Political Science Commons^™

Race, Class, Gender, And Linked Fate: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of African American Political Partisanship, 1996 And 2004, Sherral Yolanda Brown-Guinyard

Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVE: To determine the predominance of linked fate and socio-demographic predictors race, class, and gender in the political partisanship of African Americans, and in the political partisanship of comparison racial and ethnic group populations.

METHODS: Data obtained from the 1996 National Black Election Study panel series were used to examine the political attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs of 824 adult African Americans. In addition, data collected for the 2004 National Politics Study examined 3,087 American adults from comparison racial and ethnic population groups. These groups included 706 African Americans, 868 White Non-Hispanics, 676 Hispanics, 466 Asians, and 371 Black Caribbeans. Multinomial …

Environmental Footprints Of Violent Conflict, Swapna Pathak

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of militarized conflict pervade countless aspects of society, yet scholars have focussed very little attention on the consequences of conflict. My dissertation assesses the cost of war by examining the relationship between violent conflict and the environment. I argue that the effect of conflict on the environment is an im- portant consequence of war that is often overlooked in favor of other repercussions such as economy and health that are more politically expedient . I study this effect in the light of components of national environmental capacity and hypothesize that conflicts result in short-term and long-term impact on …

The Impact Of Ideology And Attorneys On Precedent Usage: An Analysis Of State High Courts, Benjamin Kassow

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on an important question in the judicial politics literature: what types of influences encourage opinion-writers to cite and use precedents in particular patterns. I address this question by using a series of innovative frameworks from social psychology, specifically systematic information processing frameworks using a theory of motivated reasoning. This theory postulates that the interplay (and shifts) between attitudinal accessibility and fear of invalidation/illegitimacy will encourage judges to cite and/or treat precedents using behavior that is consistent with top-down or bottom-up forms of motivated reasoning. Specifically, when attitudinal accessibility is high and fear of invalidation is low, precedent …

Understanding The Instruments Of National Power Through A System Of Differential Equations In A Counterinsurgency, Cade M. Saie

Theses and Dissertations

Models that account for the progression of nation-building and the impacts of the instruments of national power -- Diplomacy, Informational, Military, and Economic effects -- are rare. This research proposes the development of such a model. Through the derivation of state indices for the operational variables of Political, Military, Economic, Social, Infrastructure, and Information, a functional form of a system of differential equations is developed to account for the interactions between the state indices and instruments of national power. This methodology is a mean-field inverse problem which solves for the coefficients of the differential equations in a data-driven manner. Publicly …

The War For Your Mind: Propaganda, Cultural Narratives, And The American Media, Caleb Baumgardner

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how the contemporary American media can and do function as a medium for propaganda at the behest of elite interests, such as the federal government and big business. It examines how the media often present stories in the context of cultural narratives that are deeply rooted in the American cultural consciousness, regardless of whether such a context is appropriate or even accurate, and that it does so in service to power. It examines how this practice employs Sophistic rhetorical techniques and contrasts them with a Platonic view of rhetoric. It will also demonstrate how this practice is …

Historical Comparative Case Study Of Emerging Hegemonic Behavior: Perspectives On The Peoples Republic Of China, Samuel Achinonu Onyegam

Theses and Dissertations

Will the future of hegemonic politics resemble the past? In the post-Cold war world, emergence of new actors will likely reshape hegemonic politics and potentially reconfigure the balance of power. As the world shifts from one era to another, the behavior of emerging actors like China will have far reaching implications. As the post-Cold war world's emerging hegemonic power, China presents the most challenging questions for scholars of international politics. This study draws from historical patterns detected from the behavior of two key hegemonic powers of the past fifty to a hundred years—Germany 1866-World War II and the United States …

Changing Nature: Globalization And Economic Reforms In Brazil, Lucas Gimenes Loureiro

Theses and Dissertations

Globalization is affecting our lives in ways that we never expected before. Greater interdependence, some scholars argue, weakens the ability of nation-states to retain their authority over individuals and corporations. However, nation-states are highly adaptable and they have the power to maintain their primacy .

