One Field, Many Perspectives: Building the Foundations for Dialogue

Highlighted by the dramatic changes that are occurring in the world and the number of problems that are now global in scope, there is an increasing need for dialogue among the subfields and specializations that comprise the field of international studies. But because the questions we raise, the ways we define the prime movers in international politics, and the information we seek often differ, we prefer to interact with those who share our view of the world rather than with those who might challenge it. This article describes some of the effects of the stereotypes that result from this practice and proposes several ways of engaging in focused interaction to address these ingroup-outgroup barriers we have constructed.     

Age determination of an unknown body in early adulthood

The authors report on the estimation of the age of an unidentified deceased adolescent in connection with the body's identification. A physical examination by a forensic physician and an examination by a forensic dentist, including determination of the dental status and an X-ray of the teeth were used to estimate the age. In addition, an X-ray of the left hand as well as an X-ray and MRT scan of the clavicles were carried out by forensic radiologists. Combining the results of the individual examinations, the age of the deceased was estimated to range between 18 and 21 years. In the course of the police investigation it was found out that the deceased was 20 years and 7 months old. This has led to the conclusion that combined use of methods allows the age even of adolescents to be determined with relatively high accuracy and a minimum of time and effort.     

Detection of drug transport using X-ray techniques

The purpose of the paper was to show X-ray techniques used to discover drugs transported inside the body (body packers), on the body surface, in the garments or luggage, in goods and vehicles. The analysis was based on the X-ray findings of 141 body packers caught in Hamburg between 1989 and 2004 as well as individual cases from personal collections. The use of X-rays for border and security checks is described, different technical concepts are demonstrated and examples are given, e. g. transmission (fluoroscopic) and backscatter imaging of humans, luggage, goods, and vehicles as well as X-ray spectroscopy. The results showed that body packers produce characteristic findings in native X-ray photographs, which are even more pronounced in CT scans and after application of contrast media. Backscatter imaging allows the investigation of the body surface and the clothing. Transmission and backscatter imaging is suitable for checking humans, goods, passenger cars, trucks and containers. With the help of X-ray spectroscopy suspicious substances can be identified without opening the packaging material. According to present findings, the radiation dose applied seems low compared with exposure to environmental radiation and cosmic radiation during flights. The pictures obtained with the backscatter technique show the person checked in the nude, which raises the question of privacy versus the right of the state to carry out inspections and controls.     

„Open Government leads to Better Government“—Überlegungen zur angemessenen Gestaltung von Verwaltungsverfahren*

Vielfach wird die Beteiligung der Öffentlichkeit an Verwaltungsverfahren als ein Hemmnis für eine effektive Aufgabenerledigung angesehen. Der Gesetzgeber hat darauf durch Einschränkungen reagiert. Doch stellt sich die Frage, ob herkömmliche Verfahren vielfach deshalb ihrer Konfliktbewältigungsfunktion nicht genügen, weil sie nicht angemessen ausgestaltet werden. Der folgende Beitrag ruft in rechtsvergleichender Perspektive die vielfältigen Funktionen der Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung in Erinnerung und untersucht, wann es sich—unabhängig von gesetzlichen Vorgaben—lohnt, auf eine gemeinsame Konsensuche zu gehen. Außerdem werden—auch unter Auswertung von Mediationserfahrungen—Empfehlungen für die Ausgestaltung der Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung gegeben. * Dem Aufsatz liegt ein Vortrag zugrunde, den der Verfasser auf dem Rostocker Umweltrechtstag 2004 gehalten hat. Thema der Tagung war Effektiver Rechtsschutz im Umweltrecht? Stand, aktuelle Entwicklungen, Perspektiven. Dank gilt Prof. Dr. Bernhard Wegener, Erlangen, für seine Diskussionsbereitschaft.     

Emerging Economies,Turnover Rates and Inflation Variability: A Comparison of Generalized Maximum Likelihood and SUR Models

Theoretical exposition and empirical evidence in central bank independence (CBI) literature confirm an inverse relationship between inflation and measures of CBI mostly in developed economies. Based on this ex ante information on CBI-inflation tradeoff, this paper proposes two functional forms for the diagonal and off diagonal elements in the residual covariance matrix in the estimation process. The proposed functional forms are used in a generalized maximum likelihood and then in a generalized least squares (GLS) (with the restricted covariance matrix) framework for the empirical test. The results are compared to the outcome of an SUR model (unrestricted). The tests involve 14 emerging economies and covers the period 1960–1990. Compared to SUR, majority of results of GLS model in samples with and without outliers provide stronger and more significant evidence confirming the CBI-inflation tradeoff. Notably, the standard errors of the GLS estimates are lower than that of the SUR estimates. Without outliers, the GLS estimates show even lower standard errors as compared to the outcome of the SUR model. Low standard errors provide baseline indication of more accurate estimates. This research has benefited from comments from David Tufte, and Gerald Whitney and contributions by participants at the colloquia series at the Montclair State University and the University of New Orleans.     

Policy representation

This paper examines the extent to which conditions for the 'representative party government' model of representation exist in the EU. It suggests that, although application of the model is obviously limited, there is some support for its relevance. Using surveys of voters and candidates for the European Parliament the paper shows that some policy positions of representatives are constrained more by their party group than their nationality, and to some degree there is obvious congruence between the opinions of candidates and their voters. This is particularly so with respect to left–right orientation; far less with respect to European Monetary Union where elites appear much more enthusiastic than their electorates.