Islands of the Mind: New Labour's Defensive Engagement with the European Union

This article reviews the cumulative development of New Labour's attitude and strategy towards the EU since the late 1980s and argues that the first two New Labour governments' approach to the EU represented a distinct retreat from the 'constructive engagement' and social democratic philosophy of Tony Blair's early modernising phase, moving steadily to occupy a much more traditional British position of 'defensive engagement', mixing national preferences with Atlanticism, and resisting further political integration in favour of traditional 'intergovernmentalism'. It is further argued that New Labour's prioritisation and preferencing of a UK institutional and political economy based upon economic liberalisation, the preservation of key aspects of national sovereignty, and maintaining Atlanticism as the bedrock of Europe's external foreign and defence policies have left Britain almost as far from the true 'heart of Europe' as when Blair inherited office from John Major in 1997.     

The Effects of British and American Trial Procedures on the Quality of Juror Decision-Making

Compared to American trial procedures, British procedures provide a less distracting environment in which jurors can process trial evidence. Relying on theories of persuasion, it was predicted that jurors viewing British procedures would be less affected by extra-evidentiary cues and would be more sensitive to evidence strength variations than jurors in American trials. Participants (N = 245) viewed a mock trial in which trial procedure, judge's nonverbal behavior, and evidence strength were varied. Participants judged the British procedures to be more civil and fair than American procedures but were less likely to find for the plaintiff. Although jurors recalled more trial facts when they viewed British procedures, they were not more sensitive to variations in evidence strength. There was some evidence that British procedures may increase the influence of judge's nonverbal behavior on juror judgments. The relative benefits of different trial procedures are discussed.     

论抢夺行为转化为抢劫犯罪

抢夺行为转化为抢劫犯罪不能简单等同于抢劫罪,其刑事责任起点应为16周岁,其数额、凶器、处罚也应充分体现出一定的特殊性。对此作出具体确认有利于维持“抢夺罪”——“准抢劫罪”——“抢劫罪”三者之间的平衡。     

Violence and Gangs: Gender Differences in Perceptions and Behavior

Most research on violence has focused on males, but recent studies indicatethat females are also involved in violent crimes. Few studies, to date,have examined whether different or similar models explain male and femaleinvolvement in violent behavior. In the current research, we examine therelative contribution of social bond, self-control and social learningconcepts to the explanation of male and female violent offending. We alsoexplore the unique contribution of gang membership, school environment andprior victimization to these explanatory models. Using a multisite sampleof eighth-grade students, we find that results of a Chow test indicate theneed for separate theoretical models. Despite some similarities, differentfactors account for male and female rates of violent behavior.     

流动人口高危行为的理论分析

与城市常驻居民相比 ,流动人口的高危行为更为明显。高危行为所导致的一系列社会问题是社会各方面关注的焦点。运用社会控制理论、社会隔离理论和社会地理网络理论深入分析流动人口从事高危行为的原因和理论机制 ,提出对流动人口高危行为及其后果分析的理论框架 ,可以为现代社会中流动人口的社会行为控制和有效管理提供理论参考依据     

Perceived Social Environment and Adolescents’ Well-Being and Adjustment: Comparing a Foster Care Sample With a Matched Sample

Previous research has demonstrated that former foster care youth are at risk for poor outcomes (e.g., more problem behaviors, more depression, lower self-esteem, and poor social relationships). It is not clear, however, whether these findings reflect preemancipation developmental deficits. This study used 163 preemancipation foster care youth and a matched sample of 163 comparison youth. Results showed that foster-care youth did not differ from the comparison sample on measures of well-being, including depressed mood, problem behavior, and self-esteem. Foster care youth reported higher levels of work orientation, but lower levels of academic achievement, aspirations, and expectations. In addition, compared to the matched sample, foster care youth perceived better social environments with respect to their important nonparental adults (VIPs) and peers, but poorer social environments relating to their parents. These differences in social environments may have offset each other and resulted in similar levels of psychological well-being for the two groups of youth. Regression analyses further showed that social environments were linked to selected adolescent outcomes, and nonparental VIPs were especially important for the foster care sample.Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine. Current interests: Cross-cultural study of adolescent well-being, at-risk youth.Received PhD in clinical psychology from Radcliffe College, Harvard University. Current interests: Role of culture, family, peers, and nonparental adults in adolescent developmentReceived PhD in developmental psychology from University of Michigan. Current interests: Cross-cultural human development; neural bases of language and mathematical learningReceived PhD in developmental psychology from University of Strathclyde. Current interests: Life-span development, motivation and developmental regulation, control and health     

借贷羊群行为:中小企业融资困难成因分析——基于博弈学习模型框架

关于中小企业融资难的问题,学者一般都是从信息不对称的角度来分析的,然而从另外一个角度:银行借贷羊群行为来分析,利用行为博弈学习理论来分析中小企业贷款困难的原因,通过计算机模拟银行借贷决策过程发现:当中小企业还贷率低时,银行给中小企业的贷款也低,而且由于其他银行的博弈学习行为降低了中小企业从其他银行得到贷款的机率,而当中小企业提高还贷率时,银行会增加给中小企业的贷款率。通过对银行借贷行为分析可知,中小企业要想提高贷款率,关键是提高银行博弈学习策略魅力值,提高企业的还贷率。     

超期羁押的刑事责任分析

每一项刑事司法制度 ,都表现了一种利弊的双向性 ,只有正确执行 ,才能体现出利 ;错误执行 ,则体现出弊。超期羁押便是对刑事司法制度的错误执行 ,已体现出其严重的社会危害性。但是单从保障诉讼进程的效果看 ,超期羁押无疑是个很好的办法 ,这使得人们对超期羁押现象抱宽容的态度 ,从而产生观念障碍。犯罪的本质是对刑法所保护的权益的侵犯 ,超期羁押明显地侵犯了刑法所保护的人身自由权 ,基于此 ,超期羁押的实质是非法拘禁 ,并应据此追究有关人员的刑事责任。     

内部行政行为司法救济之理论建构概略

内部行政行为对公务员的权利和义务有重大的影响,缺乏司法救济的内部行政行为极易侵害公务员的合法权益。内部行政行为司法经济在遵循行政复议前置、程序性审查、有限的实体性审查等原则。     

无效行政行为防卫权及无效标准

无效行政行为防卫权是行政相对人对无效行政行为所享有的正当不服从的权利。其制度目的是创设权利直接对权力进行监督的法律机制。防卫权制度的核心和难点是无效标准界定。无效包括绝对无效和相对无效。绝对无效的关键在于其情形列举必须详尽全面。相对无效的关键则是其一般理论概括必须客观准确