Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Trends. Mexico, Illicit Drugs, And Psychological Assessment: Reliability And Validity As Pipe Dreams, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses top-level and elite law enforcement and criminal justice officials in Mexico seem to have been cooperating with illicit drug-trafficking organizations and the support that they get from the United States.

When Political Violence Stops: The Problem Of Psychosocial Reconstruction In The Third World, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article continues the IBPP series on research presented at the 1998 American Psychological Association Annual Convention, San Francisco, California. The article is based on a presentation by IBPP Editor Cristina J. Montiel at the symposium--"After the Fighting Stops-Psychosocial Intervention and Reconciliation"-- that was co-chaired by Dr. Corann Okorodudu, Rowan University, and Anne Anderson, Psychologists for Social Responsibility.

Trends. Dubious Editorial On "Dubious Decisions On The Sudan": A Counterterrorist And Intelligence Concern, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses an editorial in the September 23, 1998 Issue of The New York Times that describes the possible analytic fallacies in the United States Government's (USG) decision to target a pharmaceutical plant in the Sudan.

Monitoring Elections In El Salvador And Nicaragua, Jack Spence

New England Journal of Public Policy

I observed the February 1990 elections in Nicaragua as a member of both the Latin American Studies Association observation team and that of Hemisphere Initiatives, a group with which I have worked. In El Salvador I headed the Hemisphere Initiatives team. I visited Nicaragua five times during the electoral period, and for El Salvador, for once my academic calendar coincided with Salvadoran history. A sabbatical in the last academic year allowed me to be there during the electoral period.

I should say by way of comparison with Fred Gamst's presentation about Ethiopia that Nicaragua and El Salvador are ethnically and …

Election Monitoring In Oromia: What Are The Conditions For Democracy?, Frederick C. Gamst

New England Journal of Public Policy

Professor Gamst, a member of the Joint International Observer group (JIOG), reports the problems he monitored during the 1992 electoral campaign and voting activities in the strife-ridden region of Oromia in Ethiopia. His analyses illuminate the background institutional barriers and the politically competitive reasons for the failure of the elections. Gamst discusses the nature of the multitudinous Oromo people and the consequences of any election victory by them for the destiny of Ethiopia. He also describes the sometimes violent aftermaths of the failed election of 1992 and its follow-up election of 1994, in which the Oromo were again denied reasonable …

Democratic Change And Transition In Africa And The Dilemma Of Nigeria, Leonard Robinson Jr.

New England Journal of Public Policy

The 1990s witnessed profound political change throughout the continent of Africa. Tired and frustrated with one-party, autocratic, and often military rule, ordinary African citizens in country after country began to voice and demonstrate their discontent in 1990. As the former Soviet bloc countries in Eastern Europe broke ranks with the Soviet Union to claim their independence, these extraordinary events served as an added catalyst to African civil servants, market women, taxi drivers and peri-urban inhabitants to rise up against what they increasingly viewed as repressive governments and regimes, which had done little or nothing to improve their living standards and …

What Have We Learned About Postconflict Elections?, Larry Garber, Krishna Kumar

New England Journal of Public Policy

This article suggests that postconflict elections are a unique subset of transition elections which deserve special attention. The authors describe the evolution of postconflict elections, identify some of their more salient characteristics, and offer preliminary lessons drawn from the recent experiences.

Slovak Nationalism: Model Or Mirage?, Caroline Barker

New England Journal of Public Policy

In the face of an increasing number of bloody dissolutions of states around the world, the "velvet divorce" between Czechs and Slovaks has often been cited as evidence that such excesses can be avoided. This article, written before the October 1998 elections that saw the end of the government of Vladimir Meciar, seeks to explain that the peaceful split of these two nations is not an instance that can be replicated elsewhere but grows from the unique nature of Slovak nationalism. The article traces the historical evolution of Slovak nationalism and challenges the view that it has ever been a …

Cambodia's 1998 Elections: The Failure Of Democratic Consolidation, Peter M. Manikas, Eric Bjornlund

New England Journal of Public Policy

This article examines why Cambodia 's transition to democracy faltered in the years that followed the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia period despite the international community's assistance to two "democratic" elections.

Monitoring Elections: Philippines, South Africa, And Mozambique, Padraig O'Malley

New England Journal of Public Policy

Padraig O'Malley was a member of international delegations monitoring elections in the Philippines, South Africa, and Mozambique. These delegations were organized by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), Washington, D.C. O'Malley's opinions, observations, and reflections on these elections are entirely his own and in no way reflect the opinions of NDI.

Citizen Views Of Peace Building And Political Transition In Angola, 1997, Carrie Manning

New England Journal of Public Policy

In November 1994, Angola began what became an often circular struggle to implement the Lusaka Protocol, the second of two peace agreements meant to put an end to more than thirty years of civil strife. Four years later, the Lusaka peace process appears to have come unraveled. Just past midway between these two points, the National Democratic Institute carried out a series offocus groups in Angola that sought to gauge citizens' attitudes toward and understanding of key aspects of the war-to-peace transition and the new political system. This article discusses the results of the survey. Initially intended to provide the …

Kenya's 1997 Elections: Making Sense Of The Transition Process, Rok Ajulu

New England Journal of Public Policy

The transition process in Kenya appears to be getting nowhere. Six years after the opening of democratic space, politics, political institutions, and governance remain predominantly stuck in the authoritarian quagmire of the past. Lack of broader participation in decision-making processes and absence of consensus around important issues of governance appear to be the norm rather than the exception. Indeed, Kenya's democracy experiment appears to defy conventional democratization models and discourse. It refuses to comply with prescriptive models developed by various Western scholars as the so-called liberal democratic values stubbornly refuse to take root in the country. This article attempts to …

Trends. The Jericho Casino And Terrorism: A Gamble Or A Sure Thing?, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the psycho-social impact of a casino being built in Jericho in the West Bank.

