Digital Commons Network^™

Alternative Project Delivery Methods In California: The Path Forward, Ghada M. Gad, Maria Calahorra Jimenez, Chaimae Nacir, Ronald Shrestha

Mineta Transportation Institute

Alternative Project Delivery Methods (APDMs) are increasingly being recognized as effective alternatives to the traditional Design-Bid-Build (DBB) approach for transportation projects. As APDMs gain traction among California’s transportation agencies, understanding the legislative frameworks that enable their use and the characteristics of each method is critical. This study benchmarks the existing use of APDMs in California transportation agencies of varying types and sizes, while considering the characteristics (advantages and barriers/challenges to implementation) of each APDM and the authorizations enabling its implementation. Based on these findings, it also provides recommendations for key factors to consider in APDM selection and implementation. The study …

A Hydrogen Hub Blueprint For The California Supply Chain, Tyler Reeb, Barbara Taylor

Mineta Transportation Institute

As global climate targets tighten and state regulations accelerate, hydrogen technology presents a significant opportunity to help California supply chain and transportation stakeholders comply with state emissions mandates and global goals aimed to reduce the impacts of climate change. However, while fuel cell costs and infrastructure have received attention, workforce development remains overlooked. Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are especially promising for diesel-reliant sectors that are hard to decarbonize without negatively impacting operational efficiency. But scaling hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure in tandem with emerging consumer and industrial markets will not be easy. State and federal policies, often conflicting, further …

Border Perceptions: Security And Immigration In The South Texas Borderlands, Carla Angulo-Pasel, Mi-Son Kim, Adrien A. Halliez

School of Political Science, Public Affairs, Legal and Security Studies Faculty Publications

With the Trump administration, we witnessed a hardening of border security policy and practices. Trump used his leadership and celebrity to explicitly attack and criminalize “undocumented” migrants with a discourse of threat, danger, invasion, crisis. Policywise, he took steps to further securitize the borderlands. In this paper, we examine how public opinion has differed with regards to the support or opposition to these hard security policies, especially in borderland areas when compared to the overall national population. The aim of this paper is to examine this difference by directing our attention to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), a borderlands region …

Counter-Urbanization In China: A Systematic Review Toward A Comprehensive Typology, Chengxue Yang, Qian Forrest Zhang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Drawing on a systematic review of both international and Chinese-language scholarship on counter-urbanization in China, this article proposes a comprehensive typology of counter-urbanization migrations—consisting of eight types of new migrants—based on the diverse motivations driving such migration. We build a bilingual corpus of 273 research papers published between the 1970s and 2025. Integrating bibliometric mapping and qualitative synthesis, we conduct a systematic review to trace the temporal evolution and thematic diversification of counter-urbanization research. The review reveals persistent conceptual ambiguity surrounding counter-urbanization in the Chinese context, which this study addresses by conceptually distinguishing counter-urbanization from suburban expansion, population decentralization, and …

Molding The Mosaic: Progressive Coalition Formation In The 2021 New York City Council Elections, Sam Goodson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The 2021 New York City Council primaries marked a decisive breakthrough for the city’s progressive left. A cohort of democratic-socialist and socialist-adjacent candidates won office across multiple boroughs, dramatically expanding the size and influence of the left flank of the council. This dissertation analyzes those victories and argues that they constituted a hinge moment in the construction of a progressive governing regime in New York City, with implications that extend beyond New York City politics to the study of social- democratic party families more broadly. Drawing on electoral returns, demographic data, campaign materials, and elite interviews, the project demonstrates that …

Calculated Risks: The Power Of Predictive Risk Models To Regulate Families Of Color, Ashleigh Washington

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines predictive risk modelling (PRM) in New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS), specifically exploring AI-enabled design features, practices, and encoded and racialized assumptions about risk in child welfare prevention services. Guided by Critical Race Theory and the Algorithmic Ecology framework, this study traces how PRM in ACS evolved from a service termination tool into a broader, largely internal surveillance apparatus that leverages families’ personal information, including health information, to assess risk of future maltreatment and to evaluate contracted service providers. Drawing on analysis of public records and in-depth interviews with Black parents, the findings describe how …

