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By way of introducing a collection of essays devoted to assessing the state of the discipline of political science, US political science is scrutinized. Key elements contained in its genesis are delineated: formal institutions, public administration, & law; a focus on Wilsonian political liberalism; & a commitment to the scientific project & a pragmatic view of the modern state. Attention turns to approaches guiding theorists & the staple questions driving inquiry: eg, state-society linkages, political citizenship, participation, choice, power, & state institutional functioning. While advancing, the state of the discipline is deemed wanting, as key questions remain unresolved. Further, the single model of the liberal democratic state that has emerged must now be reckoned with in the current insecure global environment. J. Zendejas

Die Autorin setzt sich in ihrem Beitrag mit den Bedingungen der feministischen Hochschulbildung in Afrika kritisch auseinander. Obwohl afrikanische Frauenforscherinnen versuchen, ihre eigenen indigenen theoretischen Modelle zu entwickeln, um die afrikanische Politik zu erklären, müssen sie bei diesem Bestreben mit Wissenschaftlern aus Europa und Nordamerika konkurrieren, die auf besser finanzierten und etablierteren Grundlagen ihre Forschungsarbeiten betreiben. Die feministischen Wissenschaftlerinnen in Afrika müssen darüber hinaus mit den von den Geberländern des Nordens geförderten Forschungsmitteln und mit einem vorwiegend männlich dominierten Wissenschaftsbetrieb kämpfen. Die Autorin stellt fest, dass sich die feministischen Studien an den Hochschulen in Afrika aus einer Kritik der "Women In Development" (WID) entwickelt haben, die sich aber eher mit den Symptomen als mit den Ursachen der Ungleichheit von Frauen beschäftigen. Die Gender Studies begannen außerhalb des Hochschulbereichs und werden hier gegenwärtig immer noch nicht voll akzeptiert. Dennoch erklären sich Feministinnen dazu bereit, Gender-Seminare zusätzlich zu ihren normalen Lehrveranstaltungen durchzuführen. Die Frauenrechtlerinnen haben darüber hinaus eine Vielzahl von nichtstaatlichen Organisationen gegründet, die eine wichtige Rolle bei der Vertiefung der Frauen- und Geschlechterforschung in Afrika spielen. (ICI).

Der Charakter der japanischen Sozialwissenschaften war aus historischer Sicht immer schon international, indem ein Austausch bzw. Import von Wissen und Gelehrten aus westlichen Ländern seit ihrer frühesten Entwicklung im 19. Jahrhundert erfolgte. Heute ist es ihr Ziel, welches von den Regierungsorganisationen vorgegeben wird, das vorhandene Wissen in andere Teile der Welt zu exportieren. In diesem Sinne waren die Aktivitäten der Sozialwissenschaften in Japan seit etwa eineinhalb Jahrhunderten durch den Import / Export von Fachwissen geprägt. Dabei hat immer die Regierungspolitik die Initiative ergriffen, um den internationalen Status der japanischen Sozialwissenschaften zu wahren. In diesem Kontext ist danach zu fragen, was einzelne Gelehrte dazu beigetragen haben, die Internationalisierungsbestrebungen der Regierung zu unterstützen. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden daher abseits der politischen Aspekte die Faktoren untersucht, welche zur Internationalisierung der Sozialwissenschaften in Japan geführt haben. Hierzu wird erstens der deutsche Einfluss auf die japanischen Sozialwissenschaften im späten 19. Jahrhundert sowie der Einfluss des Marxismus untersucht. Zweitens werden die Entwicklung des Hochschulsystems in Japan zwischen Forschung und Arbeitsmarkt sowie die Formen der interkulturellen Kommunikation in den Blick genommen. (ICI).

In an introduction to this edited volume (see related abstracts in IRPS No. 87), the field of cultural studies & its relation to science & technology are discussed. It is suggested that the traditional belief in the primacy of cause/effect relationships fails to recognize the complexity & interdependence of variables in the modern world. Culture, science, & technology are not distinct entities, but overlapping fields, which transform & are transformed by each other. Although science & technology have permeated modern society, they do not independently determine the outcomes of social situations & evolution. It is argued that traditional deterministic social sciences must be replaced by a theory of complexity that erodes the boundaries between distinct forms of knowledge & perspectives, & seeks to consider cause in terms of multiple & merging influences. Further, region-oriented communities are becoming less important as technology allows easy communication with distant others, & thereby facilitates the bypass of local ties. It is concluded that the field of cultural studies is best equipped to deal with the rapidly changing circumstances of the modern world due to its appropriation of knowledge from diverse perspectives, & its lack of fundamental & fixed principles. T. Sevier

Discusses the historical & current relationship between the social sciences, the scientific method, & postmodern theory. Drawing on the methodology & conclusions of Galileo, modern science has attempted to reduce the distance between science & reality through objective methodology & heightened rationality. It is argued here that the scientific method relies more on the choice of appropriate language & vocabulary than on actual correspondence between methodology & fact. Social scientists have traditionally adopted this skewed approach to life through the scientific method, which blurs rather than reveals reality. The boundaries between explanation & understanding, or nature & humanity, have little meaning in the real world, & it is suggested that the social sciences must be seen as continuous with literature, history, anthropology, politics, etc. Both Thomas Dewey & Michel Foucault advocate rejection of traditional notions of rationality, objectivity, method, & truth. However, it is concluded that Dewey's vocabulary allows more room for hope & solidarity within the social sciences. T. Sevier

Argues that the sociology of law should continue its long-standing focus on law & governmentality, but also should expand its analysis to an examination of the interaction of legal & nonlegal forms of governance. The beginning of such an enterprise is provided by the work of Michel Foucault (1977), raising the question of law's role in modern forms of governmental rationality. It is suggested that Foucault's analysis ought to be revised to attend to the plurality of forms of law & governance, & to focus more explicitly on forms of state power. Using this conception, it is contended that the key link between law & modern power is that law plays the organizational & ideological role of providing temporary moments of unification within dispersed fields of social power. This approach to law & governance is favored over others because it facilitates an account that remains sensitive to variations in modes of governance & local power while remaining attentive to the role of the state in the condensation of power relations. 69 References. D. M. Smith

An exploration of science in professional associations focuses on international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) that are strictly science- or socially oriented. It is shown that, although science-oriented INGOs were the first to emerge, socially oriented bodies have expanded greatly in recent decades as science has become part of contemporary models of national development. The goals, structures, & activities of the approximately 350 international science associations that were active in 1994 are described, showing how they reflect & embody world culture. The implications of the increase in these organizations are discussed in regard to the general expansion of scientific authority, the "scientization" of many social realms, & the emergence of new cognitive models linking scientific activity to societal development that have led to greater levels of international organization around science. It is shown that scientific INGOs are not only important to professionals in peripheral states, but have often provided the impetus for states to develop science policies. Possible future implications of the increasing presence of science in governance are discussed. 2 Tables, 2 Figures. J. Lindroth