Consociationalism,corruption and chocolate: Belgian exceptionalism

Governing Belgium is a more complex challenge than governing most other industrialised democracies. The linguistic cleavage and its associated consociationalism, the extremely complex form of federalism, and enduring socio-economic cleavages all pose difficulties for the public sector. Many of the exceptional features of Belgian politics, notably the strength of political parties and perhaps greater clientelism and corruption than found in many other European systems can be seen, however, as means of coping with these complexities and enabling the system to govern.     

Rationalizing criminal behaviour: the influence of criminal sentiments on sociomoral development in violent offenders and nonoffenders

Cognitive developmental theory suggests that mature-level sociomoral reasoning (Stages 3 and 4) can provide a protective factor, or buffer, against antisocial and violent criminal behavior. This study explored whether the influence of internalised criminal sentiments could undermine this buffer. The sample was high-risk men and women offenders (n = 99) convicted of serious violent index offences, and men and women nonoffender university students (n = 101). Moral reasoning was measured using the Sociomoral Reflection Measure-Short Form, whereas criminal sentiments were assessed using the Criminal Sentiments Scale. Based on moral reasoning development level the sample was classified into groups: mature- or immature-level moral reasoners. The results suggested that mature-level sociomoral development might not protect a person from identifying with criminal others, and that law violation could be rationalized regardless of sociomoral level. Gender differences were neither expected nor found. The applied implications of the findings are considered.     

Patent ductus arteriosus as a natural cause of pulmonary hemorrhage in infants: a medicolegal dilemma

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a recognized risk factor for massive pulmonary hemorrhage (MPH) in the newborn and is generally seen in association with other MPH risk factors such as prematurity. We report 6 cases of sudden and unexpected death of infants older than 4 days with MPH and PDA at autopsy. The cases were reviewed for other factors that could contribute to MPH to ascertain whether PDA is directly linked to MPH. Histology samples were examined for distribution of hemorrhage in the lungs and iron stained for hemosiderin evaluation. All of the cases had clinical histories and scene examinations which raised the differential diagnosis of mechanical asphyxia in the form of so-called overlayings. The diagnostic dilemma of attributing the MPH to the PDA as the sole cause, dual cause, or incidental finding is discussed. These cases illustrate the medicolegal dilemma faced by the pathologist, as well as the need for further research into the potential association of PDA with MPH.     

Reinventing Osborne and Gaebler: lessons from the Gore Commission

Abstract: After only a few months in office, President Clinton launched a major review of government operations. The review, commonly known as the Gore Commission, looked at government-wide issues, as well as department- or agency-specific matters. The commission consulted a widely read book by David Osborne and Ted Gaebler and studied various government efforts at reform, both in the United States and elsewhere during the 1980s. Yet the process, if not the substance, of the review goes considerably beyond any of these. This paper looks at the work of the Gore Commission, reports briefly on its findings, and compares the review process adopted by Gore with other, earlier, efforts. It also identifies a series of “lessons learned” from the Gore Commission in the hope that they will be helpful to other governments should they contemplate undertaking similar reform measures. Sommaire: Quelques mois après son entrée en fonction, le président Clinton a lancé une vaste révision des opérations gouvernementales. Dans le cadre de cette révision, connue sous le titre de “ Commission Gore ”, on a examiné des questions à l'échelon de l'ensemble du gouvernement, ainsi que des questions concernant des ministères et des organismes précis. La commission a consulté le livre trés populaire de David Osborne et Ted Gaebler et étudia divers efforts de réforme gouvernementale, aux États-Unis et ailleurs, au cours des années 1980. Le processus, sinon la substance même de ce réexamen, va nettement au-delà de ces deux volets. Le présent article analyse le travail de la Commission Gore, rend compte brièvement de ses constatations et compare le processus de révision adopté par Gore avec d'autres efforts qui l'avaient précédé. Il definit également une série de “ leçons ”à tirer de la Commission Gore, dans l'espoir qu'elles seront utiles à d'autres gouvernements qui voudraient entreprendre de mesures de réforme similaires.