Legitimating Alien Rule

In his talk, Hechter suggests that alien rule can become legitimate to the extent that it provides governance that is both effective and fair. Governance is effective to the degree that citizens have access to an expanding economy and an ample supply of culturally appropriate collective goods. Governance is fair to the degree that rulers act according to the strictures of procedural justice. These twin conditions help account for the legitimization of alien rulers in organizations of markedly different scales. These principles to the legitimization of alien rulers in states (the Republic of Genoa, 19th and 20th century China, and modern Iraq), colonies (Taiwan and Korea under Japanese rule), and occupation regimes, as well as in less encompassing organizations such as universities (academic receivership), corporations (mergers and acquisitions), and stepfamilies. Finally, Hechter will speculate about the possibility of an international market in governance services.Ohio State UniversityMershon Center for International Security Studiesevent web page, event photo

Emotional Strategies as Catalysts for Cooperation in Signed Networks

The evolution of unconditional cooperation is one of the fundamental problems in science. A new solution is proposed to solve this puzzle. We treat this issue with an evolutionary model in which agents play the Prisoner's Dilemma on signed networks. The topology is allowed to co-evolve with relational signs as well as with agent strategies. We introduce a strategy that is conditional on the emotional content embedded in network signs. We show that this strategy acts as a catalyst and creates favorable conditions for the spread of unconditional cooperation. In line with the literature, we found evidence that the evolution of cooperation most likely occurs in networks with relatively high chances of rewiring and with low likelihood of strategy adoption. While a low likelihood of rewiring enhances cooperation, a very high likelihood seems to limit its diffusion. Furthermore, unlike in non-signed networks, cooperation becomes more prevalent in denser topologies.Comment: 24 pages, Accepted for publication in Advances in Complex System

Horizontal Inequalities and Ethnonationalist Civil War: A Global Comparison

Contemporary research on civil war has largely dismissed the role of political and economic grievances, focusing instead on opportunities for conflict. However, these strong claims rest on questionable theoretical and empirical grounds. Whereas scholars have examined primarily the relationship between individual inequality and conflict, we argue that horizontal inequalities between politically relevant ethnic groups and states at large can promote ethnonationalist conflict. Extending the empirical scope to the entire world, this article introduces a new spatial method that combines our newly geocoded data on ethnic groups’ settlement areas with spatial wealth estimates. Based on these methodological advances, we find that, in highly unequal societies, both rich and poor groups fight more often than those groups whose wealth lies closer to the country average. Our results remain robust to a number of alternative sample definitions and specifications.</jats:p

Reflections on Influential STEM Experiences for Childhood Science Identity Development from East and Southeast Asian(Americans)

Asian(Americans) are considered overrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), but disaggregating demographic data shows that Southeast Asian(Americans) are underrepresented, underrecognized, and actively marginalized in the STEM workforce and degrees. The falsely monolithic view of Asian(Americans) has resulted in Southeast Asian(Americans) being unaccounted for in equity and inclusion initiatives. To better understand how to support Southeast Asian(Americans) in STEM, this study focused on childhood science identity development. A weak science identity is a significant barrier that can affect a student’s engagement and persistence in STEM and can be affected by numerous psychological, institutional, social, and cultural experiences. This study answered the research question: How do East and Southeast Asian(American) scientists describe their childhood STEM experiences and their impact on their science identity? Participants identified as East or Southeast Asian(American), were 18-35 years old, grew up in the United States, and worked in or studied STEM. Nine participants completed an online survey with a Student Science Identity Questionnaire (to evaluate childhood science identity development in its dimensions of performance, recognition, competence, and interest) and open-ended questions (to learn about influential childhood STEM experiences). Only one Southeast Asian(American) participant was able to complete the second study method of a semi-structured interview for deeper exploration of their responses. t-Tests determined that there was no significant difference in average childhood science identity strength between East and Southeast Asian(American) participants. Further qualitative analysis showed that the number of positive and negative experiences reported were not correlated to a stronger or weaker science identity. The results of this study show that for both subgroups, interest was the most influential dimension in developing a strong science identity and was sparked in different formal, informal, and non-formal learning environments. Participants advocated for more childhood access to STEM opportunities and resources, especially those that center people of color, and for exposure to interdisciplinary STEM fields. Despite the lack of statistically significant results due to a small number of participants, this study adds to the literature of diverse Asian(American) STEM experiences that counter the monolithic and model minority viewpoints

