Italy's changing defence policy

After the fall of Mubarak, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) decided to act as a stabilising force, to abandon the street and to lend democratic legitimacy to the political process designed by the army. The outcome of this strategy was that the MB was first ‘burned’ politically and then harshly repressed after having exhausted its stabilising role. The main mistakes the Brothers made were, first, to turn their back on several opportunities to spearhead the revolt by leading popular forces and, second, to keep their strategy for change gradualist and conservative, seeking compromises with parts of the former regime even though the turmoil and expectations in the country required a much bolder strategy.     

激发高校知识女性为实现中国梦建功立业的机制研究

高校知识女性作为中国女性中的佼佼者,在思想认识、知识层次、社会地位、话语权方面具有显著优势,是实现中国梦的重要力量。但传统观念里的性别歧视、职场中的岗位设置以及事业与家庭的角色冲突等因素阻碍了其建功立业。为此,要从转变思想观念、搭建平台、提供制度保障等方面为高校知识女性构建实现中国梦建功立业激励机制。     

民族地区老年妇女文化参与意识及其制约因素——试以浙西南畲族为例

本文以浙西南畲族为例,分析畲族农村老年妇女文化参与现状及其制约因素,认为女性自身、公共政策和社会变迁等是制约民族地区老年妇女社会参与的主要因素。在民族文化意识出现淡化迹象的背景下,本文主要关注老年妇女的文化参与和民族历史文化发展、传承之间的关系,并从赋权政策、公共政策等视角提出相关的对策与建议。     

A Theoretical Understanding of Abusive Intimate Partner Relationships that Become Non-violent: Shifting the Pattern of Abusive Control

Our theoretical understanding of abusive intimate partner relationships has ignored relationships that have become non-violent. We interviewed a community convenience sample of 27 women whose relationships had become non-violent. Using the constant comparative analysis of grounded theory, we generated a substantive theory, shifting the pattern of abusive control with three sub-processes, counteracting abuse, taking control, and living differently. Women’s acquisition of personal capacity and autonomy was foundational to countering the insidious oppression of abuse. Partners in these relationships that became non-violent, paid attention, gradually backing off and ceasing violent acts. For some women, coexisting in a violence-free relationship was satisfactory; for others, investing in an improved intimate partner relationship was essential for sustaining living differently. This theory provides direction for women who are working toward living differently with partners who are no longer violent, and for their helpers. Further, our findings contribute to our theoretical understanding of how abusive couple relationships may evolve over time.     

Gender at Janaka’s Court: Women in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad Reconsidered

The female characters in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad have generally been interpreted by scholars in two opposing fashions: as fictional characters whose historicity can be dismissed or as representative of actual women in ancient India. Both of these interpretations, however, overlook the literary elements of this text and the role that these female characters play within the larger philosophical debate. This paper is an analysis of the various women who appear in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka and their role in this text. Close attention is paid to their characterizations, their relationship to the doctrine discussed, and their functions in the larger narrative structure. The paper concludes with a discussion about the relationship of narrative to history and fundamental problems with the “woman question” based on this text.     

失地女性农民的就业出路问题实证研究——以青岛市城阳区为例

由于城乡体制的长期壁垒和政策上的缺陷、土地征用制度的不完善以及农民自身的思想观念、文化素质、劳动技能等方面的不适应,使失地农民既失地又失业的现象变得普遍而又难于一下消除,成为城市化中新的弱势群体.女性农民由于历史和现实的种种原因在这个过程中面临更大的困难.本文以城市化速度较快的青岛市城阳区为例,分析失地女性农民就业出路问题,为提高解决失地女性就业中的性别敏感度提出理论性指导.     

'A Woman's Touch in Foreign Affairs'? The Career of Ambassador Frances E. Willis

Although women have now attained the top ranks of American foreign policymaking, we know relatively little about the early history of American women diplomats, and even less about one of the most important: Frances E. Willis (1899-1983), the first woman chief of mission to have emerged from the career Foreign Service. This article seeks to help fill this gap by tracing Willis' career; suggesting how she succeeded; and exploring how she approached 'the women's issue'. It argues, in part, that Willis' success stemmed from the influence of mentors; her competence, perfectionism, and self-confidence; and her refusal to make an issue of her sex. These survival strategies notwithstanding, it also concludes that Willis exhibited gender-consciousness, took pride in her accomplishments as a woman, and knowingly pursued low-key, moderate means towards feminist ends.     

Changing housing policy: women escaping domestic violence

Domestic violence has risen up the political agenda, as women's action has inspired changes in police, social work and legal practice. At the same time, one of the oldest pieces of legislation that protected women from violence - the Homeless Persons Act of 1977 - has been transmuted into the Housing Act of 1996. This legislation was introduced by a Conservative government, which was anxious to reduce the rights of homeless people to secure permanent accommodation, on the grounds that these rights gave incentives to pregnancy, lone parenthood and economic migrants. New Labour have softened the Housing Act to give more scope to local authorities to respond to homelessness. This article asks: What are the implications of changing homelessness rights under this legislation and subsequent regulations for women's ability to escape violent relationships and find long term solutions to the housing needs which domestic violence creates? How new is New Labour policy as expressed in housing regulations and its policy Green Paper?     

Islam and Muslim Communities in the UK: Multiculturalism,Faith and Security

This piece examines the relationship of Muslim communities to the UK mainstream between 2005 and 2010. Using the dual backdrop of the country's embedded multiculturalism policy and its counter-terrorism strategy implemented through the Prevent agenda, the authors brush a picture of a tense yet ultimately resilient relationship. While Prevent was often accused of leading to a securitisation of community policy, it is arguable that tensions have led to increased visibility and leadership capacity from the Muslim community, and a recognition of their role and diversity on behalf of the public and the government.