Beyond elections: perceptions of democracy in four Arab countries

This article draws on public opinion survey data from Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and Jordan to investigate first, whether a “demand for democracy” in the region exists; second, how to measure it; and third, how respondents understand it. The picture emerging from this analysis is complex, eluding the simple dichotomy between prima facie support and second order incongruence with democracy, which characterises current debates. Respondents have a more holistic understanding of democracy than is found in current scholarship or indeed pursued by Western or regional policymakers, valuing civil-political rights but prioritizing socio-economic rights. There is broad consensus behind principles of gender equality, but indirect questions reveal the continuing influence of conservative and patriarchal attitudes. Respondents value religion, but do not trust religious leaders or want them to meddle in elections or government. Moreover, while there is broad support for conventionally-understood pillars of liberal democracy (free elections, a parliamentary system), there is also a significant gap between those who support democracy as the best political system in principle and those who also believe it is actually suitable for their country.     

Studying a negative external actor: Russia's management of stability and instability in the ‘Near Abroad’

The literature on transition and democratization was for long dominated by internal explanatory factors such as economic performance, civil society, institutions, etc. Only recently have external actors' democratizing efforts – like those of the US and the EU – been systematically incorporated. But the perspective remains too constrained, since only ‘positive’ external actors are considered, while possible ‘negative’ actors are left aside. This article attempts to rectify some of the imbalance. First, an analytical framework that can be used to analyse both positive and negative external actors is proposed. Then, the framework is put into use through an analysis of the negative effects of Russia's foreign policy in the so-called ‘Near Abroad’. It is argued that two general effects take shape: the ‘policy of managed stability’ and the ‘policy of managed instability’. Both are weakening the democratic perspectives in the post-Soviet area, so I argue that Russia's foreign policy in the ‘Near Abroad’ is a, hitherto, underestimated and badly understood ‘negative’ factor in the literature on transition and democratization in the post-Soviet space.     

金融支持民族地区文化产业发展研究

在文化产业发展进程中,金融的资源配置功能具有极为重要的推动作用。因此,必须系统整合文化产业链,促进民族地区金融与文化创意产业的有效结合,保障文化产业顺利发展。     

Twenty years of Australia's engagement with Asia

Abstract

For the past two decades, ‘engagement with Asia’ has been a central theme in Australian public policy and public debate about Australia's place in the world. The commitment to Asian engagement has been shared by both sides of federal politics throughout this period; however, when in government the Labor Party (1983–96) and the Coalition (1996–2007) pursued radically different approaches to this common objective. This article contrasts and evaluates the differing approaches adopted by the Labor and Coalition governments, in the context of the domestic and regional debates and controversies that accompanied them. In particular, it seeks to explain why Australia is more engaged with Asia than ever before, in seeming defiance of the widespread criticism of the Coalition government's particular approach to Asian engagement.     

西部民族地区人口、资源与环境的可持续发展

我国西部民族地区战略地位重要,它的发展对整个国家的经济和社会发展有着举足轻重的作用。从2000年开始的西部大开发战略实施以来,整个西部地区发生了翻天覆地的变化,城市化进程加快,工业化迅速发展,生产总值在全国经济的占比越来越重。经济的发展带来日益严峻的环境问题,尤其是在西部民族地区,由于其特殊的自然地理条件和社会历史原因,环境问题的处理成为其在追赶经济的过程中不可忽视的一环。     

由孙中山的《实业计划》解读泛珠三角的区域合作——兼谈福建在泛珠三角区域合作中的作用

孙中山的<实业计划>一书有助于解读泛珠三角区域合作,泛珠三角区域合作的主要目的是优势互补、统一市场、资源整合,这也正是孙中山在<实业计划>中所蕴涵着区域经济思想.泛珠三角区通过区域合作可以形成良好的叠加效应,形成多赢格局,将发展成为我国新经济增长的重要一级.福建是泛珠三角合作中的重要省份,福建提出建设海峡西岸经济区,准确锁定了福建的发展目标和定位,在泛珠三角区域合作中求突破.同时建设海峡西岸经济区使福建在泛珠三角区域经济合作中的地位更加重要.     

陕甘宁边区民事审判模式之选择

调解成为陕甘宁边区民事审判权的主导性运作方式，这是陕甘宁边区民事审判的特色，并且这一特色在很长时期内保持了高度的稳定性。在我国，诉讼调解和判决是诉讼制度的重要组成部分，两者没有主辅之分，不可偏废。     

加快西部地区县域经济发展的思考

县域经济是整个国民经济的重要组成部分,在当前全面建设社会主义新农村的环境下,西部地区县域经济的重要性尤为突出。文章分析了西部地区县域经济发展的现状和存在的问题,并提出了促进西部地区县域经济发展的建议。     

建设促进创新活动的区域政策体系——以台州为例

台州地处改革开放前沿,是中国优秀创新型城市,运用政策促进创新活动走在全国前列。台州为把当地的家庭作坊式企业培育成现代企业,制定了一系列导向性政策,逐步形成了一个鼓励创新的区域政策支持体系,并以其合力形式,鼓励民间创新活动。台州这一支持创新的政策体系,大体通过三种方式形成：一是以壮大民营企业为目标而制定促进创新活动的政策,二是以壮大主导产业为目标而制定促进创新活动的政策,三是以壮大区域竞争力为目标而制定促进创新活动的政策。     

论西部经济社会的科学发展道路

西部经济社会的科学发展道路是党探索中国特色社会主义历史进程中一个重大的问题。这条道路就是在科学发展观的指导下，以“民营经济、民生事业、民主政治”为基础，以生态建设和农村建设为突破口，紧紧依靠西部广大人民群众的主体力量，实现西部经济社会又好又快发展的道路。要构建西部经济社会的科学发展道路，关键是要形成与科学发展观的要求相适应的新的政绩观念和干部考核机制。