Digital Commons Network^™

The United States Of America V. Darren Seals, Tony Gaskew

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

The United States of America has an insatiable appetite for the corpses of Black men. Although only a silent whisper in the field of conflict resolution, Black men and boys face unprecedented levels of state-sponsored direct, structural, and metaphysical violence. Empirical evidence regarding disparities within the nuanced constructs of police killings, stop-and-frisk searches, educational attainment, unemployment, mortality rates, mass incarceration, and all forms of covert counterinsurgency (COIN) operations shows that Black men are without question, enemies of the state and what Leonard Harris calls the ultimate “necro-being.” You see, on September 6, 2016, 29-year-old Black male anti-police activist Darren Seals …

Srikandi And Indonesia’S E-Government Policy: System Reliability And The Crucial Role Of Political Commitment, Tubagus Zaki Zakaria, Nandang Alamsah Deliarnoor, Dedi Sukarno

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This study examines the implementation of the SRIKANDI e-government policy in Indonesia, focusing on six critical elements: information exchange, information security, citizen engagement, human resources, inter-agency services, and policy-related decision-making. Employing a qualitative research methodology, NVIVO software was used to conduct thorough data coding and content analysis. Data were collected through literature reviews, non-participant observations, in-depth interviews, and analysis of official government documents, ensuring robust triangulation and comprehensive understanding. The findings reveal significant challenges in information security, particularly with system vulnerabilities that pose risks to data integrity. The level of citizen engagement remains low, with existing regulations limiting public participation …

Analyzing Tiktok’S Influence On Youth Political Activism And Social Participation In Malaysia, Nor Azyani Tsania Mohd Nor, Syahirah Samantha Foo Su Sien Mohd Fird, Nur Marissa Nabilah Mohd Ridhwan, Mohamad Hafifi Jamri

Jurnal Wacana Politik

Despite TikTok’s popularity among young users, concerns persist regarding their lack of political awareness and gullibility. This research aims to address this gap by examining TikTok usage patterns among Malaysian youth and analyzing user interactions with political and social content. The research participants consisted of youths aged 18 to 29 years old in Malaysia. Employing a quantitative research design, the study used surveys to gather data and descriptive statistical analysis. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS software. The study’s findings indicate TikTok’s potential for political usage and respondents show a moderately high agreement on TikTok as a platform …

Blockchain Technology In Elections: Exploring Potential And Implications, Ibnu Khaldun

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This study aims to explore the potential and implications of implementing blockchain technology in the context of elections and governance. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, including expert interviews, stakeholder surveys, and case studies from various countries, the research provides in-depth insights into how blockchain can revolutionize electoral processes and governance. The findings indicate that blockchain implementation in elections has the potential to enhance the integrity and security of voting processes, though significant challenges exist in terms of existing technological infrastructure and public acceptance. In governance, blockchain offers improvements in transparency and efficiency, yet faces obstacles in scalability, integration with existing IT …

Lessons For Public Policy From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Olga Shvetsova

Political Science Faculty Scholarship

In the early 2020s, as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, governments, bureaucracies, and health practitioners around the globe faced unforeseen tasks and responsibilities. The novelty and intensity of the crisis spurred innovation and experimentation in public policy, health policy, and crisis management. However, the pandemic also revealed bottlenecks and adverse incentives within policy framework and healthcare systems. From this experience, critical lessons emerged: the paramount importance of swift and well-informed policy responses and the ability to optimize ongoing policy response as the crisis unfolds.

Not My Daughter: The Symbolic American Child And Cinematic Potential, Jacob Campbell

CLAMANTIS: The MALS Journal

No abstract provided.

Urban Security And The Crisis Of Values In A Risk Society: Elements For Reflection And Research, Bahamou Abdelilah, Abdelghani Chafik

Journal of Maya Heritage

Abstract: Urban security has become one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, shaped by the complexities of modern urban life. As cities grow and evolve, they face unprecedented security challenges that transcend traditional notions of crime prevention. These challenges encompass social, cultural, economic, and psychological dimensions, deeply intertwined with societal transformations.

