Volume 35 February 2007 Number 2
Looking forward to the 2007 ASA Annual Meeting in New York . . . hour by a belief that another world was possible. “Without Yesterday There Is No Tomorrow”: In the Beginning Ricardo Lagos Escobar was born in Ricardo Lagos and Chile’s Democratic Transition 1938, the same year as the Center-Left
Former Chilean President will be one of several notable plenary speakers at ASA’s upcoming 102nd Annual Meeting Popular Front won the national elec- tions. The dominant party in the Chilean Popular Front was the centrist Radical by Peter Winn, Tufts University such ambition for power as to try to be to democracy and in the 1988 plebiscite Party, secular reformers with a middle in power for 25 years!” When his pan- ending Pinochet’s authoritarian rule. class base. His uncle was a Radical In April 1988, as Chile emerged from 15 icked interviewers tried to interrupt, he He also founded and led the Party for Deputy and it was as a Radical student years of total censorship under its most insisted, “I speak for 15 years of silence.” Democracy, which became one of Chile’s leader that Lagos would first enter poli- brutal dictatorship into its first electoral With that courageous act—and those main political parties. As minister of tics. He studied law at the University of campaign since the 1973 military coup, a defiant words—Lagos assured his place education and minister of public works, Chile, but became increasingly interested plebiscite was held on whether General in history and gave Chileans the courage Lagos demonstrated skill as an adminis- in economics. His thesis on the concen- Augusto Pinochet should rule the to defeat the dictator “with just a pencil,” trator and ability to innovate within the tration of economic power in Chile, a country for another decade. In a nation as Chilean sociologist Teresa Valdes later constraints of an authoritarian constitu- pioneering study, concluded that the accustomed to controlled media, Socialist marveled. tion and a neoliberal economy. top 4.2% of corporations in Chile con- leader Ricardo Lagos was allowed a Lagos has numerous claims to a In 2000, Lagos was elected Chile’s trolled 59.2% of the capital invested in rare national TV appearance. Pointing prominent place in Chile’s history. As first Socialist president since Salvador joint stock companies and laid bare the straight at the camera, Lagos defied the a social scientist, he published the first Allende. Despite a narrow electoral interlocking directorships through which dictator: “You promise the country eight major study of Chile’s concentration mandate and an inherited economic Chile’s elite controlled the economy. more years of tortures, assassinations, of economic power. As a leader of a recession, Lagos was one of the most By the time his thesis was published, violations of human rights,” he said. “It clandestine Socialist party, he played successful presidents in Chilean his- Lagos was doing graduate work at Duke is unacceptable for a Chilean to have an important role in Chile’s transition tory. Moreover, he nurtured the politi- University (1960–62) where he earned a cal career of Michelle Bachelet and was PhD in economics. Returning to Chile, instrumental in her succeeding him Lagos became an economics professor at as the first woman president of Chile. the University of Chile and later direc- Looking forward to the 2007 ASA Annual Meeting in New York . . . At the opening plenary session of the tor of its School of Political Science. In Annual Meeting, Lagos will be honored 1969, he was elected Secretary-General of for his courageous and path-break- the University of Chile as the candidate Four Trends Shaping the Big Apple ing career as a social scientist in poli- of the leftist Popular Unity Alliance of tics—sustained even in Chile’s darkest by Andrew A. Beveridge, Queens College and the Graduate Center of CUNY See Lagos, page 8
When the demonstrations for immigrant rights flared up around the country last year some members of New York City’s various immigrant Remembering a Giant of Sociology groups participated, but the demonstrations here were a faint echo of those in other cities. The simple reason: New York draws substantial numbers of Seymour Martin Lipset (1922–2006) its immigrants from many different countries, continents, languages, and by Claude S. Fischer and Ann Swidler, other roles—hardly describe how con- origins, while the majority of immigrants and the vast majority of undocu- sequential he was. By one study, Lipset mented immigrants nationwide originate University of California-Berkeley was the most cited social scientist in the in Mexico. This diverse immigrant popu- eymour Martin Lipset, one of the world. lation is one of four demographic trends S giants of sociology in the 20th century, Lipset established many of the theo- that define New York City’s unique social died on December 31, 2006, in Arlington, ries and research agendas in political landscape permeating every facet of life VA. sociology, stratification, modernization, from politics and business to culture and Marty Lipset shaped modern sociol- and other fields. Much of his work arose family life. ogy by writing a string of classic works, from questions about the social bases of Immigrant Waves nurturing a legion of eminent democracy and the absence of students, and radiating a kind- socialism in America. They led New York City’s recent population ness that warmed all those him to study Canada, compara- growth was fueled by immigration. around him. tive development, American Without it, the city’s population would Lipset, the son of Russian- history, the nature of demo- not be near eight million. “Without the Jewish immigrants, grew cratic and anti-democratic immigrants,” Mitchell Moss, professor of up immersed in the intense, politics, the labor movement, urban planning and policy at New York University, has said, “New York City Marxist debates of his Bronx social class, and much more. would be Detroit,” a city whose population is lower now than it was in 1930. neighborhood, an atmosphere During the 1990s, New York continued to draw large numbers of immi- Socialism and Democracy which he later credited with grants with a variety of backgrounds, origins, and economic status. Unlike sparking his intellectual His dissertation book, virtually every other immigrant area in the United States, immigrants to New concerns and political commit- Agrarian Socialism (1950), was York City come from many different places: ments. Lipset, along with other Seymour Martin the first in a series that used the • Older European countries such as Russia, Italy, and Poland; memorable student activists Lipset American-Canadian compari- • The Caribbean, including the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Haiti; at the City College of New son to address systematically • Asia, including China, Korea, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India; York in the 1930s, such as Daniel Bell, the “why no socialism?” question. Union • Central and South America, including Mexico, Ecuador, and Colombia. Nathan Glazer, Irving Howe, and Philip Democracy (1956), with Martin Trow Some of these groups are better educated than others; some gravitate to Selznick, remade American social science and James Coleman, examined why certain professions; some are self-employed. The economic status, family and intellectual life in the middle of the the democratically run printers’ union status, and ratio of male to female vary widely from group to group. The century. managed to escape Michels’ “iron law of immigrants today are increasingly segregated from the rest of the population Lipset’s formal positions—pro- oligarchy.” Through intensive, multi- and from other immigrant groups than were immigrants at the turn of the fessorships at Toronto, Columbia, method, team research, the authors 20th century, and even groups from the same nation often gravitate to differ- Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford, and George discovered the importance of small, ent locations. Mason; presidencies of the American mediating groups—what would later be Mayor Giuliani once remarked that he loved all immigrants, legal or Sociological Association, the American labeled “civil society”—for democracy. illegal, but in recent years New York City, along with the rest of the country, Political Science Association, the United Union Democracy alone would be the See New York, page 8 States Institute of Peace; membership in crowning achievement of most academic the National Academy of Sciences; and See Lipset, page 6
Published by the American Sociological Association February 2007 Footnotes
The Executive Officer’s Column In This Issue . . . Enhancing the ASA Public Information Program A year ago, the ASA Council expressed strong interest in having the ASA Executive Office expand our program of ASA Opportunity outreach to the mass media. Council believed additional resources invested in this activity would significantly lever- for Undergraduates age our existing efforts and permit new approaches to bring sociology and sociological research to the general public and The Honors Program is a policymakers through the media. While ASA’s current out- 3 reach efforts have had notable successes, and we have a strong valuable resource and experience for undergraduate students. track record with a sizable set of journalists, more is better. Sally T. Hillsman After an organization-wide communications audit by a firm with expertise in social science communication, we have begun working on key recommendations Council found compelling. Generally, the Sociologist Bloggers goal of our Public Information Program (PIP) is to scale up dissemination of research Speak Out findings to broader public audiences—through both national and local media—by working daily to connect the media with sociologists who have expertise in topics of Four sociologists comment on interest to producers and journalists. The addition to the Executive Office staff of an 4 experienced professional Media Relations Officer (MRO) with a background in soci- their experiences and encourage ology and in award-winning broadcast news production will help ASA capitalize on more sociologists to read, new and existing opportunities. (See article, “New Staff at the ASA Executive Office,” research, and write blogs. on p. 12 of this issue.) Media Relations Activities Sociological Discourse Proactive and media outreach is central to success. ASA has long been at the Center of reliably responsive to journalists’ Vantage inquiries and requests for interviewees Gentrification and research. We are now producing a timely flow 4 Kubrin and Squires bring to the press (e.g., media advisories, press releases, Point race and place to a DC story pitches) and continue responding to daily press inquiries. We are also begin- ning to rethink the ASA’s press web pages. These first steps toward more creative restaurant/lounge/bookstore. and effective publicity are in alignment with Council’s aspirations. Experiments with new ways of outreach will follow as we continue to integrate media relations functions into other ASA activities and programs. We have made Sociology Task Force on considerable progress engaging media interest in the new knowledge published in and General General Education our journals (something many authors thought unlikely), but we need to build the Education capacity of ASA and members to outreach effectively. We also need to shape a media Recommendations niche for the scholarly community, develop stronger external networks and alliances, and, especially, to brand this niche as sociology. Too many members’ work is cited in
7 5 Sociology has a variety of the press, with or without attribution to the scholar or researcher, but without refer- contributions to the general ence to the work as sociological. education curriculum. Engagement of Membership The backbone of the PIP is our membership. It is your expertise, scholarship, and unique knowledge that provide added value to the media and its audiences. The goal ASA Award Winners of our PIP is to promote the Association, sociology, and sociologists by providing a link between sociologists and the media, aggressively encouraging the media to want Announced those sources, and to firmly brand that added value as sociological. Our MRO taps Be sure to congratulate your several databases of experts, especially those who have published and presented 5 scholarship. We engage the leadership of ASA Sections, members of Council, task colleagues. forces, and committees for referrals, and we regularly are approached by members about their own availability to the press. Sociologists as Guiding Principles In providing the media with sociological knowledge, the ASA is not advocating Ambassadors for particular positions, forms of research, or areas of expertise. Obviously, only by Zulfacar is the first female vote of Council or the membership does the Association speak officially on behalf 7 of the membership. Our PIP staff provide these official statements to the media with Afghan ambassador and Austin appropriate persons in leadership and/or subject matter experts to provide context. represents America in Trinidad Individual sociologists—members or not—whom we connect to the media speak on their own behalf with their professional credentials as the basis of their contributions. and Tobago. It is the responsibility of the Association, however, to provide the press with sociolo- gists who have professional expertise in the area about which they speak. This is typically determined by research and publication in peer-reviewed journals or other A Spotlight on a evidence of pertinent scholarship. Our new MRO has begun a proactive weekly email to selected reporters and Longtime, Loyal editors relating to timely news. In January, her advisories have generated member Member interviews with the New York Daily News, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Time maga- 11 zine, and New York City’s WPIX-TV, among others. In addition, these advisories Lief takes pride in serving his have resulted in inquiries from Fox News Channel, Al Jazeera International, and National Public Radio. She has aggressively promoted ASA journal articles, collabo- community. rating with the authors’ institutional Public Information Officers to promote upcom- ing publications. She works especially closely with the editors and managing editors, as appropriate, to promote ASA journal articles. Relying on her journalism skills, ASA is working to re-structure the media relations webpage to align better with the needs of journalists and producers. ASA and its members already are reaping results as our MRO establishes a relationship with new media outlets and encourages more Our Regular Features journalists to look first to the ASA as a reliable resource for new knowledge, inter- views, and comments from sociologists. We will keep our members updated on these Public Forum...... 12 activities, and look forward to engaging with more of you as we move forward. Departments...... 13 —Sally T. Hillsman Obituaries...... 15 February 2007 Footnotes
