Beyond royal politics: state transformation and foreign policy in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Saudi politics is commonly portrayed as reflecting a system of centralised personal rule in which decision-making power trickles down from the tightly knit power circles within the House of Saud. In contrast, this paper draws attention to the empowerment of quasi-autonomous state organisations in Saudi Arabia as a result of state transformation and regional integration. At its most extreme, state transformation in Saudi Arabia has created institutional and regulatory enclaves with vested interests and areas of competence that cross Saudi borders. This paper illustrates the foreign policy ramifications of transformed statehood in Saudi attempts to further Gulf regional integration in the context of the Gulf Monetary Union project.     

What do forensic analysts consider relevant to their decision making?

In response to research demonstrating that irrelevant contextual information can bias forensic science analyses, authorities have increasingly urged laboratories to limit analysts' access to irrelevant and potentially biasing information (Dror and Cole (2010) [3]; National Academy of Sciences (2009) [18]; President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (2016) [22]; UK Forensic Science Regulator (2015) [26]). However, a great challenge in implementing this reform is determining which information is task-relevant and which is task-irrelevant. In the current study, we surveyed 183 forensic analysts to examine what they consider relevant versus irrelevant in their forensic analyses. Results revealed that analysts generally do not regard information regarding the suspect or victim as essential to their analytic tasks. However, there was significant variability among analysts within and between disciplines. Findings suggest that forensic science disciplines need to agree on what they regard as task-relevant before context management procedures can be properly implemented. The lack of consensus about what is relevant information not only leaves room for biasing information, but also reveals foundational gaps in what analysts consider crucial in forensic decision making.     

实质的犯罪概念比较研究

在刑法学、犯罪学等刑事法学理论体系中,研究犯罪概念具有十分重要的意义。对犯罪概念可以划分为两种类型:一种是实质的犯罪概念,另一种是规范的犯罪概念。在此基础上,文章对英美法系、大陆法系实质的犯罪概念进行了比较研究,指出从历史发展的角度来看,实质意义上的犯罪概念先于规范的犯罪概念,实质的犯罪概念的界定与统治阶级的犯罪观是密切联系在一起的,即有什么样的犯罪观便有与其相应的实质的犯罪概念。     

法、道德和软实力

软实力就是文化实力,代表了一个国家的综合实力,决定着一个国家的未来。软实力由观念文化所组成,内容丰富,但是其核心是法和道德的观念和知识。一个国家的软实力表现在法和道德的状况上。法和道德的基本精神是创造和谐,因此,具有普世的价值。     

差异与成因：两大法系消极公诉权之评析——兼及我国消极公诉权之完善

消极公诉权在公诉权理论中占有极为重要的地位 ,两大法系都对之作出了积极的肯定 ,并在立法上作出了相应的规定。但是 ,两大法系对消极公诉权的规定又显示出了巨大的差异 ,这种差异是由于两大法系在国家政治哲学、法律传统、诉讼理念等方面的区别而造成的。本文分析了两者的差异 ,并对我国消极公诉权的完善提出了意见     

美国工会对中美经贸关系的影响

近年来,美国工会对国际经贸乃至世界经济的影响日益凸现,我国政府和企业应积极采取相应措施积极应对。本文分析了美国工会的特点及对中美经贸活动的影响,并提出了一些应对之策。     

对建立健全劳动关系三方协商机制的思考

在我国建立健全劳动关系三方机制中充分认识三方协商机制的重要意义,规范三 方协商的内容、职责和企业方代表的主体地位,强化机制建设,提高工作水平。     

论警察的法律意识

公安工作提供的是一种公共产品 ,它不具有竞争性和排他性。警察的法律意识和法律素质问题 ,已成为制约公安工作的重要因素 ,也是人民群众反映强烈的主要问题。我们可以运用社会学、心理学和法学的相关知识 ,对警务人员的法律意识进行重点分析 ,以引起相关部门的注意 ,使公安工作更趋合理和完善     

Reforming Chinese arbitration law and practices in the global economy

In the last 50 years Chinese arbitration law and practices has made significant contributions to the international commercial arbitration and strides to manage the rapidly increasing caseload associated with a period of amazing growth in economic interactions between Chinese and non-Chinese parties. In the global economy there are rooms for further improvement. The paper proposed some ideas on reforming the Chinese arbitration law and practices on the arbitration system regarding the ad hoc arbitration, panel system and tribunal jurisdiction, interim measures of protection, as well as standards for the judicial review on the arbitral awards.     

《中华人民共和国仲裁法》修改暨中国仲裁协会章程起草研究工作座谈会综述

国务院法制办于2006年4月18~20日在厦门主持召开了《仲裁法》修改暨中国仲裁协会章程起草研究工作座谈会。出席会议的有国务院法制办领导以及全国十几家仲裁机构的主要负责人等。与会代表围绕此次会议的两个主要议题积极发言,献计献策,最终形成了一个面向全国仲裁机构征求意见的《仲裁法》修改草案,并且初步完成了中国仲裁协会章程的起草工作,为进一步征求各方意见并最终成立协会做好了准备。