Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Comparative lawyers, as well as an increasing number of political science scholars, have long suggested that the different legal traditions which exist within states result in different behaviors among states at the international system level. Much of this work, however, focuses on the broad categories of the different legal traditions, such as common law, civil law, religious law, tribal law, etc. While classification of legal traditions into these different overarching groups provides a general understanding of the primary differences between the legal families, it does not provide a complete explanation for state action, given that we often see states within the same legal tradition engaging in different behavior. This paper addresses this puzzle, and seeks to go beyond the general classifications of different legal traditions by examining three particular attributes of legal tradition in an historical context to determine why similar states may act differently. The three attributes are the purpose of law within the state, the legal institutions within the state, and the primary source of law within the state. Using state acceptance of the concept of universal jurisdiction through adherence to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, this paper focuses on the key differences present among four common law states which have resulted in different behavior towards the ICC. This work suggests that it is not only the general category of legal tradition we must consider to fully understand state behavior, but also how different versions of a legal tradition have developed out of the same foundations.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Socio-territorial psychic constructs, such as national identities, are perhaps the most important psychic phenomena for political science, with their strength so consequential for wars and inter-ethnic conflicts. Yet, political science joined in the scholarly preoccupation with socio-territorial identities only recently, when the functionalist dreams about the formation of a European identity started to become true. At that point in time the biggest debate of the field between primordialist and constructivist positions was largely concluded, with the intellectual pre-eminence of the constructivists, but with their findings not sufficiently incorporated in the theoretical and methodological frames of the discipline.The construction of the EU has faced political scientists with two identity-related problems: (i) whether the socio-territorial identities can be conceptualized as being multi-layered (nested, hyphenated, with non-conflictual relationships among the components), and (ii) whether the higher levels of these identity constructs can be confined to civic aspects (e.g. to a Habermasian constitutional patriotism), as opposed to traditional nationalisms relying on assumptions of common origin, and shared culture.The most entrenched classification of nationalisms relies on an obvious difference between the kinds of nationalisms endorsed by the Irish and Germans, on the one hand, and the French and white immigrant countries like the US, on the other. These versions are generally labeled "ethnocultural," involving the consciousness of a shared ancestry and history, and "civic," relying on the idea of belonging to the same state. My arguments are that if we take the constructivist theses seriously, we should look behind this phenomenologically obvious dichotomy. I posit that if civic nationalisms are focused on states, with the changing meanings of state in a globalizing and integrating world, the contents of civic nationalisms are due to change, as well. On the basis of the ISSP 2003 and Eurobarometer 57.2 (2002) surveys, a schism within the "civic" approach to nationalism can be supported. Both confirm the existence of three principal components of nationalism, which can be labeled "ethnocultural," "great-power-civic" and "welfare-civic." While the great-power-civic approach is concerned with and takes pride in the country's military strength, international influence, sovereignty, and national character, the welfare-civic approach takes a more civilian stance and it is concerned with common rights, fair treatment of groups, social security, and welfare within the country. EB 57.2 (which asked about European identities, as well) supports the hypotheses that (i) People tend to construct their supra-national identity layer according to the molds for their national identity (which does justice to T. Risse's "marble cake" model of socio-territorial identities), and (ii) the relationship between national loyalties and European identity hinges on the type of nationalism preponderant in member states.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: In recent years, the concept of place has received much scholarly attention as an influential factor in both the development of the built environment and the creation of local identities. This paper draws on extensive observation and interview data to examine the role of sense of place in the decisions of two neighboring California counties to address agricultural-environmental issues through collaborative processes rather than traditional regulation. Despite significant differences in their sociological characteristics, both counties use their sense of place to contextualize their decisions through narratives emphasizing the importance of agriculture to the rural character of county life and the trustworthy nature of rural people. Using paired examples, we argue that sense of place needs to be conceptualized as a malleable concept that can be constructed in a variety of different ways. We offer comparison and the existence of widely available narratives describing types of places as pathways through which place can be constructed. Our cases suggest that elites can employ narratives about place to make policy choices seem more or less consistent with local character while attending to their own economic interests. This analysis warns scholars and activists that place is not inherently compatible with local environmental and social concerns.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper examines the extent to which domestic political and economic factors affect the setting of EU-level trade policy, focusing on the role of domestic institutions and interest groups.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper explores the protection of plant genetic resources.