‘Non-lethal’ weapons and the occupation of Iraq: technology,ethics and law

The occupation of Iraq is a challenging task for the United States (US) military, which is considering resort to options other than lethal force as a possible just response. From the outset, the notion that a weapon can be deemed ‘non-lethal’ is problematic. Some weapons intended to leave their target alive often have lethal consequences and other weapons intended to have lethal effects often do not kill their target. This article explores ethical and legal challenges that arise from the potential use by US forces in Iraq of two classes of so-called ‘non-lethal’ weapons: incapacitating chemical agents and dazzling laser devices. Such challenges are highly relevant to questions about the role of Just War theory in the context of modern warfare. In particular, they beg the question whether the use of non-lethal weapons supports or subverts the jus in bello requirement that war be waged in a discriminate and proportionate fashion.     

Fight the Youth: Youth Bulges and State Repression

It is generally acknowledged that large youth cohorts or “youth bulges” make countries more susceptible to antistate political violence. Thus, we assume that governments are forewarned about the political demographic threat that a youth bulge represents to the status quo and will attempt to preempt behavioral challenges by engaging in repression. A statistical analysis of the relationship between youth bulges and state repression from 1976 to 2000 confirms our expectation. Controlling for factors known to be associated with coercive state action, we find that governments facing a youth bulge are more repressive than other states. This relationship holds when controlling for, and running interactions with, levels of actual protest behavior. Youth bulges and other elements that may matter for preemptive state strategies should therefore be included in future empirical models of state repression.     

Fragen der Pfandrechtsakzessorietät im Hypothekenrecht

Die Ranganmerkung für die beabsichtigte Abtretung der Hypothekarforderung soll dem neuen Hypothekargl?ubiger den geplanten Forderungserwerb auf ?hnliche Weise absichern wie die Ver?u?erungsranganmerkung dem Liegenschaftserwerber den Eigentumserwerb. Die Abh?ngigkeit des sachenrechtlichen Hypothekenerwerbs vom Vorhandensein einer gesicherten Forderung streut aber Sand in dieses Konzept der Abtretungsranganmerkung, insbesondere, wenn der Schuldner zwischenzeitig die gesicherte Forderung bezahlt. Die Arbeit versucht, eine L?sung für das geltende Recht zu entwickeln, aber auch Vorschl?ge zur Verbesserung der gesetzlichen Regelung zu machen. Der zweite Teil geht der verwandten Frage nach, wie sich die Zahlung der hypothekarisch gesicherten Forderung durch den unverst?ndigten Schuldner auf die zuvor bereits beantragte Einverleibung einer Afterhypothek auswirkt. Er?rtert wird weiters, ob die Afterverpf?ndung die Verpf?ndung der gesicherten Forderung voraussetzt.     

Beseitigungsanspruch gegen den unredlichen Bauführer bei geringfügigem Grenzüberbau

Au?erbücherlicher Eigentumserwerb an der vom Grenzüberbau betroffenen fremden Grundfl?che iSd § 418 S 3 ABGB tritt nur ein, wenn der Grundeigentümer vom Bau wei?, ihn vorwerfbar dennoch nicht untersagt und der Bauführer redlich ist. Im übrigen kann der Schikaneeinwand des Bauführers das Beseitigungsbegehren des Grundeigentümers ausschlie?en, wenn es überwiegend auf eine Sch?digung des Bauführers abzielt und die Wahrung und Verfolgung der sich aus der Freiheit des Eigentums ergebenden Rechte deutlich in den Hintergrund tritt. Die Rsp zum Eigengrenzüberbau ist nicht auf den Grenzüberbau von Liegenschaften, die verschiedenen Eigentümern geh?ren, übertragbar. Würde man einen Eigentumserwerb auch des schlechtgl?ubigen Bauführers am überbauten fremden Grund annehmen, geriete man in einen unaufl?slichen Wertungswiderspruch zum Schadenersatzrecht, das bereits bei leichter Fahrl?ssigkeit Schadenersatz, und zwar idR in Form von Naturalrestitution, vorsieht.     

