The role of the European Parliament in Turkey-EU relations: A troublemaker or a useful normative actor?

This article analyzes the role of the European Parliament (EP) in Turkey–EU relations. More specifically, it explores the reasons why in practice EP’s role in promoting fundamental values of the European Union (EU) in Turkey remained largely limited. Drawing on the broader socialization literature, it concludes that a combination of factors related to the socializer (EP) and to the socializee (Turkey) limits the EP’s effectiveness to emerge as a normative actor in its relations with Turkey. In particular, the study points to the mismatch of values promoted by the EP and those embraced by the Turkish political elite as the real obstacle that prevents any socialization mechanism from being triggered.     

Straining without training? Capacity-related problems facing African election executives and officials

This article argues that the empowerment of election officials and executives is usually overlooked, understated or simply ignored; yet elections cannot be conducted without plans in place to improve their efficiency and effectiveness; especially through training. As one of the foremost mechanisms for improving elections, training is crucial to organisational performance enhancement. However, training for election officials and executives is fairly new in many African countries. Generally incorporated in generic university or vocational institute courses globally, training is usually offered as a special tailor-made module for polling officials in western countries. Even then, it rarely covers the severe conditions election officials regularly face, especially in Africa. This article examines these issues based on a review of the extant literature, conceptual and theoretical reflection on election management, and practical interaction with some election authorities who participated as trainees in the Unisa Management of Democratic Elections in Africa (MDEA) course (2012–2014). The article concludes that the training of election officials and executives poses challenges for Africa; partly because some election management bodies (EMBs) prefer to “strain” rather than effectively train their members to ensure sustainable performance, and partly because others prefer short-term irrelevant training that undermines their organisational goals. These hurdles need to be overcome if Africa is to address its election-related challenges.     

关于党内开展竞争性选举的思考

开展竞争性选举是党内民主发展的大势所趋,不容回避。在推动党内民主发展过程中,实行竞争性选举是提高党内民主建设科学化水平的关键。     

论“亚腐败”文化影响下党的作风建设

"亚腐败"极易导致不正之风盛行,损害公共权力的廉洁性,影响党群关系和谐。对"亚腐败"零容忍、进行标本兼治,才能真正有效地提升新时期党的作风建设科学化水平。     

Forecasts of the 2004 French European Election

The purpose of this article is to build and to estimate a model which explains and forecasts the outcomes of the French European elections by department, by electoral district and at the national level. The model is accurate in forecasting the elections of the past. Its forecasts for the 2004 French European election are satisfactory and take into account the recent changes in the voting system.     

乡镇党委领导成员直接差额选举的实践与探索

乡镇党委成员直接差额选举解决了权力与民主脱节和权力来源问题,体现了党管干部和群众公认原则,体现了党内对人民民主的示范和带动作用;同时,有利于扩大群众基础,扩大了选人用人视野;转变了干部监督方式;实现了对上负责和对下负责的统一。目前,乡镇党委成员直接差额选举还处在试点探索阶段,应注意处理好报名资格条件、民主推荐、党管干部原则、因乡镇制宜等问题。     

法律文书语体风格的内部差异

准确、精练、朴实、庄重是法律文书语体独具的特色。法律文书内部不同类别的文书表现不同的语体风格。其内部的一些细微的差异,如果把握不好,将导致法律文书语体应用的不规范,文章认为,司法演讲文书要体现情理交融的语体风格,司法公文要体现庄重规范的语体风格。     

醉驾和追逐竞驶行为探究

《刑法修正案（八）》将＂醉酒驾驶＂、＂追逐竞驶＂行为入罪,成立危险驾驶罪,从保护交通安全的目的来看,＂醉酒驾驶＂与＂追逐驾驶＂与原有的交通肇事罪具有一定的逻辑关系,都是出于对社会交通秩序的维护,但从构成要件来看,二者存在着明显的不同。文章深入分析了＂醉酒驾驶＂、＂追逐驾驶＂行为,体现了我国刑法的预防功能和对于公共交通安全保护预防的提前。     

论儿童主动性与反应性攻击影响因素的复杂性

研究者在探究儿童主动性及反应性攻击的影响因素时,往往只考察一项,而屏蔽了其它因素的影响。但综合各种主动性与反应性攻击的研究文献,我们会发现,环境的因素（如父母教养方式,同伴关系等）与生物的因素（如儿童执行功能,性别,年龄等）是相互嵌套着的,在动态发展中最终塑造了个体的行为。所以,未来对儿童主动性与反应性攻击的研究应采用多因素分析方法才能更接近真相。