soviet context (particularly Russia) are offered to illustrate the ways in which social welfare issues may be perceived as having ethnic connotations.     

外国执政党促进社会活力与和谐的做法

和谐社会建设是一项复杂的系统工程,而社会创造力和活力是和谐社会的一个重要组成部分.外国政党形态不同、功能各异、作用不一,其组织形式、运作模式、发展程度、执政能力差别很大,并深受本国的历史传统文化、经济发展水平、民族风俗习惯等多种因素的影响和制约.但是,外国执政党从执政理念、制度建设和具体做法等方面,均十分重视建设一个充满活力的和谐社会.     

Presidential popularity in a context of economic crisis and political change: The case of Mexico

The study shows how presidential approval ratings in Mexico during an era of crisis have been shaped by citizen reactions to environmental conditions but also by the effects of the transition toward a more competitive electoral system. Regime transitions toward greater democracy in Latin America and elsewhere may hold important implications for the formation of public opinion and mass political behavior. Charles L. Davis is associate professor of political science at the University of Kentucky. His interests include comparative politics, political psychology, and Latin America. Ronald E. Langley has been affiliated with the department of political science at the University of Kentucky. His recent research interests are public opinion and presidential politics.     

美国的科技优势与国际政治经济霸权

美国是当代国际体系中国际竞争力最强的国家,是世界的头号科技大国.美国的科技优势成就和维系了美国在当今世界政治经济的实力和霸权地位,对世界格局和国际关系也产生着巨大而深刻的影响.     

美国对华经贸摩擦的政治动因

当前,以纺织品为代表的中美贸易争端持续吸引着全世界的目光.争端主要由美国挑起,手段也从原来的反倾销、技术壁垒等手段,发展到现在的"非市场经济条款"、"特保条款"及临时保障措施等.中美贸易争端除了客观存在的巨大贸易逆差这一表面原因以外,还有更深层次的政治和意识形态因素.     

The denial syndrome and its consequences: Serbian political culture since 2000

Since the outbreak of the War of Yugoslav Succession in 1991 and the subsequent atrocities, a significant portion of Serbian society, including the upper echelons of the government, has displayed symptoms of the denial syndrome, in which guilt is transposed onto the Croats, Bosniaks, and Kosovar Albanians. This syndrome is also associated with a veneration for the victimized hero, with sinister attribution error, and with tendencies toward dysphoric rumination. In the Serbian case, it has also been associated with efforts to whitewash the role played by Serbs such as Milan Nedić and Draža Mihailović during World War Two and has reinforced feelings of self-righteousness in Belgrade's insisting on its sovereignty over the disputed province of Kosovo.     

中国未成年人社会福利的模式与发展

中国传统未成年人福利模式在福利内容和项目、立法以及福利行政等方面都具有典型的补救模式特征。在当前全面社会转型的形势下,我国未成年人福利事业必须进行改革和重新定位,并适应社会发展的需要逐步向“制度型”模式转变。     

Experiments with tradition: An interpretation of modern Indian ideas on the nature of social and political change

A recently completed survey of British manufacturing investment in 14 anglophone African countries indicates that there has been major disinvestment during the last five years. This process of corporate disengagement is occuring despite concerted attempts by African governments to improve the overall investment climate for both national and foreign investors. The article analyses the pattern of disinvestment by country and industrial sector and considers some of the key causal factors.