Digital Commons Network^™

"The Politics Of Deracialization: South Asian American Candidates, Nicknames, And Campaign Strategies", Shyam Sriram, Stonegarden Grindlife

Shyam K. Sriram (ssriram@butler.edu)

No abstract provided.

"Experimenting With An Embedded Librarian In An American Government Class", Shyam Sriram

Shyam K. Sriram (ssriram@butler.edu)

No abstract provided.

A Theory Of Conditional Party Opposition, Samuel Nelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This paper takes a critical look at executive power in the United States. Recent years have shown an increase of executive power that many people including: scholars, media, and the public have become skeptical of. The new norm has been for the executive to bypass Congress in order to accomplish policy goals. Traditionally the separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches has been the remedy to executive power. This thesis, however, argues that scholarship has largely ignored the role of political parties in government. Due to this, scholarship has misunderstood the role parties play in the separation …

Contrasting Management Styles And Differing Outcomes Of Capping And Orphaning Of Utah Oil And Gas Wells By Conditions And Land Types, Maxwell C. Parson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The issue of public lands management and ownership in the West has long been contentious. This thesis takes a quantitative approach examining outcomes of the rates at which oil and gas wells in the state of Utah are orphaned and/or capped. Findings indicate that orphanings occur at a statistically significant higher rate on state owned land as opposed to federal and private, and wells on tribal land have no recorded orphaning. No other variables were significant in their relationship to orphaning. The proposed explanations for this disparity are two-fold: First the longer periods of inactivity permitted by the state simply …

Vladimir Putin’S Leadership Traits Over 11 Years: A Longitudinal Study Of Putin’S Third Term In Office Using Leadership Trait Analysis, Payton J. Casteel

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

While an abundance of literature has studied the actions and behaviors of Vladimir Putin, the most extensive area involves leadership analysis (Semenova and Winter 2020). Various methods within political psychology have used analyses to study Putin throughout his time in office. However, no published research has studied Putin using leadership trait analysis, nor have any published works studied his changes in leadership leading up to the invasion of Ukraine. Using a mixed methods longitudinal study design on Vladimir Putin from 2012 to 2023, five periods in his third term were identified, with speeches taken and coded using the seven LTA …

Peace-Building And Stability After Civil Wars: The Cases Of Angola And The Democratic Republic Of The Congo, Ali Elsharkawy

Theses and Dissertations

Why do some rebel groups successfully establish stable and sustainable states after civil wars, while others fail? Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are two African countries that experienced long and bloody civil wars. Despite the commonalities, the two cases strongly diverged in the political outcomes after civil war. Angola successfully made the transition to stability and prosperity, while the DRC slipped back into violence. This thesis compares and contrasts between the two peace- building processes in both countries. The results illustrate that two main variables made the difference between the two cases, the geography of the capital …

A Story Of State Transformation In The Global South: Limited Statehood And Governance In Post-Syria Lebanon, Jodor Jalit

Theses and Dissertations

This research thesis analyzes security governance in areas of limited statehood in the context of state transformation. Specifically, it examines the impact of the 2005 Syrian military withdrawal on the Lebanese state in the realm of security. Briefly, the thesis unveils the coexistence of state and non-state groups and the engagement of non-state actors in state-like practices. That is, it assesses the impact of the 2005 Syrian military withdrawal on the Lebanese state to reveal the relationship its new configuration, relationship with non-state actors, and emerging governance practices. In that sense, this thesis pretends to contribute to the larger body …

Migration Policy In The Era Of Trumpism And Media Spectacle: What A 2024 Trump [Or Other] Presidency Could Mean For Mexico-U.S. Relations [Política Migratoria En La Era Del Trumpismo Y Del Espectáculo Mediático: El Significado De Una Presidencia De Trump U Otro Candidato En 2024 Para Las Relaciones México-Estados Unidos], Terence Garrett

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Donald Trump may be the Republican presidential nominee for the 2024 election and is facing multiple indictments for alleged crimes committed during his presidency. If convicted, this would make a Trump election victory unlikely, although he is the master of the media spectacle and populist authoritarianism –essential components of Trumpism. I focus on U.S. migration policy consequences affecting Mexico and other states in the Americas if Trump wins in 2024. With a Republican win, the migration policy could revert back to a Title 42 migrant expulsion scenario, with attempts to harden the border using morepersonnel, infrastructure, and surveillance technology. President …

