Labelling and Legitimization: Justifying Political Violence in the Basque Country

This article focuses on the role of labelling in the discourse employed by the Left-Wing Nationalist movement in the Basque Country to legitimize the use of violence for political ends. The approach in this article goes beyond classic labelling theory. I demonstrate that radical Nationalists do not passively undergo their being labelled as deviants (fanatics, terrorists) by society, but develop counter-labels instead to define their opponents and re-label themselves.     

A political settlements lens onto Egypt’s critical junctures and cyclic violence (2011–2014)

Abstract

While there is a copious body of literature explaining Egypt’s political trajectory post-Mubarak through the lens of democratisation and transition theory, this paper argues that by using a political settlements lens, a less linear reading of the events can be offered, which highlights several attempts through both peaceful and violent means of arriving at negotiated agreements. The paper analyses the forging of three political settlements, one informal (2011) and two formal (2012, 2013) following the demise of the Mubarak regime in Egypt and the influence of intrinsic, instrumental and resultant violence on power configurations. It argues that the formal political settlement forged in Egypt in 2013 following the ousting of President Morsi cannot be read independently of the exclusionary outcomes of the informal political settlement forged in 2011 and the demise of the Fairmont Agreement of 2012. The paper relies on empirical data, including survey and focus groups undertaken in 2013–2014, complemented with secondary literature in Arabic and English.     

Preventive action and conflict mitigation in Nigeria’s 2015 elections

Prior to the 2015 Nigerian general elections, there were concerns that the fierce political contest would lead to electoral violence in the country. However, the elections were conducted peacefully, with fewer disputes and election-related deaths than previous elections. This study accounts for the fall in the level of electoral violence in Nigeria and discusses the lessons that Nigeria’s experience presents. It argues that the avoidance of destructive electoral disputes in Nigeria was the result of preventive action taken by the country’s electoral commission, civil society groups, and development partners. The specific preventive actions taken include innovations in election administration aimed at enhancing electoral transparency and credibility, election security measures such as early warning and peace messaging, and preventive diplomacy urging the main candidates and the political elite to embrace peace. The key lesson that can be drawn from Nigeria’s experience is that a well thought out conflict prevention strategy should be an integral part of electoral governance, especially in countries with a high risk of electoral violence.     

No more bullets for ETA: the loss of internal support as a key factor in the end of the Basque group’s campaign

The Basque separatist organisation ETA laid down its arms in 2011 after 40 years of an armed campaign for independence. It was not a consequence of political negotiations. The Basque group did not achieve its goals. Yet, it unilaterally decided to end its armed activity forever. This article analyses why and how ETA ended its armed campaign. It clarifies the events from the collapse of the last peace process in June 2007 to the announcement of the definitive end of ETA’s campaign in October 2011. It identifies the causal factors that led the Basque group towards its end. This article contends that the end of ETA’s campaign is a case of transformation triggered by its constituency’s withdrawal of support for the armed struggle. The leadership and social base of the political movement to which ETA belongs concluded that political violence was not effective anymore and, furthermore, was damaging for the Basque pro-independence movement. After an internal struggle, in which the faction advocating for exclusively political means prevailed, ETA was driven towards a unilateral abandonment of armed struggle.     

Adolescent Co-occurring Disorders Treatment: Clinicians' Attitudes,Values, and Knowledge

This study examined community-based clinicians’ (N = 294) attitudes, background/experiences, values, and knowledge relating to issues of co-occurring disorders, which occur at a high rate among adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system. Study results reveal that clinicians self-rate their clinical values and attitudes at or above the expected level of competency, but they concede that their skill and knowledge levels are not adequate. Comparison measures reveal that employment setting conditions, geographic region, hours worked per week, and strongly held convictions about the importance of integrated mental health and substance use disorders service delivery distinguish clinicians’ co-occurring disorders knowledge levels. Implications are offered.     

浅议青少年犯罪的成因和预防

近年来青少年犯罪节节攀升，成胁着我国社会秩序的正常运行。青少年犯罪，除了青少年自身的生理和心理因素外，更涉及社会制度、学校、家庭管理等各个层面。只有通过完善社会制度、加强青少年素质教育、改善社会风气等，才能达到预防和减少青少年犯罪的目的。     

超越与突破：未成年人刑事检察工作机制研究——兼及未成年人刑事案件公诉体系的构建

未成年人刑事检察机构的专门化和独立化只是未成年人刑事检察业务一体化的前提，未检职能的一体化，即未检业务的承办以实行同一办案组（或承办人）全程负责的“一站式”处理为原则，以特殊未检案件的“小分站式”处理为例外，才是未检业务一体化的核心和未检制度改革的关键。而由未成年人刑事司法原则所决定，未成年人刑事案件的社会调查工作，实行由检察机关启动、委托司法局下设的社会矫正机构具体实施的方式，不仅合法，而且更为科学合理。而未检运行目标的社会化，则应当成为我国未成年人刑事案件公诉体系重构的方向。     

浅论青少年和谐理念和谐精神的培育

青少年和谐理念、和谐精神的培育主要是打好两个基础、创造两个条件。和谐社会的宣传是青少年和谐理念、和谐精神培育的思想基础;和谐文化构建是青少年和谐理念、和谐精神培育的文化基础;和谐环境的建设是青少年和谐理念、和谐精神树立的客观条件;道德修养的提高是青少年和谐理念、和谐精神树立的主观条件。     

从和谐的视野看亲密关系的冲突——家庭暴力与女性犯罪

家庭是社会的细胞,构建和谐家庭是构建和谐社会的基础。但在当前中国,许多家庭中男女两性并未达到真正的平等与和谐。男性对女性的家庭暴力及其所引发的女性犯罪就是这种两性冲突的极端反映。制止家庭暴力、预防女性犯罪、建构和谐家庭,是我们成功建构和谐社会的基石。     

浅谈加强青少年心理健康教育的有效措施

青少年犯罪目前已被国际社会列为吸毒贩毒、环境污染之后的第三大公害。心理健康教育是预防青少年违法犯罪的重要治本措施,本文从心理健康教育角度去分析我国青少年心理健康的现状,青少年心理健康教育存在的问题,青少年心理健康教育的标准。提出要从家庭参与、社会支持,解决青少年心理健康教育中的突出问题,法育、德育和心理教育有机结合等方面加强青少年心理健康教育,让他们保持健康的心理,从源头上预防青少年违法犯罪。