Copyright (c) 2009 Texas State University All rights reserved. http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp Recent documents in Faculty Publications-Political Science en-us Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:21:41 PDT 3600 http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/53 http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/53 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:21:39 PDT This paper reviews literature on the expeditionary mindset and core values taking into account the 21st century security and technology environments. The first part of the paper develops the historical context and provides definitions. Next, the paper explores the connection between the expeditionary mindset and military transformation. Key tenets of the 21st century expeditionary mindset are identified and examined. Soldiers with an expeditionary mindset should first, be mentally prepared to deploy on short notice anywhere in the world; second, have the critical-thinking skills necessary to adapt quickly to a changing operational environment; third, work cooperatively with members of a Joint team; fourth, posses knowledge of the culture in the area of the local populace, and; fifth, the expeditionary force will be using 21st century network centric technology. The paper concludes with a discussion of military core values within the context of an expeditionary mindset. Patricia M. Shields http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/52 http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/52 Sun, 16 Aug 2009 08:23:02 PDT This paper presents a new spectral approach to the study of the periodic variation of relative sunspot cycles and the extent of the randomness in the amplitudes and phases of the harmonic components of the fundamental frequency of the cycles. The new method is called the signal coherence spectrum of a time series that has a randomly modulated periodicity. The data we use is the relative sunspot numbers beginning December 21, 1838 until June 30, 2008 as compiled by the Solar Influences Data Analysis Center (SIDC) at the Royal Observatory of Belgium using the FORTRAN 95 program developed by Hinich (2000). Deterministic sinusoids are often used to model cycles as a mathematical convenience. However, it is time to break away from this simplification in order to model the various periodic signals that are observed in fields ranging from biology, communications, acoustics, astronomy, and the various sciences. We detect a strong coherence at 3966 days (10.86 years) which is consistent with the reported 11-year sunspot cycle. Additionally, we find strongly coherent harmonics at about 20 days (0.8 coherence), 2.75 days (0.87 coherence), and 2.1 days (0.83 coherence). We have no physical explanation for the randomly modulated periodicities in relative sunspot numbers. Donald S. Inbody http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/51 http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/51 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:37:42 PDT While much research has been conducted into the political behavior and attitudes of American military officers, little has been accomplished with respect to enlisted personnel. Most reports assume that the American military identify largely with the Republican Party and are mostly conservative in attitude. The most recent large-scale study, the TISS Survey on the Military in the Post Cold War Era conducted by Feaver and Kohn in 1998-1999, confirmed those assumptions among senior officers and is often quoted as representative of the entire military. However, the demographic characteristics of enlisted personnel predict different behavior. The enlisted ranks of the American military are over-represented by minorities who traditionally identify with the Democratic Party. The present study gathered data on enlisted personnel, by means of a survey, to determine whether that specialized population is significantly different in attitude and behavior from that of the officer corps and of the general American population. Enlisted personnel identify with the Republican Party in about the same proportion as do the general American population. However, only about half as many enlisted personnel identify with the Democratic Party as do civilians. Enlisted personnel are also about three times more likely to identify as Independents as do other Americans. Active-duty enlisted personnel demonstrate a 1.7 to 1 partisan (Republican to Democrat) ratio, similar to that found in the veteran enlisted sample (1.8 to 1) and the officer sample (1.6 to 1). The civilian sample shows a .95 to 1 partisan ratio. Thus, active-duty enlisted personnel who identify with a political party are about twice as likely to identify with the Republican Party as are civilians. However, active-duty enlisted personnel are nearly four times as likely as civilians to report being Independent, and are substantially less likely than civilians to identify with the Democratic Party. The Republican to Democrat ratio may well explain the commentary about and observations of a Republican dominated military. Despite the fact that the overall proportion of Republicans within the military is no greater than that found within the general population, that there are twice as many individuals who will state that they are Republicans as those who will state that they are Democrats can easily give the impression of a heavily Republican population. However, active-duty enlisted personnel remain strongly independent when compared to the civilian population. Of special note is a markedly higher political efficacy among military enlisted personnel than is found within the general American population. Donald S. Inbody http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/50 http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/50 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:47:17 PDT This paper traces ideas in public administration that emerged from women's