Between transitional justice and politics: Reparations in South Africa

ABSTRACT

Reparations are a major component of transitional justice in the aftermath of widespread abuse. However, the implementation of reparations programmes often follows the logic of transitional politics, where short-term political interests trump victims’ rights. Using the South African case as a cautionary tale, this article shows that reparations are susceptible to political instrumentalisation and evaluates the role of international redress norms in safeguarding victims’ rights. Civil society groups have used the right to reparations as a basis for political contestation of inadequate reparations programmes and focused primarily on the broadening of redress norms. However, the existing international legislation fails to protect victims’ rights to reparations from political manoeuvring. In conclusion, the article highlights the need for international redress norms to be consolidated and made more concrete in order to more effectively circumscribe the scope states have to avoid meeting their reparations obligations.     

Cattle‐Caused Fatalities in a Province of Western Turkey: 1996–2010 Autopsy Results

Cattle‐caused injuries and deaths are much more than predicted. The aim of this research is to determine the prevalence of cattle‐caused fatalities and the factors affecting it in a province of western Turkey. The court files on cattle‐caused fatalities during a 15‐year period between 1996 and 2010 were explored. The proportion of forensic‐qualified deaths from the total of 3753 was 0.9% (35/3753). Most of the cases were between the ages of 18 and 65 (60%). Most deaths occurred in the spring and summer months compared with autumn and winter months (9 and 22 vs. 3 and 1, respectively). The mortality rate was much higher in men compared with women (94.3% and 5.7%, respectively). The majority of deaths were caused by injuries on the chest (71.4%). The reason for most deaths was due to hemopneumothorax and lung injury (71.4%). Predicting the behavior of cattle may not always be possible, as such, it is advisable that one wears protective equipment when dealing with cattle.     

客观归责理论的引入与因果关系的功能回归

我国刑法中的因果关系无论在理论研究还是司法实务领域都存在一定程度的混乱与迷惑,这在很大程度上与因果关系理论功能定位不清有关。我国现行的因果关系理论除了进行事实判断之外,还承担了规范归责的功能。因果关系应当解决的是构成要件行为与构成要件结果之间是否存在客观关联的问题,而结果能否归责于行为则是刑法归责理论的任务。客观归责理论的贡献在于,在承认条件因果关系的前提下,跨越自然科学性的事实审查而进入价值性、规范性审查的阶段。客观归责理论除了提供判断规则之外,也许更重要的是提供了一种逻辑思维方法,促使我国刑法中的因果关系回归事实判断的功能定位,克服我国因果关系理论哲学色彩浓厚、判断标准不一的弊端。     

Beyond ‘kawaii’ pop culture: Japan’s normative soft power as global trouble-shooter

Abstract

Many studies of Japan’s soft power are premised on the ‘affective’ dimensions of its kawaii pop culture that generate liking or interest. While entirely warranted, emphasising cultural attraction does not do sufficient justice to the multi-faceted foundations of Japanese soft power. Neither does it recognise other components of Joseph Nye’s soft power framework stressing the ‘normative’ appeal of policies that reflect global norms. This article investigates the ‘normative’ dimensions of Japan’s soft power on climate change, and whether it translates into international influence, as Nye predicted. The first section examines the Cabinet’s 2010 New Growth Strategy, identifying a potential source of ‘normative’ soft power in its self-proclaimed desire to reinvent Japan as a ‘trouble-shooting nation on global issues’, specifically environmental challenges. Next, it analyses how Japanese entities (government, corporations, and NGOs) can transmit ‘normative’ soft power, and obstacles encountered. These transmission mechanisms include ‘Cool Earth Partnership’ programmes, the ‘Future City Initiative’ and the values-based Satoyama Initiative. The final section addresses conceptual implications that arise, and assesses whether Japan’s ‘normative’ soft power has paid dividends. Drawing from literature on pioneer states and external reviews of Japan’s alignment with key climate norms, the paper suggests that Japan’s normative soft power is lacking in driving agendas at global climate forums. At a pragmatic problem-solving level, however, Japan is increasingly perceived as an attractive source of transferable solutions, reflecting climate norms such as developing eco-friendly technologies and providing assistance to help vulnerable countries mitigate climate change     