Governments have the ability to choose which model of development their economies should pursue. Thus, based on the choice of economic model, nation-states shape their economies and the way business operates within it. In other words, governments will essentially steer their economies in a certain direction, even though they cannot determine the exact path that …

Where The Green Money Grows: Assessing The Prospects Of Ecotourism In Gabon, Daniel Chand

Theses and Dissertations

This is an examination of the challenges to ecotourism development in the West-Central African nation of Gabon. This study uses secondary analysis of past literature and utilizes primary, qualitative research in the form of surveys of experts on the subjects of ecotourism, sustainable development, and the Congo Basin.

Organized Labor's Influence On Local Elections: A Case History Of Snohomish County, Washington, Jonathan Stuart Burr

Theses and Dissertations

Candidates seeking public office must build a strong political following to be successful. This applies at national, state, and even local levels. The support generated for a candidate's campaign can be attributed to factors such as personal characteristics, political following, political resources, and endorsements. This analysis focuses on union endorsements in relation to other political endorsements. The case study of the race for Snohomish County Council in District Five illuminates the connection between endorsements, monetary contributions, and voting behavior. Union political coordinators were interviewed and results from the primary and general election 2005 were compiled. The findings support previous studies …

A Diabolical Disneyland In Zion: The Mormons And The Mx, Jacob W. Olmstead

Theses and Dissertations

In September 1979 President Jimmy Carter publicly announced his decision to support the deployment of the MX missile and mobile basing scheme in Utah and Nevada. Despite local opposition and the close proximity of the proposed base to its headquarters, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) remained silent until 5 May 1981, when the First Presidency issued a statement opposing the MX plans. The purpose of this work is to narrate the history of the development of the Mormon position regarding the deployment of MX missile in the Great Basin and evaluate the response to the statement …

Child Labor In Egypt, Dina Ismail El Shafei

Theses and Dissertations

Child labor is a complex worldwide problem, especially in LDCs where poverty and low educational standards are persistent. A survey of child labor worldwide finds that children are working in considerable numbers throughout many regions of the world. Each region differs in the extent of child labor and the specific sectors where children may be found working. However, the main reasons behind the work of children namely poverty and education, were common in all areas. Egypt represents a typical case where child labor exists in most of its forms, except for prostitution, traficking and child bondage, and is mainly caused …

Adolescent Pregnancy Attitudinal Survey, Amy Katherine Wolfe

Theses and Dissertations

A census of 53 adolescent females was conducted over a period of time beginning July 15, 2001 and ending March 5, 2002. Each subject was surveyed by using an interview with 66 items. The resources examined in this census were means of transportation and the social support structure before the female became an adolescent. The census found that 72 percent (N=53) of the adolescent females interviewed do not have a car, and 79 percent do not use public transportation. The census also found that 77 percent of the adolescent females interviewed do depend on their family/friends for transportation, and eighty-five …

Is There An Arab State?, Jeneen Hazem Ezzat

Theses and Dissertations

The nature of the Arab state has been one that has perplexed many scholars.

Hostage And Barricade Incidents: A Profiling Perspective, Richard A. Murphy

Theses and Dissertations

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has initiated a research project that profiles the perpetrators of hostage and barricade incidents. This research is conducted using a questionnaire that is completed at incident conclusion. The questionnaire was provide .. by the FBI as part of a project called HOB AS (Hostage, Barricade, and Suicide). The HOBAS information is distributed electronically and in print to member law enforcement agencies. HOBAS information is used in this project as the main source of secondary data. The University of Louisville School of Medicine supplied an additional source of secondary data. There are 24 questionnaires that …

Human Resource Development: The Case Of The Civil Service Sector In The Sultanate Of Oman, Saleh Alkhamyasi

Theses and Dissertations

Human capital is a crucial element in the production equation of any organization. Since organizations are open systems that ought to adapt to their dynamic environment within which they operate, human resources should be developed , nourished and empowered to shoulder their task. This thesis explored the issue of human resource development (HRD) in the civil service sector in the Sultanate of Oman, a country situated in the Southeastern corner of the Arabian peninsula. The objectives behind this research were to examine the following: • To describe and define the Civil Service policy and practice of HRD in the Sultanate …

