The lenses of nationhood: an optical model of identity

ABSTRACT. This paper tries to make the case for a model of political identity based on an optical metaphor, which is especially applicable to nations. Human vision can be separated into sentient object, lenses and inbuilt mental ideas. This corresponds well to identity processes in which ‘light’ from a bounded territorial referent is refracted through various lenses (ideological, material, psychological) to focus in certain ways on particular symbolic resources like genealogy, history, culture or political institutions. Distinguishing between referent, lenses and resources helps us more precisely situate many hitherto disparate problems of national identity. These include the ‘ethnic‐civic’ dilemma, the mystery of national identity before nationalism, and the relationship between local and national, and individual and collective, identities. The model also clarifies the place of universalist ideology, which currently fits poorly within the leading culturalist and materialist theories of nationalism.     

The Office of Housekeeper of the House of Lords

This note illustrates one aspect of the process whereby the palace of Westminster evolved from a royal residence into the seat of parliament, explains how the housekeeper of that palace came to be associated with the house of lords and lists the holders of the office from the 16th to the 19th century.     

The Parliamentary Organisation of the Whig Junto in the Reign of Queen Anne: A Further Note

The parliamentary organisation of the whig Junto in the reign of Queen Anne was far superior to that of the tory party. At the centre were the meetings in which three or four of the five members of the Junto were present together with some of their followers. Evidence of such meetings is rare but here is presented a letter giving the details of a meeting of all five in April 1713 at the home of Lord Somers, together with their ally, the tory earl of Nottingham, probably to discuss the forthcoming peace proposals, to end the war of the Spanish Succession, and the protestant succession to the British throne.     

A Pocket Borough? Reformed Politics in Ripon, 1832–67

This article examines the political history of the parliamentary borough of Ripon between the Great Reform Act of 1832 and the Second Reform Act of 1867. It challenges the notion that Ripon remained a ‘pocket borough’ during this era; rather, the Reform Act rendered Ripon's politics much more open, vibrant and participatory than they had been during the ‘unreformed’ era. In demonstrating this, the article calls into question the alleged prevalence of ‘pocket boroughs’ in the reformed era.     

城市居民环城游憩距离选择的实证研究——以长沙市为例

本文通过抽样调查所获取基础数据,对城市居民环城游憩距离选择进行了实证研究,发现城市居民环城游憩活动并不完全符合距离衰减规律,而是存在出游理想距离。理想距离范围内是城市居民到访率最高的区域,形成环城游憩密集带。通过理想距离与游客性别、年龄、收入、文化程度、职业等交叉列联表分析,得出城市居民出游理想距离选择的差异性。在此基础上,本文探讨了城市居民环城游憩活动理想距离的形成机理,认为这是在各种因素共同影响下,在三大作用力系统——推动力系统、阻碍力系统、交互力系统相互作用下的一种均衡结果。     

安福、永定二县的设置与清代州县行政管理体制在湘西北的确立

明初设立的九溪、永定二卫,到了清初已经演变为征收屯赋、管理屯民的地方行政性管辖机构。雍正年间裁卫设县,结束了九溪、永定二卫的历史存在,并在调整土地与户口归属的基础上,最终完成了湘西北地区卫所军事管理体制向州县行政管理体制的转变。     

中国国民党早期军队政工制度的演变:1924-1928

在孙中山的“党治”理念及苏联“党军”体制影响下,中国国民党于1924年改组后积极倡行“党在国上”、“党在军上”的政治制度,在黄埔军校教导团时代,即仿效苏联红军实施以党代表为中心、以政治部为具体实践单位、辅以自上而下建立党部的三位一体的政工制度。1925年7月改编为国民革命军后,这一体制在黄埔军校生为主体的军队内基本保留。因国共间的猜忌,国民革命军政工制度随着“清党”运动而产生重大变异,党代表制废除,政治训练部地位下降,军队党部更是形同虚设。试图控制军队的国民党,却被以蒋介石为首的军人反控,形成了事实上的“以军干政”、“军强党弱”现象,成为此后影响民国政治走向的一大因素。     

张星烺先生对中西交通史研究的学术贡献

张星先生是我国中西交通史研究的奠基人之一。本文从五个方面论述了张星对中西交通史研究的学术贡献。张星收集整理汉文资料 ,翻译介绍外文文献 ,介绍西方东方学成就 ,开辟新的研究领域等工作 ,极大地推动了我国中西交通史的研究。     

百人会与美国华人社会

建立于 1 990年的“美国华裔百人委员会” ,简称“百人会” ,是美国社会非常有影响的一个华人社团 ,该组织的成员大多是在各自领域取得了杰出成就的精英。在这种背景下 ,该组织在过去的 1 3年里积极充当美国华人的代言人 ,架起中美交往的桥梁 ,为提升美国华人的社会地位、促进中美关系的良性发展做出了重大贡献 ,该组织也深受中美两国政府关注。但遗憾的是 ,至今学术界少有人对它进行全面研究。本文从“百人会”成立的背景及其发挥的作用等方面进行分析 ,以填补美国华侨华人研究的这一小空白。     

卜辞所见商代思想中的四风与天命

殷墟卜辞中有四方风名 ,是研究商代思想的重要资料。本文认为 ,四风应是象征四种气候 ,后世哲学思想中的“气” ,应是源自商代自然崇拜中的“风” ,古人认为“风”是“天地之使” ,故卜辞中有“帝史风” ;古人还认为“风”是天之命令 ,故四风象征天命。