Recent Developments to British Multicultural Theory,Policy and Practice: The Case of British Muslims

Since the early 1970s, there have been highly sophisticated arguments and conceptual discussions put forward in relation to how Western liberal democracies might wish to manage their diverse ethnic minority populations. It is apparent, however, that in the current climate, the important principles of unity and diversity are insufficient to challenge differing forms of ethnic, racial, and religious inequality. This paper argues that because of its underlying assumptions and modus operandi in the post-September 11 climate, British multiculturalism has been ineffective, even supporting some commentators' suggestions of a return to assimilationism. There is a new era in post-September 11 political hegemony, economic determinism and structural and cultural racisms, with European government rhetoric and public policy almost exclusively aimed at Muslims—whether as existing citizens or as part of a process of limiting immigration (which has tended to be from mainly Eastern European, North African, and Middle Eastern sending regions and nations). The example of New Labour and how it has attempted to deal with multiculturalism in Britain is a case in point. The discussion explores the changing concept of multiculturalism with special reference to British Muslims and debates that emerge in relation to identity, nation and civil society. It is argued that the experience and treatment of British Muslims is important to explore and appreciate in the current climate as it provides a test case for the future of (a) British multiculturalism and (b) British Muslims in society per se.     

Livelihood strategies and performance of Ghana's health and education sectors: exploring the connections

The public sector in Africa is riddled with widespread ineffectiveness. Although some countries have implemented various reform programmes with the support of international development agencies, the results so far have been disappointing. One reason for the failure is that the policies have focussed more on achieving macroeconomic stability than making the organisations effective. This article explores a fundamental problem of the policies—the need to focus on the human component of organisational performance. Using education and health organisations in Ghana as examples, the article advances a hypothesis that the livelihood strategies of public sector employees and the performance of their organisations are interconnected. Specifically, it is argued that as public sector employees have become more dependent on multiple sources of income, they have developed multiple social identities, which influence the culture of their organisations. The organisational culture may have encouraged employee effectiveness in some cases, but for most organisations, it has resulted in practices that perpetuate inefficiency and poor performance. To be successful, public sector reform policies must therefore involve deliberate efforts to change organisational cultures. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

冷战后欧美关系演变中的文化因素

美欧之间共同的价值观和共同的利益是大西洋两岸在冷战期间紧紧捆绑在一起的动力,但是冷战结束后,美欧矛盾逐步酝酿演变。其深藏着的文化因素方面的差异,将不断地在其对外战略和外交政策上体现出来,欧美关系的重建将会经历一个痛苦的过程。     

新时期企业思想政治工作刍论——以城市商业银行为例

城市商业银行加强和优化党的思想政治工作,充分发挥党的思想政治工作的优势,服务于企业,服务 于群众,对打造一支高素质的职工队伍和能够适应市场经济发展的高效企业,具有重要的现实意义.     

中共八大对社会主义体制改革的探索

中共八大从政治体制和经济体制两方面对我国社会主义体制改革进行了探索,文章认为这些有益的探索初步指明了社会主义体制改革的方向,是中国共产党探索中国特色社会主义建设道路的伟大起点。     

论政党法治建设的价值意义

政党法治包含民主与法制、权利与义务等丰富的制度意蕴 ;融汇法律至上、权力制约、依法执政等诸多的价值取向 ;涉及政党法治的主体、客体、目标、原则、依据、形态及其与法治国家的关系等若干内容 ;涵盖全部政党生活的各个方面 ;贯穿政党自身事务管理和领导·执政整个政党行为全过程。加强政党法治建设是发展政党民主的需要 ;是增强执政合法性的需要 ;是推进依法治国的需要 ;是坚持依法执政的需要。     

电子商务环境下企业家的经营理念

信息技术的发展催生了电子商务，它使企业所处的内外环境都发生了重大的变化。面对这些变化，企业家必须树立正确的经营理念，才能使企业在新的环境中得以生存并且能够更好地发展。与传统的经济环境相比，信息意识、文化意识与合作意识是电子商务环境下企业家最应当注重的经营理念，它们对于新环境下企业的生存发展有重要的意义。     

试析中国政治体制改革的任务、经验及目标模式

中国现行政体是作为现代民主政体两种基本类型之一的人民民主政体.中国政治体制改革的基本任务是发展、完善现行人民民主政体,而非将其彻底否定,以自由民主政体取而代之.中国政治体制改革的一个成功经验,就是社会主义国家政治体制改革必须遵循坚持、发展、完善人民民主政体的原则.中国政治体制的目标模式应当是一种新型的人民民主政体,即以"坚持党的领导、人民当家作主和依法治国有机统一"为基本特征的新型人民民主政体.     

地方政府环境责任冲突及其化解

地方政府具有三种环境责任:政治责任、行政责任和法律责任。地方政府的环境政治责任和行政责任之间、行政责任内部存在冲突,其本质是国家利益和地方利益的矛盾以及地方环境利益和地方经济利益的矛盾。化解地方政府各种责任形式之间的冲突,应该从两个方面着手:贯彻地方政府的法律责任和对地方政府进行诱导刺激。     

城镇化进程中的政治与经济问题对城市犯罪的影响

城镇化是人类社会现代化的必然趋势。但是,城镇化进程中产生的各种城市问题却对城市的生存与发展造成了诸多困扰。城市问题是城市犯罪孕育、发生和发展的温床,从整体层面上研究城市问题对犯罪的影响具有重要的现实意义。在所有的城市问题中,城市政治问题和经济问题是两种主要的"城市病",而且二者之间联系密切、关系复杂,其互动效应与联动效应对城市社会治安大环境的形成,对城市犯罪问题的衍变,对犯罪行为的主体与受体的塑造等,都有十分深刻的影响。建国后我国城市犯罪在政治与经济问题的综合影响下,曾形成了4个犯罪高峰期,目前仍居高不下。