The Path of Chinese Privatisation: a case study of village enterprises in southern Jiagnsu

This paper uses an in-depth case study in southern Jiangsu to document the last wave of privatisation of Chinese rural enterprises, showing that throughout the economic reforms, particularly at the village level, local cadres and corporate leaders dominated the publicly owned enterprises, from which they benefited disproportionately. It was these same local institutions based on village cadres' social networks that controlled the entire process of privatisation, leaving nothing to the free market or open competition. Those who positioned themselves in the village administration and enterprises are the same group of specific families and individuals who run the private corporations today. It goes without saying that workers and ordinary villagers have been disenfranchised in this property rights transformation. Copyright Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2005.

Public Attitudes toward Taiwan's Immigration Policies

近年來，台灣社會迅速增加的大陸配偶和東南亞配偶，以及由此 而生的移民政策爭議及社會關懷，都引起政府及國人的注意。在經驗層次上，本文企圖釐清哪些因素影響了民眾對外來配偶移民政策的態度;在理論層次上，本文與國外有關移民態度的文獻對話，檢視台灣經驗在多大程度上呼應了相關的理論命題，同時也參考台灣族群關係的在地研究與理論命題，以便更適切地解釋相關的經驗現象。分析資料來自2004 年6 月在台灣地區的電話訪問，主要發現包括：族群和國家認同這兩個因素，都明顯影響了台灣民眾對於大陸配偶和東南亞配偶取得公民權的態度;政黨支持和族群成見影響了給予大陸配偶公民權的態度，但卻沒有影響給予東南亞配偶公民權的態度。由此可見民眾對於社會政策的態度傾向，並不是受到階級利益或與異族接觸經驗的影響，而是受到政黨動員與政治論述的影響。This paper examines the social factors that influence individuals' attitudes toward Taiwan's immigration policies. Since the early 1990s, Taiwan has witnessed the number of its "bride immigrants," mainly from China and Vietnam, increase rapidly, thus drawing much attention & concern from policy makers & ordinary citizens. Based on data from a phone survey conducted in 2004, this paper finds (1) ethnicity & national identity both have significant effects on people's attitudes toward immigration policies for bride immigrants emanating from China & Southeast Asia; (2) party support & ethnic bias affect people's attitudes toward immigration policies for Chinese bride immigrants, but not for those from Southeast Asian countries; and (3) social context & cross-group contacts have little effect on people's attitudes regarding this issue. This paper shows that people's attitudes about social policies in Taiwan are shaped mainly by partisan competition and political rhetoric, instead of their economic self-interest & crossgroup contacts

Delimiting ‘Cross-Strait Studies’: Kua’an (跨岸) vs. Liang’an (兩岸)

International audienc

AZD2171, a Pan-VEGF Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, Normalizes Tumor Vasculature and Alleviates Edema in Glioblastoma Patients

Using MRI techniques, we show here that normalization of tumor vessels in recurrent glioblastoma patients by daily administration of AZD2171—an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGF receptors—has rapid onset, is prolonged but reversible, and has the significant clinical benefit of alleviating edema. Reversal of normalization began by 28 days, though some features persisted for as long as four months. Basic FGF, SDF1α, and viable circulating endothelial cells (CECs) increased when tumors escaped treatment, and circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) increased when tumors progressed after drug interruption. Our study provides insight into different mechanisms of action of this class of drugs in recurrent glioblastoma patients and suggests that the timing of combination therapy may be critical for optimizing activity against this tumor

The Changing Nature of Labor Unrest in China

A qualitative shift is underway in the nature of labor protest in China. Contrary to prior literature that characterized strikes as being largely defensive in nature, the authors suggest that since 2008, Chinese workers have been striking offensively for more money, better working conditions, and more respect from employers. They explain these developments using a “political process” model that suggests economic and political opportunities are sending “cognitive cues” to workers that they have increased leverage, leading them to be more assertive in their demands. Such cues include a growing labor shortage, new labor laws, and new media openness. Their argument is supported by a unique data set of strikes that the authors collected, two case studies of strikes in aerospace factories, and interviews with a variety of employment relations stakeholders