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Does testable, replicable empirical evidence exist to support the notion that biology can help explain political behavior? The past practice of political science has been to ignore the growing biological knowledge base. Perhaps because mass-scale politics seem so cerebral and rational, scholars of politics are prone to conclude that it somehow transcends biology. Not true. This fascinating issue of The ANNALS draws on the recent advancements in biological insights and applies them to political science. Pulling from a range of topics ΓÇô including the role of personality traits in political decisions; personal temperament and social behavior; and how neuroendocrine mechanisms (stress-coping strategies) and social dominance influence leadership potential ΓÇô this issue calls for the cooperation between political scientists and life scientists. Other social sciences merge biological research with their studies. In psychology, research has connected personal traits (such as risk-taking, depression, extroversion) to neurotransmitter levels and genetics. Evolutionary psychology has demonstrated that universal human tendencies are products of evolutionary pressures. In economics, behavioral economics and neuroeconimcs draw heavily from biological concepts. And in sociology, long-established research tradition has attempted to connect neurotransmitters and hormones to social behavior. Now is the time for political science to embrace natural science. Biology is a stronger force than ever, interacting with human culture in complex ways. By leveraging that knowledge, political science is positioned to make giant strides forward in new avenues of research. Most of the compelling articles included in the collection rely on original and empirical findings. Students and researchers will find this special issue a unique and inspiring perspective on applying the remarkable techniques developed in neuroscience, experimental economics, computer simulations, psychophysiology, behavioral genetics, and molecular biology to future political science research projects.

For the past several years, researchers have been examining possible causes of the rise in of childhood overweight and obesity in the U.S. Now at near-epidemic proportions, the time has come to really delve into the causes of overweight children and propose some practical solutions to help the 9 million children in this country who are overweight. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this special issue of The ANNALS inspects the social problem of childhood obesity from various angles and uses empirically based, creative suggestions for overcoming and preventing unhealthy lifestyles. The authors of this special issue include health care practitioners, social scientists, philanthropists, advocates, and policy makers who understand that this is a complex issue made up of a myriad of factors.

In George Bush's Second Inaugural Address, he stated, "so it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture ..."Along with such a formidable challenge, comes the essential need for scholars and policy makers alike to gain a deeper understanding of the interrelationship between law, society, and culture. Collected from the successful 2005 Syracuse conference of the same name, the papers in this unique issue of The ANNALS zero in on critical studies that focus on other societies - which are evolving toward (or away from) constitutional democracy and a rule of law. Not to be confused with Social Darwinism, the term legal evolution in this context refers to the development or changes of law; and the papers included here demonstrate value-free objectivity - not labeling the results as either "good" or "bad." Rather than offering a prescriptive or claiming a precise forecast, this collection of thoughtful research examines the sociocultural foundations on which law is built, constructing the groundwork for the advancement of policy and further exploration in this intriguing area of study. The intense research conducted by these authors shines through as they elucidate the patterns of legal development and governmental change in societies abroad. Their reports and analysis will help readers understand the diversity of sociolegal systems and divergent paths that have been followed as laws have developed in a wide variety of societies, including South Africa, Germany, Latin America Sudan, Saudi-Arabia, and China. Terrorism remains an underlying issue in both a domestic and global perspective. Can law contribute to the control of terrorism? Are we moving toward global rules of law? What are the consequences of transitioning toward democracy? The thoughtful papers in this issue address these and other timely topics. How can legal evolution be a useful tool for analyzing social change? How well does law in any society express and implement the needs of the population? What effect do social mores have on the effectiveness of law? The complexity of these questions cannot be easily answered. However, after carefully reviewing the rich collection of ideas gathered in this single issue, scholars and policy makers will gain a deeper understanding of the evolution of law and constitutional democracy.

Dedicated to Martin Fishbein, the premier social psychologist in the area of attitude and attitude change, this volume focuses on his work as the codeveloper of reasoned action theory-an approach to behavioral prediction and change that has been used in thousands of research studies.

One of the most recent neo-liberal projects, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), is an example of how the term free trade can bear distinct and contradictory meanings. This book examines and clarifies the complex dimensions of NAFTA and its consequences sits at the core of this special issue of The Annals.

"Religious outsiders" as seen through the eyes of Euro-American Christians are nothing new, but the growing range of religious diversity in the United States has reached new heights of visibility as well as deeper intensities of tension. As U.S. communities of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs strengthen, evangelical and fundamentalist Christians wrestle for America's soul and control of the country's religious identity. In this tumultuous environment, can Americans truly embrace a more widespread religious pluralism, which can be incorporated into the nation's civil religious symbolism and genuinely affirmed in public rituals? Religiously, can we as Americans rethink our identity and view ourselves as a "multireligious nation" and not simply as Christian or Judeo-Christian? And how does religious pluralism dovetail with the idea of multiculturalism? The articles in this volume of The ANNALS explore these and other key questions by examining the contemporary religious climate in the United States. Specifically, readers will gain a better understanding of how faith communities are pulled into networks and niches that bond them with some traditions while dividing them from others. Organized into three major topics, the articles in this volume delve into this urgent topic of our day and offer valuable insights in the following areas:I. Broad Perspectives - Providing a solid foundation, this opening section lays the groundwork for clarifying this complex issue. The articles in this section examine religious pluralism through historical, social, and cultural lenses while exploring the persuasive power of rhetoric and symbol, in both the religious and civic realms. II. Region and Religion - The papers in this section point to the importance of regional history and culture in shaping differing styles of pluralism within America. III. Minority & Immigrant Experiences - Focusing on contemporary immigrant and minority groups in the United States, these articles reflect on the experiences of Muslims, Orthodox Jews, and Latino religions as well as the role of interfaith leaders in the 2005/2006 immigration reform debate. IV. Institutional Patterns - Examining creative ways that pluralism is flourishing within the United States, these articles provide a framework for future interfaith dialog. Social scientists, religious scholars, policy makers, and the informed public will find this volume of The ANNALS to be a valuable resource that distills this complex and sometimes cloudy issue of religious pluralism.

