Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Peacekeepers: Understanding Variation

While the literature on peacekeeping has mostly focused on whether peacekeeping actually keeps the peace, few studies have systematically addressed the question of what explains variations in unintended consequences of peacekeeping, such as sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). This study presents the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Peacekeepers data, a new dataset covering the 36 international peacekeeping missions by the UN, NATO, ECOWAS, and the African Union, active in the years 1999–2010. Using this dataset, it also presents the first statistical study that explores the issue of what can account for variations in reported SEA across peacekeeping operations. The systematic analysis of this data indicates that SEA was more frequently reported in situations with lower levels of battle-related deaths, in larger operations, in more recent operations, the less developed the country hosting the mission, and in operations where the conflict involved high levels of sexual violence. Our discussion and conclusion highlights data restrictions and identifies key challenges for future research.     

Why did Thailand's middle class turn against a democratically elected government? The information-gap hypothesis

In 2006, Bangkok's middle-class residents overwhelmingly supported the military coup that displaced the elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra. Survey research shows that opponents of Thaksin had a stronger commitment to liberal democracy and possibly to royalist values while rural voters supported Thaksin because he fulfilled their social demands. Opposition to Thaksin was not motivated by economic interests, but rather, there is some evidence that urban middle- and upper-class voters disliked Thaksin because they heard negative reporting about him, which were less available in the countryside. These findings are compatible with a new theory of democratic consolidation, in which the upper classes have the means that would enable and encourage them to pay sufficient attention to politics to discover that what they viewed as ‘good government’ was violated by the ruling party, which could have led to demands for more democracy historically. More recently, however, in Thailand and perhaps other instances in Southeast Asia and Latin America, those with the money and leisure to follow politics closely have heard reports about the ‘bad government’ of populist, democratically elected leaders, and thus have turned against them.     

“The Judge Didn't Sentence Me to Be Raped”: Tracy Neal v. Michigan Department of Corrections: A 15-Year Battle Against the Sexual Abuse of Women Inmates in Michigan

This research traces the history of Tracy Neal v. Michigan Department of Corrections, a class action lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Corrections that alleged the sexual abuse of women prisoners spanning more than two decades. The litigation resulted in combined jury verdicts of more than $30 million for the plaintiffs and a $100 million settlement that included extensive injunctive relief. This article examines the abuses and conditions suffered by female inmates in Michigan prisons, the court decisions, jury trials, and settlement. Drawing on interviews from several lead attorneys for the plaintiffs, the article provides an examination of the circumstances, discusses litigation strategy, and highlights lessons from Neal that could be relevant to civil rights scholars and advocates. The article concludes with a discussion of the impact and future implications of this case.     

政府信息公开救济制度研究

政府信息公开制度的构建意在保障公民知情权,建设服务型政府。救济制度不仅是政府信息公开制度实施的保障,而且是政府信息公开法律体系中不可缺少的一部分。本文主要从研究政府信息公开救济制度的理论基础入手,针对我国目前政府信息公开救济制度的现状,借鉴国外政府信息公开救济制度,提出了构建和完善我国政府信息公开法律救济制度的立法建议。     

论行政体制改革过程中的学习型政府组织

学习型政府是对“生态政治”这一新的政治认识的价值思考。建立学习型政府组织是政府管理创新的核心内容 ,政府管理创新的关键或切入点是把政府建设成为一个学习型的组织 ,全方位革新政府的运行机制 ,提高政府在管理活动中的效率 ,体现政府的职能转变。对学习型组织理念进行历时性解释和共时性分析将有助于我们更深刻地认识和研究学习型政府组织。     

行政诉讼类型化研究——以漳州市行政审判为例

行政诉讼类型化理论和制度体系是推动我国行政法治进程的重要一环,然而我国现有法律对行政诉讼类型并未作明确的规定。从现实审判需要的角度出发,针对违反法定程序的撤销诉讼判决种类过于简单、客观诉讼和规范审查诉讼标准尚无体现、诉讼类型与判决种类尚未衔接等问题,可在借鉴域外经验的基础上,完善行政诉讼类型且主张法院只能针对特定的行政诉讼类型作出特定的判决种类,以构建我国行政诉讼类型化体系。     

公安民爆公共安全管理之行政法规制

公安民爆公共安全管理的行政法规制,主要包括公安机关实施的民爆物品的行政许可规制和行政处罚规制两方面。公安机关实施的许可包括购买许可、运输许可和爆破作业许可。对违反民爆公共安全管理违法行为的处罚一般有七个方面,下一步应精简许可环节,完善非法爆炸物品销毁的立法。     

我国政府传统预算改革的原因及对策

政府预算是财政资源与政府具体活动的有效结合,是政府实现高效行政的重要保障.然而在社会发展的新形势下,传统预算对于我国政府行政绩效的影响,却越来越明显地走向消极.文章通过对于传统预算的缺陷及其成因的剖析,提出针对性的改革对策.旨在有效提升政府财政资源的使用效率,帮助预算管理真正成为政府高效行政的强劲助力.     

行政因素介入民事诉讼的程序性探析

民事、行政诉讼交叉案件,是在法律事实彼此相关联,在程序处理上交互影响或者互为前提的民事诉讼与行政诉讼案件。民行交叉案件种类繁多,这里主要研讨以民事争议为主、行政问题作为附带问题的案件和民事争议与行政争议并重案件的程序处理问题。尝试从赋予民事审判庭对相关行政行为一定的司法审查权的角度,借鉴日本当事人诉讼制度解决目前我国司法现状面临的诉讼瓶颈。     

环境信息公开公益诉讼现状考察

环境信息公开公益诉讼在我国法学界尚是一个崭新的话题,随着环境问题的日益严重及公民维权意识的增强,环境纠纷日益增多,自"环境信息公开公益诉讼第一案"被广泛公开报道以来,陆续出现了多起环境信息公开公益诉讼案件。我国环境信息公开公益诉讼存在受案的立法阻隔、环境信息公开申请实体请求受阻隔等困境。在国家立法对环境公益诉讼缺乏明确规定之时,环境公益诉讼的开创性实践"贵阳模式"值得推广,新环保法对环保公益诉讼主体的有限放开,也将为艰难前行的环境公益诉讼提供新的动力。