Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Parole Predictions: Estimating The Likelihood A Humanitarian Parole Group Will Receive A Status Adjustment, Amethyst Osborne

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Humanitarian parole is an immigration policy that allows paroled individuals to enter or remain in the United States temporarily. The standard pathway for parolees to gain legal permanent residency (LPR) is limited by a number of requirements and restrictions, i.e., sponsorship from a family member or employer is usually required. However, in some instances, laws have been passed that grant an automatic adjustment to LPR status for select groups of parolees. This study is intended to investigate the circumstances that lead some groups to receive a status adjustment while other groups are denied a dedicated pathway to legal permanent residency. …

Voting For Winners And Losers In A Hybrid Regime: How Thailand's 2023 Election Shaped Voter Opinion, Jacob Ricks, Allen Hicken

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Research in Western Democracies suggests voting has substantive impacts on how one feels about democracy and state institutions. Voting for winners leads to positive feelings while voting for losers has the opposite effect. How, though, do voters interpret electoral results in a system prone to authoritarian intervention? Thailand's 2023 election offers a unique opportunity to examine how voting in a hybrid regime can impact voter opinion. Using a pre- and postelection survey, we demonstrate that, like elections in democracies, an election in a hybrid regime can have a significant impact on voter opinions. When pro-democracy voters win an election in …

Chess Not Checkers: A Contemporary Analysis On Judicial Retirement And Lingering Justices In The Modern U.S. Supreme Court, Nic Feldman

Political Science

In an era where the Court is particularly partisan, Justices choosing to stay on longer due to these motivators is lowering the legitimacy the Court has with the general public. First, partisan effects and interests are explored in regard to how the Court has gotten partisan and the effect that has on judicial retirement. Then, interest groups and their effect on judicial retirement is looked into. Next, it is shown why judicial retirement is significant, and the factor that these external forces play into it is explained. Finally, some recommendations for change regarding the High Court, since there is reform …

The Effects Of The Expanded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance On Non-Standard Workers' Financial And Mental Wellbeing, Juhyun Bae

Political Science Faculty Publications

During COVID-19, for the first time in U.S. history, Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits were extended to non-standard workers who are not typically eligible for that. Given the exclusion from the social security system, this offers an important opportunity to investigate such benefits on their economic and emotional security. To estimate it, I analyze staggered difference-in-differences and triple difference models using the Household Pulse Survey. I found that the early termination of the expanded pandemic UI program led to increases in financial and mental difficulties among residents, especially non-standard workers with more difficulty in paying expenses and depression. These findings suggest …

Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Foster Youth Independent Living Programs In The State Of California, Ingrid Flores

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Foster youth transitioning into adulthood often confront a myriad of challenges stemming from limited social capital and unstable support systems. The transition out of foster care, particularly for Transitional Age Youth (TAY), is fraught with barriers including disconnection from familial ties, inadequate knowledge regarding higher education, financial instability, unemployment, and housing insecurity. In 2021, approximately 4,920 foster children aged out of the system, facing the option to participate in extended care programs designed to facilitate their transition into independent living. Despite these programs, many youths struggle to achieve self-sufficiency. Key legislation, including the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and …

Unintended Consequences: How Direct Cash Payments To Families Experiencing Poverty Lowered Child Poverty Rates In The United States, Wayne Dunn

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Child poverty has adverse effects for the children who experience it and it has long term social and economic consequences into adulthood. This policy analysis looks at the policy choices America has made in addressing child poverty and what effects, if any, those policies have had. After reviewing traditional in-kind policy options for addressing child poverty, this article focuses on the decreases in the child poverty rate that occurred with the passage of pandemic era legislation that provided direct cash assistance to all Americans. Because the assistance programs only happened in two consecutive years and were terminated at the end …

The Impact Of Absolute Education On Young Voter Turnout, Reagan Roark

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

American civic education continually proves to need attention and reform. This research evaluates whether implementing specific teaching strategies at the high school level impacts a student's future political participation; specifically, to more clearly outline whether a high school level civics curriculum directly impacts a student's likelihood to cast a voting ballot in midterm and presidential elections within six years of graduation. This paper aims to understand better if teaching and/or education reform is effective in helping future generations and the democratic fate of our country. In this study, we measure the current state civic graduation requirements compared with the state's …

Deterring Gray Zone Activity In A Strategic Flashpoint: U.S. Freedom Of Navigation Operations And China’S Maritime Militias, Joseph D. Potter

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In today’s complex world, nations often use irregular forces, such as militias, to achieve political goals without escalating conflicts. This study examines how the United States of America uses its Navy’s Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea to influence the behavior of Chinese maritime militias. These militias are involved in activities such as harassment, assault, and other aggressive or deceptive actions. By analyzing data from 2012 to 2024, this research discovered 239 incidents and discovers that these militias reduce their confrontational activities during Freedom of Navigation Operations to avoid direct conflict while continuing their broader objectives in …

Third Parties As A Matter Of Rhetoric: The Development Of Third Party News Coverage, 1890-2020, Aedan Perry

