Publication Type: Proceeding

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: As the modern world system continues to integrate flows of migrants from the periphery into core nations, the self-conceptualizations of core nations continue to be challenged, evoking urban conflict that escalates from interpersonal, to local, state and federal levels. These conflicts often manifest in racial, nationalistic, orientalist, and political ways characteristically more acceptable to the post-Civil Rights (U.S.) and post-Holocaust (Europe) world. Nonetheless, these conflicts have real effects on the lived experiences of migrants whose citizenship status in core nations generally does not secure them full rights, and where human and citizens’ rights somehow do not equate. What lies behind the logic that eclipses the rights of migrants? How do these conflicts manifest in contemporary urban settings? What effect has the legacy of 9/11/01 had on these conflicts? The research design included two data sets: first, a control group of eighteen ethnographic interviews with leading anti-immigrant activists conducted from 1999-2000 and, second, seven follow-up interviews with anti-immigrant activists, along with participant observation at three post-9/11 anti-immigrant conferences, from 2002-2006. Findings revealed an array of opinions and strategies that, especially since 9/11/01, exploit the fear wrought by the notion of terrorism, reinforcing racialized stereotypes and reproducing international divisions between core and periphery.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The rule of law has been an important component within the criminal justice system. The Bill of Rights was created to protect citizens from abusive government power. There are notable incidents justifying the need for Constitutional protections as reflected by the 1940's internment of the Japanese population, the 1950s "Red Scare," and the FBI COINTELPRO programs that were prominent during the 1960s. These precedents ultimately culminate with the circumstances surrounding 9-11 and the implementation of the USA Patriot Act. This paper will begin exploring some of the threads tying governmental policy in the second half of the twentieth century with anti-terrorist legislation since 2001 reflecting a renewed form of restricted civil liberties.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper examines the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) taskforce component of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in two contrasting deployments; the September 11th, 2001 (9/11) World Trade Center (WTC) and Pentagon terrorist attacks. These sites each held unique characteristics where loss of emergency response personnel, geography, politics, pre-existing social bonds, and professional knowledge created contrasting environments affecting the integration of USAR taskforces. This analysis highlights multiple strategies of action enacted on scene to integrate USAR agencies into search and rescue (SAR) activities. At the WTC, USAR taskforces influenced by structural and individual barriers, engaged in acts of trust building in an attempt to foster inter-organizational development on site, while USAR taskforces deployed to the Pentagon relied upon pre-established professional and personal relationships with local emergency response personnel to integrate themselves into response efforts. This paper highlights the importance of localized familiarity of USAR taskforces in terms of capability, terminology, and personnel as key facilitators of inter-organizational operations in response to disasters. Based on these results, future disaster response efforts could be rendered more efficient by the development of regional and/or state level USAR taskforces. Localized USAR teams would facilitate on-going inter-agency operations and training, socialization, social relationships, and the emergence of trust among the personnel of these various agencies leading to integrated response in times of disasters

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Immediately following the September 11th attacks, Pat Robertson's 700 Club program focused on the events and issues from its Evangelical Christian perspective. One key theme called for solidarity and strong support of Isreal and its hardline policies in the fight against terroris. An ethnographic content analysis reveals an agenda supporting complete Israeli control of occupied lands in order to fulfill Christian apocalyptic scriptures and enable the Second Coming of Christ.