Implications of spatial and physical structures for ICT as a tool of urban management and development in Cameroon

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) hold enormous promise for development efforts in developing countries. However, the potential of ICTs remains untapped for reasons that are largely unknown in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This region has the lowest level of ICT penetration in the world. The need to understand impediments to ICT performance are therefore most urgent in this region. This paper seeks to address this need by identifying factors that inhibit the functionality of ICT as a tool for improving urban management. It analyzes two cities in the region, namely Douala and Yaounde, respectively Cameroon’s economic/cultural and politico-administrative capitals. The following three factors are shown to impede the functioning of ICT devices, hence urban management in these cities: colonial racial segregation policies, the colonial legacy of land use compartmentalization and the lack of unambiguous physical addresses for structures in the built environment. It is suggested that concerned authorities institute the following measures. 1] Establish an unambiguous addressing system reposed on the municipal governance structure and the country’s vehicle matriculation taxonomy. 2] Actively promote ICT as an element of national development. Finally, it presents some examples of efforts to improve ICT penetration and functionality from Senegal and South Africa.     

Winning the story war: Strategic communication and the conflict in Afghanistan

In conflicts of the information age success in the application of force depends less on the outcome of tactical operations on the battlefields but more on how the war's purpose, course and conduct is viewed by public opinion at home as well as within the theatre of operations. Therefore western allies in Iraq and Afghanistan are not only involved in a physical struggle but also in a struggle over perceptions, for no long-term engagement of troops is possible without support from home, nor can a counterinsurgency succeed without the support of the local population. While the ability to exert influence upon various relevant target groups – opponents, the local population and the home front – has always been crucially important during conflicts, with the more recent globalized media this has led to previously unknown potential opportunities to influence audiences. With the intermixing of target audiences and the successes achieved by terrorists in the field of communication, the importance of the ideological struggle has increased enormously. In this context the concept of strategic communication has become relevant, which refers to the consistency of strategy, activities, themes and messages, and the aim of obtaining legitimacy and support. The heart of a strategic communication strategy is formed by a strategic narrative, a compelling storyline which can explain events convincingly and from which inferences can be drawn. Through a case study about the effectiveness of the execution of strategic communication during the mission in Afghanistan, the author wishes to increase the understanding of the concept.     

Challenges facing U.S. government and Department of Defense efforts in strategic communication

Without entering the debate about exactly what strategic communication is or should be, this article enumerates challenges facing efforts to inform, influence, and persuade in pursuit of national policy objectives first for the U.S. government in general, and then specific to the Department of Defense. With the problem space thus defined, the article then offers a handful of solutions and suggestions, including requiring desired information endstates as part of commander's intent and separating efforts to manipulate and deceive from truthful efforts to inform, influence, and persuade.     

资本结构与经营绩效——基于浙江民营企业的考察

自上世纪五十年代以来,对企业资本结构的研究一直是世界金融理论界研究的热门话题之一。企业资本结构与经营绩效有着密切联系,企业对资本结构的选择直接影响着企业的经营绩效。本文以浙江民营制造业上市公司为例,利用2004～2006年的财务报表数据,对资本结构与经营绩效的关系进行了检验。实证结果表明,浙江民营制造业上市公司资本结构对经营绩效具有显著的正向影响。进一步考察表明,这种影响具有时滞性。本文的研究对理解现实中民营上市公司的资本结构决策具有一定的启示意义。     

巴洛克时期西方歌剧艺术的历史发展

歌剧的诞生与声乐器乐等姊妹艺术的发展有着直接的关系,是巴洛克时期音乐史上的一件大事。在巴洛克时期,歌剧首先在意大利产生后,并逐渐影响至法国、英国。本文着重介绍在巴洛克时期,歌剧在这些国家的发展概况及风格、流派。     

基层社区文化治理体系转型及重建的实践逻辑——基于苏北新型农村社区的实地调查

提升城乡基层社区公共文化服务水平和服务效能、补齐文化事业和文化产业发展短板弱项,是"十四五"时期建设社会主义文化强国的必由之路。我国城乡基层社区文化公共服务体系建设过程中的供给、需求之间的结构性矛盾和体制性困境依然十分突出。本研究从治理动力、治理主体、治理规则以及治理目标等维度提出理论框架;基于苏北地区的实证调查分析基层社区文化治理转型的动因及文化秩序重建的实践逻辑。研究发现,城乡社区结构转型和秩序演化过程中文化主体的多元性、文化治理规则的复杂性以及文化治理目标的引领性等多重社会逻辑共时性运作,使得基层社区文化治理体系转型和治理秩序重建呈现出更加复杂、动态的实践特征。基层社区文化治理转型主要是由"农民上楼"后的"文化饥饿"、居民文化自治乏力以及社区文化引领不足等问题引起;同时,在具体文化治理实践过程中必须突破"官办文化"与"送文化"思维模式,并基于"民办文化"与"种文化"的新思维营造标准化公共文化空间、重塑主体化治理规则及社会化协同机制,实现多元文化融合下的共建、共治、共享。     

A Cross-national Analysis of Global E-government

To explore the determinants of global e-government performance, this paper examines the aggregate data of 163 different countries by conducting multivariate statistical analysis. The results of multivariate regression analysis indicate that the performance of digital government is likely to be determined by economic wealth, education, urbanization, civil liberties, government effectiveness, and the interaction between Internet usage and economic wealth, while the extent of internet penetration alone does not determine e-government performance. More importantly, this study indicates that government effectiveness is much more important than any other factors in determining global e-government performance. The countries with high e-government performance are likely to be the wealthy, developed, and Western countries or the rapidly developing Asian countries.

关联方关系及其交易的信息披露问题

上市公司关联方关系及其交易一直是证券市场关注的热点问题,对这一事项的信息披露是财务报表附注中的一项重要内容.因为关联方关系及其交易不同于-般的公司间关系及交易,有其自身独具的特点,因而成为投资者决策的一条主要依据.从中报和年报的总体来看,大部分上市公司能够比较客观、清楚地披露该项事宜,但仍然有一些上市公司不能按照准则要求去做,在信息披露中暴露出一些问题.因此,不论关联方关系及其交易的信息披露还是关联交易本身都有待于进一步规范.     

中国上市公司大股东对投资影响的实证研究

本文以2001-2003年非金融性A股公司为样本,实证研究了大股东对公司投资的影响,并检验了这种影响的原因和作用过程。研究结果发现:(1)上市公司的投资与现金流显著正相关;(2)第一大股东持股比例与投资-现金流敏感度之间呈显著的负相关关系;(3)当第一大股东是国家时,负相关系数更大,当第一大股东是境内社会法人时,负相关关系不显著; (4)实证表明“过度投资”是中国上市公司投资的典型表现,这不仅符合“自由现金流假说”的推断,而且可以用“信息不对称理论”中“融资约束”相反的“融资便利”来加以解释。     

民营上市公司股权结构特征分析

本文以2001年末完成上市的112家民营上市公司为研究样本,运用非参数检验、回归分析等统计方法对民营上市公司的股权结构特征进行了实证分析,结果发现,民营上市公司与非民营上市公司股权结构存在显著差异性,并且民营上市公司业绩与股权结构呈非线性关系。