ASA Honors Program PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE
Expands Opportunities ✔ NIH peer review system being considered for improvements . . . . Concerns about the efficiency of peer review expressed by the scientific community have prompted NIH leadership to consider as a priority re- for Undergraduates engineering the peer review system. The debate is not whether peer review is still important and necessary, but what to do to revamp the system. On August 10, 2006, 54 talented undergraduate sociology students from around the Antonio Scarpa, Director of the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), em- country came together for the ASA Honors Program Orientation in Montréal, Canada, phasized at a recent public meeting the “strategic national importance of st as part of the 101 Annual Meeting. For four days, these exceptional students had the peer review” and called it the “heart and soul of NIH.” Major concerns unique opportunity to experience all facets of the ASA Annual Meeting—from attend- from the scientific community relate to the peer review process being too ing and/or presenting at sessions organized specifically for them to networking with slow and lacking sufficient senior and experienced reviewers. Scarpa said other aspiring sociologists and prominent professors in the field. that part of the problem is intellectual and part of it is structural, given The Honors Program was created in order to provide undergraduate sociology that the process was designed for face-to-face meetings of reviewers. One students a rich introduction to the professional life of the discipline. For many of the of the challenges and opportunities facing NIH peer review is a mechani- students the Annual Meeting is their first time attending a professional meeting of this cal issue—reassigning and improving administration and organizational scale. systems and procedures. The second challenge is cultural—facilitating the One of the major highlights of the 2006 Honors Program was the Honors Roundtable identification and advancement of more significant, innovative, and high session. It is during this session that students had the opportunity to present their own impact research. NIH plans to shorten the review cycle, improve study research to a small group of their peers, with an ASA Minority Fellowship Program section alignment and performance, increase recruitment and retention (MFP) Fellow serving as presider. This year, there were 10 roundtables ranging in top- of high-quality reviewers, and decrease the burden on applicants and ics from the sociology of education to the sociology of mental health. Following the reviewers. NIH also wants the input of the scientific community. For more presentations, the MFP Fellows provided the students with detailed feedback on their information, visit
television, practice religion, engage in extensive personal grooming rituals, or Portrait of the Sociologist as Blogger have kids they refuse to neglect,” argues Freese, currently a health policy research fields of sociology,” Hargittai asserts. scholar at Harvard. “I have little patience Footnotes interviewed four sociologists in the continually expanding blogo- “It’s a great way to hear about other for anyone who does any of these things sphere population (Jeremy Freese, Eszter Hargittai, Rebecca Hensley, and C.N. Le) people’s work and what other people and thinks me derelict for the time I are thinking about.” As the director of spend blogging. I have much enthusiasm willing to share their experiences blogging as sociologists and their ideas about Northwestern’s Web-Use Project, hav- for my work and spend much time at the sociology of blogging. Read about this evolving online social phenomenon. ing a blog is aligned with Hargittai’s it, but I am not going to forgo all other research concerns. She believes that, for things I enjoy for the sake of sociology.” her personally, not having a blog would “It’s not clear why people see it as by LaVon Rice, Freelance Journalist starting her blog was a way to supple- be “problematic,” as her research focuses a substitute for academic research as ment classroom teaching. “When I on the social implications and social opposed to, say, a substitute for watch- A blog, short for weblog, is a user-gen- would teach about race, my students aspects of informational technology uses. ing TV,” Hargittai, who also posts on the erated website where entries are made in would often urge me to meet with them C.N. Le, academic blog journal style and displayed in a reverse for continued discussion on the topic University of Crooked Timber, chronological order. In the last couple outside of class periods,” she explains. Massachusetts- “Sociologists have the opportunity to be adds. “Now of years the number of blogs has grown “Blogging offered me a mechanism with Amherst, at the forefront of this social phenomenon one reason why exponentially. Blogs generally represent which I could say, ‘If you want to know believes that and to apply our collective knowledge to people might confuse this the personality of the author or the web- more about this, you can visit my blog sociologists have help society understand its inner workings site, and their purposes range from news on race.’” Its popularity did not end with a responsibil- is because it sources or updates on current research students as other academics expanded ity to enlarge and social ramifications,” Le explains. is writing and to quirky musings or news on celebrity the scope of the audience, which led to the blogosphere maybe some gossip. For the sociologists below, the intense exchanges at times. “Readers with their expertise. “Sociologists have people don’t understand why some purpose and content of their blog is as range widely, some are highly educated, the opportunity to be at the forefront of might want to write recreationally.” varied as their personalities. and since it’s on a blog, they can be this social phenomenon and to apply She believes that some posts could be For Jeremy Freese, it was boredom bold in their critiques—in the broadest our collective knowledge to help society considered academic service. “Sure, if that catapulted him into possible public setting. understand its inner workings and you write a piece for an ASA section the blogosphere. “I started It’s heady business,” she social ramifications,” he explains. “If our newsletter, that’s not going to be a peer- my blog on a whim because adds. discipline claims to analyze and under- reviewed journal article, but one could it was the summer, I was stand social dynamics and relationships, compare some blogging to that,” she working hard but also a Social Implications blogging is definitely at the forefront of explains. little bored, and it looked Why academics such trends and that’s [where] sociolo- As an example of how blogging has fun,” recalls Freese, blog has not yet been gists need to be.” academic relevance, last year, Hargittai University of Wisconsin- “explored systemati- was on a National Communication A Hobby with Academic Relevance Madison. “I figured when cally,” maintains Eszter Association panel about how to com- I started my blog that I Hargittai, although she So what about perceptions that plete a dissertation successfully. She would probably do it for two weeks, does have a graduate student pursuing blogging has a detrimental effect on included the highlights from the talk get bored and stop.” Now three and a such research. According to Hargittai, “legitimate” scholarship? All four blog- on a blog post, which led to more than half years later, the self-described “boy Northwestern University, sociologists ger-sociologists agree that it is unfair to 40 response comments posted. She also detective” is still investigating topics as are less likely to blog than legal schol- assume that they are not as committed received inquiries from graduate study diverse as his heating bill, over-pam- ars, economists, and political scientists, to their profession because their hobby directors from across the country asking pered pets, and the logic of sending a although the reason for that is unclear. is within public view. “I understand for permission to reprint her dissertation mannequin thief to prison for life. Blogging, she said, is useful for con- that there are sociologists who have completion strategies. Hargittai said, “So For Rebecca Hensley, a visiting sociol- necting to other scholars within the monomaniacal devotion to their craft in that sense it’s a service to the disci- ogy professor at St. Leo University who discipline. “Blogging can be a great way to the exclusion of all else. However, pline or to various disciplines. And that specializes in power and race relations, to connect with people from other sub- many sociologists pursue hobbies, watch See Blogger, page 12
offend. In summary, though recidivism is responses, their presentation guided the Busboys, Poets, and Sociologists: often explained in terms of race, it may be audience through an accessible and care- more fruitful to consider how resource- fully crafted argument. They explained A Place for Discourse poor neighborhoods encourage recidi- the situation at a neighborhood level vism and how these neighborhoods are with respect to housing, crime, and other An aspiring sociologist’s experience with public sociology in Washington, DC most likely to contain minority residents. sociological phenomena, noting the cen- Busboys and Poets’ monthly talk on trality of place and race in shaping the by Kyle Anthony Murphy, ASA Academic jazz lounges and night spots frequented race is a Sunday opportunity struc- and Professional Affairs Program by the likes of Duke Ellington and evening affair ture in the United Langston Hughes. The name “Busboys that I have States. Perhaps most and Poets” refers to Hughes’ mid-1920s attended for important, they The evening at a progressive stint as a busboy (and of course a pub- the last several provided specific Washington, DC, bookstore started with lished poet) in a District hotel. U Street months. On policy suggestions a striking statistic: In Bethesda, MD (an was devastated by the riots of the 1960s, my first trip that could contribute upper-income DC suburb), there is one and has only begun to come back in to ACTOR, to solutions. pediatrician for every 400 children. In the last several years with the develop- the audi- With a measure of the Southeast quadrant of Washington, ment of luxury condominium buildings ence watched bias, I attribute the DC, there is one pediatrician for every like the Langston Lofts, which houses American standout nature of 3,700 children. This was the first in a line Busboys and Poets on the ground floor. Blackout, a docu- their talk to the vir- of facts that demonstrated the continued mentary that tues of sociological An ACTOR Without a Script significance in the United States of not discussed black research. Carefully only race but also place. At Busboys and Poets’ ACTOR [A voter disenfran- constructed ques- Continuing Talk on Race] series, Gregory chisement in the tions, meticulously Food, Art, and Science on U Street Charis Kubrin (left) and Gregory Squires (right) Squires and Charis Kubrin, both of most prominent crafted means for pose before a mural in the Langston Room of The venue for this discussion, George Washington University, argued recent elections. learning what the Busboys and Poets after their talk on race and Busboys and Poets, is a unique place that race remains an important factor in A typical eve- situation is, and a place in the ACTOR series. that can only be described with slashes persistent inequalities. They based their ning consists of targeted translation or hyphens. It is a restaurant/lounge/ argument on their new book Privileged some focal point, of findings for a bookstore/coffee house/event center Places: Race, Residence, and the Structure of such as a movie or a speaker, followed by public audience are some hallmarks of a that cannot be reduced to any one of Opportunity (Lynne Rienner, 2006). The open discussion. The ACTOR events typi- good sociological presentation. Similarly, its components. Along with a complete book explains the prominence of place, cally break into audience commentary, these qualities are exactly what is neces- menu, tables, sofas, and a bar, there is a or neighborhood, in shaping one’s life strategic disagreements, and personal sary at a community venue like Busboys left-leaning, non-profit bookstore, and and chances for a variety of positive defenses, which are not uncommon in and Poets, which encourages discussion a private room with a stage for daily and negative experiences. For example, public forums where nearly anything that lends itself to action. events. Somewhat appropriately, the drawing from their research on a com- goes. For more information about the presenta- place sits at a famous crossroad in the munity of criminal offenders in Portland, The evening of Squires and Kubrin’s tion and book, contact Gregory Squires District where recent gentrification has OR, Kubrin explained that released talk on race and place was an exception to profoundly affected the neighborhood. offenders who re-entered resource-poor this style. Instead of a contentious discus- ([email protected]) or Charis Kubrin The U Street corridor, once referred neighborhoods were more likely to re- sion with often unrelated questions and ([email protected]). to as “Black Broadway,” housed famous February 2007 Footnotes
