bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regional Factor in Intra-Elite Rivalry in Present Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Morozova Irina 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThis article conceptualizes regionalism in historical perspective as repeated schemes of translocal inter-groups' allegiances and studies dynamic transformation of political elites in present Kyrgyzstan in broader social context and international change. The article starts with historical reference to the Soviet delimitation policies in Central Asia in the 1920-30s and reveals how the competition among political groups within the prospective Kyrgyz SSR took the form of regional separation. On the basis of field interviews taken in the southern and northern areas of Kyrgyzstan, parliamentarians' biographies and statistics on inter-regional migration and entrepreneurship, the country's present south-north opposition is deconstructed as manipulation of political groups and individuals in competition for resources, power and social status. Post-socialist institutional innovations, including parliamentary system, election code and territorial-administrative reform are analyzed as flexible function of transregionalizing political rivalry. Finally, formation of the new pro-presidential party Ak Zhol and discussions on privatization of energy sector are interpreted as an attempt to establish corporate elite according to the Kazakh and Russian model.
Weapons acquisition in the Soviet Union
Authors: Woods Stan 
Published: July 2010

AbstractRecent Western disillusionment with detente has been partly shaped by vast increases in the quantity and diversity of Soviet weapons. Nevertheless, observers have drawn comfort from a belief that Western technological supremacy can compensate for Soviet numerical superiority. Two assumptions lurk here. The first is that the Soviet threat can be gauged merely by applying quantitative criteria. The second is that the threat is best countered by procuring technologically advanced weapons. Both theses are contentious. The objective of this study is to highlight the weaknesses in this pair of judgments. In pursuit of that goal the key features of the Soviet weapons acquisition system are scrutinized in an analysis which examines institutions, relationships. and conventions. Initially, however, some observations are in order about weapons acquisition systems in general, identifying features common to any weapons policy, in the Soviet Union or elsewhere.
Post-Soviet Russian Foreign Policy Toward the Middle East
Authors: Katz Mark N. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractSince the breakup of the USSR in 1991, there has been significant change in Moscow's Middle East policy. During much of the Cold War, Moscow sought to project Soviet influence throughout even the far off Arab region of the Middle East. In the post-Cold War era, though, Russian foreign policy has focused on that part of the Middle East closest to the former USSR-the Northern Tier. This article will examine the major aspects of post-Cold War Russian foreign policy toward the Middle East in order to identify Moscow's multiple goals in the region and discuss Moscow's capacity for achieving them. First, though, a brief review of the different stages of Imperial and Soviet foreign policy toward the region is necessary in order to show the extent to which post-Cold War Russian foreign policy toward the Middle East has and has not changed.
Ethnic Mobilization in the Former Yugoslavia as a Kind of Structural Setting and Framing
Authors: Mujkic Asim 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe author claims that strategies of ethnic mobilization have deep roots in the politics of ex-Yugoslav nations, and that these roots are closely related to the response of the Western Balkans, especially Serbian political elites, to the challenges of democratization and modernization. The author develops this notion in two basic sections, outlining the ontology and history, and psychological background of the ethnic mobilization. Beyond the larger historical perspective, which will be reviewed, the very source of current ethno-mobilization processes lies in the deep opposition of Serbian political elites to the loose federal Yugoslav Constitution of 1974 that initiated various political strategies of ethno-mobilization's undermining and neglect. The author understands the term 'ethnic mobilization' to have three layers of meaning, the first being most rudimentary: an orderly and phased procedure aimed at ethnic crystallization or homogenization of Serb people. The second layer encompasses the underlying framing narrative of the reinterpretation of certain social events or conflicts within a particular interpretative frame or 'code.' The third meaning is, in a very important sense, demobilization, namely, the competing elites had to be demobilized, neutralized, or marginalized, and were usually described as ethnic 'traitors,' or 'those who sold to the interests of the enemy, or of the West.' Based on ideas of Latinka Perović and Dubravka Stojanović, the author traces the roots of the ethnopolitics back to the Russian anti-modernist movement of 'narodnichestvo.' This anti-Western and deeply anti-democratic strategy of political power lies at the heart of violent conflicts in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia/Kosovo, and even Macedonia. And, in the author's view, it remains the key obstacle to a post-war democratic transition for these countries. Strategies of ethnic mobilization remain, up to the present day, the driving force of power structures in these countries.
Judicial Professional Associations: Fostering Judicial Reform Through Civil Society Development
