Digital Commons Network^™

Restoring The Primacy Of Army Mobilization Planning: Lessons From The Interwar Period (1919–41), Tim Devine

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that the US Army must restore the primacy of mobilization planning to prepare for the growing likelihood of a protracted large-scale war involving the United States. While the Army’s transformation initiatives have emphasized important tactical matters, this piece calls attention to critical strategic vulnerabilities associated with mobilization—one of the Army’s enduring core functions. The article identifies insights, challenges, and recommendations for contemporary leaders and practitioners by analyzing the body of thought on mobilization planning during the interwar period (1919–41) and drawing connections to the present day.

Contributor Guidelines, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

The Instrumentalization Of The Unprivileged Combatants By Western Countries Aimed To Oppress National Liberation Wars, Fares Mahmoud Def-Allah Abdelhamid

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is purported to be the humanization of wars. Nonetheless, the atrocities committed in wars and the war criminals’ impunity suggest the failure of IHL. Notwithstanding, some voices call for reforming and developing IHL. In contrast, this thesis argues that IHL should be rejected entirely since the distinction between privileged and unprivileged combatants indicates that IHL is biased against anti-colonizers. It is biased in three senses. Firstly, IHL, particularly the distinction between privileged and unprivileged combatants, is dominated by Western rationality, which can be noticed in the domination of the civilization concept with its …

Louisiana’S Neverland: Alternatives To Revising The Public Trust Doctrine Informed By Promising Tales Of Faith, Trust, And Pixie Dust, Madeline Kraus

LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources

No abstract provided.

Viewing The Globe From A Mountain Top: Between The Perspectives Of Al-Bīrūnī, Schmitt And Sloterdijk, John T. Giordano

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

In this article, I wish to examine the manner we imagine our place in the cosmos by contrasting it with earlier techniques for mapping and measuring the globe. I will pay particular attention to the work of Abū Rayḥān Al-Bīrūnī and demonstrate that the assumptions which allowed for his advances in the measurement of the globe were based upon a certain understanding of the relationship of place within the sacred order of the cosmos and the role of reason in this connection. This understanding carries over to his anthropological works which consider the history of other religions and cultures. It …

Maximum Convergence Voting: Madisonian Consitutional Theory And Electoral System Design, Edward B. Foley

Florida Law Review

The Madisonian political philosophy upon which the U.S. Constitution rests did not supply the nation with a well-developed theory of electoral procedures. Instead, Madisonian philosophy concentrated on the separation of powers and other elements of constitutional architecture, including federalism, in order to prevent factions from subverting the common good. Subsequent history has demonstrated that Madisonian constitutional architecture, while necessary, is not sufficient for democratic government to operate in the interest of the people as a whole, rather than on behalf of a faction and its own interests. Instead, it is necessary to supplement Madisonian constitutional architecture with a well-designed electoral …

Poland: A Forgotten Ally, Juliana Rose Pettis

Masters Theses

World War II created a significant change in Polish History. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact rendered Poland torn into two sections. Hitler occupied the western side, while Stalin overran the eastern side. The two dictators split Poland in September 1939. It was the only country singled out for such a destiny. In response, the Poles created the Polish Underground. This government utilized asymmetrical warfare to fight against the Nazi occupation and assist the West. The Poles assisted continuously throughout 1939 to 1945, but their fight for independence resulted in the partitioning of Poland and the beginning of Joseph Stalin’s communization of Europe. …

The “Ins” And “Outs” Of Cognitive Warfare: What’S The Next Move?, Elise Annett, James Giordano

Strategic Insights

This commentary examines the evolving landscape of cognitive warfare and argues that strategic competition is increasingly centered on influence in the cognitive domain. China is integrating advances in science and technology, including artificial intelligence, neurotechnology, and information operations into a comprehensive strategy aimed at achieving cognitive dominance over the United States and its allies. The authors describe cognitive engagement as operating “inside-out,” “outside-in,” and through combined effects that shape perceptions, decision-making, and behavior across biological, psychological, and socio-economic dimensions. The article recommends investment in AI-enabled command and control, neuroadaptive human-machine systems, cognitive readiness training, and coordinated multinational narrative dominance.

