Digital Commons Network^™

Immigrants: Neighbors Or Strangers? An Analysis On Christian Thought And Immigration, Mariah G. Rivera

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This thesis examines the relationship between Christian thought and perspectives on immigration in the United States, particularly in the context of the current Trump administration, which is focusing heavily on restrictive immigration policies. It explores the historical relationship between religion and government through government commissions, as well as changes in key immigration policies such as the “sensitive locations” guidelines affecting enforcement at and near places of worship. Drawing on biblical scripture, the thesis identifies key themes of loving the stranger, assisting the vulnerable, and obeying governing authorities, all of which inform Christian interpretations of immigration.

Through analysis of national and …

Into The Mainstream: How White Nationalism Has Been Disseminated Online And Legitimized In The United States At Large, Shannon O'Connor

Honors Scholar Theses

The United States has experienced a rapid growth in extremism, reinforced by online social networks. Existing scholarship attributes increased extremism to political polarization, the appropriation of liberal norms of free speech, and white male racial anxiety. Present debates concern the popularity of alternative social networking platforms that provide opportunities for radicalization. Current scholars assume that online alternative sites are relatively isolated and engage in the most extreme cases of right-wing violence and hate speech. However, this thesis argues that extremism in the United States has been widespread and increasingly embedded in mainstream political discourse. I argue that leaders within the …

Kroc Ipj Border Fellows Report 2024 — English, Rebeca Cázares Adame

Kroc IPJ Research and Resources

The Kroc Border Fellows Program brings together change agents from academia, civil society, the public sector, and the private sector to build a more inclusive and peaceful Mexico-U.S. border region through action-oriented research and meaningful community partnerships.

The non-residential fellowship spans 10 months and provides financial and technical support for Fellow-designed and -implemented projects. This model reflects a core belief that those closest to border communities' challenges are best positioned to develop effective solutions — and that lasting change must be built on existing community assets and strengths.

Throughout the fellowship, cohort members meet regularly to foster collaboration, mutual learning, …

Great Power Competition In Africa: U.S. Aid Responses To Chinese Aid And Investment, Ebenezer Nana Botsio

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Over the past two decades, China’s rapid expansion of aid and investment throughout sub-Saharan Africa has raised questions about how the United States responds to growing competition in the region. While the impact of China’s aid has been the subject of considerable study, far less attention has been given to how other donors shift their strategies to adjust. This thesis asks a simple but rather consequential question: does the US change how it gives aid in Africa in response to China’s ever-growing footprint? 

With data from 54 African countries, I find that the United States does not attempt to directly …

Fascism Usa: Class And Identity Politics In The Age Of Trump, Marc Edelman

Publications and Research

This essay argues that Trump’s triumph in the 2024 presidential contest represents the consolidation of an oligarchical authoritarian project, backed by a multi-class and (surprisingly, for some) multi-racial electorate. It brought intensified state and freelance attacks on immigrants, labor unions, women, LGBTQ+ people, journalists, civil servants, assorted “political enemies,” and other groups that the MAGA movement targets. It is institutionalizing authoritarian governance structures in ways that will be exceedingly difficult to undo. The paper first addresses the experience of growing up in the shadow of fascism. It analyzes various sectors that supported Trump and the impacts of inflation, incumbency, economic …

Volume 17, Christian O’Neill, Kyara Greene, Savva Sidorov, Laura Bisaillon, Luke Clemmer, Hannah Gordon, Kitt Benson, Taylor Blount, Rachel Danzitz, Nicholas Duellman, Chase Gionis, Hima Fernando, Seth Franzyshen, Onyx Gonzalez, Bryan Lin, Samantha Start, Ysabel Wells, Maggie Duncan

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction Dr. Amorette Barber, Director, Office of Student Research

