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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Influence Of Economic Performance In The 2014 Midterms: A Gubernatorial Tutorial, Justin M. Markon
The Influence Of Economic Performance In The 2014 Midterms: A Gubernatorial Tutorial, Justin M. Markon
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
Who is responsible for the state economy, and does it matter in electing the state chief executive? Until now, numerous researchers have examined the influence of the economy and other factors in gubernatorial elections. However, the most recent studies at the state level did not include economic conditions or found them to be insignificant. This project will examine the thirty-six gubernatorial elections in 2014 and analyze both national- and state-level economic indicators. After investigating the economic performance factors in relation to the election results, it appears that economic conditions did not influence vote choice in the November 2014 gubernatorial elections, …
Legislated Equality: Gender Quotas In A Latin American Context And The Story Of Mexico, Joe Dingmann
Legislated Equality: Gender Quotas In A Latin American Context And The Story Of Mexico, Joe Dingmann
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
Female legislators are becoming much more common and so are legislative acts focusing on increasing the number of women in elected bodies. These acts are an attempt at creating rules, designed in a positive way, to foster social change and fix one of the most predominant issues in society. A prevalent strategy for greater female representation in decision-making bodies is electoral gender quotas. Electoral gender quotas are one method that attempts to raise the descriptive representation (raw numbers) of women in elected within legislative bodies. These quotas have been enacted around the world beginning in the early 1990s. Because electoral …
Why States Seek Membership In Supranational Institutions, Kathrine (Katie) Tillman
Why States Seek Membership In Supranational Institutions, Kathrine (Katie) Tillman
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
International institutions allow for increased connections between states. The number of a specific type of institution, supranational, has been on the rise and these institutions are taking on more powers once held by states. This study seeks to explain the motivating factors behind states’ decisions to join supranational institutions. In order to do this, I will focus on two states’ decisions to join the European Union, Austria and Poland. Perception of economic benefits, desire to join a common identity, and the desire to join security alliances will be analyzed as explanatory variables for the states’ decision.
Breaking News: A Woman Is Running, Bridget F. Cummings
Breaking News: A Woman Is Running, Bridget F. Cummings
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
As women are still underrepresented in legislative offices, it is important to examine the road it takes for them to get there. Many scholars have explored gender bias in the media when covering female candidates for elected office. Fowler and Lawless (2009) uncover bias in media coverage of candidates between 1990 and 1997 in Looking for Sex in All the Wrong Places: Press Coverage and the Electoral Fortunes of Gubernatorial Candidates. This paper replicates the method used by Fowler and Lawless (2009) to examine gubernatorial candidates between 2008 and 2014. The independent variable in my research is the gender bias …
Media Manipulation Or Economic Decline? Explaining The Rise Of Nationalism Within Bosnia Herzegovina, Rachel Mullin
Media Manipulation Or Economic Decline? Explaining The Rise Of Nationalism Within Bosnia Herzegovina, Rachel Mullin
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
How in less than ten years does a country go from hosting the Olympics to using the opening ceremony stadium to bury bodies? In this paper, I seek to answer the question of why ethnic nationalism was able to gain such strong support in BiH following the collapse of Yugoslavia. I explore three possible explanations. The first focuses on the role of elite manipulation of the media in spreading nationalist narratives. The second, examines the impact of perceived economic woes along ethnic lines that led to scapegoating of other ethnic groups. The third offers a hybrid approach, proposing that perceived …
The Constitutive Nature Of Non-Profit Advertising And Its Effect On Agency: An Analysis Of The Campaigns Of Childfund International And (Red), Camry Martinez
The Constitutive Nature Of Non-Profit Advertising And Its Effect On Agency: An Analysis Of The Campaigns Of Childfund International And (Red), Camry Martinez
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
Many rhetorical scholars choose to study the persuasive effectiveness of an advertisement instead of the reality that the ad creates. While this is a beneficial endeavor, in the case of non-profit advertisements it allows for the meaning the advertisements create to be passed over. The meaning is assumed to be positive because the effect of the successful persuasion of the ad results in a beneficial outcome, helping others. The literature review examines rhetoric as constitutive, or capable of creating the meaning of the audience, and then explores how through this constitutive nature an advertisement can affect the agency of an …
Republicans In The Wild: Issue Realignment In The Republican Party On Public Land Policy, Stephanie Pinkalla
Republicans In The Wild: Issue Realignment In The Republican Party On Public Land Policy, Stephanie Pinkalla
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
