Cross-validation of the Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ): an offender risk and need assessment measure on Australian, British, Canadian, Singaporean, and American offenders

The Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ) is a 72-item self-report measure designed to predict violent and nonviolent recidivism among adult criminal offenders. The results from using samples from Australia, Canada, England, Singapore, and two samples from the United States (North Carolina and Pennsylvania) indicated that (a) the SAQ has sound psychometric properties, with acceptable reliability and concurrent validity for assessing recidivism and institutional adjustment; (b) there were no significant differences among the scores of the White, African American, Hispanic, and Aboriginal Australian offenders on the SAQ; (c) there were no significant differences among offenders who completed the SAQ for research purposes versus offenders who completed it as part of a decision-making process. Results provided support for the validity of the SAQ to be used with the culturally diverse offenders involved in this research and provided further evidence that contradicts concerns that the SAQ as a self-report measure may be susceptible to lying, and self-presentation biases.     

Stability of drugs in stored postmortem femoral blood and vitreous humor

The stability of 46 drugs in postmortem femoral blood stored for one year at -20 degrees C was investigated. The drugs included benzodiazepines, antidepressants, analgetics and hypnotics. For seven drugs we found a significant change in the concentration between the first and second analysis. Five substances; ethanol, desmethylmianserin, 7-amino-nitrazepam, THC and zopiclone showed a decrease in the concentration whereas the concentrations of two substances; ketobemidone and thioridazine increased. However, the changes observed were not of such an order that it would affect the interpretation in normal forensic casework. We also investigated the possible influence of potassium fluoride on the concentrations of the 46 drugs in vitreous humor after storage for one year. For two substances, ethanol and zopiclone, there were significantly lower concentrations in the samples without potassium fluoride. Furthermore, we also studied the correlation between the concentrations in femoral blood and vitreous humor. For 23 substances there was a significant difference between the concentrations in the vitreous humor and femoral blood. Significant correlations between the concentrations in these two specimens were found for 23 substances, indicating that vitreous humor can be an alternative specimen when blood samples are not available, provided that such correlation exists for the particular substance. Statistical analysis also revealed a correlation between the degree of protein binding of the different drugs and percentage of vitreous/femoral blood concentrations.     

Potentially dangerous behavior in the mentally ill: attitudes of journalists and medical students toward compulsory admission

Compulsory admission is a critical measure that may lead to stigmatization of patients. The authors investigated what medical students and journalists consider legitimate conditions for compulsory admission. The most frequently quoted conditions in both groups were violent attempts against others. About one third of each group considered continuous neglect as a reason. Students significantly more often than journalists advocated for civil commitment in the case of suicide attempts and violent attempts. Medical students with personal contact with mentally disordered persons advocated significantly more often for coercive measures in the case of suicide attempts. Comparing journalists and medical students having personal contact with mentally disordered persons revealed that medical students significantly more often supported commitment. Journalists displayed a more liberal attitude toward the mentally ill than did medical students.     

Molecular characterization and Austrian Caucasian population data of the multi-copy Y-chromosomal STR DYS464

DYS464 is a multi-copy STR system with four positions on the Y-chromosome (DYS464a, b, c, and d) which was recently identified and characterized [Forensic Sci. Int. 130 (2002) 97]. The aims of our study were to perform a population study, to estimate the mutation rate and an extensive sequence analysis in order to confirm the nomenclature. Fourteen different alleles were found in an Austrian population sample with an allele length varying from 9 to 19 repeats. All alleles were cloned and sequenced. Alleles 9-19 showed the general repeat structure (CCTT)n...(CCTT)2...(CCTT)3...(CCTT)4...(CCTT)2...(CCTT)2. The nomenclature is based on the number of repeated units of the variable (CCTT)n-stretch only. In 13% of the samples intermediate alleles, namely 14.3A, 14.3B and 15.3 were detected. In these alleles the variable repeat block is interrupted by a CTT motif (14.3A: (CCTT)3CTT(CCTT)11; 14.3B and 15.3: (CCTT)7CTT(CCTT)7/8). A comparison with GenBank entries revealed the existence of a length variant due to a deletion of one cytosine in the 5' flanking region of the first repeat block. We designed an alternative forward primer to circumvent possible ambiguities in the allele designation. A total of 54 different genotypes were identified in 135 men corresponding to a discrimination capacity (DC) of 40% and a gene diversity (GD) of 0.97. These values are much higher than those of other Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs). DYS464 has the same haplotype diversity (HD) as the combination of the five Y-STR loci with the lowest gene diversities of the Y-STR core set. On the other hand, a combination of the three most diverse loci (DYS464, DYS385 and DYS390) has the same capacity to distinguish between paternal lineages than the complete minimal haplotype (minHT) consisting of eight Y-STR loci. In our population sample the addition of DYS464 to the minHT increases the number of different haplotypes from 110 to 122. The mutation-rate estimate based on the 70 meioses analyzed amounts to 2.86 x 10(-2) (95% confidence interval 3.5 x 10(-3) to 9.95 x 10(-2)). This value is approximately 10 times higher than the average mutation-rate estimate for Y-STRs.     

