Proceedings
of the
Georgia Political Science Association
Annual Meeting
2006 Edition
Abstracts
Public Administration History: The Rodney Dangerfield of the Discipline?
Nolan J. Argyle
Valdosta State University
Burton K. Bright
Valdosta State University
Public administration is a highly interdisciplinary field of study, drawing on political science, economics, and many other disciplines. One discipline that has been largely neglected is that of history. Furthermore, when history has been brought into public administration it is largely recent history. This article argues that students and practitioners of public administration need to become more historically minded, that they need to understand the history of the administrative state in order to provide a context to place current arguments within. The article develops a framework that may be used to analyze and categorize trends in the history of the administrative state from the Greeks to the present. It concludes by arguing that an examination of the history of the administrative state can enrich an understanding of current arguments, as well as provide a student of the administrative state with a sense of history, an anchor upon which to fasten his or her understanding of the linkage between the individual and the state.
Compliance with Unfunded Mandates: Constitution Day, Every Day
Lee M. Allen
Valdosta State University
Gerald A. Merwin, Jr.
Valdosta State University
This article reviews the requirement for a Constitution Day celebration as mandated by Public Law 108-447. The law stipulates that any educational institution receiving federal funds will hold educational events to honor the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America. The article provides a history of the efforts to establish a day to honor the Constitution and the challenges faced by institutions trying to interpret and implement the law. The focus is on a practical solution and recounts the efforts made by Valdosta State University (VSU) to respond to the federal mandate. Faculty and staff at VSU worked during 2005 and 2006 to satisfy the Department of Education guidelines and to create a permanent platform for public participation and discussion of Constitution Day issues.
The Reverse Effect of Charles Taylor’s Arrest on Human Rights in Africa
Napoleon Bamfo
Valdosta State University
This article makes the seemingly counterintuitive proposition that Charles Taylor’s arrest and arraignment coming up in The Hague may have a negative effect on human rights in Africa even though human rights groups have hailed his arrest a significant achievement for international justice. The tortuous path Charles Taylor’s arrest took, however, is unlikely to impress African leaders intending to commit human rights abuses in the future. The charges Charles Taylor faces are serious enough to have speeded up the decision among the contending parties to bring him to justice. Rather, the decision to release him from Nigeria dragged on for three years, undoubtedly sending a message of despair among human rights supporters. It may be impossible to organize human rights groups in the future to donate their time and money to bring an African head of state to trial for human rights abuses when they know the venture might fail. This article argues that human rights advocates and those wishing African leaders keep higher human rights standards must not be too optimistic about Charles Taylor’s arrest bringing positive change in the attitude of leaders on human rights. African leaders will continue to commit human rights abuses. Human rights advocates, therefore, must see Charles Taylor’s arrest and trial only as an isolated case of victory that is unlikely to intimidate any leader suddenly to commit himself to respect the rule of law.
Rotation in Office and Term Limits: A Closer Examination
Daniel Baracskay
Valdosta State University
Term limits are the contemporary successor of rotation in office. The concept of rotation in office has a strong philosophical tradition which dates back to the writings of ancient thinkers. It was often discussed concomitantly with the term democracy. Term limits is a much more pragmatic movement, however, that accepts the underlying basis of its forerunner, but has perceptibly divergent assumptions. While both concepts share an inherent cynicism, proponents of rotation in office were cynical of the individual and how power is used, while term limits advocates are cynical of government as a whole. The outcome of this is that the rotation era aimed at creating a responsive and representative government, while term limits focuses more on restoring public confidence in government and repairing the distrust which has been escalating the past several decades. This study further explores these considerations.