From the Editor Dr. Hannah Dudley-Shotwell

Cover Artist’s Statement Maggie Duncan

On Mentoring Dr. Yulia Uryadova

Ukrainian Resistance in the Face of Russification: Nestor Makhno and Anarchism

by Christian O’Neill

Life Vest by Kyara Greene

Isolation and 16S rRNA Identification of Bacteria from Fire Department Connection Pipe by Savva Sidorov

The Effectiveness of Planned Exercise in Reducing ADHD Symptoms in Children by Laura Bisaillon & Luke Clemmer

Linguistic Analysis on Confidence and Communication Strategies with Disparities Between Sign Fluency and Hearing Impairment by Hannah Gordon

Freedmen in Indian Territory by Kitt …

Examining The Domestic Politics Of Nuclear Policymaking In America: Us Participation In Nuclear Agreements From 1948 To 2024, Stephanie A. Stapleton

Dissertations

his dissertation examines how partisan polarization and party affiliation shape US participation in nuclear agreements. Consensus views within the nuclear policy community hold that Republican governments are necessary to make new agreements, but Republicans generally oppose new nuclear restrictions. Prompted by a trio of agreement terminations between 2018 and 2020, this research tests whether polarization has become a structural factor restricting US engagement in nuclear agreements. Using an original dataset of 86 nuclear agreements spanning arms control and extended deterrence between 1948–2024, this dissertation uses a quantitatively focused embedded mixed-methods design complemented by senior nuclear policy practitioner interviews. This research …

Understanding Modern American Politics Through Identity And Pop Music Between 2018 And 2025: A Musicological Analysis, Emilyn Bedell

Ramifications

This project studies how music impacts our society by examining the ways popular musicians (Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, and Hozier) imbue their songs with their identity. Their music engages their authentic self and social interests, effectively communicating their artistic and social values to their audience. This study examines three artists who recently became popular, so there is less established musicological research focused on them. To explore them deeper, I draw on cultural sources such as newspapers and magazines, in addition to academic journals. I also analyze their music and videos alongside recorded interviews to understand the sociopolitical issues for which …

Separating Access Legitimacy From Utilization Analytics: A Two-Layer Evaluation Model For Philanthropy And Development, Stephanie Zabriskie

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

This article introduces a two-layer evaluation model for philanthropic and development decision-making in access-based interventions. The first layer treats Access as Outcome (AAO) as a recognized outcome when essential goods, services or resources are delivered through a viable delivery pathway, without requiring post-access utilization or compliance to validate legitimacy. The second layer evaluates post-access variation through System Coherence Conditions (SCC), defined as internal alignment across governance and decision-making, distribution and logistics, social accountability and norms, and scarcity management and continuity, which explain differences in utilization, continuity, and downstream effects as signals of system coherence rather than as retroactive worthiness thresholds. …

Russian Linguistic Policy In The Post-Soviet World, Payton G. Deichler

The Dialogue

This paper examines the role of the Russian language as an instrument of soft power in the post-Soviet space, arguing that its geopolitical influence extends beyond demographic prevalence to the institutional frameworks through which it is promoted and mediated. Rather than functioning solely as a neutral medium of communication, Russian operates as an infrastructural component of influence that shapes access to media ecosystems, educational systems, and professional mobility across former Soviet republics. Drawing on the concept of a “Monopoly of Interpretation,” this study proposes that the centralized, state-linked promotion of Russian enables the consolidation of political narratives within shared linguistic …

The Family And Individual Freedoms: Thomas Hobbes' Complex Relationship With Liberalism, Max Esposito

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

In this article, the author argues that although Hobbes is often associated with authoritarianism, his account of familial dominion in Leviathan reveals important liberal elements, particularly his emphasis on individual consent, personal autonomy, and the equality of the sexes in determining authority. By using the family as an analogy for political rule, Hobbes shows that sovereign power ultimately derives from individuals who authorize it, even if later constrained by the demands of self‑preservation and majority decision-making. The paper concludes that Hobbes cannot be fully classified as a liberal thinker, but his framework contains liberal ends embedded within illiberal mechanisms, making …

