社会治理与法治

法治是社会治理的一种,社会治理是人在认识自然的规律和人的本性的基础上调整人与自然、人与人的关系,并建立和维持秩序的过程。从民主的观点来看,社会治理的最高治权应当归于人民全体。执政者所掌握的只是使用权,因此他们对社会的治理不是一种统治,而是一种管理。好的社会治理称之为善治,而法治就是一种理想的善治。     

当代西方公共管理前沿理论述评

公共管理作为一门综合性的学科,其前沿理论五花八门,但其中比较宏观和有持续影响力的当属20世纪年70代末和80年代初兴起、到现在还在继续的长达二十多年的政府改革思潮.这一思潮的主要理论基础是20世纪60年代出现的公共选择学派.新公共管理、新公共行政/服务以及治理等前沿理论都与公共选择理论有着密切的关系,是公共选择理论的发展或是在批判公共选择学派的过程中形成的理论.这几个理论相关又不尽相同,与西方思想界都有着十分深厚的渊源,反映着不同思想阵营和不同理论之间的博弈,并没有达到能够相互替代的程度.它们的风行在中国的公共管理学界也引起了层层涟漪和概念上的混淆.从西方公共管理改革实践的历史背景出发,重点就这四大理论的特点、渊源和理论效度进行综述和评论,并讨论了它们对中国公共管理发展的启示.     

论不同社会治理模式中的法治与德治

迄今为止 ,人类的社会治理主要是由统治型的社会治理和管理型的社会治理所构成的历史发展过程。近些年来 ,在向后工业社会转变的过程中 ,出现了一种新的历史趋势 ,那就是人类社会治理行为中出现了公共管理这一新的社会治理方式 ,它意味着人类的社会治理活动将又一次出现全面的变革 ,一种新型的社会治理模式即服务型的社会治理模式的出现。统治型的社会治理是以权力为基础的治理 ,可以称作为“权治” ,即权力的治理。管理型的社会治理是以权力和法律的互动为基础的 ,所以具有法治的特征。因而 ,人们倾向于把这种社会治理称作为法治 ,即法律的治理。公共管理所追求的服务型社会治理是建立在权力、法律和道德有机协调的基础上的 ,是法治和德治相统一的社会治理模式。     

中国新型政党制度的治理意蕴

新中国成立七十年来,中国新型政党制度作为产生于中国土壤的一项基本政治制度,不断发展成熟。中国新型政党制度是极具中国特色的制度设计,也是国家治理体系的重要组成部分,其中国共产党领导下的"多党合作与政治协商"特征淡化了长久以来政党制度的"管理"倾向,凸显了"治理"特性。中国新型政党制度所具有的主体多元性、过程协商性和实践合作性等治理特征,使得多党合作的治理效能得以真正发挥,彰显了中国新型政党制度的优越性。     

社会治理创新视角下农村社会组织的培育——以广州从化农村社会组织培育基地为例

健全的社会组织包括农村社会组织是社会治理过程中必不可少的重要组成部分。在社会治理创新视域下,以广州市从化农村社会组织培育基地为例,对农村社会组织培育产生的背景、优势及存在的问题进行探讨和分析,有助于完善农村社会组织和构建农村社会治理新格局。     

电子政府的研究视野

近年来,随着电子政府实践的发展,学术界从不同的研究角度对电子政府进行了研究。总体来看,电子政府的研究可以分为"硬派"和"软派"两大流派。由于发展电子政府的战略性地位,各国政府和相关学术研究机构都给予此项工作以极大地关注,并取得了一批有价值的研究成果。国内学术界也对电子政府的概念和内涵、关于电子政府建设的研究以及电子政府与治道变革进行了深入研究和探讨。     

Controlling gully erosion: an analysis of land reclamation processes in Chambal Valley,India

Programmes for environmental protection and land reclamation have been deeply embedded in local political and social contexts. This article focuses on the effectiveness of such measures to control ravine erosion in the lower Chambal Valley, one of the most degraded regions in India. The study used field observation to see whether the measures had any impact on further gully and ravine formation. The findings suggest that agricultural practices, including those often based on the short-term economic needs of households, lead to inefficient land-use practices, particularly in land-levelled and reclaimed areas.     

Municipality and food security promotion for disabled people: evidence from north-eastern Thailand

This article puts forward a qualitative method for analysing the role of municipalities in promoting food security for people with disabilities, and examining barriers that affect their food access and food utilisation. Findings from face-to-face interviews with mayors, street vendors, and disabled persons from three major municipalities in north-eastern Thailand clearly indicate that a lack of knowledge of food security among mayors and street vendors, and financial restrictions suffered by families, have become insurmountable barriers to food among people with disabilities. The article recommends that municipalities should create paid employment for people with disabilities and incorporate universal design into infrastructure improvement.     

Tug of war: street trading and city governance in Kumasi,Ghana

Kumasi, Ghana, has witnessed accelerated population growth in the past two decades, leading to a significant increase in joblessness following years of economic decline and labour market liberalisation. As a survival strategy, residents have resorted to street trading, making it an important source of livelihood. However, its associated implications for urban governance and management has placed city authorities in the spotlight over the years. Examining the daily struggles that occur between city managers and street traders, this article finds that various strategies adopted by city authorities to decongest the streets have proved futile. Rethinking what could be a sustainable strategy for decongesting the streets of traders, the article concludes that chasing the traders out of the streets is not the panacea to solving the problem unless well coordinated land-use planning and appropriate regulations are competently enforced.     

Land governance and women’s rights in large-scale land acquisitions in Cameroon

This article identifies and examines the role of actors involved in the process of large-scale land acquisitions in Cameroon. It is based on primary data from interviews conducted among principal actors. Findings reveal that government, chiefs, and to some extent elites, play key roles in formal and informal processes that grant land to investors. However, both processes neglect women and affected communities because there are no mechanisms to hold actors accountable to them, especially to women who depend on land for their livelihood. The article concludes that a legal framework that makes the process transparent and promotes accountability and gender inclusiveness is indispensable.