The Implications of Elections for Federalism in Iraq: Toward a Five-Region Model

For most observers, Iraq's recent elections were an importantfirst step on the road to democratic normalcy. However, threerelated outcomes—the political marginalization of SunniArabs, the electoral gains made by Shi'a religious parties,and the triumphant performance of the Kurds—render thetask of crafting Iraq's permanent constitution significantlymore problematic. In this paper, we examine the implicationsof these election results for the design of Iraq's federal system.Our focus is on the character of the subunits in any futuresystem, specifically on whether Iraq should adopt a form ofterritorial federalism based on the country's existing eighteenprovinces (as most scholars argue) or whether a form of ethnic,or "plurinational," federalism based on five regions would bebetter able to address the very significant problems createdby the election results. After assessing the relative meritsof the various proposals for a federal Iraq, we conclude thata system based on five broad regions, though not ideal, is theleast bad of the options available.     

公共事务复合治理的载体、实践及其走势分析——以杭州运河综保工程为例

以跨部门的复合治理方式取代碎片化的单一治理方式已成为公共事务治道变革的主要趋向。社会复合主体作为杭州首创的公共事务新型治理载体,因其良好的治理绩效而受到国内学界的较大关注。本文基于复合治理理论诠释了社会复合主体的生成及其意义,对杭州运河综保工程的复合治理实践进行个案剖析,并在反思个案运行困境的基础上,对社会复合主体发展的主客观条件及其走势作了讨论和展望。     

东南亚国家的经济外交与地区安全秩序的重塑

冷战结束后,塑造东亚地区安全秩序的力量来源主要有两个:一是雅尔塔体系的遗产,二是东南亚国家的经济外交。一方面,中国与俄罗斯通过上海合作组织构建了在安全等领域的合作,而美国在美日同盟的基础上强化了其在东亚的单边及多边同盟体系。因此,雅尔塔体系遗产的组织化程度较以往明显提高。另一方面,东南亚诸国通过在东盟"10+"合作框架、亚太经合组织以及亚欧会议等平台实施经济外交,比较成功地把主要大国及区域集团力量牵绊在东亚地区,并藉此影响了冷战后东亚地区的政治、安全秩序。     

A Storm on the Horizon? “Twister” and the Implications of the Blockchain and Peer-to-Peer Social Networks for Online Violent Extremism

Abstract

“Twister,” developed by Miguel Freitas, is a social network platform centered around micro-blogging, much like Twitter. However, rather than relying on centralized servers owned and maintained by a single firm, Twister users operate a blockchain combined with distributed hash table (DHT)–like and BitTorrent-like protocols to both make posts and send private messages, and also to receive entries from other users. Twister’s raison d’etre is that it offers a social networking platform that cannot be censored and cannot itself censor. The software does not record the Internet Protocol addresses users use to access the service, nor does it notify other users of an account’s online/offline status. Growing adoption of blockchain services means that it is possible that the concept of decentralized social networks could become a norm. It is suggested in this article that blockchain-based peer-to-peer social networks present challenges to the current counterextremist practices for content removal and censorship. While there are methods to disrupt usage of blockchain-based peer-to-peer services, these approaches may have the net harm of curtailing bona fide use of legal and novel technologies. Given this opportunity cost, non-transitory online violent extremist content may need to be tolerated.     

Acknowledging the Suffering Caused by State-Mandated Sexual Violence and Crimes: An Assessment of the Iraqi High Tribunal

The Iraqi High Tribunal (IHT), as a mechanism of transitional justice, took upon it a pioneering role within the Middle Eastern Region by prosecuting and convicting several high-ranking members of the former suppressive regime in Iraq. As part of this work, the IHT confronted the widespread impunity for and disregard of gender-based crimes, such as rape and other sexual violence, and took steps towards reforming the sector through its progressive statute and the specific acknowledgment of gender crimes within its judgments. It will be the aim of the following article to extend academic writings on Iraq, the IHT and gender, by providing insights into how the tribunal dealt with the issues of rape and sexual violence, the surrounding circumstances and how successful the IHT's recognition of these crimes proved for transitional justice in Iraq.     

基本公共服务均等化视阈下的政府间转移支付制度——从法治视角的分析

政府间转移支付制度是实现基本公共服务均等化的重要途径。从促进基本公共服务均等化的目标来看,政府间转移支付制度需要实现从政治模式向法治模式的转变。本文从基本公共服务均等化与政府间转移支付制度的关系入手,分析了政府间转移支付的传统运作模式及其不足,并从法治的视角提出了政府间转移支付制度的发展方向。     

整体型治理的行动逻辑

整体型治理是继新公共管理运动后在全球兴起的一场治理革命,它是在当前公共治理碎片化和风险社会来临的背景下为解决棘手难题而进行的公共治理结构的重建。整体性治理是从新涂尔干主义途径来寻求公共治理的协调和整合,并且运用现代信息技术来提升治理效率。当然,在寻求公共治理工具理性的同时,整体性治理通过恢复公民身份和发挥公民社会的作用来获得价值理性。     

论地区与国家的相互塑造

本文以地区而不是传统上占主导地位的国际体系作为理解和解释国际政治与国家行为的概念基础,构建起一个地区与国家相互塑造的分析框架。透过这个框架,可以解释:地区对国家的地位与权力、认同与观念、政策与行为的塑造;与此同时,国家的相对权力及其变化、观念和政策及其转变还对地区体系和制度秩序的形成产生一定影响。从动态的角度来看,地区与融入其中的国家处于相互塑造的过程中。彼此从对方那里吸取不同的元素,并以不同的方式相互进行重塑和改造。地区与国家之间存在基于过程选择的互动关系,它为理解改革开放以来中国外交政策的调整以及与亚太周边地区变化中的新关系提供了理论视角。     

Trafficking in Migrants: Illegal Migration and Organized Crime in Australia and the Asia Pacific Region

The subject of this article is the phenomenon commonly known as trafficking in migrants or people smuggling—the criminal offence of transporting migrants across international borders. This article explores the phenomenon of migrant trafficking and analyses migrant trafficking in the light of recent developments at domestic, regional and international levels. This article examines national legislation dealing with migrant trafficking in criminal law and immigration law in Australia and fifteen countries of the Asia Pacific region: Brunei, Cambodia, People's Republic of China and its Special Administrative Regions Hong Kong and Macau, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand, Vanuatu and Vietnam. Moreover, international and regional efforts to combat illegal migration and organized crime are outlined and analysed.