Authors: Golubovic Milica 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThis article documents the history of judicial professional associations (the Judges' Association of Serbia, Prosecutors' Association of Serbia, and Magistrates' Association of Serbia) in Serbia from their early development in the mid-1990s through the present day. With a close focus on the associations' relationship with USAID implementing partner American Bar Association/Central Europe and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA/CEELI), the article identifies the challenges to establishing sustainable judicial professional associations. These challenges include a lack of secure funding, low organizational and administrative capacity, a high turnover rate of volunteers and employees, reliance on foreign-generated 'copy-and-paste' activities that do not take local needs into account, and uneasy relationships with the local and central governments. Successes of the fledgling judicial professional associations are also noted, including the implementation of continuing legal education (CLE) seminars.
The Illyrian Provinces: A Step Towards Yugoslavism
Authors: Macesich Susana S. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe history of the Illyrian Provinces belongs not only to the history of the Napoleonic Era in Europe, but also to that of the development of Yugoslav history in the early part of the nineteenth century. The Provinces can be studied from several aspects: political, social, economic and cultural. This paper will emphasize only one of the offered aspects-namely the impact of the Illyrian Provinces on the concept of Yugoslavism. Three features are of singular importance: first, the effects of the ideas of the French Revolution on the Yugoslavs (development of modern nationalism, use of the vernacular, secularism, abolition of feudalism); second, the effects of the political unification of Dalmatia, Slovenia and part of Croatia under French rule, which brought Croats, Slovenes and Serbs under one political and administrative unit; third, the correlation between French rule in the Western Balkans with the national-revolutionary movements of that period, such as the Serbian uprising of 1804 and its effect upon other Yugoslavs.1
Bulgaria in European Politics Between the Two World Wars: Certain Preliminary Inferences
Authors: Dimitrov Ilcho 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe question of Bulgaria'a place in European politics between the two world wars is too broad and complicated to be comprehensively elucidated and considered as settled at present. The purpose here is by far more modest: to set forth questions linked to the foreigh policy of bourgeois Bulgaria in the period between the two world wars, and to present preliminary conclusions arising from the present level of research work, which naturally cannot contend to be exhaustive and proven, yet which could give a certain impetus to further studies. If a limitation is put within the framework of the twenty prewar years, or to put it more precisely, the first ten (when the new methods of Bulgarian bourgeois diplomacy had been evolved), the preceding period cannot be neglected. The main trends in foreign policy were formed over a long period of time, possessing a durable significance. Methods, means, and closer targets changed; but all that was basic was preserved, irrespective of the governments and the personalities. Thus, no matter what changes took place in the international and internal position of Bulgaria after 1913, its foreign policy developed on the bases laid out as early as following the Liberation.
Recognizing Complexity in Eastern Europe : a Case for Differentiating Among Communist States
Authors: Nelson Daniel N. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractAlthough Moscow's security interests define the limits of foreign policy behavior and domestic liberalization in Eastern Europe. American relations with communist Europe in the 1960s and 1970s differentiated between and among member states of the Warsaw Pact. A policy of differential relations with communist Europe is a policy of sensitivity to complexity—to the differences between, for example, the role of Romania vis-à-vis the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the Warsaw Pact. A finely tuned foreign policy requires such sensitivity to avoid broad and erroneous categorizations that portray American international views as irretrievably simple. Were we to distance ourselves as far from Bucharest as from Moscow, we would be ignoring the qualities that led to visits by Presidents Nixon and Ford to Bucharest and which encouraged Most Favored Nation (MFN) status for Romania. A policy which distinguishes among communist states and leaders contrasts with the simplistic view that Soviet manipulation is total, and rejects the dichotomy that East Europeans are either puppets or national patriots, with no choice between. The political worlds of leaders and citizens in these states are much more complex, and we require a policy premised on such complexity.
Special Privileges or Equality? Legal Protection for NPO Property Rights ‐ With a Discussion of the Meaning and Limitations of the “Public-Interest Property Rights” Concept
Authors: Jinping Jin 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe concept of “public-interest property rights” () has helped to clarify the jurisdiction over NPOs’ assets and has also underscored some special issues related to their use. At the same time, however, the concept may cause misconceptions about the legal status of NPOs’ property rights; NPOs’ exceptional characteristics should not negate their own property rights, nor should NPOs be granted any special legal status relative to other private law entities on their basis.
Practical Options for Reforming the Government-Organized, Public-Interest Foundation System: Perspectives from Institutional-Change and Path-Dependency Theories
Authors: Xiufeng Chen , Li Li 
Published: July 2010

