Suchergebnisse

It is argued that the present disenchantment with developmental planning has resulted from the effort of the planners to replicate the Western economic model with its emphasis on industrialization & economic growth without taking into account its appropriateness to the sociocultural & economic conditions prevailing in developing countries. The unidirectional, linear, & monocausal view of development process is questioned. These arguments are illustrated via a review of the thinking embodied in the Indian Five Year Plans, which have failed to provide an answer to the SE ills of the country. A new path of development in tune with the economic & social realities is called for, with emphasis on basic needs, decentralization, participatory planning, social mobilization & self-reliance. Modified AA

The rejection of so-called "methodological individualism" has always been part of the theoretical tradition of historical materialism. From Karl Marx to contemporary works within this theoretical perspective, the points of departure for explaining historico-social phenomena are collective phenomena, which always have priority over individual phenomena. Here, the position of Jon Elster on methodological individualism is presented. Elster is a Norwegian philosopher whose works encompass a variety of disciplines, including analytical philosophy, political science, sociology, economic theory, & Marxism. In his most recent book (Making Sense of Marx, London/Paris: Cambridge U Press/Editions de la Maison des Sciences de l'Homme, 1985), Elster maintains that methodological individualism underlies most of Marx's works, & he defends this methodology by an adequate analysis of social phenomena. Some of the assumptions of methodological individualism that are problematic for the construction of a social theory are pointed out, along with a certain ambiguity in Elster's thesis. Author Summary Tr & Modified by C. Waters

The object of study of Ur sociology has never been adequately defined; the "theoretical tradition" of Ur sociology is merely a group of analytical models, lacking thematic unity. Some reflections on the subject are presented here, based on personal experiences in studying Ur movements in Mexico. Such study should focus on: the Ur question & levels of social practice; the Ur structure as a form of social agglomeration; the dynamics of everyday life; & collective responses to Ur problems. It is concluded that the structure of the city, which is the object of study of Ur sociology, constitutes the basis of capitalist social formation & also of the entire sociological discourse. This is because the city concentrates within it the fundamental SCs of the industrial society; its basic activities, which include the production of goods & services, determine the national wealth & essential processes of consumption & social life; & the everyday character of the relations that integrate these activities are the basis of all the macrostructural processes of social formation, ie, the political, economic, & cultural systems. 1 Schema. C. Waters

Meinungsumfragen zeigen, daß die amerikanische Bevölkerung der Lage der Armen mit Sympathie gegenübersteht. Dieselben Umfragen zeigen jedoch auch, daß sie staatlichen Wohlfahrtsprogrammen mit großer Skepsis begegnet. Diese Widersprüchlichkeit wird noch dadurch verstärkt, daß die Amerikaner mit Reagan eine Regierung mit bewußter Zurücknahme sozialen Engagements gewählt haben und ihr genau dies nun zum Vorwurf machen. Diese Widersprüche werden zum einen dadurch aufgelöst, daß Reagan nicht wegen seiner Schnitte ins soziale Netz gewählt wurde; zum andern dadurch, daß der Autor eine - grob gerechnet - 30jährige Schwingungsbewegung des politischen Pendels zwischen Konservativen und Demokraten feststellt, in deren Zuge auch die Regierungsaktivität mit dem individuell nie verlorengegangenen sozialen Bewußtsein in Einklang gebracht wird. (SWP-Hld)

A readily accessible sample size formula is provided for use in designing multiple regression studies. The formula provides a more accurate determination than commonly used rules of thumb, thus helping to maximize resources at the researcher's disposal. It is also easier to use than existing formulas based on statistical power, a dimension not ordinarily addressed by social scientists. While the formula provided assumes a simple random sample, its use for stratified & cluster samples is discussed as well. 2 Tables, 18 References. AA

A test of two different versions of the "persistence hypothesis" concerning the origins of social tolerance -- (1) a "traditional" view that preadult political socialization leaves attitudinal residues that persist through adulthood, & (2) a "revisionist" view that preadult learning is supplemented by socialization that continues into adulthood -- against a "lifelong openness" view that attitudes are quite open to change in adulthood. Effects of environmental change on racial tolerance, attitudes toward women's place in society, & acceptance of sexual practices are examined, using data from 6 cross-sectional General Social Surveys (1972-1977, with a maximum of 6,021 available cases). It is found that adult levels of social tolerance are influenced by both preadult & early adult attitudinal environments, supporting the persistence hypothesis, especially in its revisionist version. Microenvironment tolerance norms typically show great continuity across most individuals' lifespans, minimizing the clash of adult environments with preadult socialization. In the unusual cases when the two environments do conflict, both significantly influence the individual's level of social tolerance. Persistence may thus be due both to the lasting power of early experience & to environmental continuity through the lifespan. 4 Tables, 2 Figures, 1 Appendix, 40 References. Modified HA