“We have to tell our own story”: semiotics of resisting negative stereotypes of Nigeria in the heart of Africa nation branding campaign

This study examines the semiotic resources deployed in resisting negative stereotypes of Nigeria in the international community, particularly representations of the country in the Western media. Data for the study were drawn from Nigeria’s Heart of Africa nation branding campaign. The study applies the discourse-historical approach (DHA) pioneered by Ruth Wodak of the Vienna School of CDA. DHA attempts to integrate much available knowledge about the historical sources and the background of the social and political fields in which discursive events are embedded. Further applying Reisigl and Wodak's presentation of the discursive strategies normally oriented towards understanding texts related to nations and national identities, among others, the study reveals that in appropriating the semiotic resources in the campaign, the discourse producers have predilection for the discursive strategies of mitigating negative attributes which the out-group intensifies, and highlighting positive attributes which the out-group seemingly under-reports in its representations of Nigeria. Notwithstanding the rhetorical dynamics of the semiotic resources, the study concludes that enduring national image management thrives on creating new images and associations lived by a country’s citizens rather than tries to refute old ones.     

A Comparative Assessment of Elite Policy Recruits in Canada

Recent case studies and large-N survey evidence has confirmed long-suspected shortages of public sector “policy capacity”. Studies have found that government policy workers in various jurisdictions differ considerably with respect to types of policy work they undertake, and have identified uneven capacity for policy workers to access and apply technical and scientific knowledge to public issues. This suggests considerable difficulties for government’s ability to meet contemporary policy and governance challenges. Despite growing attention to these matters, studies have not examined the “elite” policy workers many governments recruit to address these capacity shortages. Using an established survey instrument, this study of two Canadian recruitment programs provides the first comparative analysis of elite policy recruits, as policy workers. Three research questions anchor the study: (1) What is the profile of these actors? (2) What types of policy work do “elite” policy analysts actually engage in? (3) How does their policy work compare by recruitment program? The article provides fresh comparative data on the nature of elite policy work and policy analytical capacity, but, more importantly, a crucial baseline for future comparative study of how elite recruitment may facilitate “supply-side” capacity gains expected from recruitment programs.     

The Subversive Potential of Women’s Relation to Work*

This article makes the hypothesis that it is the relation to work, and not work itself, that holds subversive, or even liberating, potential for women. We begin by showing the theoretical convergence between this hypothesis and feminist epistemology. In order to test the hypothesis empirically, we then look at the paradoxical ways in which many women relate to paid work. In order to understand this paradox, we argue that it is necessary to go back to a feminist definition of work by calling into question the separation between professional and domestic work. Finally, we attempt to make suggestions to transform this subversive potential into collective emancipatory practices. We insist on the necessity for the feminist movement to put domestic work back at the center of its reflection on work and on the emancipation of women.     

Security Providers: Obstacles to Effectiveness in Democracies

To usefully discuss security, one must analyze the security providers states utilize to enhance international and domestic security. These are the armed forces, police, and intelligence agencies. This paper analyzes the implications of democratization on the requirements—posited as strategies, resources, and coordination institutions—these providers require in order to achieve the goals civilian leaders set for them. In analyzing case studies of how nations implement six different tasks, it becomes clear that the absence, or weakness, in any of the requirements leads to serious weakness in implementation. Two findings from the case studies are particularly important for policy. First, presidents, who are elected directly and for fixed terms, may ignore or even abolish institutions, including national security councils, that are created to coordinate policy. Second, as civilians are in control, if they lack clear incentives they are not willing to provide the necessary requirements for the security providers.     

对当前我国高校安全保卫工作的研究

高校安全保卫工作对维护高校稳定和安全、保证高校正常教育教学和科研秩序具有重要作用,是一项政策性强而工作难度大的工作。在新的历史条件下,高等院校应紧跟时代发展和形势变化,大胆创新、开拓进取,积极研究高校安全保卫工作的特点和规律,为进一步加强高校安全保卫工作提供理论依据。     

青年创业研究综述

就业体制改革以来,中国关于青年创业的研究经历了三个发展阶段,在八个方面取得了一系列结论。但目前的研究在研究角度、研究内容、研究理论、研究的学科分布等方面还存在不足。面对日益严重的就业压力,今后的研究应重视和加强对青年网络创业、NGO对青年创业的辅助和创业文化等方面的探讨。     

浅谈公安院校学报工作现代化

公安院校学报工作现代化是市场经济发展的需要,是社会信息化的大势所趋。现代化的管理意识和现代化的编辑理念是实现学报工作现代化的前提条件。现阶段公安院校学报工作的现代化建设,应以构建现代化的信息收集、存贮、应用系统,现代化的编辑、校对、排版系统,现代化的学报工作管理系统,现代化的学报传播系统为基本目标。     

群体性事件处置中“慎用警力”原则研究

在处置群体性事件中,必须讲究政策、讲究策略、讲究方法,坚持“三个慎用”原则。其中,“慎用警力”原则主要适用于非警务活动。非警务活动是公安部的通知通告中出现的非正式用语。当前,我国一些地方公安机关非警务活动所占时间比例已经超越了正常的警务工作时间。应当严禁公安机关违反规定从事非警务活动。进一步规范各类非警务活动。非警务活动的形成渊源有两个：服务型警务和地方政府利益。“镇用警力”原则的具体表现为合理用警、规范用警。     

Bush: The Sequel

This article examines the likely foreign policy initiatives of the U.S. under the leadership of George W. Bush. The new president has outlined a fairly thorough critique of America's international behavior in the 1990s. Because a leader's public statements arguably serve to persuade various audiences and to build support for policy change, the article takes Bush's words quite seriously—along with those spoken or written by his closest foreign affairs advisors. Bush intends to abandon the so-called Clinton Doctrine and deploy national missile defenses. He is critical of American policies toward China and Russia, but has not presented bold new initiatives toward those powers. Under the rubric of "compassionate conservatism," Bush may alter U.S. relations toward the Global South in some interesting ways. The president and his advisors often purport to be realists, but the article demonstrates that their own words belie this claim as they often justify policies based on ideals rather than the pursuit of power.     

Why Do Social Work Practice Research?

Social work practice research focuses on researching all kinds of social work practice, including social work practice teaching, practitioner self-inquiry, and also social work services. In this article, first the dilemma of social work research in China will be analyzed; then the nature and position of social work research will be clarified; finally the procedure of practice research will be introduced. In short, the author intends to argue that as social work is a practice-oriented discipline, the creation of social work knowledge is for achieving social work professional goal and its research is practical and practice-oriented.