Political Science Commons^™

Complete Issue - Volume 2, Number 1 (2014)

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

Complete Issue

Sovereignty And Indigenous Resistance In The Modern World: The Case Of Athabascan Oil Sands Development, Stefanie Wickstrom

Political Science Faculty Scholarship

Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas have long been threatened by unsustainable development in their traditional territories and are today on the forefronts of resistance against harmful development projects. Underlying some of the efforts of indigenous peoples in the United States and Canada is the notion that Tribes or First Nations might somehow make development good for indigenous people by exercising “sovereignty.” Sovereignty and development, however, are imposed regimes. Settler states and corporations have been the ones to define and exercise sovereignty to direct development. Wresting labor and natural resources from indigenous peoples and other exploited populations has been essential to …

State Child Welfare Policy: Causes And Consequences, Dana D. Connelly

Theses and Dissertations--Public Policy and Administration

On any given day almost 400,000 children in the United States are living in an out-of-home care placement due to government intervention. Federal law allows for substantial variance in state child welfare policy on a number of topics. These policy decisions, however, are understudied both in terms of the forces driving them and also the impacts the policies have on actual outcomes for children in care.

Utilizing a unique panel data set comprised of thirteen child welfare policies that vary both between states and over time we examine how well redistributive theory (constituent, institutional, paternalistic and resource pressures) explains state …

A Political And Historic Analysis Of The Relationship Between The United States And Saudi Arabia: How The Relationship Between The United States And Saudi Arabia Has Influenced U.S. Foreign Policy In The Middle East, Caitlin Baalke

Honors Projects

This research discusses the importance of the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia and how this relationship has influenced and shaped U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. The relationship is framed by the international relations theory of neoclassical realism and the institutions theory of critical junctures. Through this framework, a historical and political case study is performed, analyzing the antithesis that the relationship has continued throughout history because of economic interests and oil. This paper discusses the alternative hypotheses and the other factors that have played an important role in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, …

School Resources And Student Outcomes In Kentucky Public High Schools, Martin Battle, James C. Clinger

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

This paper examines the effect of various input measures upon student outcomes within Kentucky public high schools from 2001 to 2004, using a pooled, cross­ sectional time series research design with panel-coIlected standard errors (PCSE). The results indicate mixed support for the proposition that school resources are related to desired school outcomes. Overall school spending seems to have no systematic impact Schools that seem to perform well have few indigent students, many teachers with master's degrees, and fairly high numbers of volunteers. The authors offer some conjectures about the significance and meaning of these findings, especially in light of different …

The Fragility Of Persistently Economically Distressed Counties In Central Appalachia And The Promise Of Public Leadership, Christine E. Emrich, Stephen Lange, Blake Bedingfield, Bonita Fraley, Justin May, Kyle Yarawsky

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

Appalachia has long experienced economic distress, but significant progress has been made since the establishment of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in the 1960s. However, many counties in central Appalachia continue to experience persistent economic distress despite several advantages that are normally conducive to progress. This study examines Rowan County, Kentucky in comparison to four other rural Kentucky counties with varying degrees of economic progress. Quantitative comparisons were made on the basis of out-migration, educational attainment, and industrial diversity. Qualitative data was then gathered till·ough interviews to understand decisive events that affected progress as well as long-term causes of change …

Regional Integration And People-Centeredness; An Assessment Of The Mechanisms For Popular Involvement In The Decision-Making Of The East African Community, Louise M. Mdachi

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

A Cultural And Macroeconomic Perspective On Mate Selection, Samantha Kanouse Bissell

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Facilitating Student Discussion: The Case Of A Political Scince [Sic] Class, Emma Fitzhugh

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This case study analyzed four political science simulations in an introductory course with the intent to identify students learning from the simulation and in group collaboration. Though the discussion and collaboration between students surrounds political science topics, the skills students bring into the classroom and acquired during the course can be used in numerous professional fields. The presentation will focus on the scaffolding of assignments and learning that lead up to the classroom simulations. It will also highlight the skills students developed surrounding group collaboration and student's individual conclusions on decision making.

