Digital Commons Network^™

Is There Money Behind The Trump-Putin Love Affair?, Evan Barrett

Highlands College

A newspaper column by Evan Barrett.

Published newspaper columns written by Evan Barrett on this topic, which vary somewhat in content from this commentary, appeared in the following publications:

Montana Cowgirl, January 3, 2017

Time To Invest In Infrastructure, Evan Barrett

Highlands College

A newspaper column by Evan Barrett.

Published newspaper columns written by Evan Barrett on this topic, which vary somewhat in content from this commentary, appeared in the following publications:

Missoulian, Dec 28, 2016

Helena independent Record, Dec 28, 2016

Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Dec 29, 2016

Daily Inter Lake, January 08, 2017

Heroism Research: A Review Of Theories, Methods, Challenges, And Trends, Zeno E. Franco, Scott T. Allison, Elaine L. Kinsella, Ari Kohen, Matt Langdon, Philip G. Zimbardo

Department of Political Science: Faculty Publications

Heroism as an expression of self-actualization and a pinnacle social state is of fundamental interest to humanistic psychology and the field more broadly. This review places the growing discussion on heroic action in a humanistic perspective, as heroism aligns with ethical self-actualization in its highest form, personal meaning making, and social good, and can also involve profound existential costs. This review is organized in four major sections: First, the historical and philosophical underpinnings of heroism are examined, moving from ancient Greco-Roman perspectives, to more modern interpretations of Continental philosophy, and to Freud and Le Bon. Second, the article summarizes in …

The Challenge Of Regulatory Excellence, Cary Coglianese

All Faculty Scholarship

Regulation is a high-stakes enterprise marked by tremendous challenges and relentless public pressure. Regulators are expected to protect the public from harms associated with economic activity and technological change without unduly impeding economic growth or efficiency. Regulators today also face new demands, such as adapting to rapidly changing and complex financial instruments, the emergence of the sharing economy, and the potential hazards of synthetic biology and other innovations. Faced with these challenges, regulators need a lodestar for what constitutes high-quality regulation and guidance on how to improve their organizations’ performance. In the book Achieving Regulatory Excellence, leading regulatory experts …

Ajit Singh [Malyasia, Asean Secretary-General, Diplomat], Ajit Singh

Digital Narratives of Asia

After thirty years as a career diplomat, Malaysia's first ASEAN Secretary-General Ajit Singh, sees his five-year term as the most productive, golden years of his life. He speaks to DNA about the challenges he faced with admitting Myanmar to ASEAN, and the visionary ASEAN leadership. He also expounds on the differences in impacts of work between an ambassador and a bureaucrat.

Commentary: Justice Who Follows Scalia's Path Would Hurt The Working Class, Bruce A. Larson

Political Science Faculty Publications

During the campaign, Donald Trump released a list of 21 conservatives from which he promised to pick Supreme Court justices, should he win the election. With President-elect Trump apparently nearing a decision on a nominee to replace the late Justice Scalia, Senate Republicans are no doubt eagerly awaiting the chance to confirm Trump's pick and restore a conservative majority on the court. [excerpt]

Difficult Questions For The Senate Minority, John M. Greabe

Law Faculty Scholarship

This column is the first in a biweekly Constitutional Connections series that will examine the constitutional implications of various topics in the news. The author, John Greabe, teaches constitutional law and related subject at the University of New Hampshire School of Law. He also serves on the board of trustees of the New Hampshire Institute for Civics Education.

Behold, Steve Bannon’S Hip-Hop Shakespeare Rewrite: 'Coriolanus', Daniel Pollack-Pelzner

Faculty Publications

In this opinion piece originally published in the New York Times, Daniel Pollack-Pelzner examines The Thing I Am (a contemporary rewrite of Coriolanus, as envisioned by Steve Bannon and Julia Jones) in the context of Shakespeare's original play. Pollack-Pelzner argues that Bannon's political playbook is evident in the script for The Thing I Am — namely, a violent macho conflict to purge corrupt leaders and pave the way for a new strongman to emerge.

Populism And The Challenge Of Democracy In 2016, Donald Roth

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Populism really flexes its political muscle when a large enough group of people are just fed up with the current trajectory of the government."