Women,civil society and politics in Pakistan

This article makes the argument that when women have organized themselves into groups with a political purpose, we have witnessed significant advancement in the construction of a civil society in Pakistan. It traces the role women's groups have played as intermediary groups, particularly as they play increasingly important political and social roles in countering the actions and inactions of the state. Importantly, it is in the ongoing effort to develop a National Plan of Action in Pakistan in response to the Beijing Platform for Action that women's groups are contributing in a significant way to a participatory, sensitized and increasingly decentralized national planning process which is encouraging regional and NGO inputs in unprecedented ways.     

C. Reviews and notes: bibliographies and works of reference

FAHARIS AL‐MAKHTUTAT AL‐'ARABIYYA FI AL‐'ALAM. Compiled by KURKIS ‘AWWAD. Kuwait, Ma'had al‐Makhtūtat al‐'Arabiyya, 1984. 2 vols. 445; 448pp.

A SURVEY OF THE SCIENTIFIC MANUSCRIPTS IN THE EGYPTIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY. By DAVID A. KING. (American Research Center in Egypt: Catalogs, 5.) Winona Lake, Eisenbrauns, 1986. xiv, 331pp. (incl. illustrations on pp.221–331). US $54.50 (cloth); US $39.50 (paperback).

AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ISLAMIC SCIENCE. By SEYYED HOSSEIN NASR. Tehran 1975–78, reprinted Lahore, Suhail Academy, 1985. lxiv, 432; xi, 317pp. Pak.Rs. 290 or £10.00.

INDEX OF BAHRAIN MANUSCRIPTS. By ALI ABA HUSSAIN. Translated by B.K. NARAYAN. Bahrain, Historical Documents Centre, 1986. 166pp., plates.

FIHRIS AL‐MAKHTUTUT AL‐'ARABIYYA FI MAKTABAT STRASBURGH AL‐WATANIYYA WA‐L‐JAMI'IYYA. By NAZIH KUSAYBI. (Manshūrat Ma'had al‐Makhtūtat al‐'Arabiyya.) Kuwait, al‐Munazzama al‐'Arabiyya li‐1‐Tarbiya wa‐1‐Thaqafa wa‐l‐'Ulūm, 1985. 204pp. 5 plates.

MAKHTUTAT AL‐SAYYID MUHAMMAD BAQIR AL‐TABATABA'I FI KARBALA’. By SALMAN HADI AL‐TU'MA. Kuwait (publisher as above), 1985. 287pp.

HANDLIST OF ARABIC MANUSCRIPTS (NEW SERIES) IN THE PRINCETON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY. By RUDOLF MACH and ERIC L. ORMSBY. Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1987. xiv, 402pp. £50.30.

CATALOGUE OF ISLAMIC MANUSCRIPTS (IN ARABIC, TURKISH AND PERSIAN) IN THE LIBRARIES OF TURKEY. Edited by EKMELEDD?N ?HSANOGGLU, and prepared by RAMAZAN ?E?EN, CEM??L AKPINAR and CEVAD ?ZG?. Istanbul, Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture, 1984. 524pp. US $10.00.

HANDLIST OF ISLAMIC MANUSCRIPTS ACQUIRED BY THE INDIA OFFICE LIBRARY, 1938–85. Compiled by URSULA SIMS‐WILLIAMS. London, s.n., 1986. 30pp.

