Digital Commons Network^™

Eu (Legal) Statecraft In An Age Of Coercion, Peter H. Vartanian

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

How has the European Union transformed its policy arsenal to counter coercion? This work introduces geo-legality—a condition wherein legal-normative authority counters external coercion—examining how the EU has redefined its self-defense amid contemporary rivalry between great powers (such as itself and China). Analyzing China’s 2021–2022 economic coercion against Lithuania, following Lithuania’s acceptance of a “Taiwanese Representative Office,” I demonstrate how targeted pressure catalyzed Brussels’ institutional innovation, including the Anti-Coercion Instrument, WTO litigation (DS-610), enhanced investment screening, and reforms to the Blocking Statute. Through process tracing, comparative jurisprudential analysis, and Delphi consultation with 23 EU institutional actors, the present work reveals how …

Wine-Rs Or Losers: Assessing The Socio- Economic Impact Of Eu Regulations On Climate-Exacerbated Pests And Diseases In Northern Italian Viticulture, Kyley Fishman

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

As climate change creates extreme weather events, unprecedented disease and pest infestations, European farmers are challenged by these threats. Balancing sustainable and traditional practices while maintaining socio-economic stability under European Union agroregulations can be extremely difficult. An area of concern for the EU is viticulture, which is among the most climate-sensitive agricultural sectors. My study examines in what ways the EU’s regulations addressing climate-exacerbated pests and plant diseases influence the socioeconomics of different vineyard farms in Northern Italy. Three key socio-economic findings emerged from the analysis. First, top-down and research-driven management strategies can subvert local, place-based knowledge, which undermines traditional …

Urban Welfare Divergence: An Analysis Of The Factors Shaping Social Housing Policy In Berlin And Vienna, Grace Zheng

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

According to Eurostat, property prices across the 27 members of the EU surged by 47% between 2010 and 2022, while rents increased by 18% during the same period. To mitigate the housing crisis, many governments have turned to social housing—affordable housing that is either government-owned or regulated—as a solution. This paper seeks to answer the following question: Why has Vienna adopted significantly more generous income thresholds for social housing eligibility compared to Berlin? In 2024, the highest income threshold for a four-person household to receive a residential entitlement certificate in Berlin (€57,640) was nearly identical to the threshold for a …

The History Of Nazi Neuroscience: Tracing Evidence Through Voids, Angela Gushue

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

During the Holocaust (1933-1945), voids were created by the destruction of ethics, morality, and human life. We can detect this absence because of material traces of the events. My paper applies the theory of relational ontology of absence to a collection of empty jars on display at the Josephinum, a medical history museum in Vienna. The jars once contained human remains of children murdered in the “euthanasia” program at Am Spiegelgrund, a psychiatric clinic in Vienna where 789 were killed during the Nazi era. These victims were not commemorated until the early 2000s, when the specimen jars were emptied and …

The Invisible Union: How French Policy Fuels Rising Euroscepticism, Robert D. Martin

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

Despite France’s historical role as a leading and founding member of the European Union, the 2022 and 2024 legislative elections saw a surge in support for Eurosceptic parties such as the Rassemblement National (RN) and the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP). This appears to suggest a rise in Euroscepticism among French voters. This paper aims to examine the cause of these shifting electoral patterns in France through exploration of the question: How do French voters’ perceptions of political disillusionment, economic strength and national sovereignty relate to their growing support for Eurosceptic parties? This pa-per concludes that a growing disillusionment with establishment, …

Cv: Laurette Liesen (Political Science), Laurette Liesen

Political Science Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Political Turbulence And Aviation Safety: A Cross-National Analysis Of Political Stability's Effects On Aviation Accidents, Léa Faure, Lilliam Maria Cáceres Malachowski

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

To what extent does political stability affect aviation safety? This research aims to link domestic political conditions and public safety through the consideration of aviation accident frequency. Political instability can indeed have profound effects on reducing overall public safety in a variety of domains through its influence on public policies. Reduced regulations and governance efforts can appear in contentious contexts for less-prioritized fields. This could influence the reemergence of technical aviation risk factors like crew training and performance, maintenance issues, infrastructure problems, human errors, etc. This would highlight a correlation between such political instability and weaker aviation safety regulations, investments …

Rewilding The Built Environment: Navigating Economic, Political, And Social Barriers To Urban Ecological Restoration, Carly E. Smith

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Urban rewilding offers a nature-based approach to restoring ecological processes in cities while advancing climate resilience, biodiversity, and public well-being. Unlike conventional green infrastructure, rewilding allows ecosystems to develop with minimal intervention, emphasizing succession, complexity, and long-term adaptability. This paper examines the political, economic, and social factors that frame how rewilding is understood and implemented in urban planning. Governmental frameworks often prioritize order, predictability, and short-term results, making it difficult to accommodate the uncertainty and ecological complexity that rewilding requires. Economic models struggle to capture its long-term value, frequently overlooking ecosystem services or reconciling competing land uses. Social perceptions of …

An Introduction To Ecofeminist Thought For International Relations Students, Vivian Ike

International Relations - All Scholarship

This article introduces students of International Relations (IR) to ecofeminism, its diverse approaches, and critiques. Ecofeminism emerged in the 1970’s following the history of the intersection between the transnational women’s movement and the global environmental movement (Kelleher 2019).