Posting about this turbulent political year ­­­­­­­­from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/populism-and-the-challenge-of-democracy-in-2016/

A Grand Game: Sino-American Relations In The 21st Century, Cameron Mccauley

Student Works

This paper provides an overview and analysis of Sino-American relations, focusing primarily on the South China Sea and the implications of China’s rise on both the region and US national security. International relations theory provides the framework for the analysis and multiple viewpoints are included. This paper draws attention to the importance of properly understanding China’s ambitions in order to prevent a war in the Pacific. While not inevitable, the potential for conflict is addressed and likely scenarios are included. This paper concludes with a quick look at how the Trump administration’s policies could affect the turbulent balance of power …

A Valid Analysis Of A Small Subsample: The Case Of Non-Citizen Registration And Voting, Jesse Richman, David C. Earnest, Gulshan Chattha

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

The development of large sample surveys creates new opportunities for analysis of subpopulations that would hitherto have been impossible to examine systematically. But it also raises key challenges. Low level measurement error can potentially lead to substantial biases in estimates drawn from small subsamples. This study details strategies researchers may take to make inferences in the context of this subsample-response-error problem. In the non-citizen voting case, which recently has received substantial attention, we show that attention to any of these strategies -- group-specific response error estimates, correlated higher-frequency events, test-retest validity, or analysis of associated hypotheses – produces significant evidence …

The Korean War Through The Eyes Of Ray Deweese, Yulissa Y. Lara

Korean War

Ray DeWeese was born in Cleveland, TN on May 10, 1928 and has lived in Cleveland most of his life. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17 years old and fought towards the end of World War II and went off to be a pilot and officer during the Korean War. This interview depicts Mr.DeWeese’s experience during World War II but digs deeper into the difficulty of being a pilot during the brutal Korean War. As Mr. DeWeese recounts his traumatic experience he emphasizes how his diligent training, hardworking comrades, and his Faith in God got him through the …

Use It Or Lose It: Canadian Identity And The Construction Of Arctic Security Policy, Michael P. Mccormack

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the specific factors that drive state action in Canadian Arctic security policy, particularly in relation to securitization of the Arctic region and historical factors that influence decision-making. The purpose of this research is to develop stronger linkages between securitization processes and actual policymaking. When studying the Arctic as a defined geographical space, we see considerable differences between Arctic states when it comes to how cultural and historical attachment to the Arctic region may serve as a selling point for the ability of national governments to justify allocation of defense resources to their respective publics. Using the Canadian …

Contributing Factors To Perspectives On Gun Regulations, Syd Kotar

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

With a rising amount of gun violence, issues of stricter gun regulations have been brought to the government’s attention. Location, gender, and ideology all contribute to how one perceives the individual use of firearms, and believes how much the government should intervene. This paper will explore the different variables such as the three listed above that affect one’s opinions on government intervention concerning stricter gun regulations. The results of data analysis from the ANES 2012 studies conclude that the more conservative one self identifies as, one would want either the same or less government intervention concerning stricter gun regulations. Data …

Has The American Electorate Changed Its Concept Of An Ideal President? Candidate Traits And Their Impact On Voter Favorability, Bennett Tuleja

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Psychology research has exemplified that leadership is revered largely by society as a masculine characteristic. It is not surprising to find that past studies surrounding the issue of what characteristics the American people look for in a Presidential candidate find that more masculine characteristics, in particular strong leadership qualities, have an impact on how Americans perceive presidential candidates and utilize those perceptions when casting their vote. However, in the ever changing political landscape of the United States, especially given the furthering of women in politics, these masculine tides are seemingly bound to change. Hillary Clinton, for instance, embodies this change …

American Voter Attitudes Towards Divided Government, Tyler Ferrari

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Divided government has been a major part of American politics for decades, and it has made governing often difficult at times. Recently, this type of government has proven to be especially frustrating for many voters, so why do they vote to keep this government? Are there partisan reasons for voting for a split ticket, or is the answer more fundamental? This paper highlights the facts and reasons for polarization, ranging from ideology to trust in the federal government as a whole. This paper utilizes the ANES 2012 Study to illustrate that it is not just political ideology that plays a …

Achieving And Maintaining Food Security In The Prc: The Impact On Foreign Policy, Paul D. Rittenhouse

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine how the People’s Republic of China has used domestic and foreign policy to achieve and maintain food security. This is a formidable task for the PRC given that it has 20% of the world’s population and only 7% of its arable land. It has been made more formidable by domestic policy errors and its changing position within the international system.

