Karen O'Connor

The Rise of Conservative Interest Group Litigation

Research on interest group litigation long has focused almost exclusively on liberal groups. This examination undertakes an analysis of conservative group use of the courts during the Burger Court era. Contrary to widespread expectation, conservative groups litigate in a strategic fashion but do so through the more limited form of participation--the amicus curiae brief--which they view as an effective lobbying device. In fact, conservative groups have used the amicus curiae brief with increasing frequency since the mid-1970s.

An Analysis of the U.S. Women's Rights Movements Rights as a Public Good

This paper divides the move for womens rights in the U.S. into three historical phases: (I) the early womens rights movement (1848-1875); (2) the suffrage movement (1890-1920); and, (3) the two branches of contempor- ary womens movements. A survey of the social movement literature is pre- sented. The authors then set out a hypothesis for the formation of the above womens rights movements. The causes of the three respective phases then are examined and the hypothesis tested. We conclude that the following elements are necessary to the initiation of a U.S. womens protest movement: (1) a sense of collective oppression; (2) an extant organizational base; (3) a communications network; and, (4) a critical mobilizing event. The success of these movements, however, may be tempered by the simultane- ous development of opposition organizations. The struggle for womens rights spans almost two centuries, although efforts have not been continuous. Periods during which organized pressure for womens rights has been keen often have been followed by years of little concerted effort. Analytically, three periods of high activity can be identified in which the womens movement was shaped and directed by organized political groups: (1) the early wo- mens rights movement (dating roughly from 1848 to 1875); (2) the

An Analysis of the U.S. Women's Rights Movements

This paper divides the move for womens rights in the U.S. into three historical phases: (1) the early womens rights movement (1848-1875); (2) the suffrage movement (1890-1920); and, (3) the two branches of contemporary womens rights movements. The authors then set out a hypothesis for the formation of the above womens rights movements. The causes of the three respective phases then are examined and the hypothesis tested. We conclude that the following elements are necessary to the initiation of a U.S. womens protest movement: (1) a sense of collective oppresion; (2) an extant organizational base; (3) a communications network; and, (4) a critical mobilizing event. The success of these movements, however, may be tempered by the simultaneous development of opposition organizations.

Claire L. Felbinger

Claire L. Felbinger passed away suddenly at her home on Wednesday, May 28, due to a complication from multiple sclerosis (MS). At the time of her death, she had been employed at the Japan International Transport Institute.

Breaking the Abortion Deadlock? Twenty-Five Years After Roe v. Wade

A quarter-century has passed since the U.S. Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade in 1973. In recognition of the intense debates that continue to surround the question of abortion rights, the editors present the following forum, based on Eileen McDonaghs recent book, Breaking the Abortion Deadlock, published by Oxford University Press. The discussion was first presented at the 1997 Meetings of the American Political Science Association in Washington, D.C., on a panel moderated by Sue Davis, University of Delaware.