TOPKAPI SARAYI MÜZES? OSMANLI ARS?V? KATALOGU. FERMANLAR. I Fasikül No. E. 1–12476. Compiled by Ismail Hakki UZUNCARSILI, ?brahim Kemal BAYBURA and Ülkü ALTINDAG. (Türk Tarih Kurumu VII ser., no. 81.) Ankara, Türk Tarih Kurumu Basimevi, 1985. xii, 105pp. TL. 880.

DER OSMANISCHE STATTHALTER ISKENDER PASCHA (Gest. 1571) UND SEINE STIFTUNGEN IN ÄGYPTEN UND AM BOSPORUS [THE OTTOMAN GOVERNOR ISKENDER PA?A (d. 1571) AND HIS WAQFS IN EGYPT AND ON THE BOSPHORUS]. By GERD WINKELHANE and KLAUS SCHWARZ. (Islamwissenschaftliche Quellen und Texten aus deutschen Bibliotheken [Sources and texts for Islamic studies in German libraries], vol. 1.) Bamberg, Aku‐Verlag, 1985. vi, 361 pp., 7 illustrations.

ISLAMIC STUDIES: LITERATURE ON QURAN IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE: A BIBLIOGRAPHY. By MUHAMMAD ADIL USMANI. Karachi, Islamic Documentation and Information Centre, n.d. [c. 1985]. xii, 95pp.

TEXTUAL SOURCES FOR THE STUDY OF ISLAM. Edited and translated by ANDREW RIPPIN and JAN KNAPPERT. Manchester, Manchester University Press, 1986. xii, 209pp. Map. £25.00 hardback; £6.75 paperback.

IGNÁC GOLDZIHER: HIS LIFE AND SCHOLARSHIP AS REFLECTED IN HIS WORKS AND CORRESPONDENCE. By RÓBERT SIMON. Budapest, Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Leiden, Brill, 1986. 457pp. Plates. HFI. 180.‐

ANALYSE DER GESCHICHTSBÜCHER ZUM THEMA ISLAM. By MONIKA TWORUSCHKA. (Der Islam in den Schulbüchern der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 1.) Braunschweig, Georg‐Eckert‐Institut für internationale Schulbuchforschung, 1986. xxi, 343pp. DM 29.‐

ANALYSE DER EVANGELISCHEN RELIGIONSBÜCHER ZUM THEMA ISLAM. By UDO TWORUSCHKA. (Der Islam in den Schulbüchem der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 2.) Braunschweig, Georg‐Eckert‐Institut für internationale Schulbuchforschung, 1986. xix, 300pp. DM 27.‐

INDEX OF ISLAMIC LITERATURE, 1986. Leicester, Islamic Foundation, 1987. 136pp.

BULLETIN CRITIQUE DES ANNALES ISLAMOLOGIQUES. (Supplément aux Annales Islamologiques, Vol.4.) Cairo, Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale, 1987. 208pp.

A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS ON ISLAM. By MUHAMMAD ADIL USMANI and AKHTAR H. SIDDIQUI. (Islamic Studies no. 4CE.) Karachi, Islamic Documentation and Information Centre, 1985. iv, 126pp.

AL‐ISTISHHADAT AL‐MARJI'IYYA WA‐DAWRUHA FI AL‐BAHTH: DIRASA TATBIQIYYA ‘ALA BUHÜTH AL‐ANZIMA FI MA'HAD AL‐IDARA AL‐'AMMA (1392–1402 A.H.). By NAIM HASAN AL‐SAMADI. Riyadh, Ma'had al‐Idara al‐'Amma, 1406/ 1985–6. 120pp.

A READER'S GUIDE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF BAHA'I LITERATURE IN ENGLISH. By EUNICE BRAUN. Oxford, George Ronald, 1986. 164pp. Frontispiece. £8.95.

THE FIRST ARAB BIBLIOGRAPHY: FIHRIST AL‐'ULUM. By HANS W. WELLISCH. (University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Occasional Papers No.175.) Urbana‐Champaign, University of Illinois, 1986. 42pp. US$ 3.