Recommendation 4: Ensure that the Task Force on General Education Issues Report requirements of the major are mapped to general education learning outcomes and by Carla B. Howery, ASA Academic and student learning and ways to enhance it. our work, we now know that sociology, explicitly conveyed to students in order to Professional Affairs Nonetheless, linking goals and assess- while acknowledging the importance of strengthen their foundational knowledge ment is a strategy this Task Force, ASA these learning outcomes through reports within a study-in-depth experience. Recommendation 5: Collect and analyze he ASA’s Task Force on Sociology groups working on related topics, and such as Liberal Learning and the Sociology T systematically assessment data and com- and General Education has completed the AACU all endorse. Major, has not assessed students’ perfor- municate these results to faculty, students, its work and has issued a report to assist The report is the third in a set of mance in these areas either systemati- and appropriate publics to ensure that departments as they participate in the reports developed by ASA task forces cally or comprehensively. Much work student performance is consistent with plans and debates on general education and approved by ASA Council that can remains to be completed in the areas of the general education learning goals. requirements on campus. This resource guide sociology departments’ curricu- curriculum development and assessment Recommendation 6: Share accomplish- provides ideas, models, and a literature lum. The first report,Liberal Learning and of student outcomes in ways that attend ments in general education with the review about how sociology can con- the Sociology Major Updated (2004) pro- to the relationship between sociology community of sociologists, at professional tribute to frequently advanced goals for vides goals for and general meetings, on the ASA website, and in general education programs. the major and education. As Sociology and General Education publications appearing in scholarly work The Task Force on Sociology and recommenda- Toward that on teaching and learning. General Education was established in tions for how Task Force Chair Bruce Keith notes, “That end, we offer Task Force on Sociology and General 2004 by the ASA Council to develop departments sociology can articulate demonstrably its six recommen- Education. 2007. Sociology and General models and rationales for the vari- can structure dations, which contribution to important areas of student Education. Washington, DC: American ous ways in which sociology courses their curricu- build upon the learning is noteworthy. But sociology can and Sociological Association. $6 ASA members contribute to general education require- lum. Following preceding and and $10 non-members. Order via
February 2007 Footnotes
Lipset, from page 1 careers. Lipset’s most widely read book, Status, and Power (1965), works that third-party presidential bid made him all: Marty was a wonderful person. He Political Man (1960), set the groundwork brought cross-national and historical realize that he had overestimated the had a fulfilling personal life. He married for decades of research in both sociol- comparison to the emerging field of influence of America’s electoral system the former Elsie Braun, with whom he ogy and political science, particularly stratification research. InThe First New in inhibiting socialism; the United States had three children—David, Daniel, and in emphasizing the social and economic Nation (1963), an important work for could have successful third parties, but Cici—and six grandchildren. Elsie, who foundations of liberal democracy. historians as well as sociologists, Lipset not social-democratic, labor, or socialist helped Marty remain the same boy from Two of Lipset’s most influential further developed his ideas about what ones. Lipset’s memoir, “Steady Work,” the Bronx and rooted in his Jewish tradi- articles, “Some Social Requisites of made America different, focusing on in the 1996 Annual Review of Sociology, tion, died in 1987. In 1990 he married the Democracy” (1959) and, with Stein cultural and institutional patterns set at gives a rich account of his intellectual former Sydnee Guyer and embarked on Rokkan, “Cleavage Structures, Party the country’s founding. He continued development. a second happy marriage. Together with Systems, and Voter Alignments” (1967) exploring ideas and data on the ques- As a teacher, Marty worked with and Sydnee, he continued to be active in the illustrate the complexity and range of tion through American Exceptionalism sponsored a diverse range of eminent Jewish community and in Democratic his thinking. Lipset begins with the (1996) and, with Gary Marks, in It Didn’t students, including James Coleman, Party politics. correlation of stable democracy with Happen Here (2001). Maurice Zeitlin, Gary T. Marx, Gary Marty was, in every respect, a wealth, industrialization, and education. Marks, Immanuel Wallerstein, Bill Letting the Evidence Speak mensch—a decent, honorable person. But he adds important refinements. For Schneider, Juan Linz, Theda Skocpol, He was also always down-to-earth, example, the survival in some nations Lipset was a major intellectual force, Larry Diamond, and many, many others. warm, unpretentious, artless, and for of traditional symbols like monarchies often a foundational figure, in other Marty was overflowing with ideas one of such accomplishment, remarkably curbed reaction from the conservative fields as well, such as the study of higher and fascinated by all sorts of informa- modest. He was, as his wife Sydnee has classes. He also shows that when major education, the politics of academics and tion. He had a voracious mind, and, said, just “a very sweet man.” Person cleavages attendant on modernization, intellectuals, Latin American develop- having overcome dyslexia, became a after person told her that it was thanks such as between religion and secularism ment, and American Jewry. He wrote speed reader. He could be spotted in to Marty that they finished their dis- or between capital and labor, came in prolifically, not to bolster his reputa- Harvard’s William James Hall, walking sertations, got their books published, stages rather than all together, the timing tion or to press a theoretical claim, but from his office to the men’s room and landed jobs, or gained tenure. Theda enabled emerging democratic institu- to contribute ideas and findings to the back, flipping through the pages of a Skocpol has pointed out that Marty tions to gain legitimacy by resolving vital intellectual debates of his times. book, having absorbed much of it by the treated women with professional respect each crisis in sequence. Both essays, like He paid serious attention to evidence, time he returned to his office. And he and supported them even before the so much of Lipset’s oeuvre, bear reread- often using an eclectic mix of data and enthusiastically shared what he learned women’s movement. Others have ing; they are much more nuanced and theory, whatever would work empiri- with all comers, from eminent scholar to noted that, despite tensions resulting interesting than the boiled-down ver- cally. For example, observing that social graduate student. from Berkeley’s Free Speech Movement sions most sociologists encounter today, mobility was no greater in the United Large in Size and Spirit (Marty was an advocate of debate and their arguments remain relevant. States than in Europe convinced him that rather than direct action), he generously With his colleague at Berkeley, America’s exceptionalism was due to None of the accolades and honors that mentored students of all political stripes. Reinhard Bendix, Lipset produced Social its distinctive historical experiences and Lipset received over the years or since Physically large, Marty Lipset was even Mobility in Industrial Society (1959) and the values they shaped, rather than its his death capture what those who knew larger in spirit. the canonical edited collection, Class, unique social structure. Ross Perot’s 1992 him recognized as most important of He is tremendously missed.
Colleagues Pay Tribute to Seymour Martin Lipset
and his late wife Elsie, extended gener- contrasting Coughlin, Joseph McCarthy, ous hospitality to me and my family, and and the John Birch Society. Not a bad he became a professional advocate, as deal by the standards of 1962. Long before I knew him personally well, as he had for many other women Our paths additionally overlapped in tary, but they were never fully answered I found inspiration in Seymour Martin scholars during his career. An even closer Cambridge, Palo Alto, and Washington, by empirical inquiry, no matter how Lipset’s work in my undergraduate relationship developed with Marty and DC—overlaps aided by his continual systematic. political science classes at Antioch his incredibly gracious and warm wife support over four decades. Marty was like a pointillist painter College. My mentor, Heinz Eulau, high- Sydnee, who only last summer helped A multitude of empirical indicators rather than a laboratory scientist. He lighted Lipset’s work among the scholars craft an intellectually exciting session on establishes Marty’s place among the pre- judiciously selected among the wealth of who engaged in empirical research and his work at the annual meeting of the dominant social scientists of the last half possible empirical details to offer larger whose theoretical contributions were American Sociological Association dur- century. I note five gifts Marty offered understandings and develop arguments combining to transform political specu- ing my presidency. as a partial role model to this aspiring (not unlike a trial attorney). The integra- lation into a social science. Thus it was Marty’s personal generosity extended sociologist. These were formative for tive and synthetic total goes beyond the not surprising that when I chose a thesis to social generosity through his untiring many of the 37 moral imperatives I have individual components chosen for inclu- topic in graduate school, it was Lipset’s work on behalf of the worldwide Jewish suggested to other aspiring sociologists sion. Standards of evidence and logic, work on the printers union (Union community and other social causes. (The American Sociologist 1997). however imperfect can take us beyond Democracy, written with Martin Trow and We will miss him, but his personal 1) In the beginning there are the conclusions based on tradition or power. James Coleman), conceived as a “deviant and intellectual legacy lives on. questions. Marty had the vision, courage 3) Multiple roles in their appropri- case analysis,” that provided a method- (chutzpah?), and ability to frame endur- ate places. Marty was acutely aware of Cynthia Fuchs Epstein, Graduate Center, ological model for my study of women ing socially and theoretically meaningful the difference and tensions (but also the CUNY lawyers (then three percent of the questions (across societies and history links) between scholarship and activism. profession) and a subsequent study of g g g and to pursue these across his career). 4) What makes Marty run? Lipset had black professional women (a percentage He started with empirical variation an insatiable curiosity, and unbounded too small even to calculate). Studying (what is and is not or what might have enthusiasm for understanding politics Seymour Martin Lipset was uniqueness—or “exceptionalism”—pro- been or might become). This required and social life and a bigger-than-life (or Whitmanesque in his amplitude—in vided special insights into social struc- historical and comparative international a big as it gets) need for achievement physical and social stature, in the ture, as we know from studying Lipset’s material and following the questions not and capacity for hard work. In spite of breadth of his vision, and in his passion later works. the method. his religion, his productivity gives new for America. The virtues, paradoxes, and The luster of “Lipset the scholar” was 2) Two cheers for science. Marty meaning to the Protestant Ethic. contradictions of America are key to his matched by the personal qualities of shared the enlightenment faith in a 5) The virtues of talk. Marty had a persona and work. (A longer version of “Lipset the friend.” I got to know Marty positivist social science that could hot, Talmudic, New York gift for ani- these remarks is at garymarx.net.) personally through mutual friends in provide answers and be used for social mated, energized, erudite, discursive, Marty provided me with research New York and more closely during betterment. He was no mindless empiri- free-association conversation, if often in support, entry into the profession, and several sojourns at Stanford at the Center cist. The questions he raised required the form of an encyclopedic monologue a thesis topic analyzing 1938 public for Advanced Study and the Law School. attending to the empirical record and or a self-interrogatory soliloquy. This opinion data on Father Coughlin, which Though casually acquainted at first, he, cross-observer analysis and commen- provided Marty one-third of his article See Tribute, page 7 February 2007 Footnotes
Sociologists Serving as Foreign Ambassadors . . . professor and coordinates fundraisers Extraordinary and to the Republic of From Afghanistan to Germany for Afghan’s education system. During Trinidad and Tobago. the summers, she teaches social sci- Prior to his nomination by President ence and establishes programs at Kabul George W. Bush, Ambassador Austin to America and Back University. was Associate Professor of Sociology, her country—by way of Germany. In between teaching, traveling, Justice, and African American Studies at A sociologist from Afghanistan, She lived there and became fluent in volunteering, and fundraising, Zulfacar Pennsylvania State University. Between Maliha Zulfacar, has taken a sab- German until 1985 when she left for the produced Kabul Transit, a documentary 1994-98, he served as Director of the batical from an American university, United States. She returned to Germany that explores the soul of a city devas- Crime, Law, and Justice Program at Penn California Polytechnic State University, to earn her PhD (1997) in sociology at tated by nearly three decades of war. The State, and in July 2001 became Director to move to Berlin to be Paerborn University. Her documentary, which was accepted into of the Africana Research Center. He is the Afghan ambassa- dissertation, A Comparative the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival, fol- the author of numerous publications on dor to Germany. While Analysis of Immigration lows city residents in the course of their the Caribbean, including Trinidad and she is the first woman Policy and Its Influence on daily lives and listens to stories of their Tobago. appointed as an ambas- Immigrants Residing in past and hopes for their future, accord- Austin was born in Kingstown, St. sador from Afghanistan, Germany and in the United ing to Zulfacar. Vincent and the Grenadines. His work she is not the first soci- States, later became a book Since returning to experience has rarely ologist to do so, as Roy L. on Afghan immigrants. In Afghanistan, not only had been monotonous, as he Austin, Pennsylvania State her academic and profes- Zulfacar worked to rebuild held positions there as a University, is a U.S. ambas- sional life she has focused the nation’s higher educa- customs officer, secondary sador as well. on Afghanistan, immigra- tion system, but she was school teacher, carnival “It is a great honor for tion, and gender, globaliza- also actively encouraging bandleader, and captain of me,” said Zulfacar, who tion, and democratization. Afghan women to pursue the national soccer team, began her appointment in higher education at Kabul and was selected for trials September. “Having been Returning Home University and abroad. for the national cricket the first woman appointed For years, Zulfacar, Zulfacar has said that she squad. as an ambassador from Maliha Zulfacar who was born in Kabul, feels like a global citizen, In 1964, he moved to the Afghanistan gives me dreamed of her homeland having spent 23 years in United States to attend Yale the opportunity to serve my country of but felt isolated from it. Then, when the Kabul and another 23 in the University, where he was birth and also to demonstrate that when United States invaded in 2001, Zulfacar United States. a classmate of President Afghan women are given the chance for launched a fundraising drive to buy Bush. He graduated with education, they too will be able to par- chairs for an Afghan school and helped g g g a BA in sociology, and then ticipate effectively in the reconstruction to open a day-care center at Kabul Roy L. Austin went on to the University of the country.” University, where she began to work as From America to Trinidad of Washington to earn his Zulfacar’s history with Germany a part-time teacher. Since the fall of the In addition to Zulfacar, another soci- MA and PhD (1973) in sociology. With spans more than two decades when she Taliban, she has been leading a cross- ologist is currently an ambassador. Since degrees in hand, Austin became a U.S. escaped Afghanistan as a young mother continental life. During the academic October 2001, Roy L. Austin has been citizen. in 1979—the year the Soviets invaded year, she teaches as an ethnic studies serving as the United States Ambassador