AbstractNonprofit organizations (NPOs) have developed vigorously amid China’s current social transformations and government reforms. Government-organized, public-interest foundations are a new and unique example among these NPOs. While their arrival has helped introduce NPOs’ social, public-interest characteristics to a broader segment of the public, this type of NPO is also largely a derivation of government system transformations. Viewed as a process of institutional change, we can see, in China’s reforms, characteristics of increasing returns and path dependence. Theories of institutional change and path dependence can therefore not only offer a systematic response to and analysis of public-interest foundations’ emergence and reforms; they can also offer helpful new directions for the healthy development and organizational improvement of China’s foundations.
The Nu River Campaign and Changes in Governmental Agenda-Setting
Authors: Qi Zheng 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThis article uses the case of the Nu River campaign, under way from 1999 to the present, to shed light on changing models of government agenda-setting in China. A time serial comparison is employed: the issues that emerged at two different times were the same while the agenda-setting models employed were completely different. In 1999 the issue made its way onto the formal agenda behind closed doors, nontransparently; in 2003, however, the same issue received a high degree of public interest and participation. Comparative analysis yields three conclusions: (1) divergence of the departmental interests may lead to an expansion of the public’s role in agenda-setting; (2) outside groups, like environmental NGOs, are playing a fundamental role in public participation; (3) traditional, elite-centered politics in China are changing slowly but surely.
On the Applicability of “Provision-Appropriation” Theory to Irrigation Management: An Analysis Based on Institutional Change in the Dongping Irrigation Area
Authors: Jing Chen , Shizuan Kan , Zhihui Tong 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThis paper, based on historical research on irrigation administration in the Dongping area and on-site investigations into its current state, explores the benefits and problems produced by two institutional changes. As a common pool resource situation, irrigation systems’ “provision” and “appropriation” are two separate issues; any institutional change must thus offer two different solutions. The study concludes that the participatory changes undertaken in the Dongping irrigation area failed, in the end, to resolve the problem of irrigation system sustainability. In particular, it proved difficult for collective action to take place around provision, which led to difficulties in operating the irrigation system.
An Evaluation of Social Responsibility Reporting in China
Authors: Longhua Xu , Yi Zhao , Xinyu Xu 
Published: July 2010

AbstractIn the past two years, the issuance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports has become an important nonprofit practice of enterprises in China. As of April 2008, over eighty enterprises in China in industries such as biochemical and energy, food and beverage, computers, finance and insurance, and automotive had released CSR (or equivalent) reports. Using SustainAbility’s indicator system, the paper evaluates CSR reports issued by enterprises in China between May 2007 and April 2008. The paper finds reports’ descriptions of management and performance to be quite good, but that reports failed to give enough information about governance and strategy, data availability, audits, and other aspects. Furthermore, we discovered that the current indicator system, while able to evaluate the quality of reports in form, falls short of truly evaluating their contents. Thus, a new indicator system must be devised to allow an overall assessment of the content of reports.
Analyzing China's NGO Development System
Authors: Wang Ming , Liu Qiushi 
Published: July 2010

AbstractIn the process of human development, apart from family, political parties and religious groups, industry, government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) represent three fundamental social groupings and policy forms. In the past few years, NGOs have come to attract attention as a form of social community. This article is based on long-term empirical research into China's NGOs. It embarks upon this endeavor first through an explication of their definition and categories, as well as the social basis, central functions and property rights associated with NGO development, positing a number of important theoretical perspectives. Utilizing this basis the author will conduct specific analysis of policy characteristics and problems associated with the development of NGOs in China and will provide an outlook on future growth trends.
Measurement Indices of Civil Society and Exploration of Their Localization
Authors: Sun Long , Jia Xijin 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThis paper is a methodological examination of quantifiable comparisons of civil society. First, we trace the origins of civil society, pointing out the three levels of levels of semantic meaning of civil society and the background of the various applications of the word in modern language. The paper then goes on to introduce several internationally used measurement tools used to quantitatively evaluate civil society, then focuses on the application the Civil Society Index (CSI) in Mainland China to provide thoughts on the development of an evaluation system for the measurement of civil society. Finally, the paper attempts to look at the expanded use of CSI on a number of levels, including organizations, communities and projects.
Facilitating or Impeding – A Discourse on the Two-Sided Effects of Japan's NPO Law on the Growth of Civil Society
Authors: Kui Kaipin 
Published: July 2010

