Digital Commons Network^™

The Tech-Nuclear Renaissance: A New Critical Juncture For American Nuclear Energy Policy, Henry P. Otte

CMC Senior Theses

Nuclear energy has re-emerged as a central priority in American energy policy. This thesis examines the Trump administration’s efforts to support nuclear energy development and plant restarts, and asks whether today’s nuclear renaissance represents a critical juncture for nuclear energy policy. By analyzing American, French, and Swedish nuclear energy history, this thesis applies a three-variable analytical framework, state autonomy and administrative structure, political permeability, and crisis influence, to identify the institutional conditions necessary for durable policy change and evaluate the structural characteristics of this new environment. The central finding is that today’s push is distinct from prior attempts at expansion, …

Politics As Usual: Racial Pay Inequity And The Illusion Of Inclusion In The Rise And Fall Of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Accessibility Executive Orders, Francois C. Melville

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This research examines pressing moral policy questions of our time: who determines when the United States of America has fulfilled its broken promise of equality for all, and what constitutes an appropriate measure of reparative justice. It interrogates why the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Executive Orders (EOs) implemented across presidential administrations, intended to advance social equity, were grounded in conflict and symbolic gestures rather than scientifically evidenced issues such as wage inequality directly linked to upward career mobility. Race conscious policy generates cultural clashes centered on the perception that gains made by Black and Brown Americans come at the …

Gendered Punishment? How The Corruption Of Female Politicians Affects Public Opinion Of Female Political Leadership, Byung-Deuk Woo, Mi-Son Kim, Tracy Osborn

Political Science Faculty Publications

Does the corruption of a woman politician decrease public support for other women political leaders? To answer this question, this article examines how the impeachment of Park Geun-hye, the first female president of South Korea, affects people’s perceptions of women’s political leadership in South Korea. We argue that in South Korea, the high-level political corruption scandal of the first woman president led to lower evaluations of women’s political leadership because of the intense and gendered media coverage of Park’s failure. Using the two waves of the World Values Survey conducted in South Korea before and after Park Geun-hye’s impeachment in …

The Return Of Donald Trump: A Multidisciplinary Analysis Of The 2024 Presidential Election, Joan Hanson

Scripps Senior Theses

Donald Trump’s 2024 victory made him only the second president in American history to win a nonconsecutive reelection bid. This thesis serves as a preliminary investigation into why a decisive share of American voters chose Trump for a second time, drawing on voter behavior theory, analysis of digital political advertising and social media content, as well as recent election data. Theoretical frameworks including retrospective and prospective voting, as well as ideological innocence each offer plausible explanations for Trump’s repeat victory. Analysis of digital advertising and social media content leading up to the 2024 presidential election further suggests that these platforms …

The Politics Of Fatness And The Demand For Our Collective Joy, Sky Caldwell

Scripps Senior Theses

The Politics of Fatness and the Demand for Our Collective Joy aims to assess the political-economic reasonings behind the return of overt anti-fatness and its coincidence with the re-normalization of the far right. My research looks at the sudden mass marketing of GLP-1 drugs and the use of the body as a spatial fix during recession-era economic conditions. First, this interdisciplinary project asks why the body positivity movement has not been successful in the greater fight against anti-fatness. Then, through archival research, discourse analysis, ethnographic interviews, and photography, my project explores various case studies of successful spaces and collectives working …

Redling And Soil Contamination In Los Angles County: Mapping The Influence Of Polutants And Regulatory Landscapes On Enviromental Justice Outcomes, Gillian G. Maynard

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis examines soil contamination in Los Angeles as a pervasive yet underexamined environmental justice issue, rooted in the region’s history of industrialization, racialized land-use policy, and regulatory failure. It argues that soil operates as both a long-term repository and an active pathway of toxic exposure, embedding environmental risk directly within residential landscapes. Through an analysis of key contamination sources, including legacy lead pollution, urban oil extraction, wildfire-related toxins, and industrial sites such as the Santa Susana Field Laboratory and the Exide battery recycling facility, this study demonstrates how contaminants persist across generations, often long after their original sources have …

Table Of Contents

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Ideological Narratives In Literacy Reform, Maya Mcgrew

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper assumes a discourse analysis approach to examining if partisan control has influenced why red states have demonstrated faster gains in early literacy than blue states. This is done by investigating whether ideological presence in political framing, and particularly crisis-oriented rhetoric, drives reform adoption as much as policy design. Recognizing the ongoing discourse surrounding the continual improvement of pedagogy and programming, especially in areas of foundational skills such as reading, writing, comprehension, and oral communication. The research employs a systematic coding methodology, and the analysis combines a qualitative review of media narratives and state reform histories with a small-sample …