From Superstition To Stability: Hobbes On Religion And Political Order, Erin Schulz

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

In this article, the author argues that Hobbes treats religion as a profound political problem because its psychological origins, susceptibility to manipulation, and competing claims to authority can fracture obedience and destabilize the commonwealth. Through a systematic reinterpretation of miracles, prophecy, spirits, and Scripture, Hobbes strips religious authorities of independent power and places all public religious meaning under the sovereign’s control. The paper concludes that Hobbes does not abolish religion but domesticates it, transforming faith into a politically safe instrument that reinforces unity, obedience, and civil peace.

Why Right-Wing Populism Endured In Hungary But Collapsed In Brazil: A Comparative Institutional Analysis, Cooper Fensterstock

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

The main argument of this article is that right‑wing populism has endured in Hungary but collapsed in Brazil because of fundamental differences in institutional design, party cohesion, media control, and the strength of horizontal accountability. Orbán leveraged Hungary’s parliamentary fusion of powers, disciplined Fidesz party, and near-total media dominance to consolidate illiberal rule, while Bolsonaro was constrained by Brazil’s fragmented presidential system, weak party ties, independent judiciary, and pluralistic press. Through this comparative analysis, the paper shows how structural conditions—not just populist rhetoric—shape the durability of democratic backsliding.

Restrictive Voting Laws In The United States, Brian Kenny

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

In this article, the author argues that the recent wave of restrictive voting laws in the United States is driven less by genuine concerns about voter fraud and more by Republican efforts to counteract demographic and political changes that disadvantage the party electorally. Reviewing political science research, it shows that while some restrictions—especially felon disenfranchisement—clearly suppress turnout among marginalized groups, the overall electoral effects of most laws remain mixed due to backlash mobilization and uneven implementation. The paper concludes that despite uncertain partisan gains, these restrictions pose significant risks to democratic equality and require both short‑term mobilization and long‑term structural …

The Equal Pay Act Of 1963, Alyssa Dawson

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

In this article, the author argues that while the Equal Pay Act of 1963 marked an important early milestone in addressing gender‑based wage discrimination, its narrow “equal work” standard, ambiguous language, and employer‑friendly judicial interpretations have limited its long‑term effectiveness. Through policy analysis and case law, it shows how the Act’s incremental design, business‑driven compromises, and failure to address structural and intersectional causes of pay disparity have left significant gaps—particularly for women of color and workers in emerging sectors like the gig economy. The paper concludes that meaningful progress requires strengthening existing enforcement mechanisms and pursuing new, adaptive policies that …

Structural Corruption And Political Development In Arizona: Growth, Governance, And Accountability, 1912-1980, Kaitlin D'Amico

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation argues that corruption in twentieth-century Arizona flourished because the regulatory structures created during the Progressive era contained foundational vulnerabilities that were exposed and exploited by Sunbelt-era economic growth. While scholars have tended to treat Arizona’s corruption scandals as episodic, this study demonstrates that they were the predictable outcome of institutional weaknesses embedded at statehood. Covering Arizona’s political structures and identity from statehood in 1912 through the post-Bolles reform era ending in 1980, the dissertation focuses on institutional development while using Don Bolles’s investigations and 1976 assassination as a focal point. This study draws primarily on contemporary newspaper reporting, …

Trust In Government: How Sex, Race, And Ideology Shape Confidence In State And National Officials, Holden A. Mattison

Honors Theses

This research examines how sex, race, and political ideology shape individual trust in state and national government officials, with a particular focus on Mississippi as a case study. Drawing on data from the Mississippi Poll (2010-2014) and the 2024 American National Election Study (ANES), the research analyzes both bivariate and multivariate relationships to assess how demographic and ideological factors influence political trust across institutional levels. The findings reveal that race and ideology are significant predictors of trust at the state level, while sex has little effect. Whites and conservatives are generally more likely to express trust in state officials, whereas …

