Zimbabwe’s transition overload: an interpretation

ABSTRACT

The article argues that to understand the troubled history of Zimbabwe we have to pay attention to the multiple and incomplete ‘transitions’ that the country underwent within three decades. Each of these transitions was probably inevitable and the trajectory they followed may be the right one for each of the transitions. However, the transitions in Zimbabwe were intertwined in a not always mutually supportive way. Indeed, we also argue that eventually, Zimbabwe suffered from a ‘transition overload’ as the many transitions undermined or confounded each other. The article is also a caution against the preoccupation of individuals in Zimbabwean history. Finally, there are some lessons for post-conflict countries that are often faced with wide-ranging agenda that often include externally imposed items.     

Reforming Greece’s Tax Administration during the Financial Crisis: The Paradox of Power Asymmetry

ABSTRACT

This article examines the depoliticisation of Greece’s tax administration under the post-2010 bailout agreements in light of three alternative models of domestic change. It shows that one model (external incentives model that is based on power asymmetry) accounts for the direction of the reform but not how far the reform ended up going. There is little evidence in support of the second model (social learning) because of the absence of genuine programme ownership and evidence in support of the third model (lesson-drawing) is limited to the diagnosis of the problem. The final outcome was unintentionally shaped by key choices made by Greek governments in line with the literature on conditionality.     

Between Domestic Learning and External Coercion: Budgeting and Fiscal Management Reform in Greece

ABSTRACT

The article examines the interplay between external pressure and domestic learning through a case-study of Greek budgetary and fiscal management reform. Pre-crisis, budgetary management inadequacies were not efficiently addressed, mainly due to lack of awareness of problems, a low uncertainty environment and a strong political propensity to maintain discretionary use of financial resources. In contrast, crisis-era bailout conditionality represented a drastic change in the environment, increasing uncertainty and encouraging domestic openness to reform. The fiscal governance framework was significantly transformed, to a point of paradigm change. While there is no doubt regarding the impact of external pressure, the analysis highlights certain aspects that point to a domestic learning process, though variable in different parts of the political-administrative system.     

Federal or Unitary? The Power-sharing Debate in Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

Sri Lanka’s power-sharing debate is focused on the labels ‘federal and ‘unitary’. A recent Judgment of the Supreme Court recognising the fluidity of these terms, and a creative reform proposal defining Sri Lanka as a ‘aekiya rajyaya/orumitha nadu’, present opportunities for consensus. Yet there are also powerful obstacles, including the virtual collapse of Sri Lanka’s coalition government and exclusivist nationalist ideologies. Regardless of the outcome of this round of reform, however, reformers must focus on the political if Sri Lanka is to ever reach a just and equitable solution to the ethnic conflict.     

浅谈城市道路交通的有效管理

保障道路交通畅通,减少交通事故,确保交通安全,是道路交通管理所要研究的重要内容,若要达到更有效地管理,就必须在提高交通管理科技含量的同时,从深化交通安全宣传、注重道路交通设施建设、提高交警的整体素质入手,在交通管理中达到事半功倍的效果。     

八月革命后越南中小学教育的改革与发展

1945年越南独立建国后,越南进行了三次以中小学教育改革为主的重大教育改革.经过这三次改革和几十年的发展,越南的中小学不仅在学校和学生的数量上大幅增加,教育目标和教学计划有了较大的改进,而且教科书和教学设备等也有所改善.然而,越南的中小学教育在物质条件、师资力量和教学质量上还存在一定的困难.因此,越南要实现21世纪"社会化、现代化、规范化、多样化和民主化"的教育目标,还有很长的路要走.     

农村税费改革必须突破“黄宗羲定律”的怪圈

在中国历史上,多次税费改革最终都没有解决好乱收费、滥收费这一顽症,始终徘徊在"黄宗羲定律"的怪圈中.农村税费改革是农村改革的核心和关键,确保改革突破"黄宗羲定律"怪圈,首先要完善财税体制,尽快在全国范围内取消农业特产税,也要改变农村税费"孤军深入"的困境,形成农村税费改革与其它相关改革良性互动的局面.     

公安院校“两课”教学的困境与改革探索

公安院校"两课"教学在学生政治思想素质形成过程中发挥着重要作用,但也还存在许多不足之处.通过对云南警官学院"两课"教学的调研,发现"两课"教学的现存问题.本文拟从改进"两课"教学的基本方法进行探索,以达到提高"两课"教学效果为目的.     

公共财政框架下的国库集中支付制度改革

公共财政是与社会主义市场经济体制相适应的,其有别于我国传统"生产建设型财政"的内容和要求,进行国库集中支付制度改革是健全公共财政体制的应有之义和具体的实现途径。在市场经济条件下,我国传统的国库分散管理制度显露出种种弊端,与公共财政的框架格格不入。因此,实行国库集中支付制度的改革有许多重要的现实意义和积极作用。但此项改革涉及面广,需要相关配套改革措施的配合和及时跟进,才能取得应有的效果。     

法律基础课教学存在的问题与对策

法律基础课教学的核心任务是培养大学生法律意识.随着依法治国方略的确立和中国加入WTO,法律基础课教学诸多方面的问题与不足逐渐显现,找出解决问题的办法与对策,是法律基础课教学实践与改革的需要.