Assessing the shifting qualities of democratic citizenship: The case of South Korea

The consolidation of nascent democratic rule requires ordinary citizens to have certain basic qualities of democratic citizenship. To understand these qualities, this study proposes and explicates the notion of citizen sophistication with regard to democratic politics in South Korea, a country widely regarded as one of the most successful new democracies. Analysis of the Korea Democracy Barometer surveys, 1996–2001, reveals that the proposed notion of sophistication about democratic politics can serve as a useful new tool for evaluating and monitoring the shifting qualities of democratic citizenship in newly democratizing countries. The same analysis also shows that Korea faces a gross deficiency and notable decline in the cognitive, affective and behavioural qualities of democratic citizenship. These findings seem to indicate that the challenge of promoting mass sophistication about democratic politics may constitute the most intractable task of democratization.     

The role of nonformal education in promoting democratic attitudes: Findings from Senegal

Civic education has been considered a way in which the behaviours and attitudes associated with democratic citizenship can be fostered among the members of a society. Since the emerging democracies are hard-pressed to develop a political culture supportive of democratic rule, civic education has been identified as one way such a political culture can be constructed. Recent studies, however, point to the limited reach of such programmes in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on survey data, others have failed to find even a relationship between formal education and democratic attitudes in parts of Africa. On the other hand, despite the prominence nonformal education has gained in many developing countries, such as those in Africa, the effect of nonformal education on political attitudes has not been subject to empirical testing. Using data from a survey involving a probability sample of 1,484 Senegalese citizens, this article examines the effects of education, both formal and nonformal, on political attitudes among rural Senegalese. Both nonformal and formal education are found to increase the likelihood that people will embrace democratic, tolerant attitudes in Senegal.     

Trade Liberalisation,the Peso,and Mexico's Commodity Trade Flows with the United States

We assess the effects of real peso devaluations, as well as the effects of GATT and NAFTA, on Mexico's in-payments and out-payments with the United States for 102 industries. We find that relatively few trade flows are sensitive to changes in the real exchange rate, probably due to production-sharing and intra-industry trade, but devaluations affect Mexican imports more than exports. Trade liberalisation has had a larger impact, particularly on imports of intermediate goods and exports of certain manufactures. Many affected export industries are ones that have previously been shown to have economies of scale.     

Designing a secure Iraq: a US policy prescription

The third Western attempt at regime construction in Iraq is now underway. Western plans to rebuild the Iraqi state will fail again if they ignore the real roots of Iraqi insecurity: its geopolitical weakness. The preoccupation with designing a new constitution ignores the historical evidence of the 1930s and 1950s that it is bound to fail. Surrounded by far larger powers such as Turkey and Iran, Iraq desperately needs long‐term commitments of arms and allies. While de‐garrisoning is a vital part of the regional peace puzzle, an insecure Iraq destabilises politics in Baghdad and fuels arms competitions. Thus the USA and UK must intercede on Iraq's behalf and help to resolve the long‐standing disputes over the unfair division of the Shatt al‐Arab with Iran, and access to sea arrangements with Kuwait. If Iraq is permitted to drift away a decade after reconstruction, its regime will again fall.     

The highway of Europe and Asia

The Art and Architecture of the Ancient Orient. By Henri Frankfort. The Pelican History of Art. Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, Essex. 1954. Pp. xxvi + 270; 192 plates and 117 figures in the text. Price 42s.

The History and Culture of the Indian People. The Classical Age. By Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Bombay: Arthur Probsthain. 1554. Pp. lx + 745, with four maps and 43 plates (two, of Ajanta paintings, in colour).

Malaya, Indonesia, Borneo and the Philippines. By Charles Robequain. Translated by E. D. Laborde. Longmans. 1954. Pp. 456; 15 photographs, 36 maps, bibliography and index. 30s.

Iran. By Professor R. Ghirshman. Translated from the French for the Pelican Series. 1951 (1954, translation). 5s.

A Bibliography of Painting in Islam. By K. A. C. Creswell. (Publications de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale du Caire : Art Islamique, tome I.) Cairo, 1953.

The Arabian Peninsula. By Richard Sangar. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. 1954. Pp. 296. Ill. $5.

Qataban and Sheba. Exploring Ancient Kingdoms on the Biblical Spice‐routes of Arabia. By Wendell Phillips. Gollancz. 1955. Pp. 335. Ill. Price 21s.

The Old Turkey and the New. From Byzantium to Ankara. By Sir Harry Luke, K.C.M.G., D.Litt. London : Geoffrey Bles. 1955. Pp. 233. 16s.

The Sūfi Path of Love. An Anthology of Sūfism. Compiled by Margaret Smith, D.Lit. Luzac and Co. 1954. Pp. 154. 21s.

The Road to Mecca. By Muhammad Asad. London: Max Reinhardt. 1954. Pp. xiii + 381. Illustrated. 21s.

