Rural China in ruins: The rush to urbanize China's countryside is opening a moral battleground (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)

China has officially become a predominantly urban country, with over 50% of the population now registered as urban residents. Its urbanization process has been described as the most managed in human history. The Chinese government manages the building of new cities, regulates the housing of displaced people and controls squatters. As an historically poorer area, the west of China has been the target of ongoing efforts at infrastructural development. Describing urbanization as managed however masks the conflicts and contradictions involved in a process which is far from smooth. Although villagers are usually seen to be largely the powerless victims of these initiatives, it is clear that many try to take advantage of the situation, while others are unable to do so. Based on recent fieldwork and eight years of visits to one village undergoing urbanization, this article looks at the complex dynamics involved and at the moral battleground which they lay bare.     

中日现代化进程中观念冲突之一斑——以李鸿章与森有礼在直隶总督府的论战为中心

141年前,李鸿章和森有礼曾就日本军舰“云扬号”入侵朝鲜江华岛事件以及学习西方、变革服制、举借外债等问题在保定展开了一场激烈的论战。本文考察了森有礼于光绪元年腊月二十八日赴直隶总督府与李鸿章举行会谈的背景,并基于1899年出版的《森先生传》中揭载的对话记录,译介、分析了这场对话的主要内容;指出,尽管李鸿章组建了一个人数众多的幕府,但由于无法破除人身依附关系,未能建立独立的智库,以致他很难听到不同的意见,学到有价值的新知。因此,李鸿章与森有礼论战时无法占据明显优势也就在所难免。     

CASINO GAMBLING AS A “GROWTH POLE” STRATEGY AND ITS EFFECT ON CRIME*

ABSTRACT Casinos are often considered as a “growth pole” strategy to revitalize dilapidated regions. However, voters often reject casinos due to their perceived adverse impact on crime. Using a quasi-experimental design we analyze the impact of the casinos on crime spillover from Atlantic City to other localities in the region. We found that the level of crime in localities adjacent to Atlantic City and along the major nontoll routes to Philadelphia and New York City up to approximately 30 miles from Atlantic City rose significantly following the introduction of casinos. Crime levels are higher than they would have been in the absence of casinos.