Rejecting representation? Party systems and popular support for referendums in Europe

Under what conditions do citizens favor deciding political issues by popular vote? Models of support for popular vote processes usually consider the influence of individual attitudes such as political trust and interest in politics. But much less is known about the effect of institutional variables on support for popular vote processes. This article builds on research showing that disaffection with elected officials shapes support for referendums by considering the influence of the party system. First, an analysis of multilevel data from twenty-four European democracies indicates that individuals are more supportive of referendums in countries with fewer effective political parties. Second, a mediation analysis provides evidence that the number of parties influences referendum support through individual-level political trust and external efficacy. Where there are fewer viable parties, feelings that elected officials are unresponsive tend to increase popular support for referendums. These findings suggest a trade-off between available representation by political parties and support for direct influence over public policy.     

From Broken Families to the Broken Society

This article traces the development of the Conservative party's 'broken society' narrative, from its roots in William Hague's early invocations of 'social justice' to the evidence-based approach adopted by David Cameron. It considers relevant social trends over the period since 1970; summarises the Conservative party's attitude to family policy in government between 1979 and 1997; and shows how the Conservatives in opposition from 1997 onwards have become more focused on support for the marriage-based family, now a central tenet of Conservative social policy under David Cameron's leadership.     

关于“一国两制”台湾模式的新构想

在现行“一国两制”构想用来解决台湾问题遇到阻力的情况下,本文深挖国家结构形式的理论资源,提出用“一国两制”来解决台湾问题的新构想。新构想在“一个中国”的前提下,借鉴联邦主义的某些做法,以期建构一个两岸同胞均能接受的国家统一模式。该构想扩大了“一国两制”的包容量,增强了“一国两制”的适用性,具有重要的理论和现实意义。     

两大法系陪审制度比较研究

西方国家的陪审制度有两种运作模式,一种是英美法系的陪审团制,另一种是大陆法系的参审制。这两种陪审制度的主旨都在于吸收普通民众参与诉讼,从而将“民间智慧”和“大众理性”引入司法领域,但是,在具体的制度设计上,二者之间则存在着明显的差异。这些差异的形成,与两大法系各自的司法制度和法律文化传统密切相关。     

城中村社会保障机制构建的路径选择——基于制度关联视角的分析

城乡统筹背景下的城中村社会保障是城市化进程中值得关注的问题,制度间的失衡与悖论是城中村社会保障机制的构建和社会关系的有序与和谐的制度性障碍。本文通过制度关联这一理论工具,在总结目前城中村社会保障机制类型的基础上,认为整体联动的、渐进式的、强致性和诱致性相结合的路径符合我国建立城中村社会保障的实际,为失地农民社会保障提供政策向导。     

网络诽谤犯罪立案管辖之困境与价值抉择

本文对网络诽谤犯罪案件载体与形式进行了重新评估,并解释了刑法扩张的合理性,试图从诽谤犯罪规制的价值选择出发,考察域外法制,平衡社会公益与公民权利,平衡言论自由与公民人格尊严,提出修正现行法律规范的建议,或加强公权力救济、强化现行法律框架下的侦查权合理运行。     

女性与科举

自科举学创立以来,学者对科举的研究更多的是侧重于以男性为中心的制度和文化层面的研究,对女性与科举关系的探讨非常缺乏.但是,身处科举社会的女性必定与科举在某些方面有着巧妙而不可避免的联系.女性对以科举为业的男性及其家族有不可避免的作用和影响,对科举所做出了自己的贡献.     

1927-1945:革命根据地婚姻自由的法律表达

从在江西建立革命根据地开始到抗日战争胜利结束,这段时期婚姻自由的法律表达展现的是红色农村地区对共产党人法制实践的接受和反应。中国共产党在根据地时期不仅进行暴力革命,建立割据政权,同时还开展一系列社会革命,其中就包括对婚姻制度的改造。革命时期对婚姻制度的变革既是对封建制度的消解,也是现实革命动员的需要。文章通过对结婚自由和离婚自由法律表达的分析,阐释革命与法律的互动和冲突及其现实选择。     

从闽南方言俗语看闽、台婚姻旧俗——《闽南话漳腔辞典》札记

本文认为,<闽南话漳腔辞典>(中华书局2007年版)是方言志、亦是民俗志著作;"以风俗解释方言,即以方言表现风俗"是方言学、亦是民俗学之道.本文从<闽南话漳腔辞典>收录的闽南方言俗语及其释义部分举例取证,描述或补述闽、台婚姻旧俗之若干情节,说明和证明闽、台两地民俗文化的共同性.     

澳大利亚“子女最大利益原则”对我国的启示

1959年《儿童权利宣言》和1989年《儿童权利公约》等国际文献均规定,在处理与儿童有关的问题时,应以儿童最大利益为首要考虑。目前,澳大利亚在婚姻家庭法的立法中确立了“儿童最大利益优先原则”。在我国婚姻家庭法中迫切需要确立儿童最大利益的优先权准则,相关法律制度也应予以修改和完善。