The Kennedy Center: An Integral Component of the Vanderbilt Community

Voluntary organizations exert great influence over how social norms and ethical codes are guided into action. As such, they have a significant impact on societal levels of social cohesion. Although social capital involves generalized trust becoming manifest as spontaneous sociability, social cohesion is determined by how that sociability is translated into autonomous action for the common good. In this model, social capital creates the potential for beneficent behavior through trust, whereas social cohesion is the product of that behavior. Herein, active participation in voluntary organizations often serves as the avenue through which these actions are both shaped and carried out. As such, these organizations can either create or diminish social cohesion through both their functions and their dispositions.     

Open admissions does not kill colleges

This article establishes an understanding of social cohesion in general and discusses organizations and activities that are known to promote social cohesion before introducing organizations that claim to work toward social cohesion as one of their main priorities. The Council of Europe's Directorate General of Social Cohesion represents a political organization seeking to promote social cohesion. The Jaboya Project and Field Band Foundation are social organizations with social cohesion as a priority. Although these organizations are likely to contribute to it, they cannot achieve social cohesion directly; rather, they work toward establishing conditions that are favorable to building social cohesion and anticipate the probable long-term effects of their work.     

Ping Pong: competing leadership for reform in EU higher education 1998–2006

How effective is EU cooperation in higher education? This article treats the issue as one of effectiveness in policy-making. What are the policy ideas which the EU wishes to feed into a policy domain where it has to operate largely through political cooperation and a modest degree of incentive funding? What outcomes are possible? The question is of interest since Europe has two processes which aim for a better regional integration of higher education in order to boost the quality of European higher education and to make a global impact. These are the world- famous Bologna Process and the EU process to drive Europe's universities to make better use of their interlinked roles of education, research and innovation, part of a larger strategy (EU 2020, Lisbon) for European Union growth to support employment, productivity and social cohesion. Building on the theoretical insights of an institutionalist literature concerned with the dynamics of European policy-making in the knowledge domain (Maassen & Olsen, 2007; Gornitzka, 2006, 2010) and complementary theories of historical institutionalism (Pierson, 2003, Thelen, 2003) and agenda setting (Kingdon, 1995), this article examines policy-making on higher education cooperation in the European arena since the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992. It seeks answers to two questions. Why did the Bologna Process dominate the agenda from 1999 to 2004? How did the European Commission acquire the power to shape the issue of European higher education cooperation? Rejecting simple spillover explanations, it theorises in terms of policy entrepreneurship why the EU has latterly been effective in shaping European cooperation in higher education.     

基于社会管理创新的社会稳定风险测定及预警建议——以西部民族地区为例

西部民族地区的稳定关系全国经济发展及人民生活,维护社会公正、和谐应成为政府工作的中心。由于社会稳定属于社会管理职能,本文从社会管理方面的风险出发,通过问卷调查法制定了民族地区社会稳定风险评估体系,并运用层次分析法,对西部民族地区社会稳定的风险进行测定。结果显示政治风险在二级指标中权重最大,政治风险中比重大的是腐败及对政策的满意度。最后,有针对性地提出了维护社会稳定的预警机制。     

Education and Social Transformation in Central and Eastern Europe

This article evaluates the outcomes of the efforts of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries to make their education systems more effective in enhancing broader social and economic goals. It focuses on those 11 Central and Eastern European countries which became members of the EU in 2004 or following this date. First, it presents a short analysis of how educational goals were connected with the broader goals of social and economic progress before and during the first phase of the transition period after the collapse of Communism. It then analyses the impact of the accession of these countries to the EU, including the impact of some European mechanisms that have contributed to the strengthening of linkages between education and social-economic progress. The third part of the article attempts to evaluate the outcomes of the relevant national education reforms, development programmes and policies, most of them generated by these mechanisms, in the light of a number of selected indicators. A key conclusion of the article is that the adoption of the lifelong learning approach of the EU has been a major engine to strengthen the role of education in social and economic development in the CEE region, but most countries still need further efforts to translate this approach into coherent and effective national policies and to implement them so that they produce relevant and significant outcomes.     

Getting Roped In: Group Cohesion,Trust, and Efficacy Following a Ropes Course Intervention

The aim of this study was to explore the potential beneficial workgroup outcomes of a ropes course challenge intervention. Using three distinct samples (a military group, a medical facility workgroup, and a utility company workgroup), this study explored the systematic individual and group‐oriented outcomes achieved. Significant changes in group cohesion, group member trust, and group‐efficacy were found post‐ropes course intervention in all three samples. Two of the three samples additionally demonstrated improvement in employees’ self‐efficacy. Sample 3 examined trait coping style and demonstrated that employee social support coping predicted degree of change in group cohesion, but in an unexpected direction. Taken together, results suggest experiencing a ropes course challenge may foster improvement in group member trust, group‐ and self‐efficacy, and group cohesion—especially for individuals who are unaccustomed to seeking social support under stress. The potential gains of ropes course challenge interventions for workgroups may have been previously underestimated.     

