Access to Reliable Public Records as Evidence for Freedom of Information in Commonwealth Africa

Abstract

International attention to the benefits of openness for empowering citizens, strengthening economic performance and ending poverty has emphasised the importance of achieving accountability and transparency through freedom of information and open data. The ability to achieve openness depends upon the quality, completeness and accessibility of government records and data. However, chronic problems in managing this information in many Commonwealth countries, particularly in the digital environment, undermine the ability to achieve these goals. There is a critical need to develop and share solutions for managing this essential resource as a basis for digital governance across the Commonwealth, especially in relation to the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals.     

The forgotten success story: Japan and the methamphetamine problem

This paper examines Japan's policy towards methamphetamine (Japanese: hiropon). Opium has been used in Japan for medicinal purposes since 1722. However, it was strictly controlled. The result was that drug abuse was minuscule. This changed with the introduction of methamphetamine. During the Second World War hiropon was given by the military to fighter pilots and the signal corps in order to help them stay awake and alert. After 1945, the large military stockpiles of methamphetamine found their way onto the black market. With society in chaos, drug abuse spread rapidly and a hiropon epidemic emerged. The introduction of a comprehensive anti-drug package in the mid-1950s, including stricter laws, resulted in that abuse having been almost totally eradicated by 1957. Around 1970 a new wave of abuse (‘the second epidemic’) began. It peaked around 1985, after which abuse tampered off, albeit slowly. A temporary increase in the mid-1990s made Japanese authorities declare the emergence of ‘the third epidemic’ that is still said to be ongoing. Official statistics show, however, that Japan has not seen any such epidemic. In comparison with most other Western countries, methamphetamine abuse in Japan is modest.     

本质上政府的职能

在政府职能的外包中,关于什么职能可以外包,而什么职能应该由政府履行,一直争论不休。美国行政法上提出了"本质上政府的职能"作为外包的限制。本文梳理了美国法律和政策上关于"本质上政府的职能"的界定。不过,随着时间、思想观念等不同,该职能的界定也不相同,而是需要综合考虑语境才能决定。同时,政府职能的外包也意味着公法价值的在某种程度上的外包。     

The Engage programme and the Government Communication Network in the UK, 2006–2010

The Engage programme was launched in April 2006 by the Government Communication Network (GCN) in the UK. As a civil service body supporting those in government working as press officers and in marketing roles, the GCN under the New Labour government in the period 2006–2010 was involved with the extension of the logic of marketisation to government communication. This article charts this process by examining key government policy documents from this period. The rationale for Engage rested on the assumption that government in the UK needed to adapt its communication approach to reach what were perceived as individualised consumers in society. The extension of the logic of marketisation to government communication that happened under Engage is shown to be consistent with the New Public Management approach to public services under New Labour. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

服务型政府建设的民主行政维度

服务型政府和民主行政之间有着内在逻辑的一致性。服务型政府建设重要的不在于预设的规范和特定的模式,而在于以公民和社会为本位,体现公共行政的民主价值。在本质上,为人民服务是我国服务型政府的民主行政实质。在实践中,服务型政府建设的民主行政维度主要体现在以追求公共利益为核心理念,实行服务行政、阳光行政、领导行政、法治行政、回应行政。     

关于修改后刑事诉讼法执行情况的若干思考

The revised Law of Criminal Procedure, of which the key idea is to tighten the restraint on and supervi-sion over public power and protect the private rights effectively, shows the pursuits of refined,...     

科长职位特征分析

21世纪是全新的世纪,政府将面临新的形势、新的情况和问题。政府系统中的科级领导处在一线位置,深刻认识和把握其职位特点、需求及变化趋势,是应对入世挑战、与时俱进、跨越发展、提高政府工作效率和服务水平的必要条件。     

经济转轨 政府定位与“新的法律秩序”

新中国成立初期,我国提出了优先发展重工业的“赶超战略”,相应地形成了高度集中的计划经济体制。由于计划经济缺乏市场经济那种优越的信息机制和强大的动力机制,使得经济系统效率低下,整个社会缺乏活力,于是在20世纪70年代末80年代初,我国发起了市场取向的改革。从计划经济体制向市场经济体制转轨的过程,其实也是政府职能转变的过程。政府能否实现从过去的无限、低效政府向有限、高效政府转变是改革能不能取得成功,“好的市场经济”能不能最终确立的关键。为此,政府要科学设计改革方案,增强自身改革的动力;尤为重要的是要积极推进“新的法律秩序”的形成。     

论控制反抗与查缉战术一体化教学模式

目前公安院校在控制反抗课程和查缉战术的教学过程中往往缺乏结合公安实战,缺少将两者的有机衔接,而控制反抗与查缉战术一体化的教学训练模式可以提高公安队伍的整体战斗力,有效减少民警的伤亡,满足基层一线公安民警工作的实际需求。     

论政府执法方式及其变革

政府执法方式是政府执法权力的表现形态 ,体现了参与执法过程的各类主体的相互关系。政府执法方式变革就是修正政府执法过程中参与者的相互关系 ,涉及执法观念、执法体制、执法制度以及与司法的关系等诸多问题。政府执法方式变革应当坚持行政民主化、加强公开性和参与性、法制统一和人权保障的基本方向 ,特别强调行政程序和公民权利的重要性、行政相关人概念的重要意义、行政与司法的关系 ,以及政府执法的人性化。