Suchergebnisse

Ways that rural workers in Brazil formulate themselves as collective political subjects through their participation in social movements are examined, evaluating their role in Brazil's ongoing political transition in the context of the still entrenched authoritarian rural power structures. Rural social movements contribute to democratization in two respects: as counterweights to authoritarian agrarian elites & the state at the local & regional levels, & as vehicles for transforming & strengthening the political identities of rural workers themselves. Their political capacity is currently limited, however, by their lack of strong ties to intermediate institutions such as unions & political parties. 85 References. Adapted from the source document.

An assessment of a tradition of research that analyzes long-term cultural dynamics of political values by applying quantitative content analysis based on the Laswell Value Dictionary (reference not provided) to political documents. Using this method on data from the US & GB suggests recurring cycles of value orientations. Data obtained from a similar analysis for Switzerland are compared with findings regarding the US, GB, & the Federal Republic of Germany; the results suggest that changes in these countries occur in independent fashion in both theme & extent. In Switzerland, moreover, political texts are subject to a distinction based on the predominance of instrumental vs ethical themes, a dimension that appears to be related to long-term modernization. 4 Tables, 2 Figures, 34 References. Adapted from the source document.

An introduction to this special journal issue concerning party strategies & party-voter linkages. In these articles, a broad conception of linkage (interconnection between mass opinion & public decision) is stressed, rather than a narrow one (direct contact between citizens & parties & elected officials). The articles attempt to bring together analyses of parties & of voters. 21 References. A. Cole

THIS ARTICLE EXPLORES THE CONSTANTS TENSION BETWEEN TWO IMPERATIVES IN THE NEWS MEDIA: THE DUTY TO INFORM, AND THE TEMPTATION TO ENTERTAIN, THE AUTHOR CONCENTRATES ON THE EFFECT THAT MEDIA COVERAGE CAN HAVE ON TERRORISM. HE RECOUNTS HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF BEING ABDUCTED BY TERRORISTS AND OF THE AGREEMENT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY MADE WITH HIS FAMILY TO NOT GIVE AND MEDIA COVERAGE TO TERRORIST ACTS. HE BELIEVES THE RESULTING MEDIA SILENCE WAS ONE CHIEF FACTOR IN HIS RELEASE. NOT ONLY DO TERRORISTS CRAVE MEDIA COVERAGE, BUT THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IN A SENSATIONAL FASHION TENDS TO ADD LEGITIMACY TO THEIR CLAIMS AND ACTIVITIES.

Vor der Unabhängigkeit Simbabwes war der Zugang zu den Schulen durch Rassengesetze geregelt, was zu extremen Restriktionen führte. Auch zehn Jahre später ist noch die Hälfte der Erwachsenen Analphabeten. Danach folgte eine Phase der quantitativen Ausweitung des Bildungswesens, wobei aber beachtlich qualitative Mängel festgestellt werden. Gefordert wird eine weitere demokratische Diskussion der künftigen Entwicklung sowie nicht zuletzt eine Reform der Lehrerausbildung. Die Lehrer sind zudem in ihrer Kreativität durch die hierarchische Verwaltungsstruktur eingeengt. (DÜI-Wsl)

THE AUTHOR EXPLAINS WHY ECONOMIC REFORMS FAIL UNDER SOVIET-TYPE SYSTEMS DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF THE RULERS TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR AILING ECONOMIES. APPLYING A PROPERTY-RIGHTS APPROACH, HE POINTS TO THE FACT THAT ALL SEGMENTS OF THE RULING STRATUM BENEFIT FROM MAINTAINING AN UNDEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM. PARTY APPARATCHIKS AND ECONOMIC BUREAUCRATS ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE PERSISTENT INTERFERENCE IN THE PATENTLY INEFFICIENT ECONOMIC SYSTEM. THEREFORE, THEY ARE MOST INTERESTED IN MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO IN THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM. MOREOVER, SINCE THE RULERS TURN TO THE BUREAUCRATS TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT REFORMS, THEIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR PREVENTING, DISTORTING, AND/OR ABORTING REFORMS ARE GREAT.

