Suchergebnisse

The author focuses on Kant's response to a question posed by Rousseau: What is a citizen? The analysis investigates the reciprocal & pathological tensions between the individual & the state. The author discusses the conceptualization of the people, the divided subject, the presentation of the other, the idea of organization, & the state as master. 51 References. A. Funderburg

"The author discusses in her chapter the EU which presents itself on the one hand, as a normative power and role model to other world regions, while on the other hand, it promotes norms such as gender equality in trade and aid policies. The author finds that the norm of gender equality collides with the neoliberal norms the EU incorporates in its trade regime. The contradictions and inconsistencies which result from this clash are prone to influence EU gender policies in region-to-region relations. By examining which consequences this has for the EU and the effectiveness of its policies, the author investigates the EU interregional relations with the Southern African Development Community (SADC)." (author's abstract)

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 author asks why the design and establishment of political institutions can sometimes contribute to the collapse of peace agreements and power sharing regimes, and further the development of centralized institutional arrangements. Focusing on institutional design after civil war, the author suggests that peace implementation should be viewed as a two phase process. The short term phase centers around confidence building phase, while the long term phase is focuses on security building. The challenges facing rival parties in the both phases are addressed, followed by a discussion of the way these challenges create strain and affect the commitments made to support an agreement. Finally, the author takes the long view, examining how the two step processes affects long term institutional design.

The author contrasts the dangerous linear world view of dialectics with the totemic view of knowledge & "sacred balance" of spatial patterns & timing in the ecosystem that is shared by many indigenous peoples. The relationship between animal & human energies is related in a Kayapo myth & the anthropogenic landscapes of indigenous peoples. The author asserts that the tension between the reductionist commodification of nature that are institutionalized in international conventions verses indigenous intellectual property rights is a reflection of the actual motivations of science. The author concludes that the environmental crisis cannot be solved by technological tampering or superficial political measures, but rather civilization needs to relearn ecological knowledge & sustainable principles from indigenous & traditional peoples. References. J. Harwell

In this reprint from Parameters Autumn 1999 edition, the author asserts that the demise of empires has left the US without a national cause, and craving a new American mission. The author briefly traces the fall of 11 empires in the 250 year history of the US; the French, British, Mexican, European, Japanese, & German empires, as well as the empires of ideology in Korea & Vietnam. He goes on to argue that since America destroyed the old world, & had no vision with which to replace it, the US is perversely supporting oppression rather than taking the leadership role to amend borders peacefully & prevent ethnic cleansings, genocide, & violence. The author asserts that US national security goals should focus on international border issues & support for universal human rights -- with the understanding that sovereignty is the privilege of a just & successful state. The author proposes the formation of a Union of Democratic Nations that would act based on a majority, rather than unanimous, vote & whose purpose would strengthen the mission of a nation "condemned to lead". J. Harwell

An introduction to an edited collection compares immigration during the two major periods (1880-1930 & 1965-2000). Also discussed are the history of sociology & political science in the US, its relationship to the study of immigrant incorporation, & the role of immigrants in American civic culture. Other topics include the recent emergence of transnationalism & its effect on the political behavior of immigrants; the role of the US state in shaping the immigrant experience; the key role of public schools in teaching English, civic ideals, & cultural mores to the immigrants' children; & directions for future research on the national & global immigrant experience. 22 References. J. R. Callahan

An introduction to an edited collection compares immigration during the two major periods (1880-1930 & 1965-2000). Also discussed are the history of sociology & political science in the US, its relationship to the study of immigrant incorporation, & the role of immigrants in American civic culture. Other topics include the recent emergence of transnationalism & its effect on the political behavior of immigrants; the role of the US state in shaping the immigrant experience; the key role of public schools in teaching English, civic ideals, & cultural mores to the immigrants' children; & directions for future research on the national & global immigrant experience. 22 References. J. R. Callahan

The author discusses the lack of communication between African policy makers & regionalist researches in investigating, understanding, predicting, & preventing violent conflict in Africa. The author argues that collaboration between these groups is necessary, & that the first step towards collaboration is to identify research topics relevant to both groups. Research into conflict prolonging factors can serve as a starting point for mutual engagement. She then addresses both opportunities & obstacles for cooperation.

