Political Science Commons^™

Croatia As A Model For A Democratic Balkans, Jacob J. Smith

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

Despite a decade of authoritarian rule under former President-Prime Minister Franjo Tudjman, Croatia is now the only Balkan State with a consolidated democracy and EU membership. Through analyzing historical events, V-Dem scores, and trade, this paper argues that democratization in Croatia only occurred because of underlying structural and social conditions conducive to democracy, followed by a second wave of democratization facilitated by EU accession standards. This research helps us understand how states recover from communism, what indicators suggest a state is nearing democratization, and how the EU should approach incentivizing democracy in neighboring states. If the EU implements policy reflecting …

Eu (Legal) Statecraft In An Age Of Coercion, Peter H. Vartanian

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

How has the European Union transformed its policy arsenal to counter coercion? This work introduces geo-legality—a condition wherein legal-normative authority counters external coercion—examining how the EU has redefined its self-defense amid contemporary rivalry between great powers (such as itself and China). Analyzing China’s 2021–2022 economic coercion against Lithuania, following Lithuania’s acceptance of a “Taiwanese Representative Office,” I demonstrate how targeted pressure catalyzed Brussels’ institutional innovation, including the Anti-Coercion Instrument, WTO litigation (DS-610), enhanced investment screening, and reforms to the Blocking Statute. Through process tracing, comparative jurisprudential analysis, and Delphi consultation with 23 EU institutional actors, the present work reveals how …

Wine-Rs Or Losers: Assessing The Socio- Economic Impact Of Eu Regulations On Climate-Exacerbated Pests And Diseases In Northern Italian Viticulture, Kyley Fishman

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

As climate change creates extreme weather events, unprecedented disease and pest infestations, European farmers are challenged by these threats. Balancing sustainable and traditional practices while maintaining socio-economic stability under European Union agroregulations can be extremely difficult. An area of concern for the EU is viticulture, which is among the most climate-sensitive agricultural sectors. My study examines in what ways the EU’s regulations addressing climate-exacerbated pests and plant diseases influence the socioeconomics of different vineyard farms in Northern Italy. Three key socio-economic findings emerged from the analysis. First, top-down and research-driven management strategies can subvert local, place-based knowledge, which undermines traditional …

Urban Welfare Divergence: An Analysis Of The Factors Shaping Social Housing Policy In Berlin And Vienna, Grace Zheng

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

According to Eurostat, property prices across the 27 members of the EU surged by 47% between 2010 and 2022, while rents increased by 18% during the same period. To mitigate the housing crisis, many governments have turned to social housing—affordable housing that is either government-owned or regulated—as a solution. This paper seeks to answer the following question: Why has Vienna adopted significantly more generous income thresholds for social housing eligibility compared to Berlin? In 2024, the highest income threshold for a four-person household to receive a residential entitlement certificate in Berlin (€57,640) was nearly identical to the threshold for a …

The History Of Nazi Neuroscience: Tracing Evidence Through Voids, Angela Gushue

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

During the Holocaust (1933-1945), voids were created by the destruction of ethics, morality, and human life. We can detect this absence because of material traces of the events. My paper applies the theory of relational ontology of absence to a collection of empty jars on display at the Josephinum, a medical history museum in Vienna. The jars once contained human remains of children murdered in the “euthanasia” program at Am Spiegelgrund, a psychiatric clinic in Vienna where 789 were killed during the Nazi era. These victims were not commemorated until the early 2000s, when the specimen jars were emptied and …

The Invisible Union: How French Policy Fuels Rising Euroscepticism, Robert D. Martin

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

Despite France’s historical role as a leading and founding member of the European Union, the 2022 and 2024 legislative elections saw a surge in support for Eurosceptic parties such as the Rassemblement National (RN) and the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP). This appears to suggest a rise in Euroscepticism among French voters. This paper aims to examine the cause of these shifting electoral patterns in France through exploration of the question: How do French voters’ perceptions of political disillusionment, economic strength and national sovereignty relate to their growing support for Eurosceptic parties? This pa-per concludes that a growing disillusionment with establishment, …

