Fraud and Deceit, or a Failure of American Political and Social Sciences： Towards a Theory About the Impact of Banking on the Rise and Fall of Civilizations

Many scholars have documented and analyzed the widespread fraud and deceit associated with government failures worldwide, comparing historical and recent policies leading up to the currently unstable global financial system. Most of the attention to detail, however, has been focused on the actions and failures of corporations, corporate leaders, and political and financial regulatory institutions, with little attention to generalizing political and social-psychological theories that might explain not only current but historical failures, and also prepare the way for formulating alternative futures in a manner that has some substantial likelihood of significantly impacting 61ires who are held responsible for such systemic effects. This paper offers some suggestions for such theory construction, exploring literature on grand theories of the rise and fall of empires, war and financial cycles, and social-psychological theories of political decision making, and considers some implications for the literature on growth and decline of civilizations and their worldviews, and in this context just what alternative futures might be likely and how to choose. I also explores the possibility that the social sciences are close to an understanding of civilization dynamics--close but not yet there. A framework is suggested which may be useful for continuing this research to the point where alternative futures can be constructed that have significance for the future of our globalized world order. In particular the works of Jared Diamond, Carroll Quigley, Niall Ferguson, Chalmers Johnson, and Paul Kennedy, are compared for their macro-historical theories suggesting an evolutionary dynamic in the life span of civilizations, the works of Johnson and Kwak and others for their research into the causes of recurrent financial instability threatening the stability of regimes and whole societies, and various theories of individual and group decision making （Leon Festinger, Harold Lasswell, Abraham Maslow, Richardson, and others） which may explain the social-psychological processes linking these two phenomena. Further, regarding why such comprehensive theory tends not to be addressed in the social and policy sciences, two stumbling blocks are discussed： （1） the absence of any ＂standard theory＂ in political and social science, the absence of which motivates academic struggles analogous to those characterized as security dilemmas in international relations; and （2） students and practitioners of politics often speak past one another and get embroiled in needless conflicts because of the latent structures of their dominant paradigms, specifically misunderstandings among the practitioners of political science, political philosophy, and political practitioners.

Bank Criminal Act： Case of Fraud Using Letter of Credit-Bank as a Victim

Letter of Credit （L/C） is a payment method offered by bank for settling the foreign trade. The existence of L/C is a means capable of providing guarantee for the interests of the sellers and buyers. In the event of default by either party, either the seller or the buyer, the bank as the L/C issuer will provide payment guarantee for the seller or the waiver of payment for the buyer. The bank’s risk in issuing the L/C is regarding with the weakness of L/C. In Article 5 of UCP 600, it is emphasized that in transactions using L/C, banks deal only with documents, not dealing with goods, or other implementation. In Article 14a of UCP 600 it is affirmed that the L/C payments are based on the suitability between the L/C requirements and the submitted documents viewed under “on their face”. The bank authority as the guarantor which only deals with the documents in making payments causing the L/C instrument is often used in fraud against the bank. Many banking fraud cases that occur in Indonesia take advantage of L/C weakness. This paper will discuss the occurrence of criminal acts in the banking by exploiting weaknesses in the L/C that makes the bank as a victim. In addition, this paper aims to explain the effort to overcome the criminal acts that occurred at the issuing bank as a victim by using L/C. The discussion in this paper emphasized the application of laws and regulations applicable to indict the perpetrators of criminal acts in the banking sector by exploiting weaknesses of L/C. Aspects of the discussion of a criminal offense are based on the Act No. 10 of 1998 concerning banking, and under the provisions of the Criminal Code.

Pyramid Schemes and Multilevel Marketing （MLM）： Two Sides of the Same Coin

Since the recent crack down on pyramid and ponzi schemes, there have been attempts by unscrupulous persons to devise alternative means of attracting unsuspecting persons willing to do legitimate businesses for financial gains. The Caribbean Policy Research Institute [CAPRIl] （2008） in its report titled ＂Investigating Informal Investment Schemes in Jamaica＂ stated in its analysis of the characteristics of multilevel, pyramid, and ponzi schemes that despite the heterogeneity in the structure of these organizations, they all involve large numbers of small investors who are often lured into participating in a wide range of investment activities or financial hedging through the administration of a central unit. These schemes rely predominantly on new customers/clients to fund payments to existing customers. The need for a consistent supply of new recruits for sustainability and perceived growth is paramount. Based on the CAPRI report, pyramid schemes are unsustainable investment ploys that always fail to meet the expectations of over 90% of its investors with very little emphasis on profit-making ventures or products. This paper will examine the similarity between the recently foiled financial pyramid schemes and the current multilevel marketing （MLM） strategies of consumables that are cunningly being proposed as legitimate business and entrepreneurial options. This paper will present handy information for persons interested in participating in MLM businesses and regulators in order to make informed decisions to avoid a repeat of unwise investment.

