Mark A. Foster

I am a full-time, tenured (full) Professor of Sociology, a public sociological activist and an advocacy journalist working for the human rights of autistics, and a ventriloquist. As a sociologist, my specializations are in the sociology of religion, social theory, public sociology, and clinical practice.

Moreover, I operate The MarkFoster.NETwork™ with 25 domains and 23 websites, including, The Structurization Institute™ and The League to Fight Neurelitism™.

In addition to my professorship, I run three businesses. Due to MySpace.com regulations, I cannot provide additional information.

My views on most issues are quite radical. Stated succinctly, I have many of the views which a lot of people on the right appear to hate. More specifically, I am a postmodernist, a nominalist, a poststructuralist (Foucaultian and Derridian), a neopragmatist, and a relativist (but not a personalist, a new ager, a metaphysicist, a solipsist, an existentialist, or a subjective idealist), a proponent of liberation theology, a supporter of green economics (including an opposition to globalization and corporate capitalism), and a leftist (Marxist) sociologist (but not a liberal). On religious questions, I thoroughly oppose all forms of fundamentalism.

Why do I say I am not a liberal? Unfortunately, most Americans, living in a country which is largely right of center (compared, say, to much of Europe), have collapsed the left under liberalism. Historically, however, the left and liberalism have been very much at odds. (I can provide more detail if anyone is interested.) Most so-called liberals appear quite conservative or regressive to me, while the religious right and neoconservatism, generally speaking, strike me as exhibiting many traits I would describe as neo-fascist.

On the other hand, my behavior with respect to a number of so-called moral issues are, with certain exceptions and qualifications, somewhat traditional. For instance, I do not drink, smoke, or use illegal drugs.

Although I do not agree with abortion in many situations (except in cases of medical emergency, rape, or incest), I am neither pro-life nor pro-choice. As a radical, I reject the liberal discourse (whether conceived as liberalism/progressivism or conservatism) of "natural rights." All rights, including the reproductive rights of the mother and the life of the fetus, are socially constructed, not inherent.

Additionally, I would rather see people educated not to have elective abortions than to return to the time when they were outlawed. Legislation is not the only means of dealing with social issues.