The Political Economy of Aid and Governance in Cambodia

The impact of massive aid on development and governance has been studied for a decade with mixed results. Using the results of an elite survey on aid and quality of governance based on Kaufmann et al.'s six dimensions (voice and accountability, political stability, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, and control of corruption), this article offers a case-study of Cambodia. The country's challenges in light of high aid dependence and ‘Dutch disease’ in the aid sector are elaborated, and disappointing human development outcomes are examined. Despite more than five billion dollars in aid, infant and child mortality and inequality have worsened. Key informants are overwhelmingly in agreement that, save for political stability, aid has not had a positive impact on governance in Cambodia. The failure on control of corruption shows how hard it is for donors to be tough on a country with extreme poverty. On the basis of what has been accomplished to date, however, aid seems unlikely to be able to deliver large improvements in governance and in many ways may even contribute to its further deterioration.     

A Comparative Institutional Analysis of Korean and Japanese Clientelism

Clientele networks are differently structured across nations, depending on the political institutional setup and the configuration of political and social forces. The political institutional setup, which is cross-nationally different, determines where clientele networks are formed, how extensive they are and how long they can persist. The configuration of political and social forces, which varies over time, defines who takes the lead in clientele networks and how effective they are for producing policy effects. A comparison of Korean and Japanese clientelism suggests that the Korean case represents a form of national-level, defensive, non-cumulative and high political-risk clientelism, while the Japanese case illustrates a form of local-level, cumulative and low political-risk clientelism. Korean clientelism is not a copy of the Japanese variant. Based on this analysis, the author suggests that not every social organisation is functional for democratic governance. He also points out that the gradual process of disintegrating clientele networks is on the move.     

维稳压力对基层法院组织形态的形塑

维稳压力是形塑中国法院组织形态的重要因素。在维稳工作中,基层法院与地方党政系统形成紧密的互需关系。一方面,基层法院通过行使审判职能和延伸审判职能的方式参与地方维稳工作;另一方面,在案件审理执行以及涉诉信访工作中,基层法院也需要地方党政系统的支持。在维稳压力的影响下,基层法院的组织形态进行了调适,形成以案件属性转化、责任体系再造、组织运行重构为主要内容的运作机制。经过调适的组织形态在很大程度上提升了基层法院应对维稳问题的能力,不过法官独立行权空间受到一定程度的限缩。在基础性社会矛盾突出的转型期,基层法院组织形态的建构与运行依然会建立在对维稳压力审慎考量的基础之上。     

The killer outfit and timing: Impact of the fabric and time in body fluid identification and DNA profiling

The present work aimed to study the detection, through lateral flow immunochromatographic (LFI) tests, of saliva samples over time in three different types of fabrics, as well as, the possibility of DNA isolation and characterization from the sample tubes and the cassettes. Fifty microliters of saliva (three samples/time) were deposited in denim, cotton, and polyester. Saliva was identified by SERATEC® Amylase Test and the Crime Scene version SALIVA CS, being able to detect it up to six months of deposition, although with different band intensities. Polyester showed stronger bands than cotton, probably due to its synthetic nature, and denim, as an inked fabric, showed less band intensities. Statistical analyses confirmed significant differences among fabrics, but not over time in the same type of fabric. Total DNA from the sample tubes was successfully recovered, in contrast, from the cassettes, only polyester retrieved amplifiable DNA. These findings indicated that it is possible to recover and identify saliva up to six months after deposition, also obtaining DNA. Future research will be able to expand these results, analyzing the stability of other body fluids, and the sensitivity of lateral flow immunochromatographic tests to detect them.     

信息公开中“社会稳定”的司法认定——基于相关判决事例的分析

《政府信息公开条例》第8条中的"社会稳定"属于法律上的不确定法律概念,在适用上存在很大的解释空间。在"周如倩案"中,最高人民法院建立了立法精神的尊重、影响范围的广泛、社会动荡的引发和不利影响的必然四大要件,这与既往判决中对于"社会稳定"的司法认定是可以融合的,后续同类案件可运用这样"要件型"的司法认定技术。同时,其需要接受后续来自司法或者立法的检验,方能成为可以不断得以适用的司法认定标准。     

德国经济协调储备金制度之内容与借鉴

德国的经济协调储备金制度由其《经济稳定与增长促进法》集中加以规定,这种储备金制度是克服经济衰退、实现宏观经济调控目标的有效工具,对德国的宏观调控实践及经济的发展发挥了巨大的作用。目前,我国还没有建立起像德国那样能为克服经济衰退随时提供宏观调控资金的“储备金”制度,而在通过财政收入、发行国债和贷款等方式提供资金存在现实困难的情况下,建立经济调节储备金制度非常必要。我国储备金制度的建构可以结合本国的国情并借鉴德国的一些做法,同时应该使之成为一项法律制度。     

民主政治条件下社会稳定的内在机理探析

社会稳定是政治生活的价值追求和现实需要。然而,迄今为止,人类社会政治实践所采取过的全部政体中,民主政治较好地实现了社会稳定。究其原因,民主政治所内含的信任、妥协、宽容和法治理念以及在此理念基础上建构的制度化的政治参与机制、权力更替机制、冲突调控机制、协商谈判机制和社会资本增量机制等为其实现社会政治稳定提供了价值基石与内在动力。     

从“四群”工作角度看云南农村社会稳定

目前我国农村正处于发展加速期、转型深化期、矛盾凸显期,特别是从云南省来看,云南省是老少边穷地区,农村社会农民利益受损、信任缺乏、治安形势严峻是影响农村社会稳定的主要因素。从"四群"工作角度出发,要维护云南农村稳定,必须完善基层民主制度、增加农民收入、加强农村文化建设、创新社会管理、打击违法犯罪等方面入手,建设农村社会稳定的政治、经济、社会、道德、制度、法制和群众基础,维护广大农村地区的和谐稳定。     

构建少数民族地区社会稳定长效机制的指导思想与新理念

少数民族地区社会稳定长效机制建设必须针对少数民族地区社会稳定工作的特殊性,结合全国维护社会稳定工作的普遍性,以科学稳定观及民族地区社会稳定理念为指导。     

影响西部少数民族地区政治稳定的五大认同机制

对西部少数民族地区政治稳定起决定性作用的是民族、政治、经济、宗教和风俗习惯等五大认同机制。其中,民族认同机制是基石,它奠定了西部少数民族地区政治稳定的血缘基础;政治认同机制是核心,它奠定了西部少数民族地区政治稳定的制度基础;经济认同机制是关键,它奠定了西部少数民族地区政治稳定的利益基础;宗教与民族风俗习惯认同机制是两大重要组成部分,前者奠定了西部少数民族地区政治稳定的价值基础,而后者则是西部少数民族地区政治稳定的重要润滑剂。