Social Democracy or Social Liberalism? Ideological Sources of Liberal Democrat Policy

Liberal Democrat policy has been labelled as social democratic, yet the party has been reluctant to so describe itself. Taking Crosland's The Future of Socialism as a reference point, there appears to be much shared ground between social democracy and Liberal Democrat policy. Meanwhile, the party's tax policy adopted in 2006 takes the Croslandite approach of taxing wealth rather than income. Despite this, the article argues that the party is a social liberal rather than a social democratic one. These two political philosophies have so much in common that it is understandable that some commentators see the influence of social democracy where they might instead perceive social liberalism. Yet the two differ in their attitudes to the state. Both see a positive role for the state in furthering social goods. However, social liberalism shares classical liberal concerns about the dangers of an over-mighty state. This approach underpins Liberal Democrat policy.     

Divorcing Responsibly

In this article I argue that Part II of the Family LawAct 1996 gives expression to a new form ofresponsibility. I begin by suggesting thatresponsible behaviour has shifted from prohibiting orrequiring particular actions: we now exhibitresponsibility by our attitude towards our actions. I then examine where this new conception ofresponsibility has come from. Through an examinationof the work of post-liberal theorists, principallyMichael Sandel, I argue that a changing view ofpersonhood within post-liberal theory has led to aquestioning of the possibility of choice, and that theabsence of choice necessitates a shift in thedefinition of responsible behaviour. If we are createdby our decisions then we cannot be held to account forour decisions, but only for the care we have takenover them. Responsibility is therefore measured notby our level of self-control but by our level ofself-awareness. Finally I examine the consequences ofthis shift in the meaning of responsibility. Withinthis framework autonomy is illusory thereforedecisions do not need to be respected. This explainswhy the implementation of Part II of the Family LawAct 1996 has been called into question. Within thisframework responsibility is relative therefore itextends indefinitely. This enables the Family Law Actto be uniquely intrusive and judgmental: everydivorcing couple, on being held up to scrutiny, isfound lacking.     

中国产品出口与美国制造业

本文针对近一个时期以来国外出现的中国大量对美出口产品是“人民币汇率过低”,进而“造成美国制造业下降、工人失业”的说法进行了分析和批驳。文章认为美国制造业下降主要是由美国经济发展的内部因素造成的;是产业结构调整的结果;中美贸易主要是按比较利益原则进行,对各方都是有利的;把美国经济出现的困境归咎于中国是在转移视线,美国应更多地从自身寻找原因,不要扣动保护主义扳机。否则,受伤害的将首先是其自己。     

宪政文化在近代中国的发展及其启示

根深蒂固的传统文化中心主义和"富强为体、宪政为用"的实用理性主义使近代中国的宪政建设多了几分曲折与坎坷。宪政的先声———自由主义的有效性在进入中国之初就潜伏着问题,这些问题消解了它的真正内涵,导致了一种文化上的误读。中国只有传统文化与宪政文化有机结合,才能结出幸福之果。     

全球化背景下我国高等教育课程改革刍议

全球化正在渗透于我们的生活之中 ,不仅影响了经济领域 ,也影响到教育领域。全球化代表着一种经济主义的倾向 ,这种经济主义的价值观及其新自由主义的哲学基础对学校课程的影响是深远的 ,它要求学校课程与教学有根本性的改变。其一 ,课程目标要体现全球精神 ;其二 ,课程结构要保证灵活性和弹性 ;最后 ,课程决策要张扬权力分离。     

美元的信用下降与中国的策略选择

全球经济正在经历着一场前所未有的变革,而美元则站在这场变革的前沿。可以看到,随着美元的不断贬值,美国物价上涨的速度有时会超过收入增长的速度。随着美元购买力的下跌,美国人以不变价格计算的真实收入实际上在下降,他们不得不用更多的美元去购买相同的东西,相对落后的收入增长却无法弥补价格的膨胀。在国际贸易上,美国的贸易赤字不断扩大,而且还会继续扩大,美国已成为世界最大的债务国,美国经济中的泡沫加剧了美国经济的滑坡,令人遗憾的是,美国无法就此刹车,美元的国际信用下降是不可遏制的。美元信用下降将给全球带来巨大影响,我国必须对此做出策略选择。     

American Progressivism and the Obama Presidency

US progressivism is half espoused, half rejected, by an ambivalent if talented President. The Republican image of the President as ‘socialist’ is one which the social democratic Democrats wish were true. The President's readiness to compromise has not tempered the extreme hostility of the Republicans. It has been exploited by the political agents of business and finance. It has used by the permanent war party: the campaign against ‘terror’ enables it to retain mastery of foreign and military policy. The New Deal's heirs, seeking more social democracy and less militarism, are bereft of new forms of political action. US democracy is threatened by an eruption of cultural and religious fundamentalism, racism, and xenophobia, as well as a compulsive refusal of social solidarity. Withal, the situation is open as well as complex, and the President in the long run may be much more successful than his angry detractors and disappointed supporters allow.     

Killing the Third World: civilisational security as US grand strategy

Abstract

This article disputes explanations of American expansionism that are based on the requirements of national security or more abstract theories such as the balance of power. In contradistinction to the imperatives of defence and survival, the article shows how civilisational factors weighed heavily on the emergence of US grand strategy at the turn of the nineteenth century. In particular assumptions about the peoples of the Third World being lesser played an important role in the conception and legitimation of imperial expansion. During this period, the US Navy went through a dramatic build-up. The article shows the ways in which the worldviews of many of the key players (such as Alfred Mahan and Theodore Roosevelt) contributed to the militarisation of global racism, a development that led to widespread killing in the Philippines and elsewhere.     

洛克公民教育思想探析

洛克非常重视公民教育，他的公民教育思想具有自由主义的色彩，他认为自由是公民教育的前提，也是公民教育的目的。基于这一目的，他提出公民教育的目标是培养自由人，即新型绅士。洛克认为公民教育的内容包括三个方面：公民道德教育、公民知识教育和公民健康教育。关于公民教育的实施途径，由于当时学校较为恶劣的学习环境，洛克主张家庭教育而贬抑公共教育。关于公民教育的方法，洛克也有很多新颖的见解，如对儿童的道德教育要研究一般心理特征和个性特征，对儿童的管理要宽严得当、宽严适时等。洛克公民教育思想对欧美国家的公民教育理论的发展产生了重大影响。     

Income tax evasion in the United States and China

This paper compares income tax evasion in the US and China with regard to several aspects, including income tax evasion laws and cases, problems both countries face and their possible solutions. It provides a general picture of income tax evasion in the US and China from both theoretical and practical perspectives. In the last part of the paper, errors in translation on some websites are present to remind readers to be wary of such errors.