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The Violent Overthrow Of Personalist Regimes Compared To The Peaceful Collapse Of Single Party Regimes, Victoria Austin Dec 2013

The Violent Overthrow Of Personalist Regimes Compared To The Peaceful Collapse Of Single Party Regimes, Victoria Austin

HIM 1990-2015

Personalist regimes tend to be violently overthrown while single party states tend to nonviolently collapse from within. This paper analyzes Libya under Qaddafi as a personalist regime, and USSR under Gorbachev as a single party state, and seeks to ascertain through case studies and process tracing the reasons for the violent overthrow of personalist regimes compared to the peaceful collapse of single party regimes. Both regime types create the problems that result in their downfall, and both kinds of downfall are accelerated by the public appearance of weakness.


Predatory War: A History Of Violence, John Chapman Dec 2013

Predatory War: A History Of Violence, John Chapman

HIM 1990-2015

This thesis attempts to explain the reasons states choose to prey on other states or territories. A way of testing significance was devised and three variables were produced: Proclivity to violence, winning coalition size, and whether or not a war of conquest took place. The scope for this project was the time period of 1900-1950 and the location was Europe. The European countries were then refined down to a list of 10 states based on power ratings used in the Correlates of War. Then the leaders of each of these states were rated on a scale of 1 – 5 …


The Effects Of Federalism On Women's Political Representation: A Case Study Of German Federalism, Christine M. Comfort Dec 2013

The Effects Of Federalism On Women's Political Representation: A Case Study Of German Federalism, Christine M. Comfort

HIM 1990-2015

This thesis analyzes the effects of federalism on promoting gender representation in parliaments using the case of Germany. There is no country in the world where women and men are equally represented in politics. Discrepancies in representation may stem from historical, cultural, institutional, or structural facets. One little discussed possibility is that of governmental institutions, particularly, the federalist structure of government. Theoretically, federalism should encourage minorities, including women, to be elected to parliaments at a higher rate than in unitary states because it allows additional layer of access to and entry into elected office. By investigating the proportions of women …


At The Frontlines Of The Kulturkampf: Social Policy Positions Of Undergraduate Students At A Large University In The Southeastern United States, Julio Montanez Dec 2013

At The Frontlines Of The Kulturkampf: Social Policy Positions Of Undergraduate Students At A Large University In The Southeastern United States, Julio Montanez

HIM 1990-2015

Social policy concerns groups. Specifically, social policies have been implemented as a means to affect the well-being of sexual and gender minorities, including areas such as health, employment, violence, and many others. Undergraduate student opinions on such policies are an understudied area of survey research. Possible correlates of support for such policy areas include, but are not limited to, sexual prejudice, attributions, increased contact with the minority group, gender, Para-social contact, and many others. This research administered a 55-item survey to undergraduate students at the University of Central Florida. With a sample of 210 individuals, this study aimed to answer …


The Influence Of Campaign Contributions On Proportionality Of Representation In The United States Congress, Jamesha Cox Aug 2013

The Influence Of Campaign Contributions On Proportionality Of Representation In The United States Congress, Jamesha Cox

HIM 1990-2015

There are proportionally fewer Hispanic Americans, African Americans and women in Congress than in the United States population. Existing literature prescribes a variety of explanations for this disparity including skewed nominations procedures, differing participation rates, racial gerrymandering, voting biases, and funding inequities. This study revisits one aspect of the underrepresentation issue: campaign contributions. Money has been an integral component of the electoral process since before the American Revolution and its impact on the current composition of Congress ought to be explored to a greater extent. Previous research shows that contributors rarely, if at all, discriminate on the basis of gender. …


Assessing The Correlation Between Terrorist Attacks And The Limiting Of Muslim Immigration Due To Anti-Islamic Sentiments, Ratna Okhai Aug 2013

Assessing The Correlation Between Terrorist Attacks And The Limiting Of Muslim Immigration Due To Anti-Islamic Sentiments, Ratna Okhai

