Postmaterialism in Unresponsive Political Systems: The Canadian Case*

Nous examinons la thèse de Ronald Inglehart selon laquelle le postmatérialisme est un phénomène politique universel qui concerne toute société industrialisée avancée. Après avoir introduit une distinction entre systèmes politiques réactifs et non réactifs, nous proposons que, dans les systèmes réactifs, le clivage matérialiste s'est enracinéà un tel point qu'il triomphait encore du postmatérialisme. Par contre, le postmatérialisme a réussi à se démarquer dans les systèmes non réactifs, ceux où le clivage matérialiste avait toujours été plus faible. Nous soutenons que les données tirées des sondages nationaux tenus lors des élections canadiennes de 1984 et 1997 confirment notre hypothèse sur les effets des systèmes non réactifs. Bien que le Canada soit l'objet principal de notre analyse, dans la conclusion nous nous penchons sur des facteurs qui pourraient expliquer les différences dans le postmatérialisme aux niveaux provincial et international. This article disputes Inglehart's claim that postmaterialism is a uniform political phenomenon that transcends differences between advanced industrial societies. We distinguish responsive from unresponsive political systems and argue that, in responsive systems, the materialist cleavage became so deeply entrenched that postmaterialism could not vie for dominance. In contrast, postmaterialism has become more salient than materialism in unresponsive systems, where the materialist cleavage was weaker to begin with. We argue that data from the Canadian National Election Surveys of 1984 and 1997 are consistent with our prediction about the effect of unresponsiveness. Differences within the Canadian electorate became weaker for materialist issues but more pronounced for postmate‐rialist issues between 1984 and 1997. Although our empirical analysis focusses on Canada, we conclude by speculating about the causes of cross‐provincial and cross‐national variations in postmaterialism.     

BATTER UP! MORAL HAZARD AND THE EFFECTS OF THE DESIGNATED HITTER RULE ON HIT BATSMEN

American League batters have been hit by pitches 10% to 15% more frequently than National League batters since the designated hitter rule was introduced in 1973. This evidence is consistent with the idea that the American League s adoption of the designated hitter rule created a classic moral hazard problem. Because they are not required to appear at the plate, American League pitchers can throw at opposing hitters with greater impunity (i.e., at lower cost) than National League pitchers who must take their turns at bat and, hence, bear more of the costs of their own actions. (JEL D81, J28)     

THE EFFECT OF REWARDS AND SANCTIONS IN PROVISION OF PUBLIC GOODS

A growing number of field and experimental studies focus on the institutional arrangements by which individuals are able to solve collective action problems. Important in this research is the role of reciprocity and institutions that facilitate cooperation via opportunities for monitoring, sanctioning, and rewarding others. Sanctions represent a cost to both the participant imposing the sanction and the individual receiving the sanction. Rewards represent a zero-sum transfer from participants giving to those receiving rewards. We contrast reward and sanction institutions in regard to their impact on cooperation and efficiency in the context of a public goods experiment . ( JEL C92)     

Network discourses: proliferation,critique and synthesis

Books reviewed in this article: R. Appelbaum, W. L. Felstiner, and V. Gessner (eds), Rules and networks: the legal culture of global business transactions D. Barney, The network society A. Barry, Political machines: governing a technological society G. Thompson, Between hierarchies and markets: the logic of network forms of organization     

Designating discretion and openness

En estimant que 'dire la vérite' est un élément problématique de la vie quotidienne, ce travail examine les contingences qui affectent la volonté de certaines personnes à se dévoiler à d'autres. Les conditions qui entraînent leurs révélations sont articulées, ainsi que des stratégies qui leur permettent de se réserver quand même un certain degré de sécurité. Soutenant que le comportement social débute avant la parole et avant tout autre geste, nous estimons que la réflectivité propre est conçue comme un élément critique de la vie sociale, et qu'elle entre tout naturellement dans le domaine de la sociologie.
Viewing 'truthtelling' as a problematic feature of daily life, this paper is an examination of the contingencies affecting the willingness of persons to reveal their private typings of targets to others. Special attention is given to the articulation of conditions affecting disclosures; there is careful examination of strategies allowing designators a degree of safety in making what otherwise might be volatile disclosures. Positing that social behaviour begins prior to an utterance or other activity, self-reflectivity is deemed a critical element of social life. Such a quality is without doubt the proper domain of sociology.     

Issues in school-based child sexual abuse prevention

SUMMARY. Despite their recognition of the need for teacher training to enable them to respond effectively to the problems of child sexual abuse (DES Circular 4/88) measures taken by the Government to provide that training appear, so far, to be inadequate. Further cause for concern lies in the introduction into schools of child sexual abuse prevention programmes, many of which are seriously flawed, have not been scientifically evaluated and contain unintended negative consequences for both children and teachers. Here, a number of these shortcomings are examined, recent research is reviewed and a wider, more unified and coordinated approach is suggested.     

Stress and Coping in Social Workers: A Preliminary Investigation

Correspondence to Dr Paul Bennett, School of Psychology, University of Wales College of Cardiff, P.O. Box 901, Cardiff CF1 3YG. Summary Three groups of social workers (child, adult mental health orhandicap, elderly or physical handicap) completed a questionnaireexamining sources of stress, coping strategies, and stress outcomes(e.g. anxiety, depression). All respondents reported high levelsof stress, although stress resulting from factors intrinsicto the job, relationships with other people, and from the organizationalstructure were greatest among childcare workers. In addition,these workers reported greater emotional involvement with theirclients and higher levels of general anxiety and depression,as well as job related mental distress. The implications ofthese findings are discussed in relation to training, job designand support of social workers.