Suchergebnisse

Data for examining the effect of clergy mobilization strategies on grassroots activism in inner-city churches were gathered from participant observation at St. Sabina Catholic Church, on Chicago's South Side, where Rev. Michael Pfleger uses Sunday sermons to promote participation in weekly antidrug marches. It is maintained that "Father Mike" redefines church membership to include the marches, & strengthens his parishioners' sense of political effectiveness by linking march participation with the congregation's values & identity. Parishioners with the most exposure to sermons had higher levels of political efficacy, were more likely to believe church membership involves participation in ministries, & tended to place a religious interpretation on the marches. The findings suggest that clergy are most apt to succeed at political mobilization when they utilize wide frames that have the potential to resonate with diverse audiences. By calling the antidrug marches both "marches to take back the streets" & "Friday night ministry walks," Father Mike realized a greater turnout than if the plea had been framed in strictly political or strictly religious terms. 4 Tables. J. Lindroth

Data for examining the effect of clergy mobilization strategies on grassroots activism in inner-city churches were gathered from participant observation at St. Sabina Catholic Church, on Chicago's South Side, where Rev. Michael Pfleger uses Sunday sermons to promote participation in weekly antidrug marches. It is maintained that "Father Mike" redefines church membership to include the marches, & strengthens his parishioners' sense of political effectiveness by linking march participation with the congregation's values & identity. Parishioners with the most exposure to sermons had higher levels of political efficacy, were more likely to believe church membership involves participation in ministries, & tended to place a religious interpretation on the marches. The findings suggest that clergy are most apt to succeed at political mobilization when they utilize wide frames that have the potential to resonate with diverse audiences. By calling the antidrug marches both "marches to take back the streets" & "Friday night ministry walks," Father Mike realized a greater turnout than if the plea had been framed in strictly political or strictly religious terms. 4 Tables. J. Lindroth

Draws on personal experience living in the neighborhood to describe the lives of Puerto Rican crack dealers & their families in a housing project in New York City's Spanish Harlem. Life stories point out gendered violence & social suffering, as well as the importance & joy of family life. They paint a poignant picture of parents involved in the preparation, distribution, & use of crack cocaine along with teenagers working as dealers because they cannot find employment in the legal job market. The history of Puerto Rican immigration & the restructuring of New York City's economy are examined as a contextual framework for the violence, terror, & family erosion common in East Harlem. The special plight of children is explored, along with teen pregnancy as the most attractive alternative to female adulthood on the street. The mainstream media's demonization of mothers who use crack is discussed, arguing that the problem will not be solved until these mothers are understood as women searching for meaning in their lives & protesting against the nearly impossible task of raising healthy children in their neighborhood. 31 References. J. Lindroth

Examines the political & social factors leading to the transformation of the Swedish prison system. Since the 1970s, Sweden had been praised for its humane penal system, which incorporated short prison sentences, welfare benefits, the right to leave prison for special occasions, & emphasis on rehabilitation. However, perceived increases in crime rates & drug abuse led to more restrictive penal policies during the 1980s, & in 1991, a conservative government came into power, boosted by an anticrime compaign that called for longer & more repressive prison sentences. Although an economic crisis brought the Social Democratic Party back into power in 1994, this government has maintained many of the conservative government's innovations, including mandatory incarceration for 66% of a sentence, electronic tagging of certain criminals, & harsher drug policies. However, the Social Democrats have also recommitted themselves to incarceration alternatives & crime prevention through welfare, education, drug programs, etc. It is concluded that the shift toward a more punitive & exclusionary philosophy is the product of recent social, political, & media attitudes that regard crime & criminals (especially drugs) as an external attack on Swedish values. 5 Tables, 40 References. T. Sevier

Explores consequences of war for children in Croatia, maintaining that fear & chronic stress are inhibiting their moral development & social maps. Government & other statistics indicate that high numbers of children are experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, while others are exhibiting overly aggressive behavior & other forms of trauma-induced emotional disturbance. Accounts of children who were direct victims are related. A description of indirect victims includes the many known orphans, hundreds of children whose parents are missing, & those forced to relocate in Croatia or another country. Many displaced children still live in overcrowded refugee camps that lack adequate food, water, or sanitation -- circumstances that exacerbate feelings of insecurity. Behavioral problems exhibited by children who have returned to their villages include drug abuse & delinquency. The additional problems of unexploded land mines & family dysfunction resulting from poverty/unemployment are discussed. 3 Tables, 17 References. J. Lindroth

Discusses the potential of various sensory-enhancing technologies in terrorist situations & the legal & constitutional questions raised by their use. The utility & efficiency of ambient light magnification, audio amplification, infrared lighting, & radar are compared. The potential for abuse of Fourth Amendment privacy rights, as seen in the 1967 Katz v. US case, & the legal implications of specific applications of these technologies in "classic" (drug interdiction) & "nonclassic" (counterterrorist) situations are assessed. It is shown how courts rely on passive vs penetrative technology distinctions to resolve these issues & how improvements in technology could provide a more accurate audio & visual record of terrorist incidents. These distinctions may influence the development & marketing of future sensory-enhancing technologies. T. Arnold

A discussion of political violence in Colombia looks at institutional stability; the characteristics of escalating violence; the relationship between the armed forces & right-wing guerrillas; & the chances for peace. It is argued that the absence of strong collective ethnic, linguistic, religious, or ideological identities suggests that a generalized civil war is unlikely; however, the increasing social imbalance could cause a partial collapse of the state in both the political & economic realms. The "negative stalemate" that exists between the armed forces & guerrillas is described, along with the characteristics of paramilitary groups, death squads, & self-defense groups; & attempts to unify all self-defense groups under a national organization of contra-guerrillas. The current tendency toward the privatization of war & citizen security is discussed to argue that it implies a loss of governmental control over both arms & justice. It is contended that Colombia has become a problem for the international community because of the unremitting increase in violence, human rights abuses, corruption, the drug trade, & environmental destruction. Prospects for the future are discussed. J. Lindroth

A discussion of political violence in Colombia looks at institutional stability; the characteristics of escalating violence; the relationship between the armed forces & right-wing guerrillas; & the chances for peace. It is argued that the absence of strong collective ethnic, linguistic, religious, or ideological identities suggests that a generalized civil war is unlikely; however, the increasing social imbalance could cause a partial collapse of the state in both the political & economic realms. The "negative stalemate" that exists between the armed forces & guerrillas is described, along with the characteristics of paramilitary groups, death squads, & self-defense groups; & attempts to unify all self-defense groups under a national organization of contra-guerrillas. The current tendency toward the privatization of war & citizen security is discussed to argue that it implies a loss of governmental control over both arms & justice. It is contended that Colombia has become a problem for the international community because of the unremitting increase in violence, human rights abuses, corruption, the drug trade, & environmental destruction. Prospects for the future are discussed. J. Lindroth