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How do social factors motivate and influence scholars when they theorize? By exploring the life of George Homans, this paper aims to illustrate that theories are the products of the theorist, and as such are influenced by individual life experiences.

Drawing on a plethora of archival sources including many personal and autobiographical accounts, this manuscript synthesizes these sources thus providing clear insight into how personal factors and experiences impacted Homans's social exchange theory.

This research concludes that Homans's journey into theorizing was an act of providence; that his early career, personal background, and social capital interacted with several factors beyond his control thus leading to his interest in social exchange processes.

This is the first research endeavor exploring the context, sentiments and motivations of George Homans as he began to lay out social exchange theory.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the main impact factors on the export capacity of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in Fujian Province, China.

A model containing internal and external impact factors on the export capacity of SMEs was developed. Data were collected by e‐mail questionnaire surveys from random samples of SMEs in Fujian Province and 47 usable responses were statistically analyzed by SPSS14.0 using frequencies, t‐tests, correlation and linear regression.

The analysis shows that the government and home and export markets constitute the external impact factors while resource availability has an important internal impact on the export capacity of SMEs in Fujian. Firm scale, cultural differences and business networks do not influence the export capacity of SMEs; however, management, products, experience and geographical location have an indirect effect.

The findings of this study suggest that SMEs in Fujian need to seek more support from government and explore more international markets. It is suggested that an SME export support system should be established by local government in order to better promote the acquisition of resources, product innovation and business network development.

This study offers a first insight into the understanding of Fujian SMEs' export context and explores the relationships between (theorized) impact factors on SME export capacity at the micro level.

There are a number of reference works that present man's past — or certain periods of it — in outline, tabular or sequential form, arranged chronologically to show the continuity and relationships among historical events in different parts of the world. An historical chronology can show, for example, what happened around the world in 1783, 1309 or 41 B.C. Some historical chronologies focus on a few centuries, while others try to record the major (and often minor) accomplishments of men and women from earliest times to the present day. Some chronologies focus on political and military affairs, other emphasize cultural developments, while still others attempt to combine both political and cultural events into a single panoramic timeline of human history. This review will look at some of the better‐known historical chronologies that focus on more than one country. For each, the scope, format, strengths, special features, and any recognizable bias will be examined, in the hope that the reader will gain a better understanding of these chronologies and their possible applications in reference work.

Purpose – Role-taking refusal was a foundational problem in Mead's work but was ignored by subsequent interactionists who focused on the benefits of role-taking – empathy and solidarity – but failed to examine how they are destroyed or crippled from emerging as inclusionary aspects of social consciousness. Role-taking refusal constitutes both the microfoundation of dehumanization in the case of the oppressor and, in the case of the oppressed, the microfoundation of resistance. Role-taking refusal is linked to Giddens's notion of the reflective project of the self, Omi and Winant's racial formation theory, Feagin's theory of systemic racism, and the perspective of Critical Race Theory.

Methodology – I shall portray role-taking refusal by using historical, theoretical, and empirical works, especially ethnographic studies.

Social implications – The oppressed know the image their oppressors have of them. Refusing to internalize this image is the first step – the microfoundation – of resistance. Role-taking refusal in the oppressed fosters critical consciousness, which, if solidarity with others is formed, can lead to collective action and, possibly, permanent institutional change.

Originality – “The superiority delusion” is the paradigmatic ideology of all oppressors, deployed to justify their power, privilege, and prestige. This delusion is maintained by the microfoundation of dehumanization, which is a systematic refusal to role-take from those over whom oppressors oppress. All other ideologies that justify oppression are derived from some form of “the superiority delusion,” identifying for the first time role-taking refusal as paradoxically both the original sin of social relations and the foundation of social resistance.

This article describes two scenarios and changes made to a graduate readings course in social studies education over two years in order to align it with constructivist and student-centered thinking and learning. The changes made, the rationale for the changes, and the results are discussed.

The past decade has seen an enormous amount of publication and research focusing on the concerns of women. As feminist scholarship expands, publication about women and women's issues will continue. So much has been produced that it is nearly impossible to keep abreast of it all. And it is equally difficult to adequately evaluate these publications. Because the literature on women now is so vast, a brief list of essential resources of interest to public libraries is needed. Rather than attempt to name many specific titles for a core circulating collection I have concentrated on very basic reference tools. Women's studies journals are not included. See Serials Review 5:4.

One of the most important, least-known documents of the American Revolution was a 25-page pamphlet published in Amsterdam early in 1787: An Explanatory Message Concerning the Funds by Pieter Stadnitski. ¹ Within a year of its publication Peter Stadnitski's Message quite literally revolutionized American sovereign finance. My paper will summarize in detail the report's content and analyze its arguments in light of Dutch archival materials including deeds, newspaper reports, and letters, as well as congressional records from American sources. It will describe what Dutch investors knew (and did not know) of the state of American public finance and American political landscape, and the Dutch financial community's view of the American future. Its essential argument is that thanks initially to Stadnitski's persuasive case and ultimately to the success of the trusts he pioneered, Dutch investment specialists came to see the American republic as a safe haven at a time that Dutch Republic's own future seemed increasingly perilous. If their dream of achieving a new Golden Age through trade and investment with the new nation ultimately proved illusory, the effects of Dutch capital in creating financial stability for the United States government and igniting the first peacetime economic expansion in American history were revolutionary indeed.

The purpose of the paper is further clarify Veblen's views on globalization with insights derived from international trade in the alternative socio‐economic order envisioned in Bellamy's utopian novel Looking Backward.

After reviewing the intellectual relationship between Veblen and Bellamy, the approach of the paper is to examine how international trade was arranged in Bellamy's utopian economy.

Bellamy's envisioned system of global trade based on providing maximum supplies of goods and services needed for high standards of living for all would be very compatible with Veblen's views on globalization.

The real world implications are the need for innovative institutional reforms to facilitate maximizing the potential gains from an ever expanding industrial system in a manner that that assures equitable distributions of the gains and adequate compensation for those negatively affected. On a practical basis, Veblen saw free trade under conditions of competitive markets as an improvement in that direction.

The paper offers points of interest to all who recognize that economic and political institutions are constantly under pressure to change to accommodate the ever expanding and changing global industrial system.