AbstractTo accommodate the historical transition of the civil society and the growing needs of non-government organizations (NGOs) of Japan, Japan had implemented the Nonprofit Organization (NPO) Law, which represented a special set of laws responsible for regulating NGOs. While the NPO Law encouraged many NGOs to apply for NPO status, it also attracted some skepticism. Many believed the NPO Law not only failed to promote NGOs but also impeded their growth. The NPO Law seemed to be beset with many "side effects." Combining the goals and historical context of Japan's NPO Law with the law's contents and the actual state of Japan's civil society, this article analyzed the two-sided effects of Japan's NPO Law on the growth of Japan's civil society. Japan's experience could help China create a better legal system for regulating NGOs.
Coverage of the Wenchuan Earthquake: An Overview
Authors: Lan Yuxin 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThrough a review of the relevant literature from CNKI's Chinese Academic Periodical Internet Publication Database and its China Important Newspapers Database, this paper analyzes the coverage of the Wenzhou Earthquake. It answers the following questions: Did the reports following the disaster have any defining patterns or characteristics? What public concerns were reflected in the reports? Which spheres of society will feel the lasting effects of the earthquake? The goal of the essay is to discover what lessons can be drawn from the earthquake disaster and to understand systematically and holistically the significance of the earthquake for Chinese people.
Pragmatics and Cognition: Intentions and Pattern Recognition in Context
Authors: Mazzone Marco 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe importance of intention reading for communication has already been emphasized many years ago by Paul Grice. More recently, the rich debate on “theory of mind” has convinced many that intention reading may in fact play a key role also in current, cognitively oriented theories of pragmatics: Relevance Theory is a case in point. On a close analysis, however, it is far from clear that RT may really accommodate the idea that intention reading drives comprehension. Here I examine RT's difficulties with that idea, and propose a framework where intention reading is actually assigned a significant role. This framework is compatible with RT's account of a unified, automatic mechanism of interpretation in lexical pragmatics, to the extent that the account shares many features of associative and constraint-based explanations of other linguistic phenomena. In fact, my suggestion is that our sensitivity to others' intentions depends crucially on the availability of specific patterns of intentional behaviour grounded in social regularities. In other words, intention reading would be just a case, though a very special one, of pattern recognition.
On the Non-Unified Nature of Scalar Implicature: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Baker Rachel , Doran Ryan , McNabb Yaron , Larson Meredith , Ward Gregory 
Published: July 2010

AbstractScalar implicaure is often offered as the exemplar of generalized conversational implicature. However, despite the wealth of literature devoted to both the phenomenon in general and to specific examples, little attention has been paid to the various factors that may influence the generation and interpretation of scalar implicatures. This study employs the “Literal Lucy” methodology developed in Larson et al. (in press) to further investigate these factors in a controlled experimental setting. The results of our empirical investigation suggest that the type of scale employed affects whether or not speakers judge a particular scalar implicature to be part of the truth-conditional meaning of an utterance. Moreover, we found that features of the conversational context in which the implicature is situated also play an important role. Specifically, we have found that the number of scalar values evoked in the discourse context plays a significant role in the interpretation of scalar implicatures generated from gradable adjective scales but not other scale types. With respect to the effects of scale type, we have found that gradable adjectives were less frequently incorporated into truth-conditional meaning than cardinals, quantificational items, and ranked orderings. Additionally, ranked orderings were incorporated less than cardinals. Thus, the results from the current study show that the interpretation of scalar implicature is sensitive to both the associated scale type and discourse context.
Q-Phenomena, I-Phenomena and Impliciture: Some Experimental Pragmatics
Authors: Harnish Robert , Garrett Merrill 
Published: July 2010

AbstractElements of communicative content that are not expressed by constituents of the sentence uttered, what we will call "unexpressed elements of content" (UECs), played an important role in the history and development of generative grammar. In the 80's and 90's, mostly inspired by the work of Grice, UECs and mechanisms for recovering them not contemplated by linguistic theory of the time, began to surface under a variety of labels. We will collectively refer to these phenomena as 'impliciture' (extending Bach: 1994). Impliciture phenomena raise some interesting questions, only some of which is the field in a position to say anything about at present. Levinson (2000) has taken the useful step of distinguishing what we call "Q-phenomena", mostly related to linguistic scales, from "I-phenomena", mostly related to stereotypical information. Starting in the late 80's, experimental work began on the nature of these unspoken contents and their attendant mechanisms. In a recent study, Garrett and Harnish (2007) looked at I-phenomena, that have been proposed to depend on stereotypical background information. We asked whether these contents really are delivered by such mechanisms as "default heuristics", operating on general background knowledge, or whether they might be more tied to language via something like the "standardization" of a form for a certain use. Initial results for the materials tested seem to favor standardization as a mechanism for delivering this content. Completed research by Orjada (2007) and Rybarova (2007) extends the study of impliciture to additional examples and new populations. One assesses performance in RH damaged populations. The other contrasts performance for populations with high and low frontal lobe function.