Meritocracy,Elitism and Inequality

The appeal of meritocracy is plain to see, because it appears to promote equality of opportunity. However, in this paper we argue that meritocracy is also a deeply elitist project. Firstly, we place Michael Young in context to show how his critique of meritocracy should be understood as a socialist vision to ameliorate class divides. Secondly, we show how economic inequality in the UK has not generated systematic resistance: in fact, inequality and belief in meritocracy have gone hand in hand. Thirdly, we argue that people see their own lives as meritocratic rather than ascribed, and that such values are deeply embedded in popular life. We offer two explanations for how such views have come about, and show how they have helped construct a more unequal society.     

‘A Nation Reborn’: Right to Law and Right to Life in The Purge Franchise

ABSTRACT

Popular culture matters for helping make sense of our political lives. This article addresses the value of dystopian horror films in challenging narratives about the state. It is situated within broader understandings of popular culture and politics, and specifically within narrative understandings of the state as a performative body. It presents The Purge film franchise as an example of such a challenge to state narratives, and argues that through its distortion of dominant state narratives, the franchise reveals and challenges the intersections of economic and racial inequality in the neoliberal United States. It examines in particular the emergency broadcast featured in all four films, which positions citizens in a relationship with law and life where the right to law conflates the right to life, and argues that the films present an understanding of vulnerability and abandonment that are in some ways already present in the state. It concludes by questioning what, if any, the capacities are for resistance.     

《道路交通安全法》语言表述问题评析

《道路交通安全法》是新中国历史上第一部全面规范道路交通安全管理的法律,是一部极富针对性和极具时代特征的法律。然而,这部倍受关注的法律中存在着一些诸如语义不清、逻辑不明、用词不当、用语不一、语法错误、冗赘与残缺等语言表述问题,不但影响了法律的严肃性,而且可能会给法律解读和法治运作带来一些不必要的麻烦。     

台湾民意的三个层次

本文认为台湾民意有三个层次:一,"台湾民意"有"一般意见"与"政治态度"之分,是可以改变的、多元的;二,"台湾主流民意"有具体问题与总体发展之分,当前涉及台湾前途与两岸关系的主流民意有两岸关系和平稳定、维持现状以及"台湾认同"等;三,"台湾认同"的形成有其国际因素、内部因素以及大陆因素,它是一种正常的现象,不等同于政治态度,"认同台湾"与"认同中国"并不一定互相对立。研究台湾民意的重点在于研究"台湾认同",需要多学科、综合性的研究。     

关于应对监狱舆情危机的思考

监狱舆情危机具有不可避免性、突发性、严重破坏性、难以修复性、可预控性和易变性特征。当前应对监狱舆情危机,还存在处置机制不健全、信息收集和分析滞后、缺乏处置技巧等问题。在迈入信息化、网络化社会的今天,监狱警察应当不断增强危机意识,建立舆情预警有效机制,积极引导舆情动态变化,妥善处理善后事宜,切实维护监狱和监狱警察的良好形象。     

网络热词—民意之窗

网络热词本身蕴含着丰富的社会文化心理因素,它的流行不仅仅是一种语言现象,其背后往往是一个新闻事件或一类社会现象,带有社会发展进程中深深的烙印。每一个网络热词的诞生和迅速流传,反映的都是社会生活和民意民情。分析网络热词反映民意的表现、流行特点及流行原因,可以客观揭示网络热词与公众情绪间的关系。     

"三个代表"与中华民族的伟大复兴

“三个代表”的重要思想与党肩负的实现中华民族伟大复兴的历史重任是联系在一起的。在新世纪,只要按照“三个代表”的要求,全面加强党的建设,不断增强党的创造力、凝聚力和战斗力,我们党就能切实承担起历史赋予的神圣使命,完成新世纪的三大历史任务,推进社会主义运动的发展,实现中华民族的伟大复兴。     

20世纪初期日本青年流行语的文化符号学分析

从20世纪初期10年日本青年流行语的情况考察,流行语创造者的权威性或社会声望是导致某一词语广为人们仿效的决定性因素。流行语所反映或表征的对象往往是某一时期社会关注的热点问题或现象。流行语本身对有关现象的生动刻画,以及在使用过程中造成的幽默、娱乐的效果等因素,也是一些词语得以在某一时期流行的原因。     

在我国行政诉讼中确立“成熟原则”的思考

在我国行政诉讼中确立“成熟原则” ,有利于行政机关正常地行使行政权 ;有利于法院正确审理行政案件 ,有效地裁判纠纷 ;有利于切实保护行政相对人的合法权益 ,降低解决争议的成本。成熟的标准可以从实质和形式两方面进行把握 :从实质上 ,看行政行为是否给相对人的权利义务产生了实际不利的影响 ;从形式上 ,看行政行为是否形成最后决定