The Uncomfortable Truths About Inclusive Growth In Singapore, Kong Weng Ho

Research Collection School Of Economics

In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Economics (Education) Ho Kong Weng said that the Ministry of Finance’s Occasional Paper provides food for thought on the way forward on social mobility, growth and redistribution. Assoc Prof Ho stated that these macro statistics suggest Singapore’s socioeconomic compact has performed well, and suggests that sustaining inclusive growth is a multifaceted effort that cannot be boiled down to one single metric, whether income, wealth, inequality or mobility. He noted that pursuing ever-lower Gini coefficients through heavy regulation risks deadweight losses without guaranteeing better mobility outcomes. He added that Singapore’s approach of tempering market-driven …

Navigating Climate Change In Carbon Negative Bhutan: Insights From Policy Influencers And Comparison To The Wider Himalayan Region, Tashi Dorji, Angus Morrison-Saunders, David Blake

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges and spares no nation. Bhutan, as the only carbon negative country in the world, is no exception and being in the Himalayas – a region warming faster than the global average – further intensifies climate risks. This study explores how Bhutan navigates climate change through the perspectives of 41 policy influencers, including politicians, civil servants, and leaders from nongovernment organisations and the media. The findings are compared with scientific literature from the broader Himalayan region to identify shared vulnerabilities (e.g., glacial lake outburst floods, water scarcity, and agricultural disruptions) and …

Private Sector Healthcare Investment In Indonesia: Leveraging Australia-Indonesia Partnerships For Health System Transformation, Susan Josephine Neuhaus

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

Australia and Indonesia are strategic partners with expanding bilateral trade valued at AUD 26.7 billion (2022-23). Health care partnerships between the two countries offer significant opportunities for private sector engagement. Indonesia’s large population, rapidly growing middle class, and implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) present partnership opportunities to strengthen health system capacity, address infrastructure gaps and workforce shortages, and contribute to shared economic and prosperity goals. This study explores how Australian private healthcare investment can complement government initiatives in supporting Indonesia’s UHC while advancing Australia’s regional engagement. A descriptive qualitative analysis was conducted using …

Harmonization And Ambiguity In Regulations For Physicians With Family Medicine Competence Post-Law No. 17 Of 2023, Danar Wahyu Giwang Katon, Dumilah Ayuningtyas, Purnawan Junadi, Wahyu Sulistiadi, Roberth J. Pattiselanno, Fitria Fitria, Ika Fitri Alfiani

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

Strengthening primary care services in Indonesia requires that community health centers, namely Pusat Kesehatan Masyarakat (Puskesmas), involve medical personnel with family medicine competence. However, the fulfillment of physicians with this competence, especially Primary Care Family Medicine Specialists or Spesialis Kedokteran Keluarga Layanan Primer (Sp.KKLP), still face significant obstacles. This qualitative research uses the integrated Easton's System Model and Buse's Policy Framework to analyze the dynamics of this policy. The findings reveal a gap between the strong legal foundation and weak implementation mechanisms on the ground. First, there is ambiguity in terminology and lack of harmonization among regulations, especially concerning the …

Stakeholder Views Of Real Estate Registration In Egypt And The Reform Of 2022, Karim Alsisi

Theses and Dissertations

Real estate registration in Egypt has historically remained low despite the enactment of a deeds registration law in the 1940s and a title registration law in the 1960s. The 2022 reform (Law No. 9 of 2022) warranted an assessment of its effectiveness through a Public Policy and Administration lens. This thesis has two main objectives: first, to examine stakeholders’ views of the reform; and second, to explore stakeholder perspectives on formal registration and the factors driving registration avoidance by employing a qualitative design, using in-depth interviews with four stakeholder groups encompassing both system users and service providers. The findings revealed …