Tribute, from page 6 style informed and dazzled listeners, espe- most memorable experiences at Harvard. approached people and subject mat- When Marty Lipset arrived at George cially those more accustomed to a laidback My greatest debt to him, however, was ters with a sense of optimism and good Mason University in the mid-1990s, he cool Southern California conversational his historical sociology. It is sad indeed humor, confident of the outcome. When had already earned a position of unri- style. that I have to remind the sociology com- I wrote the Footnotes biography when valled distinction. Yet, when looking munity that Seymour Matin Lipset was Marty became President of ASA, without back now on his many contributions, Gary T. Marx, Professor Emeritus, Massa- one of the great historical sociologists of seeing what I had written, he suggested what strikes Marty’s former colleagues at chusetts Institute of Technology the twentieth century, so dishonored and that I title it “The World Is His Oyster” Mason is his sheer modesty. So unassum- g g g gratuitously neglected has he been by (September 1992). He was an optimist, a ing was Marty that it was as if he simply those who claim to lead this sub-field. quality that would inevitably distinguish refused to accept his singular status, and Marty’s reputation as one of the giants him from those conservatives, some of insisted on receiving the same treatment Seymour Martin Lipset was the of twentieth century sociology will surely whom he had known from college days, as anyone else. One former administra- quintessential sociologist. He lived and survive this disciplinary snub. The sheer with whom unknowing critics tried to tor still remembers Marty deeply and breathed the subject with an ease and power and originality of his ideas, the lump him. Marty was a man hungry repeatedly apologizing for requesting naturalness that often escaped the great broad sweep of his interests and the social for knowledge, friendships, and new a first-class ticket for a cross-Atlantic minds of the discipline. Sociation on all significance of all that he wrote, ensures experiences and prepared to work hard flight. So physically imposing a man levels was an endless source of puzzles that in less dogmatic times he will be to achieve those goals. was Marty that he simply needed the leg and intellectual excitement for him, but viewed on par with Weber as an historical In Marty’s contacts with young room, but he loathed the symbolic mean- his reflections were never alienating, never sociologist, and as one of the great shapers people, whether as professor, colleague, ing that first-class status might imply. became a substitute for being social. He of our discipline. or professional associate, he was open To know Marty was to engage a man was always there, a big, chubby, warm to their ideas and warm in his feelings, whose appetite for ideas and whose man, unpretentious and homey with an Orlando Patterson, Harvard University expressed in a continuing loyalty. For commitment to the truth were virtually absorbing gaze that seemed to go on and many, those early contacts would be boundless. Marty would write energeti- off, but did not really. For what seemed g g g the basis for a longstanding friendship, cally in the mornings, arriving on cam- like distraction in conversation was as it has been for me. Although never a pus full of energy for the remainder of simply his way of bringing his enormous I had the privilege of serving as Vice student (though indirectly I was, since the day, eager to teach, talk, and engage knowledge and powers of concentration President during Marty Lipset’s reign his student Juan Linz was my disserta- in hearty debate with anyone who cared to bear on everything you were saying, as as ASA President. Although I had long tion advisor), I became acquainted with to think seriously about the issues—col- you discovered at the slightest weakness admired his work, I had never met him him through a colleague who wanted to leagues, graduate students, cleaning or contradiction in your argument. personally. I quickly discovered that he ensure that Marty would make a con- workers, administrative staff. Rank did We became friends not long after was not only a scholar of immense intel- tribution to his edited book on profes- not matter to him at all nor did gender. I arrived in America in 1970, mainly lect but also a warm and witty human sions. I was enlisted to finish the paper Because he knew how inhospitable the because of common interests: historical being. In the years that followed our and when Marty and I subsequently academy could be, especially to those sociology; modernization and develop- service to ASA, Marty became a friend. met, it began the kind of friendship that it viewed as outsiders, Marty went out ment; freedom; ethnicity; the role of He was always more than generous with so many other students report. When I of his way to encourage women schol- socio-cultural values; problems of conti- his time, willing to read my work and completed my dissertation Marty both ars, often offering close and careful yet nuity and change. Marty had a lifelong offer advice during my own tenure as suggested a publisher and then wrote encouraging responses to their work at academic interest in the history of social- president. I am proud to have known this an introduction to the book. It helped in key moments in their careers. One of the ism in North America, one that originated remarkable man who had contributed so cementing our ties that I was a student of most accomplished sociologists of our in his socialist early years. We bonded much to the discipline and to his many Canadian society and politics, the same time, a leading scholar now at Harvard, on this common Marxian coming of age, students and professional colleagues. milieu where he had begun his own recalls Marty going out of his way to especially after he learned of my friend- Jill Quadagno, Florida State University scholarly work and for which he would encourage her work at a critical moment. ship with C.L.R. James during my London retain an abiding interest and affection. Her debt to Marty is shared by countless day; James having been a legendary figure g g g others, women and men alike. He leaves in American communism during Marty’s Mildred A. Schwartz, New York University a small army of admirers here at Mason, youth. He disagreed with, but respected Marty Lipset combined astuteness and University of Illinois-Chicago in public policy and sociology. He was a my skepticism about ethnic movements, about the world around him with a critical force of nature. and we taught a course together on the g g g self-awareness. He knew who he was and subject in the mid-70s that was one of my Steve Vallas, George Mason University February 2007 Footnotes
Lagos, from page 1
Radicals, Socialists, Communists, and creation of the Concertación, the alliance resigned his UN position and became the dictator’s authoritarian constitution. Christian Leftists, the same coalition that of Christian Democrats and ex-Popular president of the Democratic Alliance Lagos argued there was no alternative backed Allende’s successful presidential Unity leftists that would defeat Pinochet of Christian Democrats, Radicals, and and emerged as a leader in the 17-party campaign the following year on a plat- in the 1988 plebiscite and govern Chile [renovated] Socialists, a Concertación coalition against Pinochet, including the form of a “democratic road to socialism.” for two decades. predecessor. Party for Democracy (PPD). As its first Under Allende, Lagos was a United The economic crisis of 1982-85 caused president, Lagos made his famous April Nations (UN) delegate and govern- Transition to Democracy by the neoliberal policies of Pinochet’s 1988 primetime TV appearance in which ment manager of the nationalized Banco Lagos was a leader in the incep- advisers provoked widespread social he denounced Pinochet and gave others Edwards. In 1973, Lagos became head of tion of that dialogue and he would be protest, which raised illusory hopes that courage to oppose the dictator. FLACSO, the Latin American a key figure in the forma- the dictator would fall. After Communist Lagos played a central role during the regional social science tion of the Concertación guerrillas tried to assassinate Pinochet in plebiscite campaign, and was instrumen- graduate school in Santiago and its governments of the 1986, the dictator unleashed a new wave tal in winning both Chilean Communist sponsored by the UN, a posi- 1990s. In the 1977 confer- of repression, closing opposition media and U.S. government cooperation to tion he held when the violent ence volume that he co- and detaining prevent another military coup of September edited, Lagos rethought the democratic coup. The “No” 11, 1973, ended Allende’s via Popular Unity’s economic opposition lead- The failure to end the Pinochet dictatorship won a decisive chilena and with it Chile’s program, prefiguring the ers, including with bullets left only one way to oust victory and “model democracy.” In the Concertación’s combination Lagos, whose Pinochet reluc- perilous aftermath of the of market economics with detention and him: playing by the rules that the dictator tantly accepted coup, Lagos courageously targeted government social interrogation established that provided for a 1988 “yes/ his defeat. tried to protect his many spending to help the poor evoked interna- no” plebiscite on Pinochet’s continued reign. Latin American leftist stu- and to humanize Chile’s tional protests. A New Day dents and faculty from the neoliberal model. A year Pinochet regime’s repression. In 1979, Lagos returned Playing by the Rules later, Patricio Aylwin, the Christian Lagos became an obstacle to to Chile to lead PREALC, The failure to end the Pinochet Democratic candidate of the the military junta’s effort to Richard Lagos the UN regional program dictatorship with bullets left only one Concertación, was elected Chile’s liquidate “subversive” views, on employment, and to join way to oust him: playing by the rules President, and Lagos became his and by early 1974, his own safety was in Vector, a Socialist think tank drawing up that the dictator established that pro- Minister of Education. Lagos gradually jeopardy. Lagos moved FLACSO and his plans for a transition to democracy. This vided for a 1988 “yes/no” plebiscite on pushed the limits of Pinochet’s legacy, family to Argentina and later accepted a marked his transition from academic Pinochet’s continued reign. If voters working from within to begin to change visiting professorship at the University and international functionary to political approved, he would be president of the tenor and character of schooling in of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. There he actor and leader. Lagos joined Allende’s Chile for another decade; if not, there Chile. As Education Minister, Lagos set co-directed a pivotal conference attended Socialist party then in a process of “reno- would be competitive elections for a strategy for change that his successors by moderate Christian Democrat and vation” under the influence of European president and a new congress. Many continued. Popular Unity leaders on the lessons exiles and its own post-coup reflections, on the Left opposed participation in the In 1994, Lagos became Minister of from the Chilean tragedy. That meet- which would transform Chile’s Socialists plebiscite, expecting fraud, as in previ- Public Works for Christian Democrat ing began a dialogue between erstwhile into social democrats similar to Felipe ous Pinochet referendums, and fearing Eduardo Frei. Here too Lagos demon- enemies, leading in the 1980s to the Gonzalez or Tony Blair. In 1983, Lagos that their participation would legitimate See Lagos, page 9
