Managing Power Transitions: Towards a 21st Century Concert of Powers

Power shifts and especially power transitions in the international system are often associated with (military) confl ict. Power Transition Theory (PTT) does offer an analysis of this phenomenon but no remedy. We suggest easing the tensions related to ongoing worldwide power shifts by introducing a new informal multilateral security governance institution, based on the idea of a concert of powers. The historical European Concert of the 19th century prevented the outbreak of great power wars for more than a generation by providing a cooperation framework, based on shared norms and common procedures. In this article we explore the possibility of utilizing a modernized concert of powers as a framework for managing the coming power shifts. In order to do so, we introduce two new elements in Power Transition Theory: (1) the importance of the (dis) satisfaction of the declining hegemon with the anticipated future order, and (2) a broader multilateral framework of major powers that overcomes the Power Transition Theory’s traditional bilateral “duel” situation. On this basis, institutionalized power transition management becomes possible. We then work out the norms, strengths and weaknesses of the historical concert and update it with a few new features that would be necessary for it to be successful in the 21st century.     

Nationalism and the Rise of Peru's General Velasco

Velasco's brand of military nationalism marked a real break from the orientation of the majority of Peruvian military regimes, which were pro‐United States and espoused limited government. Many attempts have been made to explain this outcome, but the release of documents from British and United States archives clarify certain issues. Above all, Velasco's use of the nationalist card enabled him to win over decisive support from both the military and political society. This support gave him sufficient leverage to consolidate his personal position, which he did before launching a major programme of domestic property expropriation.     

Diversity Management in World Politics. Reformist China and the Future of the (Liberal) Order

Given the widely shared belief that, following a long period of crisis, the American-led liberal world order is now in transition, the question arises: what comes next? Considering China’s ‘parallel order-shaping’ project with respect to the liberal order as a harbinger of a ‘multi-order world’, it is reasonable to expect a concert-like mode of ordering, which will draw on a new common language to reach consensus among proactive stakeholders at the global level. Those interested in maintaining the liberal character of this arrangement, such as the EU, should therefore steadily engage in the process leading to its establishment in order to gain and retain full membership while enhancing their discursive power.     

大治安经略须善用一、二、三大智慧

一、二、三,等等,都是智慧的结晶;＂一点论＂、＂两点论＂与＂三点论＂,皆属颇有智慧的思维方式。＂一点论＂注重同一,＂两点论＂注重斗争,＂三点论＂注重和谐。大治安经略,须善用＂一点论＂、＂两点论＂与＂三点论＂等大智慧。兵不在多而在精,兵不在精而在用。能人点石成金,高手撒豆成兵,战场用兵的要旨在于据兵性而善用。大治安经略,须善用＂一点论＂,形成社会治安防控的一个系统;善用＂两点论＂,组织社会治安防控的猫鼠博弈;善用＂三点论＂,构建社会治安防控的三角和谐。     

论港澳台地区公共秩序保留制度的适用及其对我国大陆的启示

通过对我国港澳台地区公共秩序保留制度立法现状和司法适用进行梳理，认为港澳台地区公共秩序保留制度各具特色兼有不足。大陆地区已于2011年4月1日起正式实施《法律适用法》，但公共秩序保留制度的立法仍不完善。可以借鉴港澳台地区公共秩序保留制度的经验，将名称统一为公共秩序，明确公共秩序的内涵和限制其适用范围，区分国际公共秩序和区际公共秩序，选择“客观说”作为公共秩序保留制度的适用标准，在排除外国法或外域法适用后首选与纠纷有最密切联系地的法律，然后再考虑我国大陆地区的本地法。     

The Woman Victim in a Country in Crisis: A Reading of Tagwira's The Uncertainty of Hope

The article is based on my reading of Valerie Tagwira’s The Uncertainty of Hope as a feminist text that portrays female victimhood in the context of a failing postcolonial state. Tagwira writes about the experiences of a woman against the background of Murambatsvina, officially termed ‘‘Operation Clean Up.’’ The Zimbabwean Operation Clean Up of 2005 was condemned worldwide; and in her novel, Tagwira gives an often-ignored dimension of a woman’s experience of it, in the general context of a country facing serious political, economic and social challenges. For Tagwira, the challenges faced by Onai, as well as those around her, do not have links to their racial identities. Thus, Tagwira redefines the enemyvictim trope of the Third Chimurenga by subverting the state’s interpretation of the struggle discourse of the Third Chimurenga. In the state’s discourse, the victim trope is racial, the state enemy is the former colonial master (in support of the opposition political party) and the victim is the previously colonised black. In my analysis, I have used Susan Wendell’s theory on oppression and victimisation as contained in her article Oppression and Victimization: Choice and Responsibility (1990).     

税收之债的消灭时效

税收之债的消灭时效是税收债权消灭的重要原因,对于督促税收债权人及时行使债权、保护纳税人权利、建构稳定和谐的税收征纳关系具有重要意义。税收债权的消灭时效包括确定时效和征收时效两类,其内容涉及时效的性质、期间长度、期间起算、中断和中止、期间届满的法律效果等问题。我国税法对税收债权的消灭时效制度规定很不健全,应当借鉴他国立法例和国际经验,通过制定税收通则法等途径尽快予以完善。     

普京政权8年总评价:特征与得失

没有像戈尔巴乔夫和叶利钦那样,以一套抽象理论作为改革的蓝本,普京转而以具体的目标——在民主政治和自由经济的框架下建立一个强大的俄罗斯——作为施政蓝图。这是普京政权的显著特征,也是普京与前苏联、俄罗斯领导人的主要区别所在。为实现这一目标,普京在制定各项具体政策时,大致上遵守民主政治与自由市场的原则。总体而言,这些具体的政策有得也有失:其中促进国民团结与加强管理能力的政策,十分有效;促进经济发展和改善民生的政策,效率一般;至于遏止人口衰退和改善国民健康危机方面的政策,则效率不佳。就现时的发展水平而言,俄罗斯还未完全达到"跻身于世界强国之林"及"民主法治"的目标。     

关于治安行政管理概念的探讨

目前关于治安行政管理概念的表述存在诸多分歧。笔者尝试将治安行政管理的概念定义为 :治安行政管理是国家警察机关为了维护统治阶级所需要的社会治安秩序 ,保障社会生活正常进行 ,运用多种手段 ,通过计划、组织、指挥、协调、控制等环节 ,对影响社会治安秩序的各种因素加以认识和改造的行政管理活动。根据业务范围、地域、行业、社会形态的不同 ,其外延划分也有所不同。     

社会主义市场经济保卫战是新时期公安工作的重要主题

社会主义市场经济保卫战是新时期公安工作的重要主题,是公安机关的龙头工作,是掌握新形势下治安主动权的必由之路。社会主义市场经济保卫战既是重大的理论创新,也是具有革命性意义的重大治安举措。要有效地实施社会主义市场经济保卫战,必须处理好理论与实践、整体与重点、战略与战术、目的与手段的关系,强化创新意识、效益意识、公安产业意识和本领意识。