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Newsletter: Vol. 2 No. 3 |
IN THIS ISSUE . . .
 Constitutional Revisions |
 President's Corner |
 Members' Corner |
 Announcements |
| Job Opportunities |
Book Reviews |
ANNOUNCING Fourteenth Annual ATWS Conference
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Constitutional Revisions at Jacksonville Meeting
Before last year's annual conference in Jacksonville, the membership was sent copies of a new proposed ATWS constitution containing a number of changes. The most important proposed change was for the enumeration of five "qualifications" that the Nominating Committee would use to determine who could run for elected office. Among the other proposed constitutional changes was a new Article bringing the Journal of Third World Studies and its editor and associate editors under the ATWS's constitutional authority. And, finally, the position of executive director was defined and included in the appropriate Articles, while the language of the Article detailing the association's various committees was simplified.
The proposed constitutional changes were brought before the membership during the conference's business meeting on October 14. An objection was raised to the proposed electoral "qualifications" that would require candidates to hold tenured positions at an educational or governmental or like institutions. After some debate, the membership voted to strike that particular qualification. At that point, the feasibility of two more "qualifications" was questioned. Rather than prolonging the discussion, the membership requested the Executive Committee to reexamine the "qualifications" list based on that afternoon's discussion. The was agreed to and the membership then voted in favor of the remaining package of constitutional changes.
Immediately following the general business meeting, the ATWS's Executive Committee resumed work on the constitution's list of electoral candidate "qualifications." After an extended discussion, the Committee agreed to a rewording in which only a nominees' active dues-paying status would be required. In addition, a list of five criteria were drawn up for the Nominating Committee to take into consideration when determining who could be placed on the ballot. These criteria are:
Michael Bishku Last December, I traveled to Saudi Arabia with a group of American academics, composed mostly of directors of Middle Eastern centers, that was organized by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and hosted by the Saudi Chamber of Commerce. (As Saudi Arabia issues visas sparingly, I naturally jumped at the opportunity to visit the Kingdom.) The National Council, based in Washington, D.C. - at 1140 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 1210, 20036 - arranges a number of two-week trips to the Middle East per year, especially the Arab Gulf States, for both specialists and others in academia with an interest in the region. Our visit included the Red Sea port of Jeddah, the starting point for those making a pilgrimage to the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina; Riyadh, the modernistic capital located in the middle of the desert; and the Dammam/Dhahran/al-Khobar area on the Persian Gulf, home of Aramco, the American oil concession company now owned by the Saudis. We met with government officials, academics, journalists and businessmen both in formal meetings and less formal receptions and were "tea-ed" - I really can't say wined - and dined. Almost everywhere we went, people complained about the "negative" press that Saudi Arabia receives in the United States. We suggested that Saudi Arabia allow foreign journalists to reside in the Kingdom so that information could be more accessible to the American public. After all, seclusion breeds suspicion. The Kingdom should also promote more interaction with American academics. A good step in that direction would be an academic conference at one of Saudi Arabia's institutions of higher learning in which ATWS members and others could participate. This is something on which I am currently working. The assistant director of UCLA's Middle East Center and I were thinking about having Jeddah as a venue and development as a topic.
Prior to my trip to Saudi Arabia, Robert Olson, Houman Sadri, and I visited the Turkmenistan ambassador, Halil Ugar, to investigate further cooperation with the ATWS. He felt that his country needed to train Turkmen bureaucrats in such subjects as international relations and economics. Houman Sardi is working on a proposal for a two-to-three week workshop to be held in Ashgabat, probably during the Spring of 1998. The ambassador suggested that room and board for about a dozen academics might be possible. As for transportation to Turkmenistan, we were thinking about applying for a grant from IREX.
At the Jacksonville ATWS conference, and since then, I have suggested an annual meeting of ATWS in Cuba. Are there any members who would know whom to contact about such a possibility? It is about time that the ATWS met in an international venue and Cuba would draw us a lot of publicity.
Please send me any further suggestions that you might have by e-mail: afn10353@freenet.ufl.edu. Also, please send me (by e-mail) your home and office telephone numbers. I'll also have your e-mail address and I'll pass them on to Harold Isaacs, who has your mailing addresses. Perhaps then, we might finally have a directory of members!
Lydia M. Garner (History, Southwest Texas State University) recorded
an impressive number of publications, presentations, and professional honors in 1995. In
the spring, her article "OsAdvogados de Conselho de Estados do Segundo Reinado,"
was published in the Revista do Instituto dos Advogados Brasileiros, and she
contributed nine essays to the Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture
that Scribner's published in 1995. Conferences took her to Rio de Janeiro in August where
she presented papers at the Institute of Geography and Military History of Brazil and at
the Brazilian Center for Foreign Studies. In addition to her participation at the ATWS
meeting, she delivered comments on some of the National Standards for World History at the
October meeting of World History Association.
Recognizing Professor Garner's preeminence in scholarship, her world history colleagues
selected her to be that organization's president. Congratulations, Dr. Garner!
Steve Y. Rhee (Political Science, Director, Office of International Programs, Armstrong State College) was notified by the German Fulbright Commission that he will participate in a three-week program in Germany entitled "International Education Administrators' Seminar." The seminar will be held on April 13-May 4 with sessions at a variety of university campuses in both the former West and East Germany and will include visits to industries, museums, and historic sites.
Rolin Mainuddin (Political Science, North Carolina Central University) was elected as a member (at large) of the Executive Council, International Studies Association/South for 1996.
Robert Lawless (Anthropology, Wichita State University) had his book, Haiti's Bad Press (Schenkman, 1992), voted among the 15 most read books ever written on Haiti by subscribers of the Haitian list.