HIM 1990-2015

In the last 12 years, since the devastating attack on the United States Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, the global community has become increasingly wary. The continuing terrorism on July 7, 2005 on the United Kingdom subway system increased tensions between citizens and immigrants in these countries. I use these two countries to examine the consequences effects that these terrorist attacks have had on, in particular, the Muslim immigrant population. In addition to that, I use Germany as a control, since it has not faced a major terrorist attack, yet has a substantial Muslim immigrant population. In the United …


Looking In The Mirror: Intra-Party Democracy And Party Politics In Southern Africa, Ty Ryan Aug 2013

Looking In The Mirror: Intra-Party Democracy And Party Politics In Southern Africa, Ty Ryan

HIM 1990-2015

Political parties serve as a link between the state and society. Being so, they have a fundamental role in the consolidation of democratic values. It then becomes important to understand their internal functions and character. The purpose of this thesis is to measure the levels of intra-party democracy within three opposition political parties in Southern Africa. Also, this thesis seeks to show whether authoritarian political culture has an affect on a democratic party's behavior. This thesis will strive to show that as party levels of intra-party democracy decrease, fracturing in the party increases. A qualitative case study was conducted on …


Don't Ask, Don't Tell: A History, Legacy, And Aftermath, Alexis Wansac Aug 2013

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: A History, Legacy, And Aftermath, Alexis Wansac

HIM 1990-2015

Though many believe some of the greatest military leaders of all time - from Alexander the Great to Julius Caesar - have engaged in sex acts with other males, and though certainly a very different political climate from that of ancient Greece or Rome, the United States military has historically never accepted homosexual sex acts within its own military, nor has the United States military accepted open homosexuals either until recently. This thesis focuses on the evolution of United States military policy towards homosexuals and the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy of the United States military in order to …


The Great Leap Backward: Exploring The Differences In Development Paths Between The Dominican Republic And Haiti, Rebb Valeris Aug 2013

The Great Leap Backward: Exploring The Differences In Development Paths Between The Dominican Republic And Haiti, Rebb Valeris

HIM 1990-2015

This thesis examines the variance in human development paths and policies pursed on the island of Hispaniola by the governments of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The different paths have resulted in significant dissimilarities in contemporary levels of economic and social development across the island. Starting from the theoretical perspective of Acemplgu and Robinson (2012), I find that institutional explanations can only explain part of this divergence. I argue that a more complete explanation needs to take into consideration the role played by class, color, and race. I also find that foreign intervention, particularly the occupation of both countries by …


U.S. Foreign Policy Can Be Only As Good As Public's Understanding Of World Affairs, David Houghton May 2013

U.S. Foreign Policy Can Be Only As Good As Public's Understanding Of World Affairs, David Houghton

UCF Forum

Poll after poll shows that most Americans are woefully ignorant about foreign policy and the rest of the world.


The Reorientation Of Iranian Trade From West To East Since 1979, Leslie Bilger May 2013

The Reorientation Of Iranian Trade From West To East Since 1979, Leslie Bilger

HIM 1990-2015

Iran, with its attractive geographical position and its abundant natural resources, has had an undeniable attraction for the world's greatest powers over the history. Well before the creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, this country established high level of economic interactions with a great variety of political partners. In recent years, the country's change of regime has had a crucial impact on those relationships. By analysing the trade data between Iran and Western countries (the U.S.A., Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, and Italy) as well as the major Eastern countries (China, Russia, and India), it is possible to establish …


Interpreting The Relation Between Immigrant Hostility And The Extreme Far Right In England, Tyler Black May 2013

Interpreting The Relation Between Immigrant Hostility And The Extreme Far Right In England, Tyler Black

HIM 1990-2015

The study of race relations in England developed in the modern era amongst conflict between races, political parties and local communities. England, consisting of a predominantly white population, is an interesting case of race relations in that immigrants of color seem to be in the center of many of the most controversial conflicts of the past century. Existing research on race relations in England suggests that the region is largely racist due to the conflicts of the past and the current political success of the anti-immigrant extreme right-wing parties (ERPs). But the times at which these parties have been successful …


