Digital Commons Network^™

Bringing The Theory Of Street-Level Bureaucrats Into The 21st Century: A Study Of Social Workers In Louisiana, Quian J. Lewis

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the applicability of Michael Lipsky’s (1980) concept of “street-level bureaucracy” to the profession of social work in 2019. Street-level bureaucrats are public service workers “who interact with citizens in the regular course of their jobs; have significant independence in decision making, and potentially have extensive impact on the lives of their citizens” (Lipsky, 1980:3). They are faced with uncertainties in their work related to inadequate resources, unclear policies, and caseloads/workloads that defy what may be possible to achieve by any one worker. Workers develop routines and “coping mechanisms,” to manage their environments. The routines that they develop …

A Binding Sisterhood Of Transnational Feminism: A Close Look At Iran And Argentina, Bernadette Mary Lazar

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation examines the impact of transnational feminism in Iran and Argentina. Specifically, it focuses on the role of the diaspora and international communities and their interactions with social movements in these two countries. Although the study of transnational feminism is not a new phenomenon, very little research has been dedicated towards distinguishing the effects and differences in outcomes when either the diaspora or the broader international network is involved. By filling this gap in the literature, this dissertation will shed light on whether the diaspora community, NGOs, or the international community is necessary for success or favorable outcomes in …

The Parallel Security Apparatus: Examining The Cases Of Baathist Iraq, Syria, And Iran, Donald Utchel

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation examines the phenomena of the parallel security apparatus in the cases of Baathist Iraq, Syria, and Iran. Parallel security structures are often limited to books and articles published on secret police organizations in the broader security literature. Their research often focuses on one branch of the parallel security apparatus rather than examining all the parallel security institutions of that particular regime. This body of research attempts to bring further light to this particular phenomenon by examining all the parallel security institutions in a particular case and to connect and trace the various parallel security institutions to see if …

External Voting In Developing Countries: Strategic Bargaining And The Role Of Remittances, Hafthor Erlingsson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study and numerous prior works have argued that remittances increase the likelihood that states will implement external voting. However, quantitative studies have generally failed to find a relationship between reliance on remittances and the adoption and implementation of external voting. In this study it is argued that the pooling of observations from developed and developing countries as well as autocracies and highly consolidated democracies has altered previous results. Most studies have also not investigated possible non-linearities in the relationship between remittances and external voting. The results of this study illustrate the non-linear influence remittances have on non-autocratic developing countries …

Mandatory Busing And Desegregation: Wichita, 1954 – 1999, Pilar Pedraza-Bailey

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Wichita opened its first officially integrated school in 1954. Yet, by 1965, approximately 85% of schools in Wichita were predominantly white. After a 1966 complaint to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) and a protracted legal battle, a federal administrative judge ordered the district to come up with a plan for integration or lose federal funding in 1971. The resulting mandatory busing plan remained in effect in Wichita for more than 40 years. Yet, in 2016, nine years after the official end of mandatory busing in Wichita, 25% of the city’s schools had already returned to what the …

A Survey Of Single-Use Plastic Foodware Ordinances Of The San Francisco Bay Region, Christopher Slafter

Master's Projects and Capstones

Municipal jurisdictions in the San Francisco Bay Region (SFBR) are passing comprehensive single-use plastic (SUP) foodware ordinances in response to growing public pressure, and a California mandate to achieve zero waste. SUP foodware items have become an issue of concern because they are readily available in the restaurant industry, and are regularly among the top-ten pollutants collected during beach cleanups. SUP foodware items pose a danger to marine wildlife and contribute to rising carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Policy makers in the SFBR are creating local ordinances that regulate the distribution and use of a variety of SUP foodware …

Travel To Cuba: A Case Study Of Media Branding In A Politicized Context, Yaneisis Infante

