The state question in Chinese popular cultural studies

Abstract

This note is an attempt to trace the change and continuity of leftist political policies, and to analyse why the Left generally, especially the Malay Left, has not been successful in Malaysian politics. It questions why the Malaysian Left was stafter the Second World War but slowly dissipated until it is almost crippled now. Other than examining the formation and the roles of the Malaysian Left and their struggles for independence, this note also sorts out the factors of the unsuccessful struggles to get wide Malay support for the Malay-dominated Malay Nationalist Party of Malaya (PKMM) and the Chinese-dominated Communist Party of Malaya (CPM).     

Procedural democracy,participatory democracy and regional networking: the multi‐terrain struggle for democracy in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Southeast Asia experienced rapid economic growth during the 1980s and early 1990s largely because of the emergence of the developmental state, which successfully adapted itself to the thrust of neo‐liberal globalization by adopting economic liberalization, deregulation and privatization policies. However, the role of the developmental state was attacked and rolled back in the wake of the 1997–1998 regional financial crisis. Meanwhile, as a result of growth prior to the financial meltdown, a considerable political ferment occurred due to the consolidation of the middle‐classes. Consequently, in spite of state curbs and controls, democratic politics had (re)emerged prior to, as well as following, the 1997–1998 crisis. This article traces the rise and evolution of the NGOs and consolidation of civil society in four Southeast Asian countries, namely, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Central to the discussion is the extent to which the civil society organizations promoted a deepening of democracy and more equitable development. The analysis distinguishes between procedural democracy, perhaps best characterized by electoralism, and participatory democracy, which stresses that the everyday rights, interests, perspectives and involvement of civil society at large must be taken into consideration by the powers‐that‐be, in between elections. Although much progress has occurred in the realm of procedural democracy, that democratization is not meaningful if it is not accompanied by participatory democracy. A final section investigates how NGOs in Southeast Asia and beyond have been networking with one another transnationally, in order to further that democratization. Put simply, the struggle for democratization especially in this era of globalism, also characterized by US unilateralism and Bush’s war against terrorism, must be multi‐terrain and regional in scope.     

Political failure and the necessity for global democracy

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the changes in creative activities of young people – especially in the alternative media – in Indonesia before and after Reformasi. It begins with the story of the dynamics of a student press, from my personal experience – which I believe is a typical form of student/youth movement in Indonesia – and how the student’s life obviously depends on the political situation, the university policy, and the dynamics of the student’s life at that particular time. Reformasi caused political change and freedom but simultaneously, and ironically, placed the student press in a state of meaninglessness, such that it was painfully forced for search for new meanings to keep it contextually relevant in the new era. I end the paper describing the latest form of the alternative media scene of Indonesian youth, whose focus is dramatically shifting from ‘big’ political issues to issues of the celebration of communities and self‐existence.     

China’s Dragon and Lion Dance Tours Turkey

<正>The end of a nine-hour flight marked the beginning of China Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe’s tour in Turkey. This tour is an important component of the 2012 Ch...     

农民画时代 时代画农民

当代中国农民画,是世界文化艺术宝库中的一朵奇葩,是当代中国农民时代精神的反映。去年7月,由中国文联、中国美协、中共浙江省委宣传部共同主办,浙江省文联、浙江省美协承办的“农民画时代时代画农民——全国农民绘画展”,在浙江美术馆举办。     

圆明园三百年祭

<正>1860年10月18日、19日,位于北京西北郊的圆明园被英法联军以极其野蛮的手段焚毁,今年是圆明园被劫、被焚150周年纪念日。而自1860年上溯151年,即1709年(康熙四十八年),则恰恰为圆明园的建园之年。如此算来,圆明园建园已有301年的历史了。虎踞龙盘,物华天宝     

析我国涉外代理法律实施困顿

《涉外民事关系法律适用法》的出台,对我国法院审理涉外代理案件在法律适用上统一了标准。然而由于我国司法实践的匮乏,加之我国实体法中又无有关代理单行法对之概念加之明确,民法与合同法对代理的界定也不一致,这必然导致我国法院对涉外代理案件适用的困顿或导致出现司法惰怠。为保证我国关于涉外代理法律制度的有效、准确实施,我国有必要借鉴海牙国际私法会议《代理法律适用公约》中有关条款的规定,或以单行法的形式,或以司法解释的方式,明确界定《涉外民事关系法律适用法》关于代理法律制度规定的适用范围,对代理采用明确定义、穷尽列举及排除性条款相结合的方法,对代理的适用范围进行规范。以突破立法界定缺陷导致的司法困境．完善我国的代理法律法规。     

繁荣背后的冷思考:论武侠影视对中国武术传播的影响

采用文献资料法、逻辑分析法等研究方法,深入剖析了影视媒介对中国武术传播的影响.研究认为:武侠影视作为传播中国武术的一种方式,一方面它向世界展现了中国武术的博大精深,形成新型的武侠影视产业,促进了中国武术的传播;另一方面,武侠影视在传播中国武术的过程中,给中国武术披上了神秘的外衣,使武术出现内容肤浅和文化内涵缺失等现象,以致于造成对中国武术的误读.     

高等教育成本分担原理的适用条件——一种定价理论的分析

教育成本定价是实施高等教育成本分担的重要条件.只有教育生产要素能够充分自由流动,教育成本才能对教育价格起到有效的调节作用,从而实现教育成本定价.由于办学管制阻碍了教育生产要素的顺利流动,教育成本难以对教育价格进行调节,这是造成我国高等教育学费不断上涨的根本原因.     

城市品牌形象塑造:经验、原则和启发

近年来,一些学者和实践者开始关注城市形象问题,城市形象塑造理论研究和实践取得大量卓越成果。借鉴国内外大城市品牌形象塑造的经验,我们可以得出关于城市品牌形象塑造的经验和误区,并归纳出城市品牌形象塑造的基本原则和对重庆城市形象塑造方面的许多启示。