Shafik Hashmi (Political Science, Georgia Southern University) presented his paper "Elites and Power in Pakistan: An Historical Perspective," to the Georgia Southern University - University of South Carolina faculty seminar on March 21 in Columbia, South Carolina.
Former ATWS President John T. Mbaku informs us that Avebury Publishers has launched two new series on developing societies. The first is called "Contemporary Perspectives on Developing Societies." This series is designed to be a forum for researchers wishing to help Third World policy makers prepare their societies to meet the challenges posed by the collapse of the Soviet Union, the demise of the Cold War, and the rise of regional trade blocs.
The second series is titled "Public Choice and Developing Societies" and seeks to provide an opportunity for public choice theorists to explain collective decision-making in developing societies. The series is founded on two important propositions:
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that the application of economic theory to the study of public policy can provide important insights; and
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that the application of public choice theory to the study of developing societies can significantly improve government efficiency.
The general editor for both series is John M. Mbaku, Department of Economics, Weber State University, 3807 University Circle, Ogden, UT 84408, while the associate editor is Mwangi S. Kimenyi, Department of Economics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269.
Platform for Action. If you are interested in participating in the
discussion on the Platform for Action signed by the World Bank, please contact any of the
following people.
Yassin Fall, Association of African Women for Research and Development, Kenya, TEL
254-244-3482, FAX 254-4821711-063, or Aileen Kwa, Center for Environment, Gender and
Development, Singapore, TEL 65-227-1439, FAX 65-227-7897, E-mail: engender@technet.sg
The Journal of African Policy Studies seeks articles, review essays, and research notes on policy issues facing Africa. Manuscripts in the form of case studies, comparative analysis, or theory construction should be sent to Edmond Keller, editor, James S. Coleman African Studies Center, 10244 Bunche Hall, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1310. For more information on book reviews contact John Oriji, History Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407.
Prominent ATWS member Tom Leonard sends us word of an important
interdisciplinary conference on Latin America and the Caribbean.
The conference is titled "Belize," and where better to hold such a conference
but in the country itself. The "Belize" conference will be held on February 29 -
March 2, 1997, in Belize City. A variety of paper and panel proposals covering a wide
array of disciplines are being sought. The submission deadline is September 27. Professor
Leonard is acting as a coordinator for this conference. Send your proposals to him at the
International Studies Program, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, TEL
904-646-2886.
The annual meeting of the American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies will be held May 3-4, 1996, at Villanova University, PA. The theme for this year's meeting is "The Islamic Revival: In the Mainstream, On the Margins." Program organizers are looking for contributions in the following areas: Islam and developing regional hegemonies, the imapct of regional political conflicts on Islam, the impact of developments "in the margins" of Islam, Islamic modernism: history and current status, Islam and jitihad, and contemporary sufism. If you would like to contribute a paper to this year's meeting, please send an abstract to ACSIS 1996, c/o Dr. Gisela Webb, 125 Union Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.
Sept. 17-19, 1998. "George Washington: Life, Times, and Legacy."
Oct. 18-21, 2000. "America at the Third Century and Millennium: Where We Have Been, Where We are Going and What Does It Mean?" For details, contact Bill Pederson, History and Social Sciences, LSUS, One University Place, 439 BH, Shreveport, LA 71115-2301. FAX (318) 797-5358.
Assistant Program Officer. The International Women's Health Coalition is looking for an assistant program officer for program work permanently in Brazil and Chile. The position is based in New York City. It requires advanced training in health and/or social sciences; knowledge or experience in Latin America; strong analytic and writing abilities; and fluency in written and oral Spanish and/or Portuguese. For more information, contact: G. Angela Flemister, 24 East 21 Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10010, No deadline is given.E-mail: whc@lgc.apc.org
The Fulbright Scholar Awards for U.S. Faculty and Professionals
1997-1998 competition opens March 1, 1996. Opportunities are available in over 135
countries with award periods ranging from 2 months to a full academic year. U.S.
citizenship and a Ph.D. are required. Contact USIA Fulbright.
Senior Scholar Program. If you are interested, contact: Council for International Exchange
of Scholars: 3007 Tilden Street, NW Suite 5M, Washington, DC 20008-3009, Tel: (202)
686-7877, E-mail: cles@wesnet.cbes.org
Technology Transfer Specialist. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is seeking a technology transfer specialist to work in Lilongive Malawi. A Ph.D. in agronomy or a related field; a minimum of 10 years post doctoral experience in in-farm research; knowledge of research methodology techniques are required. For more information, contact: Dr. L. K. Mughogho, P.O. Box 776, Bulawayu, Zimbabwe, Tel: 263-83-8311-14, Fax: 263-83-8253 or 262-94-1652.
Transforming Development analyzes the impact of markets on women within the
context of the development system as seen through the eyes of the United Nations
Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
To order, contact: Women, Inc. TEL (212) 687-8633, FAX (212) 661-2704, ISBN: 1-85339-302-9
Promoting Development: Effective Global Institutions for the Twenty-first Century. Editors Jo Marie Griesgraber and Bernhard Gunter. This book explores the history and relevance of the World Bank, IMF, and offers suggestions for reform.
Development at the Crossroads: Women at the Center. This book examines the role of women in the global development process.
Both of these are available from: The Center for Concern, TEL (202) 635-2757, FAX (202) 832-9494.
Gender Environment and Development in Kenya: A Grassroots Perspective. By Barbara Thomas-Slayter and Dianne Rocheleau. This book documents the activities and impacts of women's groups and organizations on resource distribution, the environment, and decision-making in Kenya.
To order, contact: Lynne Rienner Publishers, TEL (303) 444-6684, FAX (303) 444-0824, ISBN: 1-55587-419-3