Length of independence and democratic failure

This article takes as a point of departure a well-known but rarely tested assumption in the literature on state-building and democratisation, namely that democratic regimes in newly established states are politically unstable. When states take their first steps as independent entities, the state-building process is often incomplete, the political institutions fragile and democratic routines yet to be established. However, with increasing years of independence, these democratic shortcomings are expected to be remedied. This makes it reasonable to assume that the likelihood of democratic failure decreases with increasing years as an independent state. Based on an extensive empirical data set, the conclusion was reached that there is indeed a negative relationship between the length of independence and democratic failure and that this association is insensitive to the period in time when the countries received their independence. Furthermore, the results suggest that the length of democratic rule has a positive impact on democratic stability. However, this pattern is detectable only in states created after 1946.     

LETTERS

正It is an appropriate choice to create the BRICS New Development Bank,because it signifi es reorganization of the international economic and monetary system,which obviates over-dependence on the U.S.dollar.The new bank will consolidate the fi nancial independence of several states and stimulate the economic revival of many developing countries,especially in Africa.The BRICS nations command great force.I advise them to cooperate with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States     

More Than IndyRef2? The Referendums (Scotland) Act 2020

Demands for a second Scottish independence referendum have persisted since 2014. The Scottish government introduced the Referendums (Scotland) Bill at Holyrood in May 2019 to enable referendums within the competence of the Scottish parliament. The Scottish National Party (SNP) government presented this as a framework enabling a range of referendums. Opponents saw this as legislating for a second independence referendum. The act will form a large part of the legal framework and rules for any second independence referendum. Importantly, the legislation provides innovation in electoral law more generally. This article discusses the background to the bill, its initial contents, and debates around and amendments to the bill. It discusses its electoral law innovations, before considering its limitations and place as constitutional debates play out over a second independence referendum.     

《2010年国际贸易术语解释通则》与《销售合同公约》货物风险转移原则的牵连性与独立性

《联合国国际货物销售合同公约》作为国际贸易的统一实体法,创设的货物风险转移原则较为笼统性,因而为最新的国际贸易术语统一惯例《2010年国际贸易术语解释通则》预留了足够的空间。尽管强制法限制惯例的约定,但两种规则并不冲突,彼此之间相辅相承。秉承公约的传统,同时利用国际贸易惯例的功能,改革与完善国际货物买卖和运输交接货的责任界定与风险转移,是国际商会对于《2010年国际贸易术语解释通则》的杰出奉献。     

Break Out of Russia: Miķelis Valters and the National Issue in Early Latvian Socialism

This article deals with the political thought of Mi?elis Valters (1874–1968), whose early writings are considered to contain the first clearly articulated argument for independent and democratic Latvia. Until now, Valters's writings haven′t been analyzed in their own historical and intellectual context, being subjected to Marxist and nationalist ‘proleptic mythologies’ instead. However, such an analysis provides us with important insights about the intellectual origins of Latvian political nationalism. Valters's early argument for independent Latvia derives much from the legacy of Russian narodnichestvo and from German liberal legal theory, rather than from Austro-Marxism, as suggested by previous commentators.     

The politics of de‐delegation: Regulatory (in)dependence in Turkey

This essay explores the rise and decline of regulatory independence in Turkey. Framing the ongoing process of limiting independence of these agencies as the politics of de‐delegation, it raises the question of why Turkish regulatory agencies have become subject to increasing political intervention. Contending that institutional legacies and mounting illiberal predispositions of the Turkish state facilitate the politics of de‐delegation, the essay focuses on centralization, executive discretion, and politicization of bureaucracy as the major institutional legacies. Then it briefly discusses formal and informal mechanisms of political intervention, which have impaired the independence of the regulatory agencies.     

浅谈公安院校学生自控能力的培养

提高公安院校学生的自控力有助于提高公安院校学生严守纪律、防腐拒变能力;有助于提高学生自身修养,培养开拓创新意识;有助于促使学生参与警务化管理,养成令行禁止的习惯。为提高学生的自控能力,公安院校要在严格的警务化管理中,有意识地培养学生较高的思想觉悟;设定适宜的目标期待,激励养成良好习惯;督促专业知识学习,提高文化素养;训练情绪管理,提升心理素质;强化实践锻炼,培养＂慎独＂精神。     

美国的司法独立及其相对性

美国是世界上最早赋予司法独立以完整内涵并真正实施的国家,因而研究美国的司法独立具有重要意义。美国司法独立的理论基础是权力的分立与制衡理论。为保障司法独立的贯彻,美国确立了法官个人意义上的司法独立性和制度层面上的司法独立性,但该原则并非绝对,而是相对的。     

现代司法理念下的法官独立

现代司法理念被人们赋予了时代的新意,使其更贴近现实的生活,成为活的司法理念。本文结合中国的司法制度和实际国情,就“法官独立”这一现代司法理念中最基本的问题进行了探讨,从上下级法院关系、合议庭及审判委员会三个方面出发,指出中国“司法内部独立”——“法官独立”的现状及存在的障碍,试图在现有的制度框架下找出通过法院自身努力就可实现的改良措施。笔者深知,如果司法机关尚意识不到自身独立的重要性,不能尊重法官的独立,又何谈要求来自外部的尊重。法院内部改革的过程同样也是法院自身增强独立意识的过程。     

国际刑事法庭检察官制度及比较

国际刑事法庭检察官制度实行检警一体模式。从纽伦堡国际军事法庭直到国际刑事法院的发展中,检察官有一个从任命产生到选举产生的过程。国际刑事法庭检察官履行职责的基本保障是坚持独立性和公正性。