The Republican Party is often seen as the bane of protective environmental policies, and is associated with opening public land in the West to private oil interests, endorsing pipeline construction on federal lands, and permitting road development in wilderness areas. Throughout history, however, the Republican Party has not always worked for such brazen anti-environment causes, and some of America’s most formative protective land policies emerged under Republican leadership. If this is the case, how has the Republican Party realigned on protective public lands policy in the Republican electorate, government, and party organization with time? This investigation reviews the proportion of …
Examining The Rise Of Right Wing Populist Parties In Western Europe, John (Jack) Malone
Examining The Rise Of Right Wing Populist Parties In Western Europe, John (Jack) Malone
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
Over the last twenty-five years, right wing populist parties (RPPs) have become much more popular across Europe, even becoming the most popular parties in a select few countries. These parties run on a platform of being staunchly against immigration and multiculturalism, and are reactionary in general to any kind of social change. In this thesis I try to answer just why right wing populist parties have seen their popularity increase so dramatically over a relatively short amount of time. To do this, I will study shifts in voting behavior and voter attitudes across Europe by examining election results and survey …
International Involvement In The State Consolidation In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Hannah Deblauwe
International Involvement In The State Consolidation In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Hannah Deblauwe
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
The world in the 20th century saw the rise of a new phenomenon: international development. Bosnia and Herzegovina after its war was one of the first nations to receive large-scale international aid in the form of development programs, ranging from reconstruction to economic development to state consolidation. Since 1996 many nations, NGOs, and inter-governmental organizations have been involved in the state consolidation of this Balkan nation of 3.6 million people. This paper looks at the relationship of the EU and USAID specifically and how they have impacted this nation. In order to accomplish that this paper will look at …
Civil-Military Relations In Emerging Democracies: A Case Study Of Turkey, Melissa Deorio
Civil-Military Relations In Emerging Democracies: A Case Study Of Turkey, Melissa Deorio
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
Within the study of democratic consolidation, the role of the military has been identified as an increasingly important aspect of a country’s ability to achieve democracy. The military plays a particularly influential role in countries in Latin America and the Middle East where country’s exhibit strong military traditions. This study of applies the theories of democratic consolidation and civil-military relations to Turkey, a country who has been able to make significant progress toward the end of military tutelage. Constitutional separation, punishment and national identity will be analyzed as explanatory variables for a lack of military intervention in Turkey during the …
An Arms Race Or Bureaucratic Dogfight? Assessing The Underlying Causes Of India’S Nuclear Force Development, Drew Stommes
An Arms Race Or Bureaucratic Dogfight? Assessing The Underlying Causes Of India’S Nuclear Force Development, Drew Stommes
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
States have developed military capabilities throughout the history of the nation-state international system. Examples include the Anglo-German naval arms race at the beginning of the 21st century and the United States-Soviet Union arms competition during the cold War. One contemporary example of an arms buildup can be seen with the expansion and enhancement of India’s nuclear arsenal. Drawing from two broad bodies of literature that focus on the role of external and internal causes of arms buildups, I argue that India’s nuclear buildup has been caused primarily by the external threat posed by Pakistan, and less so by China. …
Shaking The Military Pillar Of Regime Support: A Closer Look At The Factors Influencing Military Defections During The Revolutions In Egypt, Libya, And Syria During The Arab Spring Movement, Sarah Kruger
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
Using Egypt, Libya, and Syria as primary case studies, this project qualitatively analyzes the recent uprisings in each of these nations with focus on what factors influenced soldiers to defect. Paying specific attention to the role of the international community, the power of nonviolent tactics, the influence of ethnic and religious divisions, and examining what happens when the opposition forces turn violent, these decisions by military personnel are deconstructed by analyzing their triggers. While the topic of military defections is a fairly new focus in revolutionary studies, this research serves as a talking point and gives insight into where future …
The Rally Around The Flag Effect: A Look At Former President George W. Bush And Current President Barack Obama, Jocelyn E. Norman
The Rally Around The Flag Effect: A Look At Former President George W. Bush And Current President Barack Obama, Jocelyn E. Norman
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
The purpose of my research is to look at how the “rally-round-the-flat effect” affected both former President George W. Bush and current President Barrack Obama and uncover why Obama only benefited from the “rally-round-the-flag effect” once, even though he has dealt with numerous international crises. This research is valuable because it will illustrate how the rally effect affects different presidents and uncover the outside factors that caused Obama’s approval ratings to remain stagnant during time of international crisis. In addition, it will hopefully disprove the notion that crisis or war automatically increases the popularity of a President.
