Fall 1996
Published on H-Pol@ksuvm.ksu.edu: Tue, 9 Jan 1996 19:02:10 -0600
By John F. Reynolds [jreynold@lonestar.jpl.utsa.edu]
Phil VanderMeer, co-convener for the network, called the meeting to order. Special thanks were extended to Robin Baker for organizing this year's program, which included no less than 17 sessions on politics. There was an excellent turnout for the network meeting, owing in part to the large number of politics panels on this year's program.
It was also announced that Robin Baker will be taking responsibility for the SSHA newsletter, and that a new editor will be needed for the politics newsletter that Baker has put out in recent years. There was some discussion of the viability of shifting entirely to an electronic format on H-POL, but it is believed that many politics network members, perhaps even a majority, are not yet on line. Peter Knupfer agreed to handle the printed newsletter, inasmuch as he already is the senior editor for H-Pol.
It was also announced that the network was in need of another co-convener, and Ballard Campbell agreed to consider serving in the post.
Scott Barton agreed to serve as program chair for next year's program in New Orleans, Oct. 13th to the 16th. The rest of the session was devoted to discussing possible sessions. Anyone who would like to help organize or participate in some one of the following sessions, or organize a session or simply propose a paper, are urged to contact Scott by January 15th:
Donald Scott Barton
East Central University
History Dept.
Ada, OK 74820
(405) 332-8000/419
sbarton@mailclerk.ecok.edu
There was general interest on a program loosely titled "Redefining the Political" that would consider the definition of political history. This was considered a promising project to work out with the "States and Society" network. In the interests of coherence it was proposed that the papers mainly address the period 1890 to 1920 so as to incorporate such subjects as: women's political activism and suffrage and the political socialization of immigrants.
Of course we will need to plan at least one session on the 1996 election which will still be a few weeks in the future by the time we meet.) We can suppose that only political scientists will be daring enough to tell us what will happen.
As we will be situated in the South we might want a session on the Voting Rights Act [of 1965] and its implications for American politics. There might be a possibility for a comparative approach using South Africa.
The was some interest in organizing a book session on Thomas Ferguson's The Golden Rule (U. of Chicago) and its investment theory of politics.
A number of people offered different approaches bearing on the current day conservativism in American politics. Some suggested a session on politics in the South, with particular attention to Louisiana. Others advised approaching this with book sections on Dan Carter's book on Wallace and Robert Alan Goldberg's new biography of Barry Goldwater. And still others wanted a session focussing on the Christian Right.
One novel idea was that we organize a workshop on some of the newer ecological regression techniques. The session might send out materials ahead of time (a demo with a laptop would also help).
Another new approach was the prospect of session devoted to teaching a course on American Political History, looking at such things as textbooks and technology.
Finally it was suggested that look into a session on the Politics of taxation, and what role -- if any -- taxation policy plays in economic growth.
The meeting adjourned.
Jack Reynolds
P.S. A few closing personal thoughts from the self appointed secretary of the politics network. Theda Skocpol, the new president of the SSHA, has proposed that next year's program take as its theme: "History, Democracy and Public Policy". Surely there is a great deal that our network and States and Society can do with this theme.
I attended the States and Society network meeting and took some hurried notes of some of the promising ideas that developed there that might be of interest to our group.
One session was on "Race, Ethnicity and Citizenship" -- that would fit nicely with the earlier session on Redefining the Political. One panel might focus on the question of Citizenship and ethnic identity as they are played out in Eastern Europe. Another session my take another international approach by considering the "Transnational Settings for Extending Rights."
Another panel would consider the "Devolution of the Welfare State" in light recent political trends.
A Session on the History of Social Welfare and Social Work.
There was also some interest here in doing something on Right Wing Militias and the Christian Right -- and perhaps these can be worked out in conjunction with our own panels on the Right Wing and American politics.
Another session would look at "Cycles of State Legitimation and Crisis" that might consider the Muslim Brotherhood and other State and Counterstate movements.
Karen Barkey's book, Bandits and Bureaucrats: Roots of State Formation in the Ottoman Empire, won the SSHA's Sharlin award this year, and may be the subject of a book panel.
Anybody interested in following up on some one of the States and Society sessions should contact:
Elisabeth Clemens
Dept. of Sociology
U. of Arizona
Social Sciences 417A
Tucson, AZ 85721
(520-621-9351) and for fax: (520-621-9875)
clemens@aruba.arizona.edu