A Reflection of Minimum Adequate Education in South Carolina More Than Fifty Years Later

The issues and challenges of minimum adequate public school education in the State of South of South Carolina has been a struggle between lawmakers and taxpayers for more than fifty years. The enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 led to forced school integration, busing, and led to whites＇ physical moving out of selected school districts. Selected public schools filed a lawsuit against the State of South Carolina to the Supreme Court with the claim of failing to provide adequate and equal education to all children in the state. This reflection focuses on the Abbeville case in context, funding issues, and inadequate facilities, which concludes with a reflective view of the Brown v. The Board of Edueation 1954 decision.

刑事诈骗与民事欺诈:界定与辨析

英国《2006年诈骗罪法案》将诈骗犯罪由结果犯变更为行为犯值得关注和研究。民事欺诈的行为构造与刑事诈骗的行为构造基本吻合。以非法占有目的和民事救济可能性来区分刑事诈骗与民事欺诈并不妥当。必须严格依据刑法规定与相关司法解释认定涉案行为性质,先检测涉案行为是否符合诈骗犯罪的表象构成要件,再进一步检测是否存在排除犯罪性或责任的辩护事由。可从以下方面把握涉案行为性质:从国家刑事司法政策立场正确把握涉案行为性质;交易主体是否真实且具有实质内容;行为人是否有真实合法履约行为;不能履约是否有合理解释或事出有因;是否有足额担保;被害人是否了解或知道交易中的虚假信息;是否已进入民事处理程序或者已通过民事诉讼程序结案。

美国生物安全信息披露豁免制度研究——以“Civil Beat Law Center诉CDC案”为例

美国在以《自由信息法案》为核心的信息披露制度体系中,通过衔接《公共卫生安全和生物恐怖主义预防和应对法案》,将生物安全信息披露豁免纳入政府信息披露豁免规则之中。本文基于Civil Beat Law Center诉CDC信息披露豁免案来分析美国生物安全信息披露豁免所涉法律适用、解释原则、运行方式等,试洞见其相关披露制度运行的特点和所存在的问题,以期能有助于国内相关的研究。

法人实施有效民事法律行为的界限研究

当前我国民法体系中对法人实施民事法律行为的效力边界未有明确规定,这主要是法人的民事权利能力和民事行为能力范围不清晰导致的。从我国民法体系法人制度的历史演变轨迹来看,国家对法人民事权利能力和民事行为能力规范的界限已发生了较大变化。通过解释目前相关法律条文的文义以及类推适用这种“法律漏洞”补充方式,可以看出:法人的民事权利能力不受其经营范围、业务范围或章程规定、设立目的宗旨或任务规定的限制,与自然人相同,其有资格在所有民事法律行为中享有民事权利和承担民事义务;但这并不意味着其拥有以自己的行为去取得所有民事活动中的民事权利、履行民事义务的民事行为能力。除了在前述规定范围内实施的符合法律规定的民事法律行为有效外,在前述规定范围外实施的民事法律行为要根据法人的不同类型及其是否获得政府许可或法律授权等因素来确定该民事法律行为的效力。

彩礼返还规则司法适用的困境与突破

彩礼是古代婚姻缔结的必经程序,后作为一种民间婚嫁习俗存在已久。近年来,随着天价彩礼的出现以及离婚率的增加,彩礼返还纠纷日益增长,但立法的缺失和现有司法解释的模糊造成了司法实践的困境。通过分析《民法典》实施以来彩礼纠纷高发地区的生效判决文书,发现司法适用中普遍存在着彩礼返还范围不同、彩礼返还比例不一、认定给付人生活困难标准缺位等问题,导致同案异裁现象严重,伤害司法权威。当前,需要从明确彩礼返还范围、建立彩礼返还比例体系、确立给付人生活困难标准三个方面入手,积极建构彩礼返还规则的司法突破路径,让司法为民更加精细化。

须恺的国际组织任职之路及启示

国际组织人才的成长是有规律可循的,如要接受较好的高等教育,掌握英语等国际组织的工作语言,具有较好的专业知识、国际交流经验及较高的国际声望,国家的支持等。须恺毕业于具有国际视野的河海工程专门学校,并取得美国加州大学硕士学位,回国后长期在水利界工作,主持淮河等河流的治理,1948年担任联合国亚远经委会防洪局代理局长,是较早在国际组织担任高级职务的中国人。抗战胜利后,徐恺回国任职。须恺自身素质、教育和工作经历为他的任职之路奠定了基础。