Nairobi's Housing Crisis: An Analysis Of The Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme, Peter Ehresmann
Nairobi's Housing Crisis: An Analysis Of The Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme, Peter Ehresmann
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
Nairobi, Kenya is one of the most volatile urban centers in Africa, suffering from 60% of its population living in crowded and poverty-stricken informal settlements around the periphery of the city. Efforts to upgrade Nairobi's slums have been attempted by the Government of Kenya (GoK) for decades, using different theories and strategies ranging from forced eviction and demolition to the current Sustainable Livelihoods Approach that claims resident participation as its hallmark. A new initiative based on this strategy entitled the Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme (KENSUP), headed in partnership between the GoK & UN-Habitat, is focusing on Kiberia - East Africa's …
Sustainable Development And The State: Analyzing Costa Rica And Nicaragua's Experiences, Rebecca Reibestein
Sustainable Development And The State: Analyzing Costa Rica And Nicaragua's Experiences, Rebecca Reibestein
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
This paper examines the role of the state in the implementation and success of sustainable development. It first argues there are certain concepts (capacity building, community participation, and empowerment) inherent in any type of successful development. These concepts need to be realized and addressed by the state in order for sustainable development to be long-term and successful. The examination of both Costa Rica and Nicaragua's progress in sustainable development in light of their respective political and economic development proves how integral these concepts are. Throughout the paper the issue of NGO/IGO versus state involvement in sustainable development is brought up. …
Working For A Living: A Comparison Of The Public Assistance And Employment And Training Programs Of Sweden, The United Kingdom, And The United States, Brendan Conor Kelly
Working For A Living: A Comparison Of The Public Assistance And Employment And Training Programs Of Sweden, The United Kingdom, And The United States, Brendan Conor Kelly
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
In industrial democracies, creating conditions of social justice depends on just welfare state institutions. This paper compares how three models of the democratic welfare state, in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, attempt meet the demands of justice through public assistance and employment and training programs that provide for a well-trained labor force. The paper compares each state's public assistance and employment and training programs, the historical and political developments of each system, and each program's successes and failures. It examines the present situations in each country and the likelihood of future changes. Understanding the political constraints of …
The Gender Gap In The 1996 Presidential Election:An Examination Of Gender Gaps In Public Opinion And Political Communication, Nicole Kroetsch
The Gender Gap In The 1996 Presidential Election:An Examination Of Gender Gaps In Public Opinion And Political Communication, Nicole Kroetsch
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
The gender gap in the electorate was highlighted as a distinguishing feature of the presidential election in 1996. Because it was recognized as such an important political phenomenon, citizens, politicians, political strategists and journalists offered explanations for its existence. Two common explanations surfaced: women and men voted differently because they cared about different public issues and women and men voted differently because they responded differently to the communication styles of the candidates. When examining these claims within the specific context of the presidential campaign of 1996, their validity is challenged by solid research. Although there were some political issues, such …
Race And Baseball In North Dakota In The 1930'S, Reynaldo A. Aligada
Race And Baseball In North Dakota In The 1930'S, Reynaldo A. Aligada
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
In the 1930s in North Dakota, town teams employed black players from the Negro Leagues. In the communities of Bismarck and Jamestown, North Dakota, players were denied membership while performing a socially important function--playing baseball. Because of their race, they were ineligible for membership.
1996 Welfare Reform: Effects On Single-Parent Families In Rural Minnesota, Philip M. Kern
1996 Welfare Reform: Effects On Single-Parent Families In Rural Minnesota, Philip M. Kern
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
In 1996, historic legislation redirected and changed our national system of welfare, a structure that had been in place for over 60 years. Despite minor tinkering in various years since the 1960s, the distribution of welfare in this country for the most part has fallen under the same guidelines since its creation. However, the recent changes, at both the national and state levels, will have a profound impact on the lives of the most disadvantaged Americans. In this thesis, I will explain the 1996 national and state welfare reform laws and how they fail to provide the necessary solutions for …
Las Maquiladoras Y Su Gente: A Look At The United States-Mexico's Industrial Past, Present, And Future, Stamate P. Skliris
Las Maquiladoras Y Su Gente: A Look At The United States-Mexico's Industrial Past, Present, And Future, Stamate P. Skliris
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
My Senior Honors Thesis entails a close look at the U.S.- owned sweat shops which reside along the 2,000 mile border between the U.S. and Mexico. In my thesis, I discuss the positive and negative attributes of the Maquiladora Industry, in addition to their history, and a prognostication of what lies ahead for their future.