Rules Before Relief: International Organizations And The Administrative Burdens Of G5 Donor Counterterrorism And Sanctions Frameworks In The Mena Region, Khloud Awad

Theses and Dissertations

The international humanitarian system relies on a small group of powerful donor governments. The G5, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Japan, collectively provide the majority of bilateral humanitarian financing and attach extensive counterterrorism and sanctions compliance requirements to their funding. This study examines how these frameworks generate administrative burden for the international organizations that translate funding into assistance in conflict settings in the MENA region. The study draws on Administrative Burden Theory, adapted from its original citizen-state context to the donor-international organization relationship. Moreover, it adopts a qualitative design across four conflict-affected settings: Sudan, Palestine, Syria, …

An Assessment Of New Employee Training In A U.S. Government Agency, Kisaana Fernanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study evaluated the utility of a newly developed employee training initiative within a U.S. government disaster recovery agency. The purpose of the professional administrative study was to examine the existing training architecture and recommend improvements aligned with the agency’s mission. A general qualitative approach was employed, using interviews and surveys with government personnel to elicit their perceptions of the training’s effectiveness. The research aimed to identify key elements to incorporate into a revised employee training program, with the goal of enhancing disaster response readiness and policy implementation. It also sought to recommend strategies for continuous improvement. The study was …

Satellite-Derived Bathymetry In Island Coastal Zones: Technology, Shilin Tang, Yuye Huang, Yongming Liu, Jianping Yin, Deke Chen, Ronggang Huang, Shuang Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Shallow bathymetry data constitute the core foundational information underpinning the ecological, resource, and strategic values of island and coastal zones. Satellite-derived bathymetry has evolved into a key technical means for large-scale acquisition of shallow bathymetry information. Focusing on satellite-based lidar bathymetry, optical imaging bathymetry, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) bathymetry, this study systematically summarizes the core principles, applicable scenarios, technical strengths, and inherent limitations of each technology. It is shown that satellite-derived bathymetry has undergone an evolutionary shift from theoretical construction to practical application, and from single-method, single-data-source approaches to multi-technology, multi-source data fusion frameworks. In the future, to meet …

An Unlikely Ironic Intervention: Reimagining The Fourteenth Amendment Of The United States Of America, Jennifer Paola Hernandez

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

The project of interest is an intervention in the United States of America to reform racial and minority vote dilution, along with systemic entrenchment of power within gerrymandering, to undo the legacies of colonialism and racism within the states. Holding the government accountable to Constitutional and human rights is a patriotic act, even if many Americans don’t see it that way. Though often linked to the Global South, peacebuilding can also include institutional reform in non-war contexts. Peacebuilding processes are intended to improve society’s institutional structures for the betterment and sustainability of its constituents. I argue that the United States …

Book Review: Alliances & Armor: Communist Diplomacy And Armored Warfare During The War In Vietnam, Gregory A. Daddis

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Jim Pomeroy

Reviewed by: Dr. Gregory A. Daddis, Melbern G. Glasscock Endowed Chair in American History, Texas A&M University

In Alliances & Armor, Jim Pomeroy reveals how Cold War diplomacy shaped North Vietnam’s battlefield tactics, transforming guerrilla warfare into Soviet-style armored offensives. Drawing from multi-archival sources, the book traces Hanoi’s strategic pivot from China to the USSR amid shifting global alliances and escalating US involvement. With gripping detail, Pomeroy chronicles the rise of the People’s Army of Vietnam’s tank-led campaigns, culminating in the dramatic fall of Saigon.

Book Review: Crisis And Crossfire: The United States And The Middle East Since 1945 – Second Edition, Phil Messer

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Peter L. Hahn

Reviewed by: Colonel Phil Messer

From the Arab-Israeli peace process to the fight against terrorism, Hahn’s updated history reveals the forces shaping US policy in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

Book Review: World War Ii Battles Reconsidered: Game Theory And Decision Science Perspectives On Gazala, El Alamein, Falaise, And Arnhem, Andy Nichols

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Mark Thompson

Reviewed by: Lieutenant Colonel Andy Nichols, US Army War College class of 2024

Former Harvard professor Mark Thompson applies cutting-edge decision science and game theory to four pivotal World War II battles, revealing how strategic missteps and psychological biases shaped their outcomes. From Gazala’s disastrous command decisions to Arnhem’s flawed reliance on surprise, each case is dissected with analytical precision and historical depth. This groundbreaking study challenges conventional military narratives and offers a fresh lens on leadership, risk, and battlefield logic.

