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Examines audience beliefs related to social conflict as presented in the mass media, considering variances in these beliefs according to type of media & level of personal involvement. Survey data from 385 people, ages 19-30, in university & shopping settings in three mid-Atlantic & New England states reveal that beliefs about social conflict can be attributed to TV & newspaper coverage. Further, sets of beliefs varied according to type of media dependency & level of personal involvement. Results are consistent with Isaac Ajzen & Martin Fishbein's (1975) theory of reasoned action, ie, that people adhere to distinctive beliefs about social conflict, which themselves are shaped by past experiences with the media, & these beliefs influence their choice of information goals. 3 Tables, 1 Appendix. D. Ryfe

As economic restructuring on a global scale has created great wealth, it has also led to the rise of the new nativism in CA through the massive migration & settlement of Latino workers. The legal & illegal immigrants often hold ties to Mexico & support family members there while utilizing CA schools & social services. Poor women have suffered through the racial tensions & social conflict that the populist political measures have created. The Latinization of CA has also made poor & middle-class white citizens vulnerable & has failed to address the root causes of racial & social problems. Case studies from Santa Cruz County of a Mexican farm worker & a white female single parent document the tensions felt by racial groups. Despite the challenges, some individuals have worked across racial boundaries to obtain personal & political connections. L. A. Hoffman

The author explores the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a focus on the role & sacrifices of the Congolese people. The conflict in the Congo has fueled stereotypes about Congo, that it is the "heart of darkness" & "trigger of Africa" characterized by tribal conflict, dictatorship, & social cannibalism. While the atrocities that fuel these stereotypes cannot be downplayed, the strength of the Congolese people should be acknowledged. After briefly reviewing the failed state model of conflict analysis, the author addresses the national identity of the Congolese, their belief in the importance of a unified state, & their struggle to ensure survival, both physical & collective, & improve their well being.

In the final chapter of the collection, the author suggests that an alternative research agenda should be developed, one that focuses on generating information with "practical relevance to conflict prevent." After discussing the weaknesses of the current orthodoxy on violent conflict and conflict prevention in sub-Saharan Africa, the author addresses the major challenges faced by conflict prevention. Finally, the author concludes by exploring why a focus on violence and agency rather than conflict and cause is necessary, and how the tenants of cultural studies and post-modern sociology can be applied.

Draws on the rational choice tradition to explain the emergence of, & changes in, social norms, arguing that the choice of which norms are enforced by a community is determined by the interests of the actors with a bargaining advantage. Social norms are therefore a by-product of strategic conflict among those seeking distributional dominance, emphasizing the importance of resource asymmetries. The effect of ideological commitment & nonmaterial preferences on bargaining over changing norms is discussed, along with the problems involved in enforcement. The power of the bargaining approach is illustrated by a case study of changes in marriage norms among the Galole Orma, a pastoral clan of Kenya's Tana River District. It is shown that the influence of cultural beliefs on both powerful & subordinate groups hampered normal enforcement, underscoring the argument that rational choice accounts of social norms incorporate both power asymmetries & distributional consequences. 35 References. J. Lindroth

The authors discuss the relationship between decentralization and conflict, focusing on the local level. They address the dangers that accompany decentralization, particularly the potential for new ethnic conflicts, or the revival of old ones. Before exploring the situation in Mali, the authors present an overview of scholarship on decentralization and the effects of colonial regimes on the African state. Their discussion of Mali includes a detailed description of Mali and an analysis of the Malian government preparation for and implementation of decentralization.

A discussion of five principles of conflict formation developed through the work of Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and the European Centre for Common Ground (ECCG). The five principles are: make long-term commitments for social transformation, seek cross-cultural immersion; work within the system, model what you aim to bring forth, and look for and appreciate catalytic impact. The author discusses each principle, providing examples from Africa for each one.

