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The Parkin Backfire, Brian Martin, I. Murray
The Parkin Backfire, Brian Martin, I. Murray
Brian Martin
In September 2005, the Australian government arrested and deported Scott Parkin, a visiting US peace activist. This caused a storm of protest and greatly stimulated community interest in nonviolent action and threats to civil liberties. The Parkin case shows how an injustice can backfire and how activists can use an understanding of backfire dynamics to be more effective.
Exposing And Opposing Censorship: Backfire Dynamics In Freedom-Of-Speech Struggles, S. Curry Jansen, Brian Martin
Exposing And Opposing Censorship: Backfire Dynamics In Freedom-Of-Speech Struggles, S. Curry Jansen, Brian Martin
Brian Martin
Censorship can backfire because it is usually viewed as a violation of the right to free expression, which is widely valued as an ideal; under the Charter of the United Nations, freedom of expression is a universal human right. Backfire occurs, for example, when censorious attacks on a film or book cultivate increased demand for the forbidden work rather than restrict access to it. Censors can inhibit this backfire effect in various ways, including covering up the censorship, devaluing the target, reinterpreting the action, using official channels, and using intimidation and bribery. These five methods to inhibit backfire from attacks …
Challenging Dominant Physics Paradigms, J. M. Campanario, Brian Martin
Challenging Dominant Physics Paradigms, J. M. Campanario, Brian Martin
Brian Martin
There are many well-qualified scientists who question long-established physics theories even when paradigms are not in crisis. Challenging scientific orthodoxy is difficult because most scientists are educated and work within current paradigms and have little career incentive to examine unconventional ideas. Dissidence is a strategic site for learning about the dynamics of science. Dozens of well-qualified scientists who challenge dominant physics paradigms were contacted to determine how they try to overcome resistance to their ideas. Some such challengers obtain funding in the usual ways; others tap unconventional sources or use their own funds. For publishing, many challengers use alternative journals …
The Burden Of Proof And The Origin Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Brian Martin
The Burden Of Proof And The Origin Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Brian Martin
Brian Martin
There is a distinct difference in the way that different theories about the origin of AIDS have been treated, with the widely supported cut-hunter theory given relatively little scrutiny while the oral-polio-vaccine theory has been subject to intense criticism. This difference in treatment cannot be explained as application of the scientific method. A better explanation is that the burden of proof is put on all contenders to the cut-hunter theory, giving it an unfair advantage, especially given that this assignment of the burden of proof appears to reflect nonscientific factors.
Nonviolence Versus Terrorism, Brian Martin
Nonviolence Versus Terrorism, Brian Martin
Brian Martin
The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 were an enormous setback for the cause of nonviolence. They provided a stimulus and ostensible justification for a spiral of violence in which nonviolent alternatives are marginalised. Nonviolence offers numerous ways to oppose and prevent terrorism, but such responses are totally at odds with the way government leaders conceive the world.
Dilemmas Of Defending Dissent: The Dismissal Of Ted Steele From The University Of Wollongong, Brian Martin
Dilemmas Of Defending Dissent: The Dismissal Of Ted Steele From The University Of Wollongong, Brian Martin
Brian Martin
The summary dismissal of Ted Steele from the University of Wollongong in February 2001 was the most significant case of its type in Australian higher education in half a century. The Steele dismissal case is placed in the context of academic freedom in Australia, the development of the University of Wollongong and Steele's own background. The moves made by key players in the drama - the university administration, the National Tertiary Education Union, the Department of Biological Sciences and Steele - are assessed in the light of possible alternatives. The case shows that rhetoric about free speech and academic freedom …
Random Selection Of Citizens For Technological Decision Making, L. Carson, Brian Martin
Random Selection Of Citizens For Technological Decision Making, L. Carson, Brian Martin
Brian Martin
Random selection provides a way to overcome some of the usual problems of citizen participation in technological decision making. It offers representativeness with a minimum of bias and susceptibility to vested interests. There are a number of requirements for the effectiveness of the random selection approach, such as that citizens are interested and capable of rational deliberation. A number of recent experiments with policy juries and planning cells are assessed to see how well they satisfy the requirements for the effectiveness of the approach. While random selection shows great promise as a means for involving citizens in technological decision making, …
Nonviolence Insights, Brian Martin
Nonviolence Insights, Brian Martin
Brian Martin
‘You’ve been working a long time towards a more nonviolent society. What have you learned? Can you tell me?’ That’s basically what we asked eleven experienced and committed individuals. We wanted to learn some of the insights they had acquired over many years of action and reflection. Our interviews were open-ended. We talked to nonviolent activists, trainers, educators and community-builders. Six were from the Netherlands and five from Australia. Six were men and five were women. Their ages ranged from 20s to 60s. Many are quite well known in nonviolence circles and beyond. We took extensive notes on the interviews, …
Dissent And Heresy In Medicine: Models, Methods, And Strategies, Brian Martin
Dissent And Heresy In Medicine: Models, Methods, And Strategies, Brian Martin
Brian Martin
Understanding the dynamics of dissent and heresy in medicine can be aided by use of suitable frameworks. The dynamics of the search for truth vary considerably depending on whether the search is competitive or cooperative and on whether truth is assumed to be unitary or plural. Insights about dissent and heresy in medicine can be gained by making comparisons to politics and religion. To explain adherence to either orthodoxy or a challenging view, partisans use a standard set of explanations; social scientists use these plus others, especially symmetrical analyses. There is a wide array of methods by which orthodoxy maintains …
A Passion For Planning, Brian Martin
A Passion For Planning, Brian Martin
Brian Martin
Extract from article: Planning. It’s so very logical, sensible and rational. Is it possible to passionate about it? After all, the word "passion" has connotations of emotionality and spontaneity, almost opposite to the usual image of planning. Well, I spend a lot of time planning. Certainly I’m committed to it, enthusiastic about it and enjoy doing it. So you could call it a passion. Personal planning Years ago -- back in the early 1970s, to be honest -- I was living in Sydney. I had started running to keep fit, but every day it was a struggle to feel motivated. …
Igniting Concern About Refugee Injustice, Sharon Callaghan, Brian Martin
Igniting Concern About Refugee Injustice, Sharon Callaghan, Brian Martin
Brian Martin
Injustice is a prominent theme in the news but there is far less attention to how to be effective in opposing it. For activists, it is crucial to understand how reactions against injustice can be ignited and/or inhibited. Injustice towards refugees provides a revealing case study.
Making Censorship Backfire, S. Curry Jansen, Brian Martin
Making Censorship Backfire, S. Curry Jansen, Brian Martin
Brian Martin
In the age of instantaneous global communications, overt censorship is always a risky endeavor. Attempts to repress 'dangerous ideas' sometimes have the opposite effect: that is, they serve as catalysts for expanding the reach, resonance and receptivity of those ideas.
Plagiarism: Policy Against Cheating Or Policy For Learning?, Brian Martin
Plagiarism: Policy Against Cheating Or Policy For Learning?, Brian Martin
Brian Martin
Several Australian universities are proposing to introduce use of plagiarism-detection services, specifically turnitin.com, for checking student essays. Having studied plagiarism issues for over 20 years,[2] I decided to look at educational rationales for using such services, especially (1) deterring and detecting cheating, and (2) fostering learning of proper acknowledgement practice. A wider treatment would also cover implications for workloads, intellectual property and institutional reputation. Plagiarism involves claiming credit for ideas or creations without proper acknowledgement. In an academic context, acknowledgement is typically given in the form of citations or explicit statements of thanks. This is important for several reasons, including …