Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper attempts to understand how Mexican-American youth participated in a May 1st political activity through evaluating data from 14 in-depth interviews with Mexican youth between the ages of 14-18 in Oakland and Richmond, California. The two major findings from the interviews were: social networks were critical in recruiting and making Mexican Youth aware of May 1st political activities, and identity was a major motivating factor for Mexican Youth to participate. Other findings showed that Mexican youth tended to use television news as their primary source of attaining political news, and that they learn more about politics from teachers than parents or friends.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper draws on aspects of research that I carried out for my MA dissertation. On the basis of a case study of Poznan March of Equality on 19 November 2005, I would like to analyze the processes whereby from 2001 on, marches, pride parades and demonstrations have become the most visible and contested activity of the Polish lesbian and gay movement. I claim that the intensified activism, as well as the intense -and largely homophobic- public debate on the issue of gay and lesbian visibility can only be understood in its historical and political context - at the intersection of hopes and anxieties concerning Poland place in Europe. I examine the significance of public demonstrations for the Polish lesbian and gay movement, as well as the link between mobilization and repression. Among the factors crucial for the phenomena I am analyzing, I identify the following: tightened political opportunity after the elections in Poland in 2005, the intense emotional context of the Poznan March, and the support of 1980s dissidents. I claim that these factors created a possibility for the organizers to use the ban of the Poznan March as a mobilizational tool and form a coalition, addressing issues of social marginalization and exclusion.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Using data on public opinion on specific foreign policy events, the paper evaluates empirically how the president reacts to public support for the use of force by the U.S. in the post WWII era.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper will be a reflection on the ?logic? of the exception which liberal democratic governments claim they have no choice but to follow to meet a situation of crisis, threat or apprehended threat. The Spanish government has had to face just such a situation after the terrible events of March 11 2004 and has apparently avoided the sort of security paranoia which seized the US after 9/11. True, article 116 of the Spanish constitution provides measures to be taken in case of what it calls a ?state of alert?, ?state of exception? and ?state of seige?, and has repressive legislation in place to deal with Basque terrorism, yet there never was any question of invoking article 116 or of adopting special laws to meet a new source of terrororism. Neither at the level of discourse nor practice, has the Zapatero government opted for the politics of fear. In one area, that of immigration and asylum seekers, it has even gone against the general tendency towards tightening-up which is prevelant in most Western societies. The paper will examine more closely the Spanish situation to see how far this first impression is exact, and to see what this case tells us about how far it is possible to go to escape the logic of the exception, despite strong external and internal pressures.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: We examine the general orientations of Latinos to the US political system. Specifically, we determine the degree to which Latino or Hispanic residents of the United States find government worthy of their trust, believe they have an influence on the direction of policy, and act to shape policy outcomes. Using survey data from a variety of recent surveys at the national level and within California, we find that immigrants have a surprisingly positive view of the US government and their role in the political system, higher in fact than even some native-born Anglo citizens. Moreover, that enthusiasm translates into considerably greater confidence in the efficacy of direct political action, in this case specifically referring to the marches of Spring 2006. We discuss the implications of these findings to Latino political incorporation and the future of the American polity.