Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Totally Fluent In What It Meant To Be A Professor: Remembering Bob Young, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

The article by Erika Simpson commemorates the life and career of Robert Young, a prominent political science professor at Western University. Young, who passed away on August 15 due to lymphoma, was celebrated for his dedication to scholarship, public policy, and federalism. A Rhodes Scholar, he was known for his extensive work on multilevel governance, secession, and federal-municipal relations. He received numerous accolades, including the Canada Research Chair and the Hellmuth Prize. Young was admired for his mentorship, succinct writing, and contributions to social science research. His memorial highlighted his profound impact on colleagues, students, and the academic community.

How Canada Can Support Un Peacekeeping, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

In August 2016, the Canadian government pledged up to 600 soldiers, 150 police officers, and $450 million over three years for UN peace operations. To enhance its peacekeeping role, Canada should focus on training and security sector reform in Afghanistan, jump-start a UN Emergency Peace Service (UNEPS), and re-establish the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre. Re-engaging in Afghanistan would demonstrate Canada's commitment to peacekeeping and NATO, despite the risks and past challenges. UNEPS, proposed to address rapid response gaps, and a revitalized Pearson Peacekeeping Centre would bolster Canada's peacekeeping capabilities and international standing. This approach aligns with Canada's historical peacekeeping legacy and …

Prime Ministers And Public Expectations: A Study Of Institutional Change, Kenny William Ie

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study concerns the institutional bases of prime ministerial power and leadership. It investigates institutional development in the prime ministerial civil service organizations in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, from the 1970s to the present. The study asks two basic questions. First, to what extent, and how, have the institutional bases of prime ministerial power grown? Second, what explanations account for the institutional change observed? The study is framed theoretically in two ways. Its broad approach is historical institutionalist, in particular, in its descriptive framing of incremental change over time. Empirically, an original theory, the Theory of …

Physiological Arousal And Self-Reported Valence For Erotica Images Correlate With Sexual Policy Preferences, Amanda Friesen, Kevin B. Smith, John R. Hibbing

Political Science Publications

Individuals do not always accurately report the forces driving their policy preferences. Such inaccuracy may result from the fact that true justifications are socially undesirable or less persuasive than competing justifications or are unavailable in conscious awareness. Because of the delicate nature of these issues, people may be particularly likely to misstate the reasons for preferences on gay marriage, abortion, abstinence-only education, and premarital sex. Advocates on both sides typically justify their preferences in terms of preserving social order, maintaining moral values, or protecting civil liberties, not in terms of their own sexual preferences. Though these are the stated reasons, …

Dealing With Disagreement: Towards A Conception Of Feasible Compromise, Friderike Marta Gabriela Spang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The goal of this dissertation is to specify the feasibility conditions of compromise. More specifically, the goal of this dissertation is to specify the conditions of increasing the feasibility of compromise. The underlying assumption here is that feasibility is a scalar concept, meaning that a socio-political ideal can be feasible to different degrees (Lawford-Smith 2013). In order to specify the conditions of increasing the feasibility of compromise, it is necessary to first identify potential feasibility constraints. The main chapters of this dissertation are devoted to this task.

My research identifies two kinds of feasibility constraints that compromise potentially faces: …

Branding In The Liberal Party Of Canada From 2006 To 2015, Elisha M. Corbett

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This paper uses content analysis to define and measure the Liberal Party of Canada’s brand from 2006 to 2015. The main research questions that this paper addresses are: 1) What was the Liberal Party brand in each federal election from 2006 to 2015? 2) To what extent has the Liberal Party used branding techniques in each of the four elections between 2006 and 2015? This paper has three main hypotheses. This paper first hypothesizes that the Liberal Party brand changed in each federal election. Secondly, this paper hypothesizes the Liberal Party brand became more consistent over time. Lastly, this paper …

Time To Dismantle Nuclear Weapons, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

In the article "Time to dismantle nuclear weapons," Erika Simpson discusses the heightened tensions between North Korea and the United States, especially under President Donald Trump's administration. She emphasizes the catastrophic global consequences of even a limited nuclear war and critiques the reliance on nuclear deterrence. Simpson calls for a renewed focus on diplomatic efforts, including strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime, reviving the UN Conference on Disarmament, and advancing treaties like the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. She urges non-nuclear countries, including Canada, to push for the stigmatization of nuclear deterrence and for comprehensive strategies involving economic …

Moralizing To The Choir: The Moral Foundations Of American Clergy, Amanda Friesen, Paul A. Djupe

Political Science Publications

Objective

In order to understand the role of clergy in shaping Americans’ moral worldviews, we examine whether the structure of clergy values varies in systematic ways according to contextual factors, such as disagreement in the congregation.