The Mormon Influence On The Political Geography Of The West, Michael Madsen

Theses and Dissertations

The vast colonization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons, in the nineteenth century had a profund impact on the populating, culture, economy, and environment of much of the American West. This thesis examines the political geographic influence of the Mormons in the West and, more specifically, in the lands ceded by Mexico to the United States in 1848. This land comprises all or portions of the following states: California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.
The original organization of the Mexican Cession at the hands of Congress in 1850 was drastically influenced by …

Republic Of Korea Weapons Acquisition Through The Post-Cold War And The Case Of The Sam-X Project: Implications For Us-Rok Relations, George A. Hutchinson

Theses and Dissertations

The dissolution of the Soviet Union has ushered in a new era. With the Cold War arrangement no longer in place, relations between the US and friendly nations are being subject to redefinition. In the arms trade, the post-Cold War era has produced expanded opportunities for recipient countries, opening new and autonomous paths for defense acquisition. For the Republic of Korea (ROK), a traditionally steadfast recipient of US weapons and weapons technology, this has resulted in the emergence of alternative sources for arms procurement. Thus, the supplier-recipient relationship between the US and ROK, traditionally dominated by US supplier control, is …

Security Assistance To South Korea: Assessment Of Political, Military, And Economic Issues From 1947 To 1989, Myung R. Bae

Theses and Dissertations

South Korea is one of the most important allies of the United States. Because of its location in East Asia between China, Japan, and Russia, South Korea is a strategically important partner of the United States. Since the Korean War, the United States and South Korea have tried to maintain the regional stability, and South Korea has played a significant role for the East Asian power balance between those countries. The relationship between the United States and South Korea changed through time from the Korean War to the rebuilding phase of South Korea's economy, and finally a progression towards a …

Competitive Long-Distance Running And Its Effect On The Self-Concept Of Emotionally Disturbed Adolescents: An Evaluative Study, Elizabeth R. Rogers

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the effectiveness of the "Runaway" program, a competitive long-distance running program, in meeting the program goals for the treatment of emotionally disturbed adolescents. The study reviews Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale (SCS) scores of clients in a long-term in-patient treatment facility. A Post-test only research design was used to compare the scores of those who participated in the program to the scores of those who did not. A statistically significant difference in the self-concept of runners and non-runners tested was obtained . The program met the goal of improving the patients' self-concept.

Tacit Cooperation Between Enemies: Two Case Studies, Kristina Handy

Theses and Dissertations

This research details a point of reference to understand two case studies of cooperation that developed among lower-level, or non policy-making bureaucrats during times of conflict or war. Using components of game theory, I propose that when an international conflictual relationship occurs that resembles an iterated Prisoners' Dilemma, and that meets certain conditions, tacit cooperation can emerge. Tacit cooperation consists of illicit or implied cooperation that is not sanctioned at the national policy level.

In this research I develop a framework of tacit cooperation, relying heavily upon Robert Axelrod's theory of evolutionary cooperation. With the framework in place, I then …

The Mormons In Wilhelmie Germany, 1870-1914: Making A Place For An Unwanted American Religion In A Changing German Society, Michael Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations

Between 1853 and 1914 the kingdom of Prussia and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, disagreed over the issue of Mormon missionaries proselyting in Prussia. In 1853 royal magistrates banished all Mormon missionaries from the kingdom for advocating emigration. A new church policy of preaching without seeking for official permission, in addition to an improved relationship between the Mormons in Utah and the United States government after the Manifesto of 1890, led to an increase in missionaries sent to Germany, including Prussia. By 1900 mormon success alarmed the Prussian Protestant clergy and a few Prussian governors …

Precinct Government In Salt Lake County, Utah 1852-1904, Steven K. Madsen

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis traces the origin, development, and decline, from 1852 to 1904, of Salt Lake County's judicial precincts. A precinct functioned as the basic subdivision of county government. Its boundaries were generally coterminous with those of local communities. It was established to allow for a degree of local control by the people.
Chapter two reveals that precinct justices experienced over time a marked decline in socio-political prominence. This is largely due to legislative statutes that decreased their jurisdictional powers. Chapter three examines the evolution of precinct boundaries. It is demonstrated that geographic distribution of individuals played a major role in …

Elder Stephen L. Richards On Peace And War: An Examination Of Elder Richards' Views On The Causes Of War And His Prescription For Peace, Based On The Analytical Framework Contained In Kenneth N. Waltz' Man, The State And War, Gordon John Stirling

Theses and Dissertations

In Man, the State and War, Kenneth N. Waltz claims that for a peace prescription to be valid, it must be based on a proper view of the causes of war. Waltz analyzes the validity of three basic causes of war: man himself, the characteristics of the nation-state, and the international system.

