Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Sentimental Empiricism: Politics, Philosophy, And Criticism In Postwar France, Davide Panagia

Politics

Sentimental Empiricism reconsiders the legacy of eighteenth and nineteenth century empiricism and moral sentimentalism for the intellectual formation of the generation of postwar French thinkers whose work came to dominate Anglophone conversations across the humanities under the guise of “French theory.” Panagia’s book first shows what was missed in the reception of this literature in the Anglophone academy by attending to how France’s pedagogical milieu plays out church and state relations in the form of educational debates around reading practices, the aesthetics of mimesis, French imperialism, and republican universalism. Panagia then shows how such thinkers as Jean Wahl, Simone de …

American Evangelicalism And The Status Of Women: Biblical Interpretation, Politicization, And A Future For Secularism, Ivy C. Macneil Blackwood

University Honors Theses

American evangelicalism has positioned itself as a dominant force in social policy since the 1970s and has continued to grow over time. During Carter’s presidency, the Religious Right, a neoconservative political identity of fundamentalist beliefs, emerged with the intention to homogenize American culture by infusing literal interpretations of biblical Scripture with American exceptionalism. With the help of charismatic leaders like Billy Graham, the political manifestations of American evangelicalism’s fundamentalist beliefs have been solidified through conservative legislation and Christian demographic dominance in Congress and the Supreme Court. Women have been particularly burdened by evangelical institutionalization, as access to socioeconomic and political …

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 …

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 …

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 …

واقع حرية الرأي والتعبير في منصات التواصل الاجتماعي لدى المستخدم الفلسطيني, Nadeen Hani Khalil Husary

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education (مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية (للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف المقال بيان أهمية توجيه دور منصات التواصل الاجتماعي في إبراز الحق في حرية التعبير عن الرأي لدى المستخدم الفلسطيني في ظل الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، عبر التداول الرقمي والسردية للأحداث في فلسطين، وما نتج عن ممارسة هذا الحق من تقييد للحريات، وفرض عقوبات، واعتقالات، واتهامات بحق المستخدمين والناشطين الفلسطينيين. واعتمدت الدراسة على المنهج الوصفي التحليلي؛ في وصف دور منصات التواصل الاجتماعي في الحديث عن القضية الفلسطينية، وفي حرية التعبير عن الرأي للمستخدم الفلسطيني في ظل الاحتلال الاسرائيلي، بالإضافة للوقوف على طبيعة استخدام هذه المنصات وما ينتج عنه من انتهاكات من قبل سلطات الاحتلال وإدارات شركات التواصل الاجتماعي من خلال المقابلات المعمقة. …

واقع حريّة الرأيّ والتعبير عبر الإنترنت (دراسة حالة الأردن), Oraib Hani Momani

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education (مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية (للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف المقال استعراض واقع حريّة الرأي والتعبير عبر الانترنت في الأردن. ولتحقيق هذا الهدف. تم استخدام المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، والمنهج القانوني، ومنهج دراسة الحالة. وقد توصّلت الدراسة إلى أن حريّة الرأي وحريّة التعبير ترتبط بالأخرى وهما انعكاس لبعضهما، إذ إنّ ما يحمله الفرد من أفكار ومعتقدات وآراء ينعكس عمليّاً على أرض الواقع من خلال ممارسته لحقّه في التعبير. وما يُميّز الحق في حريّة الرأي والتعبير عبر الإنترنت هو أنّه تتم ممارسته في البيئة الرقميّة، وذلك إمّا من خلال تلقّي الأفكار أو المعتقدات أو الآراء عبر الشبكة العنكبوتيّة، أو التعبير عن الأفكار أو الآراء أو المعتقدات التي يحملها الفرد بأيّ وسيلةٍ …

الأحزاب السياسية ودورها في إعادة بناء الدولة العراقية بعد عام 2005 دراسة تحليلية, Nawwar Asem, Mohamad H. Almasalha