Ranked Choice Voting At The State And Local Level, Khel Gordhan

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many people across the political spectrum are frustrated with many of the problems that come with simple plurality voting, also known as first-past-the-post, which is implemented in the lion’s share of elections across the United States. To solve many of these problems, some activists and other political organizations advocate for cities and states to adopt Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) as a viable alternative. However, many people, both Republicans and Democrats, claim that implementing this system would be too complicated for people to understand. Due to this, there would be high rates of ballot exhaustion, which would disenfranchise vulnerable minorities who …

Little Saigon Vote: The Mobilization Of Vietnamese Voters Through Ethnic News Media, Vân Lê

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Informed inspectors suspect Vietnamese Americans associate with the Republican Party because of the model minority mindset and their bond over the anti-Communist attitude. These two components created a sense of Vietnamese American nationalism in the refugee community. A way this Vietnamese American nationalism sustains is through ethnic media, which comes in many forms. The most prominent one is YouTube, where many Vietnamese voters (specifically the older generation) gain their political information from. This research seeks to explore how Vietnamese voters make their voting decisions based on the information that they consume by analyzing the content of the four most popular …

Lost Innocence, Found Martyrdom: Childhood War Exposure, Narratives, And Militancy In Hezbollah, Léa Faure

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

What explains participation in armed insurgent groups? Existing literature has examined psychological, individual, structural, and organizational dynamics of mobilization, but rarely looks at all three in tandem. This can be problematic, since these explanations cannot on their own explain variations in participation. Research on the effects of individual exposure to war-related violence also cannot explain why in conflict-ridden, organizationally dense environments, mobilization is still relatively rare despite widespread violent exposure. This study creates a unified theory of participation around the interaction between childhood exposure to war-related violence and relatable timely group narratives. Focusing on the case of Hezbollah in Lebanon, …

Hunter. Hunted. Human: Warfighters' Emotional Responses To Weapons In Tactical & Strategic Context, Simon Mace

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Human emotional responses to weapons have long been assumed to be relatively parsimonious, comprised predominately of aggression, anxiety, and fear responses. However, most research on this weapons effect has focused on civilians – who are notably more likely to be targeted by than to employ weapons. So, there is reason to speculate that emotional responses to weapons vary more than previously believed. This is significant for three reasons. First, positive emotional responses generate more desirable combat behaviors, specifically the willingness to engage adversaries. Second, negative emotional responses catalyze an unpredictable range of behaviors, many of which are tactically and operationally …

Appraising The Uniform: Stress, Predisposition, And Trust In Police Among Latin American And U.S. Latino Populations, Maren J. Mainx

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Public trust in police is central to regime legitimacy, yet reforms intended to build trust produce inconsistent results, and communities facing comparable conditions can respond differently to similar policing. This dissertation accounts for that variation by examining how stress shapes citizens’ responses to police visual cues. It proposes a framework in which citizens interpret these cues through their general trust in police—trust that weighs more heavily under stress. This framework is examined through a multi-method design spanning the Americas. Study 1 merges AmericasBarometer data with the Global Police Militarization Dataset across nineteen countries (2010–2023) to examine how stress and national …

Missionary Body Politics: Physical Education In West China, 1905-1950, Cory Willmott

Asia Pacific Perspectives

Republican Era China saw a radical transformation in Chinese physical culture as it aimed to compete in the global geopolitics of nation-states. Employing an historical ethnographic approach, this paper outlines how the unique conditions of Sichuanese warlordism and secret societies affected missionary relations with the Guomindang (GMD) as they implemented increasingly militarized physical education programs. Before the 1928 GMD consolidation of power, missionaries and GMD educators aligned with the YM/ WCA in physical education programs. After the GMD moved their headquarters to Chongqing in 1938, relations soured between the GMD and the Sichuan missionaries. Although the latter had been the …

Rethinking Theories Of Political Discourse: The Limitations Of The Deliberative-Agonistic Split, Connor Moran

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

What are “theories of political discourse,” why do they matter to political theory, and where do current ones fall short? This dissertation mines the existing resources availed by contemporary democratic theory in order to respond to the discursive challenge of “pernicious polarization,” particularly in the United States. The most comprehensive and influential theories of political discourse today have been furnished by the almost 40-year debate between deliberative democracy and agonism, both of which offer normative models centered on ameliorating the quality of political discourse.

The key finding of the dissertation is that the foundational works of the deliberative-agonistic split lack …

The Instruments Of Chinese Economic Statecraft, Wilson Han

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The global economic order is undergoing a profound transformation as China increasingly leverages its vast commercial resources not merely for market expansion, but as strategic instruments to reshape global governance and secure its national interests. Moving beyond traditional analyses that rely on aggregate macroeconomic indicators, this dissertation investigates the targeted, highly asymmetrical mechanisms of Beijing’s economic statecraft. It systematically examines three specific instruments – institutional, financial, and trade – through which China projects structural power and constructs an alternative economic order.

