“Regulation,I presume?” said the robot – Towards an iterative regulatory process for robot governance

This article envisions an iterative regulatory process for robot governance. In the article, we argue that what lacks in robot governance is actually a backstep mechanism that can coordinate and align robot and regulatory developers. In order to solve that problem, we present a theoretical model that represents a step forward in the coordination and alignment of robot and regulatory development. Our work builds on previous literature, and explores modes of alignment and iteration towards greater closeness in the nexus between research and development (R&D) and regulatory appraisal and channeling of robotics’ development. To illustrate practical challenges and solutions, we explore different examples of (related) types of communication processes between robot developers and regulatory bodies. These examples help illuminate the lack of formalization of the policymaking process, and the loss of time and resources that the waste of knowledge generated for future robot governance instruments implies. We argue that initiatives that fail to formalize the communication process between different actors and that propose the mere creation of coordinating agencies risk being seriously ineffective. We propose an iterative regulatory process for robot governance, which combines the use of an ex ante robot impact assessment for legal/ethical appraisal, and evaluation settings as data generators, and an ex post legislative evaluation instrument that eases the revision, modification and update of the normative instrument. In all, the model breathes the concept of creating dynamic evidence-based policies that can serve as temporary benchmark for future and/or new uses or robot developments. Our contribution seeks to provide a thoughtful proposal that avoids the current mismatch between existing governmental approaches and what is needed for effective ethical/legal oversight, in the hope that this will inform the policy debate and set the scene for further research.     

政策执行研究中的理论模型探讨

在西方持续20多年的政策执行研究中,大量学者提出了各种各样的政策执行方案和模型,最有代表性的是"自上而下"模型和"自下而上"模型,以及后来的整合式模型。围绕三种模型所展开的争论,大大丰富和发展了政策科学的理论内涵,推动了公共政策的制定和执行向着更加科学和民主的方向前进。     

自下而上的规范制定与网络安全国际规范的生成

信息通信技术的使用给国际和平与国家安全带来威胁,而网络安全国际规范还处在生成的过程中。各国政府致力于达成一定的规范共识,但常常受到国家间政治博弈的影响。在此情况下,互联网企业及非政府组织开始以“自下而上”的方式积极参与到规范制定中,并提出了不少有别于现有规范成果的规范倡议。互联网企业及非政府组织期望严格约束国家的网络空间行为,并在网络安全治理中扮演更重要的角色。它们提出的规范倡议从多个方面弥补了现有规范的不足。在现实中,主导规范制定的国家行为体与非国家行为体既相互利用,又持续博弈,互联网企业及非政府组织在规范制定进程中的权力与影响力受限。联合国信息安全开放式工作组及少部分国家有限度地向非国家行为体开放,使经过挑选的部分规范倡议进入政府间规范讨论议程,但国家间的分歧与博弈又阻止了这些规范倡议成为受到认可的国际规范。尽管如此,国家间博弈方式的转变,即越来越多的国家利用互联网企业及非政府组织的力量为政治博弈服务,以及公私关系更为平衡的新型网络安全治理模式的构建,为互联网企业及非政府组织争取更大的规范制定权力提供了机会。     

自由主义国际法学:一种“自下而上”对国际法分析的理论

从本源看,国际关系与国际法之间联系紧密,在学科发展上国际关系理论与国际法学相互依托、互相促进。斯劳特的自由主义国际法学,正是一种渊源于自由主义国际关系理论,并将国际关系理论与国际法学紧密结合在一起的新研究范式。在这种范式里,最引人注目的是其尝试为国际法学开辟一条自下而上的研究路径。无疑,这是对长期以来依赖自上而下的国际法传统研究路径的一个很好的弥补,也为当代跨国法的研究提供了良好的分析框架。当然,自由主义国际法学存在的不足也必须引起我们的注意。     

Local Politics and Depolitisation in Chile

Abstract— This study focuses on the consequences at the local level of decentralisation and state disengagement policies in Chile. We proceed in two stages. First, we analyse whether the nature of urban collective goods and services has changed from political to economic. Next, we study the effect of these policies on community/ authority relations, and more broadly, on local politics. A case study of the city of Conception serves to explore our questions. We conclude that the local community has adapted to the economic nature of collective goods and has developed the necessary organisation, technical and leadership skills. Power politics however have not disappeared but are now in higher institutional levels. Politicians do not seem to have followed the trend and thus have still to open to democratic participation and legitimate representation as expressed by the citizens' aggregated interests.     

公众参与和中国法治变革的动力模式

三十年法制改革的动力,从整体上看来自于自上而下的政府推动。在法制改革的初期阶段,这种政府主导、自上而下的动力模式有其现实合理性。但从法制变革,特别是行政法治改革语境看,自上而下动力模式在逻辑上和现实上也有明显的局限,存在着动力衰减的现实可能性。为了使法治改革在秩序和变革的平衡中获得可持续的发展动力,应当引入自上而下和自下而上这双重推动力。     

Quasi-citizenship as a category of practice: analyzing engagement with Russia’s Compatriot policy in Crimea

This article analyzes engagement with Russia’s Compatriot policy, as an example of ethnizenship-type of quasi-citizenship, in Crimea, as the most likely case of Compatriot engagement. The article focuses on unpacking the lived experience of Compatriot identification and engagement and the rationale for this engagement. The article finds a narrow and niche engagement with the Compatriot policy in Crimea where only the most politicized and discriminated individuals, alongside beneficiaries of the Compatriot policy, identify as Compatriots. However, the article also finds dissatisfaction with the Compatriot policy because it fails to offer the kind of status, and rights and benefits, of ‘full’ citizenship. Thus, while citizenship might be becoming fractured, via quasi-citizenship policies, citizenship remains the key point of entry to the kin-state. Focusing on the lived experience of quasi-citizenship, and examining quasi-citizenship as a category of practice, is crucial for developing understanding of the social and political impacts of quasi-citizenship policies.     

Functioning strategies of the research groups' leaders in the context of funding and policy instabilities☆

We explore the strategies implemented by Research Groups' Leaders while coping with unstable contexts, characterized by incoherence and lack of coordination among different policy discourses and instruments, and scarce resources. We focus on a country where these conditions are present: Colombia. In doing so, we study two cases, one in nanotechnology and another one in biomedical engineering. Interviews, focus groups and workshops allowed us to identify and validate strategies grouped in four popular sayings, proper to local idiosyncrasy, highlighting the role of home institutions and principal investigators in facing such situations with resilience and resourcefulness, and even taking advantage of them. We find that Research Groups' Leaders use strategies such as: adapting, balancing agendas and funding sources, networking, and taking advantage of the support programs available at their home institution to continue functioning. These are setting the ground for a further survey which could pretend some generalization. However, policymakers could consider these findings when defining policy instruments or for assessing their effectiveness or impacts.