Europe and the other: Non-European concepts of civil society
The idea and contributions of this collection of articles on “Non-European concepts of civil society” originate from a European research project. The European Civil Society Network (CiSoNet) deals with a highly important aspect of European integration and enlargement, namely, the emergence, dynamics, and perspectives of a European-wide civil society. Ci- SoNet is embedded in the EC’s 5th Framework Programme’s Key Action on “Improving the socio-economic knowledge base”, spanning a period of work from 2003 to 2005. Its aim is to stimulate cross-disciplinary research concentrating on transnational dimensions of civil society, and thereby to contribute to the establishment of a European research area within the social sciences and the humanities.
Social and Political History
The Manchester Guardian Archive is a major source for studies of the political, military, economic, social and technological developments of the twentieth century. It contains correspondence with a large number of politicians and statesmen, and almost every major political event and social trend is documented in the correspondence and despatches. The papers of W.P. Crozier, former editor of the Manchester Guardian, contain interviews with leading politicians and statesmen, while the manuscript collection of A.P. Wadsworth, another former editor, is important for the
Cambodian refugee health care beliefs and practices.
Since 1975, when refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia first began coming to the United States, many articles have been written about Southeast Asian or Indochinese refugees and health care. A careful review of the literature shows that most of these articles have one thing in common: they are written primarily about Vietnamese and do not address the unique health care beliefs and practices of Lao or Cambodian refugees.1 Although some beliefs and practices are common to most Southeast Asians, many are not. Understanding at least that differences exist, and hopefully what some specific differences are, will allow nurses and others to give better care to the various people commonly grouped together as Southeast Asians. This article will introduce readers to some Cambodian beliefs and practices related to health care. Of the principle refugee groups admitted to the U.S. since 1975, the Cambodians are presenting the greatest challenges to health care providers. Cambodians are usually poorly understood by Americans, their health status statistics are hidden among the broad category of "Asian-Pacific Islanders" or "Indochinese Refugees," and cultural and institutional barriers combine to make access to care an overwhelming problem. The end results, of course, are more problems and more expense for the Cambodians, increased stress placed on an already terribly overstressed people, and ultimately greater demands and expense placed on the health care system. One of the most common misunderstandings about Cambodians is that they (and Lao) are basically the same as the Vietnamese. "They speak the same dialect don't they?" There are some similarities, but there are also very significant differences.