Digital Commons Network^™

Defending Against Extermination: A Comparative Approach To Self-Defense In The Case Of Mass Atrocity, Christopher Davey

The Microdynamics of Mass Atrocity Working Paper Series

This paper is a comparative study of three contemporary cases of self-defense in the context of mass atrocity. I define self-defense as violence deployed by armed groups as non-state or quasi-state actors to preserve life and social group integrity. This definition acknowledges power relations as complex and violence as multidirectional. Actors include informal defenders, civilians, military actors each overlapping with varying interests. I pose the research question: what is legitimate self-defense in the context of mass atrocity, and how is it presented in the public sphere, regionally and internationally for the purpose of political support or sympathy? In doing so …

The Foodpunk City: Advancing Portland's Food Security Through A Shared Ideology Of Adaptation & Resistance, Nickolas Hash

Dissertations and Theses

Food injustice is a form of violence perpetrated by state and corporate actors against a constituency under their governing power, particularly impacting marginalized and impoverished communities. It denies individuals access to nutritious food, perpetuating cycles of poverty, inequality, physical health risks, and social exclusion. Grassroots movements have emerged to challenge dominant paradigms and advocate for food sovereignty, agroecology, and food anarchy. In Portland, the movement represents a nontraditional approach to food security that closely resembles the reactionary ideology of urban "punk" culture. Both groups prioritize community autonomy over food systems, sustainable agricultural practices, and resistance to oppressive structures that perpetuate …

A Red Teaming Framework For Securing Ai In Maritime Autonomous Systems, Mathew J. Walter, Aaron Barrett, Kimberly Tam

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being ubiquitously adopted to automate processes in science and industry. However, due to its often intricate and opaque nature, AI has been shown to possess inherent vulnerabilities which can be maliciously exploited with adversarial AI, potentially putting AI users and developers at both cyber and physical risk. In addition, there is insufficient comprehension of the real-world effects of adversarial AI and an inadequacy of AI security examinations; therefore, the growing threat landscape is unknown for many AI solutions. To mitigate this issue, we propose one of the first red team frameworks for evaluating the AI security …

China Maritime Report No. 41: One Force, Two Force, Red Force, Blue Force: Pla Navy Blue Force Development For Realistic Combat Training, J. Michael Dahm

CMSI China Maritime Reports

Since the mid-2010s, there has been a concerted effort to professionalize a PLAN “blue force” as an opposition force, or OPFOR, in maritime exercises and training. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) routinely refers to its blue forces as metaphorical “whetstones” used to sharpen the PLA for a future fight against enemies of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Efforts to develop a PLAN blue force appear to have accelerated over the past several years in response to Chairman Xi Jinping’s decade-long demand for more realistic combat training.

This report examines recent developments in the PLAN’s blue force. It comprises four …

Insights Into Foraging Behavior From Multi-Day Sound Recording Tags On Goose-Beaked Whales (Ziphius Cavirostris) In The Southern California Bight, Shannon N. Coates, David A. Sweeney, Erin A. Falcone, Stephanie L. Watwood, Brenda K. Rone, Stacy L. De Ruiter, Jay Barlow, Karin A. Dolan, Ronald P. Morrissey, Nancy A. Dimarzio, Susan M. Jarvis, Russel D. Andrews, Gregory S. Schor

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Goose-beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) are deep-diving cetaceans known for their elusive nature and specialized foraging behavior. In 2019 and 2020, six telemetry tags were deployed on these whales in Southern California, resulting in 395 h of acoustic and diving data. Foraging dives were manually identified by the presence of echolocation pulses and buzzes, and generalized additive models assessed factors influencing foraging behavior. The median bathymetric depth at foraging sites was 1,419 m (IQR = 359), and the maximum dive depth was highly correlated with bathymetry depth. Individuals started echolocating on descent at a median depth of 410 m (IQR = …

Memories Of The Past: Engagement With Colonial Narratives In Modern-Day Spain, Amelia Wang