论农村党组织在构建和谐社会中的作用

当前我国一些农村党组织存在许多不容忽视的问题,如领导班子凝聚力不强,干群关系紧张等,这些问题直接影响着"三农"问题的解决和基层政治的稳定。文章据此提出,农村党组织必须加强理论学习,切实提高理论运用能力,增强领导班子的团结和凝聚力,提高执政能力;不断研究新情况、解决新问题,增强开拓创新能力;树立正确的权力观,密切党群关系;提高应对复杂局面和突发事件的社会管理能力。     

Understanding the higher education student in Europe: a comparative analysis

Higher education is of considerable importance to policymakers across Europe. Indeed, it is viewed as a key mechanism for achieving a range of economic, social and political goals. Nevertheless, despite this prominence within policy, we have no clear understanding of the extent to which conceptualisations of ‘the student’ are shared across the continent. To start to redress this gap, this article explores four key aspects of contemporary higher education students’ lives, considering the extent to which they can be considered as, variously, consumers, workers, family members and political actors. On the basis of this evidence, it argues that, despite assumptions on the part of European policymakers that there are now large commonalities in the experiences of students across Europe – evident in pronouncements about Erasmus mobility and the operations of the European Higher Education Area – significant differences exist both between and within individual nation-states.     

我国西北民族地区阶层分化对社会稳定的消极影响及应对策略

伴随着我国社会转型与经济体制转轨,少数民族区域自治制度的不断发展,西北民族地区教育事业的发展,以及国家对西北民族地区的政策扶持等,我国西部民族地区不可避免地出现阶层分化现象。这种分化带给社会稳定积极影响的同时,也会给社会稳定带来挑战。将构建合理的、符合经济发展要求的阶层结构放在重要位置,是应对我国西北民族地区阶层分化对社会稳定带来的消极影响的关键策略。     

兵团文化对兵团跨越式发展和长治久安的作用探析

兵团跨越式发展和长治久安推进过程中的兵团政治建设、经济建设、社会建设、文化建设对兵团文化提出新的、更高的要求。兵团文化为兵团跨越式发展和长治久安提供持久的精神动力和智力支持,促进兵团更好地发挥＂三大作用＂,加强各族人民对中华文化的认同,不断把屯垦戍边事业推向新胜利。     

Does decentralisation enhance a school’s role of promoting social cohesion? Bosnian school leaders’ perceptions of school governance

This study seeks to understand whether and how decentralised school governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) enhances the schools’ role of promoting social cohesion. This includes increasing “horizontal” trust among different ethnic groups and “vertical” trust between civilians and public institutes. The study examined secondary school leaders’ perceptions regarding school board influence on social cohesion policies and practices, their interactions with school board members, and their accountability to the school-based governing body. The results show that school leaders and school boards, supposedly representing the interests of local stakeholders, did not appear to be actively engaged in the deliberate process of promoting social cohesion. While school directors tended to view themselves as being independent from the school boards, ethnically diverse school boards provided important support to proactive school leaders for their inter-group activities. Given that the central level is not providing initiatives to promote social cohesion and that BiH citizens appear to generally support social cohesion, decentralised school governance has the potential to improve social trust from the bottom up. To promote participatory school governance, the study recommends that BiH school leaders should be provided with opportunities to re-examine and redefine their professional accountability and to assist local stakeholders to improve their involvement in school governance.     

The Economic Impact of Eight Research Universities on the Boston Region

The greater Boston region’s eight research universities play a key role in the region’s economic health and welfare. They are magnets for research and development talent and for billions of dollars in investment. These institutions contribute $7.4 billion dollars to the regional economy, jobs for about 50,000 university employees and 37,000 workers in related areas. They produce an annual talent pool of 31,000 graduates many of whom elect to remain in the region and contribute to the exploitation of university patents and licensed technology that sustain the regional economy, as well as its social and cultural institutions. Drawing on economic impact studies conducted for eight institutions in the Boston region we will describe the impact of these universities on the Boston region. We will review the implications of this large concentration of research activity on the region’s economy, labour force, pre and post university educational structures, political leadership, funding sources and social and environmental quality. This paper will explore the issues facing these eight research institutions as they pursue their desire for sustained growth and development. Among these are changes in national research funding priorities, financial incentives for innovation, conflicts with non-university sectors of the economy including competition for housing, manpower and economic resources.     