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to detail a case study of U.S. tourism to Cuba in a politicized context; specifically, to compare and contrast the Obama and Trump administrations. This study seeks to examine how the Cuban “brand” and the island’s overall tourism strategy is formulated, circulated, shaped and reshaped by various actors and the public in the changing context of the newly antagonistic bilateral U.S.-Cuba political relationship. The research questions explore issues of how diplomatic relations impact Cuban tourism and advertising messaging. This paper also discusses the changes in the U.S. news media coverage of Cuba as a …

Temporalities Of Revolution: On The Representation Of History And Collective Action, Nicholas D. Tostowaryk

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis opens with a discussion of Rosa Luxemburg’s notion of “spontaneity,” which departs from a consideration of Luxemburg’s scientific socialism, the inevitability of capitalist collapse, and her assertion of socialism as the objective response to the contradictions of capitalism. For Luxemburg, then, spontaneity refers to the way in which proletarian consciousness forms in response to these conditions. The second chapter argues that Luxemburg’s notion of spontaneity represents what Walter Benjamin would call an historical articulation of the past, which is an articulation of the present and its struggles in terms of their historicity. I develop this argument through a …

The Peaceful Transition Of Spain: How Authoritarianism Became Democracy, Emma Haiser

Honors Theses

The peaceful transition from authoritarianism under Francisco Franco to a democratic constitutional monarchy after Franco’s death stands as a critical juncture in modern Spanish history because of the uniqueness of the historical event. The transition occurred without direct foreign intervention to manipulate Spanish politicians into passing democratic legislation; instead, the transition was initiated by Francoist leaders who willingly enacted the regime’s change which undermined their initial place in society. The Spanish transition was caused by three main factors: societal opposition to the Francoist regime, democratic international influence, and progressive leaders taking office after Franco’s death. This paper will explore the …

How Do Israelis And Palestinians Interpret Their Own Histories As Evidence That They Have Claim Over Israeli Held Territory?, Jacob Kubiak

Honors Theses

The Israeli-Palestinian War over Israeli-held territories has been a major controversy for many years. The modern conflict has been raging on since 1948. This conflict has caused the displacement of 1.4 million Palestinians, uprooting them from what they believe to be their ancestral home. Along with this displacement, the conflict has caused infrastructural collapse and the rise of terrorist organizations within Israel and Palestinian territories. Both groups have their own evidence in claiming the Israeli-held territory, including archaeological history and ancient texts to argue that they are the rightful owners of this land. The narratives of land claim belief are …

The Truth About Crisis Pregnancy Centers, Cassandra Griffin

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This research aims to explore the practices and impacts of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) in the United States. CPCs are centers whose primary purpose is to dissuade pregnant people from obtaining an abortion. Oftentimes they will provide services free of cost, such as ultrasounds and pregnancy tests. Their main feature is the counseling they provide against seeking abortion services. This paper explores the national affiliates of CPCs in the United States, their practices and advertising, misinformation spread by CPCs, their sources of funding and lobbying activities, and the political implications of their efforts.

Analyzing The Necessity And Feasibility Of The Freedom Dividend, Patrick Hodson

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Job displacement stemming from automation has already taken away millions of jobs in the United States. Andrew Yang fears that future advancements could replace further jobs and exacerbate the wealth inequality already prevalent in our country. This has motivated his plan for change, the Freedom Dividend. This paper was designed to begin with an analysis of the motives for Yang’s plan. It then goes on to cover the details of his plan and assess the economic and administrative feasibility. The paper is concluded by looking at the potential outcomes of the plan and identifying major problem areas that need to …

China's Maritime Grand Strategy, Sarah Quan

Undergraduate Honors Theses

China’s goals in the South China Sea are twofold: to expand sovereignty while keeping the peace. I argue this is accomplished through rhetorical strategic ambiguity and military clarity, which have characterized China’s maritime grand strategy since 2010. Using confusion and clarity—two seemingly opposite strategies—allows China to simultaneously expand sovereignty and maintain peace. This paper first introduces the literature and theory behind grand strategy and strategic ambiguity. It then demonstrates how China’s intentions are made clear through military actions, then shows that China’s rhetoric is ambiguous to members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by weighing evidence that China is …

