TERRORISM: FACTS FROM FIGURES 1

If international terrorism is on a rising trend, an important source of confirmation or refutation of this is time‐series data on terrorist activity. Using chiefly data collected by the RAND/MIPT consortium we show using basic statistical analysis that in the period 1968–2005 the yearly number of all international terrorist incidents shows no trend over time, but fluctuates year on year in a random manner. On the other hand some indicators do show a definite trend over time, principally the steady rise in the number of incidents that are death‐dealing in nature. A further conclusion is drawn, showing that the proportion of these incidents leading to deaths above a given level is virtually fixed.     

Using the Feder-Ram and Military Keynesian Models to Examine the Link Between Defence Spending and Economic Growth in Sri Lanka

This study uses the Feder-Ram model in conjunction with the military Keynesian model to examine the nexus between defence spending and economic growth in Sri Lanka. We find that the Keynesian aggregate demand model is better suited to analyse the link than the Feder-Ram model for the case of Sri Lanka. Based upon our results we expect a higher economic growth rate in Sri Lanka if more public resources are diverted from the defence to civilian sectors of the economy, now that the war between the government and separatist guerrillas has come to an end. However, recent post war events cast doubt upon whether a diversion of sources from military to non-military spending will actually occur. We conclude that the sanguine predictions of our economic analysis are entirely dependent upon the political decisions of the Sri Lankan government for their realization.     

CIVILIAN PARTICIPATION IN THE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MILITARY OFFICERS

Much is made in the security sector reform literature of the role of civil society as an overseer and monitor of the security sector, contributing to improved accountability and governance. This paper looks at how the notion of ‘civil society capacity’ needs to be disaggregated in order to develop meaningful strategies to assist civil society organisations to impact security sector reforms in complex, post-conflict contexts like the Democratic Republic of Congo. It draws on fieldwork conducted with 200 Congolese civil society groups that are attempting to engage in current security sector reform processes, and looks at which capacities are required to improve oversight by civil society groups.     

‘Fighting for peace’

In Africa, most of the present conflicts are civil, intra-state wars where belligerent groups use guerrilla tactics to achieve various political, economic or ideological objectives. The atrocities and the effect of these on-going wars on innocent civilians, human suffering, poverty and development are beyond comprehension. Not surprisingly, the majority of current peace operations are in Africa, with more than 70 countries contributing forces to these conflict zones. On the continent, South Africa has come to assume a leading role in peace operations and is now a major troop-contributing country to UN and AU missions. In the past 11 years, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has taken part in no fewer than 14 peace missions. This article provides a brief background of the conflicts in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan, the different United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) mandates under which peacekeepers had to operate as well as their objectives, and the extent of South Africa's involvement in the various missions. In the last section, the major challenges, that these operations have posed are highlighted.     

Russian military reform: institutional,political and security implications

This critical comment examines the incentives, major priorities, difficulties and first results of the Russian military reform that is being implemented since 2008. The authors conclude that despite numerous drawbacks and barriers to the reformist efforts certain successes can be identified. Particularly, there is a clear shift from the old-fashioned, Soviet-type army to a more compact, mobile, better equipped and combat-ready armed forces that are capable to cope with today's challenges to Russian national security.     

Transforming Mexico’s energy field: the intended consequences of a drug war

ABSTRACT

By utilizing the theory of Strategic Action Fields (SAFs), the present article explains how a new meso-level social order seems to have emerged in Mexico as a result of the paramilitarization of organized crime, militarization of security, and the opening of Mexico’s energy sector to private investment. This work describes the transformation of Mexico’s energy field after a process of major constitutional and economic changes that were the consequence of a security crisis and an agenda of energy reform for which the so-called ‘drug war’ was a key underlying foundation.     

现代教育技术与高教改革探析

介绍了现代教育技术的发展过程,比较了传统的电化教学与现代教育技术的差别,分析了现代教育技术对推进高等教育改革的作用,提出了加强教育改革的几点建议。     

基于地方特色的“专业实习”课程改革与实践探索

根据资源环境与城乡规划管理专业集中实践教学—＂专业实习＂课程特点及实践教学功能,在梳理＂专业实习＂课程建设现状并借鉴内地高校实践教学模式的基础上,对如何围绕＂专业实习＂课程特点和功能,建设具有地方特色的＂专业实习＂课程,进行了大胆改革和实践尝试,得出：应立足区域发展特点强化实践教学功能,着力满足行业、岗位的专业技能需求;根据地方发展需要拓展实践教学内容,充分利用校内外实践教学资源;围绕专业性、业务性、技能性实践训练需要,不断深化实践教学方法及手段改革;应积极探索＂项目加实习＂、＂课题加基地＂、＂训练加服务＂的开放式实践教学模式。     

邓小平的农民教育思想研究

改革开放首先从农村开始,并要求农民教育与农村经济社会各方面改革相适应。邓小平高度重视我国农民教育问题,尽力为农民创造更多的教育机会,让没有条件上学的农村适龄儿童少年都有机会进入学校读书,接受较高质量的教育。邓小平积极倡导开展农村教育综合改革,实施＂燎原计划＂、＂三教统筹＂和＂农科教结合＂,为农村人力资源开发创造了有利条件。