Is Britain Facing a Crisis of Democracy?

This article contributes to the debate in this journal about the state of British democracy. I criticise the tendency to use a ‘demand–supply’ dichotomy in interpreting the strong distrust experienced by institutions and politicians, and especially the idea that all the blame for current problems is to be attributed to the inadequateness of the British political tradition (BPT). By referring to international data on democracy and to recent British trends in both public attitudes and institutional innovations, a more nuanced picture on the state of democracy emerges. I argue that the BPT is not incompatible with incremental changes that have already introduced innovations in the way politics works in Britain today, and that the task of empowering citizens is one of the most delicate aspects in this process of innovation.     

Iron Houses in the Tropical Heat: Decentralization Reforms in Africa and their Consequences

Abstract

Decentralization reforms introduced to Africa have not always delivered the intended outcomes. Through interaction with the broader historical, political, social and economic context, reforms seem to have engendered political consequences beyond decentralization itself. Most of the literature on decentralization and development emphasizes questions of institutional design and policy, but here we expand the focus of analysis and incorporate the harder-to-pin-down political patterns marking the workings of decentralization in Africa. Through the case-studies of Ghana, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Ethiopia and Uganda we seek to connect the debates on development with the scholarly literatures on comparative federalism, comparative decentralization and local democracy. The conclusion that emerges is that no magic formula which can turn countries into peaceful, stable and prosperous democracies overnight exists. And, importing formal institutions without regard to the local historical, political, social and economic context risks leaving us with elegant but dysfunctional iron houses in the tropical heat.     

Mapping out the institutional geography of external security in the EU

The growth of European Union (EU) competences in the field of external security in the last decade has produced a substantial increase in the number of EU institutions and bureaucratic actors engaged in the planning and management of these policies. Moreover, the expansion of competences in such a sovereign sensitive area comes up against the persistent intergovernmental nature of the security sector. This has resulted, on the one hand, in a complex institutional architecture with heavy demands in terms of coordination, and on the other hand, in a stark differentiation and stratification of the legal regimes with a potential to impact on policy outcomes. This state of uncertainty is particularly relevant when looking at relations with countries bordering the Union, as the long-standing web of interactions there has developed a more complex institutional environment. While most of the scholarly literature focuses on single institutional sectors or policies (Common Security and Defence Policy, European Neighbourhood Policy, or the external side of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice), this study seeks to address the issue with a comprehensive analysis of the institutional framework that has emerged in the last decade, more notably, since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. The article provides, first, an overview of the EU’s institutional actors responsible for security policies in the regions bordering the EU, and second, an examination of the different mechanisms established to address the coordination issue. Finally, this study will argue that the traditional military dimension is but one, and certainly not the most developed, of the security instruments employed by the EU. At another level, it will be argued that the shift of focus from the military to other security tools has altered the institutional balance in the security sector, substantially adding to the relative influential weight of the Commission.     

朱元璋的制度反腐及其教训

鉴于元朝灭亡的教训,朱元璋力图从制度上预防与惩治贪污腐败。他制定低俸禄与低办公经费制度强迫官员保持节俭的作风,以严酷的法律惩治贪污腐败,并建立了一个完善的监察系统搜集官员腐败的证据。朱元璋的制度建设虽然对遏制贪污腐败起到了一定震慑作用,但即使是在朱元璋时代,贪污行为也屡发不绝。朱元璋过世后,低俸禄与低办公经费成为官员贪腐的正当理由,严酷的反贪法律的执行因为完全取决于皇帝的态度实际上也逐渐废止了,监察制度也变成了党争的工具。尽管如此,朱元璋的制度反腐仍然为今天的廉政建设提供了可资借鉴的经验与教训:反腐教育应当常抓不懈,反腐应摆脱依赖个人意志的法律,注意保持官员的适当工资水平。     

论依法审计的内容要求及保证措施

审计机关作为国家的重要经济执法部门,在国家的建设和发展中做出了重大的贡献。但在具体的审计工作中,由于主客观的原因,距离依法审计要求还有不小的差距。依法审计,必须制定审计工作计划,严格审计程序,在法定的职权范围内开展审计工作,依法定性处理、处罚。     

规范政府行为的一部重要法律——为《中华人民共和国行政许可法》正式施行而作

今年7月1日正式施行的《行政许可法》是规范政府行为的一部重要法律。以法律规范政府行为,是由政府权力的特点决定的,是我国完善社会主义市场经济体制的客观要求。《行政许可法》的正式施行,是我国政府改革进程的重要里程碑。《行政许可法》确立了新的价值取向,同时也充分体现法律至上的原则和制度创新。施行《行政许可法》要充分估计到困难和阻力,要针对可能出现的问题努力做好工作。     

关于个人汽车消费贷款保证保险纠纷案件的法律分析

近日,中国保监会对个人汽车消费贷款保证保险旧条款紧急叫停,根本原因在于个人汽车消费贷款保证保险纠纷案件与日俱增。正确认识保证保险条款和保证保险合作协议之间的关系是正确解决此类纠纷的关键。个人汽车消费贷款保证保险不同于担保。借款合同尚未生效,保险人不应当承担保险责任。     

关于精英决策的制度分析

精英决策的模式是民主政治欠发达的国家广泛存在的一种政府决策模式 ,其形成是有集体行动的逻辑和根源的。从制度经济学的角度来看 ,精英决策的模式缺乏制度效率。中国政府的精英决策模式向民主决策的转变 ,需要在克服集体行动“失灵”和遵循制度效率标准的基础上 ,做出一系列的制度安排     

新视野下的警察执法权益保障机制探析

侵犯人民警察执法权益,暴力袭警,故意伤害民警的行为,不仅是对国家法律的公然藐视和对社会的敌视,也是破坏社会公共秩序,妨害国家机关对社会正常管理的行为。只有从法律法规体系上、保护措施上、自身素质上完善人民警察执法权益的保障机制,提高人民警察的执法水平和自我保护能力,才能有效地维护人民警察的合法权益。     

突发公共事件中公民权利的保护机制分析

在现代法治国家,为防止突发公共事件的巨大冲击力导致整个国家生活与社会秩序的全面失控,需要运用行政紧急权力并实施应急法律规范,来调整紧急情况下的国家权力之间、国家权力与公民权利之间、公民权利之间的各种社会关系,以有效控制和消除危机,恢复正常的社会生活秩序和法律秩序,维护和平衡社会公共利益与公民合法权益.为此需要对突发公共事件中的公民权利进行界定,明确界限、建立程序制度保障和救济机制,以寻求突发公共事件中行政紧急权力与公民权利保护的平衡.