This article addresses some of the lessons learned from analysis of the adaptation of foreign models in Latin American policy reform. The author revisits the theoretical issues raised in the book's introduction, then discusses how foreign models are adapted to fit a country's particular circumstances & how models impact decision making. Finally, the author discusses potential costs & benefits of policy emulation in Latin America countries. References. B. Boyce

The article analyzes the reforms made to Brazil's social security system. Brazil opted to modify its pay as you go system & developed the existing voluntary system which has a higher guaranteed maximum. The author analyzes the reform process, including the strategies used by technical and political groups as they argued for reform. In addition, the author explores the pension privatization movement in Latin America. References. B. Boyce

In this examination of women's involvement in formal & informal politics, the author calls for an expansion in the range & diversity of political leaders. The author also calls for more large-scale, collaborative, & multi-method research designs. The absence of an agreed upon definition of leadership is the result of the dominance of male-defined & male-dominated environments. Since the study of women in political leadership positions is the study of a limited universe of women, generalizations are difficult. Three strains of emergent research on women in office are delineated. In addition, the author stresses the need for new research on feeder institutions & the military, the power of women in politics, policy issues that are not explicitly gender-related, & research that examines whether or not the number & proportion of women has reached, or surpassed, a "critical mass.". J. Harwell

Der Autor untersucht aus der Perspektive einer praxeologischen Wissenssoziologie und mittels der dokumentarischen Methode die Aneignung und Rezeption von Filmen. Anhand des Spielfilms "The Others (2001) entwickelt er verschiedene Typen der Rezeption durch Jugendliche. Er befasst sich vor allem mit dem Typus der "produktiven Aneignung", bei dem sich habituelle Orientierungen der Jugendlichen in wichtigen Komponenten verändern. In einem empirischen Forschungsprojekt wurden hierzu 14 Jugendliche im Alter von 18 bis 22 Jahren nicht nur zum genannten Film, sondern auch zu ihrem Umgang mit Filmen allgemein befragt. Den Film "The Others" haben die Jugendlichen zudem schriftlich nacherzählt, ergänzt um den persönlichen Eindruck und das eigene Urteil. Der Autor bezieht die Nacherzählungen und die Interviews bei der Auswertung jeweils aufeinander und analysiert sie mit Hilfe der dokumentarischen Methode. Seine Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, dass Filme einerseits als Ressource für Gruppeninteraktion und soziale Beziehungen und andererseits als Ressource zur Welterfahrung dienen. Die letztere wird z. B. wirksam, wenn die von einem Film inszenierte Realität von Jugendlichen mit ihrer Alltagspraxis und ihren eigenen Orientierungen verknüpft wird. Der Autor diskutiert ferner Konzepte zur Zuschaueraktivität, vor allem sozialkonstruktivistische Ansätze aus der kognitiven Filmpsychologie, der systemtheoretischen Rezeptionsforschung und den Cultural Studies. (ICI)

"Im Zuge der Auseinandersetzung um nachhaltigere Naturnutzungsformen werden Flusseinzugsgebiete als Einheiten eines integrierten Managements von Land- und Wasserressourcen auf europäischer und internationaler Ebene propagiert. Der Beitrag wendet Oran Young's institutionalistische Analyse von Umweltregimen auf das Flussgebiete an (institutional fit, scale and interplay, Young 2002), kombiniert mit Einsichten aus der STI-Forschung (science, technology, innovation) zur Kopplung zwischen Wissenschaft und anderen gesellschaftlichen Akteuren. Die empirische Analyse vergleicht 30 Flussgebietsinitiativen in 22 Ländern, die sich an dem UNESCO-Programm 'Hydrology, Life, Environment and Policy' (HELP) beteiligen, mit dem Ziel, die Kommunikation zwischen Wissenschaft, Politik, Verwaltung und Interessengruppen ('Stakeholder Dialogue') im Flussgebietsmanagement effektiver zu gestalten. Die Datengrundlage bilden Selbstdarstellungen in HELP-Anträgen und Websites und ca. 20 Interviews mit regionalen Experten. Die vorläufigen Ergebnisse zeigen, dass das Konzept des Flussgebietsmanagements international breit diffundiert ist, aber der Grad der Institutionalisierung nach Ländern noch große Unterschiede aufweist. Es wird eine Typologie der Flussgebietsinitiativen erstellt und darüber hinaus analysiert, wie das 'boundary-management' zwischen Wissenschaft, Politik und Stakeholdern gestärkt werden kann." (Autorenreferat)

The chapter examines shifts in British employment participation for married women & couples, analyzing the influence of husbands' economic & labor status; women's life-cycle (eg, marriage, childbirth) variables since the 1960s; & employment transition patterns. Longitudinal & life-cycle data indicate a trend toward married women's labor-force polarization, with reentry into full-time work after childbirth both swifter & more likely among the highly educated. Other findings support the prevalence of assortative mating; the influence of spousal income & education on women's work transitions; & the comparative weakness of social traditionalism & strengthening of individualism in GB, as opposed to, eg, Germany. 7 Tables, 5 Figures, 1 Appendix, 22 References. K. Coddon