Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Role Of Latter-Day Saint Resentment In Utah's Culture War, Jessica Dofelmire

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who have continually held majority status in Utah soon after arriving in 1847, dominate the state in terms of culture and politics. In the last few decades, the dominance of the Church and its members has led to contentious disputes regarding issues ranging from property sales to medical marijuana and conversion therapy, but the conflict has existed since the 19^th century. The conflict, which is often referred to as Utah’s culture war, has fueled resentful feelings on both sides of the battle and is in turn fueled by the …

Are Better Students Grittier?, Paul A. Djupe

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Tocqueville And The Earthbound American Spirit, Jack Sauter

Compass: An Undergraduate Journal of American Political Ideas

This article assesses the gulf between Tocqueville’s claim that human beings have naturally transcendent souls and his observations of the democratic souls of Americans.

Author information: Jack Sauter is a senior at Northern Illinois University studying political science and Spanish. He plans to teach English abroad for a year before going to graduate school.

Changing The Rules: Institutions, Party Systems, And The Frequency Of Constitutional Amendments In Africa, Christian B. Jensen, Michelle Kuenzi, Jonathan-Georges Mehanna

Political Science Faculty Research

What factors influence constitutional stability in the emerging democracies of Sub-Saharan Africa? This is an important question that has never been addressed in a systematic cross-national study of Africa's emerging democracies. Using the Comparative Constitutions Project dataset and our own original dataset for veto players and party systems, we examine the influence of veto players and party system characteristics on the frequency of constitutional amendments in the electoral periods between 1990 and 2020 in forty-one African countries. Our results provide broad support for the veto players theory. More specifically, we find that as the number of actors needed to approve …

The Gender Bias Burden On Business: Women’S Access To Credit In Bahrain [Poster], Sandra Thiman

Research in the Capitol

Entrepreneurship is essential to virtually every economy; however, Bahraini women face many challenges accessing business development. In particular, a major constraint for these women is their access to capital support. In 2020, the government signed a law prohibiting gender-based discrimination in access to credit to help the issue; nonetheless, its effectiveness has yet to be systematically examined. Using data from several sources, I test whether the law significantly affected the gender gap in borrowing for business purposes while controlling for other variables. Importantly, I find that women’s labor force participation is a significant factor in reducing the borrowing gap between …

“Ten Key Issues” Of Think Tank Double Helix Methodology, Jiaofeng Pan, Xiao Lu, Huihui Liu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

With the deepening of think tank construction, the importance of think tank research has become increasingly prominent. Think tank double helix methodology focuses on solving the problem of "how to do" think tank research, provides a systematic cognitive perspective for think tank research. Starting from the origin of think tank research, this study proposes the "ten key issues" of the think tank double helix methodology. The first key issue is "the decomposition and analysis of think tank problem". This issue is the critical starting point for think tank problem research. The think tank problem is simplified and decomposed into the …

Thoughts On Data-Driven Discursive Logic And Triangulation Of Think Tank, Jianjun Sun, Lei Pei, Yaxue Ma, Yang Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The rapid accumulation of data resources and the development of analysis technologies have expanded the scope of think tank research, and prompted think tanks to pay more attention to data intelligence. Meanwhile, higher requirements are put forward on the quality and innovation of the think tank. Facing the development needs of think tanks, i.e., modernization, innovation, and conscientization, this paper demonstrates the change of data-driven think tank researches from the perspective of the information chain. The paper analyzes the urgent need to reshape the discursive logic of the think tank, and discusses the construction scheme of triangulation for data-driven think …

Science And Technology Foresight Based On Think Tank Double Helix Methodology, Feng Zhang, Jing Wu, Ruimin Pei

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Science and technology (S&T) foresight is an important form of S&T development strategy study. Based on the needs of economic and social development and the law of S&T innovation and development, S&T foresight is a process of forming a consensus on the medium and long-term S&T development trends among experts in multiple disciplines and fields, so that to provide scientific basis and decision support for S&T planning and policy making. With the rapid development of technology over the world, carrying out S&T foresight is crucial for China to seize opportunities for technological innovation, seize the frontier and opportunities of technological …

