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Run For Your Life: Spectacle Primaries And The Success Of 'Failed' Primary Candidates, Sean Patrick Mckinley

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis qualitatively examines the personal career outcomes of major presidential primary candidates from 1976-2008. It argues that the primary process fundamentally changed with the introduction of reform in the 1970s. It has continued to evolve into the "spectacle primary," a system whereby mere participation, not necessarily electoral success, can convey manifold benefits to subsequent careers in the public or private sectors. It also finds far less risk in primary participation than conventional wisdom might assume. Therefore, this thesis holds that prospective candidates when weighing a presidential primary bid, should consider these ulterior benefits beyond electoral success and all else …

Iran, Sanctions, And Nuclear Proliferation: In Search Of A Strategic Alternative, Michael J. Cole

Master's Theses and Capstones

The complex political landscape of Iran is often excluded from political discourse, contributing to oversimplified, at times incoherent policy approaches that reflect fundamental misunderstandings and typically undermine rather than complement U.S. nonproliferation objectives. Domestic receptivity to international inducements is conditioned by specific characteristics of the domestic political environment. Economic sanctions have distributional effects that weaken moderate factions needed to pressure the hardline constituencies of the regime. Coercive instruments have strangled Iranian civil society, the private sector and the middle-class, severing crucial state-society networks, leaving reformist forces vulnerable to the new wave of hardline conservatism that has, in spite of U.S. …

A New Model Of Procedural Justice: Legal Legitimacy, Legal Cynicism, And Satisfaction With Government Officials, Lindsey R. Phelan

Master's Theses and Capstones

The alternative model of legal socialization proposes that legal legitimacy and legal cynicism mediate the relation between procedural justice and rule-violating behavior (Triter, 2012). In contrast, the direct model of procedural justice proposes that procedural justice predicts satisfaction with government (Tyler, 1988). The current study tested these models using secondary analysis of data collected in Eastern and Western Europe during the 1990s. The present study tested two competing hypotheses: legitimacy and cynicism would mediate the relation between procedural justice and satisfaction with government officials (alternative model) and procedural justice would predict satisfaction (direct model). Results indicated that procedural justice predicted …

Under Supreme Court Review: An Evaluation Of The United States Court Of Appeals For The Ninth Circuit, 1994-2005, Matthew C. Coker

Master's Theses and Capstones

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is one of the most controversial courts in the United States due, in large part, to its high rate of reversal by the United States Supreme Court. The existing scholarship advances several potential explanations for the Ninth Circuit's reversal rate, particularly the Ninth Circuit's reputation as a very liberal court. This study evaluates the Ninth Circuit cases reviewed by the Supreme Court during the 1994-2004 terms to determine whether there are explanatory patterns to the Supreme Court's disposition of cases from the Ninth Circuit over time. Examining the effects of …

Nationalism, The Anti-Conquest Norm, And Lockean Cultures Of Anarchy, Matthew D. Dilorenzo

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis explores the structural effects of nationalism on the international state system using Alexander Wendt's "cultures of anarchy" typology. The quantitative portion employs a logistic regression model to determine whether states with "stronger" national identities are less likely to pursue territorial conquest as a goal of using force. Because of the problematic nature of measuring nationalism quantitatively, case studies in US foreign policy towards the Dominican Republic are used to highlight the ways that appeals to the anti-conquest norm are often justified on the basis of national self-determination. Leaving open the issue of whether the anti-conquest norm is a …

Consequences Of A Separatist Platform? The Rise And Fall Of The Bloc Quebecois, Zachary Azem

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis analyzes the contributing factors to the Bloc Quebecois' overwhelming loss in the 2011 Canadian Federal Election. Using both qualitative evidence and statistical analysis, it will investigate the extent in which five potential causes affected this outcome: a shift in support of the New Democratic Party, the distribution of Francophone protest party votes, campaign strategies of the New Democratic Party and Bloc Quebecois, changing views on separatism, and the single member district plurality system.

Belling The Cat: The Neo-Taliban Insurgency In Afghanistan, Andrew R. Smith

Master's Theses and Capstones

It has been over a decade since the United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom. Today, Afghanistan and the Taliban are at the forefront of US foreign policy. This thesis aims to define the Taliban movement in Afghanistan, from past to present, and asks why they still exist as a political movement after a decade of war and counterinsurgency efforts. It discusses the rise of both the Taliban and the neo-Taliban and observes their differences and similarities. Subsequently, using Cornelia Beyer's "Synthetic Approach," the Taliban insurgency and US-led counterinsurgency efforts are analyzed. The Synthetic Approach allows …

Without The Consent Of The Governed: Why National Health Care Reform Passed In 2010 Despite Public Opinion Against It, Walter Tibbetts

Master's Theses and Capstones

Usually the will of the people is reflected in public policy on such a salient issue as health care. This was the case with Medicare in 1965 and President Clinton's health care reform efforts in 1993--4. However, this was not the case in 2010, when President Obama's health care plan was passed despite 53 percent of the American people being against it.