Cv: Laurette Liesen (Political Science), Laurette Liesen

Political Science Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Rewilding The Built Environment: Navigating Economic, Political, And Social Barriers To Urban Ecological Restoration, Carly E. Smith

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Urban rewilding offers a nature-based approach to restoring ecological processes in cities while advancing climate resilience, biodiversity, and public well-being. Unlike conventional green infrastructure, rewilding allows ecosystems to develop with minimal intervention, emphasizing succession, complexity, and long-term adaptability. This paper examines the political, economic, and social factors that frame how rewilding is understood and implemented in urban planning. Governmental frameworks often prioritize order, predictability, and short-term results, making it difficult to accommodate the uncertainty and ecological complexity that rewilding requires. Economic models struggle to capture its long-term value, frequently overlooking ecosystem services or reconciling competing land uses. Social perceptions of …

Casar Public Lecture: The Fierce Battle For The 2024 Us Presidency: Race, Gender, And The Power Of Identity Politics, The Prince Alwaleed Center For American Studies And Research Casar

Performances, Events, and Presentations

In light of the upcoming 2024 US Elections, we hosted this lecture on SUNDAY OCTOBER 27TH - 1-2 pm titled: "The Fierce Battle for the 2024 US Presidency: Race, Gender, and the Power of Identity Politics." Speakers: CASAR guest speaker Dr. Sherri McFarland - moderated by CASAR Assistant to Director and Adjunct Faculty Yasmeen El-Ghazaly. Dr. Sherri Lynn McFarland's academic and professional careers demonstrate her passionate desire to contribute to the economic, social, and political progress of African and Middle Eastern North African (MENA) countries and their diasporic communities. Her keen interest in the people of these regions led her …

Shu World Review- October 25th 2025, Diplolab

SHU World Review

No abstract provided.

An Introduction To Ecofeminist Thought For International Relations Students, Vivian Ike

International Relations - All Scholarship

This article introduces students of International Relations (IR) to ecofeminism, its diverse approaches, and critiques. Ecofeminism emerged in the 1970’s following the history of the intersection between the transnational women’s movement and the global environmental movement (Kelleher 2019).

A Theology Of Public Witness For Churches Of Christ In The 21st Century, Collin Packer

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

In a time of increasingly divisive rhetoric and polarization, churches are facing new challenges that threaten their unity and mission. Churches of Christ find themselves in a peculiar position in this cultural moment. We do not bear the negative baggage associated with Evangelicalism’s drift into Christian nationalism and an enmeshment with the Religious Right. And yet, our witness has been muted through our silence pertaining to matters of public life and ethics. In this paper, I set out to investigate the historical reasons for our silence and to suggest a theology of public witness for Churches of Christ in the …

Shu World Review- October 20th 2025, Diplolab

SHU World Review

No abstract provided.

Similarities In Korematsu V. United States And Trump V. Hawaii, Anthony Crysler

Political Analysis

Anthony Crysler is a recent graduate of Seton Hall University. He earned his B.A. in Political Science in December 2024 and currently is a law clerk at Graves Andrews LLC in Morristown, New Jersey. This topic was briefly presented in Dr. Pallitto’s Fall 2024 Constitutional Law class which inspired his interest in this topic. Anthony also plans to attend law school in the fall. He has an interest in immigration law, which was another impetus for this paper

Analysis Of The Judicial Decision Of The Supreme Court Case Loving V. Virginia (1967), Sydni Harris

Political Analysis

This essay delves into the landmark case of Loving v. Virginia (1967), specifically the clash between the state’s legislative authority and the fundamental ideas of natural law and legal realism. This case serves as a key point in the United States’ history in the dismantlement of racial segregation and anti-miscegenation laws. I argue that the majority ruling in this case highlights adherence to the moral principles and the broader social implications of natural law and legal realism over the command thesis of legal positivism. Through a critical examination of the political and social context in the US surrounding this case, …

Secularization And Women's Rights Navigating The Legal, Economic And Social Impacts Of Gender Roles And Modernization In The United States, Isabella Rivera

