Neo-Kantianism and Coercive Diplomacy: The Complex Case of Economic Sanctions

Although voluminous research connects the neo-Kantian triad—democracy, economic interdependence, and intergovernmental organization membership—to amelioration of conflict processes, comparatively little is known about how these factors relate to economic coercion. We advance the relevant literature on neo-Kantianism and the determinants of sanction decisions by (1) analyzing the impact of all three neo-Kantian factors on economic coercion and (2) assessing the effects of these factors across both the onset of threat and imposition of sanctions. Results from the time-series, cross-national data analyses indicate a significant but complex connection between the neo-Kantian variables and sanctions. Specifically, we find that although democratic regimes are less likely to threaten each other with sanctions, once a threat is made, democracies are more likely to impose sanctions against each other. Economic interdependence and common IGO membership are likely to increase the probability of sanction threats. Yet, the results also suggest that common IGO membership decreases the probability of sanction imposition while economic interdependence has no statistically significant effect on the decision to impose sanctions. Overall, these results highlight the importance of a more nuanced study of sanction decisions for a better understanding of the factors that lead to sanction use.     

Differential Social Support,Differential Coercion,and Organized Criminal Activities

Utilizing differential social support and coercion theory, the study examines how levels of social support and coercion lead to involvement in organized criminal activities through the development of anger, low self-control, low social control, and access to illegitimate social support. The findings show that the association between social support and organized criminal activities is mediated through anger, self-control, social control, and access to illegitimate social support. Similarly, the relationship between coercion and organized criminal activities is mediated through anger, self-control, and illegitimate social support. The results also reveal that coercion has a direct effect on crime. The study offers preliminary theoretical support but more theoretical and empirical work is required to clarify the causal continuum of erraticness and consistency of central variables.     

Prosecuting 'child pornography': Possession and taking of indecent photographs of children

This article examines the application of 'child pornography' law by police, prosecutors and the courts and presents the key findings from the first national study conducted into child pornography trials in the Crown Court in England and Wales against a wider statistical analysis of proceedings for possession of 'child pornography' in the Magistrates' Court. The findings show that there are very few prosecutions in the Crown Court and, of defendants proceeded against, most are involved in the taking of photographs rather than in distribution or possession per se . Notwithstanding, few of these defendants are charged with any additional sexual offence, although in the act of taking an indecent photograph of a child some further offence(s) must inevitably be committed. The findings suggest a relationship between child pornography and child sexual abuse. Defendants engage in disavowal and minimizing strategies, while judges also fail to recognize the dangerousness of those defendants convicted of possession or distribution. Sentencing continues to reflect the view that such child pornographers are benign and prison terms remain at the lower end of the tariff range.     

Getting to Grips with Sexual Grooming? The New Offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003

In recent years, there has been increased societal concern regarding the dangers posed to children by sexual abuse and other related acts. For the main part, this article examines the new offence of meeting a child following sexual grooming under Section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. I will address the question of whether the introduction of this offence is likely to meet the Government's aim of providing greater protection for children against behaviour associated with sexual abuse. In particular, I will consider how difficult it will be to prove the existence of a harmful ulterior intent in order to make out the offence and why the Government has opted to create this specific offence rather than utilise the existing law of criminal attempt. I will argue that the new offence is a step in the right direction and that the current protection offered to children will be significantly extended by its introduction.     

论可撤销合同的法律形式

法律必然要适应社会经济的发展,我国合同法也必然随着我国社会主义市场经济的发展而不断演变,因此,必须对合同法中各项制度加以完善,特别是对可撤销合同的完善。本文通过对可撤销合同的法律形式的研究,进而探讨可撤销合同中存在的相关问题。不仅对合同当事人在合同实践中做出正确的合同行为具有指导意义,而且有利于法院和仲裁机构在审理合同纠纷案件时,做出正确的判决或裁决。     

谈性贿赂立法

在对我国性贿赂行为的普遍性及其危害性分析之后,对我国设立性贿赂犯罪的刑法学理论基础进行论述,提出在中国现行刑法典中增设性贿赂的相关条款,以更好地保障国家工作人员职务的廉洁性。     

"Dangerous" Sexual Consciousness: A Reflection on the Sex Education for Disabled Institutionalized Children in China

This ethnographic study investigates how childcare workers view and react to behaviors of disabled institutionalized children which they consider sexual in a Chinese orphanage. Presuming them primarily as “asexual” or “sexually immature” subjects based on a biomedical understanding of disability and childhood, the childcare workers are anxious to find signs of sexual consciousness in some of these children. Labelled as either “dangerous” or “abnormal”, the sexually conscious candidates are subject to physical punishment and denied access to sex information. In spite of this, they continue to have sexual feelings and engage in sexual behaviors, and some may even develop specific strategies to fulfill their own needs. The interactions between childcare workers and disabled children exemplify the tensions between a disapproving environment for sexual and the sexual agency of disabled people in China. The findings may have wide policy implications for the state, as well as organizations of children’s rights and disability rights, to promote ideas and measures that enable disabled institutionalized children to develop into sexually expressive and fulfilled persons.     

性骚扰问题探讨——由全国首例性骚扰案引起的法律思考

本文介绍了性骚扰及其特征 ,并结合全国首例性骚扰案 ,针对性骚扰在我国令人堪忧的现状 ,阐述了对这一问题的法律对策———行政解决方案     

用判别函数对一块颅骨性别差异的研究

作者对东北汉族60例(男、女各30例)单块颅骨(上颌骨、额骨、枕骨和顶骨)的25项指标进行测量,应用判别分析方法对每块颅骨进行分析,发现了某些性别差异非常显著的指标,并获得了12个判别式。结果表明:用单个颅骨判别性别存在着明显的差异,其中额骨最好,其判别率达93.3％,与国外的研究比较,本文判別率高,具有实用性。     

对三十例残害女性系列杀人案的实证分析

系列杀人犯罪案件数量近年来有明显上升趋势,其中以女性为侵害目标的系列杀人案件占大多数.本文对30起案例中的犯罪人从9个维度、被害人从3个维度进行实证分析,结论认为:(1)系列杀人犯罪有一定规律性;(2)被害人中有一部分属于有责任被害人;(3)系列杀人犯罪人不全是变态者.基于上述分析,我们提出预防系列杀人案件发生、提高社会综合治理能力的启示,以期为预防、减少此类恶性案件的发生提供依据.