Suchergebnisse

DRAWING ON A COMPARISON OF FRANCE, GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES, THE ARTICLE DEMONSTRATES THAT THE ROLE OF THE STATE UNDER A DEVELOPMENTAL PARADIGM VARIES DEPENDING ON THE IDEAS GUIDING POLICY-MAKERS. THESE VARYING STATE ROLES BECOME EVIDENT IN A COMPARISON OF AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURAL POLICIES BETWEEN 1955 AND 1985. THE US IS SHOWN TO HAVE MOVED TO A REDUCED STATE ROLE AFTER 1985. IN CONTRAST, THE TWO EUROPEAN STATES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE ELABORATION OF A NEW DIFFERENTIATED POLICY PARADIGM THT SEEKS TO BALANCE MARKET LIBERALISM WITH A COMMITMENT TO STATE SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL COHESION.

Contends that people of African descent in colonial America & the early US combined elements of West African spirituality with Christian norms to develop a syncretic form of spirituality. West African concepts of the sacred cosmos, the role of mediators, & experiences with the spiritual presence are described, along with the importance of rituals & ritualistic objects. These beliefs were combined with Euro-American Christianity in religious systems such as voodoo (New Orleans [LA]), hoodoo (US South), Santeria (Cuba, Puerto Rico), & macumba (Brazil). Where traditional African religions were officially prohibited, they survived in an underground form alongside Christianity. Secret "prayer meetings" conducted among the slaves by former West African priests were the basis of an independent social & economic institution, as well as the grounds for covert & overt political action. The roles of "root-working" doctors & conjurers are described, & the impact of Afrocentric practices in Christianity on the New World identity of persons of African descent is discussed. J. Lindroth

Die vergleichende Analyse des Bankensektors in Deutschland, Frankreich, Großbritannien, Kanada und den USA untersucht die Abhängigkeit politischer Macht von den Organisationsstrukturen gesellschaftlicher Interessenverbände im System der Interessenvermittlung. Anhand empirischer Indikatoren (Mitgliederkonkurrenz, interne Ressourcen, horizontale Brücken und vertikale Integration) wird gezeigt, daß das deutsche und französische System der Interessenvermittlung die größten integrativen Kapazitäten aufweist und damit das höchste Potential für die Transformation von ökonomischer in politische Macht besitzt, während das amerikanische System durch eine starke Zersplitterung der Bankenverbände gekennzeichnet ist. (AuD-Ksl)

Comprehensive business associations have always had close ties to their respective states. But the impact of the state extends beyond the founding of individual associations to the structure of systems of comprehensive business action. Supports neo-institutionalists who argue that systematic account must be taken of macropolitical institutions that structure the relationship between individuals in various units of the polity. (SJK)

THE CONCEPTS IN THE LITERATURE ON POLICY NETWORKS AND COMMUNITIES ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY SUGGEST A RENEWED ATTEMPT TO BE BOTH ENCOMPASSING AND DISCRIMINATING IN DESCRIBING THE POLICY PROCESS. HOWEVER, IF THE CONCEPTS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION, SOME PROBLEMS MUST BE RESOLVED. THIS ARTICLE SUGGESTS THREE THAT ARE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT: 1) NETWORK AND COMMUNITY CONCEPTS ENCOUNTER OBSTACLES IN INCORPORATING THE INFLUENCE OF MACROPOLITICAL INSITITUIONS AND THE POWER OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE; 2) THEY HAVE HAD SOME DIFFICULTY IN ACCOMODATING THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF MANY POLICY DOMAINS; AND, 3) THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED WELL THE ISSUES OF POLICY INNOVATION AND POLICY CHANGE.

Utilizes an internationally comparative data set to examine the potentiality of comprehensive business associations to define and articulate the interests of business as a whole. Argues that the organizational structures of comprehensive associations--the degree to which they integrate diverse interest areas and they compete with one another--are critical to the degree of probable influence gained in a given country. Uses data from seven countries. (Abstract amended)