bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What Is the Problem? The Challenge of Providing Effective Teachers for All Children
Authors: Murnane Richard J , Steele Jennifer L
Published: March 2007

Richard Murnane and Jennifer Steele argue that if the United States is to equip its young people with the skills essential in the new economy, high-quality teachers are more important than ever. In recent years, the demand for effective teachers has increased as enrollments have risen, class sizes have fallen, and a large share of the teacher workforce has begun to retire. Women and minorities have more career options than ever before, making it increasingly difficult to attract and retain the many effective teachers who are needed. Moreover, schools are limited in their ability to identify and reward the most effective teachers. Perhaps the most urgent problem facing American education, say Murnane and Steele, is the unequal distribution of high-quality teachers. Poor children and children of color are disproportionately assigned to teachers with the least preparation and the weakest academic backgrounds. Teacher turnover is high in schools that serve large shares of poor or nonwhite students because the work is difficult, and the teachers who undertake it are often the least equipped to succeed. Murnane and Steele point out that in response to these challenges, policymakers have proposed a variety of policy instruments to increase the supply of effective teachers and distribute those teachers more equitably across schools. Such proposals include across-the-board pay increases, more flexible pay structures such as pay-for-performance, and reduced restrictions on who is allowed to teach. Several of these proposals are already being implemented, but their effectiveness remains largely unknown. To measure how well these policies attract effective teachers to the profession and to the schools that need them most, rigorous evaluations are essential. Murnane and Steele also note that policymakers may benefit from looking beyond U.S. borders to understand how teacher labor markets work in other countries. Although policies rooted in one nation's culture cannot be easily and quickly transplanted into another, it is important to understand what challenges other countries face, what policies they are using, and how well those policies are working to enhance teacher quality and improve student achievement.
System's Sole Constituent, the Operation: Clarifying a Central Concept of Luhmannian Theory
Authors: Clam Jean
Published: March 2007

The autopoietic turn in Luhmann's later theory is not thinkable without the refocusing of systems theory around a new concept of operativity. The article shows the lines of development from the earlier theory towards the final prevailing of a purely operativist conception of the system. The movement is one of deconstructing all intuitive representations of a border-defined, thing-like system. The radical version that emerges leaves the operation as the sole and unique systemic constituent. The article shows that such a strain of thought contracting an extensive transitive structure into a purely operative core has major philosophical antecedents: Aristotle's conception of the actuation of life or intellection in a composite being, Fichte's self-position of the transcendental I. Heidegger's subject and authorless 'Ereignis' constitute very similar figures of 'operativization'. This sheds light on the most problematic aspect of Luhmannian theory, namely its reliance on a 'protologic' that does not elaborate, like similar philosophical endeavours before it, on the fundaments of its own evidence.
Verner Goldschmidt: Danish Sociologist of Law and Culture
Authors: Bentzon Agnete Weis , Agersnap Torben , Agersnap Torben
Published: March 2007

Verner Goldschmidt (1916-82), Danish sociologist of law and culture, is known mainly for his longitudinal cultural sociological and legal studies in Greenland. He drew up the bill for the criminal code for Greenland, based on legal anthropological studies at the West coast, and he studied the Arctic peace model for criminal justice and the possibility of resolving conflict without violence in other societal situations (Cyprus). In 1964, at the University of Copenhagen, he founded the curriculum in cultural sociology for the faculty of humanities as a reaction to the positivistic development of the sociological discipline at the faculty of economics and social science. He also built up the department of cultural sociology. The following presentation concentrates on his participation in the juridical expedition to West-Greenland 1948-50, his current studies of the development after the enactment of the Greenlandic criminal code, his dissertation on the behaviour of the judicial authorities and the Arctic peace model, and his contribution to conflict resolution without violence.
The Occupational Mobility of Sibling Groups
Authors: Sweetser Dorrian Apple
Published: March 2007

A new aspect of intergenerational occupational mobility is investigated in this paper: the occupations of all sons in a sample of families, rather than the occupation of only one son per family. Taking all sons whose fathers' occupations are the same, do these sons disperse individually over a range of occupations, or do they tend to cluster in family groups, so that one group of brothers is concentrated around one occupational level while other groups are at other levels? The same investigation was made of daughters' husbands. The data were obtained from interviews with a probability sample of Helsinki residents. A familial influence on occupations, which is independent of father's occupation, is called "sibling group differentiation". The presence of this factor was investigated by means of analysis of variance, applied separately at each level of father's occupation. Sibling group differentiation was found to be present in the occupations of groups of brothers at all levels of father's occupation except the lowest and to be present, although less consistently, in the occupations of sisters' husbands. These findings were unaffected when type of origin of the family, whether or not the father was a farmer, age, and size of the family were investigated. Of the total variance in occupations of children whose fathers' occupations were alike, about one quarter was explained by sibling group differentiation. The causal interpretation offered is that the variable is due to the effect of the home environment on aspirations, and that a necessary condition for its occurrence is a certain minimum level of mobility opportunities.
Accident Risk in Middle Age Years and in Old Age
Authors: Knudsen Knud
Published: March 2007

