Suchergebnisse

In 1949, political scientist V.O. Key described North Carolina as a "progressive plutocracy." He argued that in the areas of industrial development, public education and race relations, North Carolina appeared progressive when compared to other southern states. Reconsidering Key's evaluation nearly 60 years later, contributors to this volume find North Carolina losing ground as a progressive leader in the south. The "new politics" of the state involves a combination of new and old: new opportunities and challenges have forced the state to change, but the old culture still remains a powerful force. In the 11 essays collected here, leading scholars of North Carolina politics offer a systematic analysis of North Carolina's politics and policy, placed in the context of its own history as well as the politics and policies of other states. Topics discussed include the evolution of politics and political institutions; the roles of governors, the judicial branch, interest groups and party systems; and the part played by economic development and environmental policy. Contributors also address how geography affects politics within the state, region and nation. Designed with students and interested citizens in mind, this collection provides an excellent introduction to contemporary North Carolina politics and government. Contributors: Hunter Bacot, Elon University Christopher A. Cooper, Western Carolina University Thomas F. Eamon, East Carolina University Jack D. Fleer, Wake Forest University Dennis O. Grady, Appalachian State University Ferrel Guillory, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Sean Hildebrand, Western Carolina University Jonathan Kanipe, Town Manager, Catawba, North Carolina H. Gibbs Knotts, Western Carolina University Adam J. Newmark, Appalachian State University Charles Prysby, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Ruth Ann Strickland, Appalachian State University James H. Svara, Arizona State University Timothy Vercellotti, Rutgers University.

ABSTRACTGraduate-program decision makers face a similar challenge: how to design an admissions process that screens out applicants who are unlikely to succeed but does not provide too high an entry barrier for students who can be successful. This study catalogs the use of standardized testing in Master of Public Administration admissions and finds that less than one third of programs require standardized tests for all applicants. Moreover, program prestige, program diversity, and program size do not affect the likelihood that a program requires the Graduate Record Examination. This study also reviews the various standards that universities use to provide test waivers and also discusses other common application materials. The results should be of interest to undergraduate academic advisers and graduate-program directors as well as scholars and practitioners of higher-education administration more generally.

ObjectiveWe determine whetherAmericans have reevaluated opinions toward southerners following the transformation of the region in the decades following thecivilrightsmovement, focusing specifically on how opinions toward southerners vary across racial and regional groups.MethodsWe use both descriptive and multivariate methods to evaluate opinions toward southerners usingAmericanNationalElectionStudy (ANES) data from 1964 to 2008.ResultsOpinions toward southerners have increased dramatically over time. People living in the South display more positive feelings toward southerners than individuals residing outside the region, although the gap is much smaller today than in previous decades. In addition, southern blacks' opinions toward southerners have improved dramatically. These trends hold even when controlling for a host of other factors.ConclusionsBeing a southerner is no longer a pejorative in the minds of manyAmericans. Blacks, in particular, have reevaluated their opinions of southerners as a group.