Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The perception of the other is a core aspect regarding the integration of ethnic minorities and migrants. It also includes the perception of one’s own group and the feeling of being a part of this group. Group identities and stereotypes are important terms in this context. In most cases the perception of one’s own group and other groups is communicated by representatives of the mass media. Perception and representation firstly mean the adequate or inadequate con-sideration from the respondents’ point of view. Furthermore it deals with the question whether - and how - identities and stereotypes of particular population groups are communicated. These questions have been examined in a qualitative analysis for which a total of six group discussions among immigrants and Swiss citizens with immigrant background were held in the German (Zurich), French (Geneva), and Italian speaking part of Switzerland (Lugano).

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper speaks to the intriguing and the well-documented phenomenon in which the health of Mexican immigrants deteriorates with subsequent generations in the U.S., despite improvements in their socio-economic status. It examines the role that embeddedness in transnational networks might play in providing health-promoting resources to immigrant women and their descendants. In particular, it discusses preliminary findings on the transnational experiences of first- and second-generation Mexican women, based on qualitative in-depth interviews with residents of a predominantly Mexican neighborhood in a large midwestern city. In that regard, this paper (1) describes the types of transnational social interactions women engage in and the meaning these interactions have for them; (2) examines how transnational social interactions shape the construction of ethnic identities and provide cultural and social resources to immigrants and their descendants; and (3) discusses the ways these processes may affect the health of immigrants. In doing so, it contributes to the literatures on immigration and health as well as those on transnationalism and gender.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: After Granovetter proposed that economic activities were embedded in social structure, several researchers have demonstrated the importance of inherently social factors to firm performance. However, most of these studies have explored how the social networks of individuals within firms, rather than the socially embedded resources of firms themselves affect firm performance. Past research has also focused on exploring the value added by social resources over and above the inherent and implicitly assumed value added by traditional material or financial resources. Using data from the US advertising industry, I tackle both these deficiencies in the social embeddedness literature in this paper; I shall show how intangible social resources that accrue at the firm level are valuable in and of themselves, even in the absence of other material assets. In fact, I shall show that firms with sufficient material resources benefit less from some social resources than do resource-constrained firms.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Many track two diplomacy practitioners aim at improving relationships between, and cognitive capabilities of, influential people from adversarial groups via contact and interaction in small groups. After achieving this objective at the inter-personal level, they often consider the 'transfer' of these improved relations and cognitive capabilities from the inter-personal level to the macro level (i.e. negotiations and decision-making level) as their ultimate objective. This paper asserts that 'transfer' might not be unconditionally desirable by drawing upon empirical evidence gathered from a number of track two efforts between Israelis and Palestinians that took place between the Oslo and Camp David-Taba negotiations. The paper discusses the conditions under which transfer from track two initiatives may result in ineffective and even negative consequences. One such consequence is 'asymmetrical transfer' to the decision-making level and negotiations. 'Asymmetrical transfer' is the situation when transfer is realized only to one of the parties in conflict. The paper discusses in length why 'asymmetrical transfer' is an ineffective outcome and the possible conditions that give rise to this outcome. It ends with some practical suggestions to the track two practitioners about how to prevent and manage this undesirable outcome.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: There is growing evidence that preferential trade agreements (PTAs) provide strong institutional incentives to prevent international conflict among member states, often creating the anticipation of economic gains that outweigh the benefits of militarized aggression. We provide an alternative social network approach to the study of how international institutions influence conflict behavior. PTAs do more than create expectations of economic gains and reduce opportunism; they also create hierarchical social networks between states, which can suppress or encourage conflict under different conditions. We theorize these conditions for militarized international dispute and economic sanctions and test our positive expectations on new PTA data during the period 1950 to 2000.