Shu World Review- October 20th 2025, Diplolab

SHU World Review

No abstract provided.

Secularization And Women's Rights Navigating The Legal, Economic And Social Impacts Of Gender Roles And Modernization In The United States, Isabella Rivera

Political Analysis

Isabella Rivera is a senior graduating in May of 2025 pursuing a dual Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Religion through the Honors Program. Her research focuses on secularization in the United States, with a particular interest in its impact on women’s rights and religion, the central theme of her senior thesis. Inspired by the complex relationship between secularization and gender dynamics, she set out to examine how this cultural shift affects women, while also exploring the religious dimensions of this interplay. Her academic journey reflects a deep commitment to understanding the intersections of politics, faith, and social change. …

The "Runt Piglet" Amendment, Samuel Fox

Political Analysis

Samuel Fox is a political science major who will be graduating in the spring of 2027. Outside of the classroom, he is a member of the Dean’s Undergraduate Student Cabinet and Alpha Phi Omega. This paper was written with the goal of exploring an underdeveloped field of constitutional law and was inspired by Dr. Pallitto’s Constitutional Law class. After college, he hopes to work in government or the business sector.

Intelligence Gathering: A New Obstacle For Constitutional Law, Joseph Brennan

Political Analysis

Intelligence gathering has always been a vital part of the United States’ success in its battles against foreign states and non-state actors. From spy networks during the Revolutionary War to tapping cell phones and using satellite imagery, advances in intelligence often lead to debates about the constitutionality and legality of these practices. Using several historical instances, laws, and committees, there is an argument to be made about the limitation on intelligence gathering and congressional oversight. This paper addresses these concerns, along with the general relationship between legislative intelligence gathering, the intelligence community, and Constitutional Law.

Introduction And Table Of Contents, Samuel Fox

Political Analysis

No abstract provided.

Orientation Toward Consensus—The “Safest” Path For Teachers To Choose? A Response To “Agreement And Disagreement In Teachers Talk”, Stine Johansen Utler

Democracy & Education

In “Agreement and Disagreement in Teachers Talk” the author shows how Norwegian initial education teachers (Grades 1–4) are consensus-oriented in their facilitations of classroom deliberations. The author emphasizes what teachers say and do when they guide their pupils toward consensus, but reflections on why teachers are consensus-oriented are less prominent. In this response to “Agreement and Disagreement in Techers Talk,” I point to conditions and factors in the Norwegian society and the Norwegian educational context that might explain why a consensus orientation is prevalent among the teachers.

Government Communication Strategies And Citizen Participation: A Thematic Review, Ojonugwa Emmanuel, Andrew I. E. Ewoh

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

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Co-Creation As A Trust-Building Tool: An Application To Ghanaian Local Governments, Richard K. Nkrumah

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

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Devolution And Administrative Burden In Tanf: An Assessment Of Welfare Rules, Rhucha P. Samudra

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

none

Gun Violence In Charlottesville, Virginia: Creating A Community-Centered Public Safety Ecosystem, Seth G. Coven

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

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Substance Use And Rural Homelessness In Texas Communities: The Need For Supportive Services, Abraham David Benavides, Federickia Washington, Chandra Donnell Carey, Justin Watts, Jyoti Aggarwal

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

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An Oral History Of African American Seniors Seeking Housing, Health, And Climate Justice In The Gulf Coast After Hurricane Harvey, Jessica April Ward, Glenn S. Johnson

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

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Parents’ Dispositions On Social Emotional Learning And Their Policy Imperatives: The Relevance Of Context/Locality, Nicholas O. Alozie, Megan Armstrong, Kathy Thomas

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

none

Topical Issues On Social Emotional Learning, Climate Justice, Substance Use, Gun Violence, Devolution, Co-Creation And Government Communication, Andrew I. E. Ewoh

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

none

Developing Civic Competence With Educative Curriculum Materials Featuring A Historical Photograph Of Antarctica, Cory Callahan