Globalizmi Ne Aspektin Ekonomik, Agon Dedushi

Theses and Dissertations

Globalizmi është bërë fjala më e përdorur në çdo kohë dhe në çdo kontekst, në diskurset ndërkombëtare zyrtare dhe jozyrtare në kontekstin e ndërvarësisë së ekonomisë dhe kombeve. Globalizimi ka evoluar me kalimin e kohës. Globalizimi ka filluar të jetë i rëndësishëm që prej përfundimit të luftës së ftohtë dhe ka përshpejtuar çlirimin e shpejtë të ekonomive në zhvillim. Globalizimi nuk është një fenomen thjesht bashkëkohor. Sipas Chanda:"i punuar në heshtje për mijëra vite pa iu dhënë një emër". Vërtet, proceset e globalizimit po evoluojnë vazhdimisht, të shtyrë nga aspiratat ekonomike të miliona rreth globit sa më shumë …

Planifikimi Strategjik Në Rritjen E Shërbimeve Publike, Blerona Aliu

Theses and Dissertations

Zhvillimi i burimeve njerëzore është konceptuar shume nga teoricienë te ndryshëm, dhe gjatë kësaj kohe është vënë gjithashtu ne funksion nga organizata te ndryshme. Megjithëse ka një marrëveshje ne objektivin e gjerë të zhvillimit të burimeve njerëzore i cili ka si qellim te përmirësoje zhvillimin dhe performancën individuale, mosmarrëveshjet përqendrohen ne mjetet e këtij përfundimi. Zhvillimi i burimeve njerëzore mbetet një koncept i ndërlikuar dhe i diskutueshëm. Zhvillimi i burimeve njerëzore përfshin shume disiplina: për shembull ekonomi, sociologji dhe psikologji; dhe ka pak a shume lidhje dhe marrëdhënie direkt me një game të gjerë idesh dhe funksionesh menaxhimi; për shembull …

Performanca Dhe Menaxhimi I Performancës Në Sektorin Publik (Komuna E Pejës), Lorik Ibrahimi

Theses and Dissertations

Në punim është shqyrtuar se si bëhet menaxhimi i performancës në sektorin publik dhe sa ndikon menaxhimi dhe vlerësimi i performancës së punonjësve të sektorit publik. Menaxhimi i burimeve njerëzore është një proces i cili është i fokusuar tek marrëdhëniet njerëzore, ku në mënyrë që kontributi i tyre në punë të jetë sa më i madh, me anë të menaxhimit bëhet sigurimi i mirëqenies së tyre.

Vlerësimi i performancës lidhet ngushtë me suksesin e një institucioni sepse sa më e madhe të jetë performanca e punonjësve aq më shumë edhe institucioni në tërësi do të korr sukses, por për të …

Stability Through Economic Growth In Afghanistan, Abdul Qadir Khan

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes the Afghan public’s opinion to identify the overall direction of the country, whether the country, in terms of economic growth, is moving in a positive direction or not. How do economic factors affect the public’s views on the direction of the country? Based on that, this study finds that economic growth has an effect on the Afghan public’s opinion on the country’s direction.

Afghans are not enjoying stability in their country yet, after the majority of Afghans accepted U.S. military intervention in 2001 and the establishment of the new government to end instability. It was not an …

Globalization And The Diffusion Of Military Capabilities, Eddie Stokes

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

I analyze the effects of economic and informational globalization on the diffusion of military capabilities in the 20th and 21st centuries. To test these relationships, I use the KOF Swiss Economic Institute’s data on economic and informational globalization and the Correlates of War data on National Material Capabilities for all states of the international system from 1970 to 2011. Using an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression of all states with standard errors clustered at the state-level, I find that economic globalization negatively correlates with increases in military capabilities; while informational globalization positively correlates with increases in military capabilities. These findings …

Decolonizing Urban Indian Institutions: Indigenous Authority In Boise, Idaho, Melanie Lee Fillmore

