SECURITY GOVERNANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA

In the ten years since the establishment of South Africa's first inclusive democratic government, an ambitious, extensive and systematic process of reform has been carried out in the governance of security. The process is widely regarded as having been successful and a model for other processes of ‘security sector reform’ in the context of transitions from authoritarian forms of governance to democratic ones.

That this been achieved with hardly a shot fired in anger is a remarkable achievement and a credit to visionary political leadership as well as organisational capacity, in other words to effective security governance.

At the same time, progress has been uneven and sometimes fragmentary, policy intentions and commitments have not always been translated into practice, the end results have not been to everyone's liking, and transformation has engendered its own pathologies. Thus several challenges remain in improving security governance.

This article provides a broad overview of the roles played by the various actors in the governance of the security sector, including the executive, parliament and civil society. It examines the main policy frameworks and touches on organisational transformation, because it is impossible to deal with governance in isolation from these issues. Policy processes and the frameworks they give rise to—in particular—are critical for effective governance. This article deals with the defence, safety and security and intelligence fields. A comprehensive overview would need to include the governance of criminal justice and foreign policy. The article does not seek to make an overall evaluation of governance, but to identify achievements, shortfalls and challenges.     

SECURITY AND FORCED MIGRATION CONCERNS IN SOUTH AFRICA

“As we close this century, there is for the first time realistic hope of a more just future. A Century stained with the sufferings of ceaseless war and atrocity is as much marked by our incomplete efforts to secure the foundations of an international society, one in which all peoples are equal and equally protected from abuse. The last decade has seen the application of dormant humanitarian principles and laws in various fora. The ICC offers us the opportunity to build on these disjointed enforcement efforts. A properly functioning permanent court will be humanity's best chance yet to move out of its self-destructive cycle. Justice is a vindication, a historical right and a deterrent.”     

高校信息化建设中教务与教学管理数据的质量问题与对策

随着高校信息化建设的逐步深入，在教务与教学管理中存在大量的信息流与数据流，因数据错误或人为因素造成的数据质量问题对教务与教学管理的负面影响日益凸显，直接关系到高校教学质量的提高。如何提高当前高校信息化建设中教务与教学管理数据质量成为亟待重视与解决的问题。本文从教务与教学的信息化管理实践入手，分析探讨在教务与教学管理中存在的数据质量问题和对策，以提升教务与教学管理水平，促进教学质量提高。     

武警指挥自由裁量权法律问题研究

针对武警指挥自由裁量权客观存在的现状,在分析武警指挥自由裁量权的内涵及理论基础之上,澄清武警指挥自由裁量权存在的方式。结合实际,重点分析行使武警指挥自由裁量权应把握的问题。以期使各级指挥员正确处理武警指挥自由裁量权与命令之间的关系,正确行使自由裁量权,确保任务圆满完成。     

建筑工程消防备案存在的问题及解决对策

消防备案在当前消防行政许可中所占比例日益增加。结合日常工作实际,分析了当前建筑工程消防备案在法律法规层面、监督管理层面和具体操作层面存在的问题,提出了解决建筑工程消防备案问题的对策和建议。     

浅析我国新阶段下的“三农”问题

三农(农民、农业、农村)在中国城市化、工业化、现代化过程中具有不可逾越的地位,有着不可低估的人口影响、空间影响、素质影响和政治影响。由于受经济、产业、制度的制约,出现了农民增长缓慢、农业发展动力不足、农村剩余劳动力过多等“三农”问题。新的国际、国内发展阶段又加剧了“三农”问题,使其成为影响我国经济持续健康发展的重要因素。“三农”问题的解决需要新的思路、新的方法和新的措施,这要求我们必须从以下几方面思考:大力发展小城镇,转移农村剩余劳动力;调整产业结构,提高农产品市场竞争力;大力发展教育,增加劳动力的人力资本存量;加大对“三农”的支持力度,创造良好的发展环境。     

论农村消防安全环境的构筑

建设社会主义新农村是我国现代化进程中的重大历史任务。切实加强农村消防工作,为建设社会主义新农村创造和谐稳定的消防安全环境,是公安消防部队的神圣历史使命,也是当前和今后一个时期消防工作的中心任务。通过实地调研,指出了当前农村消防工作存在的主要问题,分析了问题的主要成因,并结合实际,从消防教育、消防投入、消防队伍、消防责任、消防监管等方面,提出了加强社会主义新农村消防工作的意见。     

“马克思主义哲学不直接解决具体问题”质疑

马克思主义哲学“不能直接提供解决具体问题的答案”这一提法的初衷可能是好的,但有明显的片面性,它误导人们仅仅重视“具体问题”,忽视乃至否定其他“问题”的存在;只重视解决问题的“具体答案”,忽视、否定认识和解决问题的过程性;割裂哲学研究与哲学应用的内在联系以及马克思主义哲学理论价值与实践价值的内在联系。现在,应当摒弃这一提法,理直气壮地讲马克思主义哲学就是要解决现实问题,也能够解决现实问题。     

民族学生实习中常见问题及对策

大学本科生的综合实习不仅可以让学生把理论知识运用于实践,而且还可以使学生在实习中得到实践的锻炼。无论从做人还是做事,综合实习对学生来说都是非常重要的。实习是培养既具备系统理论知识,又具备较强动手能力高素质科技人才的关键一环。     

Pakistan’s nuclear weapons: how safe is safe enough? Transparency versus opacity

Due to expanding and increasing religious extremism and terrorism coupled with political instability in Pakistan, most western observers believe that Pakistan's nuclear weapons are not secure and could be taken over by terrorists. This would have adverse implications for the region and for global peace, especially for the security of USA and Europe. This article argues that this perception is based on a flawed understanding and knowledge of how Pakistan's command and control setup has evolved and operates. Pakistan's nuclear weapons are as safe as any other state's nuclear weapons. Pakistan has also been active in supporting and participating in global efforts to improve nuclear safety and security. Over the years, Pakistan has been quite open in sharing information regarding how it is improving its command and control system with western governments as well as scholars. This article argues that the steps Pakistan has taken to secure its nuclear weapons are adequate and that Pakistan would continue to further strengthen these measures; however, it is the expanding religious extremism, terrorism and anti-Americanism in the country which make the international perception of Pakistan extremely negative and then seep into the perception of Pakistan's nuclear weapons safety and security.