In the context of what sociologist Ulrich Beck refers to as the "risk society," rapid globalization, technological advancement, and cultural diffusion have disrupted traditional social values. This disruption has created environments of uncertainty and fear, where mutual trust and social cohesion are eroded. As Émile Durkheim …

Ramerican Political Science Review (Vol. 9, Feb. 2025 Special Edition)

Ramerican Political Science Review

France's Strategic Dynamics: Power, Partnerships, and Prospects / Marie Cox -- The Contribution of the United Kingdom to the Security of Europe / Kelly Williams -- Poland: A Pivotal Actor for the Future of European Security / Zack Kloman -- The End of Finlandization / Natasha C. Smith -- A New Age: Turkish Security in a Changing World / Alexandra Pabon

Public Support For War And Desertion, Joshua Delaigle

Sigma: Journal of Political and International Studies

Since the beginning of war, soldier desertion has been an issue for military leaders and the politicians supporting them. Desertion from the United States Military is defined in Title 10 of the U.S. Code Article 85 as a member of the armed forces who goes or remains absent from his or her unit or place of duty with the intent to remain away permanently (“10 U.S. Code § 885”). Desertions lessen both unit cohesion and combat readiness, potentially changing the tide of a war. For these reasons, military leaders and academic researchers have been concerned with understanding the phenomenon of …

An Examination Of Donald Trump And Young Evangelical Voters, Kevin Finn

Honors Theses and Capstones

The relationship between Donald Trump and religious voters is often discussed, but much less attention has been directed to the connection between Trump and young voters, particularly young evangelicals. This paper attempts to provide the reasoning behind why despite his unconventional character, Trump maintains a strong base of support from young evangelical voters. After examining the theories of previous scholars, it hypothesizes that support is shaped by religious elites, who exploit the strong connection that young evangelicals have to their community. The argument is separated into three phases: first, that evangelical leaders and elites have proven to be consistently in …

Estimating The Effect Of Positivity About Immigrants On Vote Choice In The 2020 Us Presidential Election, L.J. Zigerell

Faculty Publications – Politics and Government

Much of the research that estimates how attitudes about immigrants affect outcomes uses a measure that ranges from a lack of negativity about immigrants to a high level of negativity about immigrants. But this overlooks the effect of positivity about immigrants. The present study illustrates a method that uses a neutral point of indifference about immigrants to separate the effect of positivity about immigrants from the effect of negativity about immigrants. Analysis of data from the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group VOTER Survey suggested that positivity about immigrants was an important predictor of vote choice in the 2020 US presidential …

Connecting Classrooms To Communities: A Practical And Effective Guide For Involving Community Development Practitioners In Graduate Seminars, Michael Hendricks

Faculty Publications – Politics and Government

This article examines the pedagogical impact of a strategically structured guest speaker series in a graduate-level community development seminar. Drawing on four cohorts of qualitative student feedback and utilizing an inductive thematic analysis, the study explores how guest speakers influence student learning, professional development, and civic engagement. Findings reveal that guest speakers effectively bridge theory and practice, enhance classroom engagement, and foster critical thinking, career exploration, and long-term civic involvement. Students reported that interacting with diverse professionals helped clarify real-world applications of course content and inspired volunteerism, internships, and employment opportunities. The paper also identifies conditions that enhance the effectiveness …

Building The Beast: The Evolution Of Mara Salvatrucha (Ms-13) From Street Gang To Transnational Criminal Organization, Marisa Mendoza

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores the evolution of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) from a social stoner group in Los Angeles to a feared transnational criminal organization (TCO). Through a longitudinal study of literature and opensource materials spanning over 50 years, this study examines suppression and policy reforms enacted in the United States, Mexico, and Northern Triangle region of Central America that have catalyzed shifts in the criminal ecosystem, and vice versa. By exploring the genealogical makeup of TCO networks, particularly La Cosa Nostra, Mexican Mafia prison gang, and Los Zetas drug trafficking cartel, it will provide a better understanding of how an anomaly …