The subject of this case study is the anomaly that was the 2009--2010 health care reform debate and vote. The relationship between public opinion and public policy is explored, and a narrative of the 2009--2010 health care debate …

Does Democracy Impact The Lives Of The Poor In Nicaragua?, Tanisha Shandie Brown Mitchel

Master's Theses and Capstones

Does democracy help the poor? Nicaragua, the emphasis of this study, will be used to analyze the impact democracy might be having on improving the lives of the poor. The World Development Indicators (World Bank) and the Human Development Index (United Nations) from 1992--2006 will be used in this study to measure economic growth in Nicaragua. The Latin America Public Opinion Project data on Latin America measures Nicaragua public opinion regarding democracy and economic growth in the country.

The graphs from the World Bank illustrate that the standard of living for the poor in Nicaragua is improving and that democracy …

The Political Assassination Of Edmund Randolph: George Washington's Presidential Affair Of Honor, John C. Kotruch

Master's Theses and Capstones

On 19 August 1795 George Washington ambushed Secretary of State Edmund Randolph in an impromptu tribunal to face the allegation of treasonous corruption in the service of France with evidence covertly provided by Great Britain.

A synthesis of the biographies of Washington and Randolph, histories of Jay's Treaty, the Whiskey Rebellion, the Battle of Fallen Timbers, and the diplomatic correspondence between Great Britain and the United States during the early republic reveals the motivations behind a British plot to manipulate the composition of the United States' government by implicating Randolph. The study dispels the myth that the intercepted French diplomatic …

Asset Forfeiture: State Restrictions And Equitable Sharing, Charles Kucher

Master's Theses and Capstones

Civil asset forfeiture is criticized for its lack of procedural protections for property owners and for skewing the priorities of law enforcement. Federal civil forfeiture law allows federal agencies to prosecute civil forfeiture cases for state and local law enforcement agencies, a practice that is criticized for allowing the circumvention of state laws. This thesis looks at three factors governing forfeiture at the state level (standard of proof, conviction requirement and financial incentive) and examines their effect on federal equitable sharing payments. The results indicate that both conviction requirement and standard of proof affect equitable sharing payments and suggests that …

Why Latinas Swing Left: Ideological Self-Identification In Conservative Chile, Kristyn A. Call

Master's Theses and Capstones

As recently as 2006, Latin American citizens have shifted to the left ideologically. This study begins by exploring the ideological orientation of women in socially conservative Chile. After analyzing existing literature on gender and ideology, this study goes on to suggest what has led Chilean women to ideologically self-identify to the left. Using a combination of case study analysis and Latin America Public Opinion Project analysis, this thesis proposes that specific social demographics, attitudes toward social issues, the economy, and government intervention are related to the ideological orientation of women. This study focused on multivariate ordinary least squares regression model …

Neo-Conservatism And Foreign Policy, Ted Boettner

Master's Theses and Capstones

Since the 1960s, neo-conservatives advanced their agenda through journals, think tanks, coalitions, and by serving as high-level government officials. While scholars have noted this influence, there's little written on how neo-conservative ideas have evolved and influenced foreign policy under these changing historical circumstances. Moreover, very little scholarship foils neo-conservatism against the two dominant approaches to foreign policy in the 20th century---realism and liberalism---to discover how they are held together as a group. This thesis finds that neo-conservatism is a political ideology of American foreign policy that has developed several common tendencies over the last forty years. These include an ardent …

Explaining Partition: Reconsidering The Role Of The Security Dilemma In The Cyprus Crisis Of 1974, Michael Todd Smith

Master's Theses and Capstones

In this thesis the proposed link between a security dilemma at the domestic-level of analysis and partition following ethnic conflict is examined in the context of the Cyprus crisis of 1974. The original framework of the argument being examined was offered by Chaim Kaufmann and is analyzed here by comparing and contrasting the history of Cyprus with the components of the framework. The thesis suggests that the framework does not adequately explain the partition in the case of Cyprus, as the history of that conflict does not reflect the components observable in the proposed linkage between the security dilemma and …

Saudi Arabia's Use Of Air Power Capabilities To Secure Its National Security Assets In The Northern Persian Gulf Arena, Ian M. Raimundo

Master's Theses and Capstones

Iran represents the primary threat to Saudi Arabia's foreign national security interests. Iranian hostility originates in the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution and also consists of threats to Saudi Arabia's internal security.1 Saudi Arabia's strategy to safeguard its national security assets, including petroleum processing and export facilities vital to the smooth flow of crude oil, relies on an advanced air defense capability to provide early warning of an aircraft or ballistic missile attack.