The first empirical study explores China’s institutional statecraft by analyzing its bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement …

Contractual Democracy From Statehouse To School Board: Shifts In Legislation And School Board Authority In Kentucky, Hannah M. Edelen

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

School boards have long been regarded as a cornerstone of American democracy, providing local governance over public education. While considerable scholarship highlights the increasing involvement of state and federal governments in education, relatively few studies examine with specificity how legislatures shape the local authority of these governance structures. This study investigates how the Kentucky State Legislature has influenced the authority of local school boards over three legislative sessions (2020–2022) and how board members perceive their evolving role. Using a multi-method approach and conceptualized in principal-agent theory, this research contributes to understanding how legislatures shape the governing responsibilities of school boards …

'But George Floyd Wasn't A Saint': A Critical Discourse Analysis Pre And Post George Floyd, Raya Berkley-Jacobs

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

May 25, 2020, George Floyd died at the hands of former police officer Derek Chauvin after he placed his knee on George Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. His death sparked outrage, protests, and calls for accountability, justice, and reform. This study addresses the impact of George Floyd’s death as a focusing event that created a policy window under which federal legislation was introduced as a response to his death. Drawing on Punctuated Equilibrium Theory and Social Construction Theory, the study utilizes a critical discourse analysis to test how the death of George Floyd impacted the amount and …

Africa As A Strategic Arena: How Great Power Rivalry Is Reshaping Security Governance, Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

The rising importance of Africa as a key battleground in great power rivalry is an important shift in global politics that will have significant impacts on security governance in Africa. This article will explore the ways in which increased competition between the U.S., China and Russia will affect African states and regional organizations, and how economic dependency, regional security architecture and diplomatic strategy will influence the overall security environment in Africa. Using recent case studies and academic research, along with current policy analysis, it will analyze whether or not African countries and regional organizations will be able to mitigate potential …

Great Power Competition In Africa: Sustaining Openness Amidst Transnational Threats And Authoritarian Fragmentation, Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

As the United States seeks to position itself in an increasingly competitive world, Africa has emerged as an increasingly key arena of great power competition where the United States, China, and Russia are competing to determine the nature of political norms, economic governance and security architecture on the continent.

The combination of growing transnational threats (such as terrorism, pandemics, climate-related instability, and digital vulnerability), and growing authoritarianism, has transformed the continent into a testbed for competing visions of international order. In light of this backdrop, this paper posits that the United States must pursue a strategy of sustained strategic openness …

Security Governance In Post-Colonial Africa And Implications On Democratic Institutions, Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

This paper will evaluate how security governance contributes to both the development of democracy and the establishment of stable institutions within newly independent post-colonial states in Africa. Security governance is examined here as it relates to the long-term influence of colonial legacy, military presence, and the politicization of the security services. The authors have based their analysis of this issue on qualitative data gathered from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya. The findings of the research suggest that unless security sectors are subject to civilian oversight and adhere to democratic principles, they tend to serve the …

Hybrid Threats And Deterrence Effectiveness In Europe, Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

Objectives:
The current European security landscape is characterized by the growing intersection of historical security challenges (i.e., "traditional" security issues) and new forms of hybrid threats. These changes call for a significant re-evaluation of the role of deterrence in today's world. Traditional deterrence approaches have focused on the use of military capability as well as credible retaliatory threats. However, the recent development of hybrid warfare, including cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns, economic coercion, and clandestine sabotage has made it increasingly difficult to distinguish between times of war and times of peace. This research argues that existing frameworks for deterring adversaries will increasingly …

The Evolving Beijing Consensus: Chinese Communist Party Political Control And Economic Trade Offs, Ian Murphy

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

China’s rapid economic rise and unique development trajectory have long been the subject of scholarly debate, often framed through the concept of the “Beijing Consensus” as an alternative to the Washington Consensus. While initial conceptualizations highlight innovation, sustainability, and national sovereignty, later analyses highlighted elements like state capitalism and authoritarianism, particularly in the wake of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. This paper argues that the Beijing Consensus is undergoing a significant evolution under Chairman Xi Jinping, increasingly prioritizing the Chinese Communist Party’s political security, regime stability, and ideological control at the expense of economic growth. This marks a notable departure …