Political Trust and Distrust in Switzerland: A Normative Analysis

Abstract: Based on data from a Swiss survey study (N = 769), this research investigated individual‐level determinants of trust in political authorities from a social psychological perspective. The study demonstrates that individuals with a low level of education who feel materially at risk and politically powerlessness expressed the lowest levels of political trust. This relationship was explained with differential endorsement of normative beliefs. A mediation analysis reveals that normative perceptions of Swiss society as being threatened by immorality and growing social inequalities accounted for the effect of perceived material risk on political distrust. The rejection of a duty‐based citizenship norm (voting), in turn, mediated the impact of political powerlessness on distrust. Political orientation was unrelated to political trust. These findings illustrate the cognitive underpinnings of political alienation and suggest that perceived lack of political agency and perceived risk of social declassification are key factors in understanding political distrust.     

Modeling the Influence of Investigator Bias on the Elicitation of True and False Confessions

The aim of this study was to model various social and cognitive processes believed to be associated with true and false confessions by exploring the link between investigative biases and what occurs in the interrogation room. Using the Russano et al. (Psychol Sci 16:481-486, 2005) paradigm, this study explored how perceptions of guilt influenced the frequency and type of interrogation tactics used, suspect's perceptions of the interrogation process, the likelihood of confession, and investigator's resulting perceptions of culpability. Results suggested that investigator bias led to the increased use of minimization tactics and thereby increased the likelihood of false confessions by innocent participants. In contrast, the manipulation of investigator bias had no direct or indirect influence on guilty participants. These findings confirm the important role of investigator bias and improve our understanding of the decision-making process associated with true and false confessions.     

Erwerbersicherung und Treuhänderpflichten beim grundbücherlichen Sicherungsmodell im Bauträgervertrag

Gerade beim in der Praxis weit verbreiteten Modell der grundbücherlichen Sicherstellung kommen dem Treuh?nder umfassende Pflichten zu, von deren Erfüllung der "Erfolg" dieses Sicherungsmodells ma?geblich abh?ngt. Der folgende Beitrag setzt sich n?her mit den Bestandteilen der grundbücherlichen Sicherstellung und den darauf bezogenen Treuh?nderpflichten auseinander und geht dabei insbesondere der Frage nach, ob die Pflichten derzeit ausreichend pr?zisiert sind, um dem Erwerber den vom Gesetz intendierten Schutz zu gew?hrleisten.     

Ethnic Heterogeneity and Public Support for Welfare: Is the American Experience Replicated in Britain,Sweden and Denmark?

The link between ethnic heterogeneity and public support for welfare policy is debated. The thesis of a negative relationship is supported by much American research. Historically the race issue has blocked a number of American welfare schemes; across the United States ethnically heterogeneous states have less generous benefits, and citizens having negative attitudes towards blacks often oppose welfare. The research question is: To what extent will increased ethnic heterogeneity in European countries establish the same mechanisms? Three theoretical positions are discussed: the position that the American experience is unique; the position that it is generalisable; and a middle position of it being contingent on institutional settings. The latter position predicts that the American experience can be avoided, especially in social democratic welfare regimes where the ethnicity issue has not been politicised. Empirically the article is based on survey data from the United Kingdom, Sweden and Denmark, in which a number of American items were directly replicated. Despite indications of American uniqueness and welfare‐regime effects, the findings support the position that the in‐group/out‐group mechanisms found in the United States are being replicated in Europe.     

The political economy of the environmental criminal justice system: a production function approach

The criminal justice system combines at least three distinct institutions, police, prosecutors, and courts, in order to enforce key regulations. Focusing on criminal environmental law contained in the German Penal Code, this paper empirically studies the determinants of enforcement decisions at the levels of the police, prosecutors, and judges using a production function approach. We focus particularly on the role of economic and political factors and their comparison across institutions. The results of the panel data analysis show evidence for the presence of economic factors determining behavior at all levels. Political factors impact especially on police and court behavior.