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education (مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية (للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف المقال بيان واقع العمل الحزبي في العراق بعد عام 2005م، وتحليل طروحات الأحزاب السياسية العراقية لإعادة بناء الدولة، واعتمدت الدراسة في تحقيق أهدافها على منهج تحليل النظم والمنهج المؤسسي، وخلصت الدراسة إلى تأثير المنظور الطائفي قد أنعكس على عمل الأحزاب السياسية في العراق، والتي بدورها قامت بتعميق الشعور والانتماء الطائفي، وبينت الدراسة ضعف قيام الأحزاب السياسية في العراق بدروها السياسي والوطني في تعزيز الاستقرار السياسي في العراق بعد عام 2005م، حيث كان تركيزها على مصالحها الحزبية والقوى أو الجماعات السياسية التي تدعمها، لذا لم يكن لها دور سياسي في إعادة بناء العراقية الحديثة، وتوصي الدراسة بإجراء تعديلات دستورية، وتطوير …

تحليل الخطاب السياسي للمملكة الأردنية الهاشمية تجاه القضية الفلسطينية (1999-2022), Mohammad Khaer Faisal Ahmad Al-Dhmour, Amin Awwad Muhanna Almashqbeh

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education (مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية (للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف المقال محاولة الكشف عن مضامين الخطاب السياسي للمملكة الأردنية الهاشمية تجاه القضية الفلسطينية في الفترة الزمنية الواقعة (1999-2022) وأهم المضامين التي يحتويها فيما يتعلق بالقضية الفلسطينية، حيث اعتمد البحث على المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، وقد توصل الباحث إلى عدد من النتائج أبرزها أن الوقوف على الخطابات السياسية الأردنية وموقفها من القضية الفلسطينية ومدى تأثر الأردن فيها والدور الذي يقوم به الهاشميون في حل القضية من أولويات المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية، كما إن للخطاب السياسي الأردني الدور الكبير والأساسي في التأثير على المجتمع التي تدعم القضية الفلسطينية، ونجد من خلال خطابات جلالة الملك التركيز على الحل السلمي لأزمة القدس وذلك من خلال …

أهداف السياسة الخارجية الأمريكية تجاه منطقة الشرق الأوسط, Manar Mazen Mansour Krieshan, Ayman Albarasneh

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education (مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية (للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف المقال التعرف إلى أهداف السياسة الخارجية الأمريكية تجاه منطقة الشرق الأوسط، وتوضيح مؤسسات صنع القرار السياسي الخارجي الأمريكي، وبيان محددات السياسة الخارجية للولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، وتحديد أهداف السياسة الخارجية الأمريكية تجاه منطقة الشرق الأوسط، ووسائل تنفيذ تلك الأهداف. ومن خلال استخدام المنهج الوصفي التحليلي تم التوصل إلى أن عملية صنع القرار في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية عملية معقّدة نتيجةً للدور الكبير لهذه الدولة على الساحة الدولية، وأن هناك العديد من الدوائر الرسمية وغير الرسمية التي تتفاعل فيما بينها لصناعة قرار موحد وعقلاني يخدم مصالح الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية التي تُعتبر الدولة العظمى الأولى في العالم. ويُعتبر الرئيس الأمريكي صاحب الدور الأبرز …

Lawfare As A Policy Tool In Sino-American Relations: The Case Of Huawei Cfo Meng Wanzhou, Zachary S. Souders

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

Competition between the United States and China is at an all-time high. Despite decades of diplomacy between the East and West, recent trends suggest the two powers are drifting further apart. To understand US-China relations, it is critical to understand major developments as they occur. This paper examines the geopolitical significance of United States v. Meng (2020), an extradition case in which US authorities requested the transfer of Chinese tech executive Meng Wanzhou to American jurisdiction. Despite US policymakers declaring Meng and Huawei to be threats to national security, the eventual dismissal of all charges Meng faced presents a puzzle …

Threats Of Neoliberalism To Western Democracies And The Efficacy Of Neoliberal Critiques, Anis Zaman

Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs

Abstract A neoliberal market-based governance system has engulfed Western democratic societies. Since it surfaced in the 1980s, neoliberalism remained the dominant governing system. The pervasive neoliberal governance logic has become deeply entrenched in our society in ways that make it less democratic. More so, market-based neoliberal dominant economic and political logic has caused a problematic drift in democratic political discourse by turning progressive political forces less progressive. While there is a superficial agreement between neoliberalism and democratic values at a deeper level, the two are in conflict. In contemporary governance practices, we can see the neoliberal takeover in most sectors …