Integration Of Natural And Social Sciences: Only Way To Develop New Think Tanks Of High Quality— On Construction Of Think Tank Science, Xizhong Liu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The relationship between natural science and social science has experienced convergence, separation, and convergence again, shows a trend of accelerated integration under the background of modernization. The genes of new think tanks come from the two sources, i.e., natural science and social science, which is the demand for decision-making consultation that put forward by modernization construction. The only way to develop the new think tank of high quality is to establish the organizational leadership and policy traction system of think tanks that integrate natural science and social science, the internal and external coordination system of think tank research, the scientific …

Institute For Public Policy National Poll - January 2022, Institute For Public Policy

Public Policy Poll Results

The Sacred Heart University Institute for Public Policy leveraged a quantitative research approach to address the following areas of investigation:

• Thoughts and beliefs regarding the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot
• Sentiments surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court
• Understanding of, and beliefs around, Critical Race Theory
• Sentiments and habits around charitable contributions
• Thoughts on school policies regarding transgender students
• Demographic profiles of respondents

A Twenty-First-Century Strategy To Counter Russia, China, And Iran, Sorin Matei

FORCES Initiative: Strategy, Security, and Social Systems

The FORCES white paper / report A Twenty-First-Century Strategy to Counter Russia, China, and Iran published by the National Interest proposes a new approach to American foreign policy, which provides the flexibility needed to handle two major international conflicts at the same time. We propose "cascading realism," The United States should consider a strategy of selective and deeply collaborative realism. The new realism should rely on three principles: a convergence of purpose; flexibility of action and shared and cascading responsibility. The second principle is the most important. It requires disconnecting the understanding of U.S. national interests from maintaining a maximal …

Opportunity To Rid Europe Of Dangerous Nuclear Weapon Systems And Provocative Force Deployments, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

The crisis between Ukraine and Russia has brought NATO's role and diplomatic efforts to the forefront. NATO is committed to defending its members and supporting Ukraine and Georgia as partners, though their potential membership remains uncertain and requires consensus among NATO nations.

The conflict has caused a large refugee crisis, with many fleeing to neighboring countries. Diplomatically, leaked documents show NATO's approach to dialogue with Russia through the NATO-Russia Council, focusing on security and democratic issues.

Russia opposes NATO's eastward expansion, citing security concerns and unmet agreements like the 2014 Minsk Protocol. Discussions on reducing military tensions and promoting transparency …

The Impact Of Regime Type And Governance On Public Administration Quality, Reagan L. Brackett

Student Theses and Dissertations

Much research (Franco et al. 2004; Teo 2019; Krieckhaus 2004; Justesen 2012; Sen 1999) indicates that good governance, and sound institutions are what increases economic growth, provides quality public services, and equality. Much of this research examines how democracies influence health, wealth, and economic growth or how other types of regimes influence those same areas. On the other hand, the extant research does not include a comparison of the different regimes within the same study. Public administration is another topic which is growing increasingly popular, and much emphasis is placed on the various predictors that might improve public administration. I …

The Increasing Latino Vote In Massachusetts: Results From The 2020 Presidential Election, Phillip Granberry, Luis F. Jiménez

Gastón Institute Publications

During the early 21st century, Latinos have grown as a part of the Massachusetts population. To a considerable extent, this growth is reflected in Latinos’ political participation, as shown by voting statistics. For example, the number of Latinos voting in presidential elections rose from 51,000 in 2000 to 227,000 in 2020, a remarkable increase of 345%. Similarly, the percentage of votes for president that were cast by Latinos rose from 1.8% in 2000 to 7.0% in 2020. However, Latino voting is still not fully proportionate to Latinos’ share of the statewide population. Both of these phenomena – the growth of …

Boston Discusses The Massacre, Jean C. O'Connor

The Montana English Journal

Teachers may use this chapter from The Remarkable Cause: A Novel of James Lovell and the Crucible of the Revolution as a short story for grades 7 – 12., to explore themes of interpersonal conflict, conflict resolution, and the value of law.