The Fall Of Sendero Luminoso, Anthony T. Daniel
The Fall Of Sendero Luminoso, Anthony T. Daniel
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
The Fall of Sendero Luminoso evaluates the rise and decline of the Shining Path movement, or Sendero Luminoso, in Peru. The social insurrection began in 1980 and seeks to establish a communist state in Peru through the use of guerrilla warfare. The 1992 capture of Sendero's leader, Abimael Guzman, significantly weakened the organization and its influence in Peruvian society has diminished. My thesis attempts to postulate the reasons for the collapse of the organization with a particular focus on how the practices and policies of Sendero inhibited the revolution from establishing a deep social foundation. I argue that Sendero's use …
The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same: Germany's Pursuit Of Power In The Twentieth Century, Joshua Hayes
The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same: Germany's Pursuit Of Power In The Twentieth Century, Joshua Hayes
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
Germany faces a "German Problem" because of history and ideology. Branded an aggressor nation because of its role in the two World Wars, Germany is still attempting to succeed in a competitive, anarchic world similar to that described by Hobbes' State of Nature. I illustrate this international environment through game theory's Prisoner's Dilemma. Viewed in this manner, Germany feared defection by neighboring states and its actions to protect itself helped cause the First World War. Contemporary Germany has learned from its past experiences and has a new anti-aggression stance which competes with an old Faustian German ethos. I shall argue …
The Effects Of For-Profit Health Care Corporations On American Health Care, Erik Leaver
The Effects Of For-Profit Health Care Corporations On American Health Care, Erik Leaver
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
My thesis investigated the implications associated with the increasing numbers of investor-owned hospitals in America's hospital market. Traditionally, most hospitals have been non-profit, and I wanted to analyze whether the drive for profits would compromise the care that hospitals provide to their patients. I studied the differences and similarities between non-profit and for-profit ownership types in three key areas: quality, access, and efficiency. I discovered through my research that the differences between the two ownership types are becoming increasingly difficult to identify. I concluded that for-profit hospitals have created a more competitive environment, and this increased competition will help keep …
The Application Of International Water Law To The Disputes Over Freshwater In The Middle East, Jason Woolwine
The Application Of International Water Law To The Disputes Over Freshwater In The Middle East, Jason Woolwine
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
Of all the freshwater in the world today, only about one-third of one percent is available for human consumption and survival. Relationships among countries of the region were, and continue to be significantly affected and played out in the use of water and the policies that surround their use. Because of the growing concerns and problems surrounding the legal rights to have fair access to water, it has become essential for countries to realize that it is their ability to deal with this issue that will determine their survival. The common framework of international law and its principles may act …
Immigration Or Ethnic Diversity?: Racism And Cultural Tolerance In Modern French Society, Tara Lane
Immigration Or Ethnic Diversity?: Racism And Cultural Tolerance In Modern French Society, Tara Lane
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
A French person who speaks of immigration is speaking about the large population of Arabs and West Africans who have migrated to France over the last 20-30 years, the majority of whom are legal citizens. At issue are the problems surrounding the integration of millions of people who are of a different race, religion, and culture into a society which does not accept difference. Why does immigration continue to exist despite attempts at regulation and general public opposition? The economics of immigration must also be considered in examining immigration policy. The debate over immigration in France in the 1900s involves …
Justice Harry Blackmun And The Regulation Of Sexually Explicit Expression, John T. Mcbroom
Justice Harry Blackmun And The Regulation Of Sexually Explicit Expression, John T. Mcbroom
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
Harry Blackmun is a Supreme Court Justice whose Court identity and ideology became more moderate or liberal during his twenty-four years on the Court (1970-1994). In cases dealing with the regulation of sexually explicit expression, however, he maintained a moderately conservative (pro-government censorship) position throughout his tenure. Blackmun consistently upheld the government's right to ban sexually explicit expression that had been found "obscene" under the test outlined in Miller v. California, 93 S.Ct. 2607 (1973). This was in direct contrast to the position held by Justices William Brennan and Thurgood Marshall, Blackmun's two closest Court allies in the 1980's and …
The Role Of Human Rights Organizations Case Study: Chiapas, Heidi Muller
The Role Of Human Rights Organizations Case Study: Chiapas, Heidi Muller
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
No abstract provided.
A Critical Theory Of Liberalism: A Case For Community, David Gregory Seibert
A Critical Theory Of Liberalism: A Case For Community, David Gregory Seibert
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
No abstract provided.
What About The Rural Poor?, Melissa J. Petrangelo
What About The Rural Poor?, Melissa J. Petrangelo
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
The American public generally perceives poverty as an urban problem. However, the incidence of poverty is actually higher in rural areas. Current, AFDC and food stamp legislation reflects the American public's perception. What is overlooked in AFDC and food stamp legislation is the distinguishing characteristics of the rural poor. AFDC and food stamp legislation are less effective in reducing poverty in rural areas. Where you are poor makes a difference. Recognition of the diversity of poverty populations is crucial for the design of effective policies and programs.
The Future Of Francophone Africa Without The Aid And Influence Of Its Former Colonial Power, France, Ryan Mcgovern
The Future Of Francophone Africa Without The Aid And Influence Of Its Former Colonial Power, France, Ryan Mcgovern
Honors Theses, 1963-2015
French colonialism dramatically changed sub-Sahara Africa in the region now called Francophone Africa. In 1960 the French granted the francophone countries independence but French influence did not end. France's neo- colonial influence caused many problems for the newly independent countries including economic dependence, unwanted boundaries and the establishment of an elite class. The Africans themselves have been struggling with mismanagement, corruption and political and economic instability. Recent breaks in Franco-African relations has caused the French to take a step back from its high level of influence in Africa. In order for francophone Africa to prosper without the aid and influence …