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Illinois Wesleyan University

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Articles 1 - 30 of 306

Full-Text Articles in Political Science

Cover Art, Emma Kudelka Jan 2026

Cover Art, Emma Kudelka

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


Title Page Jan 2026

Title Page

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


Table Of Contents Jan 2026

Table Of Contents

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


Letter From The Department Chair, William Munro Jan 2026

Letter From The Department Chair, William Munro

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


Editors' Introduction, Emma Kudelka, Brady Poisal Jan 2026

Editors' Introduction, Emma Kudelka, Brady Poisal

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


Author Biographies Jan 2026

Author Biographies

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


The 2025 Michigan Supreme Court Ruling On Lwop Protections: Morally Justifiable?, Asa Smith Jan 2026

The 2025 Michigan Supreme Court Ruling On Lwop Protections: Morally Justifiable?, Asa Smith

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper examines the moral permissibility of the 2025 Michigan Supreme Court ruling that found life-without-parole (LWOP) sentences for 19- and 20-year-olds to be unconstitutional under Michigan state law. The paper supports its argument on whether the ruling was morally permissible by drawing on neuroscientific data as well as moral frameworks such as a rehabilitative theory of punishment and John Rawls’s ‘veil of ignorance’ thought experiment for the application of justified principles in society. The paper considers and replies to potential objections to its argument and to alternative interpretations of the moral frameworks it deploys. It concludes by contending that …


Ideological Narratives In Literacy Reform, Maya Mcgrew Jan 2026

Ideological Narratives In Literacy Reform, Maya Mcgrew

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper assumes a discourse analysis approach to examining if partisan control has influenced why red states have demonstrated faster gains in early literacy than blue states. This is done by investigating whether ideological presence in political framing, and particularly crisis-oriented rhetoric, drives reform adoption as much as policy design. Recognizing the ongoing discourse surrounding the continual improvement of pedagogy and programming, especially in areas of foundational skills such as reading, writing, comprehension, and oral communication. The research employs a systematic coding methodology, and the analysis combines a qualitative review of media narratives and state reform histories with a small-sample …


Between Motherhood And The Motherland: Navigating Challenges To Rank Advancement Of Women In The U.S. Army, Valeria Suarez Jan 2026

Between Motherhood And The Motherland: Navigating Challenges To Rank Advancement Of Women In The U.S. Army, Valeria Suarez

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Female officers remain a minority in the U.S. Army. Motherhood, dependent care, and sexual assault are some of the reasons why they decide to give up on their Army careers. The following study intends to examine how the impact of policy changes to accommodate female Army officers’ increased retention and consequently promoted the rank advancement of women to the rank of major, or O4 and above. Through conversations with 14 armed forces officers, both men and women, it is evident that the gender neutral culture of the Army proves to be detrimental to women’s rank advancement. For them to be …


One Nation, Bound By Drag: Tokyo’S Drag Culture As A Modern Subentity Of National Identity, Emmeline Schubert Jan 2026

One Nation, Bound By Drag: Tokyo’S Drag Culture As A Modern Subentity Of National Identity, Emmeline Schubert

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Throughout Japan’s history, performance has played a significant role in the construction and expression of gender and identity; drag culture in 21st-century Tokyo represents a contemporary subcultural form of this tradition. As drag publics become increasingly visible in urban Japan, it raises the question of how subcultures, competing identities, and social rebellions relate to dominant understandings of national identity. This paper explores the idea that Tokyo’s drag culture functions as a counterpublic of imagined communities that negotiate belonging through performance. While Japanese national identity is frequently defined as homogeneous and ethnocentric, an examination of gender expression in kabuki, onnagata, and …


Ranked Choice Voting At The State And Local Level, Khel Gordhan Jan 2026

Ranked Choice Voting At The State And Local Level, Khel Gordhan

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many people across the political spectrum are frustrated with many of the problems that come with simple plurality voting, also known as first-past-the-post, which is implemented in the lion’s share of elections across the United States. To solve many of these problems, some activists and other political organizations advocate for cities and states to adopt Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) as a viable alternative. However, many people, both Republicans and Democrats, claim that implementing this system would be too complicated for people to understand. Due to this, there would be high rates of ballot exhaustion, which would disenfranchise vulnerable minorities who …