Explaining party positions on decentralization

Debates about decentralization raise cultural questions of identity and economic questions of redistribution and efficiency. Therefore the preferences of statewide parties regarding decentralization are related to their positions on the economic and cultural ideological dimensions. A statistical analysis using data from thirty-one countries confirms this: parties on the economic right are more supportive of decentralization than parties on the economic left, while culturally liberal parties favour decentralization more than culturally conservative parties. However, country context – specifically the degree of regional self-rule, the extent of regional economic disparity and the ideology of regionalist parties – determines whether and how decentralization is linked to the two dimensions. These findings have implications for our understanding of the politics of decentralization by showing how ideology, rooted in a specific country context, shapes the ‘mindset’ of agents responsible for determining the territorial distribution of power

From theory to 'measurement' in complex interventions: methodological lessons from the development of an e-health normalisation instrument

&lt;b&gt;Background&lt;/b&gt; Although empirical and theoretical understanding of processes of implementation in health care is advancing, translation of theory into structured measures that capture the complex interplay between interventions, individuals and context remain limited. This paper aimed to (1) describe the process and outcome of a project to develop a theory-based instrument for measuring implementation processes relating to e-health interventions; and (2) identify key issues and methodological challenges for advancing work in this field.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Methods&lt;/b&gt; A 30-item instrument (Technology Adoption Readiness Scale (TARS)) for measuring normalisation processes in the context of e-health service interventions was developed on the basis on Normalization Process Theory (NPT). NPT focuses on how new practices become routinely embedded within social contexts. The instrument was pre-tested in two health care settings in which e-health (electronic facilitation of healthcare decision-making and practice) was used by health care professionals.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results&lt;/b&gt; The developed instrument was pre-tested in two professional samples (N = 46; N = 231). Ratings of items representing normalisation 'processes' were significantly related to staff members' perceptions of whether or not e-health had become 'routine'. Key methodological challenges are discussed in relation to: translating multi-component theoretical constructs into simple questions; developing and choosing appropriate outcome measures; conducting multiple-stakeholder assessments; instrument and question framing; and more general issues for instrument development in practice contexts.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions&lt;/b&gt; To develop theory-derived measures of implementation process for progressing research in this field, four key recommendations are made relating to (1) greater attention to underlying theoretical assumptions and extent of translation work required; (2) the need for appropriate but flexible approaches to outcomes measurement; (3) representation of multiple perspectives and collaborative nature of work; and (4) emphasis on generic measurement approaches that can be flexibly tailored to particular contexts of study

Stiffness, Strength, and Performance of Unbound Aggregate Material: Application of South African HVS and Laboratory Results to California Flexible Pavements

Caltrans specifies the use of a 75-mm Asphalt Treated Permeable Base (ATPB) layer as standard practice for all new flexible pavement designs in California.(1) The ATPB acts as a drainage layer beneath the asphalt concrete (AC) and is supported by an aggregate base layer. However, the potential exists for water to enter the unbound aggregate base layer from the ATPB layer through the prime coat that separates them. The stiffness, strength, and performance of unbound aggregate layers are largely influenced by moisture content.The assessment of the performance of two types of flexible pavement cross section, one with and one without an ATPB layer, were included in the strategic plan of the CAL/APT program (1994-2000). Goal 1 and Goal 5 of the CAL/APT project (continued in the Partnered Pavement Research Program after 2000) consist of the evaluation of these two sections under dry and wet base conditions, respectively.The evaluation includes accelerated pavement testing using the Heavy Vehicle Simulator (HVS) and laboratory testing. The test plan for Goal 5 (2) includes, the evaluation of the effects of compaction and water content on the stiffness of the aggregate base and subbase layers.The first objective of Goal 5 is to measure the effectiveness of the ATPB layer in the drained pavement in preventing a decrease in stiffness and strength of the unbound layers. Those results are included in References (3-6). It is, however, not only the degree of saturation of an unbound aggregate that influences the performance of the material but also the level of compaction of the material.The objective of this report is to illustrate the effect of the level of compaction and the degree of saturation on the stiffness, strength, and plastic deformation of unbound aggregate layers based on information obtained from HVS and laboratory testing in South Africa. The results will permit extrapolation of Goal 1 and Goal 5 results to other California materials and structures. The information presented in this report also contributes towards the improved understanding and modeling of the behavior of unbound aggregate material for mechanisticempirical design purposes.The scope of the information presented herein is limited to the aggregate used for pavement base and subbase layers. A comparison of California and South Africa specifications for base and subbase aggregate material is presented to identify possible similar material categories for which it is thought similar response and behavior will be exhibited. HVS tests that were performed on pavements with unbound aggregate base layers were identified and the deflection and permanent deformation responses of these test sections were extracted from the CSIR HVS database to be evaluated in terms of the objective of this report. Data from laboratory projects that were performed in association with the HVS program in South Africa in addition to the HVS data are presented in order to facilitate a more detailed evaluation of the effect of density and degree of saturation on the stiffness, strength, and plastic deformation of unbound aggregate material