Graham C. Kinloch

Racial Attitudes in the Post-Colonial Situation. The Case of Zimbabwe

What happens to intergroup attitudes when a previously colonized population gains political independence? Several world regions such as Eastern Europe, Germany, and Southern Africa have recently experienced moves toward democratization. Racial minorities within the United States, although suffering severe setbacks in recent decades, have also successfully elected members to political office at local, state, and federal levels of government. What are the consequences of this shift from minority to majority rule? They are complicated, mixed, and understood to a limited degree only. Fear of widespread violence, social disorder, economic decline, and a return to the past often follow periods of initial optimism. Understanding these radical changes is obviously significant to their enduring success, but available information is limited. This article attempts to provide insight into these situations by focusing on Black-White attitudes in Zimbabwe from that countrys independence in 1980 through 1987. All letters to the editor in a major weekly newspaper published in Harare are analyzed by year of publication, authors race (where possible), major topic, and rationales. These data provide significant insight into racial attitudes as the society switches from minority to majority rule, proceeding beyond initial optimism to inevitable ambivalence. On a general level, understanding of interracial sensitivities during periods of power shifts to majority rule is also gained. Such insight may be

American sociology’s changing interests as reflected in two leading journals

This study involves an analysis of the major topics published in theAmerican Journal of Sociology andAmerican Sociological Review from the 1890s through the 1970s. The data indicate that the discipline focused initially on its self-definition and major social problems, moving to more theoretical and methodological matters during the 1930s. The war years reflect a major concern with political matters, shifting to economic issues and the problems of minorities in later decades. The limitations of these normative and economic interests are discussed.

Changing Racial Attitudes in Zimbabwe Colonial/Post-Colonial Dynamics

This article focuses on racial attitudes in post-colonial Zimbabwe as revealed in letters to the editor, published in one of the countrys weekly newspapers from the late 1980s through the 1990s. These data revealed that African authors were the consistent majority during this period and focused on their institutional needs, becoming increasingly critical of their government. White authors, on the other hand, remained the minority and emphasized the maintenance of institutional standards and efficiency, remaining consistently skeptical of the countrys Black government. The analysis concludes by addressing the theoretical and policy implications of these results.

Comparative Race and Ethnic Relations

SOCIOLOGICAL LITERATURE comparing race and ethnic relations has often been criticized for its parochial character. Van den Berghe (1976: 4) has commented, for example, that &dquo;much of the literature on race relations during the last three decades has dealt with the United States and has been written by scholars who lacked comparative experience.&dquo; The consequences of this limitation, according to him, are twofold: there is an over generalization of American findings, and there is a scarcity of sophisticated cross-cultural research (1976: 4-5). This limitation may be extended to the restricted nature of comparative empirical studies (for example, Pettigrew 1958). Analytical comparisons of intergroup relations within particular societies have been largely descriptive and based upon historical rather than empirical data (for example, Banton 1967; Mason 1970; Rex 1970; Schermerhorn 1964). The above statements reflect theoretical as well as empirical problems in comparative research. The development of culture-free instruments and theoretical frameworks adequate to handle differing societies and the social processes within them are formidable tasks. Nevertheless, the &dquo;payoffs&dquo; appear to be important enough to warrant an effort to overcome these difficulties. Literature produced in the past decade suggests a number of dimensions that may be used to compare intergroup relations within societies. This paper

Intergroup Stereotypes and Social Distance Among White College Students in Durban, South Africa

Summary This study was concerned with intergroup stereotypes and social distance among white South African college students. Hypotheses were developed regarding the effects of a groups position in the societys status hierarchy, a continuum of social distance, and the influence of an individuals background characteristics, psychological orientations, and intergroup experience. A questionnaire containing items on background characteristics, personal opinions, social activities, and attitudes towards specific groups was administered to 229 white students attending sociology courses at the University of Natal, Durban. The data indicated that intergroup attitudes were defined by both a stereotype and social distance hierarchy, as well as an individuals background characteristics, personality orientations, and level of intergroup experience. It was concluded that intergroup attitudes in this society are defined by a complexity of status, psychological, social-psychological, and sociological factors.

The changing evaluation of knowledge: A study of introductory sociology textbook reviews, 1895–1979

This study involves an analysis of 276 reviews of introductory Sociology texts published in the American Journal of Sociology, American Sociological Review, and Contemporary Sociology between 1895 and 1979. Criteria used both to praise and critique these works were studied by decade of journal publication. It was found that evaluative criteria proceeded from an emphasis on theoretical classification and pedagogical utility through the importance of clarity, explanation, and objectivity to the contemporary concern with well‐organized, formatted, and stimulating texts. The limitations of this largely formal, pedagogical evaluation of “Introductory Sociology” are discussed in conclusion.

Contemporary Professional Sociology in America: A Critique

This paper is concerned with understanding the contemporary American professional sociology’s relative lack of response to pressing world events, particularly the disturbing levels of conflict and continuing social problems. This is partly accounted for by the profession’s typical scientific and normative projection in attempts to achieve conceptual or social order. This underlying tension has been aggravated by the discipline’s boundless search for scientific recognition, assumed social rationality, and general application of positivistic research methods. Such deficiencies have been reinforced by the larger culture’s bureaucratised, rationalised environment, commodifying books and critical thought, reducing self-consciousness and practical concerns. Recommended alternatives include the use of sociological portraits; ‘phronetic’ social science; adoption of more complex, committed perspectives; professional inclusion of minority sociology to diversify the discipline significantly; and application of valuable non-American viewpoints, particularly those developed by social scientists in India.

Denomination and Participation in Charismatic Movements: A Case Study of Two Prayer Groups

Etude des differences entre deux groupes charismatiques catholiques et protestants sous certains aspects demographiques, professionnels et religieux

Black Students and the Labor Market: An Analysis of Occupational Expectations

In an era of economic inflation and recession, the correlation between education and employment increases in significance, particularly for minority groups. Accordingly, the occupational plans or expectations of college students must take into account not only the quality and appropriateness of their training for specific occupations but also the availability of jobs in their chosen field. While characteristics of the labor market are important, some observers have suggested that educational preparation and individual initiative are primary factors in determining whether occupational expectations are actually achieved (Williams, 1960). However, it is important to