Democratic reform between the extreme makeover and the reinvention of tradition: the case of the Netherlands

Democracy in the Netherlands, like in so many other Western countries, is under substantial reform pressure. The problem with the democratic system in the Netherlands, according to democratic reformers, is that it is out of step with the fast and major changes taking place in modern society. Champions of democratic reform in the Netherlands mostly look to sweeping, large-scale, and all-encompassing plans for democratic reform, achieving, however, little success. Major structural changes have been planned time and again, but eventually the institutional structure has remained largely the same. This article presents a critical analysis of the standard recipe that democratic reformers often prescribe – radical makeover – and outlines a viable alternative that can also be derived from the Dutch case – reinventing tradition. Reinventing tradition implies a mixture of change and preservation, of movement and counter-movement. It is, arguably, the only way for democratic reform to go, at least in a consensus democracy like the Netherlands. Dutch history demonstrates that large-scale blueprint reform runs a serious risk of non-implementation, and that small-scale adaptive tinkering, part of the incremental ‘reinvention of tradition’, can be significantly more successful as a reform strategy.     

中国特色社会主义道路发展探析

中国特色社会主义道路,是科学社会主义基本原则与与当代中国客观实际紧密结合的产物,是中国共产党领导全国人民在数十年艰辛探索之下的光辉创举。从形成过程来看,中国特色社会主义道路来之不易;就发展前景而言,中国特色社会主义道路前景光明,需要党和人民倍加珍惜,不渝坚持。     

Network Dynamics and Network Effectiveness: A Methodological Framework for Public Sector Networks in the Field of National Security

The network form of organisation is becoming increasingly important across many areas of public administration, but most analysts would agree that not enough is known about networks. This article is based on a detailed qualitative study of public sector networks in the field of national security in Australia. It reviews the dynamics and effectiveness of networks as organisational forms in this important field. A methodological framework involving five interdependent levels of analysis—structure, culture, policy, technology and relationships—is put forward to account for the internal dynamics of networks and the conditions that promote their effectiveness. The article concludes with recommendations for analysing networks in ways that can assist with the important task of network management.     

实践视野中的协商民主:价值与制度形式

作为实践理念的协商民主具有提高公共政策的合法性、决策的科学性、政策的执行力,培养和发展公民的治理能力,提升社会资本存量等价值。而规范的制度形式是实现协商民主实践价值的重要途径和有效保证。西方各国在长期的理论研究和反复实践中创造了公民陪审团、协商民意测验等典型的协商民主实践形式,对发展我国社会主义民主具有积极的借鉴意义。     

行政执法程序抗辩权之内在制度构建探析

行政执法程序抗辩权的内在制度构建是指其作为一个有机系统所应当包含的内在因素,它既是一项系统工程,也是现代行政法治的必然要求。当前,我国行政执法程序抗辩权之内在制度构建的主要路径在于:在范围上,必须明确与拓展行政执法程序抗辩权适用的范围以及规定适用行政执法程序抗辩权的例外情形;在内容上,应当包括辩解权、质证权以及反驳权;在形式上,行政执法程序抗辩权的行使存在直接形式与间接形式、口头形式与书面形式;在效力上,行政主体必须按抗辩笔录作出决定、必须采纳合法或正当的方式抗辩以及对抗辩不能加重处罚。     

论结果加重构成犯概念的提倡

在我国刑法中应当提倡结果加重构成犯的概念,刑法分则中以结果出现为犯罪成立要件的,不一定都是结果犯,而可能是结果加重构成犯。对于滥用职权罪和玩忽职守罪等罪来说,实质上包括双层次的危害结果,属于结果加重构成犯的范畴,其罪过形式类似于结果加重犯的罪过形式。     

Constructing and Conceptualizing “Interdependent Hegemony” in an Era of the Rise of the BRICS and Beyond

The paper aims to provide a framework for understanding the global impact of the rise of the “Second World” (emerging powers, such as BRICS) brought about by globalization and the transformation of international relations and international political economy. The paper takes the point of departure from one of Gramsci’s key conceptual categories and analytical apparatus, e.g. “hegemony,” to explore the extent that the upsurge of the emerging powers has reshaped the terrain and parameters of social, economic and political relations both at the national and global levels, and has exerted pressure on the existing international order in terms of both opportunities and constraints. The paper intends to examine the dialectical nexus between the role of the emerging powers as a counter-hegemonic, socio-economic and socio-political force for a new world order. The paper’s analytical approach is to combine neo-Gramscian hegemony theories with critical post-hegemony theories. The conclusion of the paper is to suggest that in an era of globalization and transformational capitalism it is impossible for the emerging powers to establish an alternative independent hegemony; rather, the world will witness a new era of “interdependent hegemony,” in which both the “First World” and the “Second World” are intertwined in a constant process of shaping and reshaping the world order in the nexus of national interest, regional orientation, common economic and political agendas, security alliance and potential confl icts.     

打击有组织犯罪：“打小”的立法期待

作为犯罪的高级形态，有组织犯罪组织严密，危害严重，但发现不易，查处困难。有组织犯罪的组织化程度愈高，形式也日趋公司化、企业化，手段日趋现代化，犯罪的领域也愈趋扩大。因此，选择最优的治理手段势在必行。对有组织犯罪从“打早”、“打小”开始，力求将其遏制在萌芽之中，既可以避免或减少被害，同时有组织犯罪在新萌状态下犯罪组织化程度不高，可达成投入少、效果好的遏制效果。而要达成打早打小的效果，尚需相关法律规则的完善与观念的支撑。     

事后抢劫罪若干问题刍议

事后抢劫罪并非一个独立的罪名,而是经法律拟制为抢劫罪。司法解释关于已满14周岁不满16周岁的相对刑事责任年龄的人能否成立事后抢劫罪出现了不一致的规定,立足解释论的立场,“犯盗窃、诈骗、抢夺罪”被重新理解,故此承认相对刑事责任年龄的人是本罪的犯罪主体。事后抢劫罪与承继的共犯也是一个疑难问题,事后抢劫罪不是身份犯,后行为人成立共同正犯和共犯的想象竞合。但是,根据正犯优于共犯的法理,以故意伤害罪或者故意杀人罪的共同正犯论定刑事责任。最后,事后抢劫罪存在未遂,盗窃等前提行为相对于事后抢劫罪是一种潜在的实行行为,经由后续暴行、胁迫行为的实施,成为一种显在的实行行为。     

污染环境罪罪过形式之体系解释

关于污染环境罪的罪过形式,我国刑法理论上存在过失说与故意说之争。大部分学者坚持过失说,故意说是少部分学者所持的观点。过失说认为,对故意造成严重污染环境结果发生的行为可以依照投放危险物质罪定罪处罚。然而,这会导致故意造成严重污染环境结果但未造成公私财产重大损失或人身伤亡的行为得不到处罚。故意说将过失造成严重污染环境结果的行为排除在处罚范围之外,这不符合严厉打击污染环境犯罪之刑事政策的要求。因而,只有将污染环境罪的罪过形式解释为既包括过失也包括故意,才不至于出现处罚上的空当。