Political Science Commons^™

Editor's Note, Leandrit Mehmeti

Journal of Peace, Conflict, and Security Studies

This special issue of the Journal of Peace, Conflict and Security Studies (JPCSS) originates from the International Symposium of Military Academies (ISOMA) 2025, held in Prishtina, Kosovo, on November 11–13, 2025 and hosted by the Kosovo Defense Academy (KDA). The symposium convened scholars, military educators, policymakers, and practitioners from across the world to examine how military education can effectively adapt to the emerging demands and complexities of the twenty-first century. The overarching theme,“Adapting Military Education for 21st Century Challenges: Innovations in Teaching and Learning for Global Security”, encapsulates the necessity for transformation, interdisciplinary dialogue, and technological integration within modern defense …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

How Does Differing Family Structure Affect Political Engagement In Adulthood?, Jillian Stevens

Scholars Week

No abstract provided.

Struggle For Economic Plurality; Economies Of Belonging: Subsistence, Indigneity, And The Contradictions And Margins Of Capitalism In The Andean Highlands, Mario Renato Cavani Quevedo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the collective-oriented economy of the Viacha Highlands, a Quechua community in Cusco, Peru, to show how subsistence agriculture, reciprocity, and ritual practices constitute a coherent non-capitalist system of provisioning and belonging. Drawing on one year of ethnographic immersion, the study situates Viacha’s economy within the Community Economies framework, foregrounding its three commitments: anti- essentialism, pluriversality, and ethical–political praxis. Findings reveal that practices such as ayni-ayni (reciprocal labor exchange) and faina (communal work) resist reduction to wage labor, coexist alongside monetary and capitalist dynamics, and ground social reproduction in responsibility and care. At the same time, capitalist schooling, …

Prior Experience And State Legislative Effectiveness, Eric R. Hansen, Sarah A. Treul

Political Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

How do the prior experiences of lawmakers shape their performance in office? Representatives who have held prior elected office or professional backgrounds in relevant fields—specifically law, government, or politics—seem to have an advantage in winning elections. It is unclear whether those experiences help them become more effective legislators. Using a variety of data sources, we assess whether lawmakers with relevant prior experiences are more effective in advancing bills in the 50 state legislatures. We find mixed results. We find that state senators are more effective than their colleagues if they first served in the state house, but that prior local …

Shu World Review- November 1st 2025, Diplolab

SHU World Review

No abstract provided.

Presidentialism In Post-Conflict Kachin Constitution: Political Imagination, Institutional Realities, And Executive Design, Dashi Blessing Seng Htoi Lu

Maurer Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the relationship between cultural identity, political imagination, and constitutional design in the Kachin context, focusing on the strong preference for presidentialism among political thinkers and interim constitution drafters. Rooted in traditions of armed resistance, charismatic leadership, and the desire for visible sovereignty, presidentialism is widely viewed as the most viable executive model for a post-conflict Kachin future. Yet this preference is often shaped more by symbolic ideals than by a clear understanding of the structural demands of democratic governance.

At the heart of this vision lies the expectation of a strong president: directly elected, culturally rooted, and …

The Center Cannot Hold: Structures Of Political Choice, Martin Zwick

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

In times of political polarization, we are well-advised to heed Spinoza’s injunction, “Not to lament, not to curse, but to understand.” Understanding can be facilitated by ideas about the archetypal structures of political choice. The primary question is whether available or desirable political positions are dyadic or triadic, and if dyadic, whether they are good versus bad or complementary. Various modes of polarization are illustrated by locating two or more positions on a line, horseshoe, or circle. It behooves us to grasp the structure of the political situation we face to avoid making intellectual and/or moral mistakes.

The Irrelevance Of “Peak Fame” On Celebrity Candidate Success, Richard T. Longoria, Dana Reyes

Political Science Faculty Publications

Objective

Does it matter “when” a celebrity runs for office? The political scientists who study celebrity candidates need to consider an important insight from communications and media scholars. Fame is a time-dependent variable. Someone who was famous 40 years ago may no longer be widely known today.

Methods

A list of celebrity political candidates who ran for office in the United States between 1865 and 2022 was created to measure campaign success.

