Policy Review Section
本期政策评论栏目包含三篇文章：研究英国地方驻欧盟代表处的角色与冲突；比较爱尔兰、北爱尔兰与英国本土制造业生产率差异及政策启示；介绍南非重建与发展计划及实施困难。
In this issue of the Policy Review Section, Peter John of the Department of Politics, University of Keele, sets out the findings of a study of UK sub-national offices in Brussels. He explores the nature of their roles and functions in relation to European Union institutions. The complex pattern of representation mirrors the changing nature of British local governance with increasing partnership between elected and non-elected bodies in the sponsorship of European offices. Conflicts of interest within sponsoring bodies sometimes make it difficult to articulate a common regional position. Peter John argues that this picture of representation is by no means unique to the UK. In the second article, Esmond Birnie and David Hitchens of the Department of Economics, Queen's University of Belfast, compare manufacturing productivity in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Britain. Drawing on various research studies they seek to postulate why productivity levels in the Republic's indigenous owned sector is significantly lower than that in its externally owned companies and below levels prevailing in the UK's indigenous sector. This leads on to various policy implications, notably that there should be a greater focus on product quality, innovation and company strategy. In the third article, Etienne Nel of the Department of Geography, University of Rhodes, South Africa, sets out the basic features of the ANC government's five-year Reconstruction and Development Programme. An attempt is made to highlight some of the practical difficulties which will be faced in implementing the strategy.