From China's Urban Social Space to Social and Environmental Justice

A senior American specialist on China and noted geographer argues that the preoccupation of China geographers' with empirical analyses of that country's dramatic economic, social, and urban transformation over the last two decades—usually explained in terms of the now familiar quadruple forces of globalization, marketization, deregulation, and decentralization—should be broadened to reflect a concern for the problems of disadvantaged groups impacted negatively in dynamic urban and environmental settings. The methodology of reflexive activism is proposed as affording a framework for a more relevant geography focused on the study of China, with the potential to bring about positive and constructive change on behalf of China's disadvantaged population and its natural environment, and (as a possible side benefit) generate local epistemologies enriching the study of geography more broadly. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: P30. 68 references.     

From Urban Social Space to Social and Environmental Justice: Observations on Laurence Ma's Essay

A senior American specialist on China and noted geographer evaluates the merits of an essay by an equally prominent specialist who advocates reflexive activism as a method designed to generate more relevant studies of the country. The author of the evaluation stresses the value of empirically based work, noting a number of contributions by geographers to the study of China's transition from doctrinaire communism to "socialism with Chinese characteristics." While not denying the need for geographical research focused on deficiencies in social and environmental justice, he is not in favor of excessive activism that may overlook advances in economic development and related accomplishments of China's governing regime. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: P30. 24 references.     

商周■、寻、谭诸地的纠葛及相关历史问题之检讨

卜辞■(■、■)、寻(■、■)、谭(■)诸地,尽管读音相近,但所指实不相同。■地在鲁中泰安东南,或与商周时期的姒姓斟寻阝氏相关;寻地在鲁北章丘附近,殆为子姓寻阝氏的族居地;谭地在鲁东沂水县北部,即《春秋》经传所记谭子国的所在地。此类卜辞地名的考定,有助于武丁时期军政大事及商代民族等重大问题的重新梳理,过去所论定的西部族群,如土方、■方和方方等,都应该在殷墟以东区域寻找。     

从《南部档案》看清代州县的生员诉讼

有清一代,生员的诉讼程序不同于一般民人,他们在收状、问讯等环节享有一定优待,但对其呈词则有加盖儒学戳记之类的诸多要求。律例明确限定了生员的呈告资格及告呈范围,并利用"五生互结"、州县官监督、教官举报等方式约束生员的活动,但制度上的规定与档案所反映的社会实际多有悖离。生员除了因"切己"之事而涉案外,也会主动或被动地参与到亲朋友邻、家族、基层等"不干己"的案件之中。生员涉案的动机虽有谋取私利的情况,但也有维护邻里、家族等小范围秩序的一面。特别是清末办团练、设公局以来,生员参与地方公共事务,在一定程度上分担了州县官在地方治理中的压力。州县官在处理这些案件时,会综合考虑法律规定、案件事实及生员涉案动机等因素,做出合乎情理的审断。生员诉讼背后反映出的不仅是基层社会中官、绅、民之间的交流与博弈,也折射出清末地方社会经济状况及地方社会权力构造的变化等问题。     

从宋代诗文看幽思与胜览思想对宋代地图学发展的影响

幽思与胜览是两宋时代地图学中的两个重要思想脉络。在思想感情与意识形态之外,它们对当时地图学发展的影响大致体现在这样几个方面:促进了政府测绘边疆地图的同时,激发了私人对边地的探险旅行和地图测绘活动;各类"天下"舆图的绘制,在文化和空间上塑造了王朝整体地域形象;推动了历史地图和州郡类区域地理图的不断发展。另一个值得注意的现象则是,在强烈的思想感情驱使下,石碑作为一种特殊的材质成为宋代地图绘制的重要载体,推动了地图绘制形式的发展。与幽思相比,胜览更多地体现了宋代地图学发展中的乐观因素,推动了八景图意象的兴起和山岳地图的流行,在中国地图学中开出一朵灿烂夺目的以审美为核心的地图分支。     

大数据时代的人文地理研究与应用实践

信息通信技术快速发展带来了大数据时代的到来,改变着区域或城市空间组织及居民行为,流空间成为人类活动的主要载体,并使得人文地理学理论与方法面临革新。本文在梳理国内外文献基础上,认为大数据时代的人文地理研究开始更加注重自然与人文学科间的融合、数据密集型研究方法的革新、以居民活动为主体的人本科学性,并构建了人文地理学及其主要分支学科在大数据时代研究的总体框架。同时,也提出了大数据面向空间规划方法和技术、居民个体行为决策优化、企业运营决策、政府宏观政策制定与管理等方面的应用方向。     

关于生与死的探讨与沉思

生与死是一个古老而又沉重的话题。要正确深刻地探讨这个问题,可能条件还不很具备。本人只是想借重前贤的智慧与奇思妙想,沿着他们思维的足迹,作进一步的思考与探索,就灵魂有无的问题,有无因果报应的问题,气与灵的问题,乃至宇宙本体的问题等,表述一些个人的体会与想法。     

Defining competences for future geography students in relation to low carbon societies

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the results of an analysis of the most important skills and competences that will be important in the coming years for future geographers involved in assessing and managing low-carbon societies. The analysed information was extracted from a questionnaire answered by professionals working in low-carbon management in three European countries (Finland, Poland and Catalonia, Spain). From the results, we have identified not only the most requisite abilities and skills, but also differences between countries on a European scale. Among the findings, we would highlight the general agreement that “soft skills”, as opposed to “hard skills”, are critical for future professionals addressing policies in relation to low carbon societies.     

China’s new Eurasian ambitions: the environmental risks of the Silk Road Economic Belt

China is moving ahead with the Silk Road Economic Belt, an ambitious infrastructure development agenda with the distinct promise of regional and sub-regional economic development. However, the initiative will create new environmental risks across the entire Eurasian continent, especially in countries with predominately poor records of environmental governance, including the former Soviet republics and Russia. Concurrently, on the domestic front, the Chinese Government has launched a new policy paradigm, “ecological civilization,” to dramatically improve environmental regulations, reduce pollution, and transform industries by adopting new green technologies and higher environmental standards. But does China’s intention to go through a “green shift” domestically resonate with these new transborder infrastructure development mega-projects? This paper will attempt to answer this question by juxtaposing China’s new domestic policy paradigm with environmental standards currently proposed in its global outreach projects focusing on China-northern Eurasia and China-Russia, including trade exchanges in natural resources.