Living Networks: Reimagining Social Capital Beyond Institutions, Meghna Pamula

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis investigates the decline of social capital in the United States and explores how community connection can be rebuilt outside of traditional government institutions. Motivated by the question of whether social capital can be rebuilt within bureaucratic structures, the research evaluates the role of alternative, agile models such as local volunteer organizations, mutual aid networks, third spaces, and NGOs. Using a comparative case study approach and qualitative analysis, I examine initiatives across different cultures that foster social trust and connection beyond the limitations of formal systems. The findings illustrate that adaptive models of social capital that are not based …

Church Attendance, Gender Roles, And Human Sexuality, Derek D. Goodrich

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

This research examines how the frequency of religious attendance impacts views on gender roles and sexuality in Christian subgroups in the United States. Prior research on the varying worldviews of American Christians has revealed a diverse group of opinions that cannot be explained solely by denominational affiliation. Based on social identity theory, this study explores whether the frequency of attendance at religious services influences congregants’ beliefs on six issues: legalization of gay marriage, the acceptance of homosexuality in society, the acceptance of transgender people, whether a parent should stay home with the children, which parent should stay home, and women …

Critical Approaches To Climate-Induced Migration Research And Solutions, Rosalyn Negrón, David Hernández, Hossein Ayazi, Pablo Shiladitaya Bose, Nyingilanyeofori Brown, Elora Chowdhury, Janelle Knox-Hayes, Rajini Srikanth, Banu Subramaniam, Farhana Sultana, Patrick Sylvain, Carlos Vargas-Ramos, Charles Venator-Santiago

Sustainable Solutions Lab

In this commentary we explore the confluence of factors shaping climate-induced migration and the need for comprehensive solutions grounded in historical and systemic understandings. We argue that climate change, colonial legacies, and geopolitical policies significantly influence migration patterns, particularly for historically marginalised communities. We call for scholars to develop holistic frameworks that consider environmental, political, historical, and economic factors while advocating for the legal recognition and protection of migrants and people displaced by climate impacts. Drawing on examples of internal migration and displacement in the United States and refugee camps globally, we highlight the complexities of resettlement. We propose integrated …

Assessing Best Practices Of Facilitation Of The Free Exercise Of Religion By Army Chaplains Utilizing The Success Case Method, Geoffrey N. Bailey Phd

Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined how U.S. Army chaplains experience and facilitate the free exercise of religion. The research explored compelling narratives of best-case facilitation experiences, identified leadership qualities associated with successful religious support, and analyzed similarities and differences between best and worst-case scenarios. Using Brinkerhoff's Success Case Method, the study distributed a quantitative survey to 1,478 active-duty chaplains (achieving a 23% response rate) followed by twelve guided interviews with participants representing diverse ranks and faith traditions. The research revealed six major themes: significant gaps in education for pluralistic ministry, tension between personal religious convictions and professional duties, crucial impact of …

Examining Political Knowledge And Trust In The U.S Federal Government, Sheila Alvarez

History and Political Science | Senior Theses

The United States is a representative democracy and as such requires participation from its citizens to function; in order to participate, citizens need to have information. Trust in social institutions is often contingent on our knowledge about those institutions. For instance, increased trust in scientists, science, or both, can be affected by educational achievement and scientific knowledge (Yen & Zampelli, 2022). The relationship between trust and knowledge highlights how an understanding of concepts leads to higher receptivity (Yen & Zampelli, 2022). Research has also suggested political knowledge is a driving force of political participation and tolerance (Delli Carpini & Keeter, …

I Love You, But I’Ve Got To Cancel You: Psychological Determinants And Consequences Of Cancel Culture Participation, Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster, Daniel H. Spitz

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

This study explores how individuals react to celebrities who take a political stance that contradicts and threatens their social identity. An online experiment examines these questions in the context of the Israeli war against Hamas in the wake of the October 7 terror attack. Israeli Jewish participants who were led to believe that a beloved celebrity fully embraced the Palestinian’s narrative and condemned Israel experienced more negative and less positive emotions and had a greater intention to cancel the celebrity. However, writing a comment or a social media post (particularly if the comment bashed the celebrity) partially buffered these emotional …

An Analysis Of The Media’S Coverage Of The Kenyan 2022 Electoral Tallying Process: A Case Of Nation Media Group, Wanjiku Ruth Munyi