The papers in this volume of The ANNALS review the three ingredients to creating a successful business:o Skill level and capability of the entrepreneur or the management teamo Access to financial resources and venture capitalo Market accessibility for the products or services provided by the enterpriseThose involved in the disciplines of business, organization studies, small business/entrepreneurship, strategic management and business policy, economic and development studies, and ethnic studies will find this volume of The ANNALS to be an important and fitting collection of substantial and relevant research as well as a springboard for future research in this growing area of study.

The papers in this volume of The ANNALS review the three ingredients to creating a successful business:o Skill level and capability of the entrepreneur or the management teamo Access to financial resources and venture capitalo Market accessibility for the products or services provided by the enterpriseThose involved in the disciplines of business, organization studies, small business/entrepreneurship, strategic management and business policy, economic and development studies, and ethnic studies will find this volume of The ANNALS to be an important and fitting collection of substantial and relevant research as well as a springboard for future research in this growing area of study.

For the past several years, researchers have been examining possible causes of the rise in of childhood overweight and obesity in the U.S. Now at near-epidemic proportions, the time has come to really delve into the causes of overweight children and propose some practical solutions to help the 9 million children in this country who are overweight. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this special issue of The ANNALS inspects the social problem of childhood obesity from various angles and uses empirically based, creative suggestions for overcoming and preventing unhealthy lifestyles. The authors of this special issue include health care practitioners, social scientists, philanthropists, advocates, and policy makers who understand that this is a complex issue made up of a myriad of factors. The insightful articles in this special issue evaluate the following factors: Influence of parents Opportunities for exerciseAccess to healthy food choicesMedia influences

Offers a collection of scholarly articles focusing on public diplomacy - the practice through which international actors attempt to advance the ends of policy by engaging with foreign publics - and examines it as an international phenomenon and an important component of statecraft.

The United States' approach to fighting terrorism is among the most debated in the 2008 presidential campaign. The new administration will face an immediate need to address Islamist extremist terrorism and develop a long-term strategy that will shape U.S. interests abroad and life at home. This special volume of the ANNALS provides valuable insight that can help influence policy choices and strategies for addressing the challenges of combating terrorism. Special editor, Richard A. Clarke, served the past three presidents as a senior White House advisor on counter-terrorism. Clarke has pulled together a panel of distinguished scholars and experts to prepare a detailed background and agenda for a U.S. strategy to address the problem of Islamist extremist terrorism. Taken together, these unclassified briefs are designed to assist the new president and administration-as well as scholars and the general public-- to examine terrorism. They provide a fresh perspective from which to set an agenda to counter violent Islamist extremists - especially the growing threat of nuclear terrorism - immediately following the inauguration, before day-to-day crises obstructs long-term planning and strategies. Divided into four parts, this substantial collection offers considerations of strategic policymaking: I. Al Quaeda's IncarnationsExamines the recent status of this violent and well-known Islamist extremist groupII. MotivationsAttempts to explain the impetus for terrorists to carry out violence against innocent peopleIII. Specific U.S. Policies and ProgramsReviews important areas of expertise where the United States must succeed in order to counter violent groupsIV. Overall U.S. StrategyProposes ways to develop broad strategies to counter violent Islamist extremists Drawing from the diligent work of scholars, journalists, prosecutors, and legislators, this collection of articles elucidates, analyzes, and sets an agenda for addressing the threat of terrorism. It is a must-read for students of political sciences as well as policymakers, and although prepared as a brief for the new administration, it is in the interest of every U.S. citizen to gain the important knowledge gathered in these articles.

As assistant secretary in the United States Department of Labor, Daniel Patrick Moynihan wrote his report "The Negro Family: The Case for National Action" in 1965 as an internal document within the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson. It described alarming trends in black employment, poverty, and education and argued that they were exacerbated by black family instability. While Moynihan called for a jobs program to employ black men and stabilize families, the report was attacked as an attempt to blame blacks rather than the injustices in American society and widely vilified as sexist and racist in liberal circles. Now more than 40 years later, this issue of The ANNALS reviews this controversial yet "prophetic report" through a new lens, bringing together some of the country's foremost social scientists to consider how its arguments and predictions have fared in subsequent years and how the controversy surrounding it influenced social science in the late 20th century.