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

American Indigenous populations are underrepresented in American political science discourse. There is a lack of knowledge on public perception of political trust within Indigenous communities. I argue that contemporary discourses on data and political participation of American Indigenous people are incomplete without framing that data within the context of ongoing settler colonialism. National data shows that nearly 71% of all American Indigenous people live in urban settings. Framing American Indigenous political participation requires an in depth examination of the role of American Settler colonialism. Studies need to account for the impact of Federal government use of authority has had on …

The Determinants Of Municipal Minimum Wage Ordinances: An Analysis Of 100 Large Cities From 2012-2017, Nicholas S. Hilton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The city of Seattle, Washington made headlines in 2014 when its city council enacted the highest minimum wage in the history of the United States. The ruling appeared to begin a trend as similar policies began diffusing in cities across the country. In reality, however, municipal minimum wage ordinances have existed since the early 1990’s. Yet, despite over two decade’s worth of data on the subject, little research has been conducted to understand the characteristics that influence cities to enact minimum wages in the first place. This study contributes to our understanding of the predictors of minimum wage ordinances by …

Terrorism And Organized Crime: An Analytical Study From An International Law Perspective, Leila Mejdoubi

Master's Theses

With the spread of terrorism and its growing risks since the start of the 21^st century, a wide range of reports and studies have emerged. This funding comes from a special relationship between terrorist organizations, organized crime syndicates, and their cooperation with each other, which has enabled terrorist organizations in particular to carry out recruitment efforts and operations alike. It has also fueled an international black market for smuggling and trade in drugs and arms. Under what conditions do violent terrorist groups driven by extreme Islamist ideology collaborate with organized criminal enterprises to generate the requisite resources to pursue …

Special Relationships: Anglo-American Latin America Policy And The Redefining Of National Security, 1969-1982, Benjamin Jared Pack

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

From 1969–82, the United States and Great Britain redefined national security in a distinctive way, separating the notion of national security from its traditional foundations in realist thought. The way the two powers come to define national security was the result of more than a century of historical interaction with Latin America and their own historical experience with ideology, imperialism, and colonialism. As such, the way the United States and Great Britain perceived their respective special relationships influenced the way they chose to intervene in matters of national security, particularly in Latin America’s Southern Cone countries of Chile and Argentina. …

Human Rights And Justice Rights Approaches To Gender-Based Violence (Gbv): The Case Of Kenya’S Sexual Offenses Act (Ksoa), Maryanne W. Kamunya

Graduate Masters Theses

Sexual violence produces detrimental and long-lasting physical and psychological trauma that deters a victim’s ability to fully participate in the economic, political and social development of their community and nation-state (Legal Action Worldwide, 2014). To fight this crime, the UNDP has developed an International Sexual Violence Protocol. This Protocol recommends consolidation of sexual violence legislation into one document called the Sexual Offense Act. These laws tend to use a justice through rights approach to effectively criminalize and prosecute sexual violence within a comprehensive human rights-based model. By using a justice over human rights-based approach; Kenya’s Sexual Offense Act (KSOA) deviated …

Winning Public Hearts And Minds: Security And Development Aid In The 21st Century, Mohammad Ashraf

Dissertations

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States, foreign aid has focused on winning public hearts and minds in the aid recipient states as a hedge against insecurity and means to achieve progress in the “war on terror.” Western donors, especially the United States, argue foreign aid is an effective tool to expand government capacity and control over territory, win public hearts and minds, and ultimately mitigate the need and significant military costs of deployment to counter insecurity, extremism, and terrorism in weak, fragile and failing states.

