Books in review

He has also served as research director of the Guggenheim Foundation from 1972–1984. Among his books are Men in Groups; The Imperial Animal(with Robin Fox); The Manufacture of Evil;and The Pursuit of Pleasure.     

Opinion formation in foreign policy: the Swiss experience

Applying John Zaller's model of opinion formation to survey data covering 15 years (1981–95) of direct democracy in Switzerland, this paper provides a contribution to the debate about opinion formation in foreign policy. On the one hand, the Swiss experience contradicts the widespread view that citizens are poorly informed about and little interested in foreign affairs. On the other hand, direct democracy often translates into governmental defeats in this field. We address these mixed results and show that opinion formation in foreign policy is not a special case, and differs from that in domestic policy only with respect to the circumstances under which it occurs. In particular, we highlight the unusual type and level of conflict within the elite on foreign policy issues, which translates into distinct patterns of attitudes among the public.     

Continuing education and training programs for municipal administrators: a case study in selected provinces††

Abstract. This paper presents the results of interviews carried out in twenty urban centres in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario on the matter of education/training programs for municipal administrators. After a brief review of literature on this topic, a composite profile of the respondents is presented. The survey results are analysed under four separate items: the need and its dimensions; awareness of and attitudes toward existing programs; anticipated attitudes of civic civil servants and politicians; and factors to be considered in designing and initiating programs for senior and middle management personnel. The study, while indicating a positive demand for programs, suggests that further field research be conducted and that a trial program be mounted to assist in evaluation. Sommaire. L'auteur de cette communication expose les résultats d'entrevues faites dans vingt centres urbains de la Colombie-Britannique, de l'Alberta, et de I'Ontario sur la question des programmes d'éducation/formation pour les administrateurs municipaux. Après une revue rapide des ouvrages sur ce sujet, il présente le profil moyen des personnes interrogées. Les réultats de l'enquête sont analysés de quatre points de we & tincts:les besoins et leur dimension; la connaissance des programmes existants et les réactions qu'ils provoquent; les attitudes antidpées des fonctionnaires et des représentants municipaux; et les facteurs A considérer pour concevoir et lancer des programmes à l'intention des cadres moyens et supérieurs. Tout en indiquant une demande positive pour des programmes, cette étude montre le besoin d'une recherche pratique plus approfondie et d'un projet-pilote qui aiderait à l'évaluation.     

The Confidence Game: Roping in a Globalized World

This is the last in a series of five articles focusing on how Bernard Madoff’s confidence game (con game) worked. It examines the international money collecting activities by ropers for Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities (BLMIS). Before globalization, Madoff’s con game brought him millions of dollars; after globalization, it began bringing him billions, making him remarkably successful until his run of luck was brought to a sudden halt by the worldwide economic downturn.     

Close But Not Close Enough

The authors comment on an earlier aritice in Society by Eugene Goodheart and offer a novel hypothesis about the origins of religion.