In this paper a sociological role theory for the explanation of variations in accident rates is presented. Accident Risk is seen as a combined result of a person's exposure to dangerous situations, here labeled Role Strain, and his ability to avoid and survive potential accidents which is called Individual Capacity. Married women, married men, single (never married) women and single (never married) men are examined with respect to Role Strain and Individual Capacity in middle age years and in old age, and empirical con sequences in terms of Accident Risk are derived. Theoretical arguments are tested against Norwegian data from the 1961-69 period and against Ame rican data from 1950 and 1960. Thus, tests across national populations as well as over different time periods are carried out. Results from the three data sets support the sociological role theory.
The Conflict between Methodology and Rationalization in the Work of Max Weber
Authors: Udehn Lars
Published: March 2007

Max Weber is the leading representative of an interpretive sociology aiming at an explanation in terms of the motives of the acting individuals. He is also the proponent of the thesis that the Western world is moving in the direction of increasing rationalization, held by many to be the uniting theme of his work. It is the thesis of this paper that there is a conflict between these two themes in Weber's work. The process of rationalization ends in an 'iron cage' of bureaucratic domination. But bureaucracy es capes analysis with Weberian methodology for two reasons: (1) because it is a form of domination which reduces men to means for the bureaucracy and its leaders, thus making their own motives unimportant, and (2) because it is a type of domination which rests upon the acceptance of, and subjection to, a rational legal order. The conclusion is that Weber's methodology is primarily a methodology for the analysis of leaders, since they alone are the determinants of their own actions.
What Happened to the Agrarian Bourgeoisie and Rural Proletariat under Monopoly Capitalism?
Authors: Djurfeldt Göran
Published: March 2007

The classical conception of the development of capitalism in agriculture maintains that, as in industry, the agrarian class-structure will tend to polarize, the petty commodity producer will tend to disappear, and a capitalist relation of production will develop between an agrarian bourgeoisie and a rural proletanat. Farms will be big estates, managed by capitahst farmers, run with machinery and landless labourers. This con ception has proved to be unjustified. The classics of Marxism are discus sed in order to find out the assumptions underlying this conception of agricultural development. The findings are used in a discussion of the prospects of a development in accordance with the classical conception in contemporary peripheral agriculture.
The Gender-Sex Dimension in Swedish Politics
Authors: Peterson Abby
Published: March 2007

A material analysis of Swedish politics based upon a three-dimensional model of political cleavages is proposed. It is argued that different positions in the societal division of labor generate different (and often opposing) political interests. The model includes the left-right dimension, the urban-rural dimension and the gender-sex dimension representing the opposition expressed in the political arena between men and the interests of production and women and the interests of re-production. The article focuses upon the gender-sex dimension - the issues included within it and the modes and strategies of political behavior which characterize it. It is concluded that the gender-sex dimension's 'politics of re-production' receives its political expression primarily through ad-hoc political activity.
Cosmopolitanism and Localism among Undergraduate College Students: A Study in Anticipatory Socialization
Authors: Snizek William E. , Mayer Lawrence
Published: March 2007

The cosmopolitan-local distinction has traditionally been applied to the differing role orientations of salaried professionals confronted with the dilemmas of organizational employment In order to assess the possible existence of such orientations prior to organizational employment, the pres ent study examined data collected from a sample of undergraduate college students majoring in chemistry and business. Analysis of these data indicated chemistry majors to be significantly more cosmopolitan than business majors ; and, business majors to be significantly more local than chemistry majors. Furthermore, using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data, analysis devoted to specifying when such anticipatory socialization is most apt to take place revealed both cosmopolitanism and localism to peak in one's junior year, the latter in a statistically significant manner
Monetarism, Keynesianism and the Institutional Status of Central Banks
Authors: Uusitalo Paavo
Published: March 2007