Book Review: A Day In September: The Battle Of Antietam And The World It Left Behind, Wylie W. Johnson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Stephen Budiansky

Reviewed by: Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, US Army War College Class of 2010

A Day in September: The Battle of Antietam and the World It Left Behind analyzes the battle’s “Revolution in Military Affairs” and how it radically changed the United States and the world. It focuses on technologies, personalities, military doctrine, nongovernmental organizations, medical advances, international intrigue, and politics.

Book Review: The Politics Of War And Peace: A Survey Of Thought, Isaiah Wilson Iii

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Authors: Abbott A. Brayton and Stephana J. Landwehr

Reviewed by: Dr. Isaiah “Ike” Wilson III (colonel, US Army retired); professor of practice, Arizona State University; and president emeritus, Joint Special Operations University

Spanning centuries of political and philosophical reflection, Brayton’s work explores how thinkers from ancient times to the modern era have grappled with the moral and strategic dilemmas of war and peace. Through a rich tapestry of ideas, the book reveals the enduring tensions between justice, power, and diplomacy. It’s an essential guide for understanding how past wisdom continues to shape contemporary debates on conflict and resolution.

Copyright: ©2026 …

Perceptions Of Defund The Police, Russell F. Cooper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research delves into contemporary literature on the Defund the Police movement in the United States, a significant force shaping law enforcement practices and the future landscape of policing and criminal justice. Stemming from the aftermath of the 2020 George Floyd protests, this movement has spurred transformations in policing methodologies and resource distribution. With its expansion across the nation, law enforcement agencies are grappling with high turnover rates and a dwindling pool of qualified applicants. The Defund the Police movement, originally aimed at abolishing police departments due to perceived systemic issues, underscores the need for progressive law enforcement reforms, particularly …

From Covenant To Contract: How Secularization Of Christian Society Changed The Moral Basis Of Law, Rudy Iturrino

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Modern secular society has replaced religious understandings of obligation with legal contracts in which the state acts as the final arbiter. The purpose of this document analysis is to explore how the Christian concept of covenant was gradually replaced by secular legal contracts during the Reformation and Enlightenment, and how this shift influences modern views on eminent domain and national security policy. This dissertation was guided by Social Contract Theory. The following research question guided this study: What patterns from a document analysis reveal how the Christian idea of covenant was replaced by secular contract theory during the Reformation and …

Resilient Leadership In Action: The Rhetoric And Relationships Of Abraham Lincoln For Today’S Public Administration, Wayne Morris Baker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Public administration faces growing volatility and complexity, requiring leadership models that extend beyond traditional management paradigms. This qualitative, historical-explanatory case study introduces and tests a multidimensional theory of resilient leadership in public administration through the rhetoric and relationships of Abraham Lincoln during his presidency. Guided by one central and four sub-research questions, the study analyzes fifty-six of Lincoln’s letters, speeches, and memoranda alongside fifteen diary entries by Navy Secretary Gideon Welles. Using a dual framework that integrates the Four-Factor Leadership Model and the proposed five-dimensional resilient leadership model: adaptability and learning, ethical decision-making and integrity, collaborative governance and stakeholder engagement, …

The Power Of International Relations In Local Communities: An Institutional Theory Case Study Examining The Implementation Of Sustainable Development Goal 11 In Four Virginia Communities, Latisha R. Rothenbach