The author analyzes the use & rhetoric of 'conflict prevention' in Africa. In the post-cold war era the notion of conflict prevention, became a popular one among politicians as well as political scientists. The notion was then picked up by African policy makers & diplomats as a way to garner outside support to fight continental conflict. However, the structure of African government made it relative ineffective. In this chapter, the author analyzes the concept of conflict prevention & how it has been used in Africa, focusing on the work of the continent's inter-governmental institutions. These institutions, run by political elites, represent some of the more powerful institutions on the continent. The author prefaces this discussion with comments on the concept of conflict prevention & mediation.

The impact of European colonization & historical competition for various resources on contemporary conflicts between developing nations is examined. An overview of multiple European conflicts, particularly those between the 14th & early 19th centuries, demonstrates how these competitions affected the various participants. The consequences of these sundry struggles between European combatants are considered, & regional & national reactions to European colonization are studied, revealing that such policies actually deepened conflicts between indigenous groups; Belgium's role in exacerbating the conflict between the Hutus & Tutsis in mid- & late-20th-century Rwanda is discussed to illustrate the destructive legacy of European colonization. The need for Western nations to understand their role in shaping history & to modify their attitudes toward conflicts in developing nations is stressed. J. W. Parker

The impact of European colonization & historical competition for various resources on contemporary conflicts between developing nations is examined. An overview of multiple European conflicts, particularly those between the 14th & early 19th centuries, demonstrates how these competitions affected the various participants. The consequences of these sundry struggles between European combatants are considered, & regional & national reactions to European colonization are studied, revealing that such policies actually deepened conflicts between indigenous groups; Belgium's role in exacerbating the conflict between the Hutus & Tutsis in mid- & late-20th-century Rwanda is discussed to illustrate the destructive legacy of European colonization. The need for Western nations to understand their role in shaping history & to modify their attitudes toward conflicts in developing nations is stressed. J. W. Parker

Examines how social conflict is changing in Poland's postcommunist transformation. Causes, frequency, & settlement of legal disputes in 3 Polish cities (Warsaw, Olesno, & Lesko) during the late 1970s & 1989-1993 are analyzed, & several recent cases are described in greater detail. It is concluded that: patterns of interpersonal conflicts show some change; private accusation cases have decreased in frequency, largely due to higher filing fees; civil disputes have generally increased since 1990, particularly corporate suits against individuals; & other types of conflict have also changed. Citizens are now more likely to challenge the decisions of local authorities. Such conflicts are also more likely to be collectivized (eg, a city's unemployed population confronts their mayor). Such transformation-related conflicts can function to increase political awareness. 5 Tables, 13 References. E. Blackwell

Tests the hypothesis that the higher the level of perceived conflict about an issue in a community, the higher the level of knowledge attained about that issue. Data are drawn from 2 case studies in MN of a dispute concerning (among other environmental issues) whether control & regulation of power lines ought to be regionalized. Analysis indicates that individuals tended to get their first information about the issue from the mass media, but, as time passed, they got more of their information from interpersonal communication. As the intensity of the conflict increased, a reciprocal effect occurred among media & discussions with other persons. Thus, intensity of conflict is closely associated with amount of knowledge about the conflict. This relationship particularly holds true for technical knowledge about an issue over which there is a great deal of conflict. It is concluded that the conflict-knowledge hypothesis is valid. 7 Tables, 6 Figures. D. Ryfe

Analyzes the complete transcript of an evening TV news program broadcast in Adelaide, South Australia, 7 Mar 1995, to explore how TV news frames social conflict. It is found that the news is built not according to a strategy of coherence, but in terms of rhythms related to types of news reports & placements of happy/unhappy, climax/release, & stress/contentment narrative. These rhythms & narratives carry the implicit assumption that stability & security exist only in the boundaries of the nation-state &, beyond this structure, simply ensure an audience's assimilation to dominant social structures & values, it is contended that the news is structured in a porous fashion to adapt to the constantly shifting social & private lives of viewers. It is on occasions when these private lives & typical news narratives converge that new cultural knowledge is gained & people's ideological frames are resituated. In the near future, the globalization of news is likely to put great pressure on this ideological system. 7 Tables. D. Ryfe