Politics and Social Change Commons^™

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 …

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 …

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.

The Mirror Effect, The Law Of Attraction, And "Points Of Attraction" That Can Nurture The Evolution Of Human Consciousness, Carroy U. Ferguson

Carroy U "Cuf" Ferguson, Ph.D.

This message has several purposes. First, I want to express my immense joy that Chip Baggett and I are serving as Co-Presidents of AHP since August 16, 2009. In my view, Chip and I are long-time friends, who have a transcendent connection and synergistic energies. My desire and intent is for our co-presidency to mirror the effect(s) of synergistic collaboration as a “point of attraction” that can assist in the evolution of human consciousness across often “perceived personal and societal boundaries” (e.g., race, culture, ethnicity, class, individual and collective belief systems, and dogma). More generally, however, this message is intended …

Gay Parenthood And The Revolution Of The Modern Family: An Examination Of The Unique Barriers Confronting Gay Adoptive Parents, Nicholas Arntsen

Honors Scholar Theses

Abstract: In recent decades, the structure of the American family has been revolutionized to incorporate families of diverse and unconventional compositions. Gay and lesbian couples have undoubtedly played a crucial role in this revolution by establishing families through the tool of adoption. Eleven adoptive parents from the state of Connecticut were interviewed to better conceptualize the unique barriers gay couples encounter in the process adoption. Both the scholarly research and the interview data illustrate that although gay couples face enormous legal barriers, the majority of their hardship comes through social interactions. As a result, the cultural myths and legal restrictions …

Archetypal Energies, The Emergence Of Obama As A Practical Idealist, And Global Transformation, Carroy U. Ferguson

Carroy U "Cuf" Ferguson, Ph.D.

During this time of change, AHP and kindred spirits on the edge have important roles to play. We are the keepers and nurturers of a transformative and evolutionary Vision for Consciousness and a more humane world. At issue is what I will call the “psychic politics” for global transformation, nurtured by practical idealism and the Archetypal Energies. In other writings, I have described Archetypal Energies as Higher Vibrational Energies, operating deep within our individual and collective psyches, which have their own transcendent value, purpose, quality, and “voice”, unique to the individual. We experience them as “creative urges” to move us …

The Search For Self-Fulfillment: How Individualism Undermines Community Organizing, Rachel Rybaczuk

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

This paper focuses on the role of individualism in community organizing. My case study follows the organizing efforts of the Coalition for Affordable Northampton Neighborhoods (CANN) and residents’ attempts to save an affordable neighborhood from Smith College’s campus expansion. As a resident and co-founder of CANN I was particularly interested in identifying the reasons for our difficulty in organizing residents whose homes would be torn down. While attending community and city meetings, interviewing core activists and activists who left the organizing efforts, I observed individualism undermining community organizing and political involvement. People’s search for self-fulfillment was in conflict with the …

Territorio, Gestión Local Y Conflicto En El Municipio De El Tambo, Alexander Montoya Prada

Alexander Montoya Prada

La influencia de guerrillas, paramilitares y mafias ha crecido en años recientes, afectando la gestión pública local y nacional, el diseño de políticas públicas y el manejo de los recursos. La comprensión de este proceso requiere de estudios de caso como el que presentamos del municipio de El Tambo en el departamento del Cauca. Aquí se analiza el impacto que los actores armados generan en la satisfacción plena de los derechos civiles, políticos y sociales de los ciudadanos. Queremos conocer cuáles son los actores que hacen presencia, sus motivaciones para incidir en la institucionalidad pública local, su relación con las …

Las Otras Caras Del Poder. Territorio, Conflicto Y Gestión Pública En Municipios Colombianos, Fabio Enrique Velásquez Carrillo

Alexander Montoya Prada

La influencia de los actores armados ilegales en la gestión municipal es hoy un hecho que muy pocos se atreven a controvertir. Ya en la segunda mitad de la década pasada algunos estudios reconocieron la importancia que el territorio tenía para los actores armados en el contexto del conflicto. Sin embargo, no existen estudios que examinen de modo sistemático la influencia de los actores armados en el manejo de los asuntos públicos municaples y los efectos de dicha influencia sobre la vida de quienes habitan los territorios. Tal es el propósito de este libro. El análisis sugiere que existe en …

Diabolical Frivolity Of Neoliberal Fundamentalism, Sefik Tatlic

Sefik Tatlic

Today, we cannot talk just about plain control, but we must talk about the nature of the interaction of the one who is being controlled and the one who controls, an interaction where the one that is “controlled” is asking for more control over himself/herself while expecting to be compensated by a surplus of freedom to satisfy trivial needs and wishes. Such a liberty for the fulfillment of trivial needs is being declared as freedom. But this implies as well the freedom to choose not to be engaged in any kind of socially sensible or politically articulated struggle.