Sexual Seduction, Illicit Sex, And Licit Sex: International And National Leaders As Targets Of Intelligence Operations, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes the varied consequences that could be achieved by a hostile intelligence service through effecting the sexual seduction of an international or national leader or through exploiting ongoing illicit or licit sex engaged in by that leader.

Original Sin And The Power Of Narrative In Intelligence Operations, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article illustrates how the intent of a political community to demand sinless behavior in its leaders can sow the seeds for that community's demise.

Trends. Clinton/Lewinsky, Star Chambers, The Starr Report: E Pluribus Unum Or E Uno Plures?, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the effect of lying on the presidency and impeachment.

The Clash Of Civilizations In The 21st Century: A Political Psychology Of Messianics, Charismatics, And Schismatics, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes psychological Issues that may contribute to or mitigate against ongoing and intense political violence between Islamic political entities and those typed as Judeo-Christian.

Trends. Missile Defense Legislation: Script Analysis And The Real Issue, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the United States (U.S.) Senate vote that came one shy of ending a filibuster related to blocking legislation that would require establishing a national defense against long-range missiles as soon as the technology becomes available.

Trends. National Security Policy And Toleration For Ambiguity: Israel, Northern Ireland, North Korea, And The World, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses one of many dichotomies comprising the development, implementation, and evaluation of security policies that is between clarity and ambiguity.

Trends. Sharing Data On Missile Launches: A New Version Of An Old Idea, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

In this article, the author discusses the agreement that was announced, the United States and Russia, to quickly share data about the launch of ballistic missiles and space payloads.

Abraham Kuyper And Welfare Reform: A Reformed Political Perspective, Clinton Stockwell

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Trends. Kosovo And The United Nations: A Paean For Application Of Psychological Research On Good Samaritanism, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia that is beginning to employ a team of investigators, lawyers, and analysts who may--ultimately--identify, prosecute, and deter war crimes in Kosovo, observers might wonder what's taking so long and why the United Nations hasn't focused more emphatically on the Serbian military, paramilitary, and police attacks on ethnic Albanian civilians in recent weeks. Answers might include difficulties in identifying the behavioral referents of war crime, fears that more determined intervention might deleteriously affect humanitarian aid to the many internal refugees, fears that humanitarian aid personnel might be further intimidated and …

From Winning Hearts And Minds To Shaping Behaviors: Nation-Building As A New Psychology Of Antiterrorism, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes a qualitative change in the psychology of antiterrorism through nationbuilding activities.

Political Denial As A Counterintelligence Vehicle To Counter Counterterrorist Operations: The Sudan, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes the political denial that is implemented by terrorists and supporters of terrorists after an adversary counterterrorist operation and that is intended to impede future operations. Sudanese-sponsored and supported terrorism and United States Government counterterrorist operations are used as an example. The analysis is predicated on the assumption that there is incontrovertible intelligence data supporting the belief that Shifa Pharamceutical Industries in Sudan was engaged in the development and/or transshipment of the chemical warfare agent VX--an assumption based on the alleged detection of a VX precursor that allegedly has no legitimate business or industrial use. (IBPP Note: As …

Trends. Sex And The Totemic Presidency, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the dynamics of the Lewinksky-Clinton relationship to the United States Presidency.

The Psychology Of Political Oppression: Studying False Consciousness, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

Starting with this Issue, IBPP will be reporting on a series of research presentations--each with relevance to political psychology--from the 1998 Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. The following article describes the work of John T. Jost of Stanford University.

Rationales And Rationalizations: United States Government Policy Towards Iraqi Noncompliance With United Nations-Mandated Inspections And Monitoring, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article identifies apparent inconsistencies in United States Government explanations for its current policy towards Iraqi noncompliance with the inspection and monitoring requirements of the United Nations. The article then posits an explanation for these inconsistencies in explanation.

Words And Actions: The Referent As A Problem In The Deterrence Of Nuclear Weapons Employment, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes difficulties in identifying action referents of the word deterrence. These difficulties pose a significant problem for developing and implementing security policies against adversaries' employment of weapons of mass destruction.

Trends. Terrorism And Sanctions: A Problem With Iran, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the three kinds of activities, Iran continues to be engaged in, that preclude closer cooperation with the US and the sanctions that have been declared against Iran.

Popular Culture And The Mass Media In The Service Of Politics: The Wounds Of Gender Representation, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article identifies and analyzes the phenomenon of gender representation as it impacts on the political application of popular culture and the mass media. Political authorities' social control and political leaders' and candidates' attractiveness are of special concern. For explanatory support, the article employs a "star" of popular music--viz., rock n' roll music from the United States--from the interlude 1956-1957.