Comparing The Us Response To The Soviet Invasion Of Afghanistan And The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine: Learning From The Past And Planning For The Future, Zachary Hogan

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

As the Russo-Ukrainian war continues to rage, the decisions of the present are of paramount importance. In order to make the most positive and well-supported decisions in this ongoing conflict, it would be wise to look to past instances of similar situations. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan is such an instance. The parallels between the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the past Soviet invasion of Afghanistan are extensive and, more importantly, informative for U.S. foreign policy. It is with this lens that this paper will pursue a historical foreign policy analysis of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, its circumstances and …

Examining The Factors That Contribute To The Survival And Resilience Of The Al-Shabaab Terrorist Organization, Kevisha R. Kellar

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis explores the enduring threat posed by Al-Shabaab in Somalia, examining three primary factors contributing to its resilience: the mismanagement of international intervention, inadequate government oversight and resources, and Al-Shabaab’s ability to adapt to Somalia’s socio-political environment. These factors help Al-Shabaab foster direct and indirect relationships that allow the organization to survive. Through an analysis of Al-Shabaab’s organizational structure and strategies, this study sheds light on the exploitation of political, economic, and religious dynamics, and the complexity of combatting Al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab’s manipulation of an Islamic identity is a political tool, that fosters business networks, aids in arms acquisitions, evades …

The Unitary Executive And Power In The Modern American Presidency, Maxwell J. Fuerderer

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In evaluating presidential power, substantive focus on the administrative aspects of the presidency emphasizes the crucial importance of a president’s degree of control, and dominance, over the executive branch. In this dissertation, I examine the relationship between the unitary executive, in practice, and the power of presidents to control administrative policymaking. I begin with a theoretical discussion and practical definition of presidential power. I define power as the degree to which a president has unilateral control and influence over the federal government’s agencies, the executive branch, and therefore administrative policies. I then assess the legitimacy and influence of the unitary …

Socially Racialized And Statistically Invisible: U.S. Census Recognition Of The Middle Eastern And North African Diaspora, Aliana J. Jabbary

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis delves into the recent decision by the U.S. Executive’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to revise the statistical categorization of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) individuals within federal statistical collection, particularly focusing on the U.S. Decennial Census’ racial and ethnic classifications as outlined in the OMB’s Statistical Policy Directive no. 15. Historically classified solely as racially White, the MENA diaspora’s statistical invisibility within federal data has significant impacts on policy eligibility and access to legal protections, contributing to their social erasure from the national identity. Through a comprehensive analysis of racialization and Orientalism scholarship, alongside an …

Heteronormativity And Fair Housing: Comparing Housing Opportunities Among Cisgender And Transgender Women, Joseph E. Lara

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In the American housing market, gender norms regulate access to safe and stable dwellings. When looking for a home, transgender communities, plagued by multiple vulnerabilities and politicized by conservative politicians, endure vastly different experiences than their cisgender counterparts. Despite an ongoing housing crisis, civil rights laws have widened homeownership opportunities for cisgender women, but transgender women face multiple obstacles to owning a home. How have gender norms influenced the housing market, and how have socially embedded heterosexism and cisgenderism benefited cisgender women over transgender women? This manuscript explores the cultural norms regulating the creation and access to housing, the history …

Who Do Civilian Review Boards Serve And Protect? Applying Andre Gorz’S Non-Reformist Reform Theoretical Framework To Empirical Analysis From New York State, Jackson Diamond

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In the wake of countless high-profile instances of police violence and repression against civilians in the United States, waves of reformation have washed over American police departments. Some have questioned the efficacy of these reforms, as civilians continue to suffer acts of violence at the hands of the police. One such reform measure, adopted broadly in recent years, is the creation of civilian police review boards. To analyze how this reform has affected citizens’ ability to hold their police departments accountable for their actions, I analyzed a sample of 89 municipal police departments in New York state in the year …