In contrast to the expected outcome of Robert Jervis' theory, a greater quantity of weapons but an overall decreased level of security, Saudi Arabia has increased their foreign …

The Limits Of Democracy And Economic Growth: Institutionalized Inequality In Peru, Elizabeth Kyriacou

Master's Theses and Capstones

The gap between the rich and the poor is widening at the global level, and at national level in many Latin American states. The poor distribution of assets and resources serves as an obstacle to overall economic development and threatens political and social stability. Such inequality has persisted despite substantial economic and political change in many Latin American states, fueling a development debate among theorists, economists, social scientists, and policymakers. How can persistent inequality be explained? As a nation with high inequality, economic growth, and democracy Peru serves as a pertinent case study. A qualitative analysis of regime type, economic …

The Transformative North Atlantic Treaty Organization: An Alliance's Out-Of-Area Policy And Journey To Afghanistan, Laura Kash

Master's Theses and Capstones

NATO was formed in 1949 to safeguard and promote stability for its members throughout the North Atlantic. Since its formation its members have sought to uphold its mission and objectives while expanding its agenda and engaging in a broad range of activities. These activities have included engagements that lay outside the traditional European boundaries of the Alliance. Historically, the member nations were unable to carry out an out-of-area policy due to disagreements between interests, ideologies, and viewpoints. The end of the Cold War signaled a shift in member nations' attitudes and policy regarding out-of-area operations. Throughout the 1990s and early …

Oil Vs Democracy: Oil Rent, Social Groups, And Democratization In Middle East Monarchies, Garrett Arwa

Master's Theses and Capstones

Considerable research in political science has been done concerning democracy and the effects of oil rent. Prevailing literature suggests that dependence on oil and rentier behavior by states can heighten the dependence of social groups on the state through political and economic effects. Yet in the case of Kuwait, we find that oil rent has helped build human capital, institutional capacity, and autonomy for social groups. This autonomy allows social groups to better bargain with the state and advance democratization. This will be contrasted to the case of Morocco, where social groups remain dependent on the state despite cycles of …

Journalism Of Affirmation?, Ben Carder

Master's Theses and Capstones

Polls and studies suggest news outlets appeal to specific "niche" audiences; where news broadcasts seemingly "give the people what they want," through their reporting. Does the broadcast news media manipulate news content in a manner that is consistent with their "niche" audience?

Because Democrats and Republicans have differing views on the economy's vitality, this study analyzes how the media frame unemployment data: what elements of an unemployment report are emphasized; how much time is devoted to a certain aspect of it across networks? This study believes news networks "spin" unemployment reports positively or negatively, depending on their "niche" audience and …

Peace On G-D'S Terms: The Ideological Project Of Christian Zionism, James Alton Croker Iii.

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study examines the Christian Zionist movement. It identifies the motivations, composition, and objectives of the Christian Zionist movement in order to illuminate the interest group's influence on U.S. foreign policy making on Israel. The movement's influence results from the framing of its ideology as a political project, through which the movement is able to capitalize on a pre-existing pro-Israel opinion bias among Evangelicals, construct a community of believers from these individuals, and mobilize that community into action. This argument shows that classic realist accounts, such as that put forward in Mearsheimer and Walt's work, do not account for a …

Northeast Asian Regional Economic Integration: Sino-Korean Bilateral Trade, 1992--2007, Rina Lee

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis examines northeast Asian regional economic integration with a case study of Sino-Korean trade. Since the Cold War, there has been an increase in regional bilateral economic cooperation. South Korea began to open its market to foreign direct investors in the 1990s. This study asks what contributes to the rise of bilateral trade and tests the following hypothesis using both qualitative and quantitative methods: If a national leader perceives growing pressure of globalization, then there is strong promotion of an integrated trade policy.

The study of Sino-Korean trade reveals that Kim Dae Jung's view on a globalized economy, which …

Post-Cold War Russian Foreign Military Assistance To Iran: Advancing The National Interest, Or The Special Interest?, Matthew York

Master's Theses and Capstones

Since 1989, Russia has armed and assisted Iran and other anti-Western states despite improved relations with the West, non-proliferation agreements, and United Nations sanctions. Such behavior apparently contradicts Russia's commitments to arms control and international security and stability. Thus, this study seeks to clarify this contradiction by conducting a crucial case-study of Russian military assistance to Iran from 2000 through 2007. It applies interest-group theory and hypothesizes that from late-2000 to present day, interest groups successfully lobbied to increase defense-exports to Iran. It also applies interest-group theory to Stephen J. Blank's 2007 analysis of Russia's defense-export industry. Though insightful, Blank's …

Climate Change Policy: Why Germany Leads And The United States Lags, Kristin Kesling