The PRC has evolved from a Marxist revisionist state to one that mixes state capitalism and free enterprise and has become a combination of revisionist and status quo. Such changes lend …

De Graauw Studies The Role Of Nonprofits On Immigration., Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

Immigration is, and always has been, a hot issue. And it’s gotten even hotter in the last few years, both in Europe and in the U.S. More times than not, this topic seems to be discussed in emotional rather than rational terms. That is why we need scholars who look closely at the facts and tell us what we really need to know.

One of those scholars is Dr. Els de Graauw. An assistant professor in the Department of Political Science in the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences at Baruch College, de Graauw has an interesting personal sto- ry …

Policy Dissemination: Public Administration Theory And International Organizations | A Case Study On The Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities In The Kingdom Of Morocco, Rachelle Ann Wilson

Capstone Projects – Politics and Government

With the advent of international organizations comes international law. Unprecedented at such a global and influential level, there is no theoretical framework within public administration explicitly focused on administrative structure and strategies for the implementation of international law. Consequently, the current administrative literature and theoretical framework must be looked to and transposed, as much as possible, to the international stage. This paper explores public administration theory and how it would manifest if applied to international policy implementation. By taking a closer look into the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its implementation strategy within the …

Notes On People Of Dominican Ancestry In Canada, Ramona Hernandez, Sarah Marrara, Utku Sezgin

Publications and Research

A brief profile of the Latino population in Canada, with a particular focus on Dominicans, in an attempt to develop wider interest and more scholarly research on the subject.

Doing A Bid: The Construction Of Time As Punishment, Keesha M. Middlemass, Calvinjohn Smiley

Political Science Faculty Research

Juxtaposing the sociology of time with the sociological study of punishment, we interviewed 34 former inmates to explore their memories of how they constructed time while “doing a bid.” Prison sentences convey macro-political and social messages, but time is experienced by individuals. Our qualitative data explore important theoretical connections between the sociology of time as a lived experience and the temporality of prison where time is punishment. The interview data explores the social construction of time, and our findings demonstrate participants’ use of the language of time in three distinct ways: (a) routine time, (b) marked time, and (c) lost …

Blocked By Diplomatic Barriers: Syrian Refugees And The Eu-Turkey Migration Cooperation, Bassant Hassib, Doaa Nounou

Political Science

The recent EU-Turkey deal on irregular migration and refugees raised voices of humanitarian concerns with regards to the protection of the rights of Syrian refugees. Despite the positive efforts of Turkey to accommodate Syrian refugees, it still lacks a proper asylum system and measures that can guarantee their socio-economic integration and protect their rights. So instead of having a proper EU refugee resettlement system, they just offer money and mobility incentives to Turkey to keep the Syrian refugees on its land, while sidelining the deteriorating status of those refugees in Turkey. This paper argues that EU-Turkey cooperation on migration is …

Review: 'The White House Vice Presidency: The Path To Significance, Mondale To Biden', Christopher J. Devine

Political Science Faculty Publications

In his book, Joel K. Goldstein has made an ambitious attempt to explain “the most impressive development in American political institutions during the past four decades” (p. 301): the creation of the “White House vice presidency.” The essential features of this newly invigorated institution—historically hobbled by its limited constitutional role and divided institutional identity—entail serving as a senior adviser to, and troubleshooter for, the president, with the support of necessary resources. Key among those resources are regular access to the president and his staff, access to intelligence briefings and Oval Office paper flow, and the integration of vice presidential staff …

Who's On The Bench? The Impact Of Latino Descriptive Representation On U.S. Supreme Court Approval Among Latinos And Anglos [Post-Print], Diana Evans, Ana Franco, J L. Polinard, James Wenzel, Robert Wrinkle

Faculty Scholarship

Objectives

Few studies have examined the impact of the descriptive representation of Latinos on evaluations of the judiciary. This study helps to fill that gap by examining the effect of the appointment of Sonia Sotomayor on Latinos’ and Anglos’ evaluations of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Methods

Using repeated measures from surveys conducted in Texas in 2006 and 2011, we use ordered logit analysis to estimate the impact of the Sotomayor appointment on approval of the U.S. Supreme Court among Latinos and Anglos.