Results

In terms of winning an election, it does not matter whether a celebrity candidate runs at the peak of their fame or waits until decades later. What …

Institutional And Regulatory Responses To Armed Robbery Against Ships : A Comparative Analysis Of Indonesia, Malaysia, And Philippines, Subhash Kumar Kakkuzhiyulla Parambath

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Oil Spill Pollution In The Caspian Sea In Case Of Azerbaijan : Evaluating Spill Patterns And Governance Gaps In Azerbaijan’S Marine Oil Pollution Response, Ulviyya Hasanova

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Governance In Nigeria’S Extended Continental Shelf : Implications For Domestic Regulation, Mark Terver Mailumo

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Project Hourglass Dan Representasi Multidimensional Perbatasan Israel-Mesir, Dhannya Febryana

Multikultura

The Israel–Egypt border functions not merely as a geographic demarcation, but as a social, political, and cultural space imbued with symbolic meaning. Since its establishment in 1906 up to the construction of Project Hourglass in 2010, this border has shifted from a colonial administrative line to a fragile symbol of peace and a site of global securitization. This study employs a qualitative approach based on literature review and representational analysis, drawing on Stuart Hall’s representation theory as well as David Newman and Anssi Paasi’s concepts of borders in area studies. The findings reveal that the Israel-Egypt border is represented through …

Table Of Contents

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

No abstract provided.

Foreword, Corey Tazzara

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

No abstract provided.

Breakdowns And Break-Ups? Brexit’S Implications For Irish Reunification, Daisy S. Fernandez

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

This paper seeks to understand Brexit’s implications for current and future Irish reunification efforts by examining political science literature, survey data, and election outcomes. It assesses how constituent and political actors respond to resurfacing debates about border policy. Contentious withdrawal agreement legislation, as well as losing the economic benefits of EU membership, have caused anxiety amongst Northern Irish residents. The impact of this is demonstrated in survey results indicating increasing support for reunification, expressed frustrations by both nationalists and unionists with political representation, and political party Sinn Féin gaining significant ground in recent elections. The aforementioned factors indicate increasing openness …

List Of Abbreviations

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

No abstract provided.

A History Unveiled: The French Civilizing Mission In Algeria And Contemporary Headscarf Debates, Fiona Garvey

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

Bans on face coverings are divisive in contemporary France, reflecting broader conflicts over reconciling religious identities with secularism. The concepts underlying these debates have transformed over the centuries. This comparative historical analysis covers the rise of imperial feminism in civilizing missions, its impact on Muslim women in colonial Algeria, and the extent to which imperial feminist ideologies persist in French debates over veiling. It finds that both the historical and contemporary French regimes centered on women’s status to legitimize Western domination and promote acculturation to European norms. However, these actions may only further oppress Muslim women by ignoring their agency …

Constructing Memory Into Identity: Exploring The Politics Of Remembrance Of The Holodomor Under Yushchenko’S Presidency, Alexander Noaman Assoufid

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

During his presidency, Viktor Yushchenko made significant efforts to commemorate the victims of the Holodomor. What were the political motivations behind these efforts? What political rhetoric did he use to establish a memory narrative? In this case study of memory in Ukraine, I apply theoretical frameworks from political theorists Georges Mink, Laure Neumayer, and Jenny Edkins, as well as historian Pierre Nora, to analyze how Yushchenko and his government built a memory narrative through laws, speeches, and testimonies— all later displayed in the new Museum of the Holodomor Genocide.

Integration Through Reform: Le Conflit That Shaped The European Union, Ricardo E. Arellanes

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

Historians and political scientists have highlighted Charles de Gaulle’s initial hostility towards European integration and tended to ignore his nationalist policies in favor of a focus on pan-European free trade systems. They have also argued that de Gaulle’s vision of establishing a “European Europe” created more problems than solutions. These scholars have primarily approached the question through a realist perspective, holding that de Gaulle believed that total integration would allow larger nations to manipulate smaller ones. This essay argues the opposite. In his effort to restore France’s reputation as a strong world power, de Gaulle actually helped to reinforce the …

Sweden And Denmark’S Approach To Public Housing For Refugees In Response To The 2015 European Refugee Crisis, Julia Kearney

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

Housing is a critical aspect of social policy for refugees, as it serves as the foundation for their integration into a new society. While recognized as important, providing housing for refugees can be quite challenging for countries. This was particularly apparent during the 2015 European migrant crisis, when more than a million refugees, mainly from Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, flooded into Europe. Recipient countries did and continue to adopt varying policies when it comes to providing housing for refugees. This paper analyzes Denmark and Sweden’s response to the migration crisis and shows that the two countries had starkly different …

Child Benefit Cash Transfers In Ireland And Canada: A Comparative Analysis Of Welfare Policy, Ang D. Lee

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

Child benefit programs involving periodic cash transfers to parents have become increasingly embraced by governments worldwide. This paper investigates policy variance between child benefit cash transfers in Ireland and Canada, two countries with ostensibly similar welfare states. While Canadian child benefits shrink as household income grows, in Ireland cash transfers are set at a universal flat rate that is irrespective of family circumstance. On the other hand, Canadian parents receive far more generous payouts than their Irish counterparts despite means-testing. To determine the drivers of such policy divergence, I empirically test six theoretical paradigms from literature by leveraging several cross-national …

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 …