“Serbs” in Bela krajina: a (deliberately) forgotten minority?

There are three constitutionally recognized national/ethnic minorities in Slovenia: the Italians, the Hungarians and the Roma. In addition, there are other ethnic groups that could perhaps be considered as “autochthonous” national minorities in line with Slovenia's understanding of this concept. Among them is a small community of “Serbs” – the successors of the Uskoks living in Bela krajina, a border region of Slovenia. In this article we present results of a field research that focused on the following question: Can the “Serb” community in Bela krajina be considered a national minority? On the basis of the objective facts, it could be said that the “Serbs” in four Bela krajina villages are a potential national minority, but with regard to their modest social vitality and the fact that they do not express their desire for minority status, the realization of special minority protection is questionable.     

The identity crisis in Jordan: historical pathways and contemporary debates

This study aims to identify the attempts to form a Jordanian national identity from the establishment of the Jordanian state in 1921 to date. This study reviews the efforts of the Jordanian state, which was subject to internal, external, political, social, economic, and cultural circumstances, and variables that led to change the Jordanian national identity to incorporate religious, national, regional, ethnic, and tribal aspects. The regime has been unable to address and resolve the issue of national identity; instead, it has tried several means to circumvent the problem of national identity. The identity card is a means that the regime has used to achieve its goals. These policies led to the state’s failure to define, establish, and maintain a comprehensive national identity for its citizens. The formation of a national identity has been a dilemma for Jordan since the establishment of the state; there is almost no known national identity. This situation calls for the construction of the Jordanian national identity on a fixed and clear basis to prevent its disintegration, to facilitate the process of social integration, and to build a final national identity that is both inclusive and representative. Without this identity, division and conflict may prevail in Jordanian society.     

Rwanda: an agrarian developmental state?

This article investigates Rwanda’s agricultural policies and institutions as a historically contextualised response to exceptionally adverse developmental circumstances. Using the agrarian question as an analytical point of reference, the article argues that it is extremely difficult to identify how increases in productivity and income in smallholder agriculture can be achieved without forceful state action and a sustained injection of resources. In light of this, entirely right-congruent governance is caught in a dilemma about the extent to which the government overrides peasants’ own agency and the extent to which the agrarian strategy produces a sustained and stable transformation in agriculture. Rather than making a defence or condemnation of the government’s strategy, the article argues against pre-emptive judgements of an agrarian strategy that can only discernibly attain success over a long period. What the article does do is insist that there is development potential in the current strategy, not simply a disaster in the making.     

超越死亡的文学——从超越死亡的视角对川端文学的探究

对死亡的关注以及"超越死亡"的文学理念是一条时粗时细的线,贯穿了川端整个的文学创作。川端早期作品中对死亡的抵抗意识的流露、新感觉派时期的"万物一如、轮回转生"思想的提出、战争期间作品中对人类生命价值的纯粹的追求、战后的"回归传统"与"进入魔界"以及获诺贝尔文学奖后的对日本文化的宣扬,这一切都从不同的角度体现了川端的"超越死亡"的文学理念。正是透过川端的这一文学理念,我们发现表面上对现实与人生毫不关心的川端文学,实际上对现实和人生乃至对社会有着强烈的关照。     

The counter-hegemonic role of civil society: Palestinian–Arab NGOs in Israel

This paper deals with the causes and impact of the rise in the number of Palestinian–Arab Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Israel in the last two decades. It provides a multi-level model that combines economic, political and cultural factors to explain the shifts in Palestinian-Arab political mobilization in Israel and as a result to the rise of a complex network of Arab NGOs. The paper demonstrates the way in which the civil institutions and their intensive involvement in public social affairs generate social capital that has internal as well as external political impact. Arab civil society institutions, which operate mainly separately from civil institutions of the Jewish majority, assist in the empowerment and the development of Arab society. They provide services in different fields, such as education, health, and planning. They also advocate and lobby for the rights of the Arab citizens inside Israel and internationally. Arab civil society institutions also provide information necessary for political mobilization, identity formation, and cultural preservation. In this framework the paper claims that they play a counter-hegemonic role vis-à-vis the Israeli state. However, the paper also claims that the broad advocacy and lobbying activity of Arab civil institutions did not manage to fully democratize Israeli policies towards Arab society, demonstrating the centrality of state identity and power structure when it comes to democratization processes. On a different level, the paper reveals that, although the Palestinian–Arab NGOs network has managed to lead to a liberalization process within Arab society, this process is partial and selective.     

论完善和发展民族区域自治制度(上)

民族区域自治制度具有博大精深的理论和制度体系 ,其巨大的政策和制度涵容量 ,本身就是一个永无穷尽的知识和制度宝库。本文从我国五大少数民族自治区均在西部 (含广西也已列入 )的国情族情入手 ,扭住完善和发展民族区域自治制度与西部大开发战略整体推进之间的正比关系这一重大主题进行全面而深刻的论述。作者认为 :无论是从民族区域自治制度本身还是以外的诸因素看 ,完善和发展民族区域自治制度都直接导源于国家稳定、民族团结、社会进步和经济发展等政治层面的根本利益所必须 ,直接导源于西部大开发重要战略决策顺利实现的总体需要。文章最后就如何完善和发展民族区域自治制度提出了具体设想。     

关于罪犯思想道德教育内容和方法改革的探讨

罪犯思想道德教育是罪犯教育工作中法定的、核心的工作内容。是罪犯矫正工作的基础和前提。但是罪犯思想道德教育在教育内容和方法上存在严重不足,表现在教育内容与教育目的不符、偏离在押犯思想实际、教育内容与方法空洞等诸多方面,改革罪犯教育的内容,增设公民教育、传统道德教育的内容,将理论灌输式的教育模式转向注重实践的认知模式、体谅模式和社会行动模式．从而有效推进罪犯思想道德教育工作的发展。     

我国应建立刑事被害人补偿制度

刑事被害人补偿是指国家对一定范围内因遭受犯罪侵害而又无法通过其他方式获得损害赔偿的被害人及其家属,通过法律程序支付其一定的金钱加以救济的一种方式。我国应建立刑事被害人补偿制度．这既是与国际社会接轨的需要,也是保障被害人人权的需要;既是预防犯罪的需要,又是建设和谐社会的需要。     

Not Child's Play: Tactics and Strategies in Viva Cuba and Habanastation

Recognition of the national and international contexts in which Viva Cuba (Juan Carlos Cremata, 2005) and Habanastation (Ian Padron, 2011) were made and marketed highlights the coexistence of a pragmatic, tactical approach to filmmaking with the expression of specific, national concerns. Indeed, the two elements are inextricable, since both directors exploit the association of children with universality and the apolitical in order to pursue both personal and national goals, so that these films for children, about children must be seen not as child's play but as contracandelas: strategic and affective responses to uncertainty and threat.     

以第111号公约审视中国反歧视的制度建设

2006年1月12日,中国正式批准了《1958年消除就业和职业歧视公约》(第111号公约).5年来,中国社会在促进工作中的平等方面发生了哪些变化和进步？以第111号公约审视中国反歧视的制度建设,目前,中国在反就业歧视,促进工作中的平等还存在不少问题;促进工作中的平等方面,仍然任重道远.