The Rule of Law Model of Internet Governance*

The rule of law is the basic form of national governance and the rule of law model is the necessary direction for the governance of online society. Online society is in essence a new pattern of social relationships and structural forms comprising relationships among citizens, legal persons, organizational bodies, etc., formed and brought together on the basis of Internet technology; and also a reflection, expansion and expression, singly or in synthesis, of various relationships in the fields of the real economy, politics, culture, society and the environment. The rule of law model of Internet governance refers to governance theories, systems and practices that employ rule of law thinking and the rule of law model to bring the elements, structures, procedures and functions of Internet governance into the scope of the rule of law and its operational track. Reviewing the tortuous course of the development of rule of law Internet governance in China, summarizing useful experience in the construction of rule of law Internet governance, and reflecting on existing legislative, law enforcement and judicial dilemmas will enable us to build up a rule of law system of online governance with comprehensive norms, effective implementation, strict supervision and strong guarantees. This will be marked by Chinese characteristics and will ensure the application of rule of law thinking and the rule of law model in governing, operating, using and safeguarding the Internet, thus achieving sound and orderly Internet operation and development along the path of the rule of law and advancing the modernization of the Internet governance system and governance capability.     

Transforming the Evaluation of the Rule of Law in China*

Over the past ten years, China has seen a number of practices exploring the evaluation of the rule of law. It is important that we sum up the practical experience of these evaluations, analyze the problems they encounter, determine their direction nationwide, and put forward constructive ideas. With the issuing of the Decision of the Central Committee of the CPC on Some Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening the Reform and the Decision of the Central Committee of the CPC on Promoting a Number of Major Issues of the Rule of Law, evaluation of the rule of law faces a transformation both in theory and in practice. The key points in this transformation are having the right orientation, innovative mechanisms and solutions to tricky issues of quantitative evaluation; summing up evaluation of experience; and elevating evaluation to the level of theory. A precondition for its effective evaluation is a scientific mechanism for evaluating the rule of law; in turn, the key to a scientific evaluation is solving the problems in quantitative evaluation of the rule of law; and the necessary requirements for evaluation practice are summing up evaluation experience and elevating it to the level of theory. The key to innovative mechanisms for evaluating the rule of law lies in implementation of the third party evaluation model and in quantitative evaluation that starts with particular programs.     

International Rule of Law and Rule of Law Construction in China

The rule of law has international as well as domestic attributes, so it can be divided into two levels: the domestic rule of law and the international rule of law. Using the thinking behind the international rule of law to build the rule of law in China is both necessary and inevitable. China should put into practice the idea of the international rule of law at the institutional and the governance levels, and should at the same time participate in the UN’s rule of law activities and in international rule-making, thereby extending its rule of law discourse power and influence in the international sphere.     

The Chinese Logic of Consultative Governance

Contemporary China needs to change from a Western to a Chinese-style governance discourse so as to form and explore a consultative governance discourse with Chinese characteristics. This is profoundly evident in the following: the Marxist philosophy of the state is the theoretical premise of contemporary China’s consultative governance; traditional Chinese thought on governance and practice are the soil in which contemporary Chinese consultative governance grows; socialism with Chinese characteristics is the realm in which contemporary Chinese consultative governance exists; the masses under the leadership of the CPC are the necessary subjects of contemporary Chinese consultative governance; and the target of contemporary Chinese consultative governance is a multi-layered and diverse existence. Realization of national governance through consultative democracy is the basic form of contemporary Chinese consultative governance; the balanced development of public, collective and individual interests is the basic objective of contemporary Chinese consultative governance; the basic principles of contemporary Chinese consultative governance are equality, inclusiveness and peace; and the criteria for assessing contemporary Chinese consultative governance are authority, consensus, institutions and the rule of law. Guided by the Marxist view of the state, rooted in the tradition of China’s fine political culture, and founded on the theoretical and practical claims of socialism with Chinese characteristics, socialist consultative governance with Chinese characteristics constitutes the Chinese form of contemporary governance theory.     

协商民主视域下的政策议程设定

在目前中国的体制下,阻碍社会问题进入政策议程的因素主要有以下几个方面：政府主导型的议程设置模式、特殊利益集团对政策议程的不公平的干预、片面追求GDP的经济发展模式。这些因素只能导致社会问题的积蓄和扩大,不利于矛盾的解决。而作为决策形式的协商民主理论,强调公民参与的议程设定模式,体现公民参与的公平、效率、自由和安全,以保证公共政策所应有的价值和目标取向。     

Rule of Law Construction and Assessment at the Local Level

Going beyond the analytical model of the holistic state in rule of law discussion, we can classify the rule of law into national and local levels based on the stages and increments of its execution. The phenomenon of the local rule of law reflects the stages and incremental progress of building a rule of law China. It has a realistic foundation in society and a profound basis in legal theory. Comprehensively advancing the rule of law in China necessitates giving encouragement and support to construction of the rule of law at the local level. The attempts and experiments of local government enable us to explore and innovate the developmental model of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. The rule of law at the local level is embodied in three dimensions: “text—action—concept.” Assessment mechanisms and indicators for the local construction of the rule of law should also be established in accordance with this framework. The building of the rule of law at the local level should be synchronized with assessment of the rule of law. We need to optimize top-level design, conduct evaluations of local legislation, improve local rule of law work performance assessment and use a rule of law index to assess the local rule of law in an overall manner.     