Exploring The Gender Gap In Trump Supporters: Why “Real Women Vote For Trump”, Emma Kudelka Jan 2026

Exploring The Gender Gap In Trump Supporters: Why “Real Women Vote For Trump”, Emma Kudelka

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper examines the types of women who support Donald Trump and explores the reasons behind their alignment with him, despite his seemingly contradictory policies toward women. It begins by analyzing the persistent and modest gender gap across the last three election cycles in which Trump was a candidate. The paper then outlines the demographic and attitudinal profile of female Trump supporters—predominantly white, non-college-educated women who often hold traditional views, including sexist or racist attitudes. These views are frequently rooted in their demographic backgrounds and upbringing, particularly the effects of gendered political socialization, which may shape their attitudes toward political …


Little Saigon Vote: The Mobilization Of Vietnamese Voters Through Ethnic News Media, Vân Lê Jan 2026

Little Saigon Vote: The Mobilization Of Vietnamese Voters Through Ethnic News Media, Vân Lê

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Informed inspectors suspect Vietnamese Americans associate with the Republican Party because of the model minority mindset and their bond over the anti-Communist attitude. These two components created a sense of Vietnamese American nationalism in the refugee community. A way this Vietnamese American nationalism sustains is through ethnic media, which comes in many forms. The most prominent one is YouTube, where many Vietnamese voters (specifically the older generation) gain their political information from. This research seeks to explore how Vietnamese voters make their voting decisions based on the information that they consume by analyzing the content of the four most popular …


How Much Does America Hate Black Women?, Franchesca Smith Jan 2025

How Much Does America Hate Black Women?, Franchesca Smith

Research Honors

This paper explores the relationship between sociocultural factors and intersectionality by way of economic inequalities. Intersectionality is a phenomenon that receives little to no examination, especially in regards to Black women. The following research uses the theories of intersectionality, human capital, and institutional factors to examine which has the most significant effect on the wages of Black women compared to other demographics. Findings suggest that the intersectionality of Black women does have a substantial wage gap, but the correlation is positive, which is not true for the variables Black and women when separated. Through multiple regression analysis, it is noticed …


Cover Art, Vân Lê Jan 2025

Cover Art, Vân Lê

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


Table Of Contents Jan 2025

Table Of Contents

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


The American Party Polarization Dilemma: Why Political Discourse Matters, Chase Beitz Jan 2025

The American Party Polarization Dilemma: Why Political Discourse Matters, Chase Beitz

Research Honors

The question pursued in my research paper is this: Does the proliferation of extreme political discourse fuel party polarization along party lines in the United States? I hypothesize that the greater the number and the more extreme the tone of political statements made by powerful figures within a party, the greater the level of polarization between and within the parties. These powerful figures stand out in this work as discursive entrepreneurs, individuals utilizing and proliferating extreme discourse for strategic and ideological gain. A thorough analysis was completed on four recent eras of Republican control in Congress: the John Boehner era …


Title Page Jan 2025

Title Page

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


Note From The Department Chair, William Munro Jan 2025

Note From The Department Chair, William Munro

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


Editors' Introduction, Luke Alberstett, Victoria Ballesteros-Gonzalez Jan 2025

Editors' Introduction, Luke Alberstett, Victoria Ballesteros-Gonzalez

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


Authors' Biographies Jan 2025

Authors' Biographies

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


Pharmacy Benefit Managers And The Fight For Affordable Prescription Drugs: A Case For Accountability Through Regulation, Cayden Webster Jan 2025

Pharmacy Benefit Managers And The Fight For Affordable Prescription Drugs: A Case For Accountability Through Regulation, Cayden Webster