historical experience. The story begins with Florence Nightingale and the insights about hospital administration that emerged as she expanded the women's sphere (sanitary reform and additional supplies) to care for sick soldiers. Her ideas are then moved to the US Civil War where they were applied by the United States Sanitary Commission (USSC). The supply arm of the USSC was managed primarily by women in regional hubs. There 7,000 ladies aid societies were transformed into the largest and most sustained relief effort the US has ever undertaken. The ideas of the women of the USSC are then linked to the accomplishments of their daughters - specifically the Settlement Women. The ethics and conception of social democracy of Jane Addams, the most famous settlement worker are stressed. Connections to contemporary public administration are highlighted. Patricia M. Shields http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/49 http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/49 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:06:08 PDT This paper explores the problem of meeting professional association member needs at the local level. Three functions of local affiliates of national professional associations are identified (networking, access to information, professional skills development). Then, the Central Texas Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration is evaluated in light of these functions. Chapter members were surveyed. Patricia M. Shields http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/48 http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/48 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:04:44 PDT Pragmatism is a philosophy that emphasizes learning through action and building a knowledge base from experience and reflection. It is a potentially compelling approach for public budgeting and financial management. The largely normative theories of public finance, public financial management and public budgeting are examined and critiqued. We do not seek to abandon these valuable contributions to practice, however they often fail to describe and explain the practices of the field. In some cases, the norms prescribed may not be shared by government officials and citizens, and thus the management or policy prescription become unhelpful. We believe theory should guide practice, but theory must also be informed by practice. We seek to establish a better basis to understand the structure and evolution of government budgeting and finance, and to help practitioners face difficult situations that call for workable solutions. The classical pragmatism of Charles Sanders Peirce, John Dewey, William James, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. and Jane Addams is presented and applied to the theories of public finance, budgeting and financial management. Pragmatism focuses on inquiry and the problematic situation. Theories are viewed as tools to resolve the problematic situation. And, just as there are often many tools used to approach a problematic situation, there are many theories that, like tools or maps, are judged by their usefulness. This orientation makes sense for financial management because like all managers, they are focused on solutions to problems and cannot be wedded to academic theories to guide their action when the elected officials and citizens they serve need a solution. John R. Bartle http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/47 http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/47 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 06:24:26 PDT In this paper a technique is developed which shows how both logit and MCA can be adapted for comparison purposes. The technique is developed for the special case of dichotomous dependent variables. The method was empirically tested and the data reveal that the logit probabilities, with few exceptions, were consistent with those generated by the MCA technique. The author advocates the use of this technique to confirm the MCA coefficients. Furthermore, when MCA and logit yield consistent results MCA coefficients should be used for presentation and discussion purposes. Patricia M. Shields http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/46 http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/46 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 06:56:23 PDT This paper applies the economics "Law of Demand" to the problems of local government decision making. As the title implies, fees can be tools to help local government administrators allocate resources more efficiently. Elementary economic concepts like elasticity, and non-price determinants of demand are applied to local government goods and services. These ideas should help local public administrators analyze and predict their service delivery patterns from an economic point of view. The paper ends with 9 implications for local government user fee policy. Equity issues are developed in detail. Patricia M. Shields http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/45 http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/45 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 06:34:06 PDT In 2003, Administration & Society published Patricia Shields's "The Community of Inquiry: Classical Pragmatism and Public Administration." Shortly thereafter, Hugh Miller responded with "Old Pragmatism Needs and Upgrade" in the Disputatio Sine Fine section of Administration & Society. He argued that scholars like Shields, Evans, and Snider should incorporate the ideas of Richard Rorty into their scholarship. Miller's article was followed by a series of 9 essays debating the merits of Dewey and Rorty for public administration. This article summarizes the debate and argues that Classical Pragmatism does not need an upgrade. Patricia M. Shields http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/44 http://ecommons.txstate.edu/polsfacp/44 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:39:39 PDT Landon Curry