The More Fragmented the Better?—The Impact of Armed Forces Structure on Defection during Nonviolent Popular Uprisings

Authoritarian regimes frequently employ fragmentation to safeguard themselves against coups and reduce the power of the military apparatus. This article investigates the impact of structural coup-proofing in the setting of a nonviolent popular uprising that threatens the regime and its survival. It is argued that in such settings fragmentation can have unintentional consequences with respect to the question whether the army fulfills orders of repression or defects. If the security apparatus is highly divided, some armed organizations will seize the opportunity to defect and side with the protesters because the efficiency of counterbalancing decreases if more effective armed organizations are involved. This can be mainly explained through collective action problems that the security apparatus faces in such a setting. This article compiles data of nonviolent uprisings from 1975 to 2006 and data on armed forces structure for conducting a multivariate probit regression on the probability of defection. The findings indeed show a U-shaped relationship between armed forces fragmentation and the likelihood of defection during nonviolent mass uprisings. While security apparatuses with around two effective armed organizations display only a low probability of defection, minimally and highly fragmented forces indicate higher chances of defection from the ruling regime.     

Assessing the Relationship Between a Peer-Mentoring Program and Case Outcomes in Dependency Court

Building successful family-centered programs to support families whose children have been removed can be especially challenging to child welfare agencies. Peer-mentoring programs match families new to the dependency system with a mentor who has successfully reunified with their children. The current study examines the relationship between a peer-mentoring program, Parent for Parent (P4P), engagement levels of parents, and case outcomes for these families. Findings revealed that participants in the peer-mentoring program experienced increased engagement levels and improved outcomes for their cases. Specifically, mothers and fathers who participated in P4P increased their compliance with case plans and visitation, as well as increased presence at court hearings. Reunification rates increased for all families who participated in the peer-mentoring program, compared to those who did not. Few associations were found between racial and ethnic groups and program participation. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

在统一和独立之间——民事权利类型与诉的类型关系之我见

民事权利类型与诉的类型之间有着无法割裂的关系,对诉的类型影响最大的为根据权利的作用形式或功能对民事权利的分类,据此可把民事权利分为支配权、抗辩权、请求权与形成权。诉的最基本的三种类型是给付之诉、确认之诉、形成之诉。四种民事权利与诉的类型并非是一一对应关系,而是介于统一与独立之间的关系。     

从蒲安臣和《蒲安臣条约》看晚清中美关系

蒲安臣是中国历史上第一位外交使节,由于他本身是美国人这一特殊身份使得他在中美关系史上具有重要地位。在他主导下签订的《蒲安臣条约》是近代中国第一个以平等身份签订的条约。从蒲安臣的经历以及《蒲安臣条约》看出：晚清美国的对华政策往往是理想主义与现实主义交融的产物,而清政府则希望利用美国相对于其他列强对中国的善意达到“以夷制夷”的目的。《蒲安臣条约》在劳工、留学等方面对日后的中美关系产生了重要影响。     

对现代家庭婆媳关系的思考

正确处理好婆媳矛盾对于建设和谐的家庭关系具有重要意义。文化的差异、经济利益的纠纷以及情感上的争夺是造成现代家庭婆媳矛盾的主要原因,责任与义务观念的确立、个体家庭角色的自我调适以及社会保障体系的建立和完善,是解决以上矛盾的有效途径。     

刑法分则第128、130、297条的交叉适用——兼论法条竞合犯的特殊关系

刑法分则第128、130、297条的关系属于典型的法条竞合犯中的特殊关系,但是,如果完全按照特别法优于普通法的原则处理的话,将导致三个罪名的适用明显不合理。对此特殊关系的选择适用应遵循以特别法优先于普通法为主体,重法优于轻法为补充的原则,根据具体情况,确定相应的罪名。     

古代家庭的邻里关系教育

促进邻里和谐是古代家庭邻里关系教育的基本目标。重视巩固邻里之间的情感关系和化解邻里之间的利益冲突是邻里关系教育的基本内容。将情感和利益关系进行道德化和人情化处理是邻里关系教育的特色。     

中国农民身份与契约关系的互动和协调——从一起农村集体土地承包经营权的流转案件说起

建立在不完全所有权性质的集体土地所有权制度基础上的土地承包经营权,具有浓厚的身份性和社员性特征。加强土地承包经营权流转性,在建立起契约关系的同时,适当保留传统农民的集体经济组织成员身份关系,以此作为实现农村社会保障的组成部分,是一项符合国情与中国经验的制度选择。     

邓小平《关于西南少数民族问题》的时代意义——基于构建和谐民族关系的视角

邓小平《关于西南少数民族问题》历史文献,蕴含着丰富的和谐民族关系的理论。学习和研究邓小平关于民族关系和谐的理论成果,无论是对深化构建社会主义和谐社会思想的认识,还是对推进平等、团结、互助、和谐的社会主义民族关系,都有着重要的指导意义。     

水域污染的社会学解释——东村个案研究

本文选择太湖流域的东村进行田野调查 ,发现 ,传统社会水域保持清洁的原因是 :农业社会长期形成的生产、生活方式有利于圩田系统的生态平衡 ,并且 ,村落的社会规范及村民的道德意识也有效地约束了村民的水污染行动。 90年代以来 ,东村及其周围水域被迅速污染。水域污染问题主要不是科学技术问题 ,而是经济社会问题。利益主体力量的失衡、农村基层组织的行政化与村民自组织的消亡以及农村社区传统伦理规范的丧失是造成水域污染的主要原因。与市场经济体系相适应的法律制度建设是解决水污染问题的根本途径