Culture Wars In The Icu: When Medicine And Religion Collide, Ami Darby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The overarching aim of this dissertation is to contribute to the research gap by investigating the experiences of Christian SDMs by asking two core questions: (1) Do covariates (Gender, Age, Education) and Religion predict satisfaction with care? and (2) Do covariates (Gender, Age, Education) and Religion predict satisfaction with decision making? This study contributes to the academic literature by addressing the gap in literature regarding the ICU experiences of Christian SDMs, and it extends John Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Theory (MST) to include its limitations in its failure to capture the political landscape within healthcare systems and the effect of institutional …

The U.S. And Japan: Containing A Rising China?, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Early

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research involved investigating the impact that the coherence between international relations (IR) theories and national strategies and policy practice through effective implementation (independent variables) have on China’s perceived vulnerabilities (CPV; dependent variable) using the Cold War, the United States, and Japan case studies. The research focused on how the coherence between these variables could shape CPV and strategic calculations, particularly concerning Taiwan and the South China Sea. Additionally, the research involved analyzing how the modern strategies of conventional deterrence (i.e., the strategy of denial and integrated deterrence) influence CPV. This study was guided by the hypothesis that the degree …

Gnsi Decision Brief: The Golden Dome For America, Todd Schmidt, Heather Ward, Tad Schnaufer Ii

GNSI Decision Briefs

The Iron Dome for America, now referred to as the Golden Dome, is a proposed concept for a $175 billion, multi-layered shield intended to protect the U.S. from advanced missile threats, including ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles. Announced by President Donald Trump in early 2025, the system is envisioned as a technological leap forward, drawing on space-based sensors, interceptors, and artificial intelligence to create a continental-scale missile defense system.

Sovereignty Vs. Humanity: The Evolution Of International Law In Civil And Colonial Wars And Modern Implications, Dr. Noam Zamir

Penn State Journal of Law & International Affairs (2012 - Present)

No abstract provided.

Of Modern Monsters And Scientific Magic: The Design Challenges Of Simulating An Enchanted World In Dungeons And Dragons 5th Edition, Leonid Moyzhes

Journal of Roleplaying Studies and STEAM

This article analyzes the magical system of Dungeons and Dragons 5 edition in the context of an idea of the enchanted world, highlighting controversial relationships between this concept and the rules of the game. On the one hand, D&D’s magic constantly borrows the imagery and ideas from different texts that follow the logic of enchanted world, starting with the idea of magic itself and ending with particular spells being grounded in the fundamental traits of enchanted world like ubiquitous of liminality and the anxiety about agency. On the other hand, broader logic of D&D’s rules inadvertently influences the way those …

Exploiting Vulnerability: Human Trafficking As A Tool Of Genocide, Madison Bryant

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

This thesis examines the relationship between human trafficking and genocide, arguing that when trafficking is used with the intent to destroy a targeted group, it should be understood and prosecuted as an act of genocide. While international law traditionally treats genocide and human trafficking as distinct crimes, historical and contemporary evidence reveals significant overlap in their mechanisms, motivations, and outcomes. Through a thematic analysis of three case studies, this research demonstrates how trafficking has been systematically employed to further genocidal objectives, including displacement, exploitation, cultural erasure, and the destruction of communities. The case studies are the genocide of Indigenous peoples …

Economic Warfare Against Iran’S Nuclear Program, Zoey E. Weiss

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

This study evaluates the effectiveness of economic sanctions imposed on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, with a particular emphasis on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the Maximum Pressure Campaign (MPC). Using the Economic Coercion Trilemma framework, this research analyzes the impact of these sanctions regimes on Iran’s nuclear program through the lenses of efficacy, political feasibility, and unintended consequences. Ultimately this study explores the question: Could sustained sanctions have constrained Iran’s access to critical resources, effectively halting its pursuit of nuclear weapons? The findings suggest that while both the JCPOA and MPC had varying degrees of success, neither fully …

Cunning Commies, Dumb Democrats, And Exiled Germans: A Holistic Postmortem Of The 1948 Czechoslovak Coup D'État, Douglas Joys

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

The role played by the post-WWII expulsion of ethnic Germans from Czechoslovakia in catalyzing the 1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état has been underexplored in favor of the traditional narrative of an East-West clash between Czechoslovak democratic and communist parties backed by the United States and Soviet Union, respectively. Scholarship on the expulsion and the coup has on occasion brought up connections between the two events, albeit briefly and only as a small part of larger examinations of one of the two. The Eastern and Western forces at play in Czechoslovakia were undoubtedly key factors in the coup’s outcome: the end of …

Freedom To Misinform: The First Amendment Victory Against California’S Medical Speech Law, Brennan O'Boyle

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review

In 2022, California was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. Heightened political polarization and the unmitigated spread of misinformation was straining state and federal governments’ ability to rein in the pandemic through collective action. The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) issued a warning that doctors spreading misinformation were violating their ethical and professional responsibility to accurately inform their patients. In response, California passed AB 2098, classifying COVID-19 misinformation in the patient-doctor context as unprofessional conduct subject to stiff penalties, including suspension or loss of the offender’s medical license. The law was quickly challenged in federal district court on content-neutrality and …

