Notes on contributors

Abstract

In his article for this issue of Economy and Society, Narayanan (2008 Narayanan, S. 2008. On the stalling of the Malaysian industrialization project. Economy and Society, 37(4): 595–601. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) presents a critique of our earlier work on Malaysian industrialization (Henderson &; Phillips 2007). Narayanan's objections are entirely empirical and they take the form of suggesting that had we looked at the ‘right’ data or ‘properly’ interpreted the data we provide, we would have seen that our hypothesis that Malaysia's industrialization project was ‘stalling’ was either wrong, or, if plausible, was unproven. In this response, we show that Narayanan is largely mistaken in his critique. While his contribution contains errors of interpretation, we argue that he is mistaken predominantly because he has misunderstood the methodological basis of our analysis. Specifically, he has failed to grasp our theoretical object and thus has been unable to identify the appropriate empirical terrain for assessing its significance and condition.     

Estonia caught between East and West: EU conditionality,Russia's activism and minority integration

This article takes a subjective approach to studying norm compliance in order to determine how EU conditionality and Russia's activism have affected elite attitudes toward minority policies, majority–minority relations, and language use in Estonian society in the post-accession period. The results of a Q method study and semi-structured interviews with integration elites in spring 2008 reveal four distinct viewpoints. The study casts doubt upon the success of EU conditionality in Estonia by demonstrating that European minority rights norms remain contested and have not been internalized by a substantial portion of elites. In addition, the study points to an important role for Russia's activism in the development of a more inclusive society. Russia's activism actually works against minority integration by reinforcing pre-existing domestic norms that are not compatible with European minority rights standards and by aggravating tensions over history and language, which frustrate integration efforts. This article ultimately contributes to studies on the effects of international pressure on minority integration by pointing to the need for greater attention to the ways in which multiple actors at both the international and domestic levels structure the influence of EU conditionality.     

Terrorists,scholars and ordinary people: confronting terrorism studies with field experiences

Fieldwork in the study of terrorism remains the exception, allowing for scores of publications to be produced each year with little or no contact with the perpetrators of terrorist violence and scarce direct observation of the social realities in which it occurs. While examining some of the serious drawbacks and pitfalls such research can entail, this article makes a case for more fieldwork in terrorism studies, arguing that it can bring greater depth to our understanding of terrorist violence. The discussion focuses on a common assumption – the existence of the ‘terrorist’ as subject – and a common practice of terrorism studies – the concentration on extraordinary events at the expense of ‘ordinary life’ and ‘ordinary people’ – and how they are called into question by the material gathered during field research conducted in the Southern Philippine region of Mindanao. The article concludes with a reflection on some of the challenges facing researchers in danger zones, from their dependence on local knowledge for security to the need for methodological flexibility when faced with the complexity of research in conflict areas.     

当代中国主流法律观及其深度融合——兼及法律方法论的实践功能

从现象学角度来看,法律显现自身的活动与过程具有一种"构成"的性质。在法律实践中,各种政治因素、社会因素、历史文化因素不断获得规范性整合而使法律获得旺盛的生命力。通过梳理和分析当代中国主流法律观及其深度融合之可能,可以发现更为适合中国法治路径的法律观应当是来自基于现象学的规范法学,而法律方法论则是实践法治必不可少的技艺。     

Asian Criminology – Challenges, Opportunities, and Directions

Despite considerable advances in the field of criminology in Asia over the past few decades, the pace of growth has been quite slow compared with the rapid development of the field in North America and Europe. This paper discusses key features of the Asian context as they are related to the development of criminology in Asia. The paper examines the major challenges that Asia’s diverse culture, legal traditions, crimes, and crime control pose for development of criminology in Asia. It also discusses the opportunities afforded by the Asian context. The paper proposes general strategies in response to the challenges. The author suggests the importance of moving towards a unified paradigm of Asian Criminology. The Asian Journal of Criminology aims to play an instrumental role in this process of advancing Asian criminology.     

管理创新功能的方法论反思

理论工作者和实践开拓者研究和运用管理创新一般是从管理创新的本质、机制、动力等方面来研究和运用的。文章试图开辟另一视角,在尊重、承认管理创新规律的基础之上,反思其功能,探讨管理创新的作用、地位和价值评价。运用理性抽象上升到理性具体的方法对这些方面给出确切的理性规定。希望达到方法论的高度对具体操作有指导、借鉴作用。     

行政执法的博弈分析——兼论行政法研究中的方法论问题

社会经济生活中广为存在的博弈现象与行政执法在精神实质、价值追求、研究视角、的契合性,博弈理论在多学科和多实践领域的应用经验,为行政执法的博弈分析奠定了方法论基础.着力于识别博弈现象与行政执法二者之间存在的关键连接点,通过博弈论的主体、行为、效益、信息等理论构件对行政执法进行博弈分析,进而探索以博弈理论引领行政执法观念的更新,以重构行政执法机制,提高行政执法效率,从而实现行政博弈过程追求的纳什均衡和行政法制指向的利益平衡.     

高校辅导员思想政治教育工作方法初探

随着社会的发展以及高校近几年的扩招,高校学生问题呈现多样性和复杂性,高校政治辅导员作为学生最直接的管理者必须迎接挑战,在万变中坚持自身工作的服务本质以及围绕本质的工作原则,针对高校大学生的特点,平衡多方面工作的关系,提高学生思想政治教育工作的实效。     

This Word is (Not?) Very Exciting: Considering Intersectionality in Indigenous Studies

Gender and intersectional approaches can provide important insights and reflections for indigenous studies. Issues related to indigenous people and communities are broad and complex. Doing research within indigenous studies has to consist of more than simply discussing indigenous identity. I argue that intersectional approaches of varying kinds provide an opportunity to understand several aspects of identity and a diverse set of issues relevant to indigenous communities. Using intersectional approaches enables one to maintain a critical focus on power. In this article, I describe indigenous studies and intersectionality separately, then move on to a discussion of how intersectionality and gender perspectives can be used within indigenous studies. The starting point for intersectional approaches as well as for indigenous studies is the margins rather than the centre. The focus of the article is on methodology, which is based on the reading of literature from indigenous methodologies, gender studies, and intersectionality. A key concept is the cultural interface, which points towards the existence of plural subject positions both for individuals and within a community.