Electoral Competitiveness And Legislator Responsiveness, Joseph Donza

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Members of the United States Congress have a wide array of concerns when representing their respective districts and this includes re-election to office. Legislator responsiveness, a fundamental component to all democratic systems of government, plays a major role in the interaction that occurs between legislators and their constituents. However, many have argued that legislators are not responsive to their constituents when making legislative decisions. This study focuses on the election motives of members of Congress, with a special emphasis on competitiveness of a district as a driving force of legislator responsiveness. A quantitative analysis is conducted to search for correlation …

The Efficacy And Challenges Of Lobbying Regulation In Canada: A Comprehensive Analysis, Zahra Khan

Major Papers

Lobbying, often viewed skeptically and associated with corruption, plays a pivotal yet contentious role in modern governance. This paper examines the efficacy of Canadian federal lobbying legislation amid public disillusionment with governmental processes. While only 32% of Canadians express confidence in the Federal Parliament, concerns about lobbying's influence persist. Despite regulatory efforts, lobbying in Canada remains complex, with historical and political contexts shaping its regulation. This study undertakes a comprehensive investigation into Canadian federal lobbying legislation, exploring its ability to regulate lobbying activities effectively. It scrutinizes the regulatory framework, enforcement mechanisms, and identifies systemic barriers that impact trust, access, and …

Description Of Urbanism In Ibn Farkoun's Poetry, Afnan Zalloum, Salah Jarrar

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

This study manifests In standing on some of what Ibn Farkoun organized in describing Andalusian architecture During the era of Bani al-Ahmar during the reign of King Yusuf III.

The study came in the first section introducing Ibn Farkoun and his literary and poetic production, as for the second section, it came to talk about Andalusian architecture as he described it in his poems. We find it describing palaces, domes and energies, stadiums, and shura councils that were held in the presence of Ibn Farkoun, accompanied by King Yusuf III, And the third section to display the technical characteristics of …

The Perpetual Progression In The Schleswig-Holstein Duchy: History, Politics, And Religion, 1460-1864, Christian Anthony Ahlers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

German nationalism in the Schleswig and Holstein duchies that predates the German Unification Wars of the Nineteenth Century continuously transformed in response to Danish encroachment, civic disputes regarding treaty legitimacy, and war. The Germans in the duchies fought to retain their ancestral homelands and, in doing so, embraced a pan-Germanic consciousness that is the foundation for early modern nationalism. This consciousness dates back hundreds of years. This case study examines the Germans of Schleswig and Holstein and their experiences with the consistent and pressing Danish encroachment. Despite the encroachment, the Germans remained connected with their culture, traditions, religion, and their …

Judicial Antagonism To Executive Power: An Analysis Of Emerging Doctrinal Trends In Federal Courts, Kyle James

Political Analysis

Kyle James is a senior Political Science major at Seton Hall University and the Executive Editor of Political Analysis. Following graduation, he will be attending Wake Forest University School of Law as a JD candidate. He aspires to practice securities, antitrust, and regulatory law in Washington D.C. or North Carolina. His research interests include federal courts, civil procedure, and administrative law. This paper was conceived in response to recent judicial decisions that have upended traditional understandings of the administrative state.

Unitary Executive Theory, Audrey Espinosa

Political Analysis

Audrey Espinosa is a third year Political Science major in the 3+3 Law Program at Seton Hall University. She plans to pursue a career as a lawyer and is currently interested in researching constitutional and ideological politics. Her paper on the Unitary Executive Theory was inspired by the Constitutional Law class that she took in the Fall 2023 semester with Professor Pallitto. The topic was briefly covered in class texts and discussions, and she wanted to further explore the theory and argue against its principles with references to books, academic journals, and Supreme Court cases. She plans to pursue a …

Absolute Presidency: History And Framework Of American Executive Government, Garrett Mershimer

Political Analysis

Garrett is a senior seeking a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. His research interests include American Politics but also cover topics such as church-state relations, the subject of his senior thesis. When writing this paper in the first half of his junior year, he was inspired to explore the true authority and discretionary powers of the President within the executive branch.