The chapter “Boston Discusses the Massacre” is taken from The Remarkable Cause: A Novel of James Lovell and the Crucible of the Revolution (Knox Press, 2020), and used with permission. James Lovell, teacher at the Boston Latin School, discusses the pivotal events of March 5, 1770. As the conflicts that become the American Revolution begin a group of …

Improving Climate Models Can Help Ensure Better National Security Response To Drought And Extreme Weather., Chase Dean Harward

Research on Capitol Hill

USU senior Chase, a West Jordan native, is an Honors student. He studies Political Science and credits his moderate political ideology to his parents’ opposing political views. Chase’s research stems from his passion for Utah’s public lands. As a state especially vulnerable to drought, heat waves, and extreme cold weather, Utah would benefit from more accurate climate and weather forecasts. He applied machine learning to climate models, then compared these predictions to actual weather systems to test the models’ accuracy. This is Chase’s first research experience and he wishes he had started earlier. “It’s really awesome getting to apply what …

Melting Arctic Ice Exposes Possible Conflict For Us, China, Russia, Madeleine Alder

Research on Capitol Hill

USU senior Maddie, a Salt Lake City native, is an Honors student, Peak Summer Research Fellow, and USU Institute of Land, Water and Air intern. She studies Political Science. Maddie’s research dissects how rising temperatures and the resulting polar ice caps on our planet might impact international relations for the US. The opening of additional shipping lanes in previously-frozen waters could cause conflict between key actors. Maddie has been involved in research for nearly all of her undergrad degree, and says, “I love learning and I get excited to discover new connections between topics I am interested in. I like …

Exploitation And Perpetuation Of The Israeli Occupation By The Arab States: A Historical Political Economy Perspective, Seif Hendy

Theses and Dissertations

Within the larger Arab-Israeli conflicts, numerous states within the Arab world have become involved to varying degrees. Despite overwhelming vocal support for the Palestinian cause, the conflict has persisted with many of its varying aspects becoming amplified, as opposed to approaching resolution. Through the context of contemporary normalisation, this analysis investigates the role of these Arab states historically in perpetuating this state of conflict. Utilising a perspective of historical political economy, the investigation draws on two case studies that illuminate this thesis. The first case study is that of the division and occupation of Palestine following the collapse of the …

Tactical Mistakes: Women's Role In Terrorism, Laura Daniel

Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy

Since the 1970s, the word "terrorism" has become a well-known term. Almost two decades after 9/11, it has become a part of everyday vocabulary and, at times, dominates the news cycle. However, the faces we see associated with terrorism are mainly men. When talking of a training camp or a video claiming responsibility for terrorist attacks, women are not a part of the majority. However, women do play a significant role in terrorism. This article evaluates the history of women in terrorism and their positions in terror organizations, as well as the tactical mistake of overlooking women's role in global …

Illegal Abortion: Truth Vs. Fiction, Andrew T. Looker Jr.

Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy

Numerous factual errors are made regarding the issue of abortion. These false claims are made in an attempt to scuttle efforts to restrict abortion. Some of the most frequent claims pertain to the effectiveness of pro-life laws themselves. One such claim is that thousands of women died from unsolicited abortions when the procedure was illegal, and that maternal deaths declined rapidly afterwards due to the legal availability of abortion. Another claim is that laws that either restrict or outlaw abortion are ineffective in reducing abortion rates. A comprehensive analysis of the best available data proves these assertions to be undeniably …

Opinion Regarding The Status Of Mineral Ownership Underlying The Missouri River Within The Boundaries Of The Fort Berthold Reservation (North Dakota), United States Department Of The Interior, Robert T. Anderson

US Government Documents Related to Indigenous Nations

This memorandum, dated February 4, 2022, from the United States (US) Department of the Interior (Office of the Solicitor) to the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of Land and Minerals Management, the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, and the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs rescinds the Solicitor’s May 26, 2020 opinion regarding mineral rights on the Fort Berthold Reservation which declared the state of North Dakota to be the owner of said rights. This memorandum reaffirms the January 17, 2017 opinion of Solicitor Hilary Tompkins that the rights belong to the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation. …

Student Government National Network, Alexander Chiarelott

Honors Projects

My project is the creation and utilization of the Student Government National Network. This is a joint effort between many student leaders from around the country, but the idea for it was started by me and the former BGSU USG President Harrison Carter. My specific role in the development phase of this organization has been to bring in the student leaders in my network, as well as to consider the long-term marketing and financial routes we want the organization to take. I will be developing the marketing and economic plans for this organization, which have a major bearing on how …

Valued Waste/Wasted Value: Waste, Value And The Labour Process In Electronic Waste Recycling In Singapore And Malaysia, Aidan Marc Wong