试论社会转型时期大学生的政治信任

社会转型时期影响大学生政治信任的主要有经济状况、腐败现象、政治制度、社会信任、就业压力等因素。为此,我们必须从大力发展国民经济、提高政府的执行力、预防和惩治腐败现象、着力实施大学生就业工程,从加强民主法制建设等路径入手,培育和提升大学生的政治信任。     

从社会的发展看谱牒文化功能的变迁

谱牒文化有明晰血缘、政治统治、道德教化、精神凝聚等功能,谱牒这四大功能在不同的社会发展时期有不同的表现形式,在不同的历史时期社会作用各有不同,社会对其认可程度也各有差异。按照社会发展脉络对谱牒文化功能发展轨迹进行梳理,可以发现其变迁演变的规律。     

The economic impact of eight research universities on the Boston region

Abstract

The greater Boston region's eight research universities play a key role in the region's economic health and welfare. They are magnets for research and development talent and for billions of dollars in investment. These institutions contribute S7.4 billion dollars to the regional economy, jobs for about 50,000 university employees and 37,000 workers in related areas. They produce an annual talent pool of 31,000 graduates many of whom elect to remain in the region and contribute to the exploitation of university patents and licensed technology that sustain the regional economy, as well as its social and cultural institutions. Drawing on economic impact studies conducted for eight institutions in the Boston region we will describe the impact of these universities on the Boston region. We will review the implications of this large concentration of research activity on the region's economy, labour force, pre and post university educational structures, political leadership, funding sources and social and environmental quality. This paper will explore the issues facing these eight research institutions as they pursue their desire for sustained growth and development. Among these are changes in national research funding priorities, financial incentives for innovation, conflicts with non‐university sectors of the economy including competition for housing, manpower and economic resources.     

Global Mobility and Rising Inequality: A Cross-National Study of Immigration,Poverty, and Social Cohesion

With globalization, the world has become more interconnected and interdependent, with people, capital, and ideas rapidly migrating across borders. Yet, along with greater global interdependence and increased diversity within societies, economic and social inequalities have deepened, making poverty one of the leading global problems. To lessen poverty around the world, better integrate immigrant groups into societies, and enhance stability, both societies and education systems are dedicated to fostering social cohesion as a key objective. Yet, still little is known about the extent to which immigration and socioeconomic status are predictive of social cohesion. Using cross-national data from the 2009 International Civic and Citizenship Study for 38 countries, this article further investigates the link between poverty, immigration, education, and social cohesion. Findings indicate that socioeconomic status is an important influence on social cohesion of immigrant students and that schools play an important role in fostering social cohesion.     

甘肃城乡居民政治经济热点问题态度调查比较分析

新世纪以来,我国社会中出现了大量新的政治经济问题,这些问题直接影响社会稳定和和谐社会建设。通过对甘肃省市县区域城乡居民政治经济热点问题态度问卷调查和结果的定量分析,其原因主要源自城乡二元社会结构、城市类型、地理环境、区域文化等。建议党和政府有关部门加大反腐败力度,积极发展医疗卫生事业,解决农村疾病预防和治疗问题,依法严厉查处食品卫生问题,着力解决生态环境恶化和垃圾治理,提高基金和保险运作的规范化水平。     

清末民初女子社团兴起的历史背景

女子社团是清末民初不可忽视的一种社会力量。它是由当时先进的女知识群体组建的社团,它的兴起是中国妇女觉醒的标志。先进的女知识分子受到当时经济、政治以及国外先进思想的影响纷纷组建团体以争取女性解放。因此,女子社团的兴起是各种社会力量合力的结果。     

论中国信任文化的传统与现状

近十几年来，国内外的研究者对中国传统信任文化存在着一些误解：一是认为中国传统文化缺少普遍信任成长的因子，二是认为中国人对陌生人和外人极度不信任或者说根本不信任。在建构普遍信任的过程中．市场是普遍信任产生并得以存续的前提条件，中间组织成为信任建构的组织保障，各项法律、规范的完善为普遍信任的建立提供了有效的制度保障。     

政治系统论视角下民族地区政治稳定研究

民族政治体系是研究民族地区政治稳定的着力点,民族政治体系与社会系统之间的相互作用,关乎民族地区的政治稳定。在民族政治体系内部相关构成要素之间,民族政治体系与社会系统之间在支持性输入、要求性输入、转换、输出和反馈等环节上的积极作用,能够保证民族政治体系的连续性和民族政治体系运行过程的有序性,从而在政治、经济、文化和社会方面维护民族地区政治稳定。这一研究框架对现阶段如何维护民族地区政治稳定具有重要的启示意义。