A reflection on the history of Chinese constitutionalism of last century

The academic circle often attributes frustrations of Chinese constitutionalism to the resistance of traditions. This article is of the opinion that the constitutionalism in modern China failed to be as what its framers expected precisely because of its inability to find motivation from traditions. Only when connecting itself with Chinese traditions can the “flower” of western constitutionalism get rooted in this land. “Li” (rites) is the backbone of Chinese traditions, but the rule by li, as the symbol of Chinese civilization, necessarily finds itself the focus of modern criticism on traditions. Yet, the negation and criticism that lasted for more than a century did not wipe out the imprint of history. Perhaps, in this age of unprecedented stability and easiness, we are more likely to find out the rational part implied in the rule by li as well as its particularity and lasting popularity in China. Rather than blind criticism or refusal, we should reflect, discuss, reconstruct, and rejuvenate the rule by li, and this may be an effective approach for Chinese constitutional reform.     

Pedophile types and treatment perspectives

Pedophiles constitute a heterogeneous group of sex offenders. Direct physiological assessment of sexual arousal has significantly increased our diagnostic skill and capability of monitoring treatment response. Erectile response studies have indicated that the majority of pedophiles and incest offenders show arousal to other paraphilias and frequently to appropriate adult sexual stimuli. Many sexual offenders deny or minimize their problem during initial interviews, but when confronted with laboratory results indicating deviant sexual arousal, they often acknowledge and elaborate on the paraphilia(s). Complete data and diagnoses are crucial in integrating treatment in the cognitive-behavioral paradigm.     

Using Social Science to Inform the Law of Intestacy: The Case of Unmarried Committed Partners

Laws of intestate succession determine how the estate of a person who dies without a will is distributed. Researchers have struggled with the question of how to infer the donative intent of persons who die intestate. Based on an empirical study of unmarried committed partners, we compare the usefulness of two methods of social research for informing intestacy law: will studies and interviews with living persons about their preferences for estate distribution. The results indicate that for some groups of unmarried committed partners, will studies may not adequately reflect the extent to which intestate decedents wish their partner to share in their estate. In addition, the results demonstrate a close correspondence between respondents' actual wills, when they had them, and their distributive preferences on hypothetical scenarios. These findings are discussed as they relate to an examination of which sources of social scientific evidence are most useful in informing the law of intestacy.     

Links Across the Abyss: Language and Logic in International Relations

Constructivists have distanced themselves from questions of language in order to engage the "positivist" mainstream in dialogue. Yet language has played a central role in one important strand of positivism. Current debates in international relations assume a question about whether language is important. This article asks how or why language is important to the study of IR by exploring two distinct phases of the linguistic turn. The first phase, associated with logical positivism, approaches language as a picture of the logic of reality; the second, at the roots of a range of alternative approaches, approaches language use as analogous to making moves in a game. In constructing a link between two phases of the linguistic turn, the abyss separating "positivists," who aren't concerned with language, and "poststructuralists," who are, is replaced with a spectrum of different approaches to language and logic in international relations. The significance of these differences is illustrated in a variety of theoretical and empirical examples.     

选举权的性质解析

Suffrage is not a right “recognized” by the Constitution but “created” by people through the Constitution, which is a right of the closest relationship with the people’s sovereignty. It is both a right and a power, where the attribute of right is manifested in that it can be waived with the nature of interest and will, and the attribute of power is manifested in that it can determine the interest and destiny of candidates. However, no attribute is complete. Suffrage is an individual right rather than a collective right, with indirect relationship with the state power but direct relationship with the “holders” of state power, creating them and in turn influencing the state power.     

Facilitating technology transfer among organizations: An applied communication strategy concept for organizational boundary spanners

Facilitating technology transfer from one organization to another is a complex process. Organization representatives are key players in the facilitation process and act to span the boundary between organizations. This paper offers a conceptual framework concerning organizational “boundary” spanners who must cross lines to transfer technology. From a communication viewpoint, boundary spanners need to reduce uncertainty, process information, and provide representation in order to achieve organizational outcomes of building relationships, achieving performance, and applying technology. This framework describes several strategies involved in the process of technology transfer: inquiry, self-disclosure, enhancing self-image, bargaining, and relationship-building. In short, we argue that individual boundary spanners need to be effective communicators when facilitating the technology transfer process.     

The German community in 19<Superscript>th</Superscript> century Hong Kong

This article examines the development of the German community in Hong Kong between the 1840s and the outbreak of the First World War. It pays particular attention to the question of how the Germans, as a minority group in the crown colony, attempted to strike a good balance between integration and segregation, cultural assimilation and dissimilation, national identity and marginalization. Through investigating their social life, missionary activities and economic activities in Hong Kong, it shows that they, on the one hand, cooperated closely with the British who were in charge of key political and economic affairs, and on the other hand worked with the local Chinese on different social stratums. Although the unification of Germany in 1870 strengthened the sense of nationhood among German people in Hong Kong, they strove to strengthen the German cultural and economic network that already existed in and around the colony, without sacrificing their business and social interests which were interwoven with those of the British and the local Chinese. It is this strategy that enabled them to survive in Hong Kong until 1914.