Method

In early 2014 (February), clergy from a variety of Protestant denominations were contacted by email and invited to complete a survey online, which included a 20-item moral foundations (MFs) battery as well as a variety of attitudinal, behavioral, and relational measures.

Results

Clergy MFs resemble average citizens’, they look to preserve their autonomy by emphasizing individualizing foundations when they are in disagreement with …

Where Was Canada? Our Country Was Missing When More Than 100 Nations Drew Up And Voted For A Treaty To Ban Nuclear Weapons, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

In July 2017, the United Nations adopted a historic treaty to ban nuclear weapons, with 122 countries voting in favor. However, none of the nuclear-armed states, including the U.S. and Russia, participated. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons emerged from a series of international conferences aimed at highlighting the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapon use. Canada, aligning with the U.S., chose not to participate, drawing criticism from non-nuclear states. This stance contrasts with Canada’s past actions during the Cold War when it unilaterally disarmed its nuclear arsenal. The long-standing Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has seen limited success …

The Quantitative Turn In Transitional Justice Research: What Have We Learned About Impact?, Brandon Stewart, Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm

Transitional Justice Review

In recent years, scholars have increasingly turned to quantitative research methods to understand the impact of transitional justice (TJ) on societies emerging from periods of violence and repression. This research often seeks to influence policy diffusion by making bold claims based upon large datasets of TJ events that span space and time. However, the policy advice from the first wave of quantitative research is inconsistent if not contradictory. In this article, we outline a range of methodological issues that help to explain the different conclusions reached by these studies, including sampling strategies, model construction, and the measurement of key variables. …

Time For Change: Aid, Ngos, And Transitional Justice In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Arnaud Kurze

Transitional Justice Review

This article examines Scandinavian donor practices in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) with regards to post-conflict justice activities. BiH has been a laboratory of reconstruction, peace-building and transitional justice processes since the end of the war in 1995. While issues related to rebuilding and developing war-torn societies and their economies have attracted extensive scholarly attention, the question of international aid practices in transitional justice contexts remains widely understudied. Although the influence of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in reconciliatory transitional justice work has been growing, the relationship between international donors and local NGOs involved in these projects remains very limited. The objective of this study …

Money Better Spent, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

No abstract provided.

Data-Driven Public Diplomacy: A Critical And Reflexive Assessment, Hamilton Bean, Edward Comor

FIMS Publications

This essay presents a critical and reflexive assessment of contemporary efforts

to innovate the measurement and evaluation of public diplomacy. Analyzing a

recent and pivotal report called “Data-Driven Public Diplomacy,” it explains

how the institutional and ideological residue of the Cold War underwrites

these initiatives in the context of American activities in its contemporary “War

on Terror.” Inspired by Marx’s concept of the fetish—n under-represented

conceptual approach to public diplomacy research—he authors critique

the thinking of public diplomacy scholars and officials, arguing that both an

omnipresent past and a powerful form of technological fetishism are discernible

in the “Data-Driven Public …

Settler Colonial Ways Of Seeing: Documentary Governance Of Indigenous Life In Canada And Its Disruption, Danielle Taschereau Mamers

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Settler colonialism in Canada has and continues to dispossess Indigenous nations of their lands and authority. Settler Colonial Ways of Seeing argues that a politics of visibility has been central to these structures of invasion and dispossession. In an effort to transform sovereign Indigenous nations into “Indians”, the state has used techniques of bureaucratic documentation to naturalize the classification of Indigenous bodies as racially inferior and thus subject to a range of violent interventions. This politics of visibility fails to see Indigenous people as people who matter.