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

In Kenya, the electorate has always turned to the media for information and clarity, especially in political processes such as elections. This is more vital for the citizenry when they feel their democratic rights are being suppressed. This study was limited to the 2022 presidential election tallying process and gathered information from the relevant stakeholders involved, including the NMG, the IEBC, political coalitions, and media and communication scholars. As a case study, the research was also limited to the case of NMG and used a variety of sources of information through triangulation of both methods and sources. To this end, …

Holy Disregard: Christian Nationalists More Likely To Accept Democratic Norm Violations From Fellow Citizens, Hannah Criser

Sigma: Journal of Political and International Studies

How do Christian nationalists react to democratic norm violations from fellow citizens? Previous research on Christian nationalism shows that believers of the ideology prefer right-leaning, conservative politics with a particular affinity for Donald J. Trump, who has shown to support and participate in democratic violations, such as denying election results and advocating for media suppression. However, little is known regarding how Christian nationalists would react to the democratic norm violations committed by fellow peers. In a nationally representative online survey fielded in October 2024, I discover that Christian nationalists are more likely to identify with and support violating democratic norms, …

Transparency, Accountability, And Influence In The International Investment Law System, Jarrod Wong, Jason Yackee

Michigan Journal of International Law

This article offers the first interdisciplinary critique of transparency in international investment law (“IIL”) that draws on transparency-skeptical and accountability scholarship in political science and public administration. Not only has the expansive IIL literature overlooked these disciplines, but much of it fails to define the core concept of transparency. Building on contributions from the fields of administrative law, international relations, and system theory in classic political science, we provide a novel functionalist account of transparency that traces a line from transparency to accountability to influence in the IIL system.

We make three arguments. First, transparency involves access to data that …

Ethnic Insurgency Of Myanmar: Resilience And Fragility, Lei Tong

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This research studies insurgent resilience in the context of Myanmar’s civil conflicts. In the face of repression, some ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) continued to mount significant resistance to the state and even grew their territorial control and capacities. Others merely survived, but lost their operational functionality, while others still were forcibly disarmed and disbanded. What explains this variation in the resilience of Myanmar’s EAOs? To answer this question, I build on conflict scholarship that highlights the importance of lootable resources to armed insurgent organizations. However, I extend this work by showing that access to resources alone is insufficient. To maintain …

Identifying Intangible And Biocultural Heritage Elements Toward Environmental Understanding: Engaging Stakeholders Through Art, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Grounded in a case study in Barbuda in the Caribbean, this research examines sustainability from the perspective of what arts and heritage can contribute to community engagement and local and broader understandings about the environment. This article documents a growing body of literature recognizing the role of arts and culture, including local knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), in climate change endeavors. Art and TEK present expansive world views. Contextual information situates research done on the island of Barbuda pre- and post-Hurricane Irma. Visual arts workshops engaged community members in mixed methods research. Results documented cultural elements, particularly intangible and …

สำนักงบประมาณ ของรัฐสภา (Pbo) กับการปรับดุลอำนาจงบประมาณในประเทศไทย, จรัส สุวรรณมาลา, วีระศักดิ์ เครือเทพ, อุมาพร บึงมุม

