Publication Type: Session Paper
Abstract: On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the journal Public Culture, the executive editor exam-ines the main referents and the stakes of the keyword “public culture” in the issues of the journal over the past 20 years (1988-2008).

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper analyzes American newspaper coverage on the fifth anniversary of September 11 through the lens of cultural trauma and collective memory and applies a communitarian perspective on journalism ethics. With distance from the event, anniversary journalism is ideally situated to offer historical context and interpretation, powerfully linking the past, present and future through “memory-work” that mobilizes social transformation. However, on the whole, rather than encouraging deliberation, this study of 92 articles from the top ten circulation papers in the United States finds this anniversary coverage produces narratives that have the potential to instead stifle debate, focusing on cohesion rather than discussion.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The year 2009 marks the 90th anniversary of the International Labor Organization (ILO). With the end of the Cold War, its two enduring dilemmas of reconciling sovereignty with international legal obligations, and international regulation of labor with economic interests, are more visible than ever. As innovative as they might be, the ILO’s recent attempts to solve these dilemmas might be drifting it into uncharted waters. This paper identifies three hidden dangers: First, the ILO’s emphasis on the use of soft law creates rival centers of standard-setting. To avoid competition with CSR initiatives, the ILO has to re-assert its authority as the pivotal organization in the field of labor standards. Second, there is a visible broadening in the ILO’s mission to include new issues ranging from HIV/AIDS to developmental aid. Although it is important to address the underlying causes of labor problems instead of just the symptoms, the ILO now faces a danger of losing its identity as a labor organization when it needs it the most. Third, the ILO’s continuing proliferation of standards to meet newer challenges overlooks the problem of unratified or outdated Conventions, nor does it address the situation of informal workers not covered by legal protections.

Supporting Publications:
Supporting Document

Publication Type: Invited Paper

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This study examines the patriotic attitudes and behaviors of young adults on the anniversary of 9-11. What are the roles of mass media and interpersonal communication upon displaying a U.S. flag and commemorating the 9-11 anniversary? How do these behaviors relate to different cognitive and affective dimensions of patriotism? Do the media contribute to feelings of fear and worry about the continuing war on terrorism? A quasi-experimental study of 525 young adults (ages 18-25) conducted on the anniversary of 9-11 investigates how young adults are coping with the first war of their lifetime. This study attempts to expand upon previous research by examining patriotism as a dynamic component in the political socialization of young adults.
More than just re-examining the distinctions between patriotism and nationalism (e.g., Canovan, 2000; Nussbaum et al., 1996), this study attempts to expand upon previous research that explores the relationship of patriotism and political attitudes (e.g., Baker & O’Neal, 2001; Hurwitz & Peffley, 1990) and conceptualizes patriotism as a fluid concept that is affected by both contemporary and historical events (e.g., Sullivan et al., 1992). Recent research has argued that social environment and historical conditions can be a strong influence upon the political socialization of young adults (Flanagan & Sherrod, 1998; Horowitz, 2001). This study attempts to expand upon this previous research by examining patriotism as a dynamic component in the political socialization of young adults.