Inciting Peace From The Inside Out, Stephen G. Adubato, Ebere Bosco Amakwe, Katherine Hinic, Sarita Maldjian, Forrest Pritchett, Jon Radwan, Nicholas Sooy, Chad Thralls

Conferences

Violence and war can be incited, and so can peace. This volume shares select addresses and responses from Seton Hall University’s 2/7/23 conference “Inciting Peace From The Inside Out.” A multi-disciplinary range of scholars each addresses how reconciliation processes grow from spiritual dynamics. Multiple religious traditions teach contemplative praxes that prioritize and nurture personal reflection oriented toward peace. Social conflicts divide, so engaging them with a partisan orientation only serves to escalate harmful rifts. In contrast, bringing personal awareness and sensitivity, spiritual balance, and holistic integral perspective to conflict can transcend divisions and work toward unity. This volume is supported …

Examining The Aggregate Economic Impacts Of Criminal Record Expungement In Marion County, Indiana, Zane Callison

Lux et Fides: A Journal for Undergraduate Christian Scholars

This article investigates the individual economic effects of criminal record expungement identified in a previous article as they appear in the aggregate, particularly rates of unemployment and wages. As interest around the effects of overincarceration increases, criminal record expungement offers a possible solution to the economic woes faced by justice-involved individuals. To that end, this article examines unemployment rates and per capita personal income in Marion County, Indiana, where implementation of the state of Indiana’s criminal record expungement statute has been exceptionally effective. After an analysis, we find that criminal record expungement bears only a light or unclear causal relationship …

The Supression Of Memory Of The Cultural Revolution In China, Jiayu Liu

Chronos

No abstract provided.

Inspired Spirits And An Untapped Area: The Establishment Of The Maxwell School Of Citizenship And Public Affairs And The Role Of The History Department, Ben Field

Chronos

No abstract provided.

Decolonization, Democracy And Dispalcement:Consequences Of British Rule In Burma And The Repercussions On The Rohinga, Grishma Ghelani

Chronos

No abstract provided.

Suppressed Voices In The Public Sphere: Republicanism, Ratification, And The Pennsylvania Convention, Joseph Pucciarelli

Chronos

No abstract provided.

Qinzong Emperor: An Insignificant Emperor?, Xinzhi Lin

Chronos

No abstract provided.

Investment Strategies Of Gcc Sovereign Wealth Funds: Aligning National Development And Geopolitical Goals, Roy Conners

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) prioritize and implement investment strategies in the context of national development and geopolitical dynamics. Using a qualitative case study approach, it analyzes the assets, key industries, leadership, and historical evolution of major GCC SWFs (ADIA, Mubadala, ADQ, QIA, and PIF) based on publicly made available information.

The findings show that GCC SWFs prioritize investments in strategic sectors, geographical destinations, and the private sector. These investments align closely with their respective national development plans, such as 'We the UAE 2031', Qatar National Vision 2030, and Saudi Arabia’s …

The Importance Of Sunni-Iraqi Support In The Rise And Fall Of Isis In Iraq, Deja Meekins

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

ISIS, a Salafi-jihadist terrorist organization stationed in the Middle East, has had its fair share of "successes" and "failures," both of which have been present in Iraq. Toward the beginning of the development of ISIS, it garnered a very powerful supporter base in Iraq. However, that has changed since then; ISIS currently, in 2024, no longer has the support of the vast majority of the Iraqi people. What is the reason for this? This research paper will seek to analyze and answer two major questions: what role does the Iraqi Sunni population play in ISIS’s trajectory of successes and failures …

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 …

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 …

Framing The Fight: Revolutionary Feelings In Virtual Communities, James Reilly

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study considers how social media impacts emotional processing, and ultimately social movement development. Through a multidisciplinary lens, I explore how social media fits within larger media ecologies, particularly during times of social upheaval and collective action. Grounded in an examination of organizational efforts in advance of the 2011 Egyptian revolution, I look at how communication patterns create common emotional cues that help form the movement. Considering framing, emotional habitus, and subjective agency within digital spaces, I demonstrate how social media has emerged as an articulating space for social movements to develop and plan before drawing wider, offline populations to …

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 …

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 …

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 …