The Use Of Cognitive Biases In Russian Cyber Operations, Emma Manning

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how Russia has employed reflexive control through cyber operations to influence decision-making in foreign states, focusing on disinformation campaigns during the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Reflexive control, a concept rooted in Russian military doctrine, seeks to shape an adversary's perceptions and decision-making by providing carefully crafted information that leads targets to make choices favorable to the initiator. This research argues that while the fundamental objectives of reflexive control have remained consistent, technological advances have significantly expanded Russia's ability to conduct operations in developing cyber domains.

Using qualitative analysis of open-source intelligence, …

Exploring Health Policy As A Critical Mechanism Of Expression Of Right-Wing Government Policy, Aleisha Martinez Sandoval

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

Global health policy has long been viewed as a “softer” arena of politics, driven by cooperation rather than competition. Unlike economics or defense, nations in this sphere have often set aside ideological differences to improve human well-being. Yet right-wing governments (RWGs) are increasingly redefining this space, transforming it from an international project of solidarity into a strategic platform for advancing core ideological commitments. In this thesis, I examine how healthcare has become a critical site where the foundational tenets of RWGs—hierarchy, tradition, market liberalism, sovereignty, law and order, and populist nativism—are vividly enacted and reinforced. What was once a domain …

Executive Retrenchment: An Exploration Of Gender Identity Policy In The Second Trump Administration, Robert H. Cropp

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

President Trump’s use of executive orders to influence federal policy regarding gender identity has primarily sought to undo existing rights and protections of transgender and gender non-conforming Americans put in place by previous Democratic administrations. These policies have been variably successful in their aims despite widespread resistance from interests supporting those existing policies. Scholars have discussed the role of institutional resistance in cases of policy retrenchment primarily through electoral mechanisms, but such discussions do not consider the role of the executive branch in policy retrenchment and its unique insulation from electoral feedback. This thesis centers those considerations in the case …

Money And State Politics: State Legislature Partisan Dynamics And Ideology Outcomes Following Citizens United V. Fec, Jillian E. Pastore

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

What effect has Citizens United v. FEC had on state-level partisanship and the policy outcomes that follow from it? Scholarship on the influence of corporate and union spending in political campaigns has largely centered on federal elections. In this paper, I extend the analysis to the state level, leveraging the fact that Citizens United created a natural experiment across the states. Prior to the Supreme Court ruling, roughly half of the states prohibited corporate and union independent expenditures in state elections (including for governor, state senate, state house, and state supreme court races). The Citizens United decision effectively nullified these …

Weaknesses Of Opponents, Strengths Of The Taliban: The Success Of The Taliban Insurgency, Isabella Ryan

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

How did the Taliban insurgency succeed in gaining control of the Afghan state in 2021 following the collapse of the Taliban regime in 2001? This paper argues that the Taliban’s success resulted from two key dynamics: the weaknesses of opponents and strengths of the Taliban. The Afghan State was undermined by governance failures including the 2004 Constitution, overcentralization, lack of rural governance, corruption, and a dependence on foreign aid. These internal weaknesses were compounded by international policy failures, including the Bonn Agreement, inconsistent counterinsurgency (COIN) and counterterrorism (CT) strategies, the failed peace process design embedded in the Doha Agreement, and …

The Costs Of Selective Intervention: Why The Obama Administration Chose To Intervene In Libya Over Syria, Rayanne Attar

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

This paper examines the Obama administration’s selective military intervention during the Arab Spring, comparing case studies of Libya and Syria. I argue that the decision for the Obama administration to militarily intervene in Libya but not Syria was justified because intervention in Syria was far more costly in terms of risks. In Libya, Qaddafi’s regime lacked strong external support, relied on dated military systems, and faced a fragmented opposition, making intervention politically feasible. In contrast, in Syria, Assad’s alliance with Russia and Iran, threatening air defense capabilities, and internal sociopolitical divisions made military action highly risky and unlikely to produce …