THE LINKAGE OF REGIME CHANGE AND ECONOMIC CRISIS IN SOME OF THE MORE INDUSTRIALIZED LATIN AMERICAN STATES MAY BE SUMMARIZED IN THE FORM OF A MODEL WITH SIX ELEMENTS: A SHIFT IN THE PATTERN OF INDUSTRIALIZATION; DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN INVESTORS AND FOREIGN SOURCES OF CREDIT; TECHNOCRATS; THE POTENTIAL FOR CRISIS; A DELICATELY-BALANCED POLITICAL SITUATION; AND THE MILITARY. THE RECENT WAVE OF DEMOCRATIZATION CHALLENGES THIS MODEL. IN AT LEAST SOME COUNTRIES, MILITARY WITHDRAWAL HAS OCCURRED IN A CLIMATE REMINISCENT OF THOSE THIS MODEL SUGGESTS ARE DEMOCRACY-DESTROYING. IN THIS ESSAY, THE AUTHOR USES A CASE STUDY OF BRAZIL TO TEST THE MODEL.

THE IMMIGRATION REFORM AND CONTROL ACT OF 1986 WAS DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO CONTROL ILLEGAL HISPANIC RESIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT THE POLICY AS IMPLEMENTED FAILED TO REMOVE, VIA LEGALIZATION, ILLEGAL RESIDENTS RESIDING WITHIN THE USA. IN THIS ARTICLE, THE AUTHOR CONSIDERS THE VIEWS OF HISPANIC ORGANIZATIONS AND ILLEGAL RESIDENTS AND ENDEAVOURS TO IDENTIFY THOSE VARIABLES THAT MAY HAVE SERVED TO NEGATE THIS PUBLIC POLICY. HE USES A QUALITATIVE AND DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS WHICH INDICATES THAT THE EXCLUSION AND/OR LACK OF CONSIDERATION GIVEN THE VIEWS OF TARGETED GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS IN AGENDA SETTING ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE EFFICACY OF THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESS AND, THEREFORE, THE LAW.

ONE STRAND OF ENDOGENOUS-GROWTH MODELS ASSUMES CONSTANT RETURNS TO A BROAD CONCEPT OF CAPITAL. THE AUTHOR EXTENDS THESE MODELS TO INCLUDE TAX-FINANCED GOVERNMENT SERVICES THAT AFFECT PRODUCTION OR UTILITY. GROWTH AND SAVINGS RATES FALL WITH AN INCREASE IN UTILITY-TYPE EXPENDITURES; THE TWO RATES RISE INITIALLY WITH PRODUCTIVE GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES BUT SUBSEQUENTLY DECLINE. WITH AN INCOME TAX, THE DECENTRALIZED CHOICES OF GROWTH AND SAVING ARE "TOO LOW," BUT IF THE PRODUCTION FUNCTION IS COBB-DOUGLAS, THE OPTIMIZING GOVERNMENT STILL SATISFIES A NATURAL CONDITION FOR PRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY. EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE ACROSS COUNTRIES SUPPORTS SOME OF THE HYPOTHESES ABOUT GOVERNMENT AND GROWTH.

Wie die Autorin darlegt, spielten in Deng Xiaopings Reformkonzept, das eine Umgestaltung der chinesischen Wirtschaftsverhältnisse unter Beibehaltung der politischen Strukturen vorsah, finanz- bzw. steuerpolitische Dezentralisierungsmaßnahmen eine zentrale Rolle. Die Studie beschäftigt sich daher mit der durch die Finanzreform von 1980 bewirktrn Umgestaltung der Finanzbeziehungen zwischen Zentrale und Provinzen (Aufteilung der Einnahmen, Definition der Finanz- bzw. Steuerhoheit etc.), wobei sie auch auf die politischen Implikationen dieser Neugestaltung der chinesischen Finanzverfassung (neues politisches Gewicht der Provinzen und Provinzinteressen) eingeht. (BIOst-Hml)

While focussing on the role solipsistic violence played in the development of Zionist and Palestinian consciousness and institutions, the argument developed is that since the 1970s there has been a substantial shift from "solipsistic" rationales (directed toward the beliefs, intentions, and behavior of one's own group) to "other-directed" violence (directed at the beliefs, intentions, and behavior of adversaries). In conclusion the author suggests that a necessary condition for resolving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is that other-directed rationales must come to take precedence over solipsistic motives in the balance of violence each side perpetrates against the other. (DÜI-Hns)

Hong Kong's projected unification with the People's Republic of China in 1997 has resulted in much debate as to the future of the Crown Colony under communist rule. This debate has been dominated by concerns for Hongkong's political future. According to the author, ironclad guarantees of human rights and democratic institutions will be meaningless, should Hong Kong become impoverished after 1997. After assessing Hongkong's future by outlining the structural factors that made its economic prosperity possible, he examines how Hongkong Chinese have taken advantage of the factors in commence and discusses how these factors may change after 1997. (DÜI-Sen)