http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/5550 2013-06-01T02:08:01Z 2013-06-01T02:08:01Z Wang, Yuk Lam http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/5555 2009-11-16T07:04:03Z 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Assess the contradiction and cooperation in Sino-Russian relations under the Putin administration Authors: Wang, Yuk Lam Abstract: This thesis aims at analyzing the contradiction and cooperation of the Sino-Russian relations under the Putin administration. By reviewing Boris Yeltsin's foreign policy and the overall foreign framework of Vladimir Putin who shows the continuity of Yeltsin's legacy, that is, developing the tie with China is significant to Russia. Some of the international theories will be implied in order to analyze the challenges the two countries faced and the common interests they shared. Balance of power and multipolarity will be used in political aspects as well as regional and international issues. China Threat theory is to explain the contradictions in economic challenges, military suspicions and territorial disputes. And the factors contributing to the cooperation could be elaborated in intergovermentalism and the complex interdependence theory in economic plus energy cooperation, military plus security cooperation, territorial aspects and other aspects. The bilateral relationship between China and Russia would be critically assessed. Although there are the contradictions to the two states, the bilateral relationship between them is a partner rather than an adversary as well as cooperation more than competition.

2008-01-01T00:00:00Z Zou, Chen http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/5556 2009-11-16T07:07:46Z 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Private Entrepreneurs and Political Impacts in China: The Case of Zhejiang Authors: Zou, Chen Abstract: The paper examines political impacts of China’s private entrepreneurs by assessing practical experiences in Zhejiang province. The investigation is carried out from two approaches. First, traditional tracks connecting economic development and political change are adopted to assess the possibility of political change pushed by Zhejiang’s private entrepreneurs. Second, the approach of endogenous institutional change leads the way to examine private entrepreneurs’ political impacts when they get connected with the Party‐state. Based on the assessment on Zhejiang’s private economy and analysis on private entrepreneurs’ political behavior, it gets to know that the expectation of political change following rapid economic development suggested by western political scientists might not be admired and pursued in the context of Zhejiang. However, in dealing with various institutional constraints on the private sector, Zhejiang’s private entrepreneurs appear with high contextual adaptability. They choose to make close connection with local government and get embedded in political institutions. In consequences, they built up direct channels in communicating with local authority; gained delegacy in political institutions and improved the profile of private sector. Therefore, the paper concludes that political impacts of Zhejiang’s private entrepreneurs are not on the aspect in pushing for political change. Rather, their political impacts largely put to use within the system when they are getting adaptive with the current institution.

2009-01-01T00:00:00Z Wong, Chun Man Gary http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/5557 2009-11-16T07:05:51Z 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A Confucian Perspective on Social Justice, Rights, and Welfare: A philosophical exposition Authors: Wong, Chun Man Gary Abstract: This project is a theoretical study of the moral and political philosophy of early Confucianism regarding three major topics, namely: social justice, human rights, and the ethical responsibilities of governments and individuals. In this project, I confine my analysis to early Confucian texts, with reference to contemporary scholars’ philosophical interpretations, analysis, and constructions. The first aim of this work is to show that early Confucian philosophers are concerned with questions of social justice. I argue that the discussions of self-cultivation in classical Confucianism contribute to the overall picture of a sense of justice. And I also argue that having a sense of justice plays a crucial role in the Confucian community. The second aim of the study is to show whether right talk is compatible with early Confucianism. I contend that fallback mechanism can be accommodated to Confucianism, it is though shall not be regarded as right-based. Also, I argue that right talk invites some serious problems to the early Confucianism, in which the fundamental doctrines of Confucians will be deteriorated when the conceptions of rights will be added into early Confucianism. The last aim of the study is to explore a Confucian perspective on social welfare provision system. I show that the ethical responsibilities are assigned reasonably to different people, mainly family members, community members and governments. I further demonstrate that implicit in early Confucianism perspective is the notion of a multi-layered system of welfare provision in which the family, community and government all have particular roles to perform. In short, I argue that early Confucian perspective may contribute insightful ideas regarding the above-mentioned issues that can influence and inspire western approaches. And I will show that early Confucianism, as an invaluable philosophical perspective, is able to deal with different complicated moral issues in the contemporary world.

2009-01-01T00:00:00Z Lai, Chi Ki http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/5558 2009-11-16T07:00:59Z 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Assessing performance effectiveness of Functional constituency legislators (2004-2008), in the view of justifications of functional constituency Authors: Lai, Chi Ki Abstract: Functional constituency (FC) is a unique component in Hong Kong’s legislature while remaining or removing it is a great controversy in the constitutional development discussion. Systems exist to serve certain functions and purposes, so does FC. The focus of this project is on the justifications of FC. By looking at the original purposes of FC, and the expected performance of functional representatives (FRs), the effectiveness of achieving these goals and duties should be the indicator of retaining or removing the system. FC was created by the colonial government to serve as a replacement of appointing unofficial social elites to the legislature. These professional and economic representatives can not only contribute expertise and knowledge to LegCo, but also represent different groups in the community. After the reunification, the Chinese government is in line with this idea by justifying FC is essential to achieve balanced participation. The report tries to use quantitative and qualitative studies to assess the performance effectiveness of FC in achieving the mentioned justifications. Using the performance of the Third term of LegCo, only few FRs managed to accomplish the justifications. For the rest of them, they failed to perform the duties of FR because of an overall low participation rate in the legislature; and also constraints from political affiliation.

2009-01-01T00:00:00Z