Various
Territory and Borders:
Territory and Borders:
“The Path to Intractability: Time and the Entrenchment of Territorial Disputes,” International Security, Vol.31, No.3 (Winter 2006-7) (PDF)
“The Path to Intractability: Time and the Entrenchment of Territorial Disputes,” International Security, Vol.31, No.3 (Winter 2006-7) (PDF)
Why do states so often compete for decades over territories that seem to have no material value? I show that these disputes undergo entrenchment and institutionalization over time. Material interests are often superseded by claims about the territory’s historical, nationalist, religious, or ethnic meaning.
Why do states so often compete for decades over territories that seem to have no material value? I show that these disputes undergo entrenchment and institutionalization over time. Material interests are often superseded by claims about the territory’s historical, nationalist, religious, or ethnic meaning.
“Time and the Intractability of Territorial Disputes,” correspondence with Stacie Goddard and Jeremy Pressman, International Security, Vol.32, No.3 (Winter 2007/8 ) (PDF)
“Time and the Intractability of Territorial Disputes,” correspondence with Stacie Goddard and Jeremy Pressman, International Security, Vol.32, No.3 (Winter 2007/8 ) (PDF)
I propose that endogenous factors matter at least as much as shocks and initial perceptions in shaping the development of territorial disputes. These disputes are institutions, driven inexorably towards entrenchment. Leaders can affect disputes but not under self-selected circumstances.
I propose that endogenous factors matter at least as much as shocks and initial perceptions in shaping the development of territorial disputes. These disputes are institutions, driven inexorably towards entrenchment. Leaders can affect disputes but not under self-selected circumstances.
“Barriers to Entry: Who Builds Fortified Boundaries and Why?” with Jason Wittenberg, International Security, Vol. 40, No. 1 (Summer 2015) (PDF)
“Barriers to Entry: Who Builds Fortified Boundaries and Why?” with Jason Wittenberg, International Security, Vol. 40, No. 1 (Summer 2015) (PDF)
We define "fortified boundaries" and show an accelerating trend in their construction around the world. Most are built by wealthy states to keep out unwanted migrants. Most barrier builders and targets are Muslim-majority states. Assessing the effectiveness of barriers is difficult but we offer some educated guesses.
We define "fortified boundaries" and show an accelerating trend in their construction around the world. Most are built by wealthy states to keep out unwanted migrants. Most barrier builders and targets are Muslim-majority states. Assessing the effectiveness of barriers is difficult but we offer some educated guesses.
The Profession:
The Profession:
“Sliding into Home Plate: How to Use Slideware to Improve Your Presentation (While Dodging the Bullets),” PS: Political Science & Politics, Vol.38, No.2 (July 2005) (PDF)
“Sliding into Home Plate: How to Use Slideware to Improve Your Presentation (While Dodging the Bullets),” PS: Political Science & Politics, Vol.38, No.2 (July 2005) (PDF)
PowerPoint is a much-maligned software because so many educators use it badly. I note the functions that slideshows can fulfill well and offer some suggestions about common traps: Focus on imagery (photos, maps, graphs), avoid text, don't read your slides, ditch the bullet points, and keep the lights on.
PowerPoint is a much-maligned software because so many educators use it badly. I note the functions that slideshows can fulfill well and offer some suggestions about common traps: Focus on imagery (photos, maps, graphs), avoid text, don't read your slides, ditch the bullet points, and keep the lights on.
“Trial by Fire: Surviving the Job Talk Q&A,” PS: Political Science & Politics, Vol.41, No.4 (October 2008) (PDF)
“Trial by Fire: Surviving the Job Talk Q&A,” PS: Political Science & Politics, Vol.41, No.4 (October 2008) (PDF)
Nervous graduate students on the market tend to focus on the wrong part of the interview, rehearsing their job talk over and over. Instead, I propose they focus on the Q&A that follows the job talk. Its purpose is to establish collegiality and fit with the department. I suggest some ways to signal attentiveness and professionalism.
Nervous graduate students on the market tend to focus on the wrong part of the interview, rehearsing their job talk over and over. Instead, I propose they focus on the Q&A that follows the job talk. Its purpose is to establish collegiality and fit with the department. I suggest some ways to signal attentiveness and professionalism.
Scholars abandon the care with which they usually cite ancient texts when they cite from scripture. They often misquote or misattribute quotes, and fail to reference the translation or edition they are using. Worse, they often read quotes from scripture "literally" instead of contextualizing them within a religious tradition.
Scholars abandon the care with which they usually cite ancient texts when they cite from scripture. They often misquote or misattribute quotes, and fail to reference the translation or edition they are using. Worse, they often read quotes from scripture "literally" instead of contextualizing them within a religious tradition.