This dissertation uses case studies to explore the …

The G5 Sahel: An Insufficient Organization For A Failed Region?, Beder Dine El Khou

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

In the wake of mass kidnapping and terrorist attacks launched by Boko Haram and other extremist groups in the Sahel of West Africa, along with the rise of the Islamic State in Libya that started to have immediate impact on the Sahel’s already problematic situation, five states from the region of Sahel decided to create a coalition in 2014 not only to fight insurgencies rampaging in the area but also to work on the development of the region. With a very small capacity in terms of man power and equipment, the G5 Sahel coalition attempts to achieve what other intervening …

Fragmentation, Frustrated Revolt, And Off-Shore Opportunity: A Comparative Examination Of Jihadi Mobilization In Central Asia And The South Caucasus, William B. Farrell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research presents analysis for identifying common risk and resilience factors that contributed to or hindered Salafi jihadi mobilization of citizens of Central Asia and the South Caucasus and examines the extent to which these factors had differing internal and external outcomes on Salafi jihadi mobilization. Three levels of analysis provide examination of regime characteristics, behavior of jihadi organizations that mobilized individuals from the region, and case studies through interviews in communities affected by jihadi mobilization in Kyrgyzstan and Georgia.

This research reveals that early distinctions in Islamist subnational struggles had oriented violence towards governments within Central Asia, while neighboring …

The Progressive Transformation Of Medellín- Colombia: A Successful Case Of Women's Political Agency, María Auxiliadora González-Malabet

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Medellín, Colombia, once one of the most corrupt and violent cities in the world, is now one of the most progressive and democratic cities in South America. This transformation was due to the mobilization of women’s movements and the influx of women in the city’s executive branch. Female political agency and new urban development programs reshaped democratic practices for the citizenry. This research examines the robust association between women’s organizations, women from Compromiso Ciudanano (CC), and a solid and active civil society. The theoretical framework covers democratization, good governance, and Latin American/Indigenous Feminism. The sources include interviews, polls, news articles, …

Andrew T. Hatcher: Press, Public Information & Perception For A Nation In Transition Historical Content Analysis On The First African American To Serve As A White House Associate Press Secretary, Nayita Wilson

LSU Master's Theses

Andrew T. Hatcher rose to one of the highest positions in U.S. government when he became the first African American to serve as associate White House press secretary in 1960 under the administration of President John F. Kennedy and during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement. This is a historical content analysis that analyzes Hatcher’s role through primary sources, presidential archives, and select national, local, and minority newspapers.

The overarching purpose of this study was to ascertain Hatcher’s role as associate White House press secretary during civil rights. This study provides further insight into: 1) to what extent did …

Politikat Lokale – Bashkëpunimi Ndërkomunal Në Kosovë, Muhamet Bytyçi

Theses and Dissertations

Politikat lokale dhe mekanizmat e vendim-marrjes komunale janë pjesë përbërëse e institucioneve politike publike të çdo vendi demokratik. Përveç karakteristikave lokale tradicionale të detyrave që kanë komunat, janë edhe disa aspekte të tjera që i japin dinamikë zhvillimit lokal të politikave komunale.

Një nga politikat që ka dhënë rezultate duke ndihmuar në shkëmbimin e përvojave, në punët e përbashkëta, në krijimin e besimit shumëpalësh dhe në uljen e dallimeve partiake, etnike dhe ideologjike në përpjekjen për një sistem komunikimi të drejtë e progresiv në mes të komunave në Kosovë është edhe politika e bashkëpunimin ndërkomunal.

Ky punim ofron një qasje …

Kosova Në Vitet 89-90, Ibadete Ramadani

Theses and Dissertations

Jugosllavia si shteti Sllav i Jugut, fillimisht i formuar në vitin 1918, nën emrin e Mbretërisë së tre popujve sllavë: sllovenët, Kroatët dhe serbët, dhe më pas si vend komunist, i krijuar pas Luftës së Dytë Botërore, ka luajtur një rol të rëndësishëm në rajon dhe politikën ndërkombëtare. Federata e re përbëhej nga gjashtë republika dhe dy krahina autonome, të cilat ishin elemente përbërëse të federatës që kanë të drejtën e vetos. Shteti Jugosllav luajti një rol të rëndësishëm në skenën ndërkombëtare, sidomos nëpërmjet Lëvizjes Jo të Aligned e cila u themelua me Indinë dhe Egjiptin. Udhëheqësi i saj, Josip …