A Case Study Of National Identity: An Analysis Of The American Dream In Politics And Literature, Sarah Marie Horning May 2013

A Case Study Of National Identity: An Analysis Of The American Dream In Politics And Literature, Sarah Marie Horning

HIM 1990-2015

The American Dream has been the inspiration of many political speeches, political writings, and works of literature throughout American history. Most recently, it has inspired political groups like the Center for the New American Dream and academic groups like the Xavier University Center for the Study of the American Dream. As of late, the notion of the American Dream has begun to crop up more often than not in main stream political discourse, especially surrounding the topic of immigration with the aptly named Dream Act. Why has the American Dream drawn this new attention and inquiry? Why and how is …


Costa Rica, Panama, And Nicaragua: Explaining Economic Success Levels, Kevin Negy May 2013

Costa Rica, Panama, And Nicaragua: Explaining Economic Success Levels, Kevin Negy

HIM 1990-2015

Latin America is a region that has deep roots in Spanish colonialism. Since its independence, many countries in the region have heavily depended on agriculture exports to industrialized states to support their economies. This has led to political theorists to label Latin America as an area full of "periphery" countries that are exploited for resources by "core countries. Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua were not the exception. In recent years, however, a noticeable difference between the economies of the countries has helped Costa Rica and Panama become more successful than Nicaragua, on the basis of GDP, GNI, and other similar …


Axis Of Identities: How Socially Constructed Perceptions Affect The Foreign Policy Of Nations, Roman Torres May 2013

Axis Of Identities: How Socially Constructed Perceptions Affect The Foreign Policy Of Nations, Roman Torres

HIM 1990-2015

Contrary to the assumptions of realist theory, this thesis suggests that reality is subjected to social constructions. The national discourse of one country constitutes the context from which societies will generate perceptions and ideas about another society. It is from these socially constructed ideas that states' interests are formed. States interests are what constitute the foreign policy of a country. Given that the United States is the world's hegemon, understanding the process by which countries' interests take shape and evolve will give the United States social awareness and strategic advantage to lead the world's current speedy integration with less volatile …


Overseas Drone Attacks Test Constitution's Precepts, David Houghton Mar 2013

Overseas Drone Attacks Test Constitution's Precepts, David Houghton

UCF Forum

We are occasionally reminded just how difficult it can be for Congress to keep tabs on what the executive branch does.


If We Are A 'Civilized' Society, We Must Find A Way To Stop Violence, David Houghton Jan 2013

If We Are A 'Civilized' Society, We Must Find A Way To Stop Violence, David Houghton

UCF Forum

Other nations genuinely look to America as an example, a shining “city upon a hill,” as Massachusetts Bay colony’s first Gov. John Winthrop famously put it. But they cannot understand what they often call America’s “love affair” with guns.


Incumbent Violence And Insurgent Tactics: The Effects Of Incumbent Violence On Popular Support For Guerrilla Warfare And Terrorism, Jonathan Williams Jan 2013

Incumbent Violence And Insurgent Tactics: The Effects Of Incumbent Violence On Popular Support For Guerrilla Warfare And Terrorism, Jonathan Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Insurgency has two main strategies, guerrilla warfare and terrorism, which should be treated as linked, but distinct, strategies. This thesis examines the role of incumbent violence in leading insurgents to select one, or both, of these strategies. It argues that incumbent violence can create support for insurgency by causing fear and a desire for revenge and reshaping the social structures of a community. It also argues that incumbent violence increases popular support for terrorism in particular by creating outbidding incentives and desires to respond in kind to civilian deaths and as a way of punishing norm violations against attacking civilians …


