A Resource Model of Computer-Mediated Political Life

Using Current Population Survey data, this paper examines the extent to which a person's resources impact his or her ability to participate in computer-mediated political life. Resources such as universal literacy, background capacities, skills, and training clarify the well-documented but poorly conceptualized gap in technology access between "haves" and "have nots." Telecommunications policy does not address seriously the resources one brings to the table beyond perfunctory attention to what is affordable. Until resource disparities are examined more closely by policymakers, the divide in access to the computer-mediated political public sphere likely will continue to expand.     

The Soviet government since Khrushchev

In 1965 Khrushchev's successors reversed most of his innovations in the structure of the Council of Ministers. Since then turnover in its membership has been very low, but has lately accelerated owing to age‐related deaths and retirements and other places have been created to head new agencies, so that it is again becoming an important arena for competition for high office. New government members are of two career types: “career specialists”, who have worked mainly in the field concerned, if not the particular ministry, and “party generalists”, who have risen mainly through the regional party machine. Some expansion of the latter at the expense of the former is identified, and the distribution of the two types in various policy areas is examined. The 1965 changes sharply reduced party tutelage over the government machine, but various internal and international factors have since led to a progressive reversal of this, and the channels through which this has been pursued are considered. Next, recent and possible future developments in the “inner cabinet” are discussed in relation to the structure of supreme power, and finally the significance of continued delays in long‐promised constitutional revision is noted.     

Russian Nationalist Orthodox Theology: A New Trend in the Political Life of Russia

Abstract

Presently nationalist circles seem to promulgate a synthesis of Russian Orthodox Christianity with Marxism and ultra-patriotism. Russian nationalist Orthodox theology teaches that Jesus Christ was Russian or Slavic; it leans toward violence and is apt to quickly change the target oppressor who is broadly defined as anyone who is non-Russian or non-Orthodox. Russian nationalist Orthodox theology may be used at the Presidential Elections 2008 to boost an ultra-nationalist candidate.     

创新：思想政治工作的生命力

当前,复杂的国际环境、经济与社会的发展变化以及科学技术的日新月异,决定了思想政治工作必须按照新的时代特征要求进行不断创新。在创新过程中,思想政治工作必须遵循党性原则、历史继承性原则、实践性原则、社会化原则、民主化原则和科学化原则。只有这样,才能不断地增强思想政治工作的效能及其生命力。     

Hannah Arendt's Political Theology of Democratic Life

Abstract

In this essay, I explore Hannah Arendt's suggestion that we conceptualize human power and freedom polytheistically if our aim is to understand the challenges and requirements of democratic self-governance. Although it is not clear that politics must always be understood through theological grammars, if it is to be, polytheism affirms that there may be multiple sources of value and of right, offering both a metaphysical counterpart to value pluralism and a vision of how to create political practices and institutions that mirror and honor both the equality and distinction of human beings.     

On the Completion of Political Life and the Incompleteness of Political Philosophy

Abstract

Political life means the normal life of a human being in its cycles from conception to death. A life is complete when it passes through these cycles. Political philosophy confronts the remaining issues of immortality and justice that arise in the lives of the citizens of actual cities.