Political Science Commons^™

201017 Obiter Dicta: Late June 2010, Steven Alan Samson

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Women's Participation In Transitional Justice Mechanisms: Comparing Transitional Processes In Timor Leste And Sierra Leone, Holly L. Guthrey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women tend to suffer a disproportionate amount of sexual and reproductive violence during periods of conflict, though they generally participate at a lower rate than men in transitional justice processes. Because participation is discussed in procedural justice literature as being crucial to securing feelings of justice and dignity within victims of violence, the lack of women’s participation in transitional process indicates that justice outcomes could suffer without equitable participation of women. In light of this issue, this study uses a comparative case study analysis method to investigate women’s involvement in the transitional justice processes in Timor Leste and Sierra Leone …

Maritime Terror: A Comparative Study Of The Barbary Corsairs And Modern Somali Pirates, Lauren M. Halton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Maritime piracy off the Horn of Africa, although not a new security threat, has grown at an alarming rate in the twenty-first century. This study compares modern Somali piracy with the Barbary Corsairs problem of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to understand what policy responses might be most effective. The comparison focused on pirate characteristics and motives; targeted ships; attack frequency; hostage treatment; counter measures to combat piracy; and outcomes.

Financial motivation, level of organization, and viciousness of attacks are all characteristics the Somali pirates and Barbary Corsairs share. They differ in that the Corsairs operated as part of a …

"Wanted: Dead Or Alive": Masculinities And Us Military Intervention In Afghanistan, Michelle E. Bellini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hegemonically masculine concepts are frequently employed by decision-makers during times of crisis and war. Language used by leaders is powerful in securing domestic support for US foreign policy decisions, and hegemonic masculinity shapes the ways in which leaders conceive of conflicts and in what ways those conflicts should be addressed. Notions of hegemonic masculinity exert a powerful, structural influence on US Presidential foreign policy decisionmaking.

The attacks of September 11^th, 2001 changed United States foreign policy in fundamental ways. This research examines the role of hegemonic masculinity in President George W. Bush's policy speeches, both how hegemonic masculinity …

Ua35/8 The Topper, Veterans Upward Bound Program, Western Kentucky University

Veterans Upward Bound Publications

No abstract provided.

Toward A Transformative Agenda For Feddev Ontario, Neil Bradford, David Wolfe

Data and Test Instruments

No abstract provided.

Regional Economic Development Agencies In Canada: Lessons For Southern Ontario, Neil Bradford

Data and Test Instruments

No abstract provided.

201016 Obiter Dicta: Early June 2010, Steven Alan Samson

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Turkic And Islamic Factors For Current Kazakhstani Identity Information, Timur Kozyrev

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Russian-Georgian War Implications Of Unilateral Interventionist Policy And Conditions Under The Responsibility To Protect, Sevinj Amirova

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Identity And Fundamentalism As Security Concerns In The West, Nazila Isgandarova

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

State Versus Ethnic Identification In Tibati, Cameroon, Brian Hillery

Capstone Projects – Politics and Government

The purpose of this paper is to analyze state versus ethnic identification among residents of Tibati, Cameroon, and to question whether identification suggests the existence of tribalism. This study explores how residents of Tibati who more strongly identify with their ethnic group than the state are more likely to express dissatisfaction with the Cameroonian government, using information collected through informal conversations about the level of satisfaction of Tibatians with regards to both their ethnic group and the Cameroonian government.

This paper provides a synopsis of the major ethnic groups in Tibati and a brief historical summary of Cameroonian state evolution …

Spot Off: The Gao Takes On The Tsa’S Behavior Detection Program, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recently Issued Efforts to Validate TSA’s Passenger Screening Behavior Detection Program Underway, but Opportunities Exist to Strengthen Validation and Address Operational Problems (May 2010, GAO-10-763). This IBPP article will describe and comment on the main GAO findings and additional data on which the findings are based. The article will end with some basic challenges to behavior detection as a useful security measure.

Are We All On The M Squad? Murdering Schoolchildren In China, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the phenomena of violent attacks against schoolchildren in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and its relevance to political psychologists.

Letter: Edna Saffy; Phyllis B. Andruskiewicz, Edna Louise Saffy

Saffy Collection - All Textual Materials

Letter from Dr. Saffy regarding the Jacksonville’s Women of Influence” project. Date: May 13, 2010.

The Word On Terrorism Threat As Terrorism Threat, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses terrorism (and terms associated with it), considering the social rhetoric surrounding the terms as well as other potential meanings. The constraints of the words used to define these terms of terror are considered.

Understanding And Researching The U.S. Farm Bill, Bert Chapman

Libraries Research Publications

This presentation provides a detailed overview of the process involved in the U.S. Government's preparation of farm legislation every five years. It covers the multiple steps and actors involved in the legislative process and lists critical information resources on this topic.

Covert Or Overt Intervention? The Reagan Administration In Latin America, Marika S. David

Honors Scholar Theses

In my thesis I looked at Cold War interventionism by America. In the Post WWII period, many countries were searching for freedom from colonial rule, and many were attracted to the idea of communism or socialism. In this context of a destabilized world and power struggle between the U.S.A and the U.S.S.R., revolutions often became points of interests and parts of this larger power play. Any type of revolution was a destabilization, in a system that was unstable at best, and peace between the powers rested precariously on the idea of “Mutually Assured Destruction.” I would like to look more …

Beyond Racial Precedents: Loving V. Virginia As An Appropriate Legal Model And Strategy For Same-Sex Marriage Litigation, Michael J. Csere

Honors Scholar Theses

This thesis explores how LGBT marriage activists and lawyers have employed a racial interpretation of due process and equal protection in recent same-sex marriage litigation. Special attention is paid to the Supreme Court's opinion in Loving v. Virginia, the landmark case that declared anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional. By exploring the use of racial precedent in same-sex marriage litigation and its treatment in state court cases, this thesis critiques the racial interpretation of due process and equal protection that became the basis for LGBT marriage briefs and litigation, and attempts to answer the question of whether a racial interpretation of due process …

From Truth To Justice: How Does Amnesty Factor In? A Comparative Analysis Of South Africa And Sierra Leone's Truth And Reconciliation Commissions, Rachel W. Smith

Honors Scholar Theses

Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRC) have emerged in the last few decades as a mechanism for a state to overcome widespread, grave, human rights violations. There are numerous approaches to a TRC all with an ultimate goal: that formerly warring factions, perpetrators, witnesses, and victims can move forward as a united people. I propose that the provision of amnesty is critical to the