Norm-making,norm-taking or norm-shifting? A case study of Sino–Japanese competition in the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed rail project

This paper’s main aim is to contribute to the debate on the impact of China’s rise on the established norms and practices in the field of international development. To do so, it zooms in on a single infrastructure project, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail line, which involved intense competition between China and Japan. Specifically, it examines how competition between China, a non-Western emerging power, and Japan, an OECD member, led to a recalibration of both China and Japan’s approaches to infrastructure financing in the region. The findings suggest that rather than straight convergence or competition between diverging models, there is an ongoing process of two-way adjustment between China, and representatives of the dominant global norms and practices. We also argue that to understand the implications of China’s participation in the field of international development, and its impact on the ‘rules of the game’ of global governance, researchers should avoid positioning inquiries within the premises of China’s one-directional impact on the development assistance regime. Rather, it is necessary to take into account a complex set of relationships including China, host countries and other ‘socialised’ actors, and the process of negotiation between them.     

Chinese Intergovernmental Relations and World Development: Origins and Impacts of Chinese Export Credits

Generously offering loans for development projects around the world, China has recently brought them to Eastern Europe, namely to Belarus. By reviewing relevant development literature and using Belarus as a case study, this article contributes to the debate on China’s emergence as a source of investment and aid. It addresses four concerns: the tools used by China, the driving forces behind proactive investing behavior, the advantages and disadvantages for a recipient country, and the conditionality attached. The article demonstrates that Chinese export credits resolve a latent conflict of interests between the central and local governments by transferring Chinese businesses abroad. Meanwhile, the borrowers have to deal with extra costs, for instance, high expenses to maintain final facilities or the cost of Chinese labor adaptation. In Belarus, the situation is exacerbated by the language barrier and a general anxiety of the local population derived from the lack of experience with foreigners.     

Assessing China's Cybersecurity Law

In November 2016, China passed its first Cybersecurity Law, aiming to strengthen cyberspace governance through a number of initiatives, including Internet operator security protection, personal information protection, special protection of critical information infrastructure, local storage of data, and security evaluation for data export. This Article discusses the major concepts and principles of the Cybersecurity Law. It also discusses the tensions and controversies inherent in the law. All in all, the Cybersecurity Law exhibits distinctive Chinese characteristics. It is premised on the concept of cyberspace sovereignty and emphasizes security over free flow of data and freedom of speech. It provides a basic legal framework for cyberspace governance in China, to be supplemented by implementing regulations in years to come.     

Thickening Civil Society: Explaining the Development of Associational Life in Mexico

Scholarship has demonstrated the important role that associational life has played in democratic transitions, democratic consolidation, and making democracy work. Unfortunately, however, many countries that have recently completed the transition to democracy lack a strong history of autonomous associations. Given their importance, this research seeks to understand how nonprofit organizations emerge in current-day Mexico, a recent transition country with a traditionally weak associational life, historically controlled by the state. Through a comparison of four Mexican cities this research finds that a transition from one-party rule to competitive elections was necessary to break the incentives for clientelism. Even following the transition, however, the persistence of informal rules from the old regime operating in both government and society restricts the opportunities available to potential ‘public entrepreneurs’. As a result, such entrepreneurs are highly dependent on already existing social infrastructure to obtain necessary human, organizational, and financial resources.     

基建财务管理的内部审计研究

基建财务管理的内部审计对降低建设项目成本,提高资金的使用效益,防止差错与舞弊,不断地完善财务管理制度均有着至关重要的作用。基建项目的内部会计控制制度、建设资金的筹措与使用、工程造价及竣工决算作为财务管理的关键点,同时也是内部审计的重点。要保证内审效果,不仅要实施必要的审计程序和步骤,而且还必须提高人员的综合素质,使其参与项目全过程。     

中国与印尼在基础设施建设方面合作的现状与前景

印尼经济在1997年亚洲金融危机期间遭受重创,国内基础设施建设几乎陷于停滞.为改善落后的基础设施状况,加速经济的发展,创造更多的就业机会,印尼计划采取措施首先改善国内投资环境,以吸引更多的外资参与本国基础设施的建设.这无疑将为迅速发展中国与印尼基础设施的合作带来更为广阔的前景.     

刍议城市重要基础设施安全面临的威胁因素及应对策略

城市重要基础设施对于国家和地区的政治、经济发展起着关键性基础作用,城市重要基础设施的安全关乎着国家和社会的稳定;随着社会的发展,重要基础设施的内涵和外延也不断地变化;按照特定的原则和分析路径,可以更加清楚和全面地考察城市重要基础设施所面临的安全威胁因素,包括来自内部的、外部的和自身机能的,同时也为采取有效的防范措施提供了指引。     

Australia's National Broadband Network – A cybersecure critical infrastructure?

In 2009 the Australian National Broadband Network (NBN) began to be rolled out across Australia. The Australian NBN is the largest infrastructure project in Australia's history since the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme from 1949 to 1972 and it has a projected cost of between AU$37 billion and AU$43 billion. Its purposes are to provide high speed broadband connectivity to 93% of Australia's homes and businesses, to enhance productivity, to improve the delivery of education, tele-medicine and regional connectivity and to form the basis of the Australian telecommunications network for the 21st Century. However, the project does not have bi-partisan support and has been affected by high-level management changes and anticipated cost over-runs.     

What Has China Brought to Africa?

正Following a series of African leaders conferences in the EU,China,India,and Japan,the U.S.held the fi rst U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington D.C.from August 4 to6.The high-level meeting saw the announcement of a US$33billion-investment in Africa,in sectors such as construction,clean energy,banking,and information technology,to propel economic and trade relations between the U.S.and African countries.Meanwhile,the U.S.laid down plans to catch up with Europe and China in terms of infl uence in Africa in sectors such as infrastructure and production.