Exploring Cultural Issues for Constellation Work in South Africa

Constellation work is a therapeutic and counselling intervention recognised in Germany and other European countries since the 1970s. Various scientists and practitioners have contributed to its theoretical and practical development, and research on the subject has increased over the past few years. However culture in constellation work has received little research attention and has not been empirically studied in African contexts. The aim of this article is to reflect on culture and its influence on constellation work in multicultural, post‐apartheid South Africa. An empirical qualitative research approach within the phenomenological paradigm was adopted. Six constellation facilitators were interviewed with in‐depth and field notes taken during participative observations of constellation workshops. The findings provide insight into culture in constellation work in the South African context. Theoretical and practical recommendations for scientists and therapy practitioners working with systemic interventions like constellation work are provided.     

Which Domestic Firms Benefit from FDI? Evidence from Selected African Countries

The existing literature on the effects of FDI inflows on domestic firms' performance offers ambiguous evidence. Macro‐level studies suggest that the characteristics of inward FDI and the ‘absorptive capacity’ of the host economy matter in determining the sign (or the mere existence) of these effects. Studies based on micro‐level data have so far mostly focused on finding a nexus between FDI inflows and the productivity of domestic firms, suggesting that the effects might be highly heterogeneous. This article, using a recent firm‐level survey conducted by UNIDO in 19 sub‐Saharan African countries, explores the channels through which multinational enterprises may exert an impact on local firms: products’ market, input availability and costs, access to finance and export opportunities, and analyses the strategic reactions of domestic firms induced by the presence of foreign affiliates.     

Donor Requirements and Pockets of Effectiveness in Senegal's Bureaucracy

Donors increasingly value the work of statistics, project assessment and related offices in developing countries, but can they ensure these offices are able to do their work? This article assesses donors’ efforts to do so in Senegal's ministries of finance, health and agriculture in the mid‐2000s. It contends that donors' impact is greatest if they generate political incentives for governments to create ‘pockets of effectiveness’ in these areas. The health and agriculture case studies indicate that direct donor involvement, particularly if incompatible with domestic political forces, produces disappointing results, while the finance case studies suggest donors can induce political support for the work of specific offices if donor incentives coincide with domestic political imperatives.     

论抗日战争时期华北根据地农民的政治参与

抗日战争时期 ,华北根据地农民在中国共产党领导下进行了大规模的政治参与。根据地农村政权结构、社会组织及政治文化等方面的变化 ,为农民政治参与提供了有利的客观环境。农民的内容广泛形式多样的政治参与对农民自身和中共的革命目标而言 ,均产生了深远影响。     

述国事变迁 观人生沉浮——颜之推《观我生赋》初探

颜之推的《观我生赋》是一篇叙事性作品 ,其创作时间应在北周武帝建德六年 (577)至静帝大象二年(580 )之间。此赋独特之处在于反思历史与观照人生 ,在于作者对故国、对命运的理性思索。而这种重叙事、重理性的特点与北朝文风的影响是分不开的。     

西北普通高校大学生体育锻炼意识与运动兴趣的调查研究

通过对西北普通高校大学生体育锻炼意识、健康状况与运动兴趣调查分析表明 :大学生喜欢上体育的人数不到 6 0 % ,相当一部分学生对体育的健身价值缺乏正确的认识 ,没有体育锻炼的习惯和意识 ;学生的体质健康状况不理想 ,必须引起有关领导的重视 ;学生对健身类、健美类、娱乐兴和球类体育活动比较感兴趣 ,学校应多为学生提供这方面的教学和活动场所。     

从边缘化、社区化走向主流化——二十世纪下半叶以来北美华文文学创作走势简析

20世纪下半叶以来,北美华文文学创作大体经历了60年代到80年代边缘化的"留学生文学",90年代社区化的"新移民文学";现正逐渐走向主流化的过程.这一过程在时空和内容上均是交织的,其间涌现出不少富有个性特色的作家和作品.