New York, from page 1 has reversed that inclusive sentiment. Rising Income Inequality apartments to current tenants for $1,500 health care, reasonable employment, After September 11, 2001, the climate Areas of wealth exist around the bor- per month and to new tenants, when the public transportation, etc. While the for undocumented immigrants in New oughs, but New York City and especially current ones leave, for well over $3,000 per wealthy take care of themselves and the York City has worsened. Entering the Manhattan, remain economically stratified month. middle class leave New York City, new country—legally or illegally—has with income inequality dwarfing that of Starting salaries at Wall Street law residents and those on the bottom become become much more difficult, and most third world countries. Neighbors firms are nearing $150,000 per year, while the core recipients of vital city services undocumented immigrants have a and peers of Mayor Michael Bloomberg partners take home several million dollars. and are those most affected by changes harder time living here since they can in the Upper East Side zip code of 10021 This year, bonuses in Wall Street invest- to them. Despite its disproportionate tax no longer open bank accounts or obtain supplied the most political donations to ment banks, brokerages, and hedge funds burden, the city struggles to fulfill these driver's licenses. Recent Census data both the Bush and Kerry campaigns in are expected to set a new record. Indeed, needs. Recent economic policies (e.g., and a study from the Pew Research 2004 of any zip code in the country. The there are recent reports of bidding wars the Campaign for Fiscal Equity school Center both point to a slowing of rich folks constituting the top 20 percent for apartments that cost as much as $10 to funding case, the abolition of the com- immigration since about 1997. Yet, of Manhattan’s population have about $20 million, while $400,000 Ferraris are in muter tax, and the big development plans immigrants and their children continue 50 times the annual income (more than short supply. for Ground Zero and for the West Side) to change New York City as they have $350,000 on average) of the poor folks in Some of the truly affluent families contribute to the impression that city since before its founding in 1897. the bottom 20 percent. Income inequal- maintain at least one domicile in residents and their needs are subordinate ity within the very small geographic area Manhattan, and Manhattan is in the to the interests of suburban and upstate Racial Segregation and the Black midst of a baby boom fueled mostly by residents. Middle Class of Manhattan is a growing trend, and it seems there is little New York City can do non-Hispanic white families. Indeed, the Mayor Bloomberg proudly promotes The African Americans in New York about it. median income of such families, who his city as “a luxury product” and seems City are highly segregated from other Indeed, recent changes in rent stabi- have a child below five years old, is about unconcerned about the loss of the middle groups. Within this segregation, there lization laws have meant that much of $285,000. class. But he is really speaking about is a burgeoning black middle class in Manhattan (excluding most of Harlem, the Upper West Side (the area extending Middle Class Exodus Southeast Queens as well parts of the north of Lincoln Center through Columbia East Harlem, Washington Heights, Northeast Bronx and recently the begin- to about 122nd Street west of Central Many of the middle and upper middle and Chinatown) and neighborhoods nings of one in parts of Harlem. Median Park and Morningside Drive), which has class are moving outside of New York City in the other Boroughs that are becom- black households in Queens have higher the highest concentration of Manhattan into the New York metropolitan area, now ing Manhattanesque (e.g., Park Slope, incomes than whites, according to 2005 sociologists, has seen soaring incomes as farther from the city than in the past. The Brooklyn Heights, and Williamsburg in Census data. Queens is the only large the middle class (here defined as those movement of people and jobs undoubt- Brooklyn, and Astoria and Long Island county in the United States (with a pop- with household incomes below $175,000) edly increased in the aftermath of the City in Queens). The areas where the poor ulation above 65,000) where this is true. can no longer afford the area. Unregulated 2001 terrorist attacks, but the trend began live—primarily minorities or immigrants The neighborhoods around St. Albans, apartments in Manhattan fetch about in earnest after World War II, especially or both—are also not considered. Cambria, and Laurelton are especially among the affluent who sought employ- $1,000 per square foot to purchase, and Andrew A. Beveridge is Professor of Sociol- affluent and virtually 100 percent black, ment, housing, city services, and improved about three-quarters of rental apartments ogy at Queens College and the Graduate while large and poverty-stricken areas of any size rent for more than $2,000 per quality of life outside of city limits. with high concentrations of black popu- New York City is increasingly the home Center of CUNY. This article draws on his month. The recent sale of Stuyvesant analyses that have appeared in the New lation exist in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Town and Peter Cooper village (two of the foreign-born, as well as native-born and the Bronx. Though parts of Harlem and foreign-born African Americans and York Times (for whom he has consulted connected post-war middle class devel- since 1993) and from his more than 50 recently have had an economic rebound, opments with about 11,000 apartments) Hispanics. Recently the number of African the difference in income between blacks Americans has decreased, and without columns on New York trends written for the means that the trend towards unregulated Gotham Gazette (an online publication of and whites in Manhattan is the highest apartments will accelerate. These tax- immigration it would have decreased Citizens Union Foundation). See
Lagos, from page 8 strated administrative and executive operations of the seriously ill who could Yesterday and Tomorrow After the Presidency skills. As a social scientist in politics, not afford private care. The defining moment of Lagos’s By the time Lagos left the presi- Lagos analyzed problems with detach- Working from Within presidency came in 2003, on the 30th dency in 2006, the economy was boom- ment and exhibits more head than heart, anniversary of Pinochet’s military coup ing, most of his projects had come to although his policies are informed by As president, the lifelong educator that ended the government (and life) fruition, his approval rating was 70%, social sensibility. As minister, Lagos and former Education Minister made of Allende and began 16 years of state and he was judged the most successful demonstrated that civilian government education a priority, in part because terror in which thousands were “disap- president in Chilean history. Moreover, is as efficient as military government education was the Concertación’s long- peared” and tens of thousands tortured. he was able to deliver the presidential and that democracies can accomplish as term solution to inequality. Between While the first Concertación government sash to his hand-picked Socialist suc- much, or more, as dictatorships. 1990 and the end of his presidency, had created a commission to establish cessor, Bachelet. By 1998, Lagos was ready to be public educational expenditures qua- the fate of the “disappeared,” Chile had After completing his term, Lagos Chile’s president, and a majority was drupled, with an increase in special never confronted the far larger number was asked to assume another presi- ready to vote for him, as made clear by assistance for schools and children in of tortured, many still walking the same dency, the Club of Madrid, a private his landslide victory over the Christian poor districts, ranging from free pre- streets as their torturers—and most organization that emerged out of Democratic rival in the primary. Despite school to university scholarships. political analysts doubted that Chile the 2001 conference on Democratic an economic recession and the Right’s The former Minister of Public ever would. In 2003, however, Lagos Transition and Consolidation, held in overwhelming financial advantage Works also continued to undertake and announced the forma- Madrid. The Club and media monopoly, Lagos defeated complete major development projects tion of a truth commis- brings together Joaquín Lavín in 2000 to become Chile’s as president. In social terms, the most sion to establish what Lagos told his people that they former heads of first Socialist president since Allende’s important may have been extending the had happened to for- had to confront this traumatic state and leading violent overthrow. Santiago Metro from the city center to mer political prisoners academic experts to the working-class suburbs. This meant past because “Without yesterday President of Chile claiming to have been assist countries with that poor Chileans who previously tortured. With moving there is no tomorrow.” “critical elements Lagos was determined that his spent four to five hours a day commut- eloquence, Lagos told of their democratic presidency would have a different ing on multiple overcrowded buses his people that they had to confront this transition or consolidation.” Its mem- ending. At first, it seemed as if finish- now commute in less than half that time traumatic past because “Without yester- bers include former world leaders Bill ing his six years in office and handing in relative comfort at a lower cost. This day there is no tomorrow.” Clinton, Vaclav Havel, and Mikhail it over to his elected successor was all major extension of the Santiago Metro is The strong conviction that Chile could Gorbachev. This invitation reflects he would accomplish. Problems Lagos a typical Lagos initiative—starting with no longer suppress its past led Lagos the high esteem with which Lagos is faced included an inherited economic what is already there and working from to use the 30th anniversary to revisit it viewed by international peers and recession, an Argentine crisis, and the inside—to push the envelope and and to rehabilitate Allende as a repub- reflects his unusual ability to bring ideological business elites who refused derive a social benefit while creating lican hero who died defending Chilean together the worlds of social science to cooperate with “Socialist” president jobs and not incurring an unacceptable democracy. Lagos erected a statue of and policy making, a strength through- even though his socialism was closer financial cost. A pragmatic reformer, Allende outside the presidential palace out his career. to their neoliberalism than to Allende’s who believes that the way to build a and symbolically reopened its side door, Marxism. Also, the Right had veto power better world is to renovate the exist- which Pinochet had ordered closed Next Step over his legislation through the Pinochet ing structures, Lagos proved an expert because it had been used by Allende’s Lagos’ career seems far from over. Constitution’s appointed senators, and renovator. aides to escape. His name has been mentioned as a his Christian Democratic partners were The Lagos administration was A year later, the Commission made future secretary-general of the UN, and often reluctant allies. also notable for its legal reforms. A public its report that at least 28,000 as a future president of Chile, where Yet, Lagos never lost confidence in his 2005 Constitutional reform abolish- Chileans (including pregnant women Lagos would be a strong favorite if he presidency. Gradually, his government ing Pinochet’s appointed senators and and children) had been savagely tor- chose to run again. It is not clear that began to gain ground and win respect. restoring the elected president’s right tured, in more than 1,000 sites, by the he will seek another presidential term. The last half of his presidency would be to fire the armed forces commanders Chilean armed forces. In the face of The next Chilean chief executive, how- his best—and his presidency Chile’s best. came close to completing the transition indisputable evidence that these human ever, will preside over the Bicentennial Lagos had been elected on a platform to democracy that Lagos had played so rights abuses were official military of its independence, an occasion that of “growth with equality” and talked prominent a role in launching during regime policy, the new army commander will define what Chile has accom- about the need for Chile the 1980s. Other legal formally apologized to the victims on plished in the past and point the way to address an inequal- reforms eased authori- behalf of his institution. Even rightist to its future. Lagos was one of the first ity so extreme that tarian restrictions on politicians who had denied the accusa- in Chile to focus on the Bicentennial as people spoke of “two free speech, modern- tions before now competed to propose an important symbolic event. Presiding Chiles.” (Chile was the ized the criminal compensation for the leftist victims. This over Chile’s Bicentennial might be too second most unequal justice code, and modi- was a major step as well in the army’s tempting for him to resist. After all, he country in the world’s fied Pinochet’s pro- distancing itself from Pinochet and its has stressed that “without yesterday most unequal region). business labor code. transformation into the army of a democ- there is no tomorrow,” and that reflect- Inequality, a Pinochet These reforms required racy, a process Lagos numbered among ing on the past can make a better future legacy, remained high compromises to win his most important accomplishments. possible. under the Concertación the support of rightist Lagos is also justifiably proud of Peter Winn is Professor of History and despite a long economic senators in order to Chile’s international achievements dur- Director of Latin American Studies at boom and targeted pass, and their passage ing his presidency. Since his UN days, social policies that is another example of Lagos has been a strong international- Tufts University. He is also a Senior dramatically reduced the his ability to work from ist. One hallmark of his presidency was Research Associate at Columbia Universi- country’s poverty rate within the system for Chile’s high profile in international ty’s Institute of Latin American Studies. from nearly 40% to less change. affairs, particularly remarkable for a He is the author or editor of several books than 20%. For many Chileans, small country. In 2004, Chile became on Latin America, including the critically Lagos concentrated Salvador Allende the most important the first South American country to acclaimed Weavers of Revolution and much of his govern- legal reform under host a summit meeting of the Asia- Victims of the Chilean Miracle. ment’s social spending on Chile’s poor, Lagos was the country’s first divorce Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) with positive results, although he was law. Divorced and married to a divor- organization, and negotiated free trade unable to reduce inequality. Seventy cee, Lagos was very aware of the agreements with the United States, the percent of his public housing budget, importance of the right of Chileans, European Union, and South Korea (its for example, was focused on the poorest especially abused spouses, to divorce. first with a Latin American nation). Chile Is Another 30% of the population and he fulfilled He pressed for the law over the opposi- played a leading role in the international his promise to construct decent perma- tion of the Catholic Church and lead- intervention in Haiti that culminated in World nent housing for the 105,000 families ing Christian Democrats. It was one of a democratically elected government. living in shacks in temporary campamen- several Lagos initiatives that addressed Moreover, Lagos’s chief minister was Possible? tos, part of the half million housing units issues of gender, among them his effort elected president of the Organization built by his government. Public health to bring more women into his cabinet, of American States (OAS) over a U.S.- sociological was another area where Lagos’ social including in key “male” posts such as backed candidate. Under Lagos, Chile spending targeted the needy. Under Foreign Minister and Defense Minister. perspectives on was elected to a seat on the UN Security contemporary politics Lagos, public primary care consulta- Significantly, the women he named to Council and in 2003 was pressured by tions doubled. To deal with the extensive those positions emerged as the leading Washington to endorse its Iraq invasion. delays in surgical operations in Chile’s candidates to succeed him as president, Instead, Lagos supported a multilateral 102nd ASA ANNUAL MEETING underfunded public health care, his gov- including current president Michele approach that would give the UN a ernment initiated a program to pay for Bachelet. AUGUST 11–14, 2007 | NEW YORK chance to negotiate a peaceful solution. 10 February 2007 Footnotes