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

As prescription drug prices in the United States continue to climb, the debate surrounding cost control methods has taken center stage among politicians, providers, insurance companies, and consumers alike. At the heart of this issue lies the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM). These third party companies were initially intended to drive drug prices down by negotiating for benefits on behalf of clients; but their hidden business strategies and oligopolistic market share has resulted in many Americans today struggling with unfair drug costs and fewer choices of treatment. In this paper, I seek to demonstrate that by expanding PBM market competition and …


Juvenile Record Expungement Policy In Illinois, Emma Kudelka Jan 2025

Juvenile Record Expungement Policy In Illinois, Emma Kudelka

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

This policy paper explores juvenile expungement policies and their broader social impact. Research suggests that lenient expungement laws help prevent discrimination in education, housing, and military service, aiding rehabilitation youth offenders' reintegration. The paper begins with a historical overview of Illinois juvenile law, highlighting its shift from punitive to rehabilitative approaches. It then examines key legislation, including the Juvenile Court Act, Juvenile Justice, and Delinquency Prevention Act, and Youth Opportunity and Fairness Act. Illinois's juvenile expungement laws are analyzed, covering eligibility, process, and timeline. A comparative analysis follows, contrasting Illinois' policies with those of California and Florida to emphasize differences …


Why Are Children's Health Outcomes Different In Counties Across The United States?, Caylen Pavlicek Jan 2025

Why Are Children's Health Outcomes Different In Counties Across The United States?, Caylen Pavlicek

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper explores the relationship between family income and health outcomes for children across counties in the United States, focusing on low birth weight as a key indicator. Income disparities among counties often correlate with varying health outcomes for children, particularly those born into lower-income families who lack the resources for adequate healthcare. Utilizing data from 3,113 counties, I examine the impact of income, education, rural versus urban location, healthcare access, and other social determinants on children's health, with a specific focus on birth weight. The findings reveal a strong negative correlation between median household income and low birth weight, …


Palm Oil Expansion: Carrying On The Legacy Of Colonial Exploitation In Indonesia, Melinda Burgin Jan 2025

Palm Oil Expansion: Carrying On The Legacy Of Colonial Exploitation In Indonesia, Melinda Burgin

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Today, plantation agriculture in Indonesia is dominated by palm oil expansion. While the palm oil industry has frequently been touted as an economic boon for Indonesia, the environmental and social consequences have been dire, particularly for Indigenous peoples. Oil palm cultivation has been a part of Indonesian agriculture since its introduction by Dutch traders in the mid 19th century, but palm oil production in Indonesia really exploded in the 1990s, as seen in Figure 1. Since then, palm oil production has been a leading cause of deforestation (Austin, 2019) and caused devastation to indigenous communities as they lose swathes of …


How Much Does America Hate Black Women?, Franchesca Smith Jan 2025

How Much Does America Hate Black Women?, Franchesca Smith

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper explores the relationship between sociocultural factors and intersectionality by way of economic inequalities. Intersectionality is a phenomenon that receives little to no examination especially in regards to Black women. The following research uses the theories of intersectionality, human capital, and institutional to examine which has the most significant effect on the wages of Black women compared to other demographics. Findings suggest that the intersectionality of Black women does have a substantial wage gap, but the correlation is positive, which is not true for the variables Black and women when separated. Additionally, the research suggests that the human capital …


The American Party Polarization Dilemma: Why Political Attitudes Matter, Chase Beitz Jan 2025

The American Party Polarization Dilemma: Why Political Attitudes Matter, Chase Beitz

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

The question pursued in my research paper is this: Does the proliferation of extreme political attitudes fuel party polarization along party lines in the United States? I hypothesize that the greater the number and extreme tone of political statements made by powerful figures within a party, the greater the level of polarization between and within the parties. A thorough analysis was completed on 4 different eras of Republican control in Congress: the John Boehner era (2011-2015), the Paul Ryan era (2015-2019), the Kevin McCarthy era (2023), and the Mike Johnson era (2023-Present). By examining the influence exerted by the Republican …


Author Biographies Jan 2024

Author Biographies

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


Cover Art, Aidan Michniewicz Jan 2024

Cover Art, Aidan Michniewicz

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.


Title Page Jan 2024

Title Page

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.