Immigrant-Established Resident Interactions In Miami, Florida, Alex Stepick, Carol Dutton Stepick

Sociology Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article examines factors that affect interethnic relations in Miami, Florida. The theoretical framework, based on the ‘contact hypothesis’ argues that better interethnic relations stem from not only contact, but also contact in which individuals from opposing groups share equal status and a stake in outcomes, and when contact activities require cooperation. The contact hypothesis, however, does not address the factors that produce inequality in social relations. To address these factors ideas from international migration research are used to argue that those with power must create structures in which other groups feel welcome rather than rejected and that leaders must …

Hamas Controlled Televised News Media: Counter- Peace, Allen Gnanam

Allen Gnanam

The hegemonic force of Hamas censored televised news media in Gaza, can not be fully comprehended and appreciated without recognizing the role of propaganda, censorship, and the historical context of the middle east. These 3 interrelated dimensions will be analyzed using functionalism, the mass society theory, the dominant ideology framework, the critical criminology framework, and the symbolic interactionist framework. Through censorship, Hamas news media outlets were able to unilaterally inject culturally relevant propaganda, into the minds of children and citizens. The hypodermic syringe model can be applied to the state controlled news media situation in Gaza, as the people of …

Non Nation Destabilizing Eradication Of Opium Cultivation In Afghanistan: A History Backed Analysis, Allen Gnanam

Allen Gnanam

A successful and non nation destabilizing eradication of opium cultivation in Afghanistan, is contingent upon the mandatory countering of interconnected (a) economic obstacles, (b) sociocultural obstacles, and (c) political obstacles that are fueling and maintaining the illegal production and trade of heroin. This paper will explore and analyze the above mentioned interconnected obstacles, in order to present the complex issues that need to be addressed when it comes to dismantling the illegal opium bastion in Afghanistan. At a macro- level Foucault’s triangular model that identifies the interconnectivity between the government, the population, and the political economy (1978) will be utilized …

Cyber Terrorism, Allen Gnanam

Allen Gnanam

This paper sets out to identify and explain the negative national security implications, negative physical & psychological implications, and the negative economic implications that society could face, as a result of a severe cyber attack against major sectors of a nations infrastructure. In addition instigating factors that lead to/ provoke cyber terrorism will be identified, in order to strategically influence counter cyber terrorism policy towards an offensive model. Along with that, this paper will present defensive/ target hardening counter- cyber terrorism policies that will enable proactive security mechanisms to be implemented.

Book Review Of: Crime In An Insecure World: By Richard Ericson, Allen Gnanam

Allen Gnanam

Crime in an Insecure World written by Richard Ericson, depicts western society as a neo-liberal state, that has an impulsive tendency to criminalizes all sources of harm through precautionary logic, risk assessment, surveillance measures, and counter law I and II, due to the dominant culture of impulsive criminalization that produces uncertainty. Counter Law, precautionary logical, risk assessment, and uncertainty are the 4 major concepts discussed by Ericson, and these concepts will be analyzed and interpreted during this book review.

Ban Opitc Private Security Goverance: Exceptionalism, Spatial Sorting And Risk Assessments, Allen Gnanam

Allen Gnanam

This paper is theoretically grounded on the Ban opticon framework that is characterized by the use of exceptionalism, the normalization of imperative movement, and profiling for insecurity management purposes (Bigo, 2005). This framework will be utilized in order to expose and analyze the Ban optic governmentality of the private security industry. Secondly, the overall discussion and analysis of the private security industry- Ban opticon nexus will be discussed with specific reference to the private security operations of The New Commons. Thirdly, three private security intelligence networks identified by Lippert & O’Connor (2006) namely Disciplinary Networks, Private Justice Networks, and Multilateral …

Crime And Precaution, Allen Gnanam

Allen Gnanam

Precautionary logic and risk assessments can be associated with counter terrorism, criminal profiling, and the management of high risk individuals/ groups. Overall, risk precautionary logic and risk assessments can be framed using the Ban-opticon concept identified by Bigo, though panopitic elements do exist when discussing concepts of surveillance. The Ban opticon framework has 3 major concepts: (a) Criminal profiling, (b) the management of movement and (c) exceptionalism.

Both precautionary logic and risk assessments are associated with the profiling of harms and threats, the management of individual or group movement, and both are used to provide qualitative and quantitative rationale for …

Democracia Local Amenazada: Elecciones Y Conflicto En El Norte Del Cauca, Alexander Montoya Prada

Alexander Montoya Prada

Este artículo intenta indagar el impacto del conflicto armado y la economía ilegal en el proceso electoral de julio y octubre de 2007, así como su incidencia en las dinámicas políticas locales en los trece municipios objeto de estudio. Para hacerlo examina algunos elementos demográficos, económicos, y de gestión que caracterizan la subregión, así como las dinámicas del conflicto y la seguridad. Finalmente, el escrito hace una aproximación a las elecciones de 2007 comparándolas con lo sucedido en los comicios de 2000 y de 2003.