Assessing NGO Empowerment in Housing Development Frameworks: Discourse and Practice in the Philippines

Amid the rise of democratization movements since the 1980s, many governments in developing countries have proactively introduced the ideas of decentralization and devolution into the policy arena. In the pursuit of democratic planning processes where civil society is encouraged to be a part of the formal decision-making system, articles advocating the empowerment of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been included into a series of legislations. This shift was soon reflected in housing development frameworks for the poor, leading to the formulation of a new approach called "enablement." The Philippines' experience for the last two decades follows this line of development. Filipino NGOs are now prescribed as a catalyst to add further dynamism to the improvement of substandard living environments. Empirical findings of this study exemplify that NGO empowerment has been increasingly accelerated by the combination of NGOs' self-endeavors and governments' initiatives. By utilizing the paradigm shift under the enablement approach, NGOs are engaged in the attempt of alliance-formation and network-building to expand their influence. Contrary to ideals, however, NGO empowerment may reveal some adverse effects such as excessive dependency on NGOs and distorted representation by NGOs. Moreover, the professionalization of NGOs is an additional factor which generates hierarchization at the grass-roots level. This study suggests that further research analyze the depth and width to which NGO empowerment has been penetrated in order to precisely capture the processes and consequences resulting in disempowerment.     

Family farmers and major retail chains in the Brazilian organic sector: Assessing new development pathways. A case study in a peri-urban district of São Paulo

The expansion of the organic sector in Brazil is seen as a leverage for the social emancipation of the small family farmers. Next to the traditional alternatives circuits of organic food and farming, new powerful capitalistic actors, such as supermarket chains, are rapidly entering the Brazilian organic arena. Can family farming benefit from the development of these “conventional” commercialisation circuits in the organic sector? Research undertaken in 2007, in a green belt rural community of São Paulo, shows how family farmers may have benefited from the implication of large retail chains in the organic sector and how an economically and ecologically outstanding agriculture may arise from these circumstances. However, we highlight the crucial role played by social regulation: only strong solidarity between farmers and the implication of technicians, militants and researchers in the process made it possible to counter the negative effects of the liberal logic governing the development of organic farming via the major retailers. Still, as tougher competition is expected on the regional organic market, the development of short supply chains involving “committed” consumers and the broader integration of the local farmers in networks of organic militancy appear crucial. It would guarantee a continuous enhancement of the local human and social capital, reinforce an emerging process of internal conversion and allow for a stronger social regulation of the future local development pattern.     

辽代籍没法考述

籍没法是辽代法律中的一项重要制度,在司法实践中占有重要地位。它的适用范围虽然较广,但主要则是谋反、谋叛、谋害重臣等所谓“反逆”之罪。籍没对象不但包括家产奴婢,也包括家属亲属。被籍没者多成为帝王、群臣、将校的私人奴婢,其中斡鲁朵及皇室近侍杂役使用的籍没奴隶最多。为加强管理,籍没奴隶中也设官分职,其管理机构为著帐郎君院和著帐户司。辽代籍没法的上述内容,均表现出了契丹民族所建王朝的民族特色。     

王渔洋的《题辞》与余秋室的佳《序》——谈《聊斋志异》的“独创性原则”

渔洋老人为《聊斋志异》的《题词》,揭示了作品的"总体特征"。百年之后,余秋室之佳《序》,有如《题词》之注脚,全面而深刻的阐释、发挥了《题词》的思想,指出了《聊斋志异》何以"厌作人间语"爱听鬼唱时"。而这一点,作为《聊斋志异》的思想与艺术的"总体特征",正体现着文学的"独创性原则"。     

在建构主义原则下设计大学英语视听说语料

具备直接、生动、有趣和实践寓教于乐等优点的视听说语料是使大学英语学习活动的虚拟语境具备真实语境因素的最佳机会,与语言知识向语言运用技能的顺利过渡息息相关。在我国英语语言教育越来越重视培养听说技能的背景下,现代教育技术已经使社会建构主义理论应用于大学英语语料(特别是视听说语料)的设计和使用成为可能。     

出口贸易与省域TFP空间维度分析

作为衡量一国科技进步的重要指标,全要素生产率的高低决定着一国生产率水平的先进与落后。在不断深化改革开放的过程中,如何利用开放倒逼我国技术水平的提高成为一项较为紧迫的任务。为此,我们运用面板DEA-Malmquist指数法可以测算出2002—2011年我国29个省份(含自治区、直辖市)全要素生产率,并在此基础上建立空间面板数据模型(SPDM),实证分析出口贸易、基础设施等对我国省域全要素生产率及其空间溢出效应的影响。经研究发现,我国省域全要素生产率存在较为明显的空间自相关性,即出口贸易、基础设施等经济活动通过影响本省TFP,并通过空间溢出效应进一步将其作用传递和迭加到邻近省域全要素生产率上,基础设施对我国省域全要素存在较为显著的负向关系,出口依存度、出口贸易及FDI对我国省域全要素生产率具有显著的推动作用。     

德性内涵的变迁与20世纪中国文学

自"五四"以降,德性内涵就一直变动不居,传统理性、现代理性、后现代理性交互影响、彼此渗透,直接带来了德性内涵的多种指向与流变。德性内涵渗透到作家主体意识,与其生命体验、审美感悟交相影响、碰撞与呼应,使20世纪中国文学呈现出多种样态,进而制约甚至决定着其发展流变的走向,在婚恋文学中表现尤其如此。     

高等农业院校服务社会主义新农村建设的探索与实践

建设社会主义新农村是国家提出解决"三农"问题的战略决策。加强社会主义新农村建设,高等农业院校承担着重要的历史任务。高等农业院校该如何在建设社会主义新农村中发挥作用,怎样发挥作用,华南农业大学在这方面做了有益探索。作者详细论述了华南农业大学为社会主义新农村建设服务取得的成效。主要做法包括积极开展各类教育与培训,为"三农"和社会主义新农村建设培养高素质人才;加强科学研究,通过新产品研发和成果转化,为社会主义新农村建设服务提供科技支撑;加强与政府、科研和技术推广机构的合作,加大成果转化与推广力度,全方位服务社会;开创新的推广转化模式,创办《绿色家园》农业科普电视栏目,大力开展科技下乡活动;鼓励毕业生到基层、到西部、到祖国最需要的地方建功立业。     

虚拟交易和消费文化——评德莱塞《欲望三部曲》的主题

中国学界对美国现代著名作家德莱塞的《美国悲剧》和《嘉莉妹妹》评介甚丰,但对他在长达半个世纪创作的、代表他一生创作思想和哲学思考转变的《欲望三部曲》———《金融家》、《巨人》和《禁欲者》却着墨不多。本文探讨三部曲中表现出来的消费主义主题,剖析作者在这个问题上的矛盾态度,指出他这种态度背后与主流意识形态间的协调和颠覆关系。     

民生工程建设综合评价研究

民生问题是构建和谐社会的关键,也是政府工作的基本着力点。在前期研究构建的指标体系的基础上,运用拉开档次评价法和逐层序关系分析法对我国31个省市自2006－2012年的民生工程建设状况进行了动态综合评价,并用时序几何平均算子（TOWGA）进行了二次加权得到综合评价的总排名,最后对各地区的排序变化进行归纳、分析。