The Politics of Inevitability and Shifts in Business Preferences for
National Health Care Reform
Joe Corrado
Clayton State University
This study examines the way in which business preferences for national health care reform shifted as President Clinton exercised political leadership and it appeared as if the passage of health care legislation was inevitable. This shift towards support was largely due to political factors such as wanting to have some influence in the policymaking process. The “politics of inevitability” is a tenuous factor that lasts as long as political momentum makes change seem imminent. Once this sense of imminence fades, other factors such as the ideological opposition to government interference make it likely that business support for reform will evaporate. This analysis adds to the understanding of business preferences by showing how both economic and institutional factors combined are not sufficient in explaining business preferences for the Health Security Act. This study also traces the business preferences of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Health Insurers Association of America. The standard view that business preferences are guided nearly solely by economic calculations is challenged. Instead, this study finds that economic factors only tend to guide business preferences firmly when the economic impact of legislation is both clear and strong. To determine business preferences when Clinton’s plan had the most momentum, this study relies upon over thirty open ended phone interviews with high level business management, business lobbyists, members of Clinton administration and health care task force, congressional staff members, and secondary sources.
Teaching Criminal Justice Online:
Comparing the Options and Getting It Right
Michael Eskey
Park University
Internet-based distance learning programs have matured to the point where complete programs are capable of being delivered online. The discipline of criminal justice has followed this growth trend at all levels: associate, bachelor’s, and graduate. Recent legislation allowing more than 50 percent of institutional enrollments to be online, with continued federal aid, may have positive growth effects. Additionally, the unique characteristics of the criminal justice field have fueled the growth of the online criminal justice distance learning programs. The following article discusses the reasons for a need for increased availability of criminal justice online programs. The costs and benefits of online delivery for such programs are discussed as well as different institutional approaches. The article combines research findings from surveyed criminal justice faculty and an overview of related literature on the subject of online programs.
Challenges to the Competitive Technology Sector in Japan
Frank Fuller
Georgia State University
Technology changes are influenced by many factors, from powerful government lobby pressures or certain groups endorsing products. Market shares are acquired with unconventional business practices, complicating negotiations when industries want advantages, including Yakuza pressure. Companies get contracts from affiliations. Japan’s MITI (the International Ministry of Trade and Industry) backs those developing an industry standard. By capitalizing on technology with business, government, and perhaps “outside” organized crime efforts, and unlike France, who delays technology, Japan chooses industry “winners” before the public does. Case studies examine Japanese technology products and industry innovation, showing that success may involve private government lobbyists or organized crime. The state capitalizes on successful computer companies’ revenue streams. If companies quickly adopt new technologies, greater monetary benefits come. A nation’s domestic policies accepting technology or delaying of competition influence success; technology helps Japan’s cultural identity and helps industries adopt standards. MITI endorses several companies before allowing other competition.
The Domestic Politics of Arms Control Treaty Ratification: The Case of the Chemical Weapons Convention
Sean P. Giovanello
Brandeis University
This article presents a case study of the treatment of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by the United States Senate. It examines the chemical weapons non-proliferation regime, the negotiations of the CWC, and its consideration by the Senate. The study explores the domestic and international political contexts of the treaty ratification effort, the state of congressional-executive relations, presidential strategy, and the role of public opinion and interest groups.
C.L.R. James as a Creole Nationalist:
Reconsidering The Case for West-Indian Self-Government
F.S.J. Ledgister
Clark Atlanta University
The usual description of C.L.R. James’s political theory locates him at the intersection of Marxism and pan-Africanism, generally more towards the former than the latter. The bulk of James’s work bears this out. Nonetheless, James’s earliest political monograph aligns him more with Creole nationalists such as J.J. Thomas, Eric Williams, or Norman Manley, than with Walter Rodney or the New World Group. In this study , I analyze that work and delineate the ways that the ideas he expressed at that time connect to a West Indian Creole nationalism that stressed the need for an end to colonial trusteeship and that saw West Indians as peoples (or a people) shaped by the colonial experience and ready and able to govern themselves. James’s earliest work, then, points towards such nationalist intellectual activists as Norman Manley of Jamaica or Eric Williams of Trinidad who articulated a clearly defined Caribbean version of European liberal nationalism.
The HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Comparative
Perspective:
The Cases of India and Russia
Thomas E. Rotnem
Southern Polytechnic State University
Tinaz Pavri
Spelman College
After examining the history of HIV/AIDS in Russia and India, the article examines the present prevalence of, and future projections for, HIV/AIDS in both countries. It also discusses the economic, political, and social consequences of the pandemic in either region, while evaluating the effectiveness of the Indian and Russian governmental attempts to stem the health crisis. The article concludes with certain policy recommendations for the target countries’ respective governments.
