From scarcity to security: Water as a potential factor for conflict and cooperation in Southern Africa

The authors argue that South Africa's role as an economic gateway for various African countries primarily depends on geography, that is, on naturally given and man-made structures in geographical space. Hence, they first examine South Africa's location and physio-geographical conditions in Southern Africa in order to show important factors that affect the scope of the South African gateway. Second, they shed light on regional transport infrastructure, revealing how South Africa interlinks its neighbouring countries globally. Thirdly, regional economic interaction is analysed with regard to structural features of South Africa's economy that make it prone to being a gateway. The authors recognise that the impact of all these factors is influenced by strategic decisions taken by politicians and businesspeople. The outlook of the paper therefore addresses policies of the South African government that are often problematic for the country's gateway role. Potential challengers and their competitive advantages are presented, too.     

程树德《九朝律考》补遗一则——南齐“永明定律”考

"永明定律"是南齐时重要的修律活动,反映出当时特定时代背景下儒法并用的政治取向和承前启后的律学成就。由于参议人员复杂,加之当时政局纷扰,外事不宁,故此次定律活动的成果——"永明律"最终并没有公布施行。然而,虽未能修成新律,却又非无果而终,其律条文本与律学成果为后世所继承,成为后代修律和习律的重要参考文献,颇有助益于中古法史之演进。所缺憾者,此次修律多为史家忽视,乃至中古法史考据典范如程树德《九朝律考》者亦未提及。故有必要详加考证,以补缺略。     

南宋时期的风水坟地诉讼

南宋社会中围绕风水坟地产生的诉讼常常启动当时司法审判中的上诉审程序,动辄经年累月。这一现象的出现除折射出时人对墓地的极度重视外,还与当时的健讼之风、墓地受理时效、执法官员的自由裁量权等多种因素相关。     

The majority vote rule and runoff primaries in the United States

The major parties in the United States use primary elections to select party candidates for general elections. While most employ a simple plurality vote rule for this purpose, some states, primarily southern, employ a majority rule that requires a runoff between the top two vote recipients if no candidate receives a majority in the initial primary. Data on primaries for state Governor and U.S. Senator from 1980 to 2002 are used to examine contemporary concerns about runoffs. Included in the findings are (1) the problem that majority runoffs address – candidates being selected based on low levels of voter support is not a frequent outcome under the plurality rule; (2) the vast majority of selections is based on a majority of votes in a primary, regardless of whether a simple plurality or majority is required; and (3) runoff primaries are necessary in roughly one-third of the contested primaries held in the majority vote context, and in about one-third of them the primary leader loses the runoff.     

Wars in the Balkans: Personal recollections

An examination of South Africa's different foreign policy role conceptions under the administrations of Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki, highlighting the respective governments’ strategies in carving a niche for the country in global relations.     

论苏南农村土地制度的变革

苏南农村已发生了由家庭承包的土地制度到农场规模经营的土地制度的变化，而土地制度市场化又促发了农场规模经营的土地制度纳入农村市场经济体制中的质变。土地制度市场化是我国农村土寺制度变革的方向。     

The Southern Cameroons and minority rights in Cameroon

Advocating for Anglophone succession in a predominantly Francophone country, the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) purports to address Anglophone marginalisation. The Cameroonian regime, however, views them as terrorists. What is the likelihood of a peaceful secession or resolution of Anglophone grievances? This article examines the role of the SCNC in the struggle for minority rights in Cameroon, in the context of a failed democratic state.     

The integration hypothesis: How the European Union shapes economic voting

Whereas economic perceptions influence the national vote in Western European countries, globalization, or international openness, conditions the influence of economic perceptions on that national vote. But how do attitudes toward the EU itself influence the economic vote? After establishing the presence of a national economic vote in Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal) we test the hypothesis that heightened perception of European Union economic responsibility reduces the magnitude of the national economic vote coefficient. These tests are carried out on current (2009) survey data, via logistic regression analysis of fully specified voting behavior models, estimated country-by-country and in a data pool. Clearly, the national economic vote diminishes, to the extent the EU is held responsible for the economy.     

战后东南亚"南强北弱"经济格局成因分析

二战后,东南亚诸国都制定经济发展战略,重建国民经济体系。但是,到20世纪80年代末90年代初期,北方印支三国及缅甸的经济发展水平远远落后于南方各国,东南亚地区形成了“南强北弱”的经济格局。究其成因,主要外因有:西方殖民主义者殖民统治方式的不同对东南亚区域内经济发展的不平衡起了加剧作用,美苏在东南亚的“冷战”及相关战争使印支三国失去相对和平的经济恢复环境;内因则是南北方国家经济发展体制与发展战略方面存在差距。