The Challenges of Political Corruption in Australia, the Proposed Commonwealth Integrity Commission Bill (2020) and the Application of the APUNCAC

Political corruption affects each nation-state differently, but the outcomes are nominally the same: a deficit of public trust, weakened government institutions and undermined political systems. This article analyzes issues of political corruption in Australia by framing them within a national integrity ecosystem (NIE) and addressing them against the proposed Commonwealth Integrity Commission (CIC) 2020 bill. It also discusses prevalent ‘grey’ areas of Australian politically-corrupt behavior where they interact with the private sector: the revolving door, political donations, and lobbying; and the state of Australia’s implementation of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. This article argues for their inclusion within the mandated scope of the proposed CIC. There is a need for strong legislation, both domestic and international, to fight corruption. This article then discusses the application of the provisions of the draft Anticorruption Protocol to the UN Convention Against Corruption (APUNCAC) that may apply with respect to these ‘grey’ issues, and how an International Anti-Corruption Court may provide another institutional model for Australia to follow. Finally, this article links these proposals to the 2021 UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Corruption and the 9th Conference of States Parties on the UNCAC (COSP9). These events illustrate multilateral momentum and progress on anti-corruption. As a country that has historically supported the UN multilateral framework and its institutions, this article recommends a proactive approach for Australia so that the passing of a strong domestic anticorruption initiative will contribute to the adoption, and eventual ratification, of the APUNCAC.

The Death of the European Agency for Reconstruction

Among many issues regarding the work and functioning of EU agencies, the termination of an agency is an important aspect to consider. The European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR), an EU agency that managed EU aid to the Western Balkans from 2001 to 2008, proved to be an efficient and effective agency in delivering aid. Although termination of any EU agency is a rare phenomenon, the EAR was terminated in 2008, despite its successful record. The termination of this highly successful agency stands as an example for the utility of putting termination theory into a larger framework of the existence of EU agencies, as scholarly literature has largely ignored the issue of termination in the work of the EU agencies. The EAR represented an institutional model of independence from politics and policy-making. The purpose of this paper is to assess the structure and operations of the EAR and reasons that led to its termination.

Historical overlook on the birth and formation of the institute of departmental procedural control in predictional criminal court proceedings in Russia

The authors submit to a detailed analysis the historical milestones of the origin and formation of the institution of departmental procedural control in criminal proceedings in Russia. Taking the generally accepted classification as the basis for constructing a preliminary investigation and highlighting seven periods of the formation of the institution of departmental procedural control, the principles for establishing a particular institutional model of a concrete historical period are reflected. As the main method in the process of writing this article, the general systemic method of cognition was used, which made it possible to comprehensively consider and analyze the process of origin and formation of the institution of departmental procedural control in pre-trial criminal proceedings in Russia. In addition, the authors argue that the institution of departmental procedural control of judicial control in the Russian Federation is quite young and its mechanisms need in-depth study. It is concluded that, through the analysis of statistical data, law enforcement practice, as well as the opinions and developments of scientists-processes, made it possible to identify the optimal ways to solve existing problems and directions for improving criminal procedure legislation.

INSTITUTIONAL MODEL OF CORRUPTION AS AN OBJECT OF COUNTERACTION

В статье рассматривается явление коррупции как неформальной, криминализированной структуры, обладающей высоким потенциалом деструктивного воздействия на общественные отношения и заключающей в себе системную угрозу национальной безопасности. Через призму институциональной модели выделяются ее существенные признаки, выражающие противоречивую функциональность, и высказывается идея приоритета деинституционализации в противодействии коррупции. The institutional approach is used to examine the phenomenon of corruption as an informal, criminalized structure with high potential of destructive impact on social relations and comprising the systemic threat to the national security. Through the prism of institutional model its essential features expressing contradictory functionality are highlighted and the idea of priority of deinstitutionalization in counteracting corruption is expressed.

