Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Why do countries decide to join ongoing interstate conflicts? In this paper, we argue that the decision to join is influenced not only by the relationship between the original disputants and the potential joiner but also by the behavior of other potential joiners. Specifically, we test the role that alliances, contiguity, enduring rivalry, regime and civilization similarity, capabilities, and previous major power joining play in the decision to become militarily involved. We use a dataset that includes all potential joiners for the period between 1815 and 1992 for each MID where there was at least use of force. Our results from Cox and logistic regression indicate that potential joiners are influenced by both the behavior of the original disputants and other joiners. We see that a major power joining increases the risk of diffusion considerably. However, regime similarity does not play a major role.

Publication Type: Proceeding
Abstract: Why does a moderate coalition exist in the midst of polarized partisan conflicts? This paper investigates the motivations of Democratic senators who joined the Senate New Democrat Coalition (SNDC) during the 107th Congress (2001-2002). The members of SNDC tend to position themselves not as “liberal” Democrats, but as “centrists,” who generally support pro-business and strong defense policies. SNDC member became a natural target for the Bush administration seeking for “across-the-aisle” votes in the evenly-split 107th Senate. Using logistic regression analysis, I identify determinants of senators’ decisions to join the SNDC, controlling for constituency effects and senators’ ideology. My finding is that the nature of the SNDC membership is best explained by senator’s strategic choice to set up a distinct reputation among constituents. To differentiate their two-person delegation and representation in the Senate, senators from the same state associate themselves with or distance themselves from the SNDC. This study shows that electoral connection between senators and constituents still matters in the era of partisan polarization.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: In the popular imagination Catholics are a group beset by immense amount of guilt. This so called “Catholic guilt” is a manifestation of role conflict of being an American Catholic, torn between the demands of contemporary life in secular America and the often contradictory, severe demands of the faith. Divorce is one issue that one would expect Catholics to be conflicted over, given the official stance of the Church against it. In spite of the overall unresponsiveness of the Church, in 1970s there emerged a movement of separated and divorced Catholics who challenged their marginalization in the Church and started a network of support groups for separated and divorced Catholics. My research suggests that many members of the support groups are there for reasons other than dealing with their role conflict over being both separated or divorced and Catholic. This paper examines some of the main reasons for joining and staying in these support groups.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper explores the connection between adolescent girls’ search for spiritual identity, the appeal of Witchcraft, and their thoughts about television and film portrayals of Witches by examining discussions in online essays posted by self-identified teen girl Witches retrieved from the largest witch-oriented Web site, witchvox.com. In these writings, teen girl witches discuss representations of "Witchness” television programs and films, the authenticity and accuracy (or lack thereof) of the portrayals, and the impact these representations have on their daily lives. The findings reveal that, through the persistence of stereotypical media portrayals, the quality of teen girl witch lives are impacted in ways that are significant and serious with significant conflict within themselves and with peers, parents, and educators.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: From May 2004 Hungary became full member of the EU. Thus, the more than decade long process of system transformation has arrived to a decisive milestone: Hungary finally got integrated into the West. Hungary has successfully completed the sophisticated adjustment to the EU-rules (acquis communautaire) to become eligible for full membership. However, there are still a few years ahead to introduce the Euro, for which a relative stability of the budget and the currency exchange rate is stipulated as condition. Hungary's banking at present is fully comparable with the West and the MNB (Hungarian National Bank) is now applying an exchange rate system in compliance with the EMU. In addition to the formal rate mechanism, a relevant adjustment between the exchange rate's stability and the budget deficit must be accomplished, so that the Euro could be introduced in a few years. The purpose of this paper is also to examine its impacts on Asian economic integration.