Using Indigenous feminist critique, discourse analysis, and aesthetics to analyze federal legislation, …

A Mission To Mali Is Already A Lost Opportunity, So Let’S Focus On Afghanistan’S ‘Forgotten War, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

Erika Simpson and Sakhi Naimpoor argue that Canada's defense efforts should shift focus from a UN peacekeeping mission in Mali to revitalizing its role in Afghanistan. They criticize the Canadian government for delaying its commitment to Mali and suggest that Canada should instead concentrate on training Afghan soldiers and police to ensure stability in a war-torn country. They highlight the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, with the Taliban and ISIS gaining ground since Canada's combat mission ended. The authors contend that re-engaging in Afghanistan would honor the sacrifices made by Canadian forces and help rebuild critical institutions in the region.

The Question Queue: The Federal Government Wants To Know So Much More About A Proposed Nuclear Waste Site Near Lake Huron, It Seems It Will Never Get The Ok, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

Ontario Power Generation’s proposal for a deep geologic repository (DGR) to store nuclear waste near Lake Huron faces significant scrutiny from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. The agency has demanded detailed responses from OPG regarding alternative sites, potential environmental impacts, and construction effects. Questions include concerns about emissions, seismic regulations, and the impact on indigenous communities and local ecosystems. The agency also requires more comprehensive risk assessments for various scenarios, including accidents and environmental degradation. The approval process is complicated by these extensive requirements, potentially delaying the project beyond upcoming federal and provincial elections.

Ontario Power Generation's Latest Report On Its Proposed Nuclear Waste Chamber Near Lake Huron Focuses On Science And Geology, Which Leaves A Lot Of Issues Unaddressed, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

Ontario Power Generation’s proposal for an underground nuclear waste repository near Lake Huron has faced criticism for focusing primarily on geological and technical aspects while neglecting key issues. The recent report does not address potential risks related to transporting nuclear waste, including security and environmental impacts, nor does it adequately consider Indigenous land rights or emergency preparedness. It also overlooks long-term challenges, such as the durability of containment and the impact of potential natural disasters. With substantial public opposition and international concerns, there is a call for a more comprehensive and transparent evaluation process involving independent analysis and broader stakeholder …

How American Women And Men Read The Bible, Amanda Friesen

Political Science Publications

Gender differences in religious belief and behavior are evident throughout the American Christian landscape. Though many scholars have compared women and men on numerous religious measures, very little research exists on the exploration of Bible reading—one of the most common forms of religious personal devotionalism and practice. Using the Bible in American Life module of the General Social Survey, I test a series of hypotheses to gain a better understanding of whether and how men and women read the Bible differently, which may contribute to the many gender differences in religiosity that may have consequences outside church walls. Women were …

Conscientious Women: The Dispositional Conditions Of Institutional Treatment On Civic Involvement, Amanda Friesen, Paul A. Djupe

Political Science Publications

Current thinking about the effect of religion on civic engagement centers on “institutional treatment”—the development of resources, social pathways to recruitment, and motivation that occurs in small groups and activities of congregations. None of this work has yet incorporated the personality traits that may shape the uptake of institutional treatment. Following a growing line of research articulating how individual predispositions condition political involvement, we argue that gendered personality differences may moderate civic skill development. With new data, we find that women do not develop skills from religious involvement at the same rate as men and that this pattern is largely …

Conflict Management In Burundi, Allyson Fox

2017 Undergraduate Awards

This essay seeks to address the question regarding what conflict management techniques have been implemented in the Great Lakes region of Africa, specifically in connection to the Burundi political strife, and which technique is proven to be the most effective thus far. Since gaining its independence in 1962, Burundi has experienced at least two mass killings as a result of political and social contentions between civilian classes (Uvin 256). In hopes of preventing another genocide between the Hutu and the Tutsi ethnic groups in the Great Lakes region of Africa, national, regional, and international conflict management strategies have been implemented. …

The United States Of America’S Use Of Torture In Interrogations, Janet Mcparland

2017 Undergraduate Awards

This paper outlines the use of state sanctioned torture since 1960 in Vietnam, Latin America, and the Middle East by American military forces. It will focus on the results and implications of the use of torture in each case, and especially in the Middle East following the terror attacks in the United States on September 11th, 2001. This paper will examine the legal process which has enabled not only the technically legal implementation of such programs, but also minimized repercussions for the United States, despite the devastating effects of their torture programs across the globe. The now declassified memorandums, manuals, …

Genes And Politics, Aleksander Ksiazkiewicz, Amanda Friesen

Political Science Publications

No abstract provided.