The paper challenges the belief that economic reality is perceived and economic policy formulated solely on the basis of the state of the economy and the trends within it Taken into account are the characteristics of the social institutions responsible for following economic development and for taking measures to control the economy themselves or through their author ized recommendations to other institutions within the social system The institutional and historical material used in this paper covers the four major Nordic countries The discussion focuses on the status of the central banks, especially their relation to government and parliament, and concludes (1) that central bank status varies greatly between the Nordic countries, and (2) that the autonomous status of the central bank appears to correlate with monetarist features of economic policy. Central banks have less autonomy in the more 'Keynesian' Scandinavian countries. Sweden and Norway, where Keynesianism is often connected with strong and long-term social democratic rule. The genesis of the structural status of the different central banks cannot be explained by the strength of social democracy Present differences in the structural status of the Scandinavian central banks existed as early as the nineteenth century, long before social democracy began to play a role in the government policy of any Scandinavian country or before the birth of Keynesianism as an economic doctrine.
Organizational and Individual Control of Career Development in Engineering Project Work
Authors: Heimer Carol A.
Published: March 2007

In this paper I compare the situations of engineers, managers, and clerical workers in engineering consulting projects in the Norwegian oftshore oil business in order to determine what factors facilitate career development and who controls career development. I argue that career development depends on a series of elements including the availability of jobs, access to information about jobs, the arrangement of jobs into a clear sequence, tasks or training to enhance ability, the collection of information about a worker's ability and progress, and the dissemination of this information about the worker. Whether these elements are present depends to a large extent on how interested the employing organization is in the careers of a group of workers and on whether the workers themselves are able to look out for their own interests.
Life Style Issues - Debate between Men and Women in the Finnish Trade Union Movement
Authors: Holmila Marja
Published: March 2007

This article deals with the two-year way-of-life project arranged together with the Central Organization of the Finnish Trade Unions The underlying idea of the project was to seek ways in which the trade union movement might influence people's ways of life and to make it easier to discuss such matters in a trade union context The approach of the evaluation study was action research

The focus of the project was m some respects at variance with the principles of the labour movement The discussion about the individual's position and the place of local action turned into critical assessments about the trade union movement, especially women's position inside it The course's main results are those that shed light on the mechanisms that keep women in their traditional place in the herachy of the working class and m the hierarchy of the trade union movement.
On the Political Importance of Space
Authors: Tonboe Jerts Chr.
Published: March 2007

In the last five years space has been reintroduced as a fundamental dimension in sociology, amongst others by Giddens Vivid discussions take place in Urban Sociology and Geography but clarity and agreement on the definition of space has not vet been reached Is it more of a material. or more a social matter? To talk of socio-spatial relations is indeed a very complicated enterprise. This article suggests a definition and a model for socio-spatial relations, and illustrates this with data on the increasing local political activity of trade unions branches in Denmark Especially the changing role of women in production and reproduction seems to contribute to interesting new forms of politics.
Segmentation and Mobility: An Analysis of Labour Market Flows on the Danish Labour Market
Authors: Boje Thomas P.
Published: March 2007

During the last decade the segmentation theory approach has been very popular among labour-market researchers It has been attempted to use this theory to explain differentiation and marginalization on the labour market in many European countries. This article describes a Danish research project which aims at an analysis of the segmentation on the Danish labour market and its consequences for the labour-market attachment of different groups of workers The central themes in the article are partly the development of a sociological theory of segmentation and partly the relation between segmentation and mobility on the Danish labour market.
Restructuring Welfare Policy by Means of Privatization
Authors: Vettenranta Jari
Published: March 2007

This article deals with privatization, combining viewpoints presented both in critical discourses of the welfare state and in the debate on marginalizaiion and the crisis of labour society. Privatization is currently gaining ground in the welfare state. The welfare state, then, is in crisis, whether considered from the point of view of pnvate capital, the welfare citizen, or its own inner logic. The mobilization strategy outline at the end of the article is a political solution to the contradictions of the welfare state, much in the same way as the welfare state was a political solution to the problems of capitalist society. In both, the structures that generate the contradictions remain intact.
Distribution vs . Retribution: The Perceived Justice of the Contribution and Equality Principles for Cooperative and Competitive Relationships
Authors: Törnblom Kjell Y. , Jonsson Dan R.
Published: March 2007