How Civil Society Represents Women: Feminists, Catholics, And Mobilization Strategies In Africa, Alice J. Kang

Department of Political Science: Faculty Publications

In recent years, civil society has risen to speak on behalf of underrepresented groups in Africa. In particular, civil society has advocated for the representation of women’s interests. Yet, relatively little is known about the full range of actors who seek the representation of women’s interests, mobilize around women’s issues, and articulate specific preferences. Some of these actors include not only feminists, but also religious activists who may clash over women’s issues. This gap in knowledge, moreover, extends to non-democratic countries. Who in civil society seeks to influence the representation of women’s interests and how, in both democratic and authoritarian …

Reshaping The Idea Of Humanitarian Intervention: Norms, Causal Stories, And The Use Of Force Carrie Booth Walling, All Necessary Measures: The United Nations And Humanitarian Intervention (University Of Pennsylvania Press 2013)., Courtney Hillebrecht

Department of Political Science: Faculty Publications

With an ongoing human tragedy unfolding in Syria and the international community unable and unwilling to respond, Carrie Booth Walling’s All Necessary Measures reminds us that in international politics, power is “no longer simply about whose military can win but also about whose story can win.”1 That is, the narratives that shape our understanding of the causes and possible solutions of mass violence inherently shape our willingness to act. In this carefully researched and well-reasoned book, Walling argues that scholars and practitioners must take norms seriously, even in the arena of power politics.

Differences In Negativity Bias Underlie Variations In Political Ideology, John R. Hibbing, Kevin B. Smith, John R. Alford

Department of Political Science: Faculty Publications

Disputes between those holding differing political views are ubiquitous and deep-seated, and they often follow common, recognizable lines. The supporters of tradition and stability, sometimes referred to as conservatives, do battle with the supporters of innovation and reform, sometimes referred to as liberals. Understanding the correlates of those distinct political orientations is probably a prerequisite for managing political disputes, which are a source of social conflict that can lead to frustration and even bloodshed. A rapidly growing body of empirical evidence documents a multitude of ways in which liberals and conservatives differ from each other in purviews of life with …

Selective Versus Comprehensive Emergency Management In Korea, Kyoo-Man Ha, Hyeon-Mun Oh

Department of Political Science: Faculty Publications

In spite of Korean governments’ efforts, many emergency management practitioners wonder whether what is actually being practiced is selective or comprehensive management. Using a qualitative content analysis and experiences in practice, the article analyzes the barriers to selective emergency management and the paths to comprehensive emergency management via the same three management elements: stakeholders, phases of the emergency management lifecycle, and hazards and impacts. Four analytical levels are considered: central government level, industry level, community level, and household level. Korea, despite its self-praise, has to transform its selective emergency management into comprehensive emergency management in time.

Raising The Black Flag : State Capacity, Geography, International Law, And The Resurgence Of Maritime Crime, Samuel Richard Rohrer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In my dissertation I seek to answer the questions regarding why some coastal populations turn to maritime crime in domestic and international waters, and others do not. In this work I advocate that generalizable geographic, political, and economic conditions can explain a significant portion of maritime crime. Broadly speaking these conditions are classified into geographic opportunity and a political and economic willingness to act. Through a qualitative analysis of historical outbreaks of maritime crime and international law, as well as a quantitative analysis of acts of maritime crime spanning from 1991 through 2007, I find that a global level of …

Between Nihilism And Transcendence : Albert Camus' Dialogue With Nietzsche And Dostoevsky, Sean Derek Illing

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines the impact of Fyodor Dostoevsky and Friedrich Nietzsche on the development of Albert Camus’ political philosophy. The innovation of the present study is in the attempt to offer a substantive examination of Camus’ dialogue with Nietzsche and Dostoevsky. To the extent that connections between these writers have been discussed, it has been in the general context of modern thought or it has focused on overlapping literary themes. This project emphasizes the political dimensions of these connections. In addition to re-interpreting Camus’ political thought, the aim is to clarify Camus’ struggle with transcendence and to bring renewed attention …

Suburban Sustainability: Favorable, Forgotten, Or Fantasy?, Tessia Melvin, Tessia G. Melvin

School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations

In the decades after World War II, the United States became a prosperous nation and world superpower. Reinventing itself through the development of suburbs, many communities were created by suburbs. Years later, criticized for suburban sprawl and aging communities, suburban communities today are faced with the dilemma of what changes to make in order to create sustainable suburban communities.