Danger in Kashmir. By Josef Korbel. With a Foreword by C. W. Nimitz, Fleet Admiral, U.S.N. Princeton (New Jersey) University Press. 1954. Pp. xvi + 351. Two maps drawn by Waldo R. Barton. Oxford University Press, London. $5.

The Life of Lord Roberts. By David James. (Foreword by L. S. Amery, C.H.) London : Hollis and Carter. 1954. 5¾” × 8¾”. Pp. xxiii + 503; Index, 18 maps, 16 illustrations. 30s. net.

Jinnah. By Hector Bolitho. John Murray. London. 1954. Pp. 244. Ill. 18s.

Tibetan Marches. By André Migot. London : Rupert Hart‐Davis. Pp. 288; 40 illustrations; 2 maps. 18s.

South Col. By Wilfrid Noyce. Heinemann. London. 1954. Pp. 303; 40 plates with line drawings and maps. 21s.

Journey by Junk. By Willard Price. Wm. Heinemann Ltd. 1954. Pp. 219 and Index. Illustrated. 18s.

The Indus Civilization. By Sir Mortimer Wheeler. A supplementary volume to the Cambridge History of India. Cambridge University Press. Pp. 95 and xxiv plates of illustrations. 18s.

Iran. By Richard N. Frye. George Allen and Unwin. London. 1954. Pp. 120; 2 sketch‐maps. 7¼” × 4¼”. 8s. 6d.

Al Yemen. A General Social, Political and Economic Survey. By Dr. Gamal‐Eddine Heyworth‐Dunne. Cairo: Renaissance Bookshop. 1952. Pp. X + 118; sketch‐map. 50 piastres.

Report from Malaya. By Vernon Bartlett. Published by Derek Verschoyle. 1954. Pp. 128. Ill. 10s. 6d.

Babylonian and Assyrian Religion. By S. H. Hooke. London: Hutchinson's University Library. 1953. Pp. 128. 8s. 6d.     

Some recent additions to the library

Richard Calland &; Paul Graham (Eds), IDASA's Democracy Index — Democracy in the Time of Mbeki, Cape Town: Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA), Cape Town, 2005, R150, 252 pages.

Pieter Wolvaardt, A Diplomat's Story: Apartheid and Beyond, 1969–1998, South Africa: Galago Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1–919854–15–0, R225, 336 pages.

Greg Mills, The Security Intersection: The Paradox of Power in an Age of Terror, Johannesburg: Wits University Press, 2005, 321 pages.

Hugh Pope, Sons of the Conquerors. The Rise of the Turkic World, New York: Overlook Duckworth, 2005. ISBN 1–58567–641–1. 413 pages.     

问题与消解:科学发展观视野下中国农民的政治参与

转型期中国农民政治参与,无论是在参与能力和意愿方面,还是在参与的途径和影响方面,均出现了崭新的局面,但仍然存在诸多问题。针对这些问题,可以从政治参与培训、参与的制度化法制化建设、农民利益表达的信息传输、农村公共管理伦理建设以及营造良序的农村文化氛围等方面来积极应对、有效解决。     

现代应急管理体制设计研究

科学合理且功能完备的应急管理体制对于完善应急管理体系有着举足轻重的作用。本文从应急管理功能的角度出发,考虑现代应急管理体制的设计架构,分别讨论了应急管理体制中的行政责任与社会责任系统、事件响应与评估恢复系统、资源支持与技术保障系统,以及防御避难与救护援助系统的内容和功能,并分析了这四个系统之间的相互关系和作用。     

大学生就业难的成因及其解决的路径选择

当前我国大学生就业难问题异常突出,其成因是多方面的,主要包括:大学生供求结构矛盾突出;我国区域经济发展不平衡和产业结构不合理;企业作为劳动力市场的需求方门槛高、缺乏人才储备意识;教育资源短缺、专业设置、培养模式不合理造成毕业生综合素质整体下降;大学生作为劳动力市场上的特殊商品自身存在问题;社会保障制度不健全,大学生人力资本产权未得到充分保障等。解决当前大学生就业难的问题是一项复杂的系统工程,需要从政府、高校、用人单位和大学生本人四个维度进行路径选择,制定科学、合理的解决方案。     

基本公共服务的均等化与有效供给——基于福建省的思考

推进基本公共服务均等化,让改革的成果更多地惠及全民,是当前深化行政管理体制改革、建设服务型政府的基本要求。本文探讨基本公共服务均等化与有效供给的理论基础与创新战略问题。文章先探讨基本公共服务均等化与有效供给统筹考虑的基本内涵、要素和评价标准,并以福建省为例分析基本公共服务均等化与有效供给实践上存在的深层次矛盾和问题,进而提出基本公共服务均等化与有效供给的创新战略。笔者认为,基本公共服务均等化与有效供给是两个相互联系的方面,在利用财政手段等推进基本公共服务均等化的同时,还必须重视公共服务的有效供给,推动公共服务质量的持续改进。