Political Science

There has been a lot of debate in academia over the reasons that third parties have traditionally fared poorly in the United States. Such explanations have largely ignored discussion of how the public's perception of third parties have changed over the course of 120 years' worth of elections and political evolution. By first taking a broad look at the prevalence of key terminology, and then drawing connections between the coverage of various campaigns, it can be noted that while third parties have lost a significant amount of esteem, the two party system itself has also declined relative to the mid …

The Effects Of Political Polarization On Congressional Oversight, Jason Aguayza-Palaguachi

Political Science

The increasing political polarization in the United States has had affected the relationship between the Democratic and Republican Parties and their ability to work together so they can govern the country effectively. While numerous scholars have previously conducted research on political polarization, one important aspect that requires further research is the extent that polarization has affected the role of congressional oversight. In this study, I will examine the congressional committee investigations of the Iran-Contra Affair and the 2012 Benghazi attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi. The analysis of newspaper articles, media reports, voting records, and public statements will reveal …

An Analysis Of Climate Change Communication In The Modern World: What Works And What Doesn’T, Erin Donnellon

Political Science

Effective climate change communication is a broad and widely researched topic, attempting to address how to communicate the issue of climate change in a way that will not only lead people to believe in and to care about it, but also to act on the changing climate. While individual action is progress made, collective action is more effective and more often the goal of this communication. Climate change is consistently considered to be one of the most critical political issues due to its time sensitivity and exponentially increasing, drastic results. Scientists have agreed that climate change is an impending and …

Allen V. Milligan And Predicting Louisiana V. Callais, Noah Kasprzak

Political Science

In its 2021 docket, the United States Supreme Court would take on the case Allen v. Milligan from the Eleventh Circuit in the United States Court of Appeals. This case surrounded the new Congressional map that Alabama had drawn following the 2020 Census, which would be in effect from the 2022 House of Representatives Elections until 2030. In this map, a single majority-minority district was drawn of the seven total, despite nearly 1 in 3 Alabamians belonging to a racial minority. Voters and several organizations would challenge this new Congressional map on the grounds of it violating Section 2 of …

Academic Freedom And Free Speech In Crisis: Elite Educational Institutions Response To Student Protests After October 7th, Isabella Blauvelt-Mercado

Political Science

Higher education institutions establish themselves as academic communities for students to explore various perspectives and values. When controversial topics arise, such as the October 7th Hamas-Israeli attack, students have the First Amendment right to voice their opinion and critically analyze the world around them. When institutions place limitations on this freedom— either through restrictive speech codes, administrative interventions, or the suppression of certain viewpoints—they risk undermining the very purpose of education and critical inquiry. This puts into question the entire responsibilities of these institutions as they limit and suppress student demonstrations. My research is necessary because universities serve as a …

Talkin’ Bout A Revolution: A Comparative Analysis Between Hannah Arendt And Frantz Fanon, Nicholas Gleed

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

What is the role of freedom and violence in revolution? This thesis involves a comparative analysis of how two major political theorists – Hannah Arendt and Frantz Fanon – understood and conceptualized the role of violence and freedom in relation to revolution. Due to their differing theoretical frameworks and perspectives, they often come to different conclusions on these points of comparison. However, by placing these two thinkers in conversation with each other, we can better understand the core of their arguments on freedom, violence, and revolution and how they might be similar and different in various ways. For Arendt, violence …

Lowering Barriers To Voting For Individuals With Disabilities: Mail In Ballots And No Excuse Absentee Ballots, Cynthia Weyerman

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The right to vote is an important part of the democratic process in America, but for individuals with disabilities it may not be as simple as simply showing up on election day and voting. Individuals with disabilities may face multiple barriers when it comes to voting. This paper looks at some of the common barriers to voting for individuals with disabilities, and focuses on ways that could improve turnout for individuals with disabilities. I look specifically at the data on mail in ballots and absentee ballots as a way to improve turnout for voters with disabilities. We do know from …

Gender Craze: Framing Policy Discrimination Against Transgender Students In K-12 Education, Quinette Rogers

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Transgender youth in K-12 public education have been systematically marginalized through state-sanctioned violence and discriminatory policies, often portrayed as societal "boogeymen." They face exclusion and othering due to restrictive state legislation, such as bathroom bans, sports participation restrictions, and limited access to gender-affirming care. Current research lacks a comprehensive analysis of how state-level legislation affects transgender students. This study addresses that gap by employing qualitative thematic coding to examine the language, framing, and impact of state education policies on transgender students. By analyzing how these policies are framed around themes such as protecting family, safeguarding children, individual liberty, constitutional rights, …

Sanctuary Of The Voiceless: Examining Tik-Tok As A Political Landscape, Quentin Key

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While studies of social media as a political landscape often focus on established platforms like Twitter. They neglect emerging spaces like TikTok, the short-form video app, which has become an unexpected hub for political discourse. This study test Melissa Harris-Perry's "everyday talk" framework to analyze the political utility of this new digital space. Through analysis of 271 posts across TikTok, Twitter/X, and Truth Social, the research reveals how platforms simultaneously enable and constrain political discourse. Findings show verified accounts post political content 3.2 times more often than regular users, while political posts receive 167% more reposts, demonstrating how algorithms amplify …