I have examined the views of Elder Stephen L Richards on peace and war in the context of the Waltz framework. Elders Richards believed that the failings of men were the primary causes of war. His prescription for peace was widespread acceptance of the Gospel. He disagreed …

The Role Of Brigham Young University In The Arab Development Society Dairy Project For Palestinian Orphans: A Case Study In Private Bilateral Foreign Aid, Daneil C. Olson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine nine essential planning principles in the selecting and implementing an aid project. These nine principles will then be used to analyze BYU's involvement with the ADS dairy project. The project is presented from a historical viewpoint. An analysis is mainly given retrospectively at the end of the history of the BYU involvement phase of the project.

Radicals And Immigrants: Senator William H. King's Response To Nativism, 1917-1924, Craig D. Galli

Theses and Dissertations

When Senator William Henry King took office in 1917, Utah and the nation were apprehensive about the presence of large numbers of foreign born aliens and citizens. Utah's King joined the wartime hysteria and promoted many nativistic policies directed against the foreign born population. During the post-war Red Scare he continued his crusade, concentrating on the suppression of Bolsheviks and the Industrial Workers of the World.

But when Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1924--a nativistic law designed to curtail the immigration of southern and eastern Europeans--King was the bill's only opponent from the West or South. Since anti-radicalism and …

Storm Over The Summit: A Political History Of Summit County To 1882, Rodney L. Peck

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain a more complete understanding of Mormon politics in territorial Utah by studying the growth and development of the political process in Summit County to 1882.

The study suggests that the county was governed by a relatively small but growing group of politically minded men, many of whom also ecclesiastical trust or who were among the pioneers of the area. The study also suggests that the Mormon teaching of unity in all things and fair representation among county offices from the county's major population centers were the governing principles of Mormon political action …

Sex, Sickness And Statehood: The Influence Of Victorian Medical Opinion On Self-Government In Utah, E. Victoria Grover-Swank

Theses and Dissertations

In the struggle for self-government which occupied the Mormon population of Utah between their entry into the Great Basin in 1847 and statehood in 1896, the issue of polygamy dominated public discussion. The non-Mormon population of the United States generally objected to the practice of polygamy, in large part because of Victorian attitudes towards sexual activity and the presumed physical and mental results of violating Victorian sexual norms. It was assumed by most Americans that polygamy, by violating those norms, caused real physical damage to the Latter-day Saints in Utah; damage that disqualified them from holding full and equal political …

Role Orientation Of Women Legislators In The North Dakota Legislature, Doris Wilke Sanders

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Mccarthyism In Utah, Richard Swanson

Theses and Dissertations

The exaggerated anti-Communist crusade of Senator Joseph McCarthy allegedly gained the support of a majority of Americans during the early 1950's. It is historically important and interesting to question that supposition by considering the character of McCarthy's following in each state. This study shows that in Utah sympathy for the second Red Scare abounded and evidences of McCarthyism were readily apparent.

Three indicators illustrate Utah's support for the Wisconsin senator. The defeat of Elbert Thomas in 1950 dramatically epitomizes the successful use of incriminating allegations effectively employed by McCarthy. The election, or re-election, of McCarthy supporters and the defeat of …

Bryan, Populism And Utah, Herbert E. Cihak

Theses and Dissertations

William Jennings Bryan exercised great political power for thirty years in America. Through his efforts the Democratic Party power base was broadened to include Jews, Negroes businessmen, and farmers. Bryan's call for political and social reform found many supporters in the State of Utah.

It is difficult to assess what actually caused William J. Bryan to lose the 1900 Presidential election in Utah. Yet, we must put to rest the conclusion that he lost solely because silver was an unimportant issue to the Utah electorate in 1900. The powerful influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on …