The Voting Behavior of Kuwaiti Citizens in the 2006 Parliamentary Elections: an Analytical Field Study

This study was designed to investigate the voting behavior of the Kuwaiti citizens during the Parliamentary elections that took place in 2006. In a more specific way, the study tried to answer some questions related to the theoretical framework of voting behavior. These questions were concerned with who voted, and for whom? And why did they select that candidate? The study proceeded to scrutinize the factors that influenced the voter to choose candidates from certain tendencies. A questionnaire was designed as a tool to collect the data necessary to answer the study questions. The questionnaire included many sections, each of which was tailored to investigate a group of related variables. For the purpose of this study, different statistical analysis techniques were manipulated to process the data. The analysis of the study data was instrumental in drawing some conclusions that can help understand the voting behavior of the Kuwaiti citizens in that election.     

Community of Practice in the Kuwaiti Medical Sector: An Exploratory Study

Community of Practice (CoP) is a relatively new concept in the Middle East and North Africa. The concept has been used for a number of years in the business sector; however, the use of CoPs in the health sector has not been as widespread. The aim of this study is to provide insights into the status of CoPs in the health sector and the knowledge sharing practices that take place among members of such CoPs in Kuwait. Ninety‐eight questionnaires were distributed among medical practitioners. Results showed that the majority of members perceived the CoP as a source of increasing professional knowledge. Respondents focused mainly on the COPs fostering social interactions at the workplace or during task‐oriented activities. They mostly discussed specific problems and immediate concerns. The desire to learn and the desire to help others were the main motivators for doctors to share their knowledge. Lack of time and lack of technology and knowledge transfer mechanisms were reported as the primary obstacles to sharing knowledge. Nearly 65 percent of the CoP members responding to the survey stated that they did not receive any financial support from their management. In recent years the role of communities in learning and knowledge sharing has attracted much attention among those interested in knowledge as a situated practice. The concept of Communities of Practice (CoP) was originally developed by Lave and Wenger (1991 ), who suggested that learning took place in social relationships rather than the simple acquisition of knowledge. Lave and Wenger's observations have formed the basis of the “situated learning theory,” which describes that learning takes place in a setting functionally identical to a space where the knowledge is applied ( Lave & Wenger, 1991 ). The CoP concept has been used in the business sector for over 20 years, but the use of CoPs in the health sector has been recent ( Li et al., 2009 ). In addition, results of two studies, conducted by Traboulsi (2002 ) and Johnson and Kalidi (2005 ), revealed that the CoP is a relatively new phenomenon in the Middle East and North Africa. This article aims to provide insights into the status of CoPs in the health sector and their knowledge‐sharing practices in Kuwait.     

Kuwait: Elections and Issues of Democratization in a Middle Eastern State

In 1992, elections were held in Kuwait to vote for the four-year assembly. The elections were essentially a compromise formula between two systems and political cultures in Kuwait: traditional hereditary rule and representative and modern forms. The successful conclusion of the election campaign, one of the most intensive in the history of Kuwait, may be the first step in the direction of much-needed political reform that may tilt the country more and more toward a true parliamentary system. The elections resulted in a victory for the opposition forces and their supporters, who together won thirty-five seats. For the first time in the history of Kuwait, government ministers can vote in parliament against a government-backed policy, should they feel the need to do so. Kuwait, as far as conditions allow today, is progressively shifting toward a parliamentary system. But, despite Kuwait's political steps forward, many questions and immense dangers still surround the democratic process.     

Marriage in Tibet:Principle and Morality

EDITOR'S NOTE:In 1999 the author conducted a social investigation in Ngari, carefully examining all that hesaw and heard to produce an analysis providing a better understanding of the customs andhabits of the Tibetanrace. The following is ananalysis of marriagecustoms in Tibet.During my 1999 visit toNgari, I stayed in Shiquanhe, the prefecturalcapital. Not far from ourhostel was a street stand selling miscellaneous goods. Whenever I passedby, the young man who owned italways greeted me…     

从婚书看中国传统社会的礼法秩序——读《清代民间婚书研究》

日前拜读郭松义、定宜庄<清代民间婚书研究>(<国家清史编纂委员会研究丛刊>之一,人民出版社2005年版),受益匪浅.在此,谨胪列一二心得,以表达对作者的敬佩之情,并与师友同研共勉.     

项目驱动型会展专业人才培养模式研究——以上海师范大学会展经济与管理专业为例

会展专业人才培养模式是一个院校对于会展办学的整体设计,因而需要进行系统性的构建,但目前这方面的研究成果不多,更缺乏实证性的研究。本文基于文献综述的发现和会展专业的特点,从理论上构建了一个项目驱动型会展专业人才培养模式的基本框架。进而以上海师范大学会展经济与管理专业为例,侧重从教育理念、培养目标、培养过程、培养制度和培养评价等方面进行了实证研究。     

民俗文化资源开发利用的成功范例--关于青云山民俗游乐园的考察与启示

青云山民俗文化游乐园,是山东省安丘市以青云山的地形地貌和当地部分历史文化积淀为依托,综合规划、设计,对当地和外地民俗文化资源进行移植、引进、建设、再现而形成的一处大型民俗主题公园。由于在游乐园的规划、设计和建设过程中突出民俗主题,遵循正确方针,广泛听取各方意见,精心运作,合理布局,因而取得了明显的成功。     

International Marriage in Japan: 'Race' and 'Gender' perspectives

Despite an image of ethnic and cultural homogeneity, Japan in fact is host to significant minority populations. A considerable part of these minorities derive from flows of labour migrants from the Asian periphery to Japan-a process dominated by female labour migrants who work mainly in the entertainment and sex-related industries. One social phenomenon resulting from the presence of female labour migrants is the rise in cases of international marriages. With regard to Asian women, in Japan mainly negative images prevail in their representation as entertainers and sex workers. Public discourse has almost exclusively dealt with problems they experience as hostesses and/or prostitutes, and they are hardly ever portrayed as the ordinary wives of Japanese citizens-a role in which they have much in common with Japanese wives. Previous research on the problems occurring in international marriages has mainly concentrated on the 'racial' or 'ethno-cultural' differences between the spouses and has neglected the broader issue of gender inequalities. The latter is, however, of crucial importance, and it is argued by feminists that 'marriage' is often only a disguise for men's acquisition of cheap domestic and sexual services. In this article, I provide a preliminary analysis of international marriage as the result of labour migration by exploring the interconnectedness of patriarchal relations 'at home' and abroad. The situation of Asian women, primarily Filipinas, married to Japanese men, is explored through interview data. The issue of gender is, however, not sufficient when discussing Filipino wives of Japanese men. 'Racial' stereotypes also have to be taken into account as factors which circumscribe the social reality of Asian women in Japan.     

民国时期婚姻行为研究——以“五普”长表数据库为基础的分析

20世纪三四十年代以初婚年龄和夫妇婚龄差异为核心的婚姻行为仍保持了浓厚的传统色彩;城乡之间婚姻行为没有明显分野。婚姻行为与社会发展背离的原因在于,民国婚姻法律并未对广大城乡所存在的父母包办婚姻形成真正限制,更谈不上取消。当然,从全国来看,男女14岁以下的极端早婚行为和妻长夫幼的婚配所占比例并不大。