How Values Shape Program Perceptions: The “Organic Ethos” and Producers’ Assessments of U.S. Organic Policy Impacts

Among the more recognizable programs related to natural and sustainable food is the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program. Although the robustness of the organic food market is difficult to contest, many debate the extent to which U.S. organic policy outcomes adequately serve consumers and the organic agriculture producers they rely on. This paper engages the debate from the perspective of certified organic producers. Drawing on the results of a nationwide survey of USDA‐certified producers, we first provide a snapshot of how producers assess the environmental, consumer, and market impacts of U.S. organic food policy. We then examine the extent to which organic producers’ policy impact perceptions are associated with their alignment with an “organic ethos”—understood as producers’ commitment to core organic principles and the organic movement. The paper highlights producers’ values as perceptual filters and cognitive mechanisms that help shape producers’ policy impacts perceptions, illustrating a contributing factor to the enduring nature of organic policy debates.     

Conservation in Context: Toward a Systems Framing of Decentralized Governance and Public Participation in Wildlife Management

Governance scholars have long championed the adaptive utility of decentralized management institutions, in part due to their ability to bring diverse stakeholders into decision‐making processes. However, research into the link between decentralization and participation often looks at policy design but bypasses important system feedbacks that shape sustained participation over time. To paint a more robust picture detailing how decentralization and participation are related, this paper uses a complex systems framework to explore interacting structural, operational, and cultural components of decentralized wildlife governance institutions in the United States and Botswana. Through this comparative analysis, I argue that the landscape of public participation in decentralized governance institutions appears to be significantly impacted by three factors: 1) how decentralization processes occurred, 2) where in the process of decision making participation is situated, and 3) perceptions of power distribution between groups with competing interests.     

Understanding Migration: The Case for Public Administration

ABSTRACT

Migration has emerged as a key issue for governments in the 21^st century. While multiple disciplines address migration, the study of public administration has been slow to do so. Given the complexities of migration policy implementation, and the multiple levels of government involved, public administration can add significantly to the current understandings of the phenomenon. This article examines what is known on migration, what still needs to be understood, and how public administration can assist in understanding migration.     

传播全球化对发展中国家的影响及其对策

国际广播、卫星电视、国际互联网络、跨国传播公司的扩张发展，使传播范围日益全球化，它对发展中国家在促进经济文化的繁荣发展、科技进步和政治民主化进程，缩小与发达国家差距等方面起到良好的促进作用，但同时在抢占媒介市场、冲击文化传统、干预社会意识形态以至内政外交等方面，也对发展中国家形成了挑战。制定和实行相关信息化政策，加强国际间的合作与交流，加快本国新闻传播媒体现代化、国际化步伐，是发展中国家迎接挑战的对策，而最根本的还是提高本国的经济实力。     

当代国外学校道德教育状况综述

道德教育关系到国家的存亡、民族的兴衰、社会的稳定和发展,学校德育作为道德教育的重要组成部分,已为全世界各 国所重视。借鉴当代国外学校道德教育成功的经验,对于加强和改进我国学校德育工作具有重大的意义。     

发展中国家公务员制度特征与中国公务员制度创新

异质性、民族性、前瞻性及不完善性是发展中国家公务员制度的特征。发展中国家公务员制度建设的原则是 :优化规则 ;统一法治精神和人本原则 ;实行制度改善而不是进行“新的转型”。我国公务员制度的创新要以良好的行政环境为前提 ,以观念转变为基础 ,以管理创新为关键 ,从三个层面立体推进。     

退耕还林保护西部生态环境

生态环境的恢复与建设是我国西部大开发的首要任务.在保护生态、改善环境、发展经济的过程中,要特别重视退耕还林(草)等对保护西部生态环境的作用.我们要根据<全国生态环境建设规划>以及可持续发展的要求,采取相应的对策.     

论WTO中的发展权

发展权是作为个体的人和作为人的集体的国家和民族自由地参与和增进经济、社会、文化和政治的全面发展并享受发展利益的一种资格或权能,是全体人类对全面发展的本质要求。发展权已超越国际人权法的特定范围,成为指导包括WTO在内的国际关系各领域的一般国际法原则。WTO规则的实体规范和程序规范均包含了有利于发展中国家和人民发展权实现的因素,但其在整体上有利于发达国家而不是发展中国家。将发展权这种综合性的人权纳入WTO,可以在整体上矫正GATT/WTO运行以来所奉行的传统发展理论对人权的漠视和侵害,并按照人权的要求对WTO进行民主化改革,强化WTO以人为本的精神,以人权的规尺推进全球公平正义的实现,而不是将其作为已有特殊和差别待遇的辅助措施。     

扬弃传统和谐 构建现代和谐

中国传统文化博大精深,源远流长,蕴含着丰富的和谐思想,但这种思想受制于农业文明下停滞、专制的文化背景,所以,我们必须对传统和谐进行文化上、思维观念上的深入反思,克服传统和谐在我们意识中的僵化、保守烙印,真正树立起现代科学和谐理念,为构建社会主义和谐社会扫除深层障碍。     

中西治学方式之差异

中西治学方式的差异主要表现在三方面 :一是在处理“学” (基础理论研究 )与“术” (应用研究 )关系时有所不同。西方的“学”与“术”是两种不同的层次 ,两者分工明确 ,而且紧密结合。而中国则“学”、“术”不分或有“术”无“学”。二是在对待“博”与“专”的关系时有差异。西方学者大多“先专后博” ,即先进入某一个领域 ,进行深入、细致的研究 ,做出成果后再扩大知识面。中国传统的学者多为“先博后专” ,即先打好扎实的基础 ,掌握广博的知识 ,然后再进入某一个专业领域进行研究。三是研究的注重点不同 ,即“点”与“面”的差异。所谓“点” ,即研究的视角集中在社会或文化的某一要素或某一主题 ;所谓“面” ,即研究的视角大多是一个专题或一个领域。西方学术注重“点” ,而中国学术强调“面”。