Volume 4, 2002-2003

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    The Role of Organized Labour in Latin American Democratization Processes
    (2002) Hilgers, Tina; Brown, Sherri
    The comparative literature dealing with regime transItIon in Latin America since the 1970s has viewed critically the role of civil society, particularly organized labour, in promoting democracy. While seen as positive for furthering democratization and liberalization during early transitional stages, subsequent mass popular action has been considered an endangerment to the stability of democratization. The time is ripe to reconsider the value of a dynamic civil society -exemplified by organized labour - in achieving quality democracy in Latin America. Specifically, since socioeconomic equality and inclusiveness are key aspects of quality democracy, it is not feasible to assume that this can be achieved without concerted efforts from those sectors that have been immobilized and excluded in current low quality Latin American democracies.
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    Cinema and Television as a Gauge for Race Politics
    (2002) Kendrick, James A.; Brown, Sherri
    The salience of race in American society is a topic of current debate among some scholars of political science. Some research suggests that race is more influential than class in determining the political behavior of African Americans. Other research argues that bridging the racial divide require?? a movement from confrontation and blaming to a more positive view uf the successes of race relations. In other words, the construct of race is not as important in the U.S. as it was during Reconstruction. This study examines the influence of exposure to black cinema and black television on an individual's sense of linked fate. In summary, exposure to black cinema is related to levels of racial group consciousness for some African Americans. Broader implications from this study call for the inclusion of additional concepts (i.e., cultural concepts like cinema) along with survey data and feeling thermometers to examine issues related to race.
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    Metaxy and the Unrest of Existence in Saint Augustine's Confessions
    (2002) Azerrad, David; Brown, Sherri
    The structure and meaning of St. Augustine's Confessions have long puzzled interpreters. By reading the Confessions in light of Eric Voegelin's thought, the question of unity and meaning no longer poses itself. The 13 books form a coherent symbolization of one man's struggle with the In-Between (metaxy) structure of Being, his noetic insight into this structure and the subsequent attempt to express his newfound understanding of reality. Thus understood, the Confessions become a powerful account of a soul's turning around (periag_g_). This approach not only illuminates the nature of Augustine's participation in reality, but also brings Voegelin's symbolization to life, while revealing its full significance and more importantly, its subtleties and limitations.
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    Liberal/Democracy
    (2002) McFaul, David; Brown, Sherri
    Throughout recent history, the political ideologies of I iberal ism and democracy have been closely associated with each other. Despite this common association, there is a continuing tension between the two sy stems. The cause of this tension can be best summarized as the distinction between negative and positive liberty, made famous by Isaiah Berlin. Liberalism, with its emphasis on individualism and support of restrictions on state intervention in personal and economic affairs, comes to represent negative liberty. On the other hand, democracy comes to represent positive liberty by its emphasis on communitarian ism and its articulation for the need of group consensus to realize a shared understanding of the public good. As a result of this tension, liberals and democrats are forced to argue whether political discourse should focus on the distribution of individual rights (liberal view) or answer the question posed by democrats of, 'what is the ideal way of life?' Over the last twenty years, individuals in affluent western societies are becoming more concerned about quality of life issues and less concerned about material gain or scarcity of resources. Because of this new post­materialism, individuals are increasingly preferring the positive liberty­oriented solutions that democracy has to offer over the negative liberty of liberalism that is firmly entrenched in western culture by the political and business elite.
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    Are the Risks Real? Contemporary Opposition to the ICC
    (2002) Reid, Holly; Chapnick, Adam; Brown, Sherri
    In spite of the overwhelming global support for the international criminal court (ICC) upon its inception in July 1998, a significant number of states, led by the US, have hesitated in ratifying the Rome Statute. After reviewing the benefits and drawbacks of a fully­functioning ICC, this paper addresses the implications of the ICC in the context of global power politics. We conclude that, while accession to the ICC indeed affects state sovereignty, on the whole, the risks articulated by opponents in the US and elsewhere are more perceived than real. Accepting the ICC will have little to no impact on Great Power security or influence in the international arena.