Research on justice in resource allocation has primarily focused on distri bution (the allocation of positive outcomes), while retribution (the allocation of negative outcomes) has been neglected. This study deals with the question whether the equality and contribution principles are differentially evaluated in distribution as compared to retribution On the basis of a model featuring distinctions among four 'behavioral modalities' (positive and negative com mission and omission) and two types of 'actor relationship' (cooperative and competitive), a set of eight propositions was generated Four of them were tested in a questionnaire study with Swedish female subjects Equality was considered just in all conditions of distnbution and retribution, while the contribution rule was seen as unjust in all but two conditions of distnbution. For cooperative relationships the equality rule was considered more just in distribution than in retribution, while the contrary was found for competitive relationships The contribution rule was rated less unjust in distribution than in retribution for both types of relationship. The discussion of these and other findings results in several suggestions for further research.
Family Life in Estonia and Finland
Authors: Haavio-Mannila Elina , Rannik Erkki
Published: March 2007

The Socialist Republic of Estonia and Finland, a capitalist market economy, are geographically and culturally close to each other Family life in these societies, representing different social and economic systems, was studied on the basis of official statistics and by interviewing representative samples of both populations. The investigation is part of the official scientific coop eration in sociology between the USSR and Finland which started ten years ago Family life is in some ways more traditional in Estonia than in Finland: there are more extended families, children, formal marriages and divorces, and, until recently, less unmarried cohabitation The division of domestic work in educated families is less even, and children spend more leisure time with their parents. In both countnes almost all adult women are employed outside the home. In some respects, life in Finland is more traditional than in socialist Estonia For example, paid work is more sex-segregated in Finland than in Estonia In Estonia, people believe more in the possibilities of women succeeding in life just as well as men, and the personal efficacy of Estonian women is much higher than that of Finnish women. These aspects of the position of women in society at large have an impact on family life. In young families in Helsinki there is more rapport and less intimacy need satisfaction than in Tallinn Finnish husbands are as happy in their marriage as Estonian husbands, but receive less social support with their wives.
Review Article : Some Perspectives on Scandinavian Welfare Research
Authors: Henriksen Jan Peter
Published: March 2007

One of the most important developments in Scandinavia within applied sociology has been the accomplishment of several large-scale surveys of living conditions Living conditions research relies on a solid tradition reaching beyond the social indicator movement' of the 1960s back to the social surveys of consumption patterns of working-class households in the days of early capitalism. This review article argues. however, that welfare research has far from exhausted the opportunities in respect to social expla nation offered by this particular field of social inquiry Social structure and social agency have not been sufficiently dealt with Future living conditions research must address itself to the 'syntax' of welfare distribution instead of focusing exclusively on individual attributes
Social Class, Gender, and Sector Employment as Political Cleavages in Scandinavia
Authors: Hoel Marit , Knutsen Oddbjorn
Published: March 2007

Political cleavages in Western democracies have traditionally been connected to positions in the labour market. Dunng the last 10-15 years, research has established that the explanatory power of hierarchical status variables has been markedly reduced. The present study examines the relative importance of social class and two other structural cleavages which have been emphasized in recent political sociology: sector employment and gender. These vanables are studied in relation to vanous measures of political value priorities (interest-based left-right values, support for the welfare state, and materialist/post-materialist values) and party preference in a comparative Scandinavian context (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden). It is concluded that social class still has considerable impact. Sector employment has, however, approached social class as an important cleavage, while the impact of gender is relatively small.
Tracking-down the Nordic Spirit in Thorstein Veblen's Sociology
Authors: Schwartz Jonathan Matthew
Published: March 2007

Although best known for his notion of 'conspicuous consumption' in The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899), Thorstein Veblen also offered sociology another unit-idea 'the instinct of workmanship The present paper explores Veblen's instinct' both in current scientific theory and, more significantly. in Vehlen's own ethnic identity The primordial sources of the instinct of workmanship were brought to light in the archeology of Stone Age Scandinavia. From his vantage point as a Norwegian-American maverick. Veblen discovered m ancient Baltic wasteheaps clear signs of a peaceable, hard-working society and culture Juxtaposed with German and English 'predatory' societies, the Nordic spirit seemed benign and idyllic The Golden Age was indeed made of flintstone.
Structures of Modern Poverty
Authors: Marklund Staffan
Published: March 2007

The current debate on poverty m the Western world is influenced by concepts such as the feminization of poverty, marginalization of the poor, the poor underclass and the culture of poverty. These concepts are often used in a contradictory and confusing manner This article is an attempt to look at the theoretical position behind the concepts and to examine similarities and differences between them. Furthermore, the empirical consequences of the four concepts are analyzed and related to information about poverty m the Scandinavian nations. As empirically investigated by Scandinavians, poverty does not in general fit into either of the four conceptualizations. Neither the feminization-of-poverty debate nor the debate on the culture of poverty seems relevant to Scandinavia. The underclass and marginalization concepts are more frequently used, but due to both theoretical inconsistency and lack of relevant data the two views are rarely tested against each other or, indeed, tested at all.
Signifying the Signs - Simulating Cultural Political Subjectivity in Postmodernity
Authors: Ahponen Pirkkohisa
Published: March 2007

