Describes Native American voting campaigns in Montana and efforts by Native Action, a non-profit advocacy group, to increase voter registration, voter turnout, and voter education among Indians. Argues that the numbers of Indian voters are increasing, but that there is still a need for more Indian candidates. Highlights the need for voter…

Responds to Allison's (1996) defense of pragmatism, arguing that it is necessary to distinguish between "vulgar" and "critical" pragmatism and showing how various "discourses of neutrality" help construct English for academic purposes (EAP) as a neutral enterprise. Some of the directions in which a critical approach to EAP might proceed are…

Twenty-four participants designed projects for a local community network related to a political issue. Results showed politically active respondents did not directly transfer their level of activism from real world to the digital. People with little Internet experience needed training and experience online before they discussed more active forms…

Attempts to determine why a highly multilingual country such as Zaire has not yet chosen an indigenous language for official use. Argues that should Zaire choose such a language, Swahili, it should become an additional language rather than a substitute for the incumbent official language, French. (47 references) (Author/CK)

Evaluates the past performance of the tradition of language planning, in view of a theoretical, conceptual, and methodological improvement of future language planning studies. Sketches the historical development of these studies, discusses ideological features present in much traditional language planning work, and raises various issues related to…

Builds on multidisciplinary research on framing, motivation, and decision making to examine the relationships among media frames, individual interpretations of issues, and voter decision making. Shows how two groups, evangelical Christians and undergraduates, responded to simulated newspaper articles on election candidates. Finds that media frames…

Discusses how British language policies in India during the 18th and 19th centuries were characterized by a controversy between Anglicists and Orientalists. A study of the controversy shows a close relationship between language policies and political power. (36 references) (Author/CK)

Reviews the case of school choice in Argentina, in view of recent research on socioeconomic segregation in the educational system. Reveals that Argentina has neither demand subsidy programs or voucher systems. Argues that Argentina's strong regulations encourage parents with greater economic or political capacity to choose how their children are…

Examines why language policies should be considered in a multiethnic state and suggests that there are human rights issues that mandate some recognition of language demands and usage beyond what some states may provide. The article emphasizes that questions of language, ethnicity, and nationalism must be addressed in a rational and coherent…

Examines consumer services delivered via the Internet. Discusses social and political factors (regulation, commercial alliances, copyright), specific applications (home banking and shopping, distance education, electronic mail, games, telecommuting), and constraints of data transmission. Since many applications are based on videoconferencing,…

Examines the linguistic features of Tok Pisin (the Papua New Guinea variety of Melanesian Pidgin) resulting from decreolization and the linguistic features of Papua New Guinea English. Discusses code-switching and transference between Tok Pisin and English and concludes that an English-to-pidgin continuum does not exist in Papua New Guinea or in…

Seeks to revise the view that the establishment of a national school medical service pursuant to the 1907 Administrative Provisions Act perpetuated a hidden agenda of Robert Morant. Traces the origins of the bill, and presents evidence disputing the claim that Morant can be credited with the bill. Includes political controversies generated over…

Assesses Reagan's defense policy and programs, contending that arms control negotiations were not integral to the administration's policies. Discusses the reestablishment of public support for U.S. globalism, and examines the use of U.S. military forces during the Reagan years. Analyzes Reagan's efforts at breaking the Vietnam Syndrome. (RW)

After suppression of protesters, Chinese officials demand that student leaders turn themselves in or face punishment. American colleges and scholarly organizations condemn massacre. Chinese students in the U.S. and abroad decry the slaughter and worry about going home. (MLW)

Argues that it is vital that librarians understand the issues and stakes involved in the electronic dissemination of government information. Areas discussed include the background of electronic dissemination of federal government information, issues and initiatives that have emerged in 1989, and actions that might be taken by concerned librarians…