Between competition and centralization: the new infrastructures of European finance

Ongoing European financial market integration relies on the creation of harmonized and centralized market infrastructures: the little-known institutions and systems that settle financial transactions across borders. Since the constitutional conception of market integration within the EU entails creating ‘a level playing field’ for competition, a fundamental problem emerges of how to provide that centralization and harmonization without violating the core principles of an open market economy either through private monopolization or public privatization. The paper presents a socio-technological study of a recent major infrastructure initiative by the European Central Bank, called Target2 Securities (T2S). Embedding the analysis of the struggles and debates around the birth and development of T2S in an analysis of the structural problem of competition and centralization in European financial market integration, the paper suggests an alternative perspective to that of performativity currently dominating the research field.     

Post-Soviet universities as development in practice: local experience and global lessons

The university holds a privileged place as the site of knowledge production in social development. Simultaneously, traditions of pedagogy drawing from the liberal arts have evolved within Northern/Western post-secondary educational systems which claim to create citizens through developing the skills of freedom; this claim was central to interventions in post-Soviet university reform projects. The author's university development and reform experiences in the former Soviet Union show that a depoliticised liberal arts pedagogy in fact reinforced authoritarian practices, and the promise of a liberal arts pedagogy as an emancipatory project remains an ongoing global task of critical knowledge practices.

Universités post-soviétiques en tant que développement dans la pratique : expériences locales et leçons mondiales

L' université occupe une place privilégiée comme site de production de connaissances dans le développement social. Dans le même temps, des traditions pédagogiques s'inspirant des arts libéraux ont évolué dans le cadre des systèmes d'éducation post-secondaires du Nord et de l'Occident qui affirment créer des citoyens en développant les compétences de la liberté ; cette affirmation a été centrale dans les interventions dans les projets de réforme universitaire post-soviétiques. Les expériences de l'auteur du développement et de la réforme des universités dans l'ancienne Union soviétique montrent qu'une pédagogie dépolitisée des arts libéraux a en fait renforcé les pratiques autoritaires, et la promesse d'une pédagogie d'arts libéraux comme projet émancipatoire reste une tâche mondiale en cours constituée de pratiques critiques d'acquisition de connaissances.

Universidades na era pós-soviética enquanto desenvolvimento na prática: experiência local e lições globais

A universidade ocupa um lugar privilegiado como lugar de produção de conhecimento na área de desenvolvimento social. Simultaneamente, tradições de pedagogia extraídas das artes liberais têm evoluído dentro dos sistemas educacionais pós-ensino médio no hemisfério norte / ocidental, que afirmam criar cidadãos através do desenvolvimento de qualificações para liberdade; esta afirmação foi central para as intervenções nos projetos de reforma da universidade na era pós-soviética. As experiências da autora sobre desenvolvimento e reforma da universidade na antiga União Soviética mostram que uma pedagogia de artes liberais despolitizada, na verdade, reforçaram práticas autoritárias, e a promessa de uma pedagogia de artes liberais enquanto projeto emancipatório permanece uma tarefa global contínua de práticas importantes de conhecimento.

Las universidades postsoviéticas para el desarrollo en la práctica: experiencias locales y mundiales

La universidad desempeña un importante papel en la producción de conocimientos para el desarrollo social. Simultáneamente, se afirma que la pedagogía utilizada en las humanidades de los sistemas escolares universitarios del Norte o de Occidente fomenta la ciudadanía porque desarrolla herramientas dirigidas a la libertad; los proyectos de reforma de la universidad postsoviética se basaron en esta idea. Las experiencias de la autora en el desarrollo y la reforma universitaria de la antigua Unión Soviética muestran que la pedagogía despolitizada en las humanidades más bien fortaleció prácticas autoritarias; la esperanza de contar con una pedagogía emancipadora en las humanidades continúa construyéndose a nivel mundial mediante el ejercicio de prácticas de conocimiento crítico.     

