The Deinstitutionalization of Children in Bulgaria – The Role of the EU

In this article, the role of the EU as a key factor for the development of the deinstitutionalization of children is explored. A series of hypotheses concerning EU funding, policies and politics are addressed with regards to how the EU as a whole has affected the deinstitutionalization of children. The article explains the presence of association between instigation of public interest and civil mobilization and the launch of a nationwide reform – in particular how advocacy both at national and EU level led to the adoption of a national reform strategy in Bulgaria. Further, the association between the availability of an innovative approach to spending the EU funds and the decision generally to reform the system for institutional care for children is presented. The article explains the difference that €107.6 million will make for Bulgaria's abandoned children if the European structural funds are realized with their full potential. On the other hand, it reveals the challenges that the process is facing. A great deal of non‐governmental organization (NGO) experience concerning EU involvement in the process has been generalized and construed in order to achieve the best possible understanding of the whole process, the key players and the fundamental issues.     

No two ageisms are the same: testing measurement invariance in ageism experience across Europe

The article focuses on the topic of measurement invariance (equivalence) testing in comparative research. Measurement invariance is the basic requirement for comparative data and should be addressed by researchers before any international comparison begins. In the article, multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis is first performed to describe three methods of measurement invariance testing (configural, metric, and scalar). Subsequently, this procedure is applied to the case of measuring experience with ageism against seniors in the quantitative European Social Survey, Round 4. Measurement invariance in the concept is tested across 29 states participating in the survey. Hypotheses about the sources of the lack of measurement invariance between some countries are then tested by comparing the parameters of the models identified for different groups of European states. Finally, evidence of international comparability of items measuring experience with ageism against seniors is summarized and implications for other areas of comparative social research are discussed.     

The pitfalls of European risk governance: a question of design or application? Some empirical results from the food safety sector

The separation of science-based risk assessment from policy-based risk management is meant to safeguard scientific autonomy while improving evidence-based policy-making. This risk regulation model is used in several policy domains and especially those targeting public health like food safety. Research reported in this article shows this approach to be deficient despite its conceptual simplicity and strong organizational basis. The problem is twofold: first, risk regulation as currently practiced is associated with a biased take on “science” at both stages of risk assessment and risk management; second, it displays an over-reliance on legislative measures with few follow-through mechanisms. The article illustrates how these problems are played out and discusses their implications using two examples from the area of chemical contamination, namely aflatoxins and dioxins in food     

A. B. and C. versus Ireland

This article analyses some possible political implications of the case and the decision in A. B. and C. v. Ireland at the European Court of Human Rights. This case was heard in a public hearing on 9 December 2009; the judgment was provided in December 2010. I argue that the three applicants in this case employed a novel strategy, not previously considered, to access legal abortion in the Republic of Ireland. By highlighting the varied circumstances of unintended pregnancy in more than a single instance, the applicants utilized an offensive manoeuvre to which the government is unlikely to respond consistently over time. They exposed Irish governments' use of clandestine political negotiations in relation to European treaties, the questionable exertion of governments' authority to uphold political and moral agendas and racialized constructions of Irishness and national interests. The applicants also raised serious questions about state practices in the Republic of Ireland in relation to its legal obligation to uphold human rights under the European Convention. However, I argue that it is unlikely that this novel strategy and legal decision and their political implications are enough to adequately address the lack of access to legal abortion in the Republic of Ireland.     

Reflections on the Via Baltica Campaign in Poland

Years of NGO campaigning resulted in the withdrawal of consent for the Via Baltica road to be routed through Bialystok, north-east Poland. In light of the current revision of the Trans-European Transport Network and ongoing environmental campaigns against infrastructure development in Central and Eastern Europe, this profile piece reflects on the Via Baltica campaign in Poland. It identifies three factors crucial to its success: multi-level collaboration, framing of the campaign and the use of both ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ tactics. It argues that in combining these elements, NGOs were not only able to ensure success in the case of the Via Baltica but also set a precedent for future environmental campaigns in the region.     

Building the Capacity to Play on Multilevel Policy Processes: French Environmental Movement Organisations and the European Union

The European Union (EU) is a relevant case to address the dynamics of transnational politics, given the significance of the EU environmental legislation in member states. Infranational, national and supranational/EU decision-making arenas still co-exist, without completely overlapping. This study explores how the multilevel nature of the EU policy-making process is exploited by national environmental movement organisations (EMOs). Diverging from the explanation in terms of political opportunity structure or their resource basis, we examine EMOs that do not automatically adapt to the EU multilevel policy process. The discussion takes up the classic debate between grievances (intentionality) and resources (capacity) hypothesising that both are constructed in EMOs' actions and through their interactions with public authorities, allies and members. Within the analytical framework developed in this study, the organisation is viewed as a factor explaining EU activism by combining an endogenous action approach with classical resource mobilisation concepts. The ensuing longitudinal analysis compares the case of three French EMOs: France-Nature-Environnement, Friends of the Earth-France and Greenpeace-France.     

延安时期中国共产党学习《联共(布)党史简明教程》的历史动因

在20世纪中国革命历史进程中,中国共产党注重借助俄国革命的历史、理论和文本等方面的资源,获取中国革命的路径参照、理论指导和方法启示。1938年9月,中共六届六中全会的召开与《联共(布)党史简明教程》的出版"不期而遇"。前者强调要将研究马、恩、列、斯的理论作为"时代任务",借以推动马克思主义"中国化",并最终开创中国革命的"新阶段";后者提供了马列主义基础知识的"百科全书"和世界社会主义革命经验的"百年总结",恰与中国共产党和中国革命的现实需要相互契合。基于四个方面的革命需要,延安时期中国共产党掀起了以《联共(布)党史简明教程》为"中心材料"的学习运动,为中国革命要素的系统建构创设了重要前提,具有重要的历史价值。     

2012年世界经济走势及其对策

受2011年世界经济发展不稳定和突发性因素明显增多的影响,2012年世界经济走势趋于复杂化。2012年欧盟经济可能陷于衰退,世界经济呈低速增长态势;国际贸易摩擦可能加剧,国际经济协调难度加大,欧美再工业化与战略性新兴产业发展将改变全球产业格局;国际金融市场和国际大宗商品价格震荡可能加剧。据此,本文从扩大内需、加快涉外经济体制改革、调整经济结构、完善国内金融市场体系等四个方面提出了中国经济发展的对策。     

俄罗斯与欧盟能源冲突的应对机制

在俄欧能源贸易过程中,能源冲突与摩擦在所难免。俄欧在能源投资、能源过境运输、能源合同价格和能源市场开放等领域都有冲突或摩擦。俄罗斯与乌克兰能源问题是折射俄欧能源冲突的棱镜。俄欧能源冲突应对机制包括启动能源对话、利用能源危机预警机制、求诸《欧洲能源宪章》、提交仲裁委员会、诉诸国际法院等。建设俄欧共同能源空间是解决俄罗斯与欧盟能源冲突的根本途径。     

从欧盟空间政策新发展看欧洲空间政策的前景

现行的欧洲空间政策包括欧洲国家的空间政策、ESA框架下的政府间空间政策及欧盟共同外交与安全政策下的空间政策三个层次。随着欧盟与ESA的协调,欧洲空间政策的主导者正逐步从ESA向欧盟发展,多层次的欧洲空间政策正逐步向统一的欧洲空间政策发展。但是,由于欧盟、ESA和成员国之间空间政策的协调机制尚未有效形成,且现行欧洲空间政策对于空间国际合作也缺乏有序的协调机制,因此,统一欧洲空间政策仍需努力。