The noble west and the dirty rest? Western democracy promoters and illiberal regional powers

This conclusion summarizes the major findings of this special issue and discusses their implications for research on democratization and international democracy promotion. First, I compare the interactions between EU and US democracy promotion and the responses of non-democratic regional powers. In the cases in which Russia, Saudi Arabia, and China chose to pursue a countervailing strategy, I match the reactions of the US and the EU and explore how the combined (inter-)actions of democratic and non-democratic actors have affected efforts at democracy promotion in the target countries. The second part discusses the theoretical implications of these findings and identifies challenges for theory-building. I argue that the literature still has to come to terms with a counter-intuitive finding of this special issue, namely that non-democratic actors can promote democratic change by unintentionally empowering liberal reform coalitions as much as democracy promoters can unwittingly enhance autocracy by stabilizing illiberal incumbent regimes. I conclude with some policy considerations.     

“以谣辟谣”：政府回应中的特殊现象及其解读

“以谣辟谣”现象是一种特殊的政府回应行为,多发生于公共政策事件、官员违法违纪事件、突发性公共事件中。以发生领域为标准,可以将“以谣辟谣”现象划分为政策型、庇护型、突发型三类。“以谣辟谣”具有网络时代特性,目标指向明确且具有前后事实对比,其产生逻辑是在特定制度环境和行政文化背景下,为摆脱回应方面的行动困境所做出的行为选择。为避免此种行为发生,需要完善政府回应的制度约束,建立常态化的回应机制,拓宽政务公开渠道,强化民间信息平台的管理,实现权威信息的全民共享。     

Multi-Level Governance in a Small State: A Study in Involvement,Participation, Partnership,and Subsidiarity

This article looks into the everyday practices of Estonian local governments regarding the emergence of multi-level governance (MLG) and their mobilization in EU affairs and policies, especially regional policy. The theoreti­cal framework is the concept of MLG, also emphasizing the principles of subsidiarity and partnership. The article contributes new empirical insights from a country outside of the mainstream scholarly debates on MLG. We test and answer five interconnected theses linking MLG with practices of the principles of subsidiarity and partnership and the status of a small, unitary state in the European integration process. For many Estonian municipalities, the EU has hardly any effect. We identified almost no adjustment of local-government structures and routines to EU pressures. There is hardly any involvement of local actors in policy-making processes or in networking. Estonian local governments are weak partners for the state     

Cultural Policy and Governance: Reviewing Policies Related to Cultural and Creative Industries Implemented by the Central Government of Taiwan Between 2002 and 2012

Cultural and creative industries have exhibited rapid changes in recent years, and public sectors worldwide have expanded interest in policies related to these industries as a means of promoting culture, innovation, and economic vitality. This article argues that the cultural values promoted by and economic significance of cultural and creative sectors are essential to the formation of policy and to the development of new industries. This article offers insight into cultural policy that has governed regional and local development, and addresses academic debates about policy related to cultural and creative industries based on several cultural, economic, and geographical factors. In addition, this article presents the results of analyzing various theories and case studies, based on how the Central Government of Taiwan (CGT) has adopted policies to promote cultural and creative industries. The research results link areas of cultural and economic development with policies enacted by the CGT. Ideas concerning the cultural ministry, industrial development, civic boosterism, subsidies, regional development, creative clusters, tourists and tourism businesses, and export markets are areas of emphasis in this study.     

提升地方巡视工作实效性的路径选择

巡视工作是中国共产党深化党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争的重要举措,十多年来巡视工作取得了积极的成效,积累了丰富的经验。但如何提高巡视工作的实效性,仍然是地方(省、自治区、直辖市)巡视机构面临的一个重要课题。具体说来,提高地方巡视机构巡视工作的实效性,可从以下三个方面入手:进一步优化体制机制,形成上下联动的战略态势;抓住核心环节,在信息收集、专题调查、结果运用上下工夫;大力提高巡视人员业务水平,增强发现问题、解决问题的能力。     

Sequential vote choice: Applying a consideration set model of heterogeneous decision processes

This article analyzes the relative effects of a classic set of long-term and short-term determinants of party choice by treating voters' decision processes as a two-stage heterogeneous process. Departing from a consideration set model of voting behavior (CSM), we use panel data collected in Sweden in 2014 to analyze which voters considered voting for more than one party. To evaluate the CSM approach we estimate the relative effects of long-term and short-term determinants, for different parts of the electorate and at different stages of the decision process.Results confirm that the choice process for the ‘considering kind’ of voters is influenced by another mix of long-term and short-determinants than stable and party identified voters. Findings suggest that continued analyses of multi-stage decision making may bring new insights into electoral behavior. We argue that the core ideas of CSM – the sequential decision-making process and heterogeneity in the impact of long-term and short-term determinants – are generally applicable for analyses of voting behavior.     

世界经济区域一体化条件下中俄区域合作设想

在世界经济全球化和区域一体化的条件下,为加强中俄区域性合作宜在黑龙江省和俄罗斯远东地区组建一个自由贸易区。要实现这一设想,需要双方共同努力克服一系列的障碍和困难。为此,提出了5点建议。     

Has Regionalism Peaked? The Latin American Quagmire and its Lessons

Since 1960, Latin American attempts at regionalism have undergone distinct phases. More notably, they have tended to diverge across space, gradually giving birth to separate blocs that seem to be tearing South, Central and North America apart. Additionally, within and across these regions several overlapping projects coexist. This article focuses on the dynamics of segmented and overlapping regionalism in order to describe what they look like, analyse how they articulate with one another, and explain why member states have pushed for such a messy outcome. This situation, linked to the evolution of the global context, might be indicating that regionalism in Latin America has reached its peak, beyond which it may be difficult to achieve further progress. Two conclusions are elicited: first, economic integration is becoming a geographically diffused phenomenon rather than a regional one; second, regionalism is still a compelling foreign policy but its causes, goals and outcomes are no longer what they used to be.     

“航线共同体”整合概念的中国海洋发展战略——海权发展与中外历史经验

本文以当代区域整合的概念,结合传统“中华世界帝国”区域整合概念,诠释“航线共同体”的建构,并多角度地分析了明朝郑和创建的“封贡航线”和二战后美国在世界建构“全球围堵航线”,双双建构了海洋霸权。据此启示,通过“东亚共同体”走向“亚洲共同体”,再经“亚非共同体”迈向“地球共同体”的阶段性海洋发展战略,中国的海权发展才能建构出足以维护世界和平与安全的国际秩序,创造出安和富庶、共存共荣的优质国际社会。     

特色·理念·建设·合作——试析厦门大学东南亚研究中心图书馆的现代建构

作为服务于区域研究的专业图书馆,厦门大学东南亚研究中心图书馆有着独特的收藏和目标。作者从历史与定位、收藏与特色、理念和发展、建设数字化图书馆、交流与合作5个方面入手,分析该馆的经验和不足,简要介绍其在国际问题研究中所起的作用,以期对未来图书馆的发展方向之一——地方区域研究图书馆,尤其是涉外图书馆的建设提供借鉴。