The Rule of Law Approach to Government Governance in China*

Chinese government governance involves the two dimensions of autonomy and co-governance. The process of moving from government management to government governance is a synchronous process of moving from government by a legal system to a “rule of law” government. Such governance coincides with the rule of law in terms of fundamental guarantees, governance frameworks, intrinsic values, external forms, goal pursuits and construction paths and lays the foundation for the realization of government governance. The multi-subject structure, multiplicity of rules and regulations, interaction of processes, diversity of modes and complexity of disputes in this form of governance place new demands on the construction of the rule of law. In response to these needs, we should improve the government’s functional orientation and the disposition of its powers by means of statute law; expand the types of administrative bodies and improve the laws on administrative organizations; enrich the sources of law; use consensus rules to improve controlling rules; be guided by interactivity in improving the administrative procedure system; normalize diversified administrative behavior; and establish multiple dispute resolution mechanisms and strengthen right relief. This will highlight the rule of law path taken by government governance. In the course of the integration and interaction of such governance with the rule of law, we will need to coordinate our responses to its latent risks, such as governance pitfalls and the limitations of the rule of law.     

改革开放以来世界城市治理法治化的进程

"世界城市"诸多指标中,法治是核心要素之一。30年来,中国已走上法治道路,其中大城市的法治建设作了重要贡献。依据世界和中国经验,世界城市的法治化应走"强政府"大社会"的路子;应创建"法治型"政府,关键是做好人权保障和权力制约;应创建"服务型"政府,将"职责"置于"职权"的优先地位。北京作为"世界城市",未来仍应十分重视法治建设。     

法制下法治与法治下法制

法制下法治和法治下法制是两种不同的社会存在。法制下法治之治理主体单一,法治下法制治理主体多元;法制下法治依赖国家法正义观支持,法治下法制依赖多维正义观支持;法制下法治以人为治理客体,法治下法制则以人和法律同为治理客体。在特定历史阶段,法制下法治曾经起过积极的作用;但是随着社会发展,民主勃兴和社会转型的逐步推进,法制下法治已经成为中国法制建设的瓶颈,应为法治下法制的理论和实践所突破。法治下法制是多元法律规则并存于社会与依法办事之法治原则的结晶。通过各种法规则的冲突、互动和整合,法治自然会从理想走向现实。     

国际行政法之论——全球化与全球治理视野中的国际法治

国际行政法是针对跨国行政活动和国际治理中的国际行政合作关系作出的规制和调整,是在传统国际法体系中出现的一个新兴分支领域,其逻辑起点和理论根基是全球治理的提出。全球治理中善治标准的实现需要引入行政法等一系列工具,因而全球治理的提出与行政法有着与生俱来、不可分离的关联性,行政法构成全球治理的微观基础。全球治理的大部分内容可以作为行政行为来加以理解和分析,即规则制定、冲突利益间的行政裁决,以及其他形式规制性和行政性的决定和管理。目前,一个规范等级逐渐鲜明的"国际行政法"体系正在产生并逐步形成,中国应该积极参与到这一进程当中。     

自由的两种含义及其对法治的意义

古典自由主义时期 ,自然自由和社会自由的分类已经被明确提出。自然自由是天赋的、与生俱来的自由 ,自然自由强调自由的平等性 ;社会自由是经过理性妥协和制度限制的自由 ,社会自由强调自由的权利性。从自然自由到社会自由就是使自由由价值形态转变为权利存在 ,这个进步在人类自由史上具有里程碑意义。明确自然自由和社会自由的不同含义 ,对于法治具有重要意义 :以价值形态的自然自由为出发点 ,以权利存在的社会自由为制度核心 ,能够造就法治传统 ;宪法是自由的宣言书 ,自然自由体现为价值预设 ,社会自由表现为权利安排 ;自由既是目的 ,又是手段 ,法律制度对自由的限制应具有正当性和适宜度     

法治运行的理性思考

文章以政治国家与市民社会二元化社会结构为切入点分析我国法治理论、实践应由强调法治的治国制度特性和管理、强制功能,向法治对公民个体权利的保护功能转变。通过权利主体由抽象转向具体,实现权利的物化,使法治得以实现全社会的普遍遵守。     