Results

At all levels of political knowledge, Latinos were more aware of the Sotomayor appointment than Anglos. Moreover, …

Navigating Institutional Complexity In The Health Sector: Lessons From Tobacco Control In Kenya, Raphael Lencucha, Peter Magati, Jeffrey Drope

Political Science Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction  This research examines the institutional dynamics of tobacco control following the establishment of Kenya’s 2007 landmark tobacco control legislation. Our analysis focuses specifically on coordination challenges within the health sector.

Methods  We conducted semi-structured interviews with key informants ( n  = 17) involved in tobacco regulation and control in Kenya. We recruited participants from different offices and sectors of government and non-governmental organizations.

Results  We find that the main challenges toward successful implementation of tobacco control are a lack of coordination and clarity of mandate of the principal institutions involved in tobacco control efforts. In a related development, the …

Survey Of Likely Louisiana Voters For 2016 Senate Runoff, Edward Chervenak, Survey Research Center, University Of New Orleans

Survey Research Center Publications

The University of New Orleans’ Survey Research Center (SRC) sponsored an automated interactive voice response (IVR) telephone survey of 776 active registered voters in Louisiana on Tuesday, December 6, 2016. We asked likely voters who they preferred in the 2016 Senate runoff election and whether they thought Obamacare should be repealed. The poll shows that the Republican candidate John Kennedy has a comfortable lead over his Democratic challenger, Foster Campbell. We asked respondents whether they believed Obamacare should be repealed. Likely Louisiana voters back the idea of repealing the healthcare law by a two-to-one margin.

The Failure Of Westphalia: A Constructivist Examination Of Western And Middle Eastern Relations, Jayson Warren

Masters Theses

This thesis is not intended to be a dogmatic or pedantic endorsement of any one religion, ethic, or culture. To the contrary, it is the intent of the author to examine a number of competing ideas, philosophies, and belief systems in order to extrapolate their geopolitical implications and to pursue them to their logical (albeit sometimes inevitable) conclusions. Too often, any number of presuppositions at work within a given situation go overlooked and subsequently skew geopolitical analysis and resulting policy decisions. This thesis seeks to transcend mere opinion or speculation and achieve instead a framework of Constructivism for pragmatic comprehension …

Lean Government Initiatives And The Origins Of Administrative Reforms, Sterl Carpenter

Senior Honors Projects

Government has both tremendous power and responsibility in modern American society. Throughout history, the role of government has shifted with the emergence of new programs and policies. Beginning in the late 1800’s, the role of government expanded with the mass production of railroads and rapid economic development. With this expansion of government, scholars such as Woodrow Wilson turned their attention to the performance of our national bureaucracy, arguing that administration of public policies could be more successful if reforms were instituted. The trend of administrative expansion accelerated into the 20th Century while conducting two major wars and in responding to …

Truth And Justice? Towards Comprehensive Transitional Justice In Uganda And The Democratic Republic Of Congo, Alicia Weaver

Department of Political Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The field of transitional justice currently views retributive and restorative justice as a means of reconciliation dichotomously. With practice becoming increasingly legalistic, the restorative approach is seen as not forcing accountability. This is a mistake. This article will attempt to show that prosecutions and truth and reconciliation commissions can complement one another to attain the most justice for the most people. Using the case studies of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I will examine under what conditions retributive and restorative justice will be used, and how they can be used to promote national reconciliation.

Advisor: Ariel Kohen

Can International Criminal Law Deter Rebel Groups?: The Case Of Uganda, The Lord's Resistance Army, And The International Criminal Court, Julia Reilly

Department of Political Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

How does a state’s commitment to international criminal accountability mechanisms affect the tactics of rebel groups fighting against it? I examine the conflict between Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army, spanning four phases from 1996 until 2015, and parse out whether Uganda’s stance on the Rome Statute and the International Criminal Court affected the LRA’s propensity to target civilians. I use descriptive statistics of civilian and military casualties and qualitative case studies, drawing largely on newspaper and NGO reports of events in the conflict. I find that the affect of Uganda’s signaling on justice on the LRA’s civilian targeting is …