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.     

Perceived facilitators and barriers to saving among low-income youth

Asset-based social welfare programs focus on helping low- to moderate-income citizens to accumulate wealth in the form of homeownership, savings, small businesses, and higher education. Individual development accounts, savings accounts in which account holders’ deposits are matched, are a vehicle often used in these programs. In a national demonstration of individual development accounts for children (children's savings accounts), low-income youth were interviewed to learn what helped them to save and what made it difficult to save. We describe the young people's perceptions of these factors, and conclude with implications for policy and program design.     

城市工业文化遗产保护与利用泛论

保护利用工业遗产,可谓善待社会历史资源、改善城市空间环境、保持城市生机魅力与原真印记的科学文明之举。作为我国南方工业重镇,广州应借鉴国内外的先进经验,创建自己的经典范例。     

早期中国话剧研究的学术定位及其理论意义

外倾社会心态制约着近代以来的中国戏剧变革最终走向了移植西方话剧的道路。人们对话剧的热情有时并不在话剧本身 ,而在于赋予话剧之外的那层心理色彩 ,在于人们对话剧的热情中把自己的社会心理倾向表达出来了。早期中国话剧研究的成果 ,对认识当代中国文艺的诸种现实多有裨益。话剧传入中国的文化史价值 ,主要不在于它传达了近代中国的意识形态 ,而在于它改变了传统中国戏剧的格局。早期话剧在文化史上不可取代的历史地位 ,恰恰在于它的艺术特征。     

陈子展先生与近代文学研究——试析他的两部近代文学史

本着重阐述陈子展先生在中国近代学研究方面的成就与贡献。陈子展先生对近代学的研究主要体现于他的两部作《中国近代学之变迁》《最近三十年中国学史》,在这两部作中,他提出了在前人研究基础上的属于他自己独立思考的见解,这些见解对1898年至1928年这30年间的近代学发展做了有价值的分析与总结。两部作被学术界公认为在中国近代学研究史上具有早期开创性意义,至今不失其学术价值。     

尼采：当代最重要的道德哲学家

作为一位在哲学史上跨时代的哲学大家,尼采以其特有的睿智、敏感、热情和勇气对人生价值和道德问题给予了极其严肃的关注：重估一切价值,成了尼采为之奋斗一生的目标;进行道德重估,则构成了尼采重估一切价值尝试中最为恢宏的工程。在道德领域,他所提出的一系列问题,成为20世纪哲学家们不得不面对的问题,由此也奠定了他作为当代最重要的道德哲学家的地位。     

我们怎样进行道德评价

几乎任何一种道德规范都是他律性与自律性的统一,由此可论定：“合于道德”同“出于道德”的行为都具有道德价值,在对这些行为进行道德评价时,合于道德的效果,出于道德的动机,都是评价根据中的要素。然而自觉主动地出于道德而行动,比消极被动地合于道德而行动,更能体现出道德特有的自律性质,因而更具有道德价值。作为体现着道德特殊性质,决定着评价对象的道德价值程度的评价根据,应把是否出于道德动机视为评价根据系统中根本的、主导方面的、第一性的质,而把不自觉地、被动地仅仅客观上合于道德的行为效果视为从属的、第二性的质。用系统论的语言概括就是,动机的系统质高于效果的系统质。     

苏霍姆林斯基论校长素质及其现实价值

实施素质教育需要高素质的教育工作者,尤其需要高素质的校长。苏霍姆林斯基认为校长应具有正确的教育思想、坚定的优师理念、笃深的职业情感、渊博的文化知识、精湛的指导艺术和强烈的科研意识,这在实施素质教育的大背景下,对于强化校长素养,优化管理行为,具有特别重要的指导价值。     

日本“江户锁国论”质疑

“江户锁国论”在日本史学界流传已久 ,然而这种表述并不符合历史事实。江户幕府“锁国”的目标仅仅在于铲除危害其统治的天主教信仰。关于德川幕府的禁书政策是“锁国体制”下全面抵制西洋文化的重要一环的说法也是一种误解。历史事实是 ,在江户时代 ,除与天主教有关的汉译西书 4 8种之外 ,有关西方的书籍大量流入日本 ,从而促发了日本人学习西方近代科学和社会思想的兰学运动。江户时代 ,除抵制天主教之外 ,不但没有割断与世界的联系 ,而且吸收了大量的西方近代文化。“江户锁国论”的传统认识影响了人们对江户时代整体评价的客观性