Changing the Tobacco Use Management System: Blending Systems Thinking with Actor–Network Theory

Managing “wicked” issues like the tobacco epidemic is addressed using a combination of Open Systems Thinking (OST) and Actor–Network Theory (ANT). OST was used to construct a model of the tobacco problem as a management system acting in a broader environment. This highlighted several problems with the current system but provided no mechanism for reform. ANT, the “sociology of translation,” was used for understanding how change occurs. Unlike systems thinking, ANT focuses the contest for change on heterogeneous networks of human and nonhuman actors that must be constructed through a process of defining and defending models of change, building alliances, gaining public acceptance, and finally achieving institutional acceptance of the reform (or of some compromise). We then show how this dual approach can shed light on a current challenge in controlling tobacco, the issue of product regulation, and the broader issue of harm reduction versus harm elimination.     

Preferences,Knowledge, and Citizen Probability Assessments of the Terrorism Risk of Nuclear Power

How does the American public assess risk when it comes to national security issues? This paper addresses this question by analyzing variation in citizen probability assessments of the terrorism risk of nuclear power plants. Drawing on the literature on how motivated reasoning, selective information processing, and domain‐specific knowledge influence public opinion, we argue that heterogeneous issue preferences and knowledge of nuclear energy and homeland security have important explanatory power. Using original data from a unique 2009 national survey in the United States, we show that Americans are divided in their probability assessments of the terrorism risk of nuclear power plants. Consistent with our theoretical expectations, individuals who support using nuclear power to meet rising energy demands, who are generally less concerned with terrorism, or who are more knowledgeable about terrorism and nuclear security tend to provide lower assessments of the likelihood that nuclear power plants increase terrorist attacks, and vice versa. The findings have implications for the literature on public opinion, risk assessment, energy policy and planning, and homeland security.     

论公共行政人员的德性问题及其重塑

公共行政的价值在于维护和提供社会公正,而这一价值的实现必然蕴含着公共行政人员的德性。近来公共行政实践中的德性却表现出不尽人意的境地。文章探讨了现阶段公共行政中德性缺失的根源,并提出了对策性建议。     

公共政策评估多元模式的困境及其解决的哲学思考

通过对政策评估模式发展的历史考察,文章分析了政策评估模式由单一向多元转变的逻辑以及多元评估模式的困境。并以南水北调移民政策评估为例,解读了当今多元理性下的政策评估仍然存在的多元利益界定不准确、评估模式结构固化等诸多问题。要从根本上解决多元理性下政策评估模式的问题,必须实现政策评估哲学思维的进一步转变,而这一转变应遵循批判性政策分析理论、利益相关者理论以及理性选择理论的基本价值。     

构建公共服务的协同机制:一个界定性框架

在公共服务多元主体供给中,存在着多主体和多部门导致的公共服务供给碎片化问题。要解决这种碎片化困境,必须探索构建公共服务供给的协同机制。本文从"目标"和"利益"两个变量出发,来构建公共服务协同机制的分析框架,提出科层制协同、沟通性协同、公-私协同、战略性协同四种协同机制,并结合相关案例分析,来阐释每一种协同机制的内在关系和实现机制。     

突发事件中公共产品的需求与供给

应急管理是突发事件中各参与主体在政府主导下实现公共产品有效供给的过程。突发事件打破了系统内部资源与外部环境之间的平衡,改变了系统的价值分配模式,使公共产品呈现"高需求、低供给"的非常状态,这决定了突发事件中公共产品具有时间属性、空间属性、层次属性和权利属性。突发事件改变了人们的需求层次,不同的需求层次要求不同形态的公共产品供给。在突发事件的各个阶段,需要不同形态的公共产品;但具体到某一特定阶段,某种形态的公共产品需求会占主导。由于突发事件中公共产品需求的多变性和形态的多样性,公共产品供给必须以政府为主导,社会组织、企业和公民等有效参与、协调合作,以建立公共产品的多元供给模式。     

我国民众对公共文化服务体系建设的主观评价——基于四个地区的实证调研

2011年8月,笔者在北京市海淀区、江苏省常熟市、山西省朔州市和甘肃省平凉市这四个地区实施了公共文化服务体系的实地调研。结果表明,尽管现有的公共文化服务已能初步满足人民群众的需求,但是仍存在诸多需改进之处。未来的公共文化体系建设应坚持政府主导,加大财政投入,同时积极鼓励社会力量参与,并在法制化的基础上因地制宜,切实满足人民群众不断变化的文化需求。     

公安院校女生心理压力分析及调节策略研究

公安院校女生作为共和国的预备警官,承载着祖国公安事业发展的重任,而女性特殊的生理心理因素,使她们较男性更容易受到心理压力的侵扰,所以能否有效帮助公安院校女生疏导心理压力,保持身心健康将直接影响到未来警察群体的素质。本文主要从警务化管理产生的压力、学业压力和就业压力三方面对公安院校女生所面临的压力进行了剖析,并提出通过加强沟通交流、营造学习氛围、加强心理辅导等措施来帮助公安院校女生进行心理疏导,排解心理压力,保持心理健康。     

公共教育财政的社会适应性与地区调控要求

公共教育应当适应地区发展定位,融入地区经济社会发展规划。而义务教育作为公共产品要打破地区发展水平的限制实现均等化;高等教育作为准公共产品要契合地区发展方向实现特色化发展。由此,公共教育与地区发展的适应性则需要依靠财政调控实现,财政预算和转移支付是公共教育经费供给主要渠道。另外,还应完善公共教育财政资金使用管理和监督机制,保障公共教育财政调控目标的实现。