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This paper focuses on value creation in electronic waste, and supports the argument (c.f. Herod et al., 2014) that 'waste' embodies congealed labour - the product of the labour process. This analysis of itinerant rag-and-bone collectors demonstrates that value creation by informal labour accrues as congealed labour in recycled e-waste through the agentic acts of collecting, salvaging and extracting. This paper highlights the central role of informal labour in this labour process and pushes further the conceptualisation of 'wasted labour' (McGrath-Champ et al., 2015) by calling for greater attention to the agentic nature of labour in value creation, rather than …

A Multilevel Analysis Of Political Risk, Marlon J. Guzman Valdera

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This essay aims to diminish the conceptual fragmentation that exists, in relation to political risk, by introducing a multilevel approach to assess risk. While traditional approaches understand political risk to be a result of the political action of host-states against multinationals, this essay shows that there are other actors, like the host-nation civil society and the international community, that also play a role in the production of political risk. Although traditional approaches assert that political risk can solely target multinationals individually, this paper states that risk can affect a firm at an industrial and country level. I claim that political …

Hudson Yards: Hybrid Capital's New Home, Massimo D. Scoditti

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis focuses on the material and metaphysical aspects of the Hudson Yards, the largest private development in US History. With its roots in the administration of Michael Bloomberg, the site is representative of neoliberal ideology. It is also one in which cultural production is central. This is in terms of the rationalization and mythos of the building of the space itself and the dreamworlds created to obscure the mechanisms of extraction and accumulation that make such a complex possible. The Hudson Yards is particularly interesting because, as Cindi Katz might suggest, topography lines connect it to transnational capital. And …

Navigating The Multiple Streams: The Strategic Use Of Sunset Provisions, David F. Wall

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Despite its long standing and historical use, temporary legislation had been a legislative tool largely ignored by scholars for many years. For the most part, temporary legislation had been used to serve specific functions within American politics and, being used in such a limited role, had avoided scrutiny. This changed in the early 2000s, following an exponential increase in the use of temporary legislation in the form of sunset provisions during the G.W. Bush administration. Scholars would debate whether or not this increased use was a good thing or not, arguing for and against a preference of temporary legislation over …

Exile Garden Of The Uprooted: A Zine About Migration And The Right To Move, Sazia Afrin

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Exile Garden of the Uprooted is a digital zine that advocates for a borderless world where migration is treated as an equal and fundamental human right for all. Through critical analysis and experimental forms of art and writing, this zine draws attention to the structural violence used to criminalize the movement of marginalized people, the role nations and individuals play in such violence, and the practical solutions that can be employed to normalize migration and build resilient societies that support fair movement for all. The short essays, found poems, and original art work in this zine are interdisciplinary reflections on …

A Study Of The Punishment Of Crimes By Us Federal Legislators From 1798 To 2016, Kenneth J. Grossberger

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Public distrust of government has increased because of the criminal behavior of federal legislators over time, due, at least in part, to the political effects on Congress (which causes confrontation and accusation), and therefore it is critical to study how Congress deals with the corruption of its members. This study examines the punishment of U.S. federal legislators for criminal corruption in the context of time. This was accomplished by collecting and analyzing original data by means of the multiple methods of binomial logistic regressions and content analysis. The results showed that several variables were predictive of the criminal justice and …

Narcommunication: The Messaging, Marketing, And Murder Of Organized Crime, Philip L. Johnson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Criminal actors are widely assumed to maintain a low profile, exerting power through corruption, coercion, and clandestine networks. Scholarship that addresses public action on the part of criminal actors focuses almost exclusively on acts of violence. However, an ample empirical record demonstrates that criminal actors also communicate publicly to broad audiences. To better understand this practice, this project focuses on the phenomenon of narco-messaging in Mexico. The project asks: what do criminal actors say when they speak publicly, and why do they say it?

The core data for this project comes from an original collection of 6,178 narco-messages that appeared …

A New Measure Of Digital Economic Activity And Its Impact On Local Opportunity, Karen Mossberger, Scott Lacombe, Caroline J. Tolbert

Government: Faculty Publications

Online businesses and platform work can create the impression that the digital economy is ephemeral and placeless. But the digital economy is experienced locally, and its effects are spatial. Measuring them requires better community-level data on economic activities online. While new government data measures broadband subscriptions down to neighborhoods, existing public data do not measure how broadband is used in local communities, and whether this digital activity affects economic outcomes. We analyze new monthly data on over 20 million domain name hosts/websites in the United States from November 2018 to November 2020 drawing on customer data. Surveys show that 3 …