Terrorism: The Effect Of Positive Social Sanctions, Curtis Hibbert Jan 2013

Terrorism: The Effect Of Positive Social Sanctions, Curtis Hibbert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research shows that relative deprivation, mental illness, culture, ideology, and various forms of social learning are often identified as factors that can lead an individual to terrorism. However, understanding the value of influences in the form of positive social sanctions through social contact has not been fully explored throughout terrorist studies. In regards to influencing behavior, positive social sanctions elicit a desired behavior which is reinforced through praise or rewards. By utilizing a case study approach, this thesis looks to determine the significance of positive social sanctions through social contact on select individuals who have committed an act of terror …


Hidden In Plain Sight: Development And Testing Of A Model To Evaluate Political Leadership Tactics, Albert Citron Jan 2013

Hidden In Plain Sight: Development And Testing Of A Model To Evaluate Political Leadership Tactics, Albert Citron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes the kinds of verbal and nonverbal signals elites manifest to show leadership qualities. Launching from Max Weber’s conceptual framework of charisma as a power term and Harold Lasswell’s study of propaganda, this study takes a multidisciplinary approach to studying political leadership with elements of communication methodology and an ontological basis in evolutionary psychology. The study’s goal is to offer a framework for defining and evaluating the diverse signal patterns employed by political elites in three real-life situations. These are the Malta Summit, the 1992 Virginia Presidential Debate, and the 2012 South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary. The cases …


The Perception Of Turkey In The Middle East In The Last Decade: The Cases Of Egypt And Tunisia, Mesud Hasgur Jan 2013

The Perception Of Turkey In The Middle East In The Last Decade: The Cases Of Egypt And Tunisia, Mesud Hasgur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the factors affecting the perception of Turkey in the Middle East from 2002 onwards by analyzing the combination of media, political elite discourse and people's political predispositions in the cases of Egypt and Tunisia. The research is separated into two parts. In the first part of 2002-2010, the factors of democratization, economic development, foreign policy activism, Islamic Oriented Government as well as Turkish TV series were found to be critical in the explanation of Turkey's popularity. In the second part of 2010-2013, democratization and foreign policy activism were the most effective factors while the other variables still …


United States Export Policy Of Fighter Jets To East Asia, Andrew Derewiany Jan 2013

United States Export Policy Of Fighter Jets To East Asia, Andrew Derewiany

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

What explains fighter jet export policy to East Asia? The decision to export fighter jets from the United States (U.S.) to foreign countries is an important part of domestic and foreign policy. James Rosenau’s theory of linkage politics suggests that domestic and international variables may work together in complex ways to develop U.S. export policy of fighter jets. This thesis uses a comparative case study approach to examine the domestic and international factors that are influential in determining U.S. export policy of fighter jets to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The political actors involved in making U.S. fighter jet export …


Becoming A Food Citizen, Nicole Hornung Jan 2013

Becoming A Food Citizen, Nicole Hornung

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Environmental citizenship is positioned as a platform where the rights of social and environmental justice converge with civic engagement and responsibility. As industrialized economies continue to exhaust the limits of finite natural resources and exacerbate conditions of global climate change, scholars have questioned if environmental citizenship models offer a method for deepening obligations to a sustainable movement. In the material culture enjoyed by Western civilizations, existing research supports that an individual’s purchases are seen as an indicator of their values and identities. Consequently the commitment to responsible buying behavior or sustainable consumption is in a sense an expression of eco-citizenship. …


African Regional Organizations And Democracy, Stephanie Schoppert Jan 2013

African Regional Organizations And Democracy, Stephanie Schoppert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Instability and political repression are two reasons why many states in Africa are unable to develop. African regional organizations have the potential to encourage democracy, stability and development within their regions if they have the right tools. Using case studies of two major interventions by African regional organizations this thesis will determine what those tools may be. Both the intervention of ECOWAS into Liberia and the SADC into the DRC were rife with problems but they were able to bring some stability and even democracy to states in crisis. This thesis finds that African regional organizations can promote democracy and …


Institutional Vs. Non-Institutional Sources Of Presidential Influence: Explaining Congressional-Presidential Relations In The Age Of Polarization, Derek Culp Jan 2013

