Nkunzi, the Maker of Assegais

Mr. Brownlee comes of a family long famous in the annals ofthe Cape, and was himself a President of the Native Appeal Court.He has just relinquished the Editorship of News of the War,a fortnightly designed for non-European troops.     

ASSESSING AND EXPLAINING MISPERCEPTIONS OF PEER DELINQUENCY*

Peer delinquency is a robust correlate of delinquent and criminal behavior. However, debate continues to surround the proper measurement of peer delinquency. Recent research suggests that some respondents are likely to misrepresent their peers’ involvement in delinquency when asked in survey questionnaires, drawing into question the traditional (i.e., perceptual) measurement of peer delinquency. Research also has shown that direct measures of peer delinquency (e.g., measures obtained via networking methods such as Add Health), as compared with perceptual measures, differentially correlate with key theoretical variables (e.g., respondent delinquency and respondent self‐control), raising the question of whether misperception of peer delinquency is systematic and can be predicted. Almost no research, however, has focused on this issue. This study, therefore, provides detailed information on respondents’ misperceptions of peer behavior and investigates whether individual characteristics, the amount of time spent with peers, and peer network properties predict these misperceptions. Findings indicated that 1) some individuals—to varying degrees—misperceived the delinquent behavior of their peers; 2) self‐control and self‐reported delinquency predicted misperception; 3) respondents occupying densely populated peer networks were less likely to misperceive their peers’ delinquent involvement; and 4) peers who occupy networks in which individuals spend a lot of time together were more likely to misperceive peer delinquency. Implications are discussed.     

Explaining Variation in the Effectiveness of Transnational Energy Partnerships

This article analyzes the effectiveness of transnational multi‐stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development—also known as “Type II outcomes” of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development—in the sustainable energy sector. We combine quantitative and qualitative research. Quantitatively, we use a database of 340 partnerships, including 46 partnerships that focus on energy. Our qualitative analysis includes case studies of five partnerships that appear as the most effective and five that are operational but only with modest degrees of effectiveness. We study two competing hypotheses. The first, rooted in institutionalism, assumes that variation in effectiveness is related to organizational structures and procedures. The competing hypothesis emphasizes the power of actors and expects partnerships that involve key business actors and powerful Northern states to perform better. We conclude that the level of institutionalization is most important in explaining effectiveness, while powerful partners and the type of internal organization may further enhance effectiveness.     

Grass-Roots Activism and the Drunk Driving Issue: A Survey of MADD Chapters

A survey of the local grass roots chapters of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) revealed that local chapter officers are primarily married, moderately educated, women who are active participants in other community organizations, and are often victims or have had family members killed in auto crashes. The chapter officers of MADD come from the traditional social base of community grass-roots activism and believe they have the support of other community groups. MADD's agenda for local activism resembles a moral crusade in that public awareness and youth education are given high priority in local chapters, with "legal advocacy" and victim assistance activities receiving less emphasis. Finally, chapter officers seem to adhere to a traditional moral belief in individual responsibility in their commitment to public awareness and stiffer penalties as "solutions" to the drunk driving problem.     

Improving Performance in New Zealand's Public Corporations: The Effect of Governance Practices

This article examines whether the corporate governance practices recommended by the New Zealand Securities Commission (NZSC) in 2004 have affected the financial performance of public sector corporate entities in New Zealand. The findings indicate that these entities have universally adopted the Securities Commission recommendations by establishing subcommittees for audit and remuneration, and having a majority of independent directors on the boards. The results show that leverage has a statistically significant positive effect on all performance measures. Both the Remuneration Committee and dividend payout have positive effects on performance when measured by sales to total assets. Board size and an Audit Committee have a positive effect on reducing agency cost. Results also show that entity risk and industry type also have a positive effect on performance and agency cost reduction. Entity size has a consistent negative effect across all performance measures.     

From Nativism to the Quota Laws: Restrictionist Pressure Groups and the US Congress 1879–1924

SUMMARY

In this article Professor Frank has investigated the history of attempts to pass restrictive immigration legislation through the United States Congress. The character and activities of the different lobbying groups is analyzed and the article shows how it was the resistance of the Executive Branch, largely through the use of the veto power, that held back legislation until 1917. Thereafter liberal opposition to the extension of immigration laws was increasingly ineffectual and marginalized. The study ends with the passage of the Quota Act of 1924.