BIBLIOGRAPHIE DES OUVRAGES ARABES OU RELATIFS AUX ARABES PUBLIÉS DANS L'EUROPE CHRÉTIENNE DE 1810 A 1885. Par VICTOR CHAUVIN. Liège, 1892–1922; reprinted Paris, Institut du Monde Arabe, n.d. [1987?], with preface by Josée Balagna. 12 parts in 4 vols.

ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE ARAB WORLD: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY. By JAMIL E. JREISAT and ZAKI R. GHOSHEH. (Public Affairs and Administration series, 14.) New York, Garland Publishing, 1986. xxx, 259pp. US $49.00.

FIHRIS TA'RIKHI LI‐L‐MU'ALLAFAT AL‐TÜNISIYYA. By JEAN FONTAINE. Tunis, al‐Mu'assasa al‐wataniyya li‐1‐tarjama wa‐1‐tahqiq wa‐1‐dirasat (Bayt al‐hikma), 1986. 290pp. TD 6.500

AL‐BIBLIYÜGHRAFIYA AL‐WATANIYYA AL‐SURIYYA: MULHAQ, 1984. Damascus, Maktabat al‐Asad, 1987. 364pp.

JERUSALEM AND THE HOLY LAND: A PHAIDON CULTURAL GUIDE. Ed. by M. MEHLING. Oxford, Phaidon, 1987. 324pp. 284 colour ills. 9 maps. £9.95.

AJDADUNA FI THARA BAYT AL‐MAQDIS. By KAMIL JAMIL AL‐'ASALI. Amman, Al‐Majma’ al‐Malaki li‐Buhūth al‐Hadara al‐Islamiyya (Royal Academy for Islamic Civilization Research, Al Albait Foundation), 1981. 325pp. 78 illustrations. 12 plans and maps.

AL‐SIHAFA AL‐'ARABIYYA FI FILASTIN, 1876–1948. (THE ARAB PRESS IN PALESTINE.) Compiled by YUSUF Q. KHURI. Beirut & Washington, Institute for Palestine Studies, 1986. 272pp. US $10.00

AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN, 1920–1983. Amman, The Royal Academy for Islamic Civilization Research (Al Albait Foundation). 1984. 211pp.

BOOKS FROM THE ARAB WORLD: A GUIDE TO SELECTION AND ACQUISITION. By KATHERINE VAN DE VATE. (Middle East Libraries Committee Research Guides, 4.) Durham, Middle East Libraries Committee, 1988. iv, 55pp. £5.25.

ADAPTATIONS OF DDC IN THE MIDDLE EAST. By MAHVASH K. MOMENI. (Occasional Papers/University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 170.) Champaign, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign, 1985. 41pp. US $3.00.

ASMA’ AL‐KUTUB. By ‘ABD AL‐LATIF B. MUHAMMAD RIYADIZADA. Edited by Muhammad al‐Tūnji. 2nd edition, Damascus, Dar al‐Fikr, 1983.398pp. US $6.00.

MODERN ARABIC LITERATURE. Compiled and edited by ROGER ALLEN. (A Library of Literary Criticism.) New York, Ungar, 1987. xxxiv, 370pp. US$75.00.

DALIL AL‐I'LAAM WA‐L‐A'LAM FI AL‐'ALAM AL‐'ARABA, 1985–1986. Edited by NAJI NU'MAN (NA'MAN). Jounieh, Dar Nu'man li‐1‐Thaqafa, 1985. 627pp. US $125.00.

?STANBUL KÜTÜPHANELER? ARAP HARFLERI SÜREL? YAYINLAR TOPLU KATALOGU 1828–1928. UNION CATALOGUE OF THE PERIODICALS IN ARABIC SCRIPT IN THE LIBRARIES OF ISTANBUL. Compiled by HASAN DUMAN. (Bibliographical Series, 3.) Istanbul, Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture, 1406/1986. XXXVIII, 602pp. (24pp.‐Arabic). US $25.00

DALIL AL‐ABHATH AL‐TARIKHIYYA FI AL‐MAJALLAT AL‐SURIYYA. Compiled by MUHAMMAD MUTI’ AL‐HAFIZ and GHAZWAT BUDAYR. Damascus, Dar al‐Fikr, 1986. 224pp. 25 Syrian pounds or US $3.00.