Narrating The New Cold War: Investigating Chinese Cyber Propaganda And Sino-American Tensions On Bilibili, William G. Highfill

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

This thesis examines Bilibili, a Chinese video-sharing platform originally known for its anime, comics, and gaming (ACG) content, as a critical site for the formation and circulation of nationalist discourse in the context of a “New Cold War” between the United States and China. As ideological rivalry increasingly shifts from traditional state media and military posturing to decentralized digital platforms, Bilibili offers a unique case study in how propaganda evolves in participatory online spaces. Through a combination of digital ethnography and discourse analysis, this research explores how Bilibili’s algorithmic infrastructure, comment culture (弹幕), and remix-oriented design allow users to not …

Management Of Embedded Unexploded Ordnance In Low-Resource Settings: A Scoping Review, Eric S. Weinstein, David Nitsch, Chris Leboa, S. Yves G. Sanou, Yves Aziz Nacanabo, Serhii Tertyshnyii, Amila Ratnayake, Akul Gupta, David T. Walker, Paul Amoroso, Barclay Stewart, Hannah Wild

College of Health Professions Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: When unexploded ordnance (UXO) is embedded in the body, the effect of explosive weapons used in conflict is amplified. Though relatively rare, such events present potentially devastating consequences for the patient and medical providers as routine diagnostic and therapeutic procedures hold potential to initiate detonation of the embedded UXO (eUXO). The objective is to identify and synthesize available literature relating to the management of eUXO in low resource settings.

METHODS: A scoping review was conducted using PRISMA-ScR methodology to evaluate literature in all languages from all date ranges until January 31, 2024, discussing the management of casualties with eUXO, …

Mapping Of Religious Tourism And Pilgrimage Market: Study Of Selected Religious Locations In Goa, Parth Ravindra Rahalkar, Subhash Kizhakanveatil Bhaskaran Pillai, Indrawati Indrawati

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper seeks to answers two basic research questions, firstly, how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted people with respect to religious tourism and pilgrimage, and secondly how the untapped potential for religious tourism and pilgrimage can be utilised in the future. Nine religious sites in Goa, India were selected purposively so a route map can be developed which becomes easy for making a one-day trip from North to South Goa and vice versa. These sites were assessed to identify the status of the five destination attributes. From each of these nine locations, four respondents were identified purposively [a resident, a visitor, …

The Self That Practices Deeper Teaching: An Exploration Of Influences On Teacher Beliefs And Values, Kerstin L. Rowe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For decades, educators have called for “a fundamental redesign of the industrial-age classroom.” However, despite ongoing discourse around educational reform, the majority of teachers still use the industrial model of education while too few teachers implement deeper teaching practices which situate students as active learners in addressing complex, real-world challenges rather than being passive recipients of knowledge. Existing literature does not explore the influences upon the beliefs and values of teachers who create deeper learning experiences.

This qualitative study employs educational criticism and connoisseurship to illuminate the inner self of those who practice deeper teaching. Drawing on in-depth observations, interviews, …

E Ho’Omau Mākau, We Will Continue: The Living Sovereign Entities Of Contemporary Hawaiian Songs, Kēhaulani Lagunero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the relationship between contemporary Hawaiian mele (songs) and Hawaiian ea (sovereignty), focusing on how mele acts as sovereign living entities representing cultural resilience, identity, and resistance to settler-colonial influences. Through semi-structured interviews with Kānaka Maoli, participant observation at cultural events, and close analysis of mele, I identify that these songs are not only expressions of cultural memory, but also living embodiments of ea—sovereignty because they are alive, and they are alive because they are ea. Drawing from the frameworks of cultural survival, survivance, symbolic power, and defiant indigeneity, I explore how mele actively engage …

The Role Of Imagination In Archaeology: Linking Contemplation And Method At The Amache National Historic Site, Sami Zepponi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Archaeology is both a science and an interpretative process, blending material discovery with imagination to reconstruct past experiences. This research, conducted through the 2024 University of Denver Amache Field School, explores the archaeological imagination and the creative and cognitive engagement that shapes historical interpretation. Using Amache, a WWII Japanese American incarceration site, as a case study, this thesis examines how material culture, landscape modifications, and reflection inform archaeological understanding. This study explores how imagination connects tangible findings to cultural narratives by integrating community-based archaeology, place and landscape theory, and contemplative inquiry. Findings highlight imagination as essential to archaeology, enabling deeper …

