Box 1916

Maxcy Hall

112 George Street

Providence, RI 02912

Telephone: (401) 863-2367

Sociology@brown.edu

 

M.S. in Applied Sociology, Clemson University

Contact Information:
Brown University
Department of Sociology
Box 1916
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: (401) 863-3459
Fax: (401) 863-3213
Amy_Kracker@brown.edu

Year of Entry: 2006

Previous Degrees:
M.S. in Applied Sociology, Clemson University, 2004
B.A. in International Studies, SUNY Buffalo, 2002

Areas of Interest:
Democracy and Civil Society, Political Sociology, Spatial Social Science

I am primarily interested in how interactions between governments and civil society can facilitate development. Through development of these ties, civil society groups are often able to gain access to influence and resources that further their organizational goals. I'm interested in examining the circumstances under which these ties develop and how they evolve as well as understanding why certain civil society groups are able to foster stronger ties with governments, and thus gain access to greater resources, while others are not. I am also interested in how spatial dynamics can influence interactions between the state and civil society groups.

In my Master's thesis, I drew on my interest in civil society and examined how civic engagement influences perceptions of environmental risk.

My work on current projects includes using spatial databases to examine service provision and infrastructure development in post-Apartheid South Africa. Additionally, I am involved in analyzing the socioeconomic and racial characteristics of neighborhoods in post-Katrina New Orleans in relation to environmental toxicity following the hurricane.