Undergraduate Project Award

Abstract: Over the past fifteen years, the way colonialism is remembered and taught has come under fire. In Spain, dominant political forces strike against one another on what the “correct” history of colonization looks like. Of particular concern is how the stories of colonialism have been remembered and taught and what these stories might look like moving forward. This paper examines the rise and fall of the Spanish Empire and the long-term impacts of the colonial period and then discusses how the colonial period is remembered in Spain and the impact of collective memory on national identity. It does so …

Review Of Building Peace In A State Of War: South Sudan's Fateful Struggle, Hogr Tarkhani

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Climate Change On Women’S Security Dynamics In Baragoi, Samburu County, Kenya, Rehema Zaid Obuyi

The Journal of Social Encounters

The paper unearths how climate change influences women’s security dynamics in fragile and conflict-affected contexts in Baragoi Samburu County Kenya. It provides an opportunity to rethink security. Security responses must be at par with evolving security underlying forces. One of the precursors is that individuals and groups that were traditionally excluded from combat both as participants and targets such as women and children have now become prime targets. This demands a shift in strategy by not only focusing on traditional threats but also getting more specific linking our approaches to gendered non-traditional security threats. Alternative soft power approaches to addressing …

Gold Mining In Darfur: Its Role In The General Economy, Political Conflicts And The Current War, Raphaëlle Chevrillon-Guibert, Enrico Ille, Mohamed Salah Abdelrahman

The Journal of Social Encounters

Darfur has been shattered by a long chain of violent escalations, and numerous interpretations of reasons and recommendations for solutions have been put forward. Since the early 2010s, gold mining appeared as an additional element in ongoing conflicts and became a dominant aspect, not just as one of the financial pillars of the upcoming Rapid Support Forces under Dagalo family leadership, but also as a source of environmental pollution. Nevertheless, gold mining made its way only slowly into political analyses, and although its substantial role in Sudan's recent history, including the current war, has now more often been recognized, it …

Hss 404-029-047: Memes: Rhetoric, Genres, Applications, Johanna Deane

Humanities Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Exploring Our Maritime Strategies Ii - Red Sea/Persian Gulf, The U.S. Naval War College

CIWAG Events

This year’s symposium considers the two great maritime straits in the Middle East. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf are both under threat and have tremendous implications related not only to global shipping, but by extension, the entire global economy.

South Korea’S Soft Power In The Drama Series “Crash Landing On You”: Propaganda Against North Korea, Gilang Pratama Irianto, Junita Budi Rachman, Deasy Sylviasari

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This article examines South Korean propaganda aimed at influencing the public towards North Korea through the military-themed drama series Crash Landing on You interspersed with romantic stories typical of Korean dramas. The propaganda techniques used in the drama use glorification and demonization techniques. The purpose of this paper is to analyze South Korean soft power propaganda in the drama series Crash Landing on You. Propaganda in international relations is used as an analytical tool in this study, as well as the meaning of propaganda and propaganda techniques as supporting concepts for this study. The method used is a qualitative method, …

Merchants In Shakespeare’S The Merchant Of Venice: A Transactional Analysis, Raj Bhala

The Business, Entrepreneurship & Tax Law Review

Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is a play with multiple merchants engaged in multiple transactions with multiple motives. The key characters – Shylock, Antonio, Bassanio, Portia, Jessica, Lorenzo, Nerissa, Graziano, and the Duke – are involved in one sort of business dealing or another. Indeed, there are 10 specific transactions: one finance transaction; one international trade transaction; one gastronomic transaction; two inheritance transactions; three marriage transactions; and two legal entrepreneurship transactions. In these deals, commerce and love are almost indistinguishable, and justice and mercy clash. Thus, lawyers can analyze the drama from a transactional perspective, and spot issues they encounter, …

Insurance Law And Religious Belief, Chad Marzen

The Business, Entrepreneurship & Tax Law Review

This Article adds to the corpus of academic scholarship in insurance law with an analysis of jurisprudence involving insurance law and religious belief. Outside of the issue of contraception, health insurance and religious exemptions, there are a number of areas where insurance law intersects with religious belief. These areas, examined in this Article, include the admissibility of testimony regarding religious beliefs in liability cases, unemployment compensation and religious belief, the relationship between worker's compensation and religious belief, and whether motor vehicle financial responsibility laws violate the First Amendment.

