Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Mosques have constituted very central points in urban space in Islamic countries for centuries. They have been the center of Islamic cities and Muslim’s perspectives. With their minarets, they have symbolized Islamic identity of the cities. When Muslims immigrate to non-Islamic countries, they also have started to build mosques not only for worshipping but also for gathering and representing their Islamic identity. However, the design of mosques in non-Islamic environment not only have imprints of Islamic tradition but also the imprints of socio-political, and cultural relations of non-Islamic environment.
From that sense, Turkish Mosque in Washington DC. constitutes a good example for examining its design in terms of its Islamic characteristics and the characteristics of Americanization. In that paper, first of all, we will address the issue of how places are social production underlying Lefebvre’s theory of production of space in order to provide a firm ground for understanding Turkish Mosque as a social production of fusion of Islamic tradition and American environment. Secondly, we examine Marc Auge’s theory of non-places as an example of production of space by supermodernity. Then, we will trace the imprints of the characteristics of non-places in Turkish Mosque in order to understand Americanization of Turkish Mosque. Finally, we will try to find the impacts of American way of design of mosque on its members.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Theoretical aspects of gender and social control issues arose in lieu of feminist movement and women’s representation in law enforcement positions. There lies a ‘core concern’ that complete social order and solidarity cannot be attained by neglecting the very basis and rights of women in policy-making positions. This paper discusses and provides a cross-cultural analysis of women policing in India and USA.

Women and work related issues are undergoing a period of significant transition. The traditional role image of women typecast for ‘stereotypical jobs’ is paving a suitable arena for a dynamic profession as ‘policing’. Women’s issues serve no boundaries and are comparable across geographical borders. The biggest challenge is to address the ignorance surrounding women’s issues across the world. Women on the whole are emerging from a crisis situation in the past related to socio-economic or political situations. This paper provides a comparative profile of women and policing in India and USA and is an attempt to research a broader framework of status of women officers and suggesting better avenues for their overall emancipation

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Through a qualitative comparative study of employees working in comparable jobs and hotels in Vancouver and Seattle, I examine the impact of the differences in the health care systems of Canada and the United States. Health care policy differences explain why a large percentage of hotel industry employees lack health insurance coverage in Seattle. Pattern analysis also reveals that the universal system of health insurance in Canada results in lower levels of financial stress associated with health emergencies and care as well as greater use of health services and preventative care for hotel workers in Vancouver as compared to Seattle.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The rule of law has been an important component within the criminal justice system. The Bill of Rights was created to protect citizens from abusive government power. There are notable incidents justifying the need for Constitutional protections as reflected by the 1940's internment of the Japanese population, the 1950s "Red Scare," and the FBI COINTELPRO programs that were prominent during the 1960s. These precedents ultimately culminate with the circumstances surrounding 9-11 and the implementation of the USA Patriot Act. This paper will begin exploring some of the threads tying governmental policy in the second half of the twentieth century with anti-terrorist legislation since 2001 reflecting a renewed form of restricted civil liberties.

Publication Type: Session Paper
Abstract: Researchers discuss results of a study conducted with 494 children, 8 to 10 years of age, in Germany, Israel, the USA, Northern Ireland/the Republic of Ireland, and South Africa. Country-specific samples differed according to sex and separately determined stratified socio-cultural sub-groupings. The children watched excerpts from different humorous programs considered typical for the 5 countries, provided moment-by-moment ratings of humor via an electronic “Fun-O-Meter,” and subsequently discussed why segments were funny etc. The data reveal that commonalities among children’s responses to the presented programs are far greater than the differences. Children in very different regions of the world found the programs funny at the same points; a finding supported by the analysis of the group discussions. When international differences in humor appreciation appeared, they stemmed from issues such as language, cultural proximity and media diet, all of which are aspects of familiarity.