The Contested Kinmen Model, Ian Murphy

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Kinmen County, Taiwan, stands as an anomaly in East Asia- it is an archipelago administered by Taipei but visually and geographically tethered to the coastline of the People's Republic of China (PRC). For over seven decades, these islands have served as the physical frontline of the unfinished Chinese Civil War, functioning first as a kinetic battleground and later as a laboratory for cross-strait engagement. Yet, to view Kinmen as a relic of the Cold War is to miss it's contemporary strategic significance. The region has now become the primary theater for the PRC's "Kinmen Model" (Jinmen Moshi, symbols redacted), …

Exploring Political Neutrality And Disengagement: The Experiences Of Jehovah’S Witnesses Students In Educational Settings, Kurt Zeus L. Dizon

Social Sciences and Development Review

Schools are tasked with instilling civic and social responsibility values, and such means are achieved through political activities. However, for Jehovah’s Witness (JW) students, participation in such activities can conflict with their religious convictions, presenting a unique challenge as they navigate educational expectations while striving to uphold their beliefs. Hence, this study explores the experiences of JW students regarding their political neutrality and disengagement in educational settings. Utilizing qualitative interviews and document analysis, the research identifies the political activities and challenges JW students face and the coping mechanisms they employ to reconcile their religious commitments with political expectations. Findings reveal …

Reconceptualizing Political Socialization In The Philippines, Nathan Mishael O. Go

Social Sciences and Development Review

Political socialization is a lifelong process of learning about political beliefs, attitudes, and motivations. Studies that have attempted to uncover political socialization in the Philippines have associated socialization with political participation and political cynicism; such an association imposes limits on how political socialization is viewed. Thus, this paper attempts to reconceptualize political socialization in the Philippines by introducing nuances and developments in the field of political participation, political socialization, and Philippine society.

Replanteando Wash: Vías Innovadoras Para Abordar El Agua, La Salud Y La Pobreza, Erica L. Jensen, Emma Indart, Faith Manchester, Sebastian Dorantes, Isabelle Stoddard

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

El acceso al agua potable y a un saneamiento adecuado (WASH) es un tema fundamental para la salud global y la dignidad humana, pero millones de personas aún carecen de estos servicios esenciales (National Geographic Society, 2025). En 2024, UNICEF estimó que aproximadamente tres cuartas partes de la población mundial tienen acceso a servicios de agua potable "gestionados de forma segura", dejando a unas 2,100 millones de personas sin agua potable confiable(UNICEF, 2025). La cobertura de saneamiento está aún más rezagada, ya que aproximadamente 3,400 millones de personas carecen de servicios de saneamiento gestionados de forma segura y 1,700 millones …

The Politics Of Style: How Black Fashion Redefined Identity In The Civil Rights Movement (1950s-1970s), Ava Saleh

Rushton Journal of Undergraduate Humanities Research

This paper explores how fashion served as a powerful political tool during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s-70s, tracing its evolution from the polished Sunday Best to the Afro and militant style of the Black Panther Party. By examining respectability politics, the rise of the Black is Beautiful movement, and the Black Panthers’ visual strategies, this research explores how clothing and style reflected shifting approaches to resistance. It argues that Black Americans used fashion to challenge Eurocentric standards, reclaim heritage, and express pride, leaving a legacy of empowerment that continues to influence social movements.

Reexamining The Abraham Accords: The Dynamics Of The Abraham Alliance Amid Geopolitical Uncertainly, Wahyu Dwi Pambagyo, Ali Maksum

Journal Of Middle East and Islamic Studies

Several studies have discussed the bilateral economic impact of the Abraham Accords, but few of them have thoroughly examined how this agreement has evolved into a collective security framework amid global geopolitical changes. This study attempts to fill the existing research gap by analyzing the transformation of the Abraham Accords into the Abraham Alliance using the Balance of Power theory framework developed by Stephan M. Walt. Using a qualitative approach and case study mode, this study examines secondary data from 2020 to 2025, using academic journals, government policy documents, and reliable news media as sources. This study concludes that the …

Beyond Charisma: A Critical Theory Perspective On Populist Leadership In A Post-Covid Age Of Crisis, Samuel Fianko-Ofori, Stephen Apolima

Interdisciplinary Journal of Leadership Studies

This paper argues that the digital communication environment has qualitatively transformed the dynamics of populist leadership, moving it beyond a reliance on personal charisma. While the affective bonds between leaders and followers—explored by classical theorists like Weber, Freud, and Adorno—are not new, their operation within the platformed public sphere marks a distinct shift. We introduce the concept of Affective Populist Leadership (APL) to conceptualize this shift. APL is a mode of leadership sustained through the strategic cultivation and digital amplification of collective emotions. It operates through three mutually reinforcing mechanisms: (1) the perpetual theatrical framing of politics as crisis, (2) …