predatory (cf Franklin) people are rela- tive to one another, the more like Social A Mathematical Sociologist’s Tribute to Comte: Darwinism the competition becomes. In a paper for last year’s American Physical Sociology as Science Society meetings, Kotz (2006) pointed Nobel Prize-winning elementary particle physicist Murray Gell-Mann once challenged his colleagues rhetorically, out that the IP would have predicted the upsurge of prejudice and discrimination “Imagine how hard physics would be if particles could think.” in eastern Europe as the welfare systems by John Angle, Inequality Process Institute* rail” that never found a place in the pres- inary but de facto barrier to those on either there were dismantled in the late 1980s ent. In 1988, New York Times culture critic side. The distinction between socio- and 1990s. In the IP, participation in a Richard Bernstein “panned” the sociology physics and econophysics is fluid and discriminatory coalition is an attempt to When I taught sociology, I intro- on display at the ASA Annual Meeting nearly meaningless. Lux (2005) cited my transfer “heat” to the coalition’s vic- duced sociology as a science-in-intention and then quoted a sociologist to the effect papers on the IP as evidence of his thesis tims. The “hill of hate” figure in Angle although one that at present was not far that sociology will never be a science like that econophysicists should not ignore (1992) shows that the IP implies what is along as a mathematical science. I thus physics and those expecting it are fooling social scientists. In 2006, I published an called in statistical mechanics a “phase affirmed Auguste Comte’s “positivist” themselves. Perhaps not entirely coinciden- introductory review and extension of the transition” (like the melting of ice as its vision of sociology, a word he coined to tal, a few sociology programs were shut Inequality Process for econophysicists temperature rises past 0 degrees Celsius), name a science of society like physics. down in years following. in Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and Its a nonlinear increase in the incentive to More generally I was affirming the agenda Someone taking Prof. Keith’s point of Applications (2006a; see draft at
Figure 2. The distributions of wage income by level of education from 1961 through 2001 (from most educated to least educated). Five-year averages are taken to compress and smooth the data. Figure 1. The distribution of wage income by level of education in 1986. Source: Estimates are from The IP implies the persistence of the distribution shapes. Source: Estimates are from the March the March 1987 Current Population Survey. Current Population Survey, 1962–2002. February 2007 Footnotes 11
Member Spotlight:
issues,” he said. “I really believe sociolo- Thomas Lief: gists have not yet understood society; they research around it, but not have yet A Profile of Service to His Community reached a meaningful comprehension.” New Orleans or Bust After the Storm by Craig Schaar, founder and president of the National Association of Substance Abuse Trainers Hurricane Katrina and the storm’s ASA Membership and Customer Service Lief’s contributions to sociology went beyond academia. As a professor and Educators. aftermath had a devastating impact on Because he was active Lief and his close friends and associates. etired sociologist Thomas Lief at Southern University, R he was alarmed by the in lobbying the state gov- Like many survivors, he experienced has been a loyal member of the ASA ernment, he gained local property damage to his house and he since Elvis Presley entered the music serious social problems caused by substance political support for his suffers from post-traumatic stress dis- charts in 1956. During his senior year community action efforts. order. “I have friends who died or who at the University of New Mexico, he abuse in New Orleans. During the early 1970s, He also successfully were scattered because of Katrina,” said was encouraged by his professor, Paul persuaded Louisiana to Lief. “But I haven’t changed my world- Winter, to join the Association. He has there were few com- munity services avail- define alcoholism as a dis- view. I am determined to help rebuild steadfastly renewed ever since. As one ease instead of a problem. our beautiful city.” His mission is more of ASA’s most loyal members, he has able to help low-income people facing drug He is currently serving urgent than ever since many drug and also kept every piece of correspondence on the State Commission alcohol treatment counselors have left ever sent to him by the ASA. addiction, alcohol- ism, and gambling. In on Addictive Disorders, New Orleans. Born a New Yorker, Lief relocated which reviews and evalu- In this retirement, Lief keeps himself to the mountainous and beautiful response, Lief developed a training program for ates programs provided busy. He finds time to write stories and natural setting of New Mexico, where by the State Office of poetry and is a singer for a local sym- as an undergraduate he changed his undergraduate students who battled substance Addictive Disorders. phony chorus. Lief does archaeological major to sociology after first pursuing After many years of work with the state of Louisiana and degrees in pre-med studies, business abuse problems. This innovative program was Thomas Lief service in sociology, Lief he has worked on excavation projects administration, and psychology. He was recently reflected on the at Pueblo reservations in the southwest fascinated by the academic discourse in supported by state and federal funding. changes in the discipline. United States. In summarizing his pro- anthropology and sociology. After tak- “There is a tendency to be more applied fessional and life experience, he said “I ing a sociology course, he appreciated In addition to classroom learning, his students were expected to visit drug and to be offering focus on training to have a life-long commitment to serve.” how sociological theories and methods assist in the amelioration of major social explained the complexity of social forces. treatment facilities and local jails. This “community exposure” approach was He then became hooked. In fact, he was so enticed, his membership could not intended to help students understand be interrupted even by military service the blight of drug abuse on urban Just for Fun: A Sociological Trivial Pursuit when he notified the ASA Executive societies. Some of the students who Office that he would like his mail sent to participated in this program became by Jack Nusan Porter, The Spencer Institute for Social Research his parent’s address. administrators of the drug treatment After his military service ended in programs after graduation. Ken Cocke, While doing research on the popular image of sociology in the press, in films, on television, the mid-1950s, Lief decided to pursue a a fellow faculty member at Southern and in glossy journals, I have come across many fascinating but often trivial bits of sociolo- masters degree with a focus on deviance University, noted that “Tom is the person gia. So, in a kind of Reader’s Digest–style quiz, I present my first one. If you have other exam- and Native American cultures. Being responsible for seeing substance abuse as ples of such trivia for future quizzes, please send them to me at [email protected]. part-Native American, he was interested a field of study.” I dedicate this to the late Marcello Truzzi (in fact, one of the questions below honors him) in studying how alcoholism and violence Community and Political Support who edited in the 1960s and 1970s a range of interesting newsletters that contained similar resulting from substance abuse affected bits of sociologia. I miss him very much. the Pueblo tribe. Not long after complet- Outside of the classroom, Lief cre- ing his master’s degree, he moved to ated and led many organizations that The questions range from the easy to the nearly impossible to answer. Good luck! The New Orleans to obtain a doctorate from trained and certified drug dependency answers are in the gray box below. Tulane University. Following a brief counselors. He started an outreach center (1) Georg Simmel was a very close friend of this German theologian and influenced his post-graduate stint at Loyola University, for children from impoverished New famous “I-Thou Dialogue.” he joined the faculty at Southern Orleans neighborhoods and formed an (2) What well-known 1930s naturalistic Chicago novelist responded to the gushing of a University (a predominately African- Odyssey House branch in New Orleans reporter who said: “Oh, Mr. ______, you know you are not just a great novelist, but also American institution), where he taught for those seeking drug addiction therapy an important sociologist.” Mr. ______was reported to have replied angrily: “Madame, for 30 years until his retirement in 1998. and alcohol treatments. He also was the please don’t call me a sociologist. A sociologist is a person who needs $25,000 from the Ford Foundation to find the address of the nearest whorehouse!” Math, from page 10 (3) Which Midwest sociologist, sadly deceased, almost made the cover of Time in the 1960s? (4) Howard S. Becker was not only a fine sociologist (and my teacher at Northwestern Statistical physicists bring powerful K. Chakrabarti (Eds.), February. Milan: University) but an accomplished musician. What instrument did he play? mathematical tools to Comte’s positivist Springer. Bernstein, R. 1988. “Sociology Branches Out (5) This Cambridge, Massachusetts, man, who died at 101 a few years ago, was a strong program, but they may need help with But Is Left in Splinters.” New York Times, admirer of sociologists and is considered the “Father of Public Relations.” moving beyond ad hoc modifications of August 30. canonical models of statistical mechan- Keith, B. 2005. “A Century of Motion: (6) This sociologist and priest probably has written more articles for TV Guide than anyone Disciplinary Culture and Organizational else in the field. ics. There is a potential for collaborations Drift in American Sociology.” Footnotes between sociologists and interdisciplin- December, 33(9):6. (7) Which well-known novelist and actor (in the movie Reds with Warren Beatty), and origi- ary physicists in pursuing Comte’s vision Kleiber, C. and S. Kotz. (2003). Statistical Size nally from Poland, was actually a sociologist? Distributions in Economics and Actuarial based on complementary skills. There Science. New York: Wiley. (8) The theme of this 1982 movie, the first Chinese-American film ever made, and directed is no difference in meaning between Kotz, S. 2006. “Reflection on Econophysics by by Hong-Kong-born Wayne Wang, was very sociological, emphasizing “cross-cultural sociophysics as used today by statistical a Statistician.” Paper presented to March 2006 Meeting of the American Physical misunderstandings.” physicists and sociology as coined by Society. Abstract is online at
a search at www.google.com on “John Oaks, CA: Sage.
Lux, T. 2005. “Emergent Statistical Wealth Jerzy Kosinski; (8) (8) Kosinski; Jerzy (7) ; (9) Marcello Truzzi; (10) Robert E. Park E. Robert (10) Truzzi; Marcello (9) ;
Angle” and physics, or email me at Distributions in Simple Monetary Exchange Missing Is Chan
Andrew Greeley; Greeley; Andrew
[email protected]. Models: A Critical Review.” Pp. 51-60 (6) Bernays; L. Edward (5) Piano; (4) Martindale; Don (3) books; other
trilogy and and trilogy Lonigan Studs the of author Farrell, James (2) Buber; Martin (1) in Econophysics of Wealth Distributions, Answers: References A. Chatterjee, S. Yarlagadda, and B. K. Chakrabarti (Eds.), September. Milan: Angle, J. 1992. “The Inequality Process and Springer. the Distribution of Income to Blacks and If you got 9–10 answers correct, you are brilliant and win the Isaac Asimov Trivia Award; Whites.” Journal of Mathematical Sociology * The Inequality Process Institute is an alias 7–8 correct is excellent; 5–6 is very, very good; 4 or fewer means you need to do a lot 17:77-98. more reading because you’re just not filling your head up with enough trivia. ———. 2006a “The Inequality Process as a for John Angle, private scholar. Wealth Maximizing Algorithm.” Physica Note: The sociologist who actually made the cover of Time magazine was David Reisman. A: Statistical Mechanics and Its Applications 367:388-414. To my knowledge, he’s the only sociologist to ever do so, but I’ll keep that one for the ———. 2006b. “A Comment on Gallegati et Join the discussion about this article next trivia quiz. al.’s “Worrying Trends in Econophysics.” In The Econophysics of Stocks and Other at