Journal of Social Sciences

ประเทศประชาธิปไตยทั้งหลายถือว่า บทบาทของรัฐสภาในการจัดทำและควบคุมงบประมาณของรัฐเป็นเรื่องสำคัญและไม่อาจทดแทนด้วยกลไกอื่นได้ แต่ในช่วงกว่าหนึ่งศตวรรษที่ผ่านมา ฝ่ายบริหารมีบทบาทนำในการจัดทำงบประมาณของรัฐ เมื่อไม่นานมานี้เองที่รัฐสภาในประเทศต่าง ๆ รวมทั้งรัฐสภาไทย เริ่มตื่นตัว และปรับปรุงกระบวนการงบประมาณของรัฐสภา เพื่อกระชับอำนาจของรัฐสภาในการควบคุมงบประมาณให้มากขึ้น หนึ่งในเครื่องมือที่ฝ่ายนิติบัญญัติในประเทศต่าง ๆ นำมาใช้ในการเสริมสร้างความเข้มแข็งในทำหน้าที่ควบคุมงบประมาณของรัฐ คือ การจัดตั้งสำนักงบประมาณของรัฐสภาขึ้น บทความวิจัยนี้ต้องการศึกษาบทบาทของสำนักงบประมาณของรัฐสภาไทย ตลอดจนถึงผลสืบเนื่องที่เกิดจากการจัดตั้งสำนักงบประมาณของรัฐสภาต่อการกระชับอำนาจในการควบคุมงบประมาณของรัฐสภา ผู้วิจัยได้สำรวจเอกสารสัมภาษณ์ บุคลากรของสำนักงบประมาณของรัฐสภา สมาชิกสภาผู้แทนราษฎร ข้าราชการฝ่ายบริหาร และจัดประชุมเชิงปฏิบัติการและการสัมมนา เพื่อสอบทานข้อมูลและแปลความหมายข้อมูลร่วมกับผู้ให้ข้อมูลหลักที่เกี่ยวข้องกับกระบวนการงบประมาณของรัฐสภา บทความวิจัยนี้บ่งชี้ว่า สำนักงบประมาณของรัฐสภามีส่วนสนับสนุนให้กระบวนการงบประมาณของฝ่ายนิติบัญญัติมีความเข้มแข็งมากขึ้น และมีส่วนช่วยให้รัฐสภาควบคุมงบประมาณของรัฐได้เพิ่มขึ้นระดับหนึ่ง น่าสังเกตว่า สำนักงบประมาณของรัฐสภาได้ใช้ความสามารถของหน่วยงานในการทำหน้าที่จนถึงขีดจำกัดสูงสุดที่สามารถทำได้ แต่ก็ยังไม่สามารถทำหน้าที่ที่ได้รับมอบหมายได้ครอบคลุมครบถ้วนทุกด้าน รัฐสภาจึงควรแสวงหาแนวทางในการพัฒนาขีดความสามารถของสำนักงบประมาณของรัฐสภาให้เพิ่มขึ้น

การศึกษาภาพลักษณ์ของประเทศจีนผ่านอีสปอร์ต : การสื่อสาร กลยุทธ์การทูต และการตลาดเชิงเนื้อหา ผ่าน Honor Of Kings และ Arena Of Valor, ธีรติร์ บรรเทิง, พร้อมพรรณ แจ้งการดี

Journal of Social Sciences

การศึกษานี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อ (1) ศึกษาภาพลักษณ์รูปแบบการสื่อสารกลยุทธ์การทูตของจีน และศึกษาการตลาดเชิงเนื้อหาผ่านเกม Arena of Valor และ Honor of Kings (2) เปรียบเทียบความสอดคล้อง และความแตกต่างของทั้ง 2 เกม และ (3) เสนอแนะแนวทางในการพัฒนาเนื้อหา รูปแบบการสื่อสาร และกลยุทธ์การทูตผ่านอีสปอร์ตให้หน่วยงานที่เกี่ยวข้องทั้งภาครัฐและเอกชน ด้วยระเบียบวิธีการวิจัยเชิงคุณภาพโดย การวิจัยเอกสาร (documentary research) และการวิเคราะห์เนื้อหาที่ถูกนำเสนอบนเฟซบุ๊ก 4 เพจ ได้แก่ Honor of Kings, HoK Global Esports, Garena RoV Thailand, และ KingSauce Legends รวบรวมได้ ทั้งหมด 5,300 โพสต์  ผลการศึกษาพบว่า (1) รูปแบบการสื่อสารและการนำเสนอเนื้อหาของเกม Honor of Kings และ Arena of Valor มีความแตกต่างกันตามวัตถุประสงค์ของแต่ละเพจเกม Honor of Kings เน้นการนำเสนอให้เห็นถึงรูปแบบการเล่น การประกาศเปิดให้บริการในต่างประเทศ โดยใช้ตัวละครภายในเกมเป็นตัวนำเสนอผ่านรูปแบบวิดีโอความยาวประมาณ 1-3 นาที ด้านกิจกรรมการแข่งขันอีสปอร์ตและเงื่อนไขการแข่งขันของเกม Honor of Kings นำเสนอโดยการใช้ภาพนิ่งของนักกีฬาและภาพอินโฟกราฟิก (Infographic) ในขณะที่เกม Arena of Valor เน้นการนำเสนอเพื่อโฆษณาสินค้าและบริการของเกม รวมถึงการสร้างชุมชนผู้เล่น (communities) ผ่านการใช้ภาพนิ่งและผู้ทรงอิทธิพลออนไลน์ (influencer) (2) การนำเสนอเกม Honor of Kings สามารถสะท้อนภาพของวัฒนธรรมและความสร้างสรรค์ (creativity) เนื่องจากผู้ให้บริการเกมเป็นบริษัทภายในประเทศจีนที่ดำเนินนโยบายของบริษัทตามนโยบายของกระทรวงวัฒนธรรม (Ministry of Cultural) ของประเทศจีน ในขณะที่การนำเสนอเนื้อหาของเกม Arena of Valor ดำเนินการจากผู้ให้บริการภายนอกประเทศจีน จึงไม่ได้ดำเนินนโยบายของบริษัทตามทิศทางของกระทรวงวัฒนธรรม (Ministry of Cultural) …

