2006 Conference Program - Midwest Political Science Association

PaperDisc.Social Class Identity and Political Attitudes: The Role ofPolitical ElitesKatherine Cramer Walsh, University of Wisconsin, MadisonOverview: When does social class identity affect politicalattitudes? Analysis of a two-generation national sample panelstudy reveals the importance of political candidates’ strategies.Edward Carmines, Indiana University, Bloomington24-15 THE WEB AND ACCESS TO POLITICALVOICERoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Sun 8:30 amClaes H. de Vreese, University of AmsterdamWeb Research on Transnationalism: Surfing at Sea or at theSwimming Pool?Gustavo Cano, University of Nebraska, OmahaKari S. Burdick-Caves, University of Nebraska, OmahaCarie M. Franks, University of Nebraska, OmahaOverview: The proposed research aims to point out to whatextent research on "transnationalism" through the web is usefulto advance the theoretical and empirical development of theterm.The Political Discourse of Magazines and Weblogs: AContent AnalysisSusan Currie Sivek, University of Texas, AustinOverview: This study will provide a content analysis of politicalarticles in American news magazines and partisan opinionmagazines, as well as political weblog postings, in order todescribe the contribution of these media to American politicaldiscourse.Candidate Control in Cyberspace: News Media as aStrategic Tool on Campaign WebsitesMatthew P. Taylor, Mount St. Mary's UniversityOverview: This paper looks at how gubernatorial campaigns usethe news media as part of their Web sites to control the agendaand communicate their messages more directly.Fifth Estate or Echo Chamber, An Analysis of theBlogosphere, Media Coverage and the War in IraqKevin J. Wallsten, University of California, BerkeleyOverview: This paper explores the question of whether blogsare an "echo chamber" (meaning they merely repeat mediamessages) or a "fifth estate" (meaning they criticize and factcheckmedia sources) in the context of an analysis of bloggingon the war in Iraq.G.R. Boynton, University of Iowa25-13 WOMEN AND THE WELFARE STATERoomChairPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Sun 8:30 amAlesha E. Doan, California Polytechnic UniversityIntersectionality and the Welfare State: A ComparativeStudySirje Laurel Weldon, Purdue UniversityOverview: In this paper I reformulate the idea ofintersectionality and apply it in a comparative analysis ofwelfare states, examining social policies addressing gender, raceand class inequality in general as well as intersectionallymarginalized groups.Assessing Welfare Reform from a Feminist PerspectiveMary Ann E. Steger, Northern Arizona UniversityOverview: Using a feminist perspective to redefine the values ofaccountability, equality, effectiveness, and efficiency radicallychanges state-determined TANF rules and shifts the goal ofwelfare reform to one of moving families out of poverty.Budget Deficit, Welfare Reform, and Single Mothers:Canada and the United StatesSherrow O. Pinder, Hobart and William Smith CollegesOverview: I examine the deficit politics in Canada and theUnited States from 1980-1999. I focus on Ontario and NewYork State, and I show how both followed the same politicaltrajectory with similar consequences for single mothers in bothlocales.Peregrine Schwartz-Shea, University of UtahAlesha E. Doan, California Polytechnic University26-14 COMPARATIVE RACIAL POLITICSRoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Sun 8:30 amArus Harutyunyan, Western Michigan UniversitySecurity, Xenophobia and NationalismAmber C. Concepcion, Georgetown UniversityOverview: The rise of extreme right-wing parties in thesupposedly tolerant societies of Western Europe has beenattributed to such diverse causes; this paper argues that publicfears of crime and terrorism are an integral part of the puzzle.Contesting National Identities in an EthnicallyHomogeneous ArmeniaArus Harutyunyan, Western Michigan UniversityOverview: Looking at the ethnically homogeneous country ofArmenia the study argues that instead of an expected ethnic typeof Armenian national identity, currently there are multiplecontesting national identities.Racism and the Re-Constitution of Class in Post-'Unification' GermanyJuliane Edler, York UniversityOverview: East Germans have accepted their class positions inpost-'unification' Germany as they have received the wages ofGermanness. The East German inferiority/West Germansuperiority dualism coexists with the binary 'non-Germanforeigners' and Germans.Confrontation with Arrogant DiscoursesKathleen Claussen, Indiana University, BloomingtonBlaine Horrocks, Susquehanna UniversityMaura Beaufait, Vassar CollegeEric Brown, City University of New YorkOverview: This paper examines the different political constructsfor the integration of Muslim communities in London andCopenhagen. It surveys the attitudes that structure theinteraction between majority and minority groups in the twometropolitan areas.O Movimento Negro and the Civil Rights Movement: AnInterpretive AnalysisRosalind Fielder, University of IllinoisOverview: The paper will respond to the question, why haveAfro-Brazilians been unable to mount a mass movement on thescale of the civil rights movement through an interpretativeanalysis of the Brazilian Black movement and the civil rightsmovement.Julia Albarracin, Western Illinois UniversityAgnes K. Koos, University of New Orleans27-15 DESIGNING DEMOCRACY: FOUR VIEWSFROM THE EARLY REPUBLICRoomChairPaperPaperPaperTBA, Sun 8:30 amMichael P. Zuckert, University of Notre DamePublius' Theory of the Stable DemocracyShanaysha M. Furlow Sauls, Duke UniversityOverview: The association of democracy with stability is arelatively new notion and most certainly a modern one. Howdid the association of democracy with stability arise? I arguethat the emergence of the contemporary notion of a stabledemocracy can be atDemocracy and the Framers' Constitution: Towards anApolitical AssessmentAlan Gibson, Princeton UniversityOverview: This paper will revisit the question, "HowDemocratic is the Constitution?" by first providing aMadisonian interpretation of the Madisonian Model and thenevaluating it against the criteria of responsiveness,inclusiveness, and political equality.Jefferson's Ward Republic: Political Rights and an EngagedCitizenryDerek A. Webb, University of Notre DameOverview: Jefferson's proposal of the ward republic representedan attempt on his part to supply greater security to the politicalrights of citizens by overcoming anemia (a potentialvulnerability in liberal polities) and encouraging citizenvigilance.254