Social and economic inclusion of people with disabilities: practical lessons from Bangladesh

People with disabilities remain one of the most excluded minorities, often deprived of the benefits of mainstream development programmes. This practical note reports on lessons learnt in delivering a programme combining a community based rehabilitation (CBR) and self-help group approach with disabled persons in rural Bangladesh. Our findings demonstrate how targeted programmes can bring about the social and economic inclusion of disabled persons. We also highlight the greater effectiveness of CBR programmes when targeting a more diverse client base, when not based on debt recovery, and how targeted programmes can even benefit the wider community.     

ABCD to CBT: asset-based community development's potential for community-based tourism

This article conceptualises the potential for a relationship between asset-based community development (ABCD) and community-based tourism (CBT), with a view to improving CBT's patchy record in delivering community development. ABCD has previously been used in international development and community work, but is new to tourism for development. Hence, the article seeks to relate ABCD's characteristics with CBT on a theoretical level, based on a shift away from ‘needs-driven’ development towards a conscious appreciation of community assets. The authors suggest that ABCD can, and should, be applied to CBT, given the positive emphasis it puts on people and their potential.     

Farmers,peanuts, and aflatoxins in Uganda: A gendered approach

This article describes a collaborative research for development project that used participatory methods to engage smallholder farmers in Uganda in post-harvest aflatoxin management. It is based primarily on qualitative research with peanut growers tracing ‘the path of the peanut’ through their hand-drawn maps and journal writing. By focusing on everyday life and including recipes and drawings, this research encouraged women's participation and emphasised women's roles. A unique partnership among universities, women's organisations, and farmers created an environment of mutual learning and produced a book documenting food preparation and other post-harvest practices as part of a study and capacity-building effort on peanuts and aflatoxins.     

Human (In)Security and Democracy in Central America

Human security has increasingly shifted attention to the individual, while the state has become guarantor (or violator) of security given its role in governing the domestic environment. This article examines how variations in regime forms influence security, pointing to the importance of political security in the wider human security framework. To illustrate, the article examines the nature of political security in Central America, a region with weakly democratized states and histories of political violence. The findings suggest a link between democracy and human security that is mediated by state capacity and the ability to control non-state violence against individuals.     

浅论政治协商在民主执政中的重要作用

当代中国的民主本质上是一种协商性民主.在当代中国,作为协调不同利益关系的政治协商,正是一种符合民主执政要求的形式.作为符合有中国特色社会主义民主政治要求的一种选择,政治协商对于坚持和完善民主执政具有重要意义.     

论马基雅维里的政治理论观

意大利人文主义思想家马基雅维里的政治理论,切断了国家、君权与上帝的联系,使国家学说与宗教神学相分离,使政治理论观点摆脱了道德的束缚,掀开了政治学说的新篇章。他既鼓吹君主制又讴歌共和制的二元化政体理论,是符合意大利现实的进步思想。马基雅维里的政治理论,奠定了近代资产国家学说和政治学说的基础。     

社区自治与社会主义政治文明建设

中国当前的社区自治存在着结构性困境 ,主要表现为制度供给不足 ,行政化倾向严重和居民社区参与意识孱弱。制度建设 ,自治组织建设与重塑 ,社区教育、培养公民的社区意识 ,是完善社区自治 ,推进社会主义政治文明建设的战略举措。     

社会进步视野中政治制度的功能分析

政治制度能够为物质文明的发展提供制度保障,为精神文明的创建奠定制度框架,为调节相互冲突的政治利益关系设置制度安排。政治制度对于社会进步的重要意义由此得以凸显。     

浅论思想政治工作中“情与理”的辩证关系——兼谈思想政治工作者应具备的素质

政治思想工作是建设和谐社会的重要因素,改革攻坚中出现的一些新情况、新问题对思想政治工作提出了新的、更高的要求。思想政治工作的方法虽然是多种多样的,但只要坚持以人文本,真诚待人,正确处理好“情与理”的关系,注意工作方法,讲求工作艺术,就会使思想政治工作起到事半功倍     

政治体制改革视野中的干部人事制度创新

中共十六大后政治体制改革的着力点是干部人事制度创新。其制度设计是:合理配置人事管理权限,创新分级、分类管理制度;实行党政领导干部职务任期制度,创新更新机制;完善干部职务和级别相结合的制度,创新激励保障机制;将民主参与渗透在干部管理环节之中,创新监督机制。