电信网络诈骗刑事附带民事公益诉讼的理论逻辑与程序构建

基于网络治理的系统观念和问题导向,《中华人民共和国反电信网络诈骗法》第47条明确了人民检察院在电信网络诈骗刑事附带民事公益诉讼中的原告主体资格,旨在促进刑民责任承担的有机衔接,实现对电信网络诈骗的一体化、各环节、全链条防范治理。作为对电信网络诈骗案件提起的新型诉讼制度,其理论逻辑和具体规则尚不完备,立法支持和实践经验均严重不足,应明晰电信网络诈骗刑事附带民事公益诉讼具有正当性与必要性。同时,厘清案件可诉范围和人民检察院职能定位,以一体化思维疏通管辖难题,以智慧司法赋能协同治理,为司法提供有效的程序框架。

民事法律关系理论视角下的人工智能

在民事法律关系理论的视角下,人工智能的定位应该基于民事主体的基本理论展开。现有的主体理论以自然人为核心,主体具有权利归属和行为作出两种功能,以满足不同的价值或需求。由于人工智能的“自主性”在产生机制、适用范围和运作方式上都不同于人之理性,以人工智能作为行为主体也欠缺价值支撑,因此,人工智能并非行为主体。人工智能具有成为权利主体的可能,但是制度收益有限,体系成本很高,而且现有制度足以解决人工智能责任承担的问题,人工智能不宜成为权利主体。人工智能和法人并无相似之处,也不能“借”法人之“壳”而成为权利主体。所以,人工智能并非主体,只需作为法律关系的客体看待。

证券民事赔偿的公法激励:行政执法和解与恢复性刑事司法的应用

公权处置前置和集体行动困境不是阻碍我国证券民事赔偿责任实现的主因。实践案例显示,公权处置前置带来的“罚先赔后”“赔偿不足”是导致投资者消极行权的重要因素。对此,可以发掘公法的激励机制,促进、保障受害投资者民事利益优先实现。证券行政执法和解的和解金优先赔偿投资者、嗣后盈余上缴国库,能够保障投资者损失优先受偿。我国目前适用该制度的案件数量偏少,立法对和解金的性质和地位界定不清。对此,应在公私法融合的背景下建立对和解金的独立认识,在和解金谈判中尽可能实现对受害投资者的足额补偿。将被害人利益置于核心地位的恢复性司法也具有保障受害投资者民事利益实现的效能。刑事责任减让能够激励犯罪人在个人财产之外筹措资金,缓解可供执行财产不足的问题。刑事责任的减让须与犯罪人的赔偿能力关联起来,同时考察市场秩序法益的恢复程度,保持惩罚、预防功能的总量守恒。

论破产欺诈行为刑民界分的认定标准

破产欺诈行为既可能构成民事违法也可能构成刑事犯罪,破产欺诈行为的刑民界分是指以何种标准将破产欺诈行为中构成虚假破产罪、妨害清算罪的行为挑选出来以两罪论处。司法实务中因对虚假破产罪与妨害清算罪做了不合理的限制解释导致对破产欺诈行为做出了不合理的刑民界分,破产主体、破产欺诈行为所处何种程序不应当成为刑民界分时的筛选标准;破产欺诈行为的刑民界分除了数额、情节等可作为筛选标准外,可从破产欺诈的行为类型上进行筛选,也可从破产欺诈行为与破产状态的因果关系上进行筛选。

透视美国地方行政管理——基于城市经理和公务员身份的相通性

1883年的美国联邦公务员改革,可视为美国转向现代行政国家的历史起点。随后,美国地方政府接续了联邦和州的行政改革运动,构建了新的市政体制。其中,新创的城市经理制最具影响力,也与公务员改革的行政价值观最为恰切。因此,城市经理与公务员在职业身份与定位上有诸多的相通性。在地方行政管理中,“去政治化”的需求,决定了事务性官员的职业类属与权力特性;“背景来源”的专业化要求与“待遇优厚”对职业地位的保障,凸显出行政在效率、稳定与中立方面的偏好;“行政本位”原则,寓于两者职业价值观与职业合法性之中。而这些相通性的背后,又蕴含着美国地方行政管理在制度安排上的独立性与理念的同一性。

数字时代劳动者个人信息保护研究

数字时代,互联网信息技术高速发展,个人信息保护愈发得到关注。《民法典》“人格权编”专设“隐私权和个人信息保护”一章以及《个人信息保护法》的出台,都在立法层面体现了对个人信息保护的重视。然而,与一般领域公民的个人信息保护不同,职场属于个人信息保护的特殊领域,劳动者个人信息保护受到劳动关系的从属性、劳动合同的继续性和用人单位收集劳动者个人信息的广泛性等影响,存在着法律保障不够完善、用人单位过度收集信息、知情同意规则难以适用、侵权责任难以追究等问题。为解决这些问题,应当引入劳动法保护路径、完善信息收集和管理制度、加强劳动行政部门的监管等,进一步保障劳动者的个人信息安全。