Putin's Pivot: Understanding The Evolution Of Russia's Anti-Western Stance, Nicole Fernandez

Political Analysis

Nicole Fernandez is a first-generation student who majors in political science and minors in criminal justice. She aspires to become an attorney who practices immigration law. During her senior thesis class, the topic of Russian-American relations immediately captured her interest, as she watched a documentary detailing Putin's evolving interactions with the last five American presidents the summer before. Witnessing the dynamic shifts in these relationships over time piqued her curiosity about Russia's increasingly anti-Western stance. This interest was further fueled by ongoing geopolitical conflicts. Although her research interests lie in Latin American relations with the US, delving into an unchartered …

What Does ‘Sex’ Mean To You? The Rainbow Bench Gives Their Opinion. A Discussion On Textualism By Amicus Curiae Briefs Written By Nonprofits In Bostock V. Clayton County, Isabella Rojas

Political Analysis

Isabella Rojas is a recent Magna Cum Laude graduate of Seton Hall University Class of 2023, holding a B.A. in Political Science. She is an incoming J.D. Candidate at Rutgers Law School. Ms. Rojas hopes to pursue a career in legal academia while continuing research in LGBTQ+ scholarship. The objective of her research was to critically analyze the influence of the nonprofit sector on the interpretation of legal text. Her thesis was inspired by her interest in judicial interpretation and the philosophical framework underlying court opinions.

Secularization And Women's Liberation: An Analysis Of Women's Freedoms In The Modern Era, Anna Humphrey

Political Analysis

Anna Humphrey, Seton Hall University class of 2024, is a senior Political Science major with minors in Spanish and Environmental Studies. Anna is a member of the Communications Committee for Adelante Latino/a Student Organization and is a Statistics Tutor at the Math Learning Lab on campus. After graduation, she hopes to work in legislative analysis or lobbying. She is primarily interested in environmental and immigration policy. Her thesis paper was inspired by both Professor Jeffrey Togman's research on the rise of atheism and her passion for women's rights.

Like, Follow, And Subscribe: The Potential Effect Of Social Media On The 2024 Elections, Nyada Bryant

Political Analysis

Nyada Bryant is a political science major with a minor in sociology who will be graduating in the spring of 2024. After graduation, she intends on going to graduate school and getting her masters in diplomacy as she would like to seek a career in that field of study or international affairs. For her senior thesis class, she had to focus on the 2024 election and decided to examine tactics that politicians were utilizing on social media. Thus, this paper delves into political communication, reliability and longevity in the digital world.

Table Of Contents, N/A N/A

Political Analysis

No abstract provided.

Performing Identity On Social Media: Ethno-Nationalism In A Digitised India, Tara Iyer

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Kashmir And Conflict: The Risks Of Water Scarcity, Mael Quentin

Senior Theses

As global warming increases, natural resource scarcity consistently becomes central to interstate tensions and local dissatisfaction. As water supplies dwindle, countries are becoming more desperate to cling to any accessible water supply, often at other groups' expense. The tension that grows over water scarcity can compound with pre-existing identity-based tensions. Kashmir is an ideal region to examine these concerning patterns, as it is an essential water source tied to interstate conflicts between Pakistan and India. My goal was to analyze three water scarcity types determined by Lyla Mehta and their potential to engender conflict in Kashmir. After looking through multiple …

Refugees Or Migrants: Polish Reception To Ukrainian And Syrian Refugee Crises (2015/2022), Emily M. Friedman

Senior Theses

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, millions of Ukrainians fled the country as refugees. The majority of which settled in the neighboring country of Poland, where they were greeted with open arms both by the government and the public. However, Poland’s kindness towards Ukrainian refugees was an outlier: during the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015, the Polish government and citizens adamantly opposed accepting refugees from Syria or other Middle Eastern countries. Their initial refusal meant they were woefully unprepared for the two million Ukrainians who chose to remain in the country both due to a lack of updated …

Student Activism In Post-Colonial Societies: An Analysis Of Egyptian And Indonesian Government Intervention In Student Movements, Hiba Imad

Senior Theses

Student activism is a central component of many political movements against authoritarian hegemony. This paper focuses on multiple instances of student activism in Egypt and Indonesia over the past fifty years. As such, the following questions are considered: how have the post-colonial systems of government impacted legislation that enforces the limits of free speech and mobilization? How has student activism evolved in the digital age? How have governments responded to the changing digital landscape, and how might their tactics evolve in the future? These questions are considered within the framework of violence and its multiple forms, as Johan Galtung, Nancy …