A vocational special college: preparing students for a participatory democracy?

This paper is based on an ethnographic type study of the say that young people have in the decisions which shape their education and their lives. Such student participation in decision-making is not only a challenge to an essentially authoritarian system in which education is controlled by teachers, politicians and others, it is the foundation of citizenship. The research was undertaken in a newly established, supposedly unique, vocational college for 14-18 year-olds. The analysis of data was structured in a framework of participative democracy: freedom, equality and fraternity. Using this framework, the paper examines the development of power structures, power relations and ideologies which maintain status quo, and define and determine the say young people have in decision-making. It addresses the denial of any foundation for active participatory citizenship in a segregated educational setting.     

Research on unions: Some subjects in need of scholars

Research in industrial relations, as in other disciplines, frequently is narrow in scope and follows well-trodden paths. Although this approach has produced valuable insights into some areas, it has contributed to a lack of research in areas that are increasingly important. Accordingly, after a brief review of industrial relations research over the past decade, we suggest a number of overlooked or largely neglected topics that offer considerable research potential. We thank A1 Achtner for helpful research assistance.     

THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE: The Case of the Retail Food Industry

Technological innovations result not just from advances in science, but also social system reorganization. Reorganization is problematic, as various organizations and constituents pursue their interests and causes. Expanding on previous work in the economics and sociology of innovation, three cases from the retail food industry (frozen meat, boxed beef, and scanners) illustrate the process described in a politicized-context model of innovation. Market context, political contingencies, and established social relations all influence innovations. Thus, including these factors in the politicized-context model provides better understanding of the particular paths of innovation.     

Risk Assessment for Aflatoxin: An Evaluation Based on the Multistage Model

Lifetime cancer potency of alfatoxin was assessed based on the Yeh et al. study from China in which both aflatoxin exposure and hepatitis B prevalence were measured. This study provides the best available information for estimating the carcinogenic risk posed by aflatoxin to the U.S. population. Cancer potency of aflatoxin was estimated using a biologically motivated risk assessment model. The best estimate of aflatoxin potency was 9 (mg/kg/day)⁻¹ for individuals negative for hepatitis B and 230 (mg/kg/day)⁻¹ for individuals positive for hepatitis B.     

Patterns of labor mobility in a dual economy: The case of semiskilled and unskilled workers

The focus of recent stratification research demonstrates increasing recognition of the structured nature of social inequality. Among the forms these efforts have taken has been the development of a number of models drawing attention to the importance of various labor market decisions or cleavages. The crucial role which restricted labor mobility must play in maintaining these cleavages, while largely untested, has long been recognized. We argue that analysis of the patterns of job sequencing can be used to draw important inferences regarding the existence and character of labor market structures. From this premise, we use job transition data to test a number of propositions derived from dual economy theory, relating to the extent of intersectoral moves and the patterns of intersectoral and intrasectoral moves. Using log-linear methods, we find the hypothesized restricted evidence of intersectoral job shifts and also find patterns of intrasectoral moves indicative of the pervasiveness of rigidly structured internal labor markets in the core. While these results are consistent with a dualistic interpretation, they are equally as consistent with any model emphasizing the existence of strong intrafirm and intraindustry job structures.