试论培植当代中国法治文化的基点和路径

市场经济、民主政治和法治文化是实现法治的基础性条件。中外法治的实践充分表明,法治文化作为社会文化的重要组成部分,存在着不同的培植、生成模式。如何立足于我国国情、传统与民情,培育出既符合法治的共性,同时又具有中国特色的法治文化是建设中国特色社会主义法治的现实性课题。     

俄罗斯的市民社会诉求与"法治国家"定位

俄罗斯"法治国家"的理论路径是与俄罗斯社会结构转型进程相回应的,并以市民社会为其逻辑起点,即认为市民社会构成了法治国家的社会基础;市民社会的自由、权利和秩序诉求提供了法治国家的价值原则;公民法律意识是法治国家的重要条件和保证.这不仅反映了俄罗斯社会结构转型条件下的法治要求和特有关怀,也反映了俄罗斯国家控制能力衰弱和市民社会"畸变"背景下的法律秩序要求.文章指出,要推进法治,不仅要推进国家和市民社会二元化进程,更重要的是确立二者良性互动关系,而不可简单移植和照搬西方.     

International Rule of Law and Methodological Innovation

The practice of the international rule of law needs a theoretical guide, and the formulation of the theory of international law has to depend upon practice, which imposes new requirement upon the methodology of international law. Traditional research into legal doctrine is unfavorable to the creative exertion of international jurisprudence, and the research methods of social sciences are playing an increasingly important role in the methodological innovation of international law. From the perspective of promotion of the international rule of law, the study of international law needs to deep research a State’s motives, cause and innate logic in observing international aw, and law and economics can show its capability in this field. For the international rule of law, basic research needs to be carried about such social surroundings as where the rules are produced and applied and exerting influences. The research method of the sociology of law exactly hits the point. The application of empirical and experimental research methods offers a beforehand “rehearsal” chance for the process of the rule of law to grasp the pros and cons in the planning and practice of the rule of law. The cooperation between the research methods of social science and the traditional research method of international law can reasonably interpret the phenomena of international relations and promote the international rule of law.     

现代"法治"与法官角色的法理学思考

“法治”成为现代社会不可或缺的“安全阀” ,实现“法治”目标的一个重要基础和前提是要充分而有效地发挥司法功能 ,而此又要依赖于法官恰当地扮演好自身的应然角色。当下中国 ,法官已绝非处于法律虚无主义时代的位置 ,且随着法制的逐步健全和“法治”氛围的渐次营造 ,其使命越来越神圣并任重道远。所以 ,如何造就一批合乎现代“法治”价值要旨的法官队伍是我们必须认真而慎重思索的现实和重要问题。     

The Chinese Expression of the International Rule of Law

The Chinese expression of the direction and progress of the international rule of law is an important part of showcasing China’s stand and ideas in international relations, and serves as a major interactive link between the Chinese rule of law and the international rule of law. The progress of the international rule of law rests on the active, full and effective expression of various countries including China, so that it can become more just and rational. In order to express itself explicitly and effectively, China needs to participate actively in the practices of international rule of law, in a bid to expand its horizon, enlist public support, and obtain opportunities.     

法治概念属性释义

当前对法治的理解仍然比较混乱,有必要澄清。法治是个政治概念而不是个法律概念,它不同于执法和司法。法治其实就是依法治国;法治是与人治相对立的政治概念;法治不等同于法制;法治以民主为前提,并保障民主,民主是法治的灵魂。     

宪法宽容精神下的少数人权利保护研究

宪法发展的历史表明,人权可能在民主的名义下遭受到严重的侵害,多数决定的民主原则本身就隐含着对少数人权利的现实危害可能性。为了使社会的每个成员都能切实享受到基本权利带来的利益,不仅要保护绝大多数人的基本权利,也要保护少数人的基本权利。而要实现这一目标,必须践行宪法宽容的精神。现代宪法所体现的宽容精神是少数人权利保障的伦理基础,宪法文本的规定是少数人权利保障的法制前提,而少数人权利保障则是法治国家实现宽容的必然要求。     

传统法律文化与法治现代化的对接路径

中国传统法律文化与现代法治精神对接之间存在困境,困境的形成主要由于传统法律文化具有重法制轻法治、重集体轻个人、重和合轻冲突、重德(礼)轻刑(法)等特点,并长久以来影响着人们的思想和观念,与现代法治精神相冲突。困境的消解,不能靠简单地移植西方法律,也不能仅依赖于本土资源自生,而应该通过以下几条路径:1)培植现代法律意识,去除“人治”观念,培育起真正的“法治”观念,形成民主、平等的共识;2)建构市民社会,激活契约精神;3)在立法环节上完善现代法治的同时,推进司法制度改革,加快司法现代化的进程。通过这些路径和步骤,推进法制现代化,构建中国特色的现代法治。