Multidimensional government‐citizen congruence and satisfaction with democracy

In the first comparative study of multidimensional government‐citizen policy congruence, this article shows that citizens are less satisfied with democracy when their views differ from that of the government on policy dimensions beyond the general left‐right axis. Satisfaction is reduced by a government that deviates on European integration and redistribution and partly also on social lifestyle, immigration and environmental protection. Furthermore, this analysis identifies the level of political interest as central moderator of this relationship. Satisfaction of citizens with stronger interest in politics suffers more when there is a politically distant government. Combining data from the 2010 Chapel Hill Expert Survey and two waves of the European Social Survey, the analysis builds on information on citizen‐government policy congruence of some 45,000 citizens and 31 governments in 15 Western and Central Eastern European countries. The article brings a multidimensional perspective to the study of policy congruence between citizens and governments in a time when the preference structure of parties and citizens has become increasingly complex.     

党员民主权利保障中存在的问题及对策研究

党员在党内生活中处于主体地位,而党员的这种主体地位主要是通过党员的民主权利来实现的,党章赋予党员的民主权利神圣不可侵犯。因此确立和保障党员民主权利是党内民主建设的重点,是发展党内民主的本质要求和重要体现。用原因分析方法来研究党员民主权利保障现实问题,根据不同问题的产生原因并分析其本质而提出针对性的解决措施,有助于从现实性的角度更好地促进党内民主的发展,促进党内民主建设。     

紧急状态下公民权利的保障——基于公法救济之行政诉讼的视角

时间定格在2008年5月12日,政府紧急权力的行使引起了人们对紧急状态下公民权利保障的深刻反思.传统的紧急状态理论认为,紧急权力的作用旨在保障国家安全、公共福祉;而公民权利在紧急状态时期,往往被作为牺牲的对象.时至今日,在紧急状态下的公民的局部基本权利逐渐得到认可,但大多数基本权利乃至自然权利仍然无法得到与宪政民主精神相一致的保障,这就是公民权利的危机.有权利必有救济,如何保障紧急状态下的公民权利,便成了现代宪政民主国家的普遍困惑.笔者基于公法救济之行政诉讼的视角出发,以期为宪政民主国家寻求一种可塑的解决之道,为公民权利的保障提供一种可能的机制.     

民主治理中的集体行动——一个组织行为学议题及其解释

作为社会科学想象力的产物,集体行动现象的概念化成为公共生活中最重要的一种知识增长.但在既有的学术研究中,集体行动概念要么偏向于社会抗争性事件的分析,要么在新制度主义经济学的理论假设中作出过度操作化的分析.因此,从建构主义行政学出发,在更一般化的理论水平上对集体行动进行研究,这既是科层治理向民主治理转化中提出的一个组织行为学的知识性议题,又是构建前瞻性和承担社会责任的公共行政的关键议题.     

西方社会民主党的全球化理论浅析

全球化是一个历史范畴。它是指在经济力量和技术力量的推动下,世界正在形成一个共同分享的社会空间。西方左翼的社会民主党人提出了他们自己特点和形态的全球化观。包括对全球化的理解、动因、内容和特点及应对方略等。社会民主主义政党的全球化理论实质是全球化时代西方垄断资本势力的支持者和代言人。     

Police–victim engagement in building a victim empowerment approach to intimate partner violence cases

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been highlighted as a priority for UK governments and criminal justice agencies since the 1990s. However, whilst generating significant policy and procedural responses, the overall impact continues to be criticised. This paper examines contemporary approaches to IPV identification and response, highlighting the limitations within victim engagement and empowerment. It then moves on to specific developments and theories in victimology, demonstrating how research into victim engagement is emerging and could be utilised in practice to enhance victim empowerment. It argues that policy and procedure based upon an enhanced victim empowerment approach would be necessary in striving for positive criminal justice outcomes and for increasing victim satisfaction.     

Criminality,thinking patterns and treatment effects – evaluation of the Swedish cognitive intervention programme ‘new challenges’ targeting adult men with a criminal lifestyle

The cognitive intervention programme ‘New Challenges’ targeting adult men with a criminal lifestyle was evaluated in a pilot study. The participants were divided into a cognitive treatment group (n = 32) and a control group (n = 11). In the control group, six participants had no treatment and five participated in 12-step treatment. The participants were measured pre and post using the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS), the abridged version of sense of coherence (SOC), Positive and Negative Affect Scale, and Bergström’s quality of programme delivery (QPD). The results of the treatment group showed that criminal thinking patterns dropped significantly from high values to close to normal level. SOC and positive affect increased significantly in the treatment group. Both SOC and positive affect showed positive correlation with QPD. Regarding the possible influence of the 12-step treatment, there was no difference in the control group between participants receiving 12-step treatment and those not receiving treatment. The main conclusion is that the cognitive treatment programme ‘New Challenges’ can contribute to reduced criminal thinking and increased SOC and positive affect, which may prove to be important precursors of reduced criminality.     

Exploring the effects of work environment variables on the job satisfaction of Nigerian correctional staff

Correctional staff job satisfaction is critical for the staff’s well-being and low turnover. This study’s focus was identifying variables that predicted job satisfaction for Nigerian correctional staff and comparing the findings to past studies of US correctional staff job satisfaction. One hundred and twenty correctional staff from Nigeria were surveyed. The personal characteristics of age, gender, and tenure were not significant predictors of satisfaction in the multivariate analysis. Similar to finding for US correctional staff, job autonomy, quality of supervision, and instrumental communication all had significant positive effects on Nigerian correctional staff job satisfaction. Contrary to previous findings on US prison staff, neither job variety or role overload were significant predictors of Nigerian staff job satisfaction. Other factors may account for this discrepancy, including working conditions, the socio-economic environment and availability of job opportunities.     

Does Acceptability of Violence Impact the Relationship Between Satisfaction,Victimization, and Commitment Levels in Emerging Adult Dating Relationships?

This study examined the impact of acceptability of violence on dating violence victimization, relationship satisfaction, and relationship commitment. A survey administered to a sample of 155 male and 417 female college students showed that relationship satisfaction was significantly associated with relationship commitment, but that dating violence victimization was not. Moreover, acceptability of violence emerged as a significant moderator of the relationship between satisfaction and commitment in dating relationships when gender differences were assessed. Discussion of these findings and future research are included.

中国西藏百万农奴解放与美国解放黑奴运动之比较

50年前,西藏通过开展民主改革,彻底废除了农奴制,解放了百万农奴。一直在"西藏问题"上采取双重标准的美国历史上也曾经开展过废奴运动——解放黑人农奴运动。把中国西藏百万农奴解放与美国解放黑奴运动的废奴前社会状况、废奴动因、废奴过程、废奴性质与彻底性进行全方位比较,有助于深刻理解西藏民主改革的重大历史意义并认清美国在西藏问题上的立场。