Representing a marginal sociological viewpoint, the subject of this article aims to problematize postmodernity polemically as a challenge to modern cultural subjectivity Postmodernity is important simply because it allows new features in culture and society to be characterized In its seductivity, seriality and penetrability. with continuous transfiguranons postmodernity will become discontinuous with the representations and referential logic of the 'authenticity' of aesthetic modernism Considering its ideals side by side, modern culture has become aestheticized as oppositional to 'nature' as well as to 'technology' However, without a meaningfully experienced relation ship with nature the modern individual becomes estranged Without tech nological advance the development of modern society is considered to be stagnant Culture is now increasingly mediated-coded, copied and simulated by technological means The advancement of modern society, and also postmodernity as a reaction to it. is now increasingly and acceleratingly measured by means of the circulation and consumption of technologically mediated cultural products That is why the interpretative plunge into a postmodern scene may bring the subject floating back to the surface of a control screen lacking depth This kind of postmodern culture' will produce obscenity just when it is presented to solve the problems of alienation Its subject can emerge only as a fractal 'sign-subject', subjected constantly to the 'videoscreen of statistics' in the form of ever present opinion polls, quiz shows, personality tests, as well as of 'deep interviews' By these means the ideal styles of the consumer's behaviour are measured and the 'terror' included within these signifying processes is covered by the pleasure principle, which will represent the simulative 'alibi' of the essence of cultural democracy An increasing tendency towards 'positive' administrating of all the spheres of lite, including culture, will accelerate this process as the taming of expressions of anarchy-like gratfiti But publicizing the immanent elements of postmodernity may also mean new possibilities for the now devalued concept of 'meaning' Therefore it seems essential that intellectuals absorbed by postmodernity need to orientate anew towards surviving as critical subjects, not innocently believing any more in the utopia of modernity but traversing it as transmodern subjects.
The Origins of Individual Differences in Occupational Status and Educational Level
Authors: Lichtenstein Paul , Pedersen Nancy L. , McClearn G.E.
Published: March 2007

Sources of influences on educational and occupational achievement were investigated using the powerful combined twin/adoption design. Analyses for education were based on 331 pairs of twins reared apart (TRA) and 375 pairs of twins reared together (TRT) Analyses for occupation were based on fewer pairs Maximum-likelihood model-fitting analyses revealed that environmental effects unique to the individual. environmental effects shared by the two twins in a pair and genetic effects all were important for individual differences For both education and occupation, environmental effects were more important among women and genetic effects were more important among men For education there were differences in the relative importance of the effects when the analyses were performed separately for cohorts under and above age 60 Consistent with a social change hypothesis, environmental influences were more important among older individuals than among younger, and, conversely, genetic influences seem to have a greater impact on education for the younger age group Regression analyses revealed that the circumstances of separation among the reared apart twins probably have not biased the results These results Support accumulated evidence of the importance of genetic effects as a source of familial resemblance for socioeconomic status among men The disparity in conclusions by sociologists and behavior geneticists from similar data is discussed
From Ascription to Achievement? Origins, Education and Entry to the Labour Force in the Republic of Ireland during the Twentieth Century
Authors: Breen Richard , Whelan Christopher T.
Published: March 2007

This paper examines the relationship between class of origin, educational attainment, and class of entry to the labour force, in three cohorts of men in the Republic of Ireland using data collected in 1987 The three cohorts comprise men born (i) before 1937; (ii) between 1937 and 1949; and (m) between 1950 and 1962. The paper assesses the degree of change over the three cohorts in respect of (a) the gross relationship between origins and entry class; (b) the partial effect (controlling for education) of origin class on entry class; (c) the partial effect of education (controlling for ongins) on class of entry. In broad terms the liberal theory of industrialism would imply a movement, over the three cohorts, towards (a) increasing social fluidity, (b) a weakening of the partial effect of origin class; (c) a strengthening of the partial effect of education These latter two trends should be particularly noticeable in the youngest cohort, which would, to some degree, have benefited from the introduction of free post-primary education in Ireland in 1967