Inovasi Model Kelembagaan Kawasan Industri Prakarsa Pemerintah

Industrial estates have experienced rapid development in the last 10 years, where there are around 132 industrial estates that have been operating throughout Indonesia. However, the industrial institutional model has not changed much since the first industrial estate was established in the 1970s, which is limited to the management carried out by business entities either by BUMN/BUMD, Cooperatives and Limited Company. In this regard, this study was conducted in order to innovate the development and management of industrial estates, especially those initiated by the government through the Public Private Partnership scheme. The method used is a qualitative method with a desk study approach and Focus Group Discussion. The results of this study recommend the Government to establish a technical agency unit in the form of the National Industrial Estate Development Agency in the form of PK BLU to carry out the main tasks and functions in building and managing competitive industrial estates so that it is expected to accelerate the spread of industrial estate development throughout Indonesia.

Comparative Review of Worship Spaces in Buddhist and Cistercian Monasteries: The Three Temples of Guoqing Si (China) and the Church of the Royal Abbey of Santa Maria de Poblet (Spain)

Although the two parallel architectural forms, Han Buddhists and the Cistercian monasteries, seem, on the surface, to be very different—belonging to different religions, different cultural backgrounds, and different ways of construction—they share many similarities in the internal institutional model of monks’ lives and the corresponding architectural core values. The worship space plays the most significant role in both monastic life and layout. In this study, the Three Temples of Guoqing Si and the Church of the Royal Abbey of Santa Maria de Poblet are used as examples to elucidate the connotations behind the architectural forms, in order to further explore how worship spaces serve as an intermediary between deities, monks, and pilgrims. Based on field research and experience of monastic life, this comparative study highlights two fundamental similarities between the Three Temples and the Church: First, both worship spaces are derived from imperial prototypes, have a similar priority of construction, occupy the most important place in both sacred venues, and both serve as a reference for the development of monastic layout. Second, both worship spaces are composed of a similar programmed functional layout, including similar space dominators as well as itineraries. Beyond the surface similarities, this article further analyzes the reasons behind the three differences found. Due to their different understanding of deities, both worship spaces show different ways of worship, images of deities, and distances towards them.

A New Effort to Diversify Faculty: Postdoc-to-Tenure Track Conversion Models

Calls to diversify the professoriate have been ongoing for decades. However, despite increasing numbers of scholars from underrepresented racial minority groups earning doctorates, actual progress in transitioning to faculty has been slow, particularly across STEM disciplines. In recent years, new efforts have emerged to recruit faculty members from underrepresented racial minority groups (i.e., African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and/or Native American/Native Hawaiian/Indigenous) through highly competitive postdoctoral programs that allow fellows the opportunity to transition (or “convert”) into tenure-track roles. These programs hybridize some conventional aspects of the faculty search process (e.g., structured interview processes that facilitate unit buy-in) along with novel evidence-based practices and structural supports (e.g., proactive recruitment, cohort communities, search waivers, professional development, enhanced mentorship, financial incentives). In this policy and practice review, we describe and synthesize key attributes of existing conversion programs at institutional, consortium, and system levels. We discuss commonalities and unique features across models (N = 38) and draw specific insights from postdoctoral conversion models developed within and across institutions in the University System of Maryland (USM). In particular, experience garnered from a 10-year-old postdoc conversion program at UMBC will be highlighted, as well as the development of an additional institutional model aimed at the life sciences, and a state-system model of faculty diversification with support from a NSF Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) grant.

The pedagogical work of G.G. Antonescu from a diachronic perspective

The general purpose of this article is to analyze the work of G.G. Antonescu from the perspective of his actuality in the modern and contemporary (postmodern) era, as seen by one of the most important representatives of the history of Romanian pedagogy, Ion Gh. Stanciu. We consider the analysis of the historical dimension of the work of the pedagogue G.G. Antonescu (1882-1955), from a diachronic perspective and highlighting the epistemological dimension of his pedagogy, supported at a conceptual, normative and methodological level, but also by the institutional model designed at the level of his entire work in the spirit of the planned reform.