Dangerous work: Terrorism against U.S. diplomats

The goal of diplomats is to represent their countries’ interests through diplomacy, not arms. Because they are not military personnel, they may be perceived as at lower risk of being the target of terrorists. However, recent events have called this perception into question. Despite this danger, there has been little research on terrorist attacks against diplomats. Drawing on the terrorism studies literature, this article argues that diplomats are targeted more than non-diplomatic targets in countries where certain U.S. foreign policies are implemented. An empirical analysis of 471 attacks against U.S. diplomats from 1970 to 2011 reveals that while U.S. alliances and foreign aid increase the likelihood of attacks against diplomats, U.S. military intervention and civil war, on the other hand, increase the risk of terrorism against non-diplomatic targets. This finding is relevant because it shows terrorist attacks against diplomats result from certain types of foreign policy.     

用互联网思维创新和改进思想政治教育模式

互联网时代,良莠不齐的数字内容、全新时尚的交往模式、快捷多元的传播形式都对官兵的思想带来巨大冲击,开展思想政治教育要坚持顺势而变、创新而为,只有转变观念才能把准官兵脉搏;要坚持用户至上、大道至简,只有春风化雨才能撬动官兵心灵;要坚持建好平台、融合共享,只有参与体验才能启发官兵共鸣。     

新时期警营文化工作应着力解决好“四多四少”的问题

警营文化工作是部队精神文明和政治工作的重要内容,也是提高部队凝聚力和战斗力的强大“助推器”。本文分析了当前部队基层文化工作中存在的“四多四少”现象,并就如何着眼问题、解决矛盾,推进警营文化建设健康有序地发展提出了思考。     

新型抗冲击、抗爆炸防护结构的研究

海湾战争、科索沃战争和伊拉克战争表明,完善的防护工程体系在高科技局部战争中具有极为重要的作用。针对目前防护工程中存在的一些问题,提出了一种新型抗冲击、抗爆炸防护结构,该防护结构以钢管混凝土短构件为基本构件,通过一定的组合方式组成一种新型的遮弹结构,由于钢管混凝土构件具有承载能力高、抗压强度大尤其是延性好的特性,因此该新型遮弹结构的抗冲击和抗爆炸能力是很强的,非常适宜在防护工程中应用。     

Herdsmen militancy and humanitarian crisis in Nigeria: A theoretical briefing

This article explores the phenomenon of herdsmen militancy as a new trajectory for the farmer–herder crisis in Nigeria, with reference to its humanitarian implications. Relying on a systematic analysis of secondary data and aligning with the analytical anchorage of liberal political ecology theory, the article posits that herdsmen militancy depicts a contradiction in agrarian relations in the context of a national security crisis which has been complicated by salient socio-ecological factors such as climate change, armed violence, and identity politics. In view of the dire humanitarian consequences of this situation, the article submits that herdsmen militancy constitutes a major threat to human and national security in Nigeria. It makes a case for a pragmatic policy capable of mitigating the myriad socio-ecological factors that tend to trigger herdsmen militancy, with prohibition on open grazing in critical hotbeds of herder–farmer conflict as a strategic measure.     

论军队思想政治教育的文化价值

文化价值是军队思想政治教育价值论的重要组成部分,在思想政治教育价值体系中处于基础地位,是政治价值、经济价值、军事价值等实现的桥梁和纽带,体现了工具性文化价值与目的性文化价值的有机统一。加强军队思想政治教育的文化价值问题研究是时代发展和思想政治教育自身改革创新的客观要求,对于增强新形势下思想政治教育的针对性、有效性具有重大的指导意义。     

中以要人警卫差异之比较

要人安全是世界各国国家安全的重要组成部分。中以要人安全警卫差异主要表现在工作理念、权力地位、后勤保障、选拔训练、情报运行和危险评估等方面。中以要人警卫差异源于不同的文化传统、政治制度和国内外环境,各有优缺点,我们要立足本国,积极改革创新使我国要人警卫工作机制更加完善。     

Dirty war: chemical weapon use and domestic repression

The utilization of chemical weapons to quash domestic rebellion is a drastic action for a regime facing domestic challengers to take, especially given the reputation costs and risk of international intervention. However, recent developments have illustrated that some regimes have contemplated and implemented extraordinary measures (including the use of chemical munitions) to quash rebellion. This study addresses the question of why some states utilize chemical weapons against domestic challengers while others refrain from this level of state repression. I argue that the utilization of chemical weapons has both domestic and international elements. Specifically, that ethnic cleavages that lead to secessionist challenges and factors associated with inter-state rivalry impact the likelihood that a state utilizes the employment of chemical munitions. I test my argument and other explanations regarding repression with a casestudy approach utilizing captured Iraqi Government documents comparing Iraq’s Al-Anfal campaigns with developments during the recent Syrian Civil War.     

部队基层思想政治教育中亟待解决的几个问题

贯彻落实新的《军队思想政治教育大纲》,部队基层必须着力解决重视不够、摆位不正的问题,转变与时代不相符的思想政治教育观念,创新和改进思想政治教育的内容和手段,提升思想政治教育队伍的综合素质,创新和完善思想政治教育机制,进一步优化思想政治教育环境。     

应对突发事件的思想政治教育思想导向机制建设探析

应对突发事件的思想政治教育思想导向机制建设的内容主要是抓好五个教育,即科学理论教育、社会主义优越性教育、基本国情和形势教育、党的惠民工程教育、社会主义利益观教育。其应强调的问题及对策包括三个方面,即准确把握教育对象的思想动态、增强思想导向的实效性、坚持以人为本。