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

By pursuing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, communities across Virginia may be losing their unique, local characteristics. This study investigates whether communities in Virginia have been implementing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11. Guided by institutional theory, this study explores the research questions: What effect do global isomorphic pressures of SDG 11 have on local institutional integration of urban planning regarding community connectivity, land use, and open green public spaces? How do local planning documents and institutional actors frame, adopt, or resist global isomorphic pressures of SDG 11 in relation to community connectivity, land use, and open green public spaces? …

Book Review: A Search For Strategy: British–American Military Collaboration In 1942, William Phillips

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: John F. Shortal

Reviewed by: Reviewed by Colonel William Phillips, US Army retired, assistant professor, Department of Joint, Interagency, and Multinational Operations, Command and General Staff College

John F. Shortal’s book explores the relationship between Britain and the United States as they worked together to develop strategy during World War II. He introduces key players of strategy development, as well as how priorities the different countries brought to the table affected outcomes of specific battles and the war as a whole. The reviewer sees this book as more than a record of history, but also a provider of relevant …

Book Review: Facing The Victorious Turks: How The French Misread The Turkish War Of Independence, Michael S. Neiberg

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Andrew Orr

Reviewed by: Dr. Michael S. Neiberg, chair of war studies, US Army War College

After World War I, French officials viewed the Middle East through a lens of Orientalism and imperial anxiety, leading them to misinterpret the rise of Turkish nationalism. In this gripping study, Andrew Orr reveals how flawed intelligence and racial biases shaped France’s response to Mustafa Kemal’s revolutionary movement. Facing the Victorious Turks offers a compelling reexamination of colonial misjudgment and its impact on the birth of modern Türkiye.

Book Review: Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War Ii, Christine Cook

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Lena Andrews

Reviewed by: Dr. Christine Cook, director of theories and war, Department of Distance Education, US Army War College

In Valiant Women, author Lena Andrews compiles stories that were largely gathered through interviews with women who served during World War II and uncovers their important but often overlooked contributions to the war effort. Although the reviewer regrets Andrews’s missed opportunity to include academic sources alongside the firsthand accounts, she still sees this compilation of untold stories as relevant and important.

©2025 Christine Cook

Book Review: Outmaneuvered: America’S Tragic Encounter With Warfare From Vietnam To Afghanistan, Marie Louise Deraismes Combes

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: James A. Warren

Reviewed by: Dr. Marie Louise deRaismes Combes, assistant professor of national security, Department of National Security and Strategy, US Army War College

Outmaneuvered: America’s Tragic Encounter with Warfare from Vietnam to Afghanistan chronologically examines the United States’ relationship with counterinsurgency. The author’s primary focus is the influence of politics on irregular warfare and covers irregular conflicts that occurred prior to and after 9/11. The reviewer saw both positives and negatives to the book and its arguments.

©2025 Marie Louise deRaismes Combes

Book Review: The Clausewitz Myth: Or The Emperor’S New Clothes, Darren W. Buss

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Azar Gat

Reviewed by: Colonel Darren W. Buss, faculty instructor, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College

Azar Gat, the author of The Clausewitz Myth, takes a closer look at Carl von Clausewitz’s On War and argues through looking at historical documents and unpublished versions of the text that there have been misinterpretations of his thoughts. The reviewer believes Gat’s assertions are not earth-shattering but still notes “engaging with [Clausewitz’s] thoughts through the lens of Gat is a valuable experience for readers.”

Book Review: Sun Tzu In Space: What International Relations, History, And Science Fiction Teach Us About Our Future, Timothy S. Martin, Stephanie St. Louis

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Gregory D. Miller

Reviewed by: Lieutenant Colonel Timothy S. Martin, director, Defense Strategy Course, US Army War College, and Captain Stephanie St. Louis, strategic planner, Office of the Chief of Army Reserve, Fort Belvoir

Sun Tzu in Space combines an examination of history and science fiction to assess what humanity’s future in space could look like through an international relations lens. The reviewer sees it as “a pulse check on the potential for violent future conflicts” and recommends it for policymakers and science fiction enthusiasts alike.

©2025 Timothy G. Martin and Stephanie St. Louis