Attitudes of Canadians toward affirmative action: Opposition,value pluralism,and nonattitudes

Set against a backdrop of current public policy and case law, this study investigates Canadian attitudes toward affirmative action among both citizens and decision makers. We find low levels of support for such programs across a variety of contexts and intended beneficiaries, but we also discover that opinion on both sides of the issue is rather soft, for large portions of those taking positions on the matter are willing to reconsider their views when prompted. We interpret this finding as an indication of what Philip Converse has called nonattitudes. Thus, a substantial portion of Canadians appear to hold no genuine attitudes on the question of affirmative action and are relatively open to persuasion. In contrast, the preferences of those with stable attitudes are rooted in the tradeoff between values of equality and merit. Implications for policy activists in this issue area are discussed.The research reported here is part of a large project supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (Grant No. 411-85-001). The Centre of Criminology at the University of Toronto has provided a home, and indispensable support, for the Charter Project. This research was also facilitated by a contribution from the Solicitor General of Canada to the Centre of Criminology, University of Toronto. Our thanks also go to Robert Vipond for his help in clarifying our concepts.     

试论案件侦查中的“习惯“

侦查人员要善于了解、掌握习惯的特性及种类,并为侦查活动所用。本文主要从习惯的特性、种类及意义三个方面对习惯进行了研究,对侦查实践具有一定的理论指导价值。     

试论我国行政法院制度建构

行政法院制度起源于西方大陆法系国家并在这些国家得到了发展完善,其中以法国行政法院和德国行政法院为代表。我国引进行政法院制度,有利于建设法治国家体系、保证行政审判独立和高效解决行政纠纷。为此目的,基于国情,我国行政法院制度的建构既将有别于法国模式和德国模式,也将有别于我国普通法院制度。     

论农村土地制度的变迁

注重经济政策的调整而忽视农村土地制度的创新 ,可能是我国农业不能长期稳定增长的症结所在。文章先提出一个产权分析框架 ,揭示产权的基本内涵、主要功能以及产权制度的变迁 ;然后用这一框架分析我国农村土地制度的具体特征 ;最后 ,提出农民拥有自由转让的土地产权与坚持农村土地集体所有制是不矛盾的 ;土地规模经营的实现只能建立在产权流转的基础之上 ,当前应努力为土地产权流转创造有利条件。     

中国TBT法律体系构建与完善研究

TBT是当今国际贸易中最隐蔽、最难突破的一种贸易壁垒,已成为继配额、原产地和反倾销措施之后,影响中国对外贸易的又一项重要的非关税壁垒。中国作为WTO的成员国,应从WTO相关规则出发,提出构建与完善中国TBT法律体系的理论思考与现实探寻。