Worlds come apart: Systems theory versus critical theory. Drama in the history of sociology in the twentieth century

This article places an episode in the history of sociological theory into intellectual history in the twentieth century. The perspective is chronological as well as contextual. The themes are two theoretical approaches, both embedded in both American and German history, Parsonian Systems Theory and “Frankfurt School” Critical Theory. The chronology shown spanned mainly from the 1940s to the 1960s. The context of the two theories is a period that is crucial in twentieth century history. The protagonists of the two approaches were, in the 1940s, Americans and Germans exiled in the United States. In the 1950s, both approaches were affected by McCarthyism in different ways. The 1960s, however, were the culmination. The dynamics of the two approaches led into a schism which came into the open on the occasion of the 1964 German Sociology Conference in Heidelberg celebrating Max Weber. The article shows the stages in the evolution of the schism, emulating three acts in a drama. The final split was over whether Weber or Marx should be the classic whose oeuvre was to influence sociological thinking today. My aim is to exemplify how these two authoritative approaches in sociological theory, far from escaping the vagaries and vicissitudes of their times, were embedded in twentieth-century history.     

Partial strikes under the railway labor act: The need for a doctrine of unprotected concerted activity

In light of use by airline unions of partial-strike tactics, such as concerted refusals to bid for overtime work and so-called ” CHAOS” tactics involving unannounced refusals to fly after passengers have been ticketed and are ready to board, the authors examine whether the Railway Labor Act (RLA) should be interpreted to permit employers to discipline employees for engaging in such tactics, or whether these are a protected form of economic pressure. Although in many respects bargaining duties and economic weapons under the RLA are read consonant with precedents under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) (which governs all industries other than rail and air transport), there are a few decisions suggesting that during the period when self-help may be resorted to, employees can engage in partial strike activities as long as they violate no court order but are subject to permanent replacement in limited circumstances. These decisions, the authors submit, fail to take account of Supreme Court decsions since the 1930s that some economic pressures by unions, such as slowdowns and sitins, may not violate the labor laws but nor are they protected by those laws so as to immunize partial strikers from employer discipline. These decisions are not based on unique features of the NLRA. Rather, they give recognition to the background assumptions of Congress that employers may act to protect their property interests as long as they do not run afoul of NLRA or RLA protections and that employees who engage in partial-strike activities are subject to employer discipline even where not strictly necessary to maintain operations. Moreover, these tactics skew the bargaining process by giving employees an essentially risk-free gambit to pressure their economic position through planned disruption of carrier operations. Professor Estreicher is also labor and employment counsel to O’Melveny & Myers, LLP. The views expressed herein are the authors’ and should not be attributed to any organization. Hannah Breshin and Tom Jerman of O’Melveny & Myers, assisted the authors with this article. We also thank Professor Herbert Northrup for his helpful comments.     

对我国西部开发战略的几点思考

经济不发达带来的生态环境问题、资源与条件约束下的大面积贫困、教育与交通落后带来的交换能力不足、城镇化的落后,都是西部地区发展目前所面临的问题,这些问题影响着西部地区经济与社会的快速发展.     

FUZZY拟阵的闭性质

引入了Ｆｕｚｚｙ拟阵的环，平行，σ算子，闭集等概念，并讨论了它们的有关性质     

服装是文化的一种符号

服装作为文化的一部分,也是一种符号,人们可以通过服装这一符号系统彼此进行了解与沟通。服装是人的性别、年龄的符号,是显示人的身份地位的符号,是不同国家和民族文化的符号。服装作为一个符号系统,这个系统是发展的、流动的、民族的、国际的。     

初探高校教学与科研的良性循环

正确认识和处理好教学与科研相互依存和相互矛盾的关系及制约这一关系的诸多因素 ,才能实现高校的人才培养和科研成果双丰收 ,促进教学与科研的良性循环     

虚拟空间交织的取向原则

虚拟空间交织是人们常用的思维与认知方式之一。本文通过对交织及其原则的介绍,描述了虚拟空间交织的运作,指出虚拟空间交织构建中主观取向的原则应为最佳关联。     

邓小平对社会主义时代课题的思考

围绕着邓小平在经济领域回答社会主义时代课题的主要观点和思考轨迹进行了综合分析 ;阐述了邓小平从当代社会主义实际出发 ,把发展生产力作为第一要务 ,否定了离开生产力去片面追求生产关系的变革来促进生产力发展的思路。     

基于WEB的远程教学管理软件分析与设计

本论文主要讨论了基于WEB远程教学管理软件的分析与设计。首先对远程教育与传统教育进行了比较研究,确定远程教育是现代教育发展的方向;其次对开发基于WEB远程教学管理软件进行了环境分析和需求分析;最后讨论了远程教学管理软件的实现,包括软件模块结构设计和网站的总体框架。     

我国不平等问题的体制根源及其对策

当前我国的不平等现象主要表现为身份和权利的不平等 ,以及等级制度和特权现象的延续。城乡二元经济社会结构和不同所有制之间的差序格局是造成社会不平等的基础性制度安排 ,体现计划控制原则的各种具体体制直接导致了社会成员间权利的不平等 ,某些法律法规中的不平等规定又使身份和权利不平等得以巩固和强化。解决这些不平等问题 ,需要进一步拆除计划体制的樊篱 ,建立适应现代市场经济要求的各项新体制 ,完善法律 ,使权利平等有可靠的保障。同时 ,也需要其他方面的配合。