Persistence and change in Soviet and Russian relations with Afghanistan

This paper examines persistence and change in the Soviet Union's and then Russia's relations with Afghanistan with respect to development and security. First, a detailed analysis of the promise and reality of Soviet development assistance reveals conceptual shortcomings in their attempt to induce economic development in Afghanistan. The Soviet Union's heritage is then revealed in order to understand Russia's current perception of post-Taliban Afghanistan as well as Russia's emerging interests and commitment to Afghanistan's economic development. This paper argues that Russia will most likely replicate standard industrialization development approaches in contributing to Afghanistan's development. Therefore, Russia will probably run into problems similar to those that led to the failure of the Soviet modernization project, which consisted of large-scale development projects that were inappropriate to the country's institutions and the lives of most Afghans. It is questionable whether such reiteration will induce economic development now, in the complex setting of a fragmented and fragile state with a multitude of external players looking out for their own interests.     

Australia and the Baltic States, 1919–1945

Praised by international organizations, Estonia and Slovenia have long been considered among the most successful post-communist states. Estonia quickly transformed itself into one of the most liberal economies in the world, whereas Slovenia opted for a social justice-oriented market economy. Still, the roots of their success coincide in that consensus played a crucial role. We argue that the public sphere was never as repressed in Estonia and Slovenia during the communist period as it was elsewhere. Distinct national identities continued to be formed and re-formed by intellectuals during the decades of communist rule, who assumed roles as political leaders when the transition started. Consensus based on these national identities legitimized reform policies for the entire decade of the 1990s.     

日本观光立国战略模式及启示

在世界上主要发达国家当中,把旅游业作为国家发展战略的除日本之外绝无仅有。研究日本观光立国战略的内容及其政策措施与成效,并在此基础上实现从实践到理论的升华,即从日本观光立国战略的实践总结国家旅游发展战略的模式,进而为中国推动旅游业发展提供理论基础和理论参考。日本观光立国战略模式可以归纳为确定一个战略目标、制定一个战略规划、实施4个重点战略、构建一个支持系统等内容。日本观光立国战略模式对中国制定国家旅游发展战略具有重要的参考价值。     

从传统走向现代：社会保障权司法救济的检省与矫正

社会保障权是社会保障法的核心,是现代社会的一项基本人权,其本质是社会权。有权利就应当有救济,其中司法救济又是权利救济途径中最权威、最行之有效的方式,是保障公民社会保障权利恒久不易的追求。由于社会保障权的特殊性质,传统的民事和行政救济体系已不能适应社会保障争议的需要,打破传统的普通诉讼程序,借鉴国外成熟经验,完善和创设符合社会保障权特征的现代的特殊司法救济机制已成为必然之选。     

占有在现代财产制度中的地位申明———一种基于动态冲突的考察

占有因其独占性、排他性以及在动产上所独具的权利外观效力,导致其负载权利与第三人利益的冲突,成为物权法调整客观公正与交易安全的关键制度.在对占有性质重新定位的前提下,通过对财产制度中占有关系的检索,可在交易各方主体的利益冲突关系中对占有概念进行理性的阐释.通过对此类占有关系的剖析,并通过对占有的性质——法益的进一步抽象,可以厘清占有中法益在财产制度中的具体法律价值.其体现为本权的冲突上属排他性冲突,保护方法上为非此即被:或保护权利或保护第三人利益.     

香港特区基本法第23条的法理分析

香港基本法第23条未使用“授权”的语词,但属于授权条款,特别授权香港特区自行制定维护国家安全的法律,香港特区第23条立法属于特别授权立法,中央监督特区立法的过程及其实施,香港特区第23条立法应以维护国家安全为核心原则,明晰特区居民的权利界限,香港特区行政长官对第23条立法负责,应主导第23条立法。     

Unaccountable: The Current State of Private Military and Security Companies

Abstract

The current accountability system for private military and security contractors (PMSCs) is woefully inadequate, and mere enhancements in oversight cannot hope to remedy that failing. I contend that once we recognize the kind of accountability required of PMSCs, we will realize that radical changes in the foundational relationship between PMSCs and the state are required. More specifically, in order to be appropriately accountable, members of PMSCs must become a part of or, at the very least, directly responsible to the legitimate authoritative military or police structures, and there must be a clear and precise delineation of responsibility among public officials for holding individual members of PMSCs criminally liable.     

A Stone’s Throw from the Metropolis: Re-Examining Small-Agency Homeland Security Practices

Police agencies nationwide have enhanced their homeland security preparedness capacity since the 9/11 attacks. Evidence suggests that departments have not uniformly adopted measures to prepare for and respond to critical incidents. Rather, larger agencies are more likely than their smaller peers to take such steps. Small agencies do not constitute a homogenous group; some experience geographic isolation while others are near major metropolitan areas. Unclear is whether small agencies (25 or fewer full-time sworn personnel), those that are commonly found to be less prepared, benefit from proximity to large-agency peers. This study examined whether physical and relational proximity to large departments contributed to homeland security preparedness in over 300 small departments. A structural equation model revealed that interactions with large agencies facilitated preparedness but physical proximity had no direct effect. Increasing geographic isolation from large-agency peers indirectly affected preparedness by stifling the level of inter-department interactions.     

论船舶不当滞留在港口国的救济程序

由于各国标准的参差不齐及港口国官员的个人偏见,在港口国监控程序中难免出现船舶的不当滞留。通过对美国、加拿大、澳大利亚三国港口国救济程序案例的分析,指出现有港口国的救济程序中的缺陷,并讨论在船舶不当滞留时,船方如何通过港口国国内途径申诉,有哪些法律问题需要注意,如何更好地实现权利救济。     

中国和平发展与东北亚地区安全的理性思考

求和平、促发展、谋合作,是不可阻挡的历史潮流,为此,要努力建设一个持久和平、共同繁荣的和谐世界。东北亚地区构成中国生存与发展的基本环境,东北亚稳定与否,是影响中国国家安全与社会发展的直接外部条件。和平发展对实现中国的全面发展和维护东北亚地区安全与世界和平意义重大。中国在东北亚的安全战略是：发展睦邻友好关系,稳定周边安全环境;和平解决朝核危机,稳定朝鲜半岛局势;提倡新安全观,探索建立新的安全合作机制。