France and Netherlands “No” Votes: Prospects for a Constitution for Europe
Marc G. Pufong
Valdosta State University
As contemplated, a new Constitution for Europe will formally enter into force only upon its adoption by all signatory member countries. Following the “No” votes in two ratification-referenda rejecting the Constitution in May and June 2005 in France and the Netherlands, the European Council, using its Declaration 30 prerogatives, called for a “period of reflection” to facilitate debates in each of the member states. In doing so, the Council effectively upgraded the initial deadline to the end of 2008. In October 2005 the Commission presented a “Plan D,” a new impetus to included EU citizens as an ultimate source of EU policies. The idea of finding a “political solution” to the “unanimous only ratification impasse” which derails the process will go through the German presidency, to be followed by the Portuguese and then the French presidency in 2008. However, fraught with continued ambiguity, whether the Constitutional Treaty will in the end be fully ratified or again rescued (politically) by Declaration 30 remains uncertain. This article uses public opinion data and other primary information to reassess such a prospect. More specifically, it reexamines the how and why (politics) of the French and Dutch “No” votes, the motives and implications (effect), and the prospects for a formal ratification. It weighs further the odds that current “hold-out” member states would in the end ratify by delving into past ratification histories as well as existing procedures laid down in their constitutional provisions and laws.
Opening Hearts and Minds: Using Qualitative Research to Teach Cultural Competence
Saundra J. Reinke
Augusta State University
As researchers and teachers of political science, we know that participation is essential for democracy to survive and thrive. Democracy requires a culture that fosters citizenship. Citizenship demands that individuals work, and work together to create, criticize, and change public programs and institutions. America’s revolution created a nation that was both idealistic and practical. As teachers of tomorrow’s political leaders, we need a way to teach them how to work together, with open hearts and minds to solve today’s problems. This essay will describe one way students can be encouraged to become more open-minded through community-based research. Introduction to Research Methods is an undergraduate course that is required of all Political Science majors. It provides basic instruction in designing research questions and hypotheses, collecting data, and testing hypotheses using appropriate statistical techniques. In the fall of 2005, two sections of this class were run simultaneously. One section focused on the Muslim community to examine its experiences with discrimination in post-9/11 America. The other class focused on the political efficacy and preferences of the gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) community in Augusta, Georgia. This essay and presentation focuses on the second class, describing how it was structured, the rationale behind the structure and topic selected, and the outcomes in terms of student learning and attitudes.
EU Enlargement in a Global Context and Turkey’s Position
Giray Sadik
University of Georgia
Considering its 2004 enlargement, the European Union (EU) is by far the most demanded international organization in contemporary global context. Yet, the demand for the EU is far from being satisfied in its immediate neighborhood. This is particularly the case for Turkey, the accession of which is far more complicated than any of the current members, predominantly because of the pressing need on the EU to decide to what extent it plans to remain as a regional power versus its projections as a global actor. If the EU is determined to be a global actor, anchoring modern Turkey in its ranks is a critical step to be undertaken in its global quest. Understanding the dynamics on the both sides of the accession table requires a careful analysis of the big picture. To this end, this study begins with an overview of Turkish-EU relations, and then underlines the reasons of Turkey’s uniqueness and how they are essential for the EU as a global actor. In light of the EU enlargement objectives, the study presets the assessment of the pros and cons of Turkey’s accession to the EU. After that, it examines the role of the United States in Turkish-EU relations given the changing nature of global security in a new era. Finally, the study ends with the policy recommendations for both Turkey and the EU, in view of the fact that accession negotiations are expected to last at least for a decade.
Moving Right: Conservatives and the 1978 Election
Zack C. Smith
Boston University
This is a case study of three Senate races in the 1978 election. The election demonstrated the emergence of the New Right conservative ideology as a potent force in Congressional politics. The influence of national New Right groups can be clearly seen in various races as they helped in raising money, empowering the grassroots, informing candidate’s positions, and framing the debate. Though the New Right was not always successful, the conservative ideology they represented proved to be powerful in 1978, and following the election both parties started trending right.