Our results provide almost no support for these hypotheses. We find that patterns of social fluidity in the origin/entry relationship remain unchanged over the cohorts. The partial effect of class remains relatively constant; and, while the partial effect of education on entry class changes over the cohorts, the most striking result in this area is the declining returns to higher levels of education. While the average level of educational attainment increased over the three cohorts, the advantages accruing to the possession of higher levels of education simultaneously diminished. Taken together our results suggest that, in Ireland, those classes that have historically enjoyed advantages in access to more desirable entry positions in the labour market have been remarkably adept at retaining their advantages during the course of industrialization and through the various educational and other labour market changes that have accompanied this process.
Alternatives, Frames, and Relative Prices: A Broader View of Rational Choice Theory
Authors: Lindenberg Siegwart , Frey Bruno S.
Published: March 2007

One important consequence of the increasing convergence between sociology and econ omics is that sociologists make increasingly more use of rational choice theories for the explanation of social action. This shift opens up the possibility that sociologists make use of what must be considered to be the most powerful regularity in the social sciences: the relative pnce effect, which states that behavior depends directly on relative prices (or relative scarcities). This effect is also known as the law of demand: as one good becomes more costly in comparison to others, a person will purchase less of that good. It turns out that crucial sociological questions (for instance the relation of gain-oriented behavior to moral behavior) make it necessary that we know something about the size of the relative price effect. Surprisingly, there is virtually no theory in economics on this point and thus rational choice theory is badly in need of being extended in this direction. In this paper, two such extensions are suggested. First, a theory of alternatives consisting of (a) a theory of social production functions, (b) a theory of non-given alternatives and (c) a theory of 'ipsative' sets of alternatives Second, a theory of framing is presented which links the relative price effect to the definition of the situation which in turn is theoretically linked to the theory of alternatives. It is argued that these extensions make rational choice theory much more relevant for sociological applications than the neo- classical model in which alternatives are exogenously given and the definition of the situation is implicitly locked to a standard trading situation.
Non-marital Cohabitation and Change in Norms: The Case of Norway
Authors: Ramsøy Natalie Rogoff
Published: March 2007

Norms and sanctions regulating the sexual behavior of the unmarned have changed in many societies in recent decades, such that significant numbers of the population, especially although not exclusively among the young, live together openly as unmarried partners. A transition period, characterized by high rates of premantal pregnancies, lasted longer in Norway than in neighbonng countries. Below it is suggested that the source of the delay may be found in a cleavage in Norway's social structure. In some regions of the country a pietistic attitude dominated, in others a liberal attitude. This was a major axis of Norwegian politics from the end of the nineteenth century until well into the twentieth. Acts of Parliament swung from severe punishment of 'concubinage', as it was called, to remarkably early laws providing public support when needed for unwed mothers and their children. Punitive sanctions against illegitimacy were enforced only for a brief period, although the law remained on the statute books until the 1970s. The signals sent to the population were sufficiently mixed as to create a condition of pluralistic ignorance, inducing more conformity to strict sexual behavior than occurred elsewhere. The most recent investigations provide convincing evidence to support the contention that non-marital cohabitation has now become a civil status accepted by all.
Towards a Theoretically Grounded Typology of Farms: a Swedish Case
Authors: Djurfeldt Göran , Waldenström Cecilia
Published: March 2007

A survey of farms and farm households in three different areas of Sweden makes it possible to study the position of family farms, as compared to other farm types. Based on patterns of labour use and sources of income, a theoretically grounded farm typology is suggested. Such a typology is offered as an alternative to arbitrary criteria in terms of acreage, turnover or total labour, which can never be generalized, nor used in longitudinal or comparative studies. The sample illustrates the striking similarities in social set-up between the intensive agriculture in the plains of southern Sweden and that in the northern parts of the country. The role of family and non-family labour, as well as the role of non-farm work and sources of income in the three study areas are analysed.
New Economic Sociology: What Has Been Accomplished, What Is Ahead?
Authors: Swedberg Richard
Published: March 2007

An attempt is made in this article to assess what has been accomplished since the mid-1980s in what has become known as 'New Economic Sociology'. The reason for choosing 1985 as the point of departure has to do with the fact that this year saw the publication of what was to become the 'manifesto' of this type of sociology: Mark Granovetter's 'Economic Action and Social Structure: The Problem of Embeddedness'. Research during the period after the mid-1980s is presented and discussed, and it is argued that New Economic Sociology has especially drawn on three strands of sociology: networks theory, cultural sociology and organizational sociology. A critique is made of the two main theoretical concepts in New Economic Sociology: 'embeddedness' and 'the social construction (of the economy)'. The paper concludes with a critique of New Economic Sociology and a brief statement of its prospects.
Social Origin as an Interest-bearing Asset: Family Background and Labour-market Rewards among Employees in Sweden
Authors: Erikson Robert , Jonsson Jan O.
Published: March 2007

