Power and perceptions in participatory monitoring and evaluation

This paper examines the assumptions that commonly underpin the design of participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) within development programmes through the examination of a case study of a large rural development programme in Uganda. This case study reveals a mismatch between programme assumptions and participant perceptions, which stymied the implementation of PM&E. In this case, PM&E was based on the assumptions that programme and participant goals were compatible, participants were willing to volunteer and engage themselves for the greater good of their communities, and information sharing and communication was fairly free and open. However, farmers within the programme felt that the bureaucratic and accountability requirements of the programme were not their concern, and were acutely aware of power differences between farmers and programme officials, and between farmers of varying status. The key lesson to be drawn from this case is the need for a heightened awareness of power dynamics and political factors in the design of PM&E.     

马斯洛需求理论对历史唯物主义的拓展

历史的发展源于人们的需求和社会生产方式的推动. 马克思认为, 在阶级社会里, 被统治阶级的需求长期处于维持生存的低水平而基本不变, 根本性解决措施就在于解放生产力, 扩大物资产品的供给. 当生产力有一定程度发展后, 社会主流需求变化就成为推动生产方式和上层建筑调整的动力. 马克思的需求理论与其生产力、 生产关系核心分析范式关联不大. 从社会主流需求变化对社会生产方式及上层建筑的影响, 挖掘马斯洛需求理论的历史唯物主义意蕴, 会在理论和政策建议上对中国未来发展改革有所帮助.     

Family involvement in the institutional eldercare context. Towards a new understanding

This article focuses on family involvement and its various patterns and expressions in the context of end-of-life care in a nursing home. Based on analyses from an ethnographic study carried out at a nursing home ward, the aim is to describe and analyze the conditions of aging and dying for the old residents, as well as effects on their visiting families and relatives. As in similar research findings, it became clear from the study that families continue to visit and contribute to the care of the old resident throughout the years, from the time of placement to their demise, but that this involvement might vary both in content and in extent. However, it was found that families' involvement (as well as their changing relationships and roles) is particularly shaped by the very process of dying and lingering aura of death on the ward. The analysis presented in the article evinces the difficult — and in many ways impossible — role of the family in the institutional end-of-life setting, and discloses the various patterns and manifestations of family involvement in this environment. Different meanings and implications of family involvement are discussed and highlighted.     

Examining the role of cognitive dissonance in crisis fundraising

Fundraising scholarship has focused on the application of public relations theory to the process particularly in exploring the predictive power in applying relationship management theory to the non-profit organization–donor relationship. However, people often are impacted by catastrophic events and want to donate to relief efforts even though they may not be connected to the region. A survey of two American Red Cross chapters’ donors revealed that individuals who contributed to the December 2004 tsunami relief efforts were more likely to experience feelings of cognitive dissonance than non-donors, and their donations resulted in a consonance restoration. These results support an argument for non-profits, particularly those in crisis response, to have an active crisis communication plan in place that deals not only with responding to the event but also having a proactive plan established to publicize how to donate to relief efforts. Highlighting the consonance restoration, non-profits should also discuss the positive aspects of donating to their efforts, such as the work being done for the disaster victims.     

Origins of the epithet ‘government by public relations’: Revisiting Bruce Catton's War Lords of Washington, 1948

While it might make public relations professionals and faculty cringe, the term ‘government by public relations’ is a negative one, implying that governmental decision-making is guided by appearances rather than on the merits. This tag line is a relatively common American put-down of politicians and senior civil servants. This article examines the origins of the term, locating its usage in the WWII memoirs of Bruce Catton, then a government public information officer and later a renowned popular historian of the American Civil War. Catton's use of the term, his 1948 book War Lords of Washington, and his philosophy of government public information are examined in more detail to give context to the phrase ‘government by public relations.’     

An examination of the role of online social media in journalists’ source mix

Using telephone surveys of business/financial journalists in the United States (n = 200), this research investigates the agenda-building role of social media content in journalists’ work. Understanding that more non-public relations content from user-generated and social network sites, like YouTube and Twitter, are fast becoming resources for journalists to get story ideas, break scandals, and find sources, we began this scholarly work to determine the frequency of such uses of social media. Overall, findings indicate very little use of social media by these business journalists. Results and implications for public relations practitioners are discussed in detail.     

全球化与国际关系的新发展

随着全球化的不断深入 ,国际关系也发生了深刻的变化。在国际关系行为主体上 ,除传统的国家行为主体外 ,非国家行为主体在国际关系中的作用日益凸显 ,全球化趋势不断加深实际上就是非国家行为主体作用日益增强的结果。在国际关系主导内容上 ,实现经济利益成为各国对外政策的主要着眼点 ,用经济手段解决政治问题越来越普遍 ,国际政治经济化的趋势不断加强。     

关于武汉市构建城市和谐民族关系调控机制的调研报告

随着改革开放的深入和社会主义市场经济的发展 ,城市化进程逐步加快 ,民族散居化日趋明显 ,城市民族问题日益突出 ,城市民族关系面临着新形势和新问题。本文以武汉市为个案 ,对当前城市民族关系的特点、影响城市民族关系的主要因素进行了调查和分析 ,结合武汉市民族工作实践提出了要构建城市和谐民族关系调控机制的观点 ,并从加强调控主体、完善调控手段、确立调控效果评估体系等方面对调控机制进行了研究探讨。     

国际关系理论中的主权与人权问题

主权与人权问题不仅是国际关系理论的两个主要范畴,也是给当今国际社会现实生活带来巨大影响的热点。在诸如主权原则、人权概念、二者的关系,人权的国际化趋势与国内管辖权的矛盾,以及由此对传统国际关系理论造成的冲击和对国际法、国际关系基本准则的挑战等方面,人们确有深入思考、探究和冷静应对的必要     

论大连区域合作发展战略

从分析大连经济发展的现实情况入手,认为大连与东北地区经济关系不协调,妨碍大连经济进一步发展。从理论上分析区域合作的意义,指出大连必须摒弃抛开东北地区独自发展的理念,走区域合作之路。政府应在区域合作过程中发挥主导作用,通过建设市场经济基础上的政府主导型区域合作机制,建立市场主体间的经济合作关系,提升大连城市及东北地区的经济实力。