Master's Theses and Capstones

Why is climate change a top priority on the political agenda in Germany and not a top priority on the political agenda in the United States? This study seeks to answer this question by examining the evolution of climate change policy in both countries. Analyzing Germany's and America's environmental movement, the thesis points to several theories which include the European Union and cultural values. However, it is the nations' political structures/institutions and their post WWII foreign policy views that most determine where climate change policy stands on each country's political agenda. The analysis concludes with a possible outlook on America's …

The Relationship Between The Public Institute Of Higher Education And The Student: Philosophical Issues Raised By Current Alcohol Consumption Policies, Sarah B. Drucker

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis focuses on current issues in public institutes of higher education (IHE) regarding policy and enforcement of alcohol consumption regulations for students. The unique nature of higher education in which some of the students are not of legal drinking age and some are, and the residential aspect of many public IHEs compounds the issue of policy development and enforcement. The challenge of developing a coherent approach to drinking is viewed through the two lenses of law and philosophy. Specifically, how has the legal relationship between public IHE and student developed and how can selected philosophical inquiries inform such alcohol …

Persuasion By Design: World War I, The Committee On Public Information, And The Effectiveness Of Good Poster Design, Kelly Labrecque

Master's Theses and Capstones

World War I propaganda posters were examined for design effectiveness. The Wilson Administration's policy of neutrality lead to the need for the creation of the Committee on Public Information (CPI) with a Department of Pictorial Publicity (DPP) when the United States entered the war in April, 1917. Illiteracy and foreign speaking Americans made the poster the most effective way of communicating messages of food conservation, support for the troops and Allies, and hatred of the enemy. By applying modern graphic design theory to the posters created by the CPI it is possible to evaluate which posters may have had the …

Recovery Policy, The Endangered Species Act And The Yellowstone Grizzly Bear (Ursus Arctos Horribilis): A Case Study Analysis Of The Role And Function Of Environmental Organizations, Rachel A. Platt

Master's Theses and Capstones

This Thesis explores the question, "what are the politics of de-listing an endangered species?" The Yellowstone grizzly de-listing process offered environmental organizations a platform to provide the general public with a genuine opportunity to engage with the comments and positions, to the federal government. It contends that a symbolic consensus has been constructed about the American West, Yellowstone National Park and the grizzly bear and these constructed were strong enough to generate the majority of edited responses to the Fish and Wildlife Service during the de-listing process. This thesis looks at the manner in which environmental organizations employ this natural …

The Family In Tocqueville's "Democracy In America": Understanding Difference In The Age Of Equality, Nicholas R. Noloboff

Master's Theses and Capstones

The American family in Tocqueville's Democracy in America presents a novel association to humankind; at its heart are natural bonds between generations, spouses and siblings that offer, through public recognition, new opportunities for both individual and civic improvement. Through an exposition of Democracy's American family, this paper addresses how the association helps remediate the greatest dangers of the age of equality: a tyrannical majority, materialism, individualism and ultimately, democratic despotism. It finds that the chief virtue of the American family comes from the natural, complementary gender differences that define marriage in American public opinion; in particular, the social recognition that …

Independent Or Undeclared? The Role Of The Undeclared Voter In The New Hampshire Presidential Primary, Jennifer E S Gupta

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis examines whether New Hampshire's undeclared voters vote in a similar manner to registered partisans or whether New Hampshire's voting laws allow undeclared voters to act more independently. Two main hypotheses focus on how New Hampshire's undeclared voters act and whether they are more volatile than partisans. Data from pre-primary tracking polls and Election Day exit polls were used to assess actions and volatility. Two variable cross-tabulation was the primary means of data analysis.

The author concludes that New Hampshire's undeclared voters are more independent but as involved and interested in politics as their partisan counterparts. Additionally, while undeclared …

An Examination Of The Nursing Home Industry, Craig Labore

Master's Theses and Capstones

Quality of care remains an issue plaguing the nursing home industry. Over the next twenty years, nursing homes will become inundated with members of the "baby boomer" generation. The goal of this research project was to examine approaches to improving the quality of care in nursing homes in The United States. Three reforms were identified. First, there needs to be improved communication between CMS, regional offices and state agencies. Second, create a training program which trains surveyors and nursing home administrators in a nursing home setting. Finally; there must be collaboration between CMS and nursing home industry leaders in policy-making …

A Case Study In Natural Resource Policy: Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus Clarki Bouvieri) In The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Brad Johnson

Master's Theses and Capstones

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is hailed as one of the most intact temperate ecosystems in the world. Within the ecosystem the Yellowstone cutthroat trout has been noted as both a keystone species and an indicator of ecosystem health. As anthropogenic induced stress and its effects on natural systems have become more readily apparent, a call has risen for a new holistic form of natural resource policy development and implementation. The Ecosystem Approach, based on the principles of sustainability, is a multidisciplinary, cross-sectoral policy paradigm, which serves that function for this study.

This research analyzed the extent to which natural resource …