Everybody Wants To Rule The World: How Ballistic Missile Defenses Can Reduce The Risk Of War, Aanya Ghosh

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

Debates over ballistic missile defense often assume that defensive capability inherently destabilizes deterrence by eroding mutual vulnerability. This article challenges that assumption by arguing that the strategic effects of missile defense are neither predetermined nor uniform. Limited and layered defensive systems generate two simultaneous pressures: stabilizing deterrence-by-denial effects against limited coercive threats and destabilizing uncertainty regarding long-term retaliatory viability. Which mechanism prevails depends not on defensive technology alone, but on policy design—specifically system scale, doctrinal framing, and integration within the broader offense-defense relationship. Drawing on classical deterrence theory, offense-defense scholarship, and contemporary analyses by Roberts, Wilkening, and Daalder, Goldgeier, and …

Constitutionalization Of The Right To Vote: The Necessity For Democracy, Hanmo Yang

Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research

The Civic Debate Consortium is an intercollegiate debate conference dedicated to serving as a “hub of inspiration, innovation, education and civic engagement” (Civic Debate Consortium, n.d.) through productive dialogue. The Social Justice Debates are one of the consortium's competitive series, focused on discussing the distribution of wealth and resources in U.S. society. For the 2025-2026 debate season, debaters researched for or against the motion: “The United States should Constitutionalize the Right to Vote.” First affirmative speeches begin by defining the terms of the round, listing contentions to the argument, and then providing analysis to support the contentions. This paper serves …

Communist Yugoslavia: Non-Alignment, Solidarity, And Webs Of Diplomacy, Morgan Dillon

Honors Projects

The Non-Alignment Movement has been covered extensively in Cold War scholarship, yet the relationship between Yugoslavia and Indonesia is often underexplored, especially in the realm of IR theory. This project examines Yugoslavia and Indonesia between 1945 and 1966 to propose an imagined community, as conceptualized by Benedict Anderson, that serves as a microcosm for a wider Non-Aligned community in the Third World. This is achieved by using Social Constructivism to synthesize the histories, foreign policies, and national/political identities of these two nations, and then placing the theoretical community against Yugoslavia’s relationships with the U.S and the USSR for contrast. Through …

Harm Reduction Strategies In Addiction Recovery: Effectiveness, Barriers, And The Role Of Social Stigma, Julia J. Amlin

Honors Projects

Substance use disorders (SUDs) present a major global public health crisis. An estimated 46.3 million individuals are affected in the United States, with only a small fraction receiving any form of treatment. While abstinence-based models have historically dominated addiction treatment methods, harm reduction approaches have emerged as evidence-based alternatives that reduce overdose mortality, improve treatment engagement, and decrease the transmission of infectious diseases. Despite strong empirical support harm reduction interventions continue to face significant social, political, and structural resistance. These harm reduction interventions include supervised consumption sites, overdose prevention centers, medication-assisted treatment, naloxone distribution, and drug checking technologies. This resistance …

Luja Volume 6: Issue 1 (Full Volume)

Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts

No abstract provided.

Shu World Review- April 27th 2026, Diplolab, Seton Hall University

SHU World Review

No abstract provided.

Power, Knowledge, And Environmental Justice: The Dakota Access Pipeline Controversy, Mya Chapman

Honors Projects

In a time of rife political conflict and debate, it is important to understand the underlying power dynamics that permeate our society in America. As devised by French historian and philosopher Michel Foucault, power and knowledge are mutually constitutive forces that shape our social relations. Through the actions of certain discourses, distinct truths are cultivated that in turn, reinforce existing power structures. In this study, these concepts are applied to the Dakota Access Pipeline controversy in the form of a Foucauldian discourse analysis to understand how the pipeline remained operational in the face of great opposition. Written discourse in the …