Estonian Folklore as A Source of Baltic-German Poetry

Estonian folk tales form a common element in Estonian and Baltic-German (lyro)epic poetry. Baltic-German interest in Estonian folkloric heritage originated in the eighteenth century, when J. G. Herder first encouraged the collection of Estonian and Latvian folk songs. Systematic collection began in the 1830s, and peaked in the Estonian language area with the Estonian epic Kalevipoeg (1857–1861). Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald implemented this epic, but it was also influenced by many collectors and adaptors and was published in both German and Estonian. The myths of Friedrich Robert Faehlmann, presented in the Learned Estonian Society between 1840 and 1852, have had the biggest influence on the German-speaking audience. Literary adaptations of folk tales quickly found their way into journals, newspapers, poetry collections, and anthologies, often in the popular form of a ballad. This paper seeks to explore the role of Estonian folklore in Baltic-German lyroepic poetry.     

Exploring Russian-Speaking Identity from Below: The Case of Latvia

Recent research on the acculturation strategies of Russian speakers in Latvia has demonstrated that there is a high level of support for integration (identifying with both Latvian and Russian cultures) compared to marginalization, separation, or assimilation. However, a number of researchers have also highlighted the negative impact of top-down narratives and discourses produced by the country's politicians and journalists. These discourses, it is argued, hamper the integration process by creating incompatible identity positions between ‘Russian-speakers’ and ‘Latvians’. Accordingly, this research turns to focus group interviews with Russian speakers in Latvia in order to uncover the nuances of their identity-forming processes, their relations with the respective Russian and Latvian states, and their acculturation strategies, which are commonly overlooked in top-down accounts. Based on the analysis of the qualitative data it will be argued that there is great potential for an integrated, yet culturally distinct Latvian-Russian identity in Latvia.     

The Russian Dimension of Baltic Maritime Governance

This paper seeks to reconstruct the development of Baltic maritime governance by filling in the gap in the systematic study of Russian maritime policy. In a review of historical, administrative, economic, and political facets of Russian maritime policy, the paper identifies the logic of “greatpowerness” underpinned by the category of “national interest” as its main driver. In this overall logic, cooperation with the EU in maritime affairs is a part of larger Russia’s EU politics. Thus, Baltic maritime governance depends on the ability of the EU and Russia to maintain constructive relations beyond the scope of the maritime domain.     

论政治运行中的人伦关系与道德基础

政治的静态结构如组织、制度、法律、政策等,是政治过程的物质载体,同时也是政治运行的客观基础.但是,政治的原理及其结构安排既基于政治之基本要素即“人”的现实基础,同时也正是因为其“人”的要素而被赋予了复杂的意义.这其中,关于政治过程中人伦关系与道德基础就是一个不可忽略的因素.一定社会的人伦关系和道德基础孕育着一定的政治行为主体,使其在政治行为中不可避免地打上其人伦关系和道德基础的烙印;由此,现代的政治结构和政治规则,也必须以既定的道德基础和人伦关系为依据.以积极的取向充分发挥道德基础和人伦关系在现代政治中的作用,对于政治的稳定和发展具有积极的意义.     

儒家义利观及其当代价值

中国儒家关于义利之辨的话题已探讨了多年,在不同的时代,人们赋予它不同的内涵。随着我国市场经济的逐步深入发展,人们的义利观也出现了很大的变化。本着对儒家传统义利思想批判和继承的态度,结合当今的具体国情,本文试分析市场经济下义利的新关系及正确对待的措施。     

关于完善劳动关系协调机制的理性思考与对策建议

劳动关系是市场经济条件下涉及面最广、影响力最大的社会经济关系,劳动关系的和谐对于社会主义和谐社会的构建具有基础性的地位。当前和谐劳动关系工作,应认真研究把握现阶段劳动关系的基本矛盾,查找不和谐的因素,构建和谐劳动关系的理论、政策、法治支撑体系和社会支持体系,完善工会维权机制,现实而前瞻地服务于劳动关系的建立、运行、监督和调处全过程。     

中国周边形势新变化与周边命运共同体构建

2017年以来,中国周边安全和经济形势发生重大变化。在安全上,美国以推动"印太"战略、强化美日和美韩同盟、借议题拉拢东盟等手段将战略布局深度集中到中国的周边地区;法国、英国、德国、欧盟也紧随其后,开始深度介入"印太"地区的经济合作、安全事务和互联互通进程。在经济上,全球化已进入"慢速"阶段且越来越以区域化的方式展开;而机器人、3D打印技术和可再生能源的发展和运用将继续推动区域化进程,周边国家与中国的经济联系对双方来说都更为重要。无论是在安全上还是在经济上,周边地区对中国发展的重要性都在迅速上升。中国应更加重视周边外交在总体外交布局中的地位,要总结历史和当代中国营造良好周边环境的经验;争取处理好中美日、中美韩、中日韩、中俄印等一些大三角关系;将周边地区打造成为中国构建新发展格局的节点和高质量推动"一带一路"建设的引领示范地区;积极提供地区公共产品,推动构建周边命运共同体。     

Oversight Effectiveness and Political Will: Some Lessons from West Africa

The purpose of the present note is to advance two theoretical claims. The first claim proposed is that the impact of the availability of oversight tools and of the most broadly understood legislative capacity (availability of material, technical, financial resources; availability of well-trained staff) on the effectiveness with which legislative oversight is performed is conditional. The second claim put forward, after reviewing a rich body of work on executive–legislative relations and legislative oversight in West Africa, is that, of the various conditions that promote or prevent the effective use of oversight tools and capacity, political will is the single most important. These claims have both theoretical and practical relevance, for if political will is as important as is claimed for the effective performance of the oversight function, then international organisations may have to reconsider their approach to legislative strengthening.     

法理学“指导”型知识生产机制及其困难——从法理学教材出发

从知识生产机制的整体视角来看,中国法理学教材还没有走出苏式法理学的框架。苏式法理学教材的"指导"型知识生产机制基于法理学与部门法学具有不同的研究对象这一基本原理,认为法理学是部门法学的指导性学科,并由此决定了"指导"型知识生产机制的运行机制;运行机制包含正面向度和反面向度两个方面,正面向度指的是法理学针对部门法学生产"指导"型知识,反面向度指的是部门法学帮助法理学生产"指导"型知识,法律关系理论和法律行为理论分别典型地对应着这两个方面。然而,对上述理论的检讨表明,"指导"型知识生产机制在运行机制层面是无效的;进一步地,该机制在基本原理层面及其理论基础层面也是错误的,因而应当被抛弃。     

大国战略竞争与美国对华技术政策变迁

世界政治领导国的对外技术政策很大程度上源于应对大国战略竞争的需要。当美国面临直接、迫切的大国战略竞争压力时,更愿意通过放宽技术进口和出口限制来争取合作者、应对竞争者,即"利用强者打败更强者"。自20世纪70年代以来,美国对华技术政策经历了从逐步放松再到加强限制这一过程。苏联的安全竞争压力迫使美国在加强对苏技术出口限制的同时,放宽对华技术出口限制。日本的经济竞争压力促使美国在加强对日技术进口限制的同时,放宽对华技术进口限制。应对直接、迫切的大国战略竞争压力,会促使世界政治的领导国更重视当期利益,同时也为潜在竞争者的成长提供机会。而当苏联和日本对美国构成的大国战略竞争压力逐渐褪去时,美国对华技术政策再度面临调整压力,以致于今为甚,通过发起对华贸易战,打压中国高新技术产业,全面收紧了对华高技术进出口限制。美国的技术竞争将是今后很长时间中国技术进步难以绕过的阻碍。