Political Analysis

Isabella Rivera is a senior graduating in May of 2025 pursuing a dual Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Religion through the Honors Program. Her research focuses on secularization in the United States, with a particular interest in its impact on women’s rights and religion, the central theme of her senior thesis. Inspired by the complex relationship between secularization and gender dynamics, she set out to examine how this cultural shift affects women, while also exploring the religious dimensions of this interplay. Her academic journey reflects a deep commitment to understanding the intersections of politics, faith, and social change. …

The "Runt Piglet" Amendment, Samuel Fox

Political Analysis

Samuel Fox is a political science major who will be graduating in the spring of 2027. Outside of the classroom, he is a member of the Dean’s Undergraduate Student Cabinet and Alpha Phi Omega. This paper was written with the goal of exploring an underdeveloped field of constitutional law and was inspired by Dr. Pallitto’s Constitutional Law class. After college, he hopes to work in government or the business sector.

Intelligence Gathering: A New Obstacle For Constitutional Law, Joseph Brennan

Political Analysis

Intelligence gathering has always been a vital part of the United States’ success in its battles against foreign states and non-state actors. From spy networks during the Revolutionary War to tapping cell phones and using satellite imagery, advances in intelligence often lead to debates about the constitutionality and legality of these practices. Using several historical instances, laws, and committees, there is an argument to be made about the limitation on intelligence gathering and congressional oversight. This paper addresses these concerns, along with the general relationship between legislative intelligence gathering, the intelligence community, and Constitutional Law.

Introduction And Table Of Contents, Samuel Fox

Political Analysis

No abstract provided.

Orientation Toward Consensus—The “Safest” Path For Teachers To Choose? A Response To “Agreement And Disagreement In Teachers Talk”, Stine Johansen Utler

Democracy & Education

In “Agreement and Disagreement in Teachers Talk” the author shows how Norwegian initial education teachers (Grades 1–4) are consensus-oriented in their facilitations of classroom deliberations. The author emphasizes what teachers say and do when they guide their pupils toward consensus, but reflections on why teachers are consensus-oriented are less prominent. In this response to “Agreement and Disagreement in Techers Talk,” I point to conditions and factors in the Norwegian society and the Norwegian educational context that might explain why a consensus orientation is prevalent among the teachers.

Indiana At A Glance: County Trends, 2025 Edition, Roberto Gallardo

Purdue University Press Books

Indiana at a Glance: County Trends, 2025 Edition provides an overview of macro socioeconomic and demographic trends based on county-level data in ten-year periods in Indiana, the upper Midwest region, and the nation. Analyzing data primarily from 2013 through 2023, this book presents information that contextualizes the design and implementation of specific policies enacted by elected officials and community leaders, and reveals the impact these initiatives have on the public.

Inspired, in part, by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural America at a Glance reports, as well as the author’s more than twenty years of work in the field, …

Shu World Review- October 13th 2025, Diplolab

SHU World Review

No abstract provided.

Government Communication Strategies And Citizen Participation: A Thematic Review, Ojonugwa Emmanuel, Andrew I. E. Ewoh

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

none

Co-Creation As A Trust-Building Tool: An Application To Ghanaian Local Governments, Richard K. Nkrumah

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

none

Devolution And Administrative Burden In Tanf: An Assessment Of Welfare Rules, Rhucha P. Samudra

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

none

Gun Violence In Charlottesville, Virginia: Creating A Community-Centered Public Safety Ecosystem, Seth G. Coven

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

none

Substance Use And Rural Homelessness In Texas Communities: The Need For Supportive Services, Abraham David Benavides, Federickia Washington, Chandra Donnell Carey, Justin Watts, Jyoti Aggarwal

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

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An Oral History Of African American Seniors Seeking Housing, Health, And Climate Justice In The Gulf Coast After Hurricane Harvey, Jessica April Ward, Glenn S. Johnson

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

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Parents’ Dispositions On Social Emotional Learning And Their Policy Imperatives: The Relevance Of Context/Locality, Nicholas O. Alozie, Megan Armstrong, Kathy Thomas

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

none

Topical Issues On Social Emotional Learning, Climate Justice, Substance Use, Gun Violence, Devolution, Co-Creation And Government Communication, Andrew I. E. Ewoh

Journal of Public Management & Social Policy

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