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     

痢疾杆菌福氏2a及其环丙沙星耐药株gyrA和parC基因耐药性决定区序列的测定分析

测定了痢疾杆菌福氏 2a 30 1株与喹喏酮类药物耐药性相关的 gyrA基因和 parC基因的序列 ,并对其环丙沙星耐药诱变株的 gyrA和 parC基因喹喏酮类药物耐药性决定区 (QRDR)序列进行了测定分析。结果表明 ,痢疾杆菌福氏 2a 30 1株 gyrA和 parC基因分别为 2 6 2 5bp和2 2 5 6bp ,环丙沙星诱导的耐药菌 gyrA基因QRDR(2 4 5bp)发生氨基酸残基 6 9 Ala→Val和 87 Tyr→Asp改变 ,parC基因QRDR(2 37b)发生氨基酸残基 79 Ala→Asp、84 Ala→Glu和 85 Pro→Ala改变。这一研究结果对认识痢疾杆菌喹喏酮类药物耐药性的分子机理具有重要意义     

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.     

继续坚持解放思想不断开创中国特色社会主义事业新局面

在党的第十七次代表大会上,胡锦涛同志审时度势,高瞻远瞩,旗帜鲜明地号召全党"继续解放思想"。继续解放思想是马克思主义唯物史观本质属性,对于我们应对前进道路上各种新情况新问题、不断开创中国特色社会主义事业新局面更具有特殊的重要意义。正确认识我国社会现在所处历史阶段的基本国情,是解放思想的根本依据。当前,要把贯彻落实科学发展观作为解放思想的根本着眼点。     

Randomized experiments in criminology: What have we learned in the last two decades?

This paper aims to review randomized experiments in criminology with offending outcomes and reasonably large numbers that were published between 1982 and 2004. A total of 83 experiments are summarized, compared with only 35 published between 1957 and 1981: 12 on policing, 13 on prevention, 14 on corrections, 22 on courts, and 22 on community interventions. Randomized experiments are still relatively uncommon, but there have been more large-scale multi-site experiments and replication programs. There have also been several experiments in which 100 or more places were randomly assigned. Relatively few experiments (only 10 out of 83) were conducted outside the United States. Meta-analyses suggest that prevention methods, correctional therapy, batterer programs, drug courts, juvenile restitution and deterrent policing were effective in reducing offending, while Scared Straight and boot camp programs caused a significant increase in offending.     

论离婚损害赔偿制度的法律适用

离婚损害赔偿是配偶一方违法侵害他方的合法权益 ,导致婚姻关系破裂 ,离婚时对无过错配偶方所受的损害 ,过错配偶应承担民事责任的法律制度。离婚损害赔偿民事责任须具备一定的构成要件。离婚损害赔偿的权利主体应是无过错的配偶方 ,义务主体应是实施了法定违法行为的过错配偶方 ,不宜将离婚当事人以外的第三人也视为义务主体。离婚损害赔偿既包括物质损害赔偿 ,也包括精神损害赔偿 ,而精神损害赔偿意在对无过错受害方给予精神抚慰。