International comparisons in science studies: what and why do we compare?

This article is based on experiences with EU-funded research projects over the last 10 years. They have posed many methodological difficulties: many classifications do not fit the objects and actual issues are not measured or observed. They question the effectiveness of comparative research in the social sciences as it is being conducted now. We need new methodologies to make comparisons without overlooking specific contexts and effective tools to analyze large amounts of data, taking into account translation problems and mixing various types of data: qualitative, quantitative, more or less certain, first-hand and second-hand, statistical, from case studies. Furthermore, international comparisons assume that we can identify good practice and common indicators. Scientific governance is based on such assumptions, but what happens to that model if the comparative methodology is not so relevant? Rethinking methodology for social sciences and humanities in science studies could lead to rethinking the governance of science itself.     

The EU integration process and the convergence of social protection benefits at national level

The essential objective of this article is to measure and interpret the degree of convergence of social protection benefits in European Union member states as the process of European integration has progressed. In this sense, the article analyses the potential role of per capita income and of the socio-demographic characteristics of the population as explanatory variables for the levels of social protection provision in European countries. The empirical study focuses on the period from 1985 to 1999, and investigates whether differences in welfare provision levels decreased as European integration progressed, in line with the convergence in economic and socio-demographic variables between member states.     

The Impact of Europeanization upon Party Systems in Slovakia and Romania

Usually the concept of Europeanization refers to processes that download the European Union (the EU) regulations and institutional structures to the domestic level. Moreover, in the last few years the specialized literature has become increasingly preoccupied by the development of national patterns of government through the impact of European policies, processes and institutions. The developments and changes in domestic systems—much more visible in the new member states—suggest that the EU has enormous political and institutional influence. In line with this view, the paper examines the different degrees in which Europeanization has become a transforming political process, particularly in two new post-Communist democracies: Slovakia and Romania. More specifically, the interest is to survey the impact and the way in which Europeanization was incorporated in the rationale of party discourse, identity and policies in the Central-Eastern countries in the pre-accession period.      

中国哲学面临的挑战和身份重建

中国有没有哲学、中国思想能否称之为哲学,是争论了百年的老问题.近年来,虽是旧话重提,但意义已全非.过去是以西方哲学为标准,全仰西方之鼻息,惟恐自家不济而千方百计地"贴"上去,以证明中国哲学的成立.而现在我们需要检讨的,却是即存的中国哲学表达形式在形成和发展的过程当中,如何受到了欧洲中心主义之潜移默化的影响和无所不在的支配,从而丧失掉民族叙事的主体性,成为西方哲学的附庸和注脚,这也是所谓的"身份重建"之主要意指.     

西欧的"独特性"、"东方专制主义"与近代法治

文章认为,法治的生成和发展是与国家和市民社会关系紧密相关的,而国家和市民社会关系在东西方却具有不同的演进路径.即在西方呈现的是国家与市民社会相复合(古希腊)--国家对市民社会的监护(古罗马)--国家吞并市民社会(西欧中世纪)--市民社会与国家的二元分立和抗衡(近代资本主义).这种发展路径造成了多元文化和权利抗衡国家权力的西欧"独特性",并促动了近代法治的生成.而古中国及东方国家则一直处于国家吞并市民社会状态,形成了扼制权利和自由的"东方专制主义",法治便无以产生.这启示我们,中国要走向法治,就不应仅满足于法律制度的植入和法律体系的建构,也不应满足于民主政治、市场经济和理性文化这种"法治基础和条件"的一般性解说,而应着力建立国家和市民社会的良性互动关系,这才是问题的关键.     

古代亚欧大陆北部游牧民的宗教信仰

古代亚欧大陆北部游牧民普遍存在原始宗教信仰 ,后来祆教、摩尼教、佛教、景教、伊斯兰教等经游牧民传入和传出该地区 ,各种宗教在这里并存或交融相汇 ,此起彼伏 ,盛衰交替。     

试析撒切尔政府在欧洲一体化问题上的分歧

文章重点致力于揭示撒切尔政府内在加入欧洲一体化问题上出现的严重分歧 ,并分析分歧产生的缘由。除了英国政府内党派政治斗争的因素外 ,更多的应是英国加入欧共体后获取的现实经济利益与英帝国遗存的沉重的传统包袱相互影响 ,共同作用的结果     

英国与欧洲委员会的建立(1948-1949)

成立于 1 949年的欧洲委员会是在战后初期欧洲统一运动的推动下形成的 ,但它又是英国欧洲政策的产物。英国工党政府初则对欧洲统一运动态度冷淡 ,继则反对建立具有超国家倾向的欧洲议会的建议。在欧洲联合的大势所趋下 ,在美国的压力下 ,英国提出并实施建立欧洲政治磋商组织———欧洲委员会的计划 ,将欧洲联合纳入自己的政策轨道 ,即支持欧洲的政府间合作 ,以巩固自己在欧洲的领导地位 ;反对让渡主权的一体化联合 ,以维持自己与英联邦和美国的特殊关系。英国 1 950年以后对待西欧一体化的态度正是基于同一政策。     

欧洲一体化与国家主权转让

传统的国家主权观念认为,国家主权是不受限制的,是不能谈判更不能转让的.然而,欧洲一体化的实践却突破了这种传统的观念,出现了主权转让的现象,而且转让的不仅仅是一般的主权,还包括关税主权、货币主权在内的经济主权和政治主权,国家主权的这种大范围、深层次的转让,是欧洲一体化的一大特色.欧洲一体化内主权的转让具有自主自愿性、互让共享性、循序渐进性和民主制衡性等特点,正是这些特点才决定了主权转让的可行性和可持续运行.欧洲一体化的实践为我们在经济全球化、区域一体化的国际背景下,如何更好地坚持主权原则提供了新的思路.     

Social exclusion in Europe: some conceptual issues

In the late 20th and early 21st century, social exclusion has become something of a trope around which is pegged justifications for various reforms. The notion of social exclusion has found its way into the lexicon of all major global governance institutions. How has this happened, and what are its implications for scholars of contemporary welfare reforms? In this article, we consider the ‘rise and rise’ of the discourse of social exclusion, with particular reference to its development as a policy paradigm within the European Union. We note that its initial iteration was anchored in a functionalist discourse of social organisation but that this was quickly challenged both by post‐structuralist and post‐colonial perspectives and by research findings that undermined the view of mainstream institutions as fundamentally integrative and inclusive in nature. The debate about social exclusion, we suggest, is simultaneously a debate about the historical and social dynamics of European modernity.