2006 Conference Program - Midwest Political Science Association

PaperPaperPaperDisc.Election Campaign Polling and the Media: Where Did It GoWrong in 2004?Mark A. Pickup, University of OxfordRichard Johnston, University of British ColumbiaOverview: The campaign polls during the 2004 Canadianfederal election and the media coverage of those polls areexamined to determine how the predicted outcome of theelection could be so wrong.The Conservative Party and the 2004 Canadian ElectionLaura B. Stephenson, University of Western OntarioOverview: This paper investigates the Conservative Party’sperformance in the 2004 Canadian election, concentrating onvoters’ perceptions, the impact of campaign information, andthe party's role as the only viable alternative to the governingLiberals.Same-Sex Marriage and Voting Behavior in CanadaEugénie Dostie-Goulet, Université de MontréalOverview: Same-sex marriage, now legalized in Canada, was anelectoral issue for the 2004 Canadian Election. Multinomialanalyses allow us to conclude that even if this issue hasinfluenced vote choice, it has had no net effect on the result ofthe election.Christopher H. Achen, Princeton University7-5 GUNS, DRUGS, AND DEATH: POLITICALVIOLENCE IN LATIN AMERICARoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Fri 1:45 pmJeffrey Ryan, University of ArkansasPolitical Participation and War in ColombiaMiguel Garcia, University of PittsburghOverview: I study the impact of armed actors’ presence andviolence on turnout in Colombia showing: 1) political violencedecreases turnout, 2) areas with presence of guerrillas andcoincident presence of guerrillas and paramilitaries have thelowest turnout.Coca, Bullets, Exports, and GrowthJennifer S. Holmes, University of Texas, DallasSheila Amin Gutiérrez de Piñeres, University of Texas, DallasOverview: In Colombia, we examine the effects of cocaproduction and types of violence on both disaggregated exportsand sectoral GDP. We identify sectors of the economy andexports that are resistant to disruptions due to displacement bycoca or violence.Armed and Dangerous: Colombia's Paramilitary GroupsJulie M. Mazzei, Cleveland State UniversityOverview: Empirical research suggests that a specificconfluence of variables facilitated the emergence of paramilitarygroups in Colombia, among them the mobilization of resourcesfrom factions of the elite, the military, and politicos.Free Traders and Drug Smugglers: Does TradeLiberalization Weaken or Strengthen States’ Ability toCombat Drug Trafficking?Horace A. Bartilow, University of KentuckyOverview: This paper answers the question of whether tradeliberalization weaken the ability of states to combat drugtrafficking? This question is motivated by an emergingtheoretical debate about new threats to state security in the ageof globalization.Repression or Concession? Responses to Challenges inLatin AmericaJames C. Franklin, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityOverview: This paper examines over 1000 contentiouschallenges that took place in seven Latin American countries todetermine what types of challenges and what circumstancestend to result in repression and/or concessions.Eric Selbin, Southwestern UniversityJeffrey Ryan, University of Arkansas8-6 TAIWAN'S PARTIES AND LEGISLATURERoomChairPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Fri 1:45 pmNyblade Benjamin, University of British ColumbiaColonizing Taiwan: Kuomintang’s Methods of Control and50 Years of DominanceKetty W. Chen, University of OklahomaOverview: The paper investigates the political dominationmethods used by the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang)during its 50-year domination on the island of Taiwan.Plus ca change: Continuity and Change in Taiwan's PartySystemAlexander C. Tan, University of CanterburyOverview: Using time series data on Taiwan's legislativeelections and the new Taiwan Election and DemocratizationStudy 2005 election survey data set, this study examines thecontinuity in trends as well as the changing features in Taiwan'sparty system.Getting Bills Through the Committee Stage in theTaiwanese LegislatureNathan F. Batto, University of California, San DiegoOverview: This paper looks at how parties in the Taiwaneselegislature get bills to the floor while ensuring their contentaccords with party goals. If committee members demand aheavy price in the normal review process, parties can opt foralternative paths.Nyblade Benjamin, University of British Columbia8-7 RURAL CHINA: POLITICS AND POLICYRoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Fri 1:45 pmWenfang Tang, University of PittsburghCorporatizating Guangdong Villages-Democratizing RuralSouthern ChinaYi Man Leung, George Washington UniversityOverview: Examining the consequences of Guangdong’s test ona local institutional change of corporatizing villages and turningvillage committees into corporation boards, in response to theOrganic Law that institutionalized village elections in China in1998.Comparing Village Elections in China and VietnamMayling Birney, Yale UniversityOverview: Drawing upon interviews and original field researchin China and Vietnam, this paper contrasts the differentapproaches to, and assesses the different impacts of, villageelections in China and Vietnam.Power and Cooperation: Peasants, Elites, and the State inNew Chinese CoopsLiang Sun, George Washington UniversityOverview: Based on fieldwork in 4 peasant cooperatives incentral China, I identify types of power relations betweenpeasants, business elites, and state agents state in the rising newcooperative movement.Changing Role of Agriculture in Economic Development inPost-Mao ChinaYinan R. Wang, Miami UniversityOverview: This paper examines the dynamics of Chinese foodand agricultural politics and policies in the reform period.Wenfang Tang, University of PittsburghTianjian Shi, Duke University10-5 POST-COMMUNIST RESEARCH AFTERCOMMUNISM: THE STATE OF THE FIELDRoomChairPaperTBA, Fri 1:45 pmWilliam Zimmerman, University of Michigan, Ann ArborImproving Measures of Normal States-the Case of RussiaWilliam Zimmerman, University of Michigan, Ann ArborOverview: Is Russia a normal country? How would we know?Focusing on Russia, this paper suggests ways to improve themeasurement of an important concept and at the same timeachieve a better feel for future outcomes for Russian politicaldevelopment.159