论自然法和西方法律思想的发展

文章认为从西方法律思想发展史看 ,自然法是一种“理性、正义和道德”的法律 ,其思想强调的是人与人、人与自然、人与社会的和谐统一 ,人类不应遗忘它。文章提醒人们 :当今社会科技发达 ,财富涌流 ,地球环境却日益恶化 ,国家、民族间的武力冲突时有发生 ,恐怖活动频繁不断 ,网络犯罪异军突起 ,这到底是因为什么 ?现代精致的法律思想和强大的法律制度为什么不能解决这些严重的社会问题 ?也许延续了几千年的自然法精神宝库会给我们些新的启迪。     

非公有制经济发展的机遇与挑战——评析“非公经济36条”

2005年2月,国务院出台的"非公经济36条"首次以中央政府文件的形式,提出了促进非公有制经济发展的多项措施.它不仅给非公有制经济带来了机遇,同时也提出了挑战.放宽市场准入是其一大亮点.促进非公有制经济发展,首先要以非公有制经济打破公用事业垄断作为突破口,同时,我国应该完善非公有制经济保护机制,重视其法律体系的构建,并鼓励地方制定具体办法.     

"the rule of law"不能涵盖"法治"的内涵

"法治"(the rule of law)与"依法治国"(the rule by law)的根本区别在于所依之"法",仅仅用"of"和"by"两个字无法将这两种法律思想和法律实践区别开来."the rule of law"不能涵盖"法治"的内涵,"法治"的英文表述应该是"the rule under natural law".     

论中国近代法观念的转变

观念是一定社会法律现象、法律制度、法律运行模式的理性概括。中国近代的法观念是在中国传统法观念与外来法文化的冲突、扬弃中形成的。治外法权的丧失、太平天国运动对封建法观念的摧毁、清统治者对封建法观念的破坏、新的生产方式的出现是其产生的历史土壤。其内容主要是礼法分野、诸法并重、肯定个体的权利、司法独立等。中国近代法观念的转变为清末法律改革运动提供了思想基础,对民族救亡运动、中国民族资本主义的发展均具有促进作用。     

我国自然垄断行业民营化改革的法律完善

自然垄断行业的性质决定了其存在的必要性 ,但由于缺乏竞争机制必然会带来垄断的弊端。在新的经济和社会条件下 ,实行民营化改革 ,引入竞争机制 ,已成为自然垄断行业改革的必然选择。因此 ,必须建立和完善相应的法律制度。     

以融合正义重构人工智能司法的逻辑

我国的人工智能司法发展具有明显的突变特色,缺乏足够的制度和理论调适,广泛应用会带来司法逻辑的内在冲突。司法的社会技术特性和人工智能的自然技术特性之间具有天然的亲和性,为我国人工智能司法广泛应用提供了工具理性基础。但人工智能介入司法会带来原有社会黏合基础改变,无法完全应对司法过程的随机性和偶然性因素,并且会因为技术竞争带来新的不正义。需要扩展法律正义的蕴含,将法律正义的纯粹道德内核扩展为功利-道德内核,将司法从社会技术转换为技术-社会技术;在司法结构上设置技术-社会的双重竞争性机制,以维护基本的演化平衡;通过技术-社会互动的重构实现人工智能介入后的融合正义司法模式。     

“Here we give advice for free”: the functioning of plant clinics in Rwanda

Although plant clinics are considered an important mechanism in the service delivery to farmers, not much is known about their functioning in the daily reality of plant doctors and farmer-clients. This article reports on an exploratory study describing the functioning of eight plant clinics in Rwanda. Personal and organisational commitment, publicity, and proactive communication with farmers and local leaders are key factors explaining higher attendance of some clinics. Farmer attendance is under-reported by 40–50%. Data management needs improvement to make clinic records reliable tools for decision-makers. This type of assessment can help improve operations and realise the plant clinics’ potential.     

Supporting farmer participation in formal seed systems: lessons from Tharaka,Kenya

This article examines contemporary challenges of formal seed sector participation for resource-poor farmers in Tharaka and engages in a wider discussion of national seed policy and formal seed sector development in Kenya. While many farmers reported utilising modern seed varieties developed by the formal seed sector, the majority of these were introduced through seed aid and maintained through seed saving, supporting seed system integration strategies. Building on these findings, the article discusses ways in which national seed policy in Kenya might be refined to better meet national and regional development goals focused on decreasing the incidence of hunger and poverty.     

One-stop border posts and informal livelihoods in Busia,Kenya

‘One-stop border posts’ (OSBP) are being developed on East African trade corridors to support growth in cross-border trade in the region. This article presents a household survey examining the impact of the OSBP at Busia on the Kenya–Uganda border on the livelihoods of informal traders and workers. It finds positive effects through enhanced access to cross-border trade. However, it also finds negative effects, including reduced work opportunities for unskilled manual workers. Further research is needed into the long-term effects on the price and foreign exchange differentials which currently incentivise the informal trade, before the effects can be fully assessed.     

High food prices in urban Cameroon: coping strategies and suggested policy actions

Governments tend to focus on short-term policies to address the immediate effects of high food prices when spikes occur, while in the long term, urban residents are left to their own devices struggling to ensure adequate household food consumption. Using data collected in three cities in Cameroon among 300 households, this article documents participants’ opinions on appropriate policies to address high food prices as well as how households cope with chronic high food prices. It emphasises the importance of long-term government strategies such as improved farm-to-market roads and agricultural sector supports as means to improve food security.