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.     

Adding to the Controversy? Civil Society’s Evaluation of the National Conference Dialogue in Yemen

ABSTRACT

This article assembles a picture of Yemen’s 2013–14 National Dialogue Conference (NDC) by collecting perspectives from local civil society organizations (CSOs), which are contrasted to the views of international commentators. Despite all efforts by internal parties as well as the international community, the dialogue failed to avert war, which broke out shortly after. Through interviews with 50 CSOs, we reconstructed the reasons for failure, as well as paying attention to the observed strengths of the dialogue. Half of the consulted organizations were directly involved in the NDC, either as an invited participant or in a brokerage role. The other half concerns outside observers. We identify aspects on which the opinion of the CSOs converge, but also highlight striking divergences depending on insider/outsider status. In contrast to the view espoused in the international literature, the CSOs overall feel that, in spite of all its procedural and substantive flaws, the NDC was a significant junction in the long road towards peace and stability and laid important groundwork for future dialogues.     

论行政程序在大数据下的内涵变迁

大数据时代的到来,形成了数据的普遍化和社会化,传统行政法治的内涵也因此受到了巨大冲击,行政程序作为行政法治的核心要素无疑不能例外。这既影响到行政程序在行政法中的地位、价值、内容和运行,也影响到行政程序的规制模式和构型设计。正因如此,大数据背景下行政程序规制应由粗放向精确、由程式向有序、由定性向定量、由感性向理性变迁。在行政程序构型上,应由板块式到结构式、由自洽式到自证式、由博弈式到分配式、由套路式到效率式转换,以体现行政程序的时代特性和科学内涵。     

‘Let's Win this Game Together’: Children's Rights Violations,Macro‐Securitisation and the Transformative Potential of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil

Sport's transformative potential is known to support marginalised children, to deal with traumatic experiences and instil positive values; yet hosting mega sporting events (MSEs) can have negative impacts. Drawing on participatory research with favela‐based children during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, this article argues that MSEs bring a macro‐securitisation of urban life, which causes considerable harm. This paper also suggests that the inclusion of children's voices in advocacy debates can challenge top‐down securitisation and might allow MSEs to foster further positive social transformation. Therefore, juxtaposed with causing harm, macro‐securitisations can open opportunities for children to take action and have their voices heard.     

条约在国内适用的若干问题探讨

本文认为凡涉及到私人权利义务等事项的条约,都将会产生国内适用的问题。转化和纳入各有优劣,应视条约的不同而相应采用。至于在国内法中解决条约与国内法的冲突,则完全取决于各国法律的具体规定,条约在国内法上并非处于绝对优先的地位。就中国而言,转化已经成为我国适用条约的主要方式,而在处理条约与国内法冲突时,所采取的是条约优先的原则。     

网络社会化与青年思想教育

网络文化已经使人的社会化的方式 ,内容发生了新的变化 ,正是这些变化使人的社会化的塑造被放在了一个多样性、全求化的情境中。网络社会化会给我们的思想教育工作带来新的课题 ,理论教育工作者应作出积极的、超前的应对 ,这已经成为一个刻不容缓的任务。     

当代文学转型中的赛伯批评空间——兼谈网络文学的若干特性

上世纪末，以启蒙理性为主导的20世纪中国学，宏观上正经历着向以狂欢精神为主导的新学时期的转型。在这一过程中，网络及网络学的流行具有重要意义。一方面，作为新兴媒体的网络有可能继报纸之后为日益民间化、边缘化的知识分子提供新的“批评空间”；另一方面，网络学既深受狂欢化的当代学影响，同时由于自身的特性，又强化了这种狂欢化倾向。网络及网络学、狂欢化的当代学以及日益民间化了的知识分子，三将会互为表里，互相推动，形成狂欢化学时代的第一个里程碑，从而对未来学创作的形式、内容、格局都将产生深远影响。     

试论善的理念是政治社会的合法性基础

拥有幸福生活始终是人类孜孜以求的一个社会理想。本文试图从古典的哲学思想出发寻找政治社会存在的道德基础。以道德为基础的政治社会体现了人的政治生存向度,需要人们把它作为各种规范的核心观念才能有约束力,才能使社会关系和谐有序地发展,从而实现“自然主义”和“人道主义”的统一。     

经济基础在构建和谐社会中的作用

社会和谐是生产力与生产关系、经济基础与上层建筑等一系列复杂的社会矛盾综合作用的集中表现和结果。政治、经济、文化、思想道德建设、法律法制等等,对社会和谐的形成和发展都有重大作用,但起基础作用的是经济基础,生产资料所有制关系是否适应生产力的性质、水平和发展的要求,对社会和谐具有决定性作用。构建社会主义和谐社会,必须以经济发展为前提。经济基础也是人与自然之间和谐的关键因素。     

知识产权制度的进路与出路:知识产权文化——以构建和谐社会为视角

知识产权文化是知识产权制度的积淀和升华,对知识产权制度运行中各种主体的利益冲突具有潜在的协调和平衡作用。知识产权文化与和谐社会具有共同的经济理性,而且其协调和平衡的社会功能与和谐社会追求的终极目标不谋而合,因而知识产权文化在构建和谐社会的进程中具有重要的地位。