The Impact of Social Media Use for Elected Parliamentarians: Evidence from Politicians' Use of Twitter During the Last Two Swiss Legislatures

Notwithstanding growing research on how using social media for political campaigning impacts politicians' chances of winning votes, we still have limited knowledge about whether and how the use of social media and online styles of communication affect political success over successive legislatures. We address this deficit by analyzing a panel dataset about the Twitter activity of politicians who have had a parliamentary mandate at least once. We first demonstrate that politicians' interaction with specific online audiences (e.g. in terms of replies and mentions) is still evolving, thus pointing to possible strategic adaptations of politicians' communication as social media are mastered. Then, we show that Twitter-based activity moderately impacts politicians' political success, both in terms of political ranking and media coverage. This success, however, strongly depends on the style of political communication and on the legislature under scrutiny.     

An Exploratory Study into the Understandings and Awareness of Leadership Ethos and Its Inherent Critical Success Factors by Public Sector Officials in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Ministry of the National Economy (ECONAT)

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to examine the understandings of public sector leaders about Leadership Ethos (LE) and its inherent Critical Success Factors(CSFs) looking at their application in the public policy implementation process. The study applied an adapted theoretical paradigm on leadership that borrows from the Western and African contexts. In the light of the aim and objective of the study, both the interview schedule and survey questionnaires were used to gather information with regard to LE and its inherent CSFs. In this view, a semi-structured interview schedule was used to guide both interviews with senior public officials - one in the DTI and one in the ECONAT. A survey questionnaire was administered to public officials at middle and lower management levels working and reporting directly to the interviewed senior public officials. The purpose of the questionnaire was to reduce personal biases inherent in the responses of the senior officials, which appear to be a challenge emerging from self-perception assessments. Research findings suggest that leaders at the DTI and the ECONAT do not sufficiently demonstrate an awareness of LE and its inherent CSFs in the practice of leadership. LE enables leaders garner followers’ trust and obtain their consent; encourage followers’ commitment to organisational goals; and introduce and encourage participatory decision making processes as key factors to successful public policy implementation.     

历史上的托古改制

本文以王莽改制、王安石变法和戊戌维新这三次历史上最具代表性的改革为例，分析其历史背景、理想目标、改革措施及其成败得失，具有一定的史鉴意义。     

Unanimity and exposure in the EU Council of Ministers – or how the Dutch won and lost the ICTY debate

How are unanimity negotiations commonly settled in the EU Council of Ministers? Important contributions have been made to our understanding of the ‘consensual’ decision‐making dynamics in the Council, but most studies focus on explaining the sheer absence of votes in legislative decision making under the qualified majority rule. This study seeks to explain how vetoes are averted, or curtailed, in unanimity decision making. These unanimity negotiations are explained as attempts to induce or prevent high‐level exposure. The degree of exposure in turn depends on the degree of lower level contestation. A process tracing analysis of one prolonged debate is performed from the perspective of one Member State – the Netherlands – which played a very prominent obstructing role. By analysing when, why and where (at what level) the Dutch won or lost, one can come closer to understanding the dynamic interplay between the different Council levels.     

小额诉讼程序适用的改进逻辑

小额诉讼程序的适用比例至今偏低,致使程序的建构意图没能得到实现。从程序运行者、程序利用者和程序运行之监督者的视角剖析成因,有助于探寻到小额诉讼程序依法适用的促进策略。简案若不能有效识别,小额诉讼程序的强制适用将失去起码保障,未来识别简案当采取智能识别为主、人工识别为辅的方式。消解适用合意的稀缺性,可使小额诉讼程序的实际适用率因为合意适用条件的放宽而得到提高,获得适用合意的方法包括事先约定、法院引导达成和事后自行达成。为规制法人或非法人组织对小额诉讼程序的过多利用,援引诚实信用原则对其进行费用制裁更为现实可行。推动小额诉讼程序实现独立、提高首次送达成功率以减少程序转化和重视审级监督的驱动,是促进小额诉讼程序依法适用的重要策略。     

Knowledge on DNA Success Rates to Optimize the DNA Analysis Process: From Crime Scene to Laboratory

DNA analysis has become an essential intelligence tool in the criminal justice system for the identification of possible offenders. However, it appears that about half of the processed DNA samples contains too little DNA for analysis. This study looks at DNA success rates within 28 different categories of trace exhibits and relates the DNA concentration to the characteristics of the DNA profile. Data from 2260 analyzed crime samples show that cigarettes, bloodstains, and headwear have relatively high success rates. Cartridge cases, crowbars, and tie‐wraps are on the other end of the spectrum. These objective data can assist forensics in their selection process.The DNA success probability shows a positive relation with the DNA concentration. This finding enables the laboratory to set an evidence‐based threshold value in the DNA analysis process. For instance, 958 DNA extracts had a concentration value of 6 pg/μL or less. Only 46 of the 958 low‐level extracts provided meaningful DNA profiling data.     

抢劫银行犯罪研究--实证分析:张君、鹿宪州等22起抢劫银行案

抢劫银行犯罪大致经过犯罪决意、犯罪准备、犯罪实施、犯罪善后四个阶段.犯罪人选择犯罪目标不是盲目的,是理性选择的结果.导致抢劫银行犯罪高成功率的主要因素有犯罪职业化程度的提高,涉暴武器的管理失控,银行自身存在的不良因素等.在防范银行抢劫方面,除了注重技术设施的硬件防范外,严格的管理,平时对职员的严格培训及其安全意识的培养也是降低银行抢劫案件发生及其成功的关键因素之一.     

把握检察业务的第四次辉煌——论实现反渎职侵权工作的跨越式发展

我国检察机关的渎职侵权检察部门已经更名为反渎职侵权局,最高人民检察院最近又公布渎职侵权犯罪的立案标准等,这一系列的举措使过去长期低迷的渎职侵权检察业务工作面临着前所未有的大好机遇。这就要求我们必须解放思想,更新观念,"开辟案源",解决"无米之炊"这个"瓶颈";还要抓紧办案,严格执法,文明办案,努力把每一宗案件办成铁案;以社会主义和谐社会建设者的姿态,认真贯彻执行宽严相济的刑事司法政策。