Effective but inefficient: understanding the costs of counterterrorism

This article analyses state counterterrorism (CT) policy on two dimensions: its effectiveness and its efficiency. It points out that CT is likely to be effective but inefficient. The material weakness of terrorist groups in relation to their state opponents, and different organisational dilemmas, increases the probability of an effective CT policy. However, states frequently overreact to terrorist attacks, which are valued in normative instead of strategic terms. Hence, they spend more resources on CT than justified by the threat posed by the terrorist groups. The article concludes that CT should be framed as an allocation of scarce resources that could be used in other important contexts.     

Feminism in the Humanitarian Machine. Introduction to the Special Section on ‘The Politics of Intervention Against (Conflict-Related) Sexual and Gender-based Violence’

ABSTRACT

The prevention and mitigation of sexual and gender-based violence in (post-) conflict societies has become an important humanitarian activity. This introductory article examines the analytical discourses on these interventions, the institutionalization of SGBV expertise in international politics, and the emancipatory potential of anti-SGBV practices. It argues that the confluence of feminist professional activism and militarized humanitarian interventionism produced specific international activities against SGBV. As part of the institutionalization of gender themes in international politics, feminist emancipatory claims have been taken up by humanitarian organizations. The normal operating state of the humanitarian machine, however, undercuts its potential contribution to social transformation towards larger gender equality in (post-) conflict societies.     

经济学角度解析官员道德风险问题

预防和杜绝官员道德风险问题,保证政府的高效廉洁,是一个持久的话题。本文从经济学的角度,利用政府和官员之间的委托—代理关系建立了一个期望效用模型,推导出引发政府官员道德风险的要素。在明确了腐败与额外收益、工资、腐败被发现后的收入、官员的任期、预期贴现率、被发现查处的概率等因素的关系后,提出了对腐败综合治理的对策。     

警察在干预自杀事件中的作用

自杀是一个严重的社会问题。面对当前日益严峻的自杀问题,警察作为维护国家安全、维护社会治安秩序、保护人民生命财产安全的重要力量,在多数情况下是自杀现场的第一处置人员。因此,正确认识自身在处理自杀事件中的角色,掌握恰当的干预自杀的方法与技巧,对于警察来说是极其重要的。     

思想政治工作实效性刍议

如何提高新形势下思想政治工作的实效性 ,是当前一个紧迫的现实问题。思想政治工作实效性的内涵 ,影响实效性的因素 ,对当前思想政治工作存在的问题进行分析 ,从七个方面提出了有针对性的对策建议。     

Does Size Still Matter? An Empirical Analysis of the Effectiveness of Victorian Local Authorities

Efficiency approaches to the question of whether population size matters to optimal local government have proved largely inconclusive. However, recent exploratory empirical work employing an effectiveness approach – as proxied by citizen satisfaction survey data – offers a promising way forward. The present paper seeks to build upon an earlier cross-sectional analysis of Victorian local government by employing longitudinal data over a three-year period – 2008 to 2010 – for Victorian local authorities. The greater depth of data confirmed the positive associations with population density but suggests that negative linear relationships dominate over parabolic associations for population size. This result underlines the need for the collection of more local government citizen satisfaction data by Australian local government systems, given its potentially fruitful application in tackling contentious questions in contemporary local government policy debates.     

我国艾滋病行为干预的现实状况与基本评价

艾滋病行为干预是预防、控制艾滋病的重要技术手段,其内容框架主要包括对象、形式、目标、原则、措施等。近年来,我国政府通过采取各种各样的措施,广泛开展行为干预,积极应对艾滋病,取得了明显的成效,但同时也存在不少问题。要充分认识加强艾滋病行为干预工作的重要性和紧迫性,切实认真地执行艾滋病行为干预的政策规定,更加广泛、深入和持久地开展艾滋病的行为干预活动,加大监管力度,分类实施相应的行为干预措施。     

巨灾保险试点问题解析及对策研究

巨灾保险试点运营以来,在取得了一定的巨灾风险管理成效的同时困难也不断出现,因此,如何进一步推行巨灾保险,是一个亟待解决的问题.本文在论述以巨灾保险转嫁巨灾风险与自助、互助、公助的理念相契合,巨灾风险之"公众性"和"社群性"决定了巨灾保险政府介入的必要性和有限性,巨灾保险与大数法则的矛盾及其化解,巨灾保险试点运营存在的问...     

Institutionalization of Children with Disabilities in Croatia: Social Workers' Perspectives

Abstract

This study aims to advance understanding of social workers’ perceptions of the circumstances necessitating and preventing the placement of children with disabilities (CwDs) in institutions. This retrospective study involved thematic analyses of one focus group (n?=?7) and semi-structured individual interviews (n?=?12). Participants included social work professionals with experience providing welfare services for CwDs and their families. In effort to prevent separation of CwDs from their families, results suggest a need for continued monitoring of deinstitutionalization of CwDs alongside increased availability, accessibility, and quality of childcare, alternative child welfare and family support services.     

Does it matter if those who matter don't mind? Effects of gang versus delinquent peer group membership on labeling processes

Despite renewed interests in the labeling perspective and the impact of official intervention on individuals’ future outcomes, scant attention has been given to potential conditioning factors for theorized labeling processes. We argue that, when viewed through a symbolic interactionist lens, variations in the nature of primary social groups, through which individuals filter official labels like arrest, may generate patterns for subsequent self-concept and delinquency that are contrary to what labeling theory indicates. To test our rationale, we offer a moderated mediation model in which gang membership is expected to differentially impact the effect of arrest on future delinquency through an intermediary mechanism: self-esteem. We test a gang–nongang dichotomy and then probe further to test whether hypothesized effects are gang specific or occur similarly for nongang youths with highly delinquent peer groups. Analyzed using Rochester Youth Development Study (RYDS) data (N = 961), comparisons between gang members and nonaffiliated youths with similarly highly delinquent peer groups revealed no significant differences in conditional indirect effects of arrest on self-esteem and future delinquency; the two groups were similarly insulated from any negative impact of arrest on self-esteem. For nongang youths with fewer delinquent peers, however, arrest significantly reduced later self-esteem, which in turn increased their future delinquency.