Politics and Social Change Commons^™

Dmitri Shalin Interview With Dean Maccannell About Erving Goffman Entitled "Some Of Goffman’S Guardedness And Verbal Toughness Was Simply A Way Of Giving Himself The Space And Time That He Needed To Do The Work That He Really Loved", Dean Maccannell

Bios Sociologicus: The Erving Goffman Archives

This conversation with Dean MacCannell, Professor of Environmental Design at the University of California Davis, was recorded over the phone on July 7, 2009. The initial exchange lasting a minute or so is reconstructed from memory. Breaks in the conversation flow are indicated by ellipses. Supplementary information and additional materials inserted during the editing process appear in square brackets. Undecipherable words and unclear passages are identified in the text as “[?]”.

Animal Cognition, Kristin Andrews, Ljiljana Radenovic

Sentience Collection

Debates in applied ethics about the proper treatment of animals often refer to empirical data about animal cognition, emotion, and behavior. In addition, there is increasing interest in the question of whether any nonhuman animal could be something like a moral agent.

Torch (December 2009), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Figurational Dynamics And Parliamentary Discourses Of Living Standards In Ireland, Paddy Dolan

Articles

While the concept of living standards remains central to political debate, it has become marginal in sociological research compared to the burgeoning attention given to the topic of consumer culture in recent decades. However, they both concern how one does and should consume, and, indeed, behave at particular times. I use the theories of Norbert Elias to explain the unplanned but structured (ordered) changes in expected standards of living over time. This figurational approach is compared to other alternative explanations, particularly those advanced by Bourdieu, Veblen and Baudrillard. Though these offer some parallels with Elias’s theories, I argue that consumption …

Communiqué For Elders On Reconciliation, Reunification And Peace In Cyprus: An Inter-Communal Civic Initiative, Nicos Trimikliniotis

Nicos Trimikliniotis

The visit of Elders in December 2009 is coinciding with a critical moment in the negotiation process, which is gradually entering into its final crucial phase. The two leaders appear determined to move forward with a settlement, despite the inherent difficulties; the Elders’ visit can assist the process by encouraging the leaders to show courage and boldness so as to press on with an agreement as soon as possible. Unlike in 2004, where both process and outcome were in the end delegitimized as ‘externally imposed’ and ‘not properly balanced’, this time the process is entirely owned and controlled by the …

Ideologia E Utopias Nas Mais Recentes Constituintes Brasileira E Portuguesa: Algumas Linhas De Leitura, Paulo Ferreira Da Cunha

Paulo Ferreira da Cunha

Based upon a political compromise, in which « democratic socialists » and « social democrats » were the main protagonists, the ideology of Portuguese Constitution of 1976 was discrete, subtle. And ulterior constitutional revisions confirmed that fondamental aspect. Of course, utopia was present. But, even more present was the « hope principle ». We believe that the Brazilean constituent assembly, with the original importance of popular contributions, also had hope principle’s decisive influence. But the dinamics of the constituent assembly moderated, since the very beggining, the verbal signs of less discret ideologies. Utopia, neverthless, is very present in the aim …

Goffman Demonstrated The Best Teaching Skills Of Any Professor I Had Ever Had!, Jane Emery Prather

Bios Sociologicus: The Erving Goffman Archives

Dr. Jane Prather, Professor Emeritus at California State University, Northridge, wrote this memoir at the request of Dmitri Shalin and gave her permission to post it in the Erving Goffman Archives.

Contexts Of Exit In The Migration Of Russian Speakers From The Baltic Countries To Ireland, Sofya Aptekar

Publications and Research

Recently, Ireland has become a major destination for migrants from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Many of these migrants are members of Russian-speaking minorities leaving a context of restrictive citizenship and language laws and varying degrees of ethnic tension. This paper draws on interviews collected in Ireland to examine the role played by the contexts of exit in decisions to migrate among Russian-speaking minorities from the Baltics. The results suggest that Russian speakers from Estonia migrate because of their experiences as minorities, while those from Latvia and Lithuania migrate to escape low wages and irregular employment. This is so despite equally …

When Dad Told Him About The Award, Goffman Replied, "Make Sure The Presentation Is In A Small Room So It Will Look Like A Lot Of People Are There", Carl B. Backman

Bios Sociologicus: The Erving Goffman Archives

Dr. Carl Backman, professor of sociology at Auburn University, wrote these memoir and gave his permission to post it in the Erving Goffman Archives.

Right By Children: Children's Rights And Rights Based Approaches To Policy Making In Early Childhood Education And Care: The Case Of Ireland, Noirin Hayes, Siobhan Bradley

Reports

No abstract provided.

"The Extraordinary Movement Of The Jews Of Great Britain": 1827-1831, C. S. Monaco

C. S. Monaco

This article identifies a previously ignored social movement that existed in London during 1827–1831. The Jewish rights movement, as it will be called here, actually involved a coalition of Jews and Christians. During the movement’s initial phase, London Jews, led by Moses E. Levy (an activist from the United States), joined in solidarity with their oppressed brethren in Russia: their public protests against tsarist policies drew a broad response from the national and international press. This unparalleled movement influenced national political agendas and major legislative reforms, and resulted in striking changes within the Anglo-Jewish community. By utilising the modern social …

Torch (November 2009), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Prophets And Priests Of The Nation: Naguib Mahfouz’S Karnak Café And The 1967 Crisis In Egypt, Benjamin Geer

Benjamin Geer

Similarities between religion and nationalism are well known but not well understood. They can be explained by drawing on Pierre Bourdieu's sociological theory in order to consider symbolic interests and the strategies employed to advance them. In both religion and nationalism, the “strategy of the prophets” relies on charisma while the “strategy of the priests” relies on cultural capital. In 20th-century Egypt, nationalism permitted intellectuals whose cultural capital was mainly secular, such as Naguib Mahfouz, to become “priests of the nation” in order to compete with the ʿulamaʾ for prestige and influence. However, it severely limited their autonomy, particularly after …

The War On Twitter, Michael I. Niman Ph.D.