Problematising the community-contribution requirement in participatory projects: evidence from Kyrgyzstan

This article examines the extent to which the World Bank-funded Village Investment Project in Kyrgyzstan promoted empowered participation of citizens in co-financing arrangements. It is based on in-depth qualitative interviews and focus-group sessions in 16 rural communities. The study found that the poor and marginalised did not always have the ability to engage in the processes of consensus building, influencing local decision making, and exercising free choice with regard to the contribution requirement. Participatory projects must carefully design arrangements and operational procedures for the co-financing component of the project, in order to support citizen empowerment and democratic inclusion.     

中国中亚能源通道与中国能源安全

中国的改革开放带来国民经济的快速发展,同时也带来对能源,尤其是石油和天然气资源的巨大需求。中亚及其相邻的里海地区有着丰富的石油天然气资源。毗邻的地理位置为中国与中亚国家能源合作创造了得天独厚的条件。当前中国与中亚地区已经修建了多条石油和天然气管道。这些管道有助于保障中国能源供应,但也面临一系列新的问题和压力。中国中亚能源通道的未来前景广阔,但需要提前做好风险研判与科学规划。     

Long- and short-term determinants of party preferences: Inter-generational differences in Western and East Central Europe

In this paper we study differences between generations in the degree to which long-term and short-term factors affect party preferences in established and consolidating European democracies. Scholarly literature has shown that younger cohorts in Western Europe are less likely to be guided by social class, religion and left/right than older cohorts. Little is known, however, about the extent to which such differences exist for the effects of short-term factors. Similarly, inter-generational differences in the effects of long- and short-term factors in post-communist countries have remained largely unexplored. Based on the European Election Study 2009, we show differences between generations that are compatible with de-alignment of younger generations along traditional cleavages. Yet, we also see an increased importance of attitudes towards immigration among the younger generations, which could signal a form of re-alignment.     

论中央苏区妇女对农业生产的贡献

本文对中央苏区妇女参加农业生产的动因、政策与措施以及作用进行了历史考察,认为苏区妇女参加农业生产是妇女自我解放后觉悟的充分表达,而苏区政府的广泛宣传、发布法令、建立妇女组织为妇女参加农业生产提供了政策和制度保障,最终实现了妇女解放与革命的互动。     

深化金融体制改革 完善金融市场体系——学习党的十八届三中全会精神体会

党的十八届三中全会针对深化金融体制改革提出,完善金融市场体系。其中,深化金融体制改革的目标是深化金融体制改革、完善金融市场体系;深化金融体制改革的措施和手段是健全多层次资本市场体系、完善人民币汇率市场化形成机制和加快推进利率市场化及加快发展民营金融机构。     

抗日战争时期陕甘宁边区统战机构考辨

抗日战争时期在陕甘宁边区先后设立的中共中央西北局统战部、西北局民运部、延安交际处,以及具有统战性质的西北局友军工作委员会和友军工作核心组等负责统战工作的机构,在中共中央的直接领导下,在调查和研究各党派各友军的情况,落实＂三三制＂中有关统一战线政策,管理非党干部,调查、研究、管理少数民族工作和外事接待,情报收集等方面做了大量工作,为建设和发展边区新民主主义的政治、经济、文化,把边区建设成团结、抗战、民主的坚强堡垒,奠定了稳固的基石。     

Awareness and perceptions of Islamic microfinance among microfinance clients in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

This study examines the level of awareness and sources of demand for Islamic microfinance among the clients of microfinance institutions in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The research question is whether the source of demand is based on religious beliefs or the assumption of interest-free Islamic-compliant products. The field research uses a sample of 150 clients of several conventional microfinance institutions in these two countries. Although many analysts still maintain that there is a demand for Islamic microfinance in many parts of the world, the current qualitative and quantitative research indicates no clear demand for these products in these two countries. The relevant question for future research is whether microfinance users will demand Islamic microfinance instruments.     

共产国际与中共六届五中全会和福建事变

中共六届五中全会使王明“左”倾教条主义错误发展到了顶点。新史料表明：召开此次全会及提交全会选举的中央政治局组成人员候选名单，系中共临时中央1932年12月提出；全会通过的《政治问题决议案》亦为共产国际所起草。在福建事变中，中共与十九路军的合作不成功责任主要在共产国际。博古、李德等对福建事变的态度，主要是受共产国际的影响。