Administrative ethics in post-MAO China: challenges and chances an introduction

This article provides an introduction to the recent development of administrative ethics in the People's Republic of China, which embarked on the path of reform and opening to the outside world in 1978. The article also summarizes the issues discussed in the following articles. These include Chinese views of corruption since Tiananmen, the issue of whistleblowing, organizational ethics and bureaucratic corruption in Chinese schools, changing administrative ethos and corruption in reform China, and the process of professionalization and rhe resultant rebuilding of administrative ethics in post-Mao China.     

Book notes

The Emergence of East Central European Parliaments: The First Steps edited by Attila Agh. Budapest: Hungarian Centre of Democracy Studies, 1994. Pp.306. NP. ISBN 963 7415 96 3

Nonviolent Struggle and the Revolution in East Germany by Roland Bleiker. Cambridge, MA: The Albert Einstein Institution, 1993. Pp.53. NP. ISBN 880813 07 6

The Russian Press from Brezhnev to Yeltsin: Behind the Paper Curtain by John Murray. Aldershot: Edward Elgar, 1994. Pp.280; index. £45 (hardback). ISBN 1 85278 885 2

A Voice for the Excluded by Matthias Stiefel and Marshall Wolfe. London: Zed Books, 1994. Pp.xciii + 265; index; references; four annexes. £39.95 (hardback); £15.95 (paperback). ISBN 1 85649 247 8 and 248 6

Democratization in Eastern Europe: Domestic and International Perspective edited by Geoffrey Pridham and Tatu Vanhanen. London: Routledge, 1994. Pp.xiv + 274; index. £40 (hardback); £12.99 (paperback). ISBN 0 415 11063 7 and 11064 5

Grasping the Democratic Peace by Bruce Russett. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1995. Pp.xi + 165; references; index. $13.95/£11.95 (paperback). ISBN 0 691 00164 2

Lobbying the European Union: Companies, Trade Associations and Interest Groups edited by R.H. Pedler and M.P.C.M. van Schendelen. Aldershot and Brookfield: Dartmouth, 1994. Pp.xii + 311. $59.95. ISBN 1 85521 609 4

The Victorious Incumbent: A Threat to Democracy? edited by Albert Somit, Rudolf Wildenmann, Bernhard Boll and Andrea Rommele. Aldershot and Brookfield: Dartmouth, 1994. pp.311; index; bibliography. £40 (hardback). ISBN 1 85521 515 4

Uncommon Opportunities: An Agenda for Peace and Equitable Development. UN International Commission on Peace and Food. London: Zed Books, 1994. Pp.210; index. $55 (hardback); $19.95 (paperback). ISBN 1 85649 305 9 and 306 7

The Resurgence of Central Asia: Islam or Nationalism? by Ahmed Rashid. London: Oxford University Press; Zed Books, 1994. Pp.278; index; bibliography; appendices. £36.95 (hardback); £14.95 (paperback) ISBN 1 85649 131 5 and 132 3

Greece and Europe in the Modern Period: Aspects of a Troubled Relationship edited by Philip Carabott. London: Centre for Hellenic Studies, King's College, 1995. Pp.xvi + 130. £8 (paperback). ISBN 1 897747 01 2     

A Review of: “Israeli and Palestinian Postcards: Presentations of National Self”

Recent studies suggest that what the political talk radio hosts say on the air can shape the political orientations of their audiences. Drawing on data from a panel survey conducted in 1996, I examined the "Limbaugh effect" during the GOP presidential nomination campaign. My findings cast doubt on popular assumptions about the power of Limbaugh's words. Despite weeks of listening to Limbaugh criticize Pat Buchanan, members of the audience were no more likely to harbor negative feelings toward the candidate than were nonlisteners.     

Assessing Americans' Opinions About the News Media's Fairness in 1996 and 1998

This article reports an analysis of Americans' opinions about the news media's fairness in covering public affairs. The data come from the 1996 and 1998 National Election Studies, which contained variables tapping exposure to and opinions about the news media, as well as key political dispositions?partisanship, ideology, and opinion about presidential and congressional job performance?and a plethora of demographic variables. The data show that people who adhere to traditional moral codes and are misanthropic tend not to trust the news media to cover politics fairly. In a presidential election year, opinion about the president's job performance affects perceptions of the press's fairness. In an off-year election, however, opinion about the president's job performance is replaced by opinion about how the Congress has been doing its job. In addition, perception of how the media covered the Lewinsky scandal also influenced opinion about the press's fairness in general.     