AL‐FAHARIS AL‐TAHLILIYYA LI‐L‐TARBIYA AL‐'ARABIYYA AL‐ISLAMIYYA. Amman, Al‐Majma’ al‐Malaki li‐Buhūth al‐Hadara al‐Islamiyya, Mu'assasat Al al‐Bayt (Royal Academy for Islamic Civilization Research, Al Albait Foundation), 1985.2 vols. 228; 357pp.

HERB DRUGS AND HERBALISTS IN TURKEY. By K.H.C. BA?ER, GISHO HONDA and WATARU MIKI. (Studia Culturae Islamicae, 27.) Tokyo, Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, 1986. 300pp., illustrations.

HERB DRUGS AND HERBALISTS IN PAKISTAN. By KHAN USMANGHANI, GISHO HONDA and WATARU MIKI. (Studia Culturae Islamicae, 28.) Tokyo, do., 1986. 285pp., illustrations.

IRAN. Compiled by REZA NAVABPOUR. (World Bibliographical Series, 81.) Oxford, Clio Press, 1988. 310pp. £39.50.

IRAN AND THE WEST: A CRITICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. By CYRUS GHANI. London, Kegan Paul International, 1987. viii, 967pp. £65.

FIHRIST‐E MAQALAT‐E JANG‐E TAHMILI DAR MATBU'AT‐E IRAN. Compiled by MARKAZ‐E MADARIK‐E FARHANGI‐YE INQILAB‐EISLAMI. Tehran, Wizärat‐e Irshad‐e Islami, 1364 [1986]. 438pp. 500 riyals.

MARCO POLO BIBLIOGRAPHY 1477–1983. MARUKO PORO SHOSHI. Compiled by HIROSHIWATANABE. Tokyo, The Toyo Bunko, 1986. 345pp.

THE HEIR OF PARHAM: ROBERT CURZON, 14th BARON ZOUCHE. By IAN H.C. FRASER. Alburgh, Paradigm Press, 1986. xviii, 230pp. 25 illustrations, map. £19.50.

BALKAN MILITARY HISTORY: A BIBLIOGRAPHY. By JOHN E. JESSUP. New York, Garland, 1986.478pp. US$ 66.00.

MUSLIM ARCHITECTURE OF THE IBERIAN PENINSULA: EASTERN AND WESTERN SOURCES FOR HISPANO‐ISLAMIC BUILDING ARTS. By FRANÇOIS‐AUGUSTE DE MONTÊQUIN. West Cornwall (USA), Locust Hill Press, 1987. 241pp. US$30.00.

ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM, OXFORD: CATALOGUE OF ISLAMIC SEALS AND TALISMANS. By LUDVIK KALUS. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1986. 120pp. 12 pages of illustrations. £40.00.

ARMENIAN RUGS FROM THE GREGORIAN COLLECTION: A CATALOGUE OF THE EXHIBITION ... 1986, MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA. By ARTHUR T. GREGORIAN and JOYCE GREGORIAN HAMPSHIRE. Newton (USA), the authors, 1986. 81pp. 46 ills., map.

500 ÉV OSZMÁN‐TÖRÖK SZONYEGMUVÉSZETE. FIVE HUNDRED YEARS IN THE ART OF OTTOMAN‐TURKISH CARPETMAKING. By FERENC BATÁRI. Budapest, Museum of Applied Art, 1986. [47]pp. 84 illustrations.

RÉGI KELETI SZONYEGEK BUDAPESTI MAGÁNGYUJTEMÉNYEKBOL. ANCIENT ORIENTAL RUGS FROM PRIVATE COLLECTIONS IN BUDAPEST. By FERENC BATÁRI. Budapest, Budapest Gallery and Museum of Applied Art, 1986. [31]pp. 46 illustrations. Ft. 50.‐

THE MEED MIDDLE EAST FINANCIAL DIRECTORY 1987. London, Middle East Economic Digest, 1987. 348pp. £60.00.

ARABIAN INSURANCE GUIDE, 1987. Compiled by PAUL LANG, JOANNE GIBBONS and ELIZABETH HUTCHINS. (Fourth Edition) Wellingborough, Beacon Publications, 1987. 198pp.

MIDDLE EAST ORGANIZATIONS IN WASHINGTON, DC: OCTOBER 1986. Compiled by THE MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE. Washington, Middle East Institute, 1986. [vi], 82pp. US$ 6.00.

ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF THE THIRD WORLD. By GEORGE THOMAS KURIAN. New York & Oxford, Facts on File, 1987. 3 vols. 2342pp. Maps. £95.00.

AL‐MISBAH: STUDENTS’ DICTIONARY, ENGLISH‐ENGLISH‐ARABIC. Compiled by NAYEF KHARMA and ANTHONY EYRE. Beirut, Libraire du Liban & Harlow, Longman, 1986. XII, 442pp. £9.00.

HARRAP'S ENGLISH‐ARABIC BASIC LEARNER'S DICTIONARY. Edited by NAGI ABBOUD. London, Harrap, 1986. 369pp. £4.50.

AL‐MUGHNI AL‐AKBAR, A DICTIONARY OF CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH (ENGLISH‐ARABIC). By HASAN S. KARMI. Beirut, Librairie du Liban, 1987. 1710pp. Coloured and monochrome plates. £49.50

A DICTIONARY OF EGYPTIAN ARABIC: ARABIC‐ENGLISH. Compiled by MARTIN HINDS and EL‐SAID BADAWI. Beirut, Librairie du Liban, 1986. 981pp. 10 plates. £45.00.

THE ENGLISH‐ARABIC DICTIONARY OF PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS TERMS. Compiled by SABA & CO. London, Middle East Economic Digest, 1987. 210pp. £30.

COMPARATIVE BASIC VOCABULARY OF KHONJI AND LARI. By KOJI KAMIOKA, ATAOLLAH RAHBAR and ALI AKBAR. (Larestani Studies 2; Studia Culturae Islamicae 30.) Tokyo, Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, 1986. 125pp.

PHILOLOGIA ARABICA: ARABISCHE STUDIEN EN DRUKKEN IN DE NEDER‐LANDEN IN DE 16de EN 17de EEUW. Edited by FRANCINE DE NAVE. (Publikaties van het Museum Plantin‐Moretus en het Stedeiijk Prentenkabinet, 3.) Antwerp, Museum Plantin‐Moretus, 1986. cxlix, 236pp. Plates.

GESCHICHTE UND FUNKTION EINIGER POLIT1SCHER TERMINI IM ARABISCHEN DES 19. JAHRHUNDERTS (1798–1882). By HELGA REBHAN. Wiesbaden, Harrassowitz, 1986. 205pp. DM 68.‐

COMPARATIVE VOCABULARY OF SOUTHERN ARABIC: MAHRI, GIBBALI AND SOQOTRI. By AKI'O NAKANO. (Studia Culturae Islamicae, 29.) Tokyo, Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, 1986. 182pp.

STRUKTURELLE GRAMMATIK DES NEUPERSISCHEN (FARSI). Bd. I. PHONOLOGIE. EINE PARADIGMATISCH‐SYNTAGMATISCHE DARSTELLUNG. By MOHAMMAD‐REZA MAJIDI. (Forum Phoneticum, Bd. 34, 1.) Hamburg, Helmut Buske Verlag, 1986. 355pp. DM64.‐

THE WEST BANK HANDBOOK: A POLITICAL LEXICON. By MERON BENVENISTI, with ZIAD ABU‐ZAYED and DANNY RUBINSTEIN. Jerusalem, Jerusalem Post, 1986. 228pp. Maps.

KUTADGU B?L?G GRAMER?: F??L. By AHMET B. ERC?LASUN. (Gazi Üniversitesi Yayin 33.) Ankara, Gazi Üniversitesi Basin‐Yayin Yüksekokulu Basimevi, 1984. 196pp.     

Global and local models of governance in interaction: configurations of power in Upper Guinea Coast societies

ABSTRACT

This paper studies emerging power configurations in Upper Guinea Coast societies which result from contemporary interactions of global and local models of governance. With empirical data on shifting meanings of chieftaincy and control of land, changing tax regimes and the rising importance of youth in domestic politics, modifications of legitimate authority across time are contrasted with the effects of international interventions and global discourses on socio-political change. Some of these interventions accelerate, others accentuate or counteract processes of change within local power configurations. Only by carefully considering the innate malleability of local concepts of authority, history, and tradition can contemporary processes of change be identified as either mere reconfigurations or genuinely new configurations of power.