法律规范与个案裁判基本矛盾的法哲学分析

法律规范与个案裁判的矛盾贯彻于司法审判的全过程。两者的矛盾体现在 :抽象与具体 ,一般与个别 ,静态与动态 ,而法官通过对案件的审理探求公正判决的活动正是以解决规范与裁判的对立统一为己任。     

Lessons from Philosophy? Interdisciplinary Justice Research and Two Classes of Justice Judgments

More and more scholars of social justice have been calling for a closer collaboration between empirical and normative disciplines. Psychological and sociological research, as well as philosophical theories can, so they claim, learn from one another and work should be based on results obtained in the other fields of research. Some political philosophers do not share this view. They argue that, since most empirical research does not capture people's moral views on justice, its results cannot be of any value to their theories. Based on this critique I suggest in the first part of this paper that empirical research should distinguish between two classes of justice judgments: First, justice judgments in a narrow sense, which are made under conditions of impartiality and grounded in moral principles, and second, justice attitudes, which differ from other types of social attitudes only in their attitude objects. In the second part I present a quasi-experimental study that aimed at testing the two different classes of justice judgments empirically. The results show that justice judgments in the narrow sense can be obtained even under conditions in which complex experimental manipulations cannot be employed. In the third part of this paper I hypothesize that justice judgments which are based on the two formal criteria provided by political philosophy (impartiality and reference to moral principles) may serve as important intervening variables when trying to explain the impact of justice beliefs on different patterns of human behavior.     

我的观点构成你的决定——关于听证笔录效力研究

听证是体现正义、公开等价值的重要制度,而听证笔录的效力则是听证制度的核心内容。但是我国只是在《行政许可法》中规定了听证笔录的效力,对于听证笔录在行政处罚、行政诉讼、行政复议中的法律效力并没有作出相关规定,本文将首先阐述行政听证笔录之概念及其效力,然后进一步论述我国应作出的选择以及如何完善我国听证笔录的效力。     

类型思维:刑法中规范构成要件要素存在的法理根据

理性至上与科学实证主义为刑法中记述性构成要件要素的创建及其普遍化提供了原动力,而同时它们的历史局限性也为规范构成要件要素的产生与存在敞开了大门。法学方法一元论为规范构成要件要素的类型特征与开放结构奠定了认识论基础,而规范构成要件要素的类型结构则是法学方法一元论在刑法中的一种具体体认。对规范构成要件要素具体内涵的把握也必将成为司法实践中的一个重要内容,刑法诠释方法的发达必将成为其发展方向。     

使用假币罪的实行行为方式解读

“使用伪造的货币”是我国现行刑法规定的使用假币罪的实行行为方式,学界对其基本含义存在“狭义说”与“广义说”之争,这种争议实质上是基于规范用语与普通用语的不同角度来理解“使用”概念而产生的。根据我国使用假币罪的立法变动情况和普通用语规范化的目的论解释方法,“使用伪造的货币”的基本含义应当解读为：以伪造的货币冒充真币,并以真币的通常用法加以利用的行为,但是应当排除私人储藏、出售伪造的货币以及银行工作人员以伪造的货币换取真币等三种情形。     

影响高等学校编制外员工组织承诺的因素研究

我国高等教育领域编内人员和编外人员在职位晋升、薪酬福利水平等方面存在巨大差异,引发编外人员心里落差大,组织承诺低等问题。为了解高校编外人员的工作状况,以北京大学校本部全体劳动合同制员工为调查总体,采用组织承诺量表进行测量。研究结果表明:合同制员工的感情承诺分值最高,规范承诺其次,继续承诺最低;员工自身的市场竞争力和组织对员工的支持程度对员工的组织承诺具有显著性影响;有效的沟通、公平性和对部门领导者的认同程度可能影响员工的组织承诺。通过实证研究发现,除了员工自身的市场竞争力,组织支持是影响员工组织承诺重要的因素。