Intersectional Realities, Multi-Dimensional Films: Reading Julie Dash's Illusions As An Activist Text, Amelia Morrison

University Honors Theses

This paper reads Julie Dash's 1982 film Illusions as an activist text, which challenges dominant cinematic and historical narratives through its Black feminist perspective. It explores the cinematic and narrative devices that Dash uses--including the weaving of fantasy and history, the strategic use of period aesthetics, and masking--to expose and subvert the mechanisms of white supremacist and patriarchal hegemony within Hollywood. Drawing on intersectional feminist theory from scholars like Kimberlé Crenshaw, Patricia Hill Collins, and bell hooks, alongside cinematic theory, this analysis demonstrates how Illusions critiques the historical erasure of people of color from United States cinema and history. By …

The New Right-Wing Populist: The Blonde “Mother Of The Nation”, Christina Charie

Political Science Undergraduate Theses

The rise of right-wing populism in European politics has come along side an increased presence of female representation in political affairs. What aesthetic decisions are being made by far-right female populist politicians? How do moderate right and left-wing women politicians differ in their presentation styles from populist women? While right-wing politics have gained traction in Europe before, this time women are the face of many right-wing populist movement, even though much of the ideology is rooted in misogyny and the presence of strong, masculine figureheads. With women taking center stage within these right-wing movements that are historically masculine, understanding their …

Gnsi Decision Brief: From Attrition To Asymmetry: A Strategic Assessment Of Recent Developments In The Russia-Ukraine War, Christopher Marsh, Arman Mahmoudian

GNSI Decision Briefs

The Russia-Ukraine war appears to be entering a new and uncertain phase. Over the past several months, both sides have intensified their operations, signaling the likely adoption of new strategies while simultaneously reacting to pressure from the Trump administration to “stop the bloodshed.” In March 2025, Russia launched its largest aerial assault against Ukraine up until that time, unleashing a barrage of 367 drones and missiles against the nation it invaded in February 2022. At the same time, Ukraine has demonstrated an increasing capability to strike deep into Russian territory, targeting military leaders, strategic bombers, and military airfields. Kyiv even …

News Portrayals Of Women In The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Zinnia Sheikh

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how The New York Times visually framed women in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A quantitative content analysis of 592 news images of gender (male, female) and objects was conducted through the lenses of framing theory and visual framing theory to understand gender representation in conflict reporting. The photo sample analyzed a period of two years, starting from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024. The findings indicate that The New York Times portrays women as victims more often than men, which supports the previous traditional gender portrayals of women showing them as victims. However, the findings challenge the …

The De Mau Mau Conspiracy: The Specter Of Black Vietnam Veterans In The Exercise Of Police Power, 1968-1976, Ina Cox

Dissertations

A forgotten and bizarre event encapsulates the violent decay that characterized the pivotal years the United States endured in the wake of the Vietnam War. Black veterans—guerrilla combat-trained, politically awakened by war, and disillusioned with the entrenched racial order at home—emerged as totems in a fearful, cynical political culture wracked by violence. Men overrepresented in the projection of American power abroad now stood as symbols of its fragility within, potential vessels of retribution for centuries of domestic and global oppression. This anxiety, merging with widespread protests and political upheaval, intensified the belief that American cities stood on the brink of …

Cosmic Force: A Framework For Applying The Prohibition Of The Use Of Force In Outer Space, Erin Pobjie

International Law Studies

Outer space is becoming increasingly contested and existing approaches to identifying prohibited force in outer space lack a systematic foundation, hindering their application to novel challenges such as temporary interference with critical satellites or threats involving commercial space actors. This article addresses this gap by developing the first comprehensive, multifactorial legal framework for identifying a prohibited use of force in outer space. This framework provides a structured method for analyzing non-kinetic actions, temporary effects, and persistent hazards like space debris. It fundamentally advances existing legal approaches in three ways. First, it establishes when States can be implicated in a violation …

Technology In International Relations: A Theoretical Perspective On Understanding Us-Chinese Tech War, Ahmed Elbassoussy

Future Journal of Social Science

The massive technological boom that the international scene has witnessed recently has contributed to rearranging the structure of the international system, as the importance of the technological factor in the equation of the relative power of the state has increased. This has led to an increase in the intensity of competition between the major international powers, especially between the United States and China, which has prompted many analysts to restore the concept of the US-China technological war, or what Known as “Cold War 2.0). In this context, this paper seeks to develop a comprehensive framework that combines the theoretical and …