Most of the literature on sustainability and its success comes from the private sector. Much available literature provides sustainable indicators and concepts on corporate sustainability. As a result, many public administrators are faced with a reality that changes need to occur …

Regulation, Enforcement Or Negligence: A Look Into The Possible Causes Of Continued Abuse Within The Bangladesh Apparel Sweatshop Industry, Anne Marie Sketch

Departmental Honors Projects

The international fashion industry has long struggled with challenges around the practices of garment production, including adequate wage disputes, humane working conditions, and abuse and exploitation in the workplace. Recently, factories in Bangladesh have come under pressure for their perceived lack of regulations in sweatshops. Throughout the past two years, there has been an increase in deaths and abuse reported in Bangladesh apparel sweatshops, including deadly factory fires and building collapses including the Rena Plaza collapse last April that killed 1,134 Bangladeshi factory workers. Therefore, Bangladesh becomes an interesting case study for examining how global and local norms, policies, politics …

The Nature Of Sovereignty: Explaining The Role Of Sovereignty Through The Environmental Policies Of Belgium And Bulgaria, Stephanie L. Grisell

Departmental Honors Projects

Sovereignty is one of the oldest political concepts in the world. It is the concept that a state has full, independent authority over a geographic area, to put extremely simple. In this modern world, sovereignty has been forced to change. Globalization has changed the face of sovereignty, with companies, people, and ideas now interacting across borders at a pace never seen before. With emerging intergovernmental organizations, such as the European Union, the definition of sovereignty is in flux. The implementation of policies, in areas such as the environment, can be affected by issues of sovereignty. Thus the question stands: how …

Three Pluralisms: Theories, Methodologies, And Levels Of Analysis In The Study Of World Politics, Lucas M. Dolan

Departmental Honors Projects

For much of its history, the discourse of International Relations (IR) has been characterized by clashes between paradigms, exclusion of non-positivist research methodologies, and the marginalization of various subfields. Since the fourth debate “pluralism” is rapidly becoming a buzzword within the literature, but without serious conceptual analysis “pluralism” risks becoming another intellectual fad given lip-service but not engaged with in a way that could produce positive change within the discipline. This project examines three varieties of pluralism: theoretical, methodological, and pluralism of level of analysis. A brief intellectual history of pluralism in international relations is outlined, culminating in the works …

Beyond One Voice, David H. Moore

Faculty Scholarship

The one-voice doctrine, a mainstay of U.S. foreign relations jurisprudence, maintains that in its external relations the United States must be able to speak with one voice. The doctrine has been used to answer critical questions about the foreign affairs powers of the President, Congress, the courts, and U.S. states. Notwithstanding its prominence, the one-voice doctrine has received relatively little sustained attention. This Article offers the first comprehensive assessment of the doctrine. The assessment proves fatal.

Despite broad use and value in certain contexts, the one-voice doctrine is fundamentally flawed. The doctrine not only is used to address divergent questions …

The Inevitable And Difficult Transition From Relation-Based To Rule-Based Governance In China, Shaomin Li

Management Faculty Publications

China has benefited tremendously from replying on the relation-based way of doing business and governance, as evidenced in its rapid economic growth up to now. However, further relying on the relation-based governance may eventually hinder China's economic growth and exacerbate inequality, resulting in political instability. On the other hand, given China's cultural heritage and powerful vested interest groups, can China shed its relation-based way? This article argues from logical, theoretical, and empirical perspectives the inevitability and difficulty of China's transition from relations to rules, and discuss the implications of the transition or the lack of it for China.

Liberty Against Itself: British Freedoms In North America, Matthew Charles Connell

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

My dissertation explores the theoretical foundations of what I refer to as the Canadian liberal ethos. Taking the British parliamentary revolution of 1688 as pivotal event I examine the development of political liberty in its English incarnations and trace its development as it was expressed in colonial British North America. This dissertation hopes to provide an explanatory analysis the of the liberal ethos that can: (a) contribute to understanding the pre-suppositions of liberty in a liberal democratic order, (b) contribute to an understanding of diversity and competing philosophical principles that informed the settlement of British North America and the institutionalization …

Liberalism And Globalization: An Essay On Montesquieu, Tocqueville, And Manent, Trevor Shelley

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Many in the West today talk about the emergent unity of humanity, as social scientists examine the world through “global values,” assessing “global opinion”; economists study the “global economy” and “global finance”; historians write of “universal history;” legal scholars speak of “global domestic politics” and “world society,” while advocating “transnational justice”; political pundits announce the death of the nation-state. One could list additional examples illustrating the same apparent fact: a growing sense of global unity, and a universalist perspective on things social, economic, legal, historical, and political. To what extent, however, is this phenomenon—often referred to as “globalization”—an extension of …