What’S Hiding Under The Kilt? Iranian Trolls For Scottish Independence, Darren Linvill, Patrick Warren

Media Forensics Hub Reports

The Islamic Republic of Iran is known to engage in digital information operations targeting both their regional neighbors and Western adversaries. While several campaigns have been identified in recent months, specifics about the tactics and messaging Iran have employed are limited. This report offers a robust understanding of one ongoing campaign the Clemson Media Forensics Hub has attributed to Iran. We include analysis of the campaign’s scope and impacts as well as a deep look at its messaging, including specific visual examples.

Modern Characteristics Of Domestic Extremists: A Study Of Extremists In The United States, Sherry H. Siller

Doctoral Works at the University of New Haven

The goal of this paper was to perform exploratory research on multiple aspects of individuals radicalized in the United States. Previous research on this topic had often analyzed individuals using all or most of the accumulated data on this group over the entire period of “modern-day terrorism,” while ignoring shifting changes in culture, norms, and economics in the United States. This study aims to close a part of that research gap by empirically analyzing a data sample of individuals radicalized in the United States who either were caught in the attempt or after the carrying out of a terrorist attack …

Analisis Potensi Ancaman Siber Pada Bidang Ekonomi Di Indonesia, Isro' Kurniawan Rahakbauw

Jurnal Kajian Stratejik Ketahanan Nasional

This article discusses the analysis of potential cyber warfare threats in the economic sector in Indonesia. The increasing dependence on information technology and widespread connectivity opens wide doors for potential cyber attacks on the country's economic sector. Through an analytical approach, this article explores various potential cyber threats that Indonesia may face, involving attacks on financial infrastructure, electronic commerce, as well as business data and information. In this context, the article also evaluates the readiness and effectiveness of cybersecurity measures implemented by the government and the private sector. Findings from this analysis provide valuable insights to identify and address potential …

It 332-103: Digtal Crime, Nicole Campos

Informatics Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Patriots Over Profits: Incentivizing Corporate Responsibility In Defense Contracts, Benjamin C. Underwood

Hofstra Law Review

The article delves into the difficulties of overseeing the defense industry, emphasizing the impact of financial interests on both defense contractors and regulators. It sheds light on the revolving door phenomenon between government officials and defense contractors, potentially leading to conflicts of interest. Furthermore, it touches upon the challenges posed by a lack of transparency and enforcement in curbing unethical practices within the defense sector. The text also explores the intricate interplay among wealth, warfare, and the public good in the realm of defense contracting. Proposed solutions include measures such as granting the government unrestricted access to technical data from …

University Of Dayton Magazine, Autumn 2024, University Of Dayton

University of Dayton Alumni Publications

The University of Dayton Magazine is published quarterly by the Office of University Marketing and Communications for alumni, parents, students, faculty/staff, trustees and other friends of UD.

Hist 390-101: Historical Problems Through Film, Fall 2024, Scott Kent

History Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Is Donald Trump A Modern-Day Catiline?, Jamie González-Ocaña

Comparative Civilizations Review

Could the story of a failed Roman politician who organized a plot to seize the Roman republic in 63 BCE be a metaphor for Donald Trump’s political persona — his initial presidential run against the establishment, his rhetorical effort to overthrow the status quo and the natural order of things in national politics, the love affair Trump has always had with the struggling working-class voters (with the “forgotten” Americans), his constant testing the Constitutional limits of our republican system of government? Could both figures be symptoms of times when a republic is in crisis and reminders of the perils that …

Seventeen Crises In Western Civilization That Have Arisen Since The Dark Ages: A Cognition Science-Oriented Approach, Andrew Targowski