We analysed the effects of social origin on social class and income for a large sample of Swedish employees, aged 25-45, in 1990. The statistical models are particularly strong in handling mediating effects of educational attainment. The results show that, controlling for level and type of education, sons and daughters of higher white-collar origin have substantially greater chances of reaching service class positions than children of unskilled working class origin. We also found origin effects on income. In a model evaluating level, type of education and work experience, the advantage to income of having a white-collar origin is about 3-8 per cent. While origin effects on class position appear at the onset of work life, origin effects on income tend to be more evident throughout people's careers. Hypotheses about four mechanisms behind origin effects- Networks, Favouritism, Productivity, and Aspirations - are discussed on the basis of the results.
Modelling the Influence of Societal Factors on Municipal Theft Rates in Sweden: Methodological Concerns and Substantive Findings
Authors: Dahlbäck Olof
Published: March 2007

This study investigates the possibilities of using a non-linear longitudinal model when analysing the influence of crime opportunity and commission propensity factors on societies' theft rates. The model used, which is based on decision-theoretical assumptions on individual criminal behaviour, explains how the theft rate is influenced by contemporary and historical societal characteristics. The crime opportunities in a municipality are assumed to be strongly affected by the density of the population, and the inhabitants' commission propensities by their social bonds. The model is tested with register data for Swedish municipalities from the period 1970-90, with the change in the community theft rate as the dependent variable. The results show that the model used has significant explanatory power, much better than a corresponding linear model. Consonant with the assumptions made, it was found that the theft rate is higher the denser the population and the weaker the social bonds, that there are strong interactions between various contributing factors, and that there are temporal trends for relationships between the theft rate and social bonds characteristics at different points in time that have interesting causal interpretations.
Hierarchy, Wages and Firm Size
Authors: van der Meer Peter , Wielers Rudi
Published: March 2007

The thesis of the paper is that the hierarchical structure of organizations contributes to the explanation of the well-known firm size-wage effect. A theoretical analysis elaborates why and how wages may depend on hierarchical position and span of control. It is argued that wage premiums for supervisors add to the explanation of the firm size-wage effect, but that an effect of span of control should not be expected. In empirical analyses, both hypotheses are confirmed. The hierarchical structure of organizations explains at least 4 and at most 48 per cent of the wage gap between large and small firms.
Linguistic Capital and Home-School Relationships: Mothers' Interactions with their Children's Primary School Teachers
Authors: Reay Diane
Published: March 2007

Talking to teachers is an important part of home-school relationships, and yet research into parental involvement rarely includes an analysis of home-school interaction. Drawing on a UK study of mothers' involvement in their children's primary schooling, this paper uses Bourdieu's concepts of linguistic and cultural capitals to explore the differences in both how mothers approach teaching staff and how they perceive the contact they have with their children's teachers. The paper examines some of the ways in which maternal involvement is mediated by power relations between mothers and teachers, and draws on empirical data, which suggest that social class positioning has a powerful influence on mothers' ability to get what they want for their children. Cultural capital, including linguistic capital, personal histories and mothers' own educational experiences all contribute to mothers' sense of efficacy in relation to home-school interaction.
On the Meaning and Measurement of Inequality
Authors: Marshall Gordon , Swift Adam
Published: March 2007

This article offers a defence of the methods and findings of what some critics have referred to as the 'Nuffield school of class analysis'. In particular, we respond to the critique mounted by Hellevik and Ringen, whose most recent publication appeared in an earlier volume of this journal. We argue that these authors adopt an arbitrary and essentialist view of what constitutes inequality, and have either misunderstood or misrepresented the aims and methodology of the research programme they deride. Ringen, moreover, explicitly concedes all of its major substantive results.
The Peculiarities of Geography: The Middle East
Authors: Minor Harold B.
Published: March 2007

The Middle East is a vast and critical area of the world, a composite of ancient and modern cultures, dis parate races and religions, and uneven historical and natural influences. While in the throes of revolutionary social, eco nomic, and political change, it desperately strives to retain the independence it struggled so long to achieve. To satisfy its drive for self-development and material progress and to realize the full potential of its natural resources, the Middle East is placing primary emphasis upon the development of its human resources. A disproportionate number of Middle Eastern stu dents are enrolled in American colleges and universities and many more attend universities elsewhere, particularly in West ern Europe. Rapid growth has led to unbalanced develop ment with too many specialists and not enough skilled work ers, too many scientists and too few administrators. Many Middle Eastern students educated abroad return home to find no outlet for their technical skills. In the United States, the Middle Eastern student must shed deep-rooted and many- faceted misconceptions of American life, society, and educa tion. Although, with time and care, the majority of them ac complish this and arrive at appraisals of American culture often more accurate than our own, fuller prearrival orientation would do much to hasten the process. The rewards and bene fits of the exchange are real and reciprocal, so much so that the difficulties should not be construed as other than incidental.— Ed.
The New Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences
Authors: Sills David L.
Published: March 2007