Michael I Niman Ph.D.

Michael I. Niman tells how the Feds busted a Twitter tweeter and impounded Curious George and Buffy videos in a terror probe.

The Citizens Were Heard, Donna M. Hughes Dr.

Donna M. Hughes

Victory In Rhode Island, Donna M. Hughes Dr., Michael Horowitz

Donna M. Hughes

Testimony On Prostitution Bill, Senate Judiciary Committee, Oct 2009, Donna M. Hughes Dr.

Donna M. Hughes

Violence In The House, Katherine Hite

Human Rights & Human Welfare

There was something particularly haunting in reading this Kristof and WuDunn piece during the week’s major US headlines: a girl in California had been imprisoned for eighteen years in the home of a man who kidnapped and raped her, fathered her children, and employed her in his small enterprise—a business card design and printing agency. Business clients interviewed for the story appeared completely taken aback. Clients had always found the now twenty-nine-year-old Jaycee Dugard “professional, polite, and responsive” as well as “creative and talented in her work.” Others expressed similar shock, recounting that Ms. Dugard “was always smiling.” Ms. Dugard’s …

Torch (October 2009), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Resurrecting Smelser: Collective Power, Generalized Belief, And Hegemonic Spaces, Mikaila M. L. Arthur

Faculty Publications

When people mobilize for collective action, it is because they want something. These wants are known as grievances, and in order for them to emerge, collectivities must break free of hegemonic power to see their true interests. This paper takes a new look at Smelser's The Logic of Collective Action and finds that by incorporating a robust understanding of power, Smelser's framework can provide an understanding of grievance emergence.

Preventing Racism, Xenophobia And Related Intolerance In Sport Across The European Union - Raxen Thematic Study On Cyprus, Nicos Trimikliniotis

Nicos Trimikliniotis

This is a staudy on racism in sport in Cyprus, part of the the RAXEN Network.

There is no comprehensive study, nor is there any systematic system of recording racist incidents and discriminatory practices in sport in Cyprus. To collect the necessary evidence for the purposes of this report the NFP relied on various secondary sources (books, media reports). Additionally, the report draws on interviews as well as extensive information gathering from the persons interviewed (see interview list). There is however some ‘concrete’ evidence in the form of specialised body reports and sanctions against particular clubs imposed by the tribunal …

Exceptions, Soft Borders And Free Movement For Workers, Nicos Trimikliniotis

Nicos Trimikliniotis

This chapter deals with issues of exceptions, soft borders and free movement for workers as illustrated in the Case of Cyprus. The chapter attempts to unravel some exceptional considerations aiming to restrict free movement for workers essentially on the grounds political and economic conditions that fall outside the edges of the law. The ECJ has repeatedly ruled that the scope of exceptions, derogations, issues relating to the territorial scope of treaties as well as various public policy and security considerations restricting free movement, are severely limited by the operation of the fundamental principles of the EU acquis. On the other …

Prostitution Destroys Families, Anonymous In Providence, Donna M. Hughes Dr.

Donna M. Hughes

Senate Prostitution Bill Weakens Law, Jim Meyen, Donna M. Hughes Dr.

Donna M. Hughes

No abstract provided.

Life Is Precious, Donna L. Landry, Donna M. Hughes Dr.

Donna M. Hughes

Behavior And Attitudes Of Johns, Melanie Shapiro Esq, Donna M. Hughes Dr.

Donna M. Hughes

No abstract provided.

Senators' Prostitution Bill Is A Sham, Donna M. Hughes Dr.

Donna M. Hughes

Moral Emotions And Social Activism: The Case Of Animal Rights, Harold A. Herzog, Lauren L. Golden

Animal Welfare Collection

Why do some people and not others become involved in social movements? We examined the relationships between a moral emotion—disgust—and animal activism, attitudes toward animal welfare, and consumption of meat. Participants were recruited through two social networking websites and included animal activists, promoters of animal use, and participants not involved in animal-related causes. They took an online survey which included measures of sensitivity to visceral disgust, attitudes toward animal welfare, and frequency of meat eating. Animal activists were more sensitive to visceral disgust than were promoters of animal use or nonaligned participants. Disgust sensitivity was positively correlated with attitudes toward …

Asalariados De La Muerte. Sicariato Y Criminalidad En Colombia., Alexander Montoya Prada

Alexander Montoya Prada

El sicariato es un recurso utilizado en el desarrollo de conflictos sociales desde el ámbito público estatal hasta el privado íntimo. En este artículo hacemos un recorrido de los últimos 30 años en la historia de Colombia, para estudiar la manera como se relaciona con diferentes actores y procesos, como los del narcotráfico y el paramilitarismo, describiendo la trayectoria de los sicarios, modus operandi, niveles de organización, móviles de los contratantes y tarifas. De igual manera abordamos la relación y la reacción del Estado ante el sicariato, con políticas de justicia, seguridad y rehabilitación.

Torch (September 2009), Brandon Baldwin, Civil Rights Team Project

Torch: The Civil Rights Team Project Newsletter

No abstract provided.