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

Here the author advocates for an innovative teaching approach synthesizing three research-based, instructional strategies: promoting civic competence within international and global contexts, planning with educative curriculum materials, and exploring historical photographs for higher-order thinking. He traces the crafting of an exemplary lesson through this approach and discusses its underpinning rationale. The lesson helps students and teachers think deeply about land claims and resource disputes in Antarctica while addressing a persistent value conflict throughout history: balancing national sovereignty and international law. A teacher-friendly narrative constitutes the lesson plan; however, it is not teacher-proof, as teachers are encouraged to make instructional decisions …

What Can Bird Poop Teach Us About The History Of U.S. Imperialism?: Guano Islands And Manifest Destiny Beyond Continental Borders, Eliot Fackler

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

In high school and college history courses, Manifest Destiny is often taught as a period when the United States expanded across the North American continent in the decades before the Civil War. This article outlines an inquiry-driven lesson examining the Antebellum guano rush and its devastating consequences to show that Manifest Destiny was also characterized by extracontinental imperial ambitions. It highlights the lasting impacts of the 1856 Guano Islands Act and links the guano rush to subsequent empire-building efforts, U.S. militarism, and ecological destruction. The article provides relevant background history, descriptions of possible class activities and assessments, and options for …

Whose Histories Will A Genai Tool Generate? Prompting Chatgpt-4 For Diverse History Lesson Plans For The Cold War Space Race, Robert W. Maloy, Sai Gattupalli, Torrey Trust

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

This paper explores strategies for teachers to use in prompting ChatGPT-4 to develop diverse history lesson plans for the Cold War Space Race. Prior research showed that when given a single, broadly phrased “design a lesson plan” prompt, chatbots are less likely to generate material about experiences of African Americans, women, and other historically marginalized groups. We tried two alternative prompting strategies: a) Change the wording of the prompt to incorporate James Banks’ Levels of Multicultural Content Model, and b) Change the source of the content for the prompt by using teacher-curated materials from an open online wikispace, resourcesforhistoryteachers that …

A Deep Dive Into The Nazis’ Animal World: Facilitating The Holocaust Through Symbolization, Filippa V. Frogner

The Downtown Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal Written and Peer-Reviewed by Mandel Honors College Students at Cleveland State University

This paper examines the use of animal symbolism in Nazi propaganda as a tool to dehumanize Jewish individuals and facilitate the Holocaust. Through an analysis of propaganda posters, films, and literature, it highlights how Jews were consistently depicted as animals such as rats, cockroaches, and monkeys—symbols associated with filth, disease, and inferiority. These portrayals, often reinforced by explicit textual messages, stripped Jews of their humanity and encouraged widespread acceptance of their persecution and extermination.

By exploring the methods, extent, and consequences of this dehumanizing propaganda, the paper sheds light on the critical role of animal symbolism in shaping public perception …

Bride Abduction In Rural Ethiopia: A Multilevel Analysis Of Influences, Impact, And Intervention Strategies, Sydney Dragovich

Global Studies Senior Capstone

Bride abduction in rural Ethiopia is a harmful traditional practice that often goes unchallenged by both communities and law enforcement. This paper provides a multilevel analysis of legal frameworks, cultural influences, and socioeconomic factors sustaining the practice, and discusses the far-reaching impact on affected individuals and communities. Examining interventions that have successfully addressed gender-based violence in other contexts suggests that multicomponent community mobilization, improved procedural frameworks, and engagement with local leaders are essential to effectively addressing bride abduction in rural Ethiopia.

The Colder War: Predicting Government Deception In The Arctic Conflict, Chisom Nnennaya Okorafor

Undergraduate Honors Theses

As rising temperatures increase the rate of polar ice cap melt, the Arctic is rapidly becoming a region of significant geopolitical interest, creating the potential for a revived Great Powers struggle. A key consideration surrounding potential conflict for democracies is the role of official government secrecy in foreign policy decision-making. This particular study examines the intersection of the two topics, creating a model of understanding and predicting U.S. government deception in conflicts. Specifically, this research identifies the gap between internal U.S. government knowledge and publicly broadcasted messaging surrounding the justifications for military and covert action. By analyzing case studies of …

Integrating Digital And On-Site Fieldwork: Practical Solutions For Scholars With Limited On-Site Access, Mai T. Truong

Political Science Faculty Research and Publications

When faced with unfolding protests, autocrats frequently respond with anti-protest propaganda loaded with negative narratives about protesters. Although a substantial body of literature has suggested that anti-protest propaganda can effectively alter the way the public views protests, few researchers have examined the mechanism through which propaganda negatively affects public support for protests. In this article, the authors explain the role that anti-protest propaganda plays in weakening public support for protests. Using an innovative experiment involving mediation analysis, the authors administered a survey to 950 Vietnamese respondents. The experimental results showed that anti-protest propaganda may deter support for protests more by …