Promises of an impossible compromise: conceded constitutions in Europe, 1814–1906

The enactment of a constitution through the method of ‘concession’, as it was used in Europe between the Napoleonic wars and World War I, indicates that a hitherto absolute ruler understood the need for a higher level of institutionalization and collective exercise of state power, but mistrusted institutionalized and collective processes, which would define the level needed. In other word, a ‘concession’ comprehended an imminent contradiction. Drafting an enduring constitution is a complex and difficult task, which requires consensus- building on a wide scale through collective procedures. However, a ruler who ‘concedes’ implicitly denies any kind of collective constitution-making, which could get out of the ruler’s control. Instead rulers preferred a non-inclusive approach, using court advisors and/or ministers appointed by the ruler, to draft the constitutional text. The European experience analyzed in this article shows that popular involvement through representative procedures (such as the election of a constituent assembly) in the making of a constitution can improve its chances for endurance through time and create a political environment more favourable for the constitution to achieve normative quality, instead of remaining essentially a false promise.     

‘SAFEGUARDING NATIONAL CREDIBILITY’: FOUNDING THE BANK OF CHINA IN 1912

Abstract

The Bank of China led China’s modern-style banks during the Republican era, supporting the Chinese state through war and peace and financing China’s industrialization in the first half of the twentieth century. This article explores the founding of this institution in 1912 in the context of building the modern Chinese nation state following the 1911 Revolution. It argues that the events that made possible the Bank of China’s founding illustrate the contingent nature of state building. Furthermore, emphasis is on the critical relationship between finance and political legitimacy in state building. The article also shows how the creation of an institution such as the Bank of China, which was originally intended to be the new Republic’s central bank, gave the fledgling state the opportunity to support the transfer of legal rights in regime change.     

泰国立宪君主政治权威兴衰的过程、原因与趋势

本文采用“政治体制-社会结构-经济形态”层级式互动框架,对泰国立宪君主政治权威兴衰的过程、原因与趋势进行了分析。指出,泰国立宪君主政治权威的发展变化,主要取决于跨越式发展进程中结构性失衡引起的新旧利益集团的政治权力竞争与妥协。20世纪60年代以来,泰国立宪君主政治权威复兴的根本原因在于军人集团与王室-保皇派从冲突到结盟的政治关系转变。从长期来看,新资本集团的政治崛起将使得王室-保皇派再次被边缘化。     

Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome: Epidemiological and Morphological Characteristics in Thai Autopsy Cases

With limited knowledge on epidemiological and morphological characteristics of sudden unexplained nocturnal death syndrome (SUNDS), this study was aimed to identify such data in Thai SUNDS autopsy cases. All the cases were men and nondrug abusers aged 20–49 years old. Most cases were originated in the Northeastern region of Thailand. Half of them were found dead from midnight to 6 a.m., with a peak time at 2 a.m. The death rate was relatively higher in May and June. Most SUNDS cases were blue‐collar workers (93.2%) and nonsmokers (60%), with a normal BMI (72.1%). Approximately one‐fifth of the cases had detectable blood alcohol concentrations. Symptoms before death were respiratory difficulty, seizures, and urinary incontinence. Their mean heart weight was 329.8 ± 35.1 g. Their lungs (88.6%) had some degree of congestion. Acute pancreatitis was not found in these SUNDS cases, and approximately half (40.9%) of the cases had their gastric content <100 mL.     

转型期我国行政组织模式的塑造——对企业化政府的冷思考

理性官僚制在今天受到了前所未有的挑战,许多学者推崇企业化政府理论。借鉴新公共管理的经验,超越传统官僚制,建构现代官僚制,才是转型期我国行政组织模式塑造的理性选择。     

创新是发展的永恒动力——广东省经济持续快速健康发展的考察报告

创新是广东经济持续快速健康发展的不竭动力.如何借鉴广东经验,加快山西的发展,作者提出应把握两个关键点,即发展要有新观念,发展要有新思路.文章探讨了广东省进行理论创新、推进体制创新,实现科技创新的创新思想,进而为山西实施"十五"计划提供了可借鉴的思路.     

理性接受“死刑不引渡”

"死刑不引渡"原则随着人权观念的兴起和废除死刑的趋势而逐步为国际社会所认同,中国传统上一直回避这一原则,给司法实践带来一定障碍。我国应当理性地接受这一原则,并且对国内立法作出相应完善,以配合越来越频繁的国际司法协作。     

Russia’s New Old President

正Vladimir Putin is elected Russian president for a third term The West and the opposition have denounced him as an "autocrat." But many Russians regard him as the hero of Russia and are crazy about him. Vladimir Putin declared victory in     

落实权利与享有发展并举——化解社会矛盾的基本路向

社会矛盾的产生源于社会结构系统。社会整合基于两个基本维度：系统整合和社会整合。前者基于社会系统的功能即基于控制结构,后者基于社会系统的规范即基于规范结构。合理的控制结构使系统因素得到整合,功能得到优化;正当的规范结构使系统整合有正确的导向。实现我国社会结构功能的优化和规范导向的正当是化解社会矛盾的两根支柱。其关键在于,在制度设计上从分享发展过渡到落实权利,实现二者的均衡。我国化解社会矛盾的结构框架是功能失效和规定失调,使秩序控制和平台搭建有机结合,其具体路径是,完善秩序控制,重点发展平台搭建。