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。     

天津城市转型中城市经济活动的变化分析

随着城市功能的转型,天津经济结构、产业布局发生了较大变化,这对于滨海新区的发展奠定了良好的产业基础和产业环境。我们运用城市经济活动的基本和非基本分析方法,研究天津城市经济活动的变化,指出工业作为城市经济基础的地位受到削弱,服务业发展较快并且基本经济活动上升很快,服务业中许多行业的基本部分明显大于非基本部分,得出的结论是今后应加快现代服务业的发展,促进制造业结构的升级。     

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.     

社会治理转型中的公共行政价值的回应与平衡

公共行政范式转换与社会治理范式变迁相生相伴,每一种社会治理范式实际上都在寻求回应与平衡效率、责任、公平等核心价值,只是在社会治理不同的发展阶段对某一种公共行政价值有所侧重而已.从公共行政价值多元交叉并存的视角来研究和把握社会治理的根本价值和目的,倡导效率、责任与公平等核心价值并重、统一、均衡的科学公共行政价值观,不仅有助于科学把握公共行政理论的发展规律和走向,破解工具性价值与目的性价值的悖论,也有助于社会治理持续均衡发展,从而更好地强化公共行政精神,实现公共利益.