Assimilation vs. multiculturalism: Views from a community in France

A recent American survey of attitudes toward societal multiculturalism vs. assimilation has found surprisingly widespread support for maintaining heritage cultures not only among immigrant minority groups but also among most subsamples of majority host groups, black and white. Working-class whites are the one exception. This pilot study explores the same attitude domain in a contrasting European setting. Randomly selected samples of middle- and working-class families (a mother, father, and teenage son or daughter) from a small city in France were interviewed. As a group, they were neutral to slightly favorable to immigrants maintaining heritage cultures and languages rather than losing them through assimilation. On measures of attitudes toward specific immigrant groups, there were marked intergroup dyfferunces with Maghrebian Arabs rated leist favorably and Southeast Asians, the model immigrants, most favorably. Comparisons of subgroups of respondents who varied in terms of (a) political left-right orientation, (b) social class standing, (c) degree of religiosity, and (d) generational level provide the base for a more general discussion of cultural assimilation and multiculturalism.     

The Limitations and Opportunities of Business Process Re-engineering in a Politicized Organizational Climate

This paper is concerned with the organizationalchange and project management issues raised by theimplementation of a business process re-engineering(BPR) approach in the politicized hospital context. This is a report of research in progress,focusing on the issues arising at the problem definitionand project planning stages of a BPR application in anoperating theaters department experiencing problems with scheduling and delays. The research designrelies on a case study approach, with the researcher asparticipant observer, as both an adviser to the projectteam and as field interviewer. The paper argues that an ambitious BPR agenda is compromised inat least two regards. First, the lack of precisionsurrounding the focus and methodology of BPR givespolitically motivated actors considerable influence with respect to defining terms of reference in wayswhich will shape potential outcomes in their favor.Second, the complexity and indeterminacy of the businessprocess or patient trail can also diluteredesign attempts. The principal limitations of theapproach thus concern the impracticality of embarking onrapid and radical change working from a blanksheet of paper with respect to organizational and job design. BPR, unlike other organizationdevelopment interventions, is not a contextsensitive approach. The role of project manageris critical in establishing a working balance betweenindividual, occupational, and organizational goals in a manner perceivedto be legitimate in the context. Effective BPR projectmanagement thus requires a combination of political andprocess analysis skills. The principal opportunities of BPR derive from its process orientation,which brings a fresh perspective to a traditionally andfunctionally fragmented organizational setting, andwhich presents a potentially valuable platform for anevolutionary approach to process improvement.     

Call My Bluff: Multiple Interpretations of an Organizational Process

This paper attempts to illustrate the value of interpreting organizational processes from a variety of perspectives. It demonstrates that this approach reflects the natural richness of organization and avoids the rather blinkered search for single-paradigm explanations. It does not seek to offer the answer, but rather some possible insights. By combining both actor and researcher frames, it sheds light upon a particular process of social interaction within an organization. Both the context, an NHS trust hospital, and the content, a significant change scenario, brings richness and relevance to the debate.
The paper outlines the macro and micro context before focusing on the interpretative methodological approach. The research involved collecting and analysing over thirty hours of taped, semi-structured interview discourse with senior and middle management and some junior staff. After describing the change initiative, an attempt at multi-skilling and the response of recipient actors to the proposals, the paper outlines three readings which seek to explain the events that occurred. The reader is invited to play the game 'Call my Bluff' and to choose the scenario that represents the most plausible explanation. The three interpretative frames employed are a managerial, a cultural and a political perspective. The paper concludes by raising some important issues in research, organizational change and the NHS.     

世界政治中印度和平崛起的现实与前景

世纪之交,无论是从规模条件,还是从衡量大国地位的关键性指标数据来看,印度作为新兴大国已经无可争议地崛起了。助成印度崛起的关键性因素,除了其一以贯之的大国地位追求,特别是战略现实主义的治国方略外,显然还在于冷战的结束给印度提供了难得的战略机遇。印度对美国主导下的国际体系的许多规则、规范甚至运作机制并不认可,但由于受种种条件制约,其依然只是国际体系中的一个“有限的挑战者”。印度的崛起导致了亚洲地缘政治的重大变化,进而直接影响着中印关系。     

Resurgent ethno-nationalism and the renewed demand for Biafra in south-east Nigeria

The renewed demand for Biafra by Igbo people is a rejection of their post-war socio-political and economic condition in Nigeria. Through the processing of primary data, the paper examines this reinvention of Igbo nationalism. It looks at its linkage with the 1999 democratic transition in Nigeria, its implications and management by the government. The paper concludes that the renewed demand for Biafra is caused by perception of inequities and injustice in the distribution of power and resources among the Igbo. Hence a deliberate effort to correct these social problems can assuage ethnic tensions and presumption of political violence in Nigeria.     

论民主政治的程序化

民主政治的理性就在于程序的理性。当今中国,不仅要把民主政治制度化,以树立民主政治的权威地位,而且应当努力使民主政治程序化,使民主政治特别是行政民主和党内民主的各项制度得到真正落实,加强社会主义民主政治建设,实现民主政治的制度化、规范化、程序化的统一。     

网络时代大学生思想政治教育的新途径

互联网是大学生进行思想交流和获取各种信息的重要载体,网络时代为大学生思想政治教育带来了新的机遇和挑战。文章从高校实际出发,提出要用思想政治教育新内容、新方法占领网络阵地,唱响网上主旋律,引领大学生健康成长。     

马克思民主思想探析

胡锦涛同志在党的第十七次代表大会报告中提出:"人民民主是社会主义的生命." 可见,民主是一个事关中国特色社会主义伟大事业兴衰成败的根本性问题.马克思民主思想的核心观点认为民主制的实质是一种国家制度,是作为国家制度特殊形式的社会化了的人,其价值旨趣是"自我规定"的人的"自由解放",而其精神实质是理想性与现实性的统一.     

简析日本平安时代女性文学及其成因

平安时代是日本文学文化活动最为兴盛的时期 ,这一时期女性作家的活跃则成为日本乃至世界文学史上一个罕见的现象。日本平安时代女性文学的主要作品及其特征 ,应从日本平安时代的摄关政治与女性文学之间的关系入手 ,在政治、文化和文学形式三个方面 ,研究日本平安时代女性文学的成因。     

也论"五四"的主题

“五四”的主题是政治挤压下的启蒙。“五四”整个发展过程中启蒙始终不能完全脱离政治。“五四”落潮,并不是“救亡压倒启蒙”,而是启蒙自身发展和实现现代民族国家必然的客观要求。“五四”启蒙运动是不彻底的,这有其发展的历史性和客观性。因此不能脱离政治孤立地看待启蒙。