Coastal Adaptation Planning in Fairbourne,Wales: lessons for Climate Change Adaptation

ABSTRACT

Adaptation to climate change is emerging as a central objective and policy frame for coastal communities. This paper examines recent climate change adaptation efforts in the UK, centring on the case of Fairbourne, Wales. The village is facing the long-term prospect of flooding and inundation due to the impacts of sea level rise. The recent Shoreline Management Plan for the area has recommended realignment of the coast and eventual decommissioning of Fairbourne. The paper draws on a qualitative research methodology of interviews, policy review and observation to narrate the case and provide key insights and lessons for planners working in environmentally vulnerable coastal settings and managing climate adaptation processes.     

Fluctuating capacity of policy advice in Russia: testing theory in developing country context

ABSTRACT

Theories and concepts developed and empirically tested in the context of North American and Western European countries do not always easily transfer to another political landscape. The concept of “policy advisory system” is not an exception. On the one hand, policy processes and policy styles are not unique for each country; therefore, some generalizations can be made. On the other hand, studding particularities of policy process in a specific country can enrich theories, developed for general cases. Applying existing theories to a new context also goes a long way in verification and potential falsification – the fundamental requirement for a scientific process. This article aims to contribute to the debate on the topic of policy advisory system by comparing the development of three policies in Russia, each involving policy advisors to some extent. Based on this analysis, lessons are drawn regarding the conditions under which policy advisors can impact policy changes in an environment, alternative to “western.”     

Climate justice and sustained transnational mobilization

ABSTRACT

Samir Amin’s final essay called for the creation of a new international organization of progressive social forces. Here I review evidence from twenty-first century transnational movements germane for understanding the likelihood of the emergence of such an international organization and the issues and sectors most likely to facilitate coalitional unity. More specifically, the ecological crises identified by Amin in the form of global warming and climate change have created an unprecedented global environmental threat capable of unifying diverse social strata across the planet. The climate justice movement has already established a global infrastructure and template to coordinate a new international organization for confronting neoliberal forms of globalization. Pre-existing movement organizing around environmental racism, climate justice in the global South, and recent intersectional mobilizations serve as promising models for building an enduring international organization that will represent subaltern groups and have a substantial impact on world politics.     

加拿大环境保护法的变迁:1988—2008

加拿大环境保护法自1988年产生之后,随着社会环境的变化而不断更新,在正当的法律程序的指引之下,既重视法律文本的完善,又关注法律的实效,以此为借鉴,中国环境法在修改过程中,可以突出以下方面:一是进一步充实立法原则;二是建立环境保护责任制度;三是完善立法程序和立法技术.     

非正式制度探析:乡村社会的视角

本文从非正式制度的概念出发 ,分析了非正式制度在乡村社会存在的社会基础和运行机制 ,并讨论了乡村社会非正式制度的变迁路径和目标 ,认为只有通过合理的制度安排 ,才能实现正式制度与非正式制度在乡村社会的相容 ,乡村社会走向现代化才能获得积极的制度支持。     

水族习惯法及其变迁——以贵州省三都水族自治县塘党寨为例

本文通过对贵州省三都水族自治县的一个典型水族村寨——恒丰乡塘党寨——的田野调查,描述了水族习惯法的表现形式、维护机制及其变迁。文章认为,水族地区社会经济的发展、国家权力的深入、长期的“送法下乡”活动以及宗教信仰等文化背景的深刻变化,是水族习惯法发生变迁的主要原因。研究这些变迁及其原因,对于理解和认识少数民族地区乃至整个农村的法治建设,具有不可忽视的作用。     

西藏语言政策的变迁

本文结合国外一些国家的少数民族语言政策 ,介绍了我国少数民族语言政策的制定、实施以及对西藏语言政策制定的影响 ,描述了西藏语言政策形成和变迁的轨迹     

民国的风俗变革与变革风俗

民国时期是时代大发展、社会大变革的时期 ,风俗的演进也进入到转型的阶段。风俗的全面变革促使了一系列变革风俗的产生。文章论述了当时风俗文化演进的三种趋势———对人的尊重、对迷信的涤荡以及政治因素的渗入 ,是民国风俗步入现代化进程的显著标志     

德昂族生活习俗的变迁 --德昂族经济和社会发展研究报告之三

本文通过考察德昂族村寨民居、服饰、饮食等文化现象,来描述德昂族生活习俗的特点、习俗的变迁及所受影响因素,并对这种变迁进行了一定的思考.     

明清时期国家与社会关系转型境遇下的回族社区——以历史上西安回族社区文化变迁为视点

本文以历史上西安回族社区为视点,运用人类学的理论和方法,在明清时期国家与社会关系转型的境遇下,分析了回族社区文化的变迁.