东亚文化的基本特征与传播过程中的双向互动性

东亚文化作为一个地区的文化,既具有相对的同质性或整体性,又具有多样性与差异性,它们之间的文化传播又具有双向互动的突出特点。中国文化对日、朝(韩)以及越等东南亚一些国家产生巨大影响,而各具特色的日、朝(韩)以及越等东南亚一些国家的文化对中国文化的发展与影响也不可轻视。当代东亚地区的文化传播与交流迅速发展,成为促进各国现代化建设的巨大动力。树立全球意识和开放观念,继承发展东亚传统的优秀文化,学习、吸收西方和世界其他地区的先进文化,大力增强东亚各国的交流与合作,将为21世纪东亚地区以及全世界的和平与发展做出贡献。     

中间层级何以保障政府运转? ——政府过程中的副职领导研究

【问题】中国副职领导官员通过怎样的机制介入政府过程?作为中间层级的政府群体,他们如何处理政府运行中的组织目标和执行能力的关系?副职领导官员对于理解政府治理有着怎样的理论与实践意义?【方法】论文基于田野调查和访谈,重点关注政府中的互动“事件”,依据“条条—块块”“上层—下层”“重要—日常”维度获得了19个案例,并进行了扎根理论分析。【发现】副职领导官员凭借分管、集体化和复杂性特征成为兼顾组织目标和执行能力的“保障性耦合枢纽”,并表现出三种机制:其一,方案转化机制,即结合价值目标和能力水平议定行动方案;其二,激励统率机制,即在上级授权之下动员、组织和引导下属官员;其三,调适纠偏机制,即对组织运行的潜在问题进行调节。这些机制使政府过程富有层层过渡的弹性,把压力化指标不断转化,并将激励链条贯穿于组织网络之中。【贡献】组织不会一直保持均衡结构,而中国情境中的副职领导官员能够使政府组织实现动态平衡,启示了中间层级研究的价值。论文审视了副职领导官员群体的重要性,揭示了他们在中国科层组织中的独特作用:作为积极的集体性行动者,副职领导官员串联协同各个层级,将政府有效运转起来。     

Facilitators and obstacles to cooperation in international development networks: a network approach

This paper draws attention to the value of a network approach for understanding cooperation in international development networks. The approach emphasises the impact of social interaction, and the values, ideas, and behaviours of individuals on the achievement of development goals. Social network analysis is used to analyse the social structure and dynamics of interaction in an aid-funded development network organisation that aimed to develop optometry capacity in Mozambique. The analysis shows the value of combining quantitative and qualitative methods in a complementary way to identify factors facilitating (network consciousness and social skill) and hindering (power dynamics) cooperation.     

Most Significant Change in conflict settings: staff development through monitoring and evaluation

Capoeira4Refugees is an NGO that uses the Afro-Brazilian art form of Capoeira to promote psychosocial well-being in children affected by conflict and occupation. Capoeira4Refugees introduced the Most Significant Change (MSC) methodology to monitor and evaluate project implementation and impact across two locations in the Middle East. Analysis of interviews conducted with five field staff revealed that in line with, and building on, previous research, MSC became an empowering tool that led to staff development. The potential for MSC to build staff reflexivity, independence, and leadership has implications for other organisations working in conflict areas, particularly in situations of remote management.     

Court Considerations in the Termination of Parental Rights: A Comprehensive Analysis of Israeli Court Decisions

Court decisions to terminate parental rights (TPR) have a major impact on parents and children, but the decision‐making process is unclear. Analysis of 261 Israeli TPR court cases indicated the dominance of considerations relating to normative parental functioning, the parents' ability to change, the impact of separating a child from his family, the parents' social normativity and educational ability. The legal considerations relate to the importance of the biological family, the necessity of adoption and the importance of a fair legal process. Insufficient consideration is accorded to cultural differences in parenting practices and the voice of the child.     

美国教育战略重塑与维护霸权的国家意向

自上个世纪80年代之后,美国制定了一系列国家教育战略,1983年美国国家高质量教育委员会发表了<国家处在危险中:教育改革势在必行>这一战略性报告之后,又制定了"2061"计划.进入90年代,随着世界格局的变化,3位总统都高度重视教育:老布什总统签发了<美国2000年教育战略>,克林顿总统以法律的形式确定了美国2000年教育战略的8项目标,小布什总统提出了"不让一个孩子掉队"的主张.这一系列教育战略的核心思想是解决教育尤其是普通教育阶段质量低下的问题,企图通过提高学生课业标准、加强科学教育、实现教育公平、培养学生坚定品格等措施,实现教育的"全面卓越".其目的是把一个强大的美国带入21世纪进程.     

基于相对资源承载力的广东省区域人口问题研究

相对资源人口承载力的测算,能够比较科学地分析研究区相对于参照区的人口发展状态,为研究区制定人口战略、政策提供参考。对相对资源人口承载力测算模型进行改进,引入相对资源人口承载压力指数。选取1997-2007年广东省及21个地级以上区域相对资源人口承载力数据,运用改进后的相对资源人口承载力几何模型和优化的指标,对广东省21个地级以上区域相对资源人口承载力进行分析。结果显示,对于相对资源人口承载力及承载压力的测算,指标匹配的全面性、复合性、协调性,模型的客观程度决定测算的科学与否。广东省21个地级以上区域,人口承载压力总体比较大,珠三角、东翼多数区域人口承载压力呈增大趋势;西翼、粤北山区人口承载压力呈减弱趋势;除广州外,其它区域人口承载压力,相对广东远小于相对全国。     

Political economy of road maintenance: a utility diagnostic

Sub-Saharan Africa requires US$30 billion annually for its infrastructure maintenance, with every dollar spent saving the economy about four times that. However, many governments still do not recognise the need for road maintenance, increasing vehicle operating costs – to more than 1% of GDP in some regions. Still, there are too few political economy diagnostics of this problem and policy responses aiming to ring-fence dedicated funds have had mixed results. This article proposes a diagnostic through which to understand the institutional root causes of the problem using the case of Moldova.     

Expensive English: an accessible language approach for Papua New Guinea agricultural development

Language used in capacity development programmes is usually that of the donor country, often English. However, research shows that the language used can be detrimental to the success of the programme. Little attention has been given to the issue of language, yet it is important that programme participants fully understand the capacity development programme’s concepts to ensure that the programme achieves its full potential. This article explores an accessible language approach to a Papua New Guinea development programme. Arguments are based on an in-country research project designed to provide women and men with deeper understanding of gender equity.     

Assessing the impacts of a peer-to-peer training programme for women in Peru

This article reports on research that aimed to assess the economic and social impacts of a peer-to-peer training programme targeted to women in Peru, looking at overall and differentiated impacts according to design features, on a sample of 300 women in participant and non-participant communities. The study found significant positive impacts on women’s time devoted to work outside the house and in their saving propensity, although no significant change on time allocated to domestic activities. It also detected some effects on an index of family cohesion and on home improvements. Finally, there was evidence that some design features influence the magnitude and significance of these impacts.