Electoral infidelity: Why party members cast defecting votes

Party politics and electoral research generally assume that party members are loyal voters. This article first assesses the empirical basis for this assumption before providing individual‐level explanations for defection. It combines prominent theories from party politics and electoral behaviour research and argues that internal disagreement and external pressure can each bring about disloyal voting. The hypotheses are motivated with multi‐country European survey data and tested on two sets of party‐level national surveys. The results show, first, that, on average, 8 per cent of European party members cast a defecting vote in the last election, and second, that dissatisfaction with the leadership is the strongest predictor of defection. Additionally, internal ideological disagreement is associated with higher probabilities of defection, whereas the effects of pull factors in the form of contentious policies are rather limited. These findings emphasise the importance of testing scientific assumptions and the potential significance of party leadership contests.     

Non-racialism and the African National Congress: views from the branch

South Africa's ruling party is well known as an organisation that supports the ideal of non-racialism. However, the extent to which the African National Congress (ANC) has defined and instrumentalised the concept of non-racialism is contested. This article looks at the history of non-racialism in the party and more recent interpretations by ANC leadership, before examining how non-racialism is understood, 19 years into democracy, by members of the party. Based on interviews with over 45 ANC branch members, the article describes how members, broadly speaking, have deep-seated concerns with non-racialism in the ANC and in society more generally. There is recognition from ANC branch members that race relations have significantly improved since the ANC moved into government; however, they feel not enough change has taken place and that racial tensions are impeding social cohesion and concomitant growth and progress in the country. There is division among members in regards to the efficacy and impact of the party's racially based policies such as affirmative action as well as the manner in which race potentially influences leadership opportunities within the party. Furthermore, the article shows that there is lack of definition and direction on the part of the ANC in regards to the instrumentalisation of non-racialism, and this deficiency has negative consequences for racial cohesion in the party. The article concludes by discussing how investigations into party branches through the lens of non-racialism, highlights more deep-seated concerns about local-level party democracy and a party fractured at the grassroots.     

党员干部思想道德教育与党的纯洁性建设

党的十八大将纯洁性建设确定为党的建设的主线,这就意味着党的纯洁性建设成为时代课题。党员干部思想道德教育与党的纯洁性建设之间存在着密切的联系,党员干部思想道德教育既是党的思想纯洁的重要保证,又是保持党的政治纯洁的重要手段。要找准二者的结合点,确定适当的教育内容,通过加强制度建设,保持党员干部思想道德教育的一贯性,促进党的纯洁性建设。     

浅谈如何建立非在职党员管理长效机制

针对黄河钻井综合公司非在职党员人员多、居住分散、管理难度大的特点，做好他们的管理工作，一是健全组织体系，夯实非在职党员管理工作基础；二是创新教育方式，不断丰富党员管理工作内容；三是倾注真情关怀，努力为非在职党员排忧解难办实事。通过上述措施，不断调动和激发非在职党员的政治热情，充分发挥其政治优势，共建和谐家园。     

论不完整意义上的亲属拒证权--评2012年《刑事诉讼法》第188条

2012年《刑事诉讼法》第188条增设的亲属出庭作证义务豁免权填补了我国现代亲属拒证权制度的空白，丰富了《刑事诉讼法》人权保障的内容，显现出容隐制度呈现出回归的端倪，彰显了我国与现代西方法律制度相融合的趋势。相较于中国古代的容隐制度和现代西方国家的亲属拒证权制度，亲属出庭作证义务豁免权只能被视为不完整意义上的亲属拒证权。无论是权利主体范围，还是权利内容，亲属出庭作证义务豁免权都有进一步完善发展的空间；并且该规定在实施中可能遭遇被误读、阻碍案件证明、流于形式以及侵犯被告人对质权的风险。对这些风险和问题应当予以充分认识、合理应对，以使司法实践准确落实这一规定，并为确立完整意义上的亲属拒证权奠定基础。     

关于推进首都职工素质教育工程的回顾与展望

首都职工素质教育工程,是一种新型的职工教育模式。回顾三年多的实践与探索,丰富的培训课程,灵活的教学方式,自主的学习空间,快捷的成才通道,满足了职工继续教育和终身学习的需求。展望未来三年的目标任务,素质教育工程将拓展成为多渠道、宽领域、全方位的全市职工继续教育、终身学习的重要平台和推进首都学习型城市建设的有效载体。     

做中国特色社会主义共同理想的坚定信仰者

党的十七大重申坚定马克思主义理论信仰、坚定中国特色社会主义共同理想，有着特殊的现实针对性。坚定中国特色社会主义理想信念，应当成为当代中国共产党人的自觉追求。坚定中国特色社会主义理想信念．既要坚持科学社会主义的基本原则，叉要结合我国实际赋予其鲜明的中国特色，同时，必须站在新的历史起点上，努力使中国特色社会主义道路越走越宽广。     

The relative electoral impact of central party co-ordination and size of party membership at constituency level

Over the past decade, clear evidence has been produced showing that effective constituency campaigning in British general elections can lead to better electoral performance. This evidence has challenged the received wisdom that only national campaigning is significant and that efforts at local level are meaningless rituals. Denver et al. have focused on the role of the national parties in strengthening local campaigns in target seats; Seyd and Whiteley, by contrast, have stressed the importance of local party membership. This article attempts to assess the relative electoral impact of national party co-ordination and constituency party membership and suggests that the impact of these two factors varies by party.     

WTO法律适用问题刍议

中国加入世贸组织 ,必然会产生WTO法的国内适用问题。依据国际法与国内法关系的一般原理 ,WTO法具有优先于我国国内法的效力 ,国内法不得与之相抵触。因此必须排除当前国际法适用中的某些障碍 ,从立法、行政和司法角度积极创造条件 ,为我国在WTO法构建的“游戏规则”中成为真正的赢家奠定基础。     

社会工作学科建设的若干问题研究

城市化进程、政府职能的转变、高等教育的迅猛发展为我国社会工作学科建设提供了广泛的发展空间和全新的生长点。在社会转型和体制改革的现实背景中,社会工作学科的建设应明确学科思路,围绕学科定位扎扎实实地打好基础,绝不能急功近利。