Ephemera:
Ephemera:
Der Herr Karl, by Helmut Qualtinger and Karl Merz (Ariadne Press, 2017)
Der Herr Karl, by Helmut Qualtinger and Karl Merz (Ariadne Press, 2017)
Der Herr Karl is the most significant political play written and performed in post-war Austria. I translated this satire from German to English and added an introduction, notes, and a short chapter on political cabaret in Austria. Der Herr Karl was the first public statement in Austria to break the code of silence on the question of war guilt, a topic that had been barred from public, political, or artistic discourse in that country. This play broke this taboo and it did so in the form of a vicious satire. Its protagonist is a charming, if smarmy, opportunist, collaborator and war time profiteer who comments on all key events in Austria’s history between the 1920s and the 1950s. He is not silent about his crimes: He admits them outright and then rejects all culpability.
Der Herr Karl is the most significant political play written and performed in post-war Austria. I translated this satire from German to English and added an introduction, notes, and a short chapter on political cabaret in Austria. Der Herr Karl was the first public statement in Austria to break the code of silence on the question of war guilt, a topic that had been barred from public, political, or artistic discourse in that country. This play broke this taboo and it did so in the form of a vicious satire. Its protagonist is a charming, if smarmy, opportunist, collaborator and war time profiteer who comments on all key events in Austria’s history between the 1920s and the 1950s. He is not silent about his crimes: He admits them outright and then rejects all culpability.
Karl is a devastating caricature of a society that pretends to no know nothing of the sins it claims never to have committed but that in fact denies their very sinfulness. Though Karl continues to rankle Austrian sensibilities, he has become one of the most famous characters in modern German-speaking theater. This is the first translation of this play into English.
Karl is a devastating caricature of a society that pretends to no know nothing of the sins it claims never to have committed but that in fact denies their very sinfulness. Though Karl continues to rankle Austrian sensibilities, he has become one of the most famous characters in modern German-speaking theater. This is the first translation of this play into English.
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“God for Harry! England and Saint George! The Evolution of the Sacred Flag and the Modern Nation-State,” monograph, special Issue of The Flag Bulletin, No.191, Vol.39, No.1 (January-February 2000) (PDF)
“God for Harry! England and Saint George! The Evolution of the Sacred Flag and the Modern Nation-State,” monograph, special Issue of The Flag Bulletin, No.191, Vol.39, No.1 (January-February 2000) (PDF)
Why do so many flags display religious symbols? Why are flags treated so often as sacred objects, accompanied by myths about their sacred origins? I draw on Durkheim's work on totems and Weber's work on the routinization of charisma to explore the role that flags play in civil religion with a focus on the U.S.
Why do so many flags display religious symbols? Why are flags treated so often as sacred objects, accompanied by myths about their sacred origins? I draw on Durkheim's work on totems and Weber's work on the routinization of charisma to explore the role that flags play in civil religion with a focus on the U.S.
“The Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus: A Modest Proposal,” Theory and Decision, Vol. 54, No.1 (February 2003) (PDF)
“The Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus: A Modest Proposal,” Theory and Decision, Vol. 54, No.1 (February 2003) (PDF)
Why did Judas betray Jesus? Why was Pilate reluctant to condemn him? The answers have eluded scholars for millennia. Game theory can answer them with ease. My goal in writing this paper was to mock the hubris of modelers but this was lost on most readers, despite clues throughout ("Crucifixion is Pareto sub-optimal").
Why did Judas betray Jesus? Why was Pilate reluctant to condemn him? The answers have eluded scholars for millennia. Game theory can answer them with ease. My goal in writing this paper was to mock the hubris of modelers but this was lost on most readers, despite clues throughout ("Crucifixion is Pareto sub-optimal").
“Names Without Places: How Pilgrims and Mapmakers Invent Sacred Places,” in Zsolt Torok (ed.), Sacred Places on Maps (Hungary: Pannonhalma Press, 2005) (PDF)
“Names Without Places: How Pilgrims and Mapmakers Invent Sacred Places,” in Zsolt Torok (ed.), Sacred Places on Maps (Hungary: Pannonhalma Press, 2005) (PDF)
How do pilgrims decide where to commemorate religio-historical events? I propose that they employ focal points and focal axes, relying on prior holy sites to determine the contours of the religious landscape and placing "new" holy places in relation to those axes. Jerusalem and Washington D.C. offer examples.
How do pilgrims decide where to commemorate religio-historical events? I propose that they employ focal points and focal axes, relying on prior holy sites to determine the contours of the religious landscape and placing "new" holy places in relation to those axes. Jerusalem and Washington D.C. offer examples.