The Woman Question And State Feminism: Gender, Power, And Modernity In Pahlavi Iran, Maire Claire Dubard

Scripps Senior Theses

In 20th century Pahlavi Iran, Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Shah instrumentalized the ‘woman question’ — women’s political, economic, and professional roles in a changing society — to consolidate their power and promote a modern state. Reza Shah utilized top-down and coercive reforms, including veiling and education, to strengthen his power, weaken religious influence, and create a visible national identity. In contrast, his son, Mohammad Reza Shah, instrumentalized gender issues and tied women’s rights to his personal image of progressivism. Though it can be argued that all of their reforms supported gender equality, they were implemented, in fact, with the …

Essays On Public And Nonprofit Financial Management In Times Of Crisis, Junoh Jeon

Theses and Dissertations--Public Policy and Administration

This dissertation comprises three essays that examine critical aspects of public and nonprofit financial management, focusing on interorganizational relationships, local government influence, and financial reserve management in times of crisis.

The first essay examines how interorganizational relationships, specifically nonprofit organizations’ board interlocks, relate to their financial distress, depending on the temporal and spatial contexts. Organization-level fixed-effects regression analysis with Kentucky nonprofits from 2018 to 2022 shows that nonprofits with board interlocks in urban areas were less likely to experience financial distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. I suggest that board interlock acts as an adaptive buffering tool that helps manage resource …

The Paradox Of Survival: Gendered Food Insecurity, Labor Inequalities, And Coping Strategies During The 2023/4 Drought In Eastern Ethiopia, Meron E. Lemma

Theses and Dissertations--Geography

In drought-prone regions of Eastern Ethiopia, recurring droughts profoundly reshape everyday life in ways that deepen existing gendered inequalities. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Fedis district, including semi-structured interviews with women, project implementers, and government officials, as well as group discussions with community members, this study explores how women experience, navigate, and resist the gendered impacts of drought. By attending to the sociopolitical dynamics of drought and the development interventions that accompany it, I analyze how these forces restructure labor, land, food systems, and authority in ways that reproduce and exacerbate existing inequalities. Women’s coping strategies, ranging from begging and …

Political Cults On College Campuses: How Universities Designed To Challenge Totalitarian Thinking May Now Enable It, Ellie Lerner

CMC Senior Theses

Cults are typically associated with fringe religious or spiritual movements rather than political causes. Yet as American politics increasingly supplants religion as a central source of identity and belonging, our political culture has taken on more cult-like characteristics. This thesis develops a framework for identifying political cults by synthesizing scholarly work on ideological totalism, psychological manipulation, and group dynamics. It then applies this framework to assess the rise of anti-Israel protests on U.S. college campuses in the wake of the October 7th terrorist attack. While this thesis finds that this movement should not be classified as a political cult outright, …