Suchergebnisse

Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men is a political novel that deserves the serious study of political scientists interested in understanding the formative effects of American democracy. A careful reading of the novel that is informed by the classical approach to the analysis of regimes reveals the close connection between the politics of Willie Stark & the politics of modern American democracy. Furthermore, by viewing Stark's actions through the eyes of Jack Burden, a perceptive narrator who is moving toward self-knowledge, we can gain insight into both why modern democracies encourage the formation of a debilitating nihilism among their citizens & the prospects for countering these effects. 44 References. Adapted from the source document.

Este ensayo analiza en que medida la propuesta de Estados Unidos de establecer un Area de Libre Comercio de las Americas (ALCA) ha influenciado el diseno de la nueva politica de la Union Europea hacia America Latina. El argumento principal es que el ALCA es una modalidad de regionalismo estrategico que afecta los intereses en sectores como el comercio y las inversiones. De igual manera, el ALCA puede ser utilizado por Estados Unidos para regular determinados sectores en un marco regional y de acuerdo a sus intereses. Estos factores han llevado a la Union Europea a promover una estrategia para defender su interes en los asuntos economicos latinoamericanos. (UNISA Lat Am Rep/DÜI)

En este ensayo se argumenta que la nueva ola de regionalismo en la Cuenca del Caribe, al menos para America Central y la CARICOM, es una respuesta reactiva al TLCAN y al ALCA. Estos ultimos pueden erosionar las preferencias comerciales que Estados Unidos ofrece a estas dos subregiones. En consecuencia, los paises de America Central y de la CARICOM han decidido promover la integracion economica y la cooperacion politica para defender tales preferencias. De igual manera, el nuevo regionalismo puede ser considerado como un marco en el cual los paises caribenos puedan profundizar el ajuste estructural, un requisito previo para ingresar al ALCA. (Iberoamericana/DÜI)

Los mas recientes reportes anuales y estudios tecnicos del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo defienden un determinismo geografico del desarrollo: Los paises mas ricos en recursos naturales y mas cercanos al Ecuador estan condenados a ser mas atrasados y pobres. Los problemas actuales no se deben a las reformas estructurales o a las acciones de los gobiernos, sino a las condiciones ambientales. Para remontar todo esto el mejor remedio es confiar en el mercado y acentuar todavia mas las reformas. El objetivo de este articulo es dar a conocer las recientes ideas del BID sobre las limitaciones al desarrollo en America Latina, especialmente a partir de sus reportes anuales para 1997 y 1998-99. (Am Lat Mov/DÜI)

Drawing on theories of regime change, revolution, & democratization, this paper proposes a process theory to account for the 12 major regime transformations that have occurred in Central America since 1970. Political regimes, coherent systems of rule established among a coalition of dominant political actors, change when their prevailing political rules & their ruling coalitions undergo transformation. External forces are important to this process. The focal case is Guatemala & its prospects for democratic consolidation. 5 Tables, 75 References. Adapted from the source document.

Describes efforts since 1992 to give the successful relationship based on economic cooperation and development assistance a firmer grounding through trade liberalization; 4 articles. Includes proposals for political, economic, and cultural cooperation made at the summit meeting among 48 EU, Latin American, and Caribbean heads of state, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 1999; the 1997 association agreement and 2000 free trade agreement between the EU and Mexico; new emphasis being placed by European nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Latin America on development of civil society and promotion of democracy.

Examines the contributions of African American males to government & politics during the late 20th century, eg, Kweisi Mfume, Colin Powell, J. C. Watts, Jr., Ralph Bunche, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Andrew Young, Jr., & Edward Brooke. This critical analysis (1) presents a historical overview of prominent African American males in the executive, judicial, & legislative branches of the federal government as well as in state & local government; (2) discusses crucial variables that determined the selection of individuals to be examined in this case study, & reflects critically on the unique contributions of the seven aforementioned individuals to national & international affairs; & (3) explores some future implications for black males in the totality of the current US political spectrum. 34 References. Adapted from the source document.

Case studies are used to reveal how 16 foreign-born African American males turn barriers into opportunities. The implicit & explicit motivational factors that assist them in maximizing their fullest potential in mainstream US society are discussed. 28 References. Adapted from the source document.

Reports on a survey study that was conducted by the National Trust for the Development of African-American Men to try to determine the attitudes of 278 men incarcerated in NY toward fatherhood. Findings revealed that incarcerated men were interested in improving their relationships with their children & families & would be willing to participate in a program that would help them do so. 9 References. Adapted from the source document.

Discusses the growth in power and influence of the military and police in Latin American countries in the past decade, relations between them and with government, and their usurpation of the functions of civilian agencies; 8 articles. Includes role of the military in state formation in Colombia and Mexico, reliance of Argentina on police for surveillance and repression of opponents of the government, attitudes of the police who participated in acts of violence and torture in Brazil, militarization of public security and intervention of the military in police work in Mexico City, land rights for Contra veterans, UN-mediated human rights agreements, and other issues.

Challenges the conventional wisdom that 95+% or more of the US adult population believe in God as documented by the frequently cited Gallup Polls. Critical analysis of survey questions about the belief in God asked by various organizations, including Gallup, since the 1940s demonstrate that the simple, dichotomous form used by Gallup & other imitators -- "Do you believe in God or universal spirit?" -- has had the unintended consequence of concealing a downward trend in the certainty of beliefs in God since the 1950s, as well as shifts in the type of beliefs Americans have come to hold about the concept of God. It is concluded that the cultural effect of this methodological failure has been to use Gallup's 90% plus statistic to perpetuate the myth of the universality of Americans' belief in God, a statistic that has invariably been interpreted by various scholars, journalists, & political pundits as believing in a traditional, personal God without any qualification. What Americans believe about the idea of God is not nearly that simple. 1 Appendix, 20 References. Adapted from the source document.

Discusses the role of El Consejo de Educacion de Adultos de America Latina ([CEAAL] the Latin American Council of Adult Education) in popular education. A historical review of CEAAL shows its relationship to popular history & educational philosophers such as Paulo Freire. A review of James Petras & Morris Morley's (eg, 1992) thesis indicates that intellectuals have retreated from the scene of popular education, no longer playing an important role in its construction & implementation. CEAAL's conference discourse relating to feminist projects is discussed, demonstrating a paradox between gender equality & class struggle. The autonomy of CEAAL is addressed in relation to state power structures; political regimes in flux have a limited influence, but more durable state apparatuses create an obstacle for change. It is concluded that CEAAL has made important contributions to liberation politics in Latin America. 1 Table, 113 References. T. Noland