Institutional Vs. Non-Institutional Sources Of Presidential Influence: Explaining Congressional-Presidential Relations In The Age Of Polarization, Derek Culp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the determinants of presidential success with Congress. Seven essential sources of presidential power in the current era of party polarization were derived from the extant literature, and these factors were delineated into the institutional (formal) and non-institutional (informal) policymaking tools of the presidency. Variables that explain presidential legislative success include: intraparty support in Congress, the use of veto bargaining, executive orders and signing statements (institutional factors); as well as public approval, ‘going public,’ and strategic lobbying of Congress (non-institutional factors). Case studies of the presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush analyze the role of these …


Human Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation In Southeast Asia, Nodwarang Niamvanichkul Jan 2013

Human Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation In Southeast Asia, Nodwarang Niamvanichkul

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study centers on the political aspects of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Southeast Asia. Specifically, the human trafficking is a security studies concern because it is not only a social issue, but also a security threat. Just as with drug trafficking, human trafficking has security consequences. The study analyzed human trafficking issues in the following three countries in Southeast Asia: Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia. These three countries were chosen due to the high levels of human trafficking. In each of the chosen cases, there is an examination of human trafficking issues in terms of political structures, political policies, …


Sanctions Without Humanitarian Implications - An Impossible Feat, Sangitha Palaniappa Jan 2013

Sanctions Without Humanitarian Implications - An Impossible Feat, Sangitha Palaniappa

HIM 1990-2015

This thesis focuses on the humanitarian implications of economic sanctions. States are increasingly using sanctions as a foreign policy tool, but the ramifications for the citizens of the country have yet to be analyzed in depth. Although sanctions are an extremely powerful foreign policy tool, the humanitarian implications are too drastic. There are two main outcomes of sanctions that states seek: the pressure of the sanctions forces the government to change their policy or the humanitarian implications force the citizens to revolt against the government. These outcomes rarely occur as we can see clearly in cases such as Cuba or …


Socio-Economic Influences On The Party Affiliation Of Hispanic Voters, Angelo Montagner Jan 2013

Socio-Economic Influences On The Party Affiliation Of Hispanic Voters, Angelo Montagner

HIM 1990-2015

Voting analysts in the United States have attempted to predict political orientation based on race, gender, occupation, educational achievement, and economic background. Yet, the substantial amount of research available on these factors has been directed toward the understanding of the white-majority vote. Now, as a result of the overwhelming growth of ethnic minority populations scholars are beginning to look at the potential decisive role of ethnic minority voters. Part of this newly formed voting bloc consists of Hispanics which are now one of the fastest and largest racial minority groups in the United States. This thesis aims to understand the …


The Arab Spring In North Africa: Key Comparative Factors And Actors, Robert Fuhrer Jan 2013

The Arab Spring In North Africa: Key Comparative Factors And Actors, Robert Fuhrer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed the revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya (North Africa) beginning in late 2010. The first part of the study focused on variables that the North African revolutions shared. These variables were "personalistic-style of dictatorship", "sizable percentage of youth in population", and "economic context". These factors were then discussed as major descriptive variables that caused the revolutionary events in North Africa. The second part of the study assessed why each North African revolution resulted in varying levels of violence. Concluding thoughts were made regarding the similarities and differences between the 2009 Iranian Green Revolution, events in other North …


Regional Organizations And The Durability Of Peace, Juliana Velasco Jan 2013

Regional Organizations And The Durability Of Peace, Juliana Velasco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the role of regional organizations in peacemaking and peacekeeping, particularly on the effects of peace agreement duration. This is important because the United Nations has been traditionally seen as the default international peacekeeping force but recently, more responsibility is being given to regional organizations. This study hypothesizes that regional organizations’ ability to clear commitment problems, create specific agreements, and willingness to enforce agreements make them the most effective third parties to deal with many conflicts. However, the study also hypothesizes that regional organizations are less fit to mediate conflicts based around ethnicity, identity, or religious disparities. By …