New Staff at the ASA Executive Office Public Forum I know that various Council resolutions Robin Licata Sujata Sinha Thank You, ASA have, in the past, caused a stir among started a new posi- started working at In 1991 I participated in drafting a the membership. The ASA, fearing such tion at the ASA as the Executive Office resolution, presented to the Council, criticism, could have refused to partici- the Website and on December 18, affirming the ASA’s opposition to dis- pate in the brief, failing to stand behind Database Manager on 2006, as the Media crimination against gays and lesbians the work of its members. As a lesbian November 27, 2006. Relations Officer. in the U.S. military. It passed and, while veteran of the U.S. military, a sociologist, She was born and Prior to joining the appreciated, it was, after all, “just” a and a member of the ASA, I am proud raised in Watertown, ASA, Sujata spent resolution. Signing on to an amicus brief to be affiliated with an organization that NY, not far from seven years working to the United States Court of Appeals is willing to express its support for the Ontario, Canada. Prior in television. She for the First Circuit is something else research of its members, even when the to ASA, Robin worked for the American started her broadcast career at WLVI-TV in entirely. (See January 2007 Footnotes issue under review is a contentious one. Power Conversion Corporation for Boston. From there, she went on to spend article on ASA’s amicus brief regarding Thank you for your role in making six years as a Web Developer. She also six years at WPIX-TV in New York City, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.) this happen. worked for the Association of Graduates taking on various producing responsibili- As one of the social scientists partici- at the United States Military Academy, ties, from segment producing to planning pating in the brief in Cook v. Rumsfeld, I Melissa Sheridan Embser-Herbert, Minolta Business Systems, and Eaton for major news events. While at WPIX, she cannot overstate my sincere appreciation Hamline University Corporation, SEO. She has more than received an Emmy award for her work on for the willingness of the ASA to sign on. ten years of experience in static and the station’s September 11, 2001, anniver- dynamic website development, writing sary coverage. After WPIX, Sujata moved website code, and database creation and to Washington, DC, to be the producer management. She earned her MBA in for John McLaughlin’s national interview business administration at Mount Saint program, “One on One.” Next, she set her MSS/NCSA Workshop on Mary College. When not writing code or sights on international news, working as a querying databases, she enjoys spend- booker for the newly launched Al Jazeera ing time with her family—her husband English Channel. Sujata has a dual degree Quantitative Literacy Michael and two sons Lorenzo, 3, and in broadcast journalism and sociology from Nico, 1. Her other interests include cook- Boston University. She was born and raised Start off the Midwest/North Central Sociological Association (MSS/NCSA) joint ing, deep sea fishing, shopping, travel- in New York City and is the proud aunt of meeting with a bang by registering for a pre-conference workshop on “Models ing, reading, and beagles. a 19-month-old girl, Arya. She enjoys good of Quantitative Literacy Across the Sociology Curriculum.” The workshop is conversation, politics, reading the paper, scheduled from 12:30–4:00 PM on Wednesday, April 4, 2007, in Chicago. After cardio kick boxing, and writing. a break from 4:00–4:30 PM, there will be a panel on “Quantitative Literacy: Mathematicians, Statisticians, and Sociologists Share What Works,” followed Blogger, from page 4 by a reception. This workshop and other sessions and workshops during the MSS/NCSA are post was valuable precisely because of ing many people would start blogs. the comments people left on it.” Attention markets can be brutal and cold a joint venture of the National Numeracy Network (NNN), the Mathematics From Hensley’s perspective, blogging to the casual entrant, and so it’s not that Association of America’s Special Interest Group in Quantitative Literacy provides a testing ground for further surprising many people who start blogs (SIGMAA QL) and the American Sociological Association (ASA). These groups research and writing. “Blogging,” she would stop not long afterward,” Freese are collaborating to enhance the teaching of quantitative literacy skills to said, “can be a way to hone ideas for asserts. But he goes on to say the “rise students across the curriculum, in general education courses and within the more rigorous application elsewhere. in occupational circumstances that give Similar to hashing out a thought with people large amounts of unstructured sociology major. colleagues over coffee or while standing time in front of a computer” accounts in the hallway outside your office, blog- for the popularity of blog-reading. The workshop registration fee is $25 for the first individual from a depart- ging can draw energetic input quickly According to Freese, blogs offer a short, ment, and $10 for each additional registrant from the same department. and from diverse sources, which can be fun respite from working, and is more Advance registration is required. Send a check payable to ASA to: Academic very valuable.” Hensley is also consid- convenient as a brief diversion than, say, and Professional Affairs, American Sociological Association, 1307 New York ering parlaying her blog posts into a a television program. Even so, he adds, Avenue, NW, #700, Washington, DC 20005. popular sociology book on race. “There are many different types of blog And regarding some hiring com- readers, and I would love it if the sociol- mittees’ continued apprehension of the ogy of the blog reader was understood The deadline is March 15, 2007. appropriateness of blogging, Freese better than it presently is.” believes that the practice should be C.N. Le, or Cuong Nguyen Le, notes viewed as a boon to sociology depart- the ways that the Internet has dra- ments. “Given two candidates who matically altered the landscape of social seemed otherwise equal but one had a communication, even while he is not blog and one didn’t, I would go with the so enthusiastic about some of its less person with a blog. I think having a blog positive aspects. “I’m not particularly Pre-Conference for Beginning and reading blogs is a good indicator of thrilled with all of its developments, in being intellectually alive and wanting to particular how anonymity now allows Instructors on Teaching remain so,” he says. “The latter is espe- people to ignore conventional norms of cially important in sociology, as there are civility toward others, but their impact Beginning instructors and graduate teaching assistants are encouraged to apply so many promising sociologists whose is undeniable,” says Le, whose areas for the ASA Pre-conference, “Teachers are Made, Not Born: A Workshop for curiosity is dead by the time they are five of interest include race and ethnicity, New Sociology Instructors,” to be held from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM on Friday, years out of graduate school. Blogging immigration, and Asian Americans and is also a good indicator of being able to how those topics intersect with academ- August 10. The pre-conference, sponsored by the ASA Section on Teaching write and being eager to share ideas, ics and Internet culture. and Learning in Sociology, will combine presentations, panels and roundtable which are attributes sociology depart- However dismaying and disruptive discussions on teaching and learning issues, all led by experts in the field. For ments should value.” the advance of the Internet communica- information on specific sessions, see the ASA Section on Teaching and Learning tions may be to some, Hensley affirms Blogging as a sociological phenomenon that its presence is permanent, its impact in Sociology website at www2.asanet.org/sectionteach. Freese finds the “sociological puzzle” still unfolding. She concludes: “So, blog- behind why people read blogs to be ging—instant communication between Participants will be admitted on a rolling basis with consideration as more intriguing than why people write humans around the world—is not only applications are received. Applications are available on the website or them. After all, he says, the need for here to stay, I would suggest, but is from Betsy Lucal ([email protected]; 574.520.4899). A $50 registration fee attention is an obvious motivation for going to affect us ultimately in ways that covers conference materials, snacks and Section membership. We encourage starting a blog. “The Internet makes it many of us may not like. We can eschew possible for anyone to enter an atten- them, but we will not outlive them. interested individuals to apply soon. tion market for very low cost. Attention They appear to be a wave of the future markets have always had a lot of that we—shocked or not—will learn to entrants—many people, it seems, really respect.” like attention—and so it’s not surpris- February 2007 Footnotes 13
to the state. Manuscripts must draw for the History of Human Sciences, Chei- lowship is funded by an endowment from on syndicated radio shows such as Greg Corrections on original quantitative or qualitative ron Conference, University College, Dub- TIAA-CREF, at which Professor Hamilton Allen’s The Right Balance, Richard Baker’s data. Review articles or essays are not lin, Ireland. For more information, visit served as a trustee from 1989-2003, and Perspectives, Pat Reuter’s Viewpoints, and The title of the November 2006 Footnotes appropriate. Email a two-page sketch of
Barry Glassner, University of Southern tary and on December 23 in the Baltimore Council of Graduate Schools Annual Jon Fox, and Liana Grancea, Nationalist (Eds.). The Transformation of Work in the California, had his book The Gospel of Sun and on December 24 in the Chicago Meeting, Washington, DC. Politics and Everyday Ethnicity in a Tran- New Economy (Roxbury Publishing Com- Food reviewed in the December 31 Los Tribune on the National Guard paying sylvanian Town (Princeton University pany, 2007). Angeles Times. off-duty personnel a bounty for bringing Denise A. Copelton, SUNY-Brockport, Press, 2006). in new recruits. He was quoted in the USA Shannon Davis, George Mason Univer- Harland Prechel, Texas A&M University, Angela S. Jamison, University of Cali- Today on August 1 regarding mothers and sity, are new appointees to the Sociolo- Toni M. Calasanti, Virginia Polytechnic (Ed.). Politics and Globalization, Research fornia-Los Angeles, had her Journal of grandmothers who are joining the army. gists for Women in Society Membership Institute and State University, Kathleen in Political Sociology, Vol.15 (Elsevier/JAI Politics article analyzing the impact of Segal was quoted on December 30 in Committee. F. Slevin, College of William and Mary, Press, 2007). “soft news” on voting behavior featured the USA Today and the Seattle Times on a Age Matters: Realigning Feminist Thinking on Slate.com on November 2. survey of military personnel. Diane D. Everett, Stetson University, (Routledge, 2006). Emily Rosenbaum, Fordham University, and Kecia Johnson are new members and Samantha Friedman, Northeastern James M. Jasper recently discussed his David R. Segal, University of Maryland, of the Sociologists for Women in Society Laura Fingerson, University of Wiscon- University, The Housing Divide: How Gen- new book, Getting Your Way, in a business and John Butler, University of Texas, Nominations Committee. sin-Milwaukee, Girls in Power: Gender, erations of Immigrants Fare in New York’s show podcast The Invisible Hand. were quoted in a Reuters article, which Body, and Menstruation in Adolescence Housing Market (New York University appeared in the Washington Post, on the Margaret L. Hunter, Loyola Marymount (SUNY Press, 2006). Press, 2007). Christopher Jencks, Harvard University, camaraderie experienced by African- University, and Kerry Ann Rockque- was quoted in a December 10 New York American soldiers serving in racially more, University of Illinois-Chicago, Albert N. Greco, Clara E. Rodríguez, Louise Marie Roth, University of Arizona, Times article about New York renewing a integrated military units. are new members of the Sociologists for Fordham University, and Robert M. Selling Women Short: Gender and Money on more humane flophouse. Women in Society Publications Com- Wharton, The Culture and Commerce of Wall Street (Princeton, 2006). John Skrentny, University of California- mittee. Publishing in the 21st Century (Stanford Douglas Klayman, American University San Diego, was quoted in the January University Press, 2007). Jennifer Rothchild, University of Minne- and President of Social Dynamics, LLC, 23 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle Minjeong Kim, University at Albany- sota, Gender Trouble Makers: Education and had his research on a program that links on the politics of gay rights and in the SUNY, is the new Sociologists for Women Karen D. Hughes, University of Alberta, Empowerment in Nepal (Routledge, 2006). the performing arts with early literacy July 23, 2006, edition of the Knight Rid- in Society Student Representative. Female Enterprise in the New Economy (Uni- highlighted in several media outlets na- der Tribune Business News on the origins versity of Toronto Press, 2005). Karen Seccombe, Portland State Univer- tionwide, including the Kansas City of affirmative action categories. Also, a Kenneth Land, Duke University, has sity, Families in Poverty (Allyn & Bacon Journal Infozine. column in the November 12 Los Angeles been named Editor of the Population Hermann Kurthen, Antonio V. Mené- 2007). Times on Latino politics quoted his book, Association of America’s publication, ndez-Alarcón, Butler University, and Cameron Macdonald, University of The Minority Rights Revolution. His essay, Demography, from 2008-2011. Stefan Immerfall (Eds.). Safeguarding Wendy Simonds, Georgia State Univer- Wisconsin-Madison, was quoted in a “The Dying Debate over Racial Justice,” German-American Relations in the New Cen- sity, Barbara Katz Rothman, City Uni- December 26 New York Times article about was published in the November 17, 2006, Douglas Massey, Princeton University, tury: Understanding and Accepting Mutual versity of New York, and Mari Meltzer African-American nannies working for issue of The Forward. was elected as an AAAS Fellow in Oc- Differences (Lexington Books, 2006). Norman, Laboring On: Birth in Transition in African-American parents. tober. the United States (Routledge, 2006). D. Randall Smith, Rutgers University, Michel S. Laguerre, University of Cali- Orlando Patterson, Harvard University, was quoted in a December 8 New York Constance Nathanson, Columbia Uni- fornia-Berkeley, Diaspora, Politics and Glo- Kathy Shepherd Stolley, Virginia Wes- was a guest columnist and wrote an op-ed Times article on the Knicks’ home game versity, was elected as an AAAS Fellow balization (New York: Palgrave Macmillan leyan College, and Vern L. Bullough in the December 23 and 26 New York Times. performance. in October. Press, 2006). (Eds.). The Praeger Handbook of Adoption, 2 The first discusses the need for a holiday Vols. (Praeger, 2006). for all and the second is about the inner Roberta Spalter-Roth and William Er- Wesley Perkins, Hobart and William Bart Landry, University of Maryland, self and prejudice. He also wrote an op-ed