Revealing The Jewishness Of Hannah Arendt, Jennifer Richard

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Hannah Arendt, one of the most important political thinkers of the twentieth century, passed away before finishing her final statement on politics. Because her political theory is incomplete, scholars have adopted many means for interpreting her work. In this dissertation, I adopt a phenomenological approach to understanding Arendt by engaging with the phenomenological method Arendt, herself, used—narrative. I specifically employ the Passover narrative as a metaphorical framework alongside which Arendt’s political theory is traced. In this approach, four elements of Arendt’s theory emerge to distinguish her thought from the Western political tradition: the role of the mental activities, the definition …

Accountable Actors: Politics And Poetic Imagination In Huxley, Lewis, And Orwell, Sarah Beth Vosburg

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

What does it mean, and what does it take, to practice personal responsibility in the face of political oppression? In this dissertation, I trace the essential themes of responsibility through a critical analysis of three stories: Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, C. S. Lewis’s That Hideous Strength, and George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four. No comparative study of these important works of twentieth-century political literature exists. Yet, each of these stories merits the attention of students of character and politics because all three unforgettably portray men who strive to live meaningful lives against the contrived meaning imposed on them by those in …

An Arbitrary Death? Capital Punishment And The Supreme Court, Truman Braslaw

Honors Papers

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Supreme Court decided three landmark cases on death penalty laws in the United States. While adjudicating these cases, the Court sought to address one of the central questions regarding capital punishment: can it be applied fairly? My paper attempts to understand how the Court found an answer to this question. I employ complementary frameworks of constitutional interpretation, formalism, and realism to suggest that the Court's focus on judicial restraint and its weak understanding of race and discrimination led it to conclude that capital punishment can be applied "fairly enough" for our constitutional system.

Traversing The Desolate Terrain: Creative Experimentation Within Union Strategy, Johnnie Kallas

Honors Papers

In this paper, I analyze the role of strategic research and corporate campaigns within contemporary union strategy. I argue that strategic research and corporate campaigns enhance union strategy in three ways. First, strategic research unveils key decision-makers that often remain obscured through complex corporate structures. Second, strategic research and multifaceted campaign tactics allow unions to escalate pressure on key decision-makers beyond the workplace. Third, strategic campaigns enable unions to remain one step ahead of employers and force management on the defensive. No blueprint exists for strategic campaigns, which allows researchers and campaigners to devise creative tactics that management cannot predict. …

Planning Against Planning: Friedrich Hayek's Utopian Vision Of The Good Society, Nicholas Kuipers

Honors Papers

Against the conventional wisdom, I will argue in this paper that Hayek's political philosophy contains a utopian vision of the good society. By adopting and building on Isaiah Berlin's conception of utopia as a state of static perfection, I will argue that such a vision is implied, if not overtly stated, in Hayek's work. First, Hayek's view that there ought to be a relentless application of an unfettered market mechanism brings about, as he would have it, a static and perfect outcome by whittling away inefficient alternatives to yield a perfectly efficient outcome. In applying an unfettered market mechanism to …

Keeping Iran From The Bomb: The Obama Administration And The Puzzle Of The Iranian Nuclear Program, Kaitlin E. Marshall

Scripps Senior Theses

In November 2013, the Islamic Republic of Iran reached an interim agreement with six world powers, including the United States. After the agreement was implemented in January 2014, Iran froze uranium enrichment in exchange for limited sanctions relief from the United States. This was the first diplomatic exchange between the United States and Iran in over thirty years. Keeping Iran from the Bomb analyzes how each country’s respective domestic politics and stereotypes of the other have, until recently, impeded diplomacy between the two nations. This study examines American-Iranian relations during the hostage crisis, the Bush administration, and the Obama administration …

Leadership And The Australian Greens, Christine Cunningham, Stewart Jackson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This paper examines the inherent tension between a Green political party’s genesis and official ideology and the conventional forms and practices of party leadership enacted in the vast bulk of other parties, regardless of their place on the ideological spectrum. A rich picture is painted of this ongoing struggle through a case study of the Australian Greens with vivid descriptions presented on organisational leadership issues by Australian state and federal Green members of parliaments. What emerges from the data is the Australian Green MPs’ conundrum in retaining an egalitarian and participatory democracy ethos while seeking to expand their existing frame …