Mapping Homes Of Georgia's Governors And Their Westward Shift (1776–2024), Andrew J. Bramlett

Symposium of Student Scholars

Since the start of the American Revolution, seventy-seven men have served as Governor of Georgia. Over time, the state expanded westward from the coast to become the largest state east of the Mississippi River. Although individual governors have been studied extensively (particularly in James F. Cook’s The Governors of Georgia), their residences remain underexplored as indicators of electoral power shifts. Based on the information of seventy-seven governors collected from Cook, the New Georgia Encyclopedia, and Georgia Historical Quarterly, this research visualizes the residences of governors at the time of their election by using ArcGIS and reveals the state’s electoral …

Representation Styles Amongst Establishment And Non-Establishment Parties In Germany, Nicco T. Elie-Pierre

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

The question of representation and its typology is still an ongoing discussion in the literature. There has, however, been a seminal approach, first posited by Hanna Pitkin, discussing a polysematic view of representation. There has, however, been a lack of coverage of how political parties utilize the different forms of representation Pitkin describes. This project studies political posters around the city of Leipzig, Germany, categorizing them based on their displayed messages into the three applicable types of representation (Symbolic, Descriptive, and Substantive). Through this lens, we will analyze how the political parties in Germany use these differing representation styles, and …

Penggunaan Retorika Dalam Pidato Pengunduran Diri Mikhail Gorbachev: Kajian Wacana Kritis Norman Fairclough, Muhammad Shanneva Raynadi

Multikultura

This study analyzes the use of rhetoric in Mikhail Gorbachev's resignation speech on December 25, 1991, using one of Norman Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) approach, namely rhetorical aspect. This speech marked the dissolution of the Soviet Union and reflected the socio-political changes during Gorbachev's leadership, particularly concerning glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) policies. Through an analysis of Aristotle's five rhetorical elements—inventio, dispositio, elocutio, memoria, and pronuntiatio—this study finds that Gorbachev employed rhetorical strategies to reframe his reform ideas, establish credibility, and influence public perception of the ongoing political transition. The findings indicate that the speech was …

“A Threat To The Family”: Phyllis Schlafly And The Construction Of Negative Group Identity, Christopher Howell

Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, I argue that Phyllis Schlafly’s fight against the proposed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) from 1972 to 1976 helped construct the “pro-family” political identity that opposed the ERA and came to define social conservatism in American politics. She did this through the creation and elaboration of a negative group identity: individuals defined by their desire for an imagined past of traditional, stable hierarchies. By taking an anodyne piece of legislation and framing its supporters as direct threats to the status quo, Schlafly effectively mobilized a group of previously apolitical actors towards political activism. In the process, she helped …

Limit Tests: Sociodemographic Representation In Public Organizations, Christopher Dee Eddy

Theses and Dissertations

Bureaucratic institutions are a critical yet often underappreciated nexus of democratic legitimacy. However, public agencies frequently fail to represent key constituencies of the American public, significantly influencing citizens' attitudes toward governing institutions and challenging effective governance. Research suggests that improving sociodemographic representation within political institutions can reinforce institutional support and citizen trust through symbolic processes and promote equitable policy outcomes through actions of bureaucrats from historically excluded groups.

Despite these insights, past research is divided on if, how, and when descriptive or passive representation leads to beneficial symbolic or active effects. While the existing body of representative bureaucracy theory offers …

Mobilizing Discord On The United States’ Many Borders: Critical Social Science And Geopolitical Complexity, Margath Walker

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Attention to the political landscape connecting the United States, Mexico, and Central America has returned with glaring intensity, highlighting the visibly geostrategic elements of bordering practice. Scholars have focused on how state power materializes at multiple scales while at the same time being attentive to the contestable and mutable nature of myriad agentic forces. This talk operates similarly by considering prospects for a frictional and at times ambiguous spatial politics. I extend the notion of discord as a productive lens through which to consider securitization, mobility, and migration. I use two short examples—the border-industrial complex and migrant caravans—to illustrate my …

Mission And Editorial Policy

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Editorial History

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Editor-In-Chief's Note, Surekha Rao

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Religiosity And Violence Prevention Programs On Violence Amongst Adolescents In The U.S., Ngoc Nguyen, John Paulson, Quentin Maynard, Thu T. Ha

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Youth violence is a societal concern in the United States due to its negative consequences on individuals and communities. The current study aimed to examine the potential mitigating factors of violence prevention programs and religiosity in reducing youth violence among African American, White, Hispanic, and Asian American adolescents in the United States. It also tested the moderation effects of sex on religiosity and violence prevention programs with youth violence. Results of the main effects revealed that adolescents who attended violence prevention programs were generally less likely to engage in violence than those who did not; and that adolescents who were …

Reviewers And Referees

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

96th Annual Iass Conference Call For Papers

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

George C. Roberts Award Recipients

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.