Asian values revisited

  With Asia's economy still booming in the second half of the 1990's “Asian values” were announced by some politicians (Lee Kuan Yew, Mahatir, Ishihara, Mahbubani etc.) and contrasted with “Western values”. Soon a controversial debate within Asia ensued (Kim, Fidel Ramos ea..), into which also the western democracies joined. The “West” however reacted rather defensively to the new assertiveness of some Asian statesmen, inspite of the fact that the authors of this debate put into question the western dominance in global value setting which has been in existence since the French revolution. But has this debate withstood the test of time, the challenges posed by the recession in Asia and by the ever increasing globalization? Hardly. The crisis has destroyed the notion that “Asian values” had been the main cause and guarantor of Asia's exorbitant growth rates. While in the West Christianity forms the essential basics of culture, in Asia there is a multitude of coexisting - and frequently confronting world religions. There is no other continent which in cultural and political terms is so contradictory and potentially conflict ridden like Asia. “Asianism” as a concept was surely also intended as an instrument to integrate multiethnic Asian societies with weak internal cohesion. At the same time it served to neutralize the human rights issue. In the meantime the debate has become quieter and more dispassionate. In the developed West the notion gained acceptance to abandon “Eurocentrism”. At the same time there is recognition that “Asian values” are not exclusive. Also in Europe the family plays a special role. A debate on values is needed for societal integration – also in the “West” which should become more aware of the need to reassert the origins of its own spiritual foundations. Following September 11th the west is well advised to continue the dialogue on values with Asia. Update and expanded version of an article first published in: Au?enpolitik IV/1996, p. 326 “Beginnt das pazifische Jahrhundert?” I would like to thank Julia Prati for the translation of the updated and expanded version of this article     

论刑事诉讼中的应诉权

刑事诉讼从本质上讲,是一种对抗意味十足的诉讼活动,应诉权与公诉权(控诉权)的全面对抗正是刑事诉讼本质的体现。刑事程序的展开也是在这种对抗中完成的。当然,在刑事诉讼中研究应诉权有必要厘清应诉权与人权、应诉权与防御权,应诉权与诉权之间的关系。此外,确立应诉权与公诉权(控诉权)的对抗关系,必然会带来刑事诉讼观念、刑事诉讼构造、刑事侦查体制以及审判方式的变革与调整。     

监狱工作宗旨论析——基于执法为民理念

文章基于执法为民理念,阐释对监狱工作宗旨的理解。文章认为,监狱工作宗旨根源于党的根本宗旨,其实质是为人民服务;“为罪犯服务”的提法因其政治上、法律上的谬误而有悖于监狱工作宗旨,而“为罪犯改造服务”的提法因其逻辑上的含混而无法正确诠释监狱工作宗旨;监狱警察履行监狱工作宗旨,应当做到牢固树立人民公仆意识,忠诚执法,自觉服务于构建社会主义和谐社会。     

对我国《民法通则》关于起诉引起诉讼时效中断规定的反思与重构

我国《民法通则》将起诉作为诉讼时效中断的事由之一,于中断效力结束时诉讼时效期间重新计算,这就意味着对于经过诉讼由人民法院生效判决所确认的民事权利的保护仍可以适用诉讼时效。但依我国《民事诉讼法》的规定,对民事权利的保护因起诉进入诉讼程序后应适用诉讼法上的期限制度,从而使《民法通则》规定的诉讼时效的适用失去了可能。对这一矛盾的解决有两种方案可供选择,一是采大陆法系各国民法的做法,取消民事诉讼法对申请强制执行期限的规定,统一适用诉讼时效制度;二是采取我国目前的做法,民法诉讼时效制度适用于当事人起诉前阶段,当事人起诉后则适用诉讼法上的期限制度,同时将起诉作为诉讼时效的终结事由而不是中断事由。两种方案各有优点和不足,我国未来民法典对此应做出科学的选择。     

一种收集衣服上脱落细胞的新方法

目的建立一种生物脱落细胞的微量提取新方法。方法利用一套自制的“生物细胞提取仪”无损提取衣物等载体上的人体脱落细胞,采用Chelex-100法提取DNA,用不同的试剂盒进行STR复合扩增检验。结果10例检材都得到16个基因座成功分型。结论用该方法提取微量细胞DNA,可获得满意的DNA分型。     

Race as a factor in university admissions

In two recent cases, Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306. (2003) and Gratz v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 244. (2003), the Supreme Court held that the Equal Protection Clause permitted state schools to use race-sensitive admissions in order to obtain the educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body. The diversity-based argument for race-sensitive admissions, scholarships, awards, and other opportunities at universities should have been rejected because it does not consider the full range of costs and benefits and because the more narrow educational effects probably weigh against such programs. However, this does not suggest that applicants’ race, ethnicity, and gender should be ignored. Rather the same consideration that led to the defeat of the diversity argument, i.e., reasoning capacity, supports the consideration of demographic factors. However, attention to such factors further undermines the consequentialist case for affirmative action.     

川东北地区城市发展格局透视——南充作为川东北区域中心城市的可行性研究

川东北地区发展相对落后,其重要原因就是缺乏区域中心城市的带动。因此,加快构建川东北区域中心城市,使其在区域内充分发挥带动、辐射功能,形成分工合理、布局科学,区域协调发展的良好格局,以促进川东北地区经济社会的快速发展。本文就南充作为川东北区域中心城市的可行性进行了客观、深入地分析和研究。     

美联储新掌门本·伯南克

2005年10月24日,美国总统布什宣布提名本·伯南克出任美国联邦储备委员会主席一职.经美参议院金融委员会批准,他将于2006年2月1日接替已经任职18年、年届耄耋的格林斯潘出任这一在全球相当重要的位置,后者将会在此前一天正式退休.     

法律对社会冲突的控制与和谐社会的构建

现实社会是冲突与和谐的统一体。和谐社会并不是不存在冲突,而是社会制度能够最大限度减少冲突。中国目前正处在构建社会主义和谐社会时期,需要从法律制度上对各种社会冲突进行有效控制。在立法上,建立一种服务于大多数人利益整合的制度,实现对利益的分配、保障和和谐;在司法上,做到阻止非法利益、平衡合法利益、容许法外利益,实现司法公正。