Learning-Shaping Crises: A Longitudinal Comparison of Public Personnel Reforms in Italy, 1992‒2014

Abstract

This article analyses the attempts to reform public administration, notably personnel management, in Italy between 1992 and 2014, with a focus on implementation and the period following the multiple crises that have unfolded since 2008. By untangling the policy learning processes between multiple crises, past reform attempts and domestic and European “contexts in motion”, the article finds that efficiency-oriented reforms have floundered regardless of the political color of governments or indeed of the nature – political or technocratic – of the governments. Domestic factors, notably the frequency of government alternation, i.e. government instability, and European pressure have further reinforced the orientation towards single-loop lessons, i.e. the almost exclusive effecting of short-term cost-cutting measures.     

Generalized Social Trust and International Dispute Settlement

What determines the success of a peaceful settlement attempt of a border dispute? In order to fully understand why decision makers choose to put an end to an ongoing conflict, it is necessary to consider the social trust levels of the general populations in both states. International conflict settlement requires public support at the domestic level. If a state’s general population perceives the potential dangers of a settlement as too severe, the conclusion of a peace agreement will be difficult. We argue that high levels of social trust allow citizens (1) to favor more conciliatory foreign policies and (2) to be more optimistic about the future behavior of other states. In democratic settings, these public attitudes serve as powerful constraints for decision makers. As a result, high aggregate levels of social trust should be directly related to concession-granting behavior by democracies as well as effective dispute settlement among jointly democratic dyads. We test these expectations with a new aggregate-level measure of social trust and find mixed support for our hypotheses: While trust does not influence the behavior of challenger states, it does have strong effects on democratic target states and jointly democratic dyads.     

The Resource Curse Reconsidered: Cash Crops and Local Violence in Kyrgyzstan

It is often noted in resource curse literature that agricultural economies are less conflict-prone than countries managing mobile, high-value resources. In the vast literature linking resource endowment and conflict, cash crop economies are often considered immune to civil violence, believed to stand apart from the many horrific episodes of violence and civil war centered on “lootable” wealth (such as alluvial diamonds, tin, tungsten, or other conflict minerals). But many incidents of violence—especially local violence—are in fact occurring in cash crop economies. Drawing on newspaper accounts, policy analyses, ethnographic interviews, and in-depth reports by international organizations, I examine an episode of local violence in 2010 in Kyrgyzstan. Through this case study, the article provides a better understanding of local violence in cash crop economies that can apply to other weak states.     

论公安院校学员管理工作中的情感教育

在公安院校学员管理工作中,学员管理工作者要特别重视与学员之间情感的培养。良好的情感教育能够充分地调动学员的积极性和主动性、有效地促进学员人格力量的形成和发展、增强学员的集体责任感,同时也有利于形成集体愉悦和谐的人际氛围,从而促进学员管理工作的健康发展。文章认为应当从三个方面开展情感教育工作：一、通过了解、关心、尊重学员,建立深厚的师生情感;二、情感教育过程中讲求教育方式、方法;三、为人师表,树立情感威性。     

资源性国有资产之管理模式探讨

该文基于中国资源性国有资产管理的现状,提出在资源性国有资产管理模式选择上,应建立一个权威的统一的资源性国有资产管理机构,以克服政府的局限,解决代际公平的问题。同时,对资源性国有资产的管理应将直接手段与间接手段相结合,建立纵横交错、分工明确的资源性国有资产监督体制,健全资源管理方面的法律法规和评估市场,对资源性资产实行实物化管理,建立资源性国有资产开发、保护的基金制度等。     

科学发展观视野下地方财经高校科研管理研究

科学发展观是中国特色社会主义理论体系的最新内容,对高校科研管理工作具有重大指导意义。按照科学发展观的要求进行科研管理,有利于促进高校科研与市场接轨、提高科研成果的转化率、更好地为社会生活服务。以科学发展观指导科研管理工作,就是要在全面、准确理解科学发展观的科学内涵和精神实质的基础上,结合高校科研工作实际,按照科学发展观的要求,积极推进科研管理创新,促进高校科研水平不断提高。     

公共危机管理视角下的应急警务

SARS危机以后,传统政府治理模式下的公共危机管理和应急体系受到了普遍的质疑。随着政府应急体制、机制、法制建设的不断发展完善,突发事件中的应急警务在训练、应急备勤、信息披露等方面发生了重大变化。从公共危机管理的视角而言,应急警务是公共危机管理的重要环节之一。公共危机管理理论为应急警务研究提供了必需的理论依据;在行动逻辑、法律规制、组织建构、应急技术等方面为应急警务的相关研究提供了更为广阔的空间。     

人工智能时代精准人才管理探析

人才是组织获得长远发展的第一资源。随着人工智能时代的到来,如何运用人工智能技术对人才进行精准化地选、用、育、留、储,是组织探索解决人才管理瓶颈的关键。研究从人工智能时代精准人才管理的挑战与机遇入手,指出基于"合不合"理论以构建智能化精准人才管理系统,并探讨了"AI人才管理专家系统"的具体运用情况,以期为各类组织进行精准人才管理提供帮助。     

互联网 + 对中国企业民主管理实践的影响

当前,"互联网+"已经升级为中国国家战略,政府出台政策号召群团组织要拥抱互联网,中华全国总工会积极推动互联网与工会工作例如企业民主管理相融合,互联网正逐渐打破传统企业民主管理政治参与现状,职工由被动参与向主动参与转变,由部分参与向全部参与转变,互联网助推中国企业民主管理回归产业民主实质。     

A Comparative Study of Denmark and New Zealand’s National Health Targets

This paper investigates the influence of nationally imposed health targets on current management control practices in New Zealand and Denmark. It reveals how variants of New Public Management (NPM), arising from specific historical socio-political contexts, rise to the challenge of national differences. The study finds that both nations are challenged to ensure data registration procedures produce valid and comparable performance measures. Denmark’s reliance on a single efficiency measure of health sector performance reflects a historic socio-political context that reduces the feasibility of additional measures whereas New Zealand’s context enables the government to impose a more extensive range of health targets.