The Editor o f the International Encydopedia of the Social Sciences, scheduled f or 1965 publication by the Crowell-Collier Publishing Company, describes the operating principles o f the new work. It will be more interdisciplinary, more logico-empirical, less limited temporally and spatially. Of large importance to world social scientists, the project is proceeding apace.
India at the Nuclear Proliferation Crossroads
Authors: Yuter S.C.
Published: March 2007

"By all means let us talk of regulation of armaments—universally; by all means let us talk of non—armament—universally; by all means let us talk of arms restraint and arms control—universally. But any ... tendency to talk only in terms of imposing non-armament on some countries ... is to use an American phrase 'counter productive'. "—Ambassador V. C. Trivedi, Indian Delegate to the Eighteen Nations Committee on Disarmament, on July 18, 1967.*
Foreign Policy Decision-Making Process in Japan
Authors: Vishwanathan Savitri
Published: March 2007

Unless the pattern of policy formulation and leadership displayed in the Soviet negotiations is radically reversed, Japan seems destined to remain a passive actor on the international stage, reacting to, not leading events despite increasing potential for autonomous action".1
Imperialism in Nineteenth-Century China (1)
Authors: Chung Tan
Published: March 2007

From this issue onwards we shall carry five articles by PROF. TAN CHUNG on 'Imperialism in 19th- Century China'. The subsequent articles will deal with the Treaty System, Finance Imperialism, Spheres of Influence and the 'Open Door' Policy, and Christian Missionary Activities in China. The articles are revised versions of class lectures which have been delivered to the M.A. students in history over the years. — EDITOR.
Revision of Marxism in China?
Authors: Nigam R.L
Published: March 2007

[ This is the fourth in the series of comments on the subject. The first three were by K.P. Gupta, Manoranjan Mohanty and Lajpat Rai, published successively in the last three issues of this year.—Editor]
Changes in Tibetan Economy, 1959-76
Authors: Norbu Dowa
Published: March 2007

When we talk about industry in Tibet, we must keep in mind its limited scale which is not to discredit China's industrial effort but to keep a proper perspective. It is true that Tibet had no modem industry before 'liberation', but to know why is only to be fair to the ancien regime.
The Soviet Union and Nordic Security
Authors: Holst Johan Jörgen
Published: March 2007

The author distinguishes between Soviet objectives of system preservation and system extension. Soviet policies vis-à-vis the Nordic area have been conceived primarily in the context of system preservation. Thus the Soviet Union has pursued a policy of no experiments and accepts the status quo as tolerable. The preferred Soviet model is that of a neutralist and fragmented Nordic system.

The Soviet naval expansion has resulted in the forward deployment of the Northern and Baltic fleets to the Greenland — Iceland — Faeroe Islands gap. There are several structural instabilities associated with a Soviet naval strategy of forward deployment. It also affects the efficacy and credibility of US reinforcements to Norway.

The North European security zone'is likely to remain of considerable significance to the management of the Central Balance while oil drilling on the Norwegian continental shelf introduces a new element of uncertainty. In their negotiations with the EC the Nordic states appear to be preserving the regional equilibrium and the Soviet Union has made no serious objections.
System Transformation in Nigeria
Authors: Stokke Olav
Published: March 2007

In this paper the processes of integration and disintegration within the Nigerian Fed eration up to the secession of Biafra are analysed. The 'modern' and the 'traditional' political systems and sub-systems are identified and the cultural setting is outlined. The focus is concentrated on the distribution of the enforcement powers, the utilitarian powers and the identive powers between the centres of the federal system and the regional sub-systems, as manifested by subsequent constitutions and by the social bases of the political parties. In such a context the integrative and disintegrative effects of the political parties at the cultural, the federal and the regional levels are discussed. The major political crises of the early 1960s are outlined as are the developments after the military coup d'etats of 1966 leading to the secession. On this basis some preconditions for a successful secession are suggested, and the extent to which these were fulfilled or not in the case under consideration is discussed.