skine, both of the America Sociological Smith Colleges, was recently invited to Race, Gender, and Class: Theory and Methods Mangala Subramaniam, Purdue Uni- about the democratic belief in freedom Association, had their research on retire- keynote two conferences in Great Brit- of Analysis (Prentice Hall, 2007). versity, The Power of Women’s Organizing: that does not work in Iraq that appeared ment trends among the social sciences ain focusing on reducing risk behavior Gender, Caste, and Class in India (Lexington in the December 19 New York Times. discussed in the article, “Where the Social among youth. In London he gave the Dennis Loo, California State Polytechnic Books, 2006). Science Jobs Are,” on Insidehighered.com. keynote address, “Using Normative University-Pomona, and Peter Philllips, H. Wesley Perkins, Hobart & William Approaches to Promote Health and Sonoma State University, Impeach the Diane L. Wolf, University of California- Smith Colleges, was quoted in the Chris- Rodney Stark, Baylor University, was Well-being,” for a conference on youth President: The Case Against Bush and Cheney Davis, Beyond Anne Frank: Hidden Children tian Science Monitor on August 16 about quoted in the cover story of the Decem- sponsored by the National Children’s (Seven Stories Press, 2006). and Postwar Families in Holland (University applying his work on reducing risk be- ber 18 Newsweek on Americans’ religious Bureau on December 6. In Sheffield, he of California Press, 2007). havior using peer social norms in a new beliefs. gave this keynote address at the Personal, Judith Lorber, CUNY-Graduate School, project surveying middle school students Social and Health Education Conference Mary Evans, University of South Florida, about bullying. This work was also cited Duncan Watts, Columbia University, sponsored by the Centre for HIV & Sexual Kathy Davis, Handbook of Gender Studies in the September 1 edition of Britain’s Mark Granovetter, Stanford University, Health on December 7. and Women Studies (Sage, 2006). Times Educational Supplement. Perkins was Richard Swedberg, Cornell University, New Publications also quoted in Canada’s Macleans news Brian Uzzi, Northwestern University, Jammie Price, Appalachian State Univer- Celine-Marie Pascale, American Uni- magazine on November 13 about his and James Moody, Duke University, were sity, is the new member of the Sociologists versity, Making Sense of Race, Class, and The Women Founders: Sociology and So- survey research on 15,000 students at 10 quoted in a November 10 Science magazine for Women Awards Committee. Gender: Commonsense, Power, and Privilege cial Theory 1830-1930 is available again colleges and universities across Canada about network analysis of the Internet. in the United States (Routledge, 2006). and has a new home at Waveland Press indicating that most students drink in Tamara Smith is the new Sociologists for (Long Grove, IL 60047; (847) 634-0081) and moderation but overestimate drinking Genevieve Zubrzycki, University of Women in Society Chair of the Career Robert Perrucci and Carolyn Cummings a new ISBN 1577665090. It is available now levels of their peers. Michigan, was a guest on the Public Development Committee Perrucci, both of Purdue University for class adoption. The move to Waveland Broadcasting Service’s The NewsHour with Krishnendu Ray, New York University, Jim Lehrer on January 8, 2007, discussing Joey Sprague, University of Kansas, is the was quoted by the Associated Press on the resignation of a Polish clergyman new Sociologists for Women in Society the rising trend of more and more people who reportedly worked with Poland’s President-Elect. entering the culinary arts on January 3. communist secret police. Marybeth Stalp, University of Northern David R. Segal, University of Maryland, Iowa, is the new Sociologists for Women was quoted on Salon.com on November in Society Chair of the Social Action 2 regarding evidence that American Committee. ICPSR SUMMER PROGRAM military personnel were becoming disil- Awards in Quantitative Methods of Social Science Research lusioned with the Iraq War, and in the San Zoltan Tarr, New York City, conducted Francisco Chronicle on November 4 and the Michael Messner, University of Southern a seminar, “Sociologists in Exile (L’esilio Houston Chronicle on November 5 regard- California, received the 2006 Rauben- americano di Adorno, Horkheimer e Seminar on Quantitative Analysis of ing editorials in the Army, Navy, Marine, heimer Outstanding Faculty Award for Cahnman,)” at the Universita degli Studi Crime and Criminal Justice Data and Air Force Times newspapers calling for Teaching, Research, and Service from di Firenze on October 5, 2006. the firing of Secretary of Defense Rums- the USC College of Letters, Arts and June 25–July 20, 2007 feld. He was quoted again on Salon.com on Sciences. Howard Waitzkin, University of New November 9 on Rumsfeld’s resignation. Mexico, was recently named Distin- This four-week seminar in Ann Arbor, Michigan, introduces He was also quoted on November 5 in the guished Professor, the highest ranking participants to major surveys sponsored by the Bureau of New York Times on marginal declines in faculty position at the University of New Justice Statistics (BJS), such as the Uniform Crime military personnel quality, on November Mexico. 10 in the Christian Science Monitor on the People Reporting System and the National Incident-Based increase of women among military vet- Reporting System. The course is designed for early-career erans, and on November 11 in the Gilroy Cynthia D. Anderson, Ohio University, is faculty and professionals, as well as for graduate students in Dispatch on increasing numbers of women the new Sociologists for Women in Society Members’ New on active duty. On November 13, he was Vice President. the social sciences who are comfortable with data analysis quoted in the San Diego Union-Tribune software and quantitative research. on an increase in atrocities committed Erin K. Anderson, Washington College, Books by American military personnel. On is a new member of the Sociologists for November 21 he was quoted in the Lowell Women in Society Career Development Paul R. Amato, Alan Booth, David R. Applicants must show evidence of commitment to this Sun on opposition to the reinstatement Committee. Johnson, and Stacy J. Rogers, Pennsylva- substantive area. BJS provides selected applicants with of a military draft. On November 29, his nia State University, Alone Together: How participation and that of the American David Baker presented “Recommenda- Marriage in America is Changing (Harvard stipend support in the amount of $3,500 for travel and Sociological Association in an amicus tions and Future Scenarios for the Super University Press, 2007). living expenses, as well as course materials. Application curiae in support of gay and lesbian ser- Research University” at the International materials and updated course information will be available vice personnel was noted in the UK Gay Fulbright New Century Scholars Sym- Bernadette Barton, Morehead State News. Segal was interviewed on Decem- posium on Global Higher Education, to University, Stripped Inside the Lives of in February 2007 on the Summer Program Web site: ber 15 on Bloomberg Radio concerning the United Nations Education, Scientific, Exotic Dancers (New York University www.icpsr.umich.edu/sumprog. military manpower policy. He was quoted Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Oc- Press, 2006). tober 24. He also presented on “National on December 21 in the International Herald For more information email: [email protected] Tribune, on December 22 in the Wilmington Curricula and National Achievement in Berch Berberoglu, University of Ne- Morning Star, and on December 23 in the Mathematics and Science” at the 2nd vada-Reno, The State and Revolution in phone: (734) 763-7400 Winston-Salem Journal on the relatively Annual IEA Research Conference, the the Twentieth Century: Major Social Trans- fax: (734) 647-9100 small percentage of Americans (2-3 per- Brookings Institute on November 10. On formations of Our Time (Rowman and cent) who knew someone who had been December 8, Baker presented “The Super Littlefield, 2007). killed in the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. Research University and the Schooled He was quoted on Salon.com on December Society: Synergy, Paradoxes, and Future Rogers Brubaker, University of Cali- 22 on increasing the size of the U.S. mili- Scenarios.” Keynote presentation at the fornia-Los Angeles, Margit Feischmidt, February 2007 Footnotes 15
is also a hallmark in the history of the DCPCR, 650 Charles Young Drive South, ance from the NIH Office of Behavioral from Michigan State University. Council doctoral fellowship and went to incorporation of women into the Classi- A2-125 CHS, Box 956900, Los Angeles, CA and Social Sciences Research and the So- Following a stint as a high school Carleton, where she graduated in 1973 as cal Theory canon as The Women Founders 90095-6900; (310) 794-9283; fax (310) 206- ciety for Research in Child Development. teacher in Wyoming, MI, Bouma began their first PhD in Sociology. She returned will have as a companion volume Lewis 3566; email [email protected]. June 24-29, 2007, Bolger Center, Potomac, a long academic career when appointed to Saint Mary’s University as an Assistant Coser’s classic history Masters of Sociologi- MD. Application packet and Institute head of the sociology department at Professor, became a full professor in 1989, cal Thought. We would also like to thank A New PhD in Gender Studies will begin information are available at
For Members Only 2007 Student Forum Travel Awards ASA seeks applications for student travel to 2007 ASA Job Bank Annual Meeting
ASA Members can now search for employment The American Sociological Association (ASA) Student Forum is pleased to opportunities through the ASA online Job Bank. Since its launch announce that the ASA Council is making funds available to support student in November 2005, the Job Bank has become a busy hub for travel awards to the ASA Annual Meeting. ASA anticipates granting approxi- employment information; the site has received thousands of job mately 25 travel awards in the amount of $200 each. These awards will be made postings. on a competitive basis and are meant to assist students by defraying expenses How Does the Job Bank Serve ASA Members and Subscribers? associated with attending the 2007 ASA Annual Meeting in New York. All appli- • Current members cants are encouraged to seek additional sources of funding to cover expenses have free access to associated with attending the Annual Meeting. the ASA Job Bank. To apply, complete and submit four (4) copies of the 2007 Student Forum (Non-members may subscribe to Travel Award Application form no later than April 1, 2007. Decisions will be the Job Bank for announced by May 15, 2007. No part of the application may be submitted by fax, $19.95 per month.) and only applications from individuals on their own behalf will be accepted.
• Members have Applicants must be students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate sociology immediate access degree in an academic institution and a current student member of ASA at the to the latest job time of application. Participation in the Annual Meeting program (e.g., paper vacancy listings. sessions, roundtables), purpose for attending (e.g., workshop training, Honors Employers Program participation), student financial need, availability of other forms of can post their support, matching funds, and potential benefit to the student are among the fac- available positions immediately, tors taken into account in making awards. A travel award committee of the ASA instead of waiting for a monthly print deadline. Student Forum convened especially for this purpose will select awardees. • Members can upload their resumes for review by potential For more information, and an application for the 2007 Student Forum Travel employers. Award, please contact the ASA Executive office at [email protected] or • Job candidates can search for professional opportunities through (202) 383-9005, ext. 322. The award application form can also be found both on several “pull-down” options including geographic location, rank, the ASA website (www.asanet.org) under “Funding,” and on the Student Forum areas of expertise, dates available for employment, and salary. website (www.socstudentforum.org). • The job advertisements include a detailed description of the requirements and responsibilities for the available position, with complete contact information for the employer. ASA Position Opening To use the Job Bank, log in using your ASA ID and password at Academic and Professional Affairs Program Director http://jobbank.asanet.org. If you have any questions about using the Job Bank site, please contact ASA Customer Service at (202) 383- The application deadline for ASA’s Academic and Professional Affairs 9005 x389. Program Director position opening is March 15, 2007. See the ad in the ASA’s Job Bank
American Sociological Association NON-PROFIT ORG. 1307 New York Avenue NW, Suite 700 Save the Dates! U.S. POSTAGE PAID Washington, DC 20005-4701 ALBANY, NY Published monthly with combined issues in May/June, July/August, PERMIT NO. 31 102nd ASA and September/October. Subscription, $40.00. Single copies, $3.00. Editor: Sally T. Hillsman Associate Editor: K. Lee Herring Annual Meeting Managing Editor: Johanna Olexy Production: Jill Campbell August 11–14, 2007 Staff Writer: Carla B. Howery New York, New York Secretary: Franklin Wilson Article submissions are limited to 1,000 words and must have Theme: Is Another World journalistic value (e.g., timeliness, significant impact, general interest) rather than be research-oriented or scholarly in nature. Submissions Possible? will be reviewed by the editorial board for possible publication. “Public Forum” contributions are limited to 800 words; “Obituar- ies,” 500 words; “Letters to the Editor,” 400 words; “Department” announcements, 200 words. All submissions should include a contact name and, if possible, an e-mail address. ASA reserves the right to edit for style and length all material published. The deadline for all material is the first of the month preceding publication (e.g., Febru- ary 1 for March issue). Send communications on material, subscriptions, and advertising to: American Sociological Association, 1307 New York Avenue, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005-4701; (202) 383-9005; fax (202) 638-0882; 7 email [email protected]; http://www.asanet.org. Copyright © 2007, American Sociological Association. Third class postage paid at Washington, DC, and additional mailing offices. ISSN 0749-6931. 2008 Meeting: August 1–4 in Boston
February 2007