民事欺诈与刑事诈骗的区分

目前,司法实践中存在民事欺诈和刑事诈骗难以区分的现实困境,二者分属于不同的法律范畴,理论上往往从欺骗的内容、方式、程度、主观故意类型、非法占有目的等角度对二者进行区别,司法实践中通常根据民事救济的可能丧失判定是否需要刑法介入,以及以行为人的客观表现为基础推断其主观目的。在区分民事欺诈和刑事诈骗时,首先要明确二者并非对立排斥的关系,其次应当遵循从客观到主观的顺序对案件加以考察,最后应当将欺骗内容、欺骗方式、欺骗程度等客观标准同主观故意内容、非法占有目的等主观标准相结合,综合全案案情并结合社会效果对此类案件进行整体评价。

《民法典》恶意串通条款的独立价值与规范释义

恶意串通行为并非违反公序良俗行为之子情形。在体系定位上,《民法典》第154条属于独立的合同无效制度。在适用范围上,《民法典》第154条可以对以股权等投资性权利为标的的转让、非商品房与动产的一物多卖、债务人的诈害行为损害担保人利益等案型中的恶意串通行为加以规制,具有独立的制度价值。恶意串通的主观构成聚焦于对“串通之恶意”的判断,当事人既需存在明知或应知行为可能导致损害之“观念”,又需具备积极追求或放任损害结果发生之“意思”。《民法典》第154条所称“他人合法权益”中的“他人”仅指向特定第三人。恶意串通的客观构成以“特定第三人财产利益”为中心,并以“造成实际损害”作为其必要条件。基于比例原则的考量,《民法典》第154条中的“无效”应为相对无效之法律效果,其只能由受害方主张,且仅相对该受保护的特定第三方无效。

担保贷款双重诈骗案的刑法教义学分析

担保贷款双重诈骗,是指行为人以非法占有为目的,先采用欺骗手段骗取他人的担保,再以虚假事实和骗取的担保骗取银行等金融机构的贷款。在担保贷款双重诈骗案中,主要存在着三组民事法律关系,即行为人与担保人之间的委托合同关系、担保人与贷款人之间的担保合同关系以及行为人与贷款人之间的贷款合同关系。行为人在与担保人订立委托合同过程中实施的前骗行为完全符合合同诈骗罪的构成要件,构成合同诈骗罪;担保人事先虽向贷款人设立了担保,但无论基于个别财产损失说还是整体财产损失说,均应肯定行为人的后骗行为造成了贷款人的财产损失,构成贷款诈骗罪。

合同诈骗罪中兜底条款解释规则的重构——以同质解释困境为切入点

《中华人民共和国刑法》第224条中兜底条款的设立具有实践意义,其能够有效规制法律文本无法预测的新型合同诈骗行为,缓和法律滞后性与经济发展多样性之间固有的矛盾。然而,于实践层面,兜底条款的适用范围呈现不当扩张的趋势。应当认为,上述问题的成因在于解释者对解释理念与解释规则的忽视。教义学语境下合理的进路,应是以限缩合同诈骗罪在实践中的入罪范围为目的,重视兜底条款的解释理念,实现对解释规则的反思性重构。在基本解释理念方面,应大体上遵循限制解释的理念,同时允许例外地扩张。具体而言,坚持以罪刑法定作为解释限度,同时坚持先例入罪的个别化解释态度。在具体的解释规则上,以同质解释作为一般规则,在此基础上,注重经济刑法的解释立场之特殊性,将合同诈骗的例示行为特征与规范保护目的作为判断基准,合理划定该罪兜底条款的规制范围。

股东通过借贷诉讼追回“投资款”行为的刑法定性

注册资本“认缴制”模式下,在出资期限届满之前,股东汇入公司的款项性质并不当然属于“投资款”,不能因为款项最终用于公司的经营活动而倒推款项的性质,应当结合公司会计账簿、股东出资证明等能体现股东实缴信息的客观证据予以审慎认定。对于刑民交叉案件的处理,在民事裁判对于同一事实已经作出合法性评价的情况下,刑法的介入应当保持克制,充分尊重先决裁判的法律效力。严防通过刑事手段解决民事纠纷,除非刑事案件中的证据达到了“确实充分、排除合理怀疑”的程度。实践中股东将投资款虚构成出借款,通过提起借贷诉讼追回相应款项,充其量只是为了弥补或者减少投资损失而进行的民事欺诈,不具备诈骗罪所要求的“以非法占有为目的”。此种情形下,由于股东与公司之间存在基础的民事纠纷事实,对于将投资款虚构成出借款的行为,不属于虚假诉讼罪所规制的“无中生有”型诉讼行为类型,应以手段行为可能触犯的其他罪名进行定罪处罚。