Factors affecting simulated jurors' decisions in capital cases

Abstract

Previous psycho-legal research has claimed that the process of selecting death-qualified jurors for capital cases creates conviction-prone juries. The studies on which these claims are based have employed simulation methodologies to examine the relationship between subjects' death-penalty attitudes and verdict decisions, as well as the effect of the death-qualifying voir dire itself. Despite admitted weaknesses of simulations in general, this method was employed in the present research so that conceptual comparisons to past findings could be drawn. Two experiments were designed to examine the issue of death-qualification and biased juries in a context of other potentially highly influential factors, namely, the strength of evidence and the degree of heinousness. Our results failed to find any of the relationships between death-penalty attitudes and verdict decisions that would be predicted from past research. Instead, the subjects' decisions were influenced, virtually exclusively, by the strength of the evidence presented in the case, as is legally prescribed. In the light of these findings, the discussion focused on the questions of reliability and external validity of simulation research, the potential problems caused by method-specific factors in determining the outcome of such methodology, the attitude-behavior link, and the danger of premature and un-warranted application to the legal system of findings from simulations.     

Mass Graves and Imagined Identities in Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT

This article analyses the construction of imagined identities of Zimbabwean nationhood in two televised documentaries, Nyadzonia Massacre and Colonial Era Atrocities, aired on Zimbabwe national television. Using qualitative semiotic analysis and borrowing from post nationalism, this article analyses how the two documentaries interweave memory and violence with the politics of nationhood and belonging during the Third Chimurenga in Zimbabwe. The paper also analyses how the films were packaged in order to undermine the semiotic resistance and autonomy of the viewer to create oppositional readership of the films.     

Latvia’s eastern region: international tensions and political system loyalty

Latgale’s frontier region status makes it vulnerable in a time of growing international tension, all the more because of its strong Russian minority and persistent socio-economic problems causing disaffection. A two-directional analysis of linkage interactions – inner-directed and outer-directed – highlights both external threats and also regional conditions that act as a check on ‘hybrid warfare’ activity, such as centripetal center–periphery relations, stabilizing factors in society and a new policy response by Riga to Latgale’s developmental needs. Latgale is therefore no ‘Crimea’ as it shows a basic loyalty to the Latvian state, very little support for separatism while of course Latvia benefits from NATO membership.     

3Q大战反垄断终审判决中相关市场界定与市场支配地位认定的相关问题

最高人民法院在奇虎诉腾讯滥用市场支配地位纠纷终审判决中对相关市场界定、市场支配地位认定及二者的关系问题进行了精辟的论述。我们将从该案二审亲历者的角度出发,结合国内外相关判例,对该判决中关于相关市场界定中的责任分配、假定垄断者测试在相关市场界定中的地位、替代性分析应遵循的多数且重要原则,以及从动态竞争的角度正确看待市场份额在市场支配地位认定中的作用、市场支配地位认定的综合分析方法等进行详细的解读和必要的归纳。最高人民法院的前述审理思路和认定结论无疑将对后续的反垄断诉讼、行政调查及企业的合规必然产生深远的影响。     

“互联网+政务服务”的绩效评估与问责体系构建

“互联网+政务服务”的深入推进,需要评估和问责体系为其提供制度支持。“互联网+政务服务”评估的价值标准是价值理性和工具理性的统一,内容构成兼具组织价值、经济价值和社会价值,评估指标选择应从政治支持、信息透明度、可量化程度、评估目的、评估的开放性以及制度化水平等六个方面综合考量。“互联网+政务服务”的问责机制包括公民参与的社会问责,基于政务运行管理的行政问责,面向项目评估的绩效问责等三个方面。“互联网+政务服务”的评估与问责密切联系、互为条件,从确立以公众满意度为中心的评估问责导向、加强评估与问责的主体和内容的整合、完善评估问责的制度化建设等三个方面着力,推动两者之间的制度协同,形成相互促进的互动态势。     

颐和园乾隆《西师诗》碑的意义和价值初探

颐和园乾隆皇帝御制"西师诗"碑文刻于乾隆二十三年(1758年),目前放置于万寿山前山的清华轩的碑亭中,主要内容为从康熙皇帝至乾隆皇帝为了国家的统一,边疆的稳定而平定准噶尔的全过程,它是研究清代西北边疆和民族关系极为重要的历史资料。"西师诗"的特点及价值表现在它是以诗证史、诗史互映,被认为开创了清代边塞诗的先河。《西师诗》《平定准噶尔勒铭伊犁之碑》《平定准噶尔后勒铭伊犁之碑》和《万寿山五百罗汉堂记》刻于同一块碑上,这在全国是独一无二的,具有唯一性。     

基层检察人员分类管理改革之探索

检察人员分类管理改革是司法体制改革的重要内容。本文从落实依法治国战略推进司法体制改革的大背景出发，结合基层检察机关的具体特点，仅就基层检察人员分类管理过程中的若干问题进行探索思考。     

公安边检站检查员警官经常性思想工作创新研究——变“微”不足道为“微”力无穷

检查员警官作为公安边检工作的一线警务力量,其一举一动都牵动着边境地区甚至内地地区的稳定,因此对其思想工作的能效应当提出更高的要求。新形势下,如何从"微"角度探寻经常性思想工作的创新研究,通过搭建"微平台",及时掌握检查员警官"微思想",利用"微元素",将经常性思想工作中的"微"不足道变成"微"力无穷,以期在最短的时间内实现思想工作效率的最大化。如此才能切实帮助处于边防服务最前线、社会接触最频繁、风险最大的一线检查员巩固忠诚品质,强化奉献意识,传播国门卫士的良好形象。     

Japanization of Modern Chinese Buzzwords——A case study of the word “yan”

Recently, the number of new words and buzzwords in Chinese borrowed from Japanese has exceeded vocabulary from other languages including English and French etc., showing a obvious trend of Japanization. Most of these new words were firstly borrowed, adapted and used by the young and later quickly spread via the Internet, among which some are frequently used by the mainstream media and finally accepted by the public with fixed connotation. Since most of these words are not included in dictionaries, they often cause communication difficulty and misunderstanding between people of different ages and social groups. Meanwhile, these new words and buzzwords become the target of severe criticism due to their clear Japanese characteristics and the widespread belief that they are the result of cultural invasion. With a case study of the word “yan”, this paper attempts to explore the Japanization of new words and buzzwords popular in modern China and the causes behind this trend to promote proper understanding of this trend so that it can provide help on proper use of modern Chinese language.     

宪法社会公德条款的规范阐释

社会公德是人们在社会交往和公共生活中应当遵循的基本行为准则。传统社会公德要求人们相善其群,现代社会公德指向一种整合性的功能要求,在多元的个体道德取向和社会共同道德要求之间保持适度张力。宪法作为共同体的组织规则,需要在“个体—社会—国家”的整体框架中进行持续性整合。基于社会公德的整合作用,宪法将其纳入规范体系,促进其整合功能实现。宪法社会公德条款承载着个体实现社会化、维系社会共同体、作为个体与国家的联结中介等理想功能。然而,由于相关文本的规范品格未获充分确认,文本表述不够清晰,实施动力略显不足,导致其功能受到一定阻滞。应当在规范目标的导引下,依托宪法解释,确认宪法社会公德条款的规范品格,阐明其规范内涵,并夯实规范实施的社会基础,促进其理想功能的实现。