Suchergebnisse

A general theory of conflict and violence (Ross, forthcoming) can help in understanding the relationship between internal and external conflict. Looking at a sample of 90 preindustrial societies supports the proposition that the two have a moderate, positive relationship. More important, however, the analysis identifies conditions under which the two forms of political conflict are associated, and those under which they are differentiated. The strength and patterns of cross-cutting ties are very different in societies in which internal and external conflict covary and societies in which internal and external conflict are independent. Similarly, the structural features of society are central determinants of whether targets of overt aggression are within a society, located outside it, or both. Finally, dispositional (psychocultural) characteristics found in a society are the best predictors of overall conflict levels, but are not useful in distinguishing between internal and external targets. In the conclusion the elements of a general theory of conflict involving both structural and dispositional considerations are elaborated.

Political alienation is analyzed as feelings of political estrangement & political powerlessness. Through interviews with 498 randomly chosen adults in two Nairobi neighborhoods, conducted in Dec 1967, attitudes of differing ethnic groups are determined. Very different social & attitudinal bases are revealed for each orientation. Controlled comparison of the two major ethnic groups, the Kikuyu & Luo, indicates the importance of social structure for understanding the different mechanisms working within subgroups of a population to relate estrangement/powerlessness & participation. Some conceptual variables represented by the proper names of the various ethnic groups are suggested as explanations of the between group differences. 6 Tables. Modified HA.

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION TYPICALLY DEPENDS ON SOCIAL SCALE, DEFINED AS THE EXTENT OF A COMMUNITY'S INTERDEPENDENCE WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES. THIS DEPENDENCE NEED NOT ALWAYS EXHIBIT THE SAME PATTERN. IF ALL POLITICAL PARTICIPATION HAS THE SAME MOTIVES, INDIVIDUALS WITH A HIGH SCALE POSITION SHOULD BE MORE OFTEN INVOLVED IN ANY ORGANIZATION, WHILE, IF VARYING PATTERNS EXIST, DIFFERENT POLITICAL MOVEMENTS & ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD BE ATTRACTIVE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH VARYING SCALE POSITIONS. 498 INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED IN 2 NEIGHBORHOODS OF NAIROBI, KENYA. A TEST OF RESPONSE PATTERNS SHOWS 2 CONTRASTING FACTORS IN PARTICIPATION: FACTOR II REFLECTS INVOLVEMENT IN A PARTY, FACTOR I REFLECTS INDEPENDENT ACTION TO GAIN ONE'S ENDS THROUGH POLITICAL CHANNELS. SCALE IS MEASURED BY SS, SEX, CITY RESIDENCE LENGTH, CONTACT WITH RU AREAS, & FRIENDSHIPS OUTSIDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ONLY ONE OF THESE VARIABLES SHOWED THE SAME R WITH BOTH PARTICIPATION FACTORS: M'S PARTICIPATE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE OFTEN THAN F'S. FACTOR II (INDEPENDENCE STYLE) IS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW EDUCATION & INCOME, & WITH LONG RESIDENCE IN NAIROBI, WHILE FACTOR I (POST-INDEPENDENCE STYLE) IS LINKED WITH HIGH EDUCATION & INCOME WITH RU CONTACTS. PERSONS WITH VARIED FRIENDSHIPS ARE MORE READILY RECRUITED INTO POST-INDEPENDENCE STYLE POLITICS, WHICH INVOLVES MORE DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF POLITICS & LESS ORIENTATION TO PARTY MEMBERSHIP OR SYMBOLS. THUS, DIFFERENT STYLES OF ACTIVITY RECRUIT PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT SCALE POSITIONS. 6 TABLES. MODIFIED HA.