Comparative Civilizations Review

The purpose of this article is to synthesize those crises in the unfolding of Western civilization that are controlled by human knowledge and wisdom. The methodology is transdisciplinary, utilizing a cognitive science-oriented, big-picture view of civilization and main conflicts. The crises are investigated across three time periods; the Dark Ages (from the fifth to the fourteenth century), Modern Times (from the fifteenth to the twentieth century), and the present century. The findings reveal that today Western civilization faces seventeen significant crises. Knowledge is not sufficient to solve these crises; we need to employ knowledge-based wisdom. This approach presents a new …

Political Freedom And Economic Constraints: The Political Setting For The Problem Of Twelve, John C. Coates

The University of Chicago Business Law Review

This essay outlines foundations of the current moment facing corporations and politics, which I have characterized as a new “problem of twelve”—that is, the concentration of power in the hands of a small number of index and private equity fund sponsors.1 Through the middle of the twentieth century, public companies dominated the U.S. economy and government. They owed their dominance to having been socially legitimated coming out of the Great Depression, a legitimation built on their affirmative war efforts and on the negative constraints of securities law, progressive taxation, labor unions, and operational regulation. From 1970 on, however, they changed …

Toward Adaptive And Modular Joint Multi-Domain Operational Planning, Kyle S. Wilkinson

Theses and Dissertations

This research develops a multiparametric optimization framework for modeling joint multi-domain operational planning under uncertainty. We address the application of our framework to model the doctrine of adaptive planning. We apply set-based design, which is a program management practice of maintaining maximal design options through time as a response to epistemic uncertainty. We couple this with a multiparametric optimization method yielding both sets of solutions and sensitivity profiles. We use the sensitivity profiles to quantify risk associated with changes during adaptive planning. This research also models features of military operational planning via the mathematics of category theory. We formalize intuitive …

Unrest On The Eurasian Landmass Since 1917, Bertil Haggman

Comparative Civilizations Review

The terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, and the subsequent war on global terrorism and its networks reminded the world of the danger to civilization of worldwide criminal enterprises. The purpose of these notes is to present some introductory material on the ongoing planetary civil war since 1917. The training for worldwide revolutionary war started at Soviet Russian political warfare academies shortly after the Russian Revolution. During the 1990s, similarly, terrorists have been undergoing terrorism training. Thousands of terrorists have graduated from terrorist schools and have been active in around 60 countries worldwide.

The Dravidian And Āryan Migrations In Europe And India, Alexander Jacob

Comparative Civilizations Review

Much has been written about the relationship between the Indo-Āryans and the Dravidians. Debates have proliferated on the question of whether the Āryans invaded Dravidian India or whether they were indigenous to Dravida. If we consider the literary evidence of the ancient Indians we can inform a different view of the origins of Indian Brāhmanical religion and the historical relationship between the two major population groupings of India.

Technoculture And Language Models In Archaeology: Reconstructing And Preserving Cultural Narratives Through Digital Humanities, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

Technoculture, which examines the intersection of culture and technology, has increasingly permeated archaeological practice, transforming both scholarly research and public engagement [1-3]. The introduction of digital tools such as virtual reality (VR), geographic information systems (GIS), and large language models (LLMs) has democratized access to archaeological knowledge, enabling communities to engage more actively with their cultural heritage [4-6]. This short article explores the mutual influence of technocultural studies and AI technologies on archaeology, with a focus on the preservation and reconstruction of cultural narratives through digital means.

The first aspect of this intersection lies in how technocultural tools are creating …

A Quantum Of Privacy, Anat Lior

Nevada Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Dissenting Authority, Guyora Binder

Journal Articles

This essay explicates J.B. White’s rhetorical conception of authority as a potentially collaborative achievement and contrasts it with the conception of authority as surrender of judgment prevailing in legal philosophy. On White’s view, authority is not an instrument held and deployed, but is conferred, like respect. This conception of authority illuminates three puzzles concerning the relationship between dissent and legal authority. First, Legal Positivism’s purportedly descriptive account of law insists it must claim an authority to govern independent of justice and assent. Yet law’s language is replete with justice-based appeals for popular assent. White’s reading of the practice of legal …