Pyrolysis Products of Linear Alkylbenzenes— Implications in Fire Debris Analysis*

Abstract: In this case report, potential interferences from an improvised fire‐extinguishing agent, a dishwashing liquid, containing linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), was studied. The presence of linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) in the fire debris sample was identified from the summed ion profile (SIP) analysis. It was found that the LAS from dishwashing liquids produce LABs by thermal degradation. Direct pyrolysis of a LAS‐containing dishwashing liquid at 300°C yielded a distribution of LABs in the SIP. LABs began to break down at pyrolysis temperatures between 450 and 500°C and completely break down by 800°C. Observed pyrolysis breakdown products of LABs included toluene, ethylbenzene, meta‐, para‐, and ortho‐xylenes, propylbenzene, indane, naphthalene, and 1‐ and 2‐methylnaphthalenes. These data suggested the presence of LABs in fire debris evidence might complicate subsequent analysis because their breakdown products contained some of the target compounds common to ignitable liquid identification. Therefore, a positive determination of the presence of foreign ignitable liquids should be carefully evaluated when there is a presence of LABs in the SIP.     

On The Outside Looking In: Reflections on the Role of Inspection in Driving Up Quality in the Criminal Justice System

This article examines the role of external inspection in enhancing the quality of a criminal justice system. It seeks to answer six foundational questions: how should we understand the nature and purposes of criminal justice inspection? what methodologies ought it to employ? who should do it? what values should it respect? how much does it cost? and does it ‘work'? The article reveals that the difference between inspection and other forms of scrutiny activity is largely a matter of emphasis; that the same is true of the difference between inspection and research; that ‘lay’ involvement in inspection can be beneficial; that independence is a core value for inspection, albeit one that is best understood as independence of judgement; that transparency is a further key value but not always honoured; and that evidence that inspection improves service delivery and hence justifies its costs is weak and further research is needed.     

Electronic banking and how courts approach the evidence

Banking systems are so complex, that it is essential for a court to fully understand the weaknesses to be able to assess the evidence when faced with dealing with disputed transactions involving ATMs and on-line banking. A bank will make every effort to restrict the amount of evidence it has to provide to prove its case, but it is for the judge to be aware of the characteristics of electronic evidence, so that a fair trail can be conducted. This article considers the burden of proof in banking cases, and argues that not every court has succeeded in providing a claimant with a fair trial of the evidence.     

The death penalty and the right to life

On the first anniversary of the killing of Osama Bin Laden, some reflection on the phenomenon of state-sponsored execution in an enlightened, civilised world seems appropriate. While this subject has an obvious international character, it also possesses some intriguing Irish and Northern Irish dimensions. In a wide ranging treatise, I examine how the rule of law has dealt with the death penalty at both the national and international levels, highlighting in particular the important influence of national constitutional laws in this sphere. I examine also the influence of the universally acknowledged right to life and the requirement of due process.     

Mapping the effects of Brexit on legal education in Wales: proposals for addressing students’ concerns

ABSTRACT

Whilst the future for UK–EU relations remains to be realised, Brexit will have consequences for legal education. However, to date, neither the UK nor Welsh Governments have sufficiently addressed what those consequences will be for higher education. This paper, which documents the results of 336 student questionnaires received from law students surveyed from every law school in Wales, evidences that learners have already started to decide what they believe Brexit means for them. Amongst the numerous challenges for Welsh law schools is the opinion of current students that Brexit makes Wales a less attractive place for overseas students and lecturers, both EU and other internationals, to study and work. Meanwhile UK students studying in Wales are questioning the relevance of EU law modules, and are viewing aspirational careers within EU institutions as now being “closed doors”. By drawing upon our findings, as well as comparisons with other EU Member States, this paper proposes six areas where urgent collaboration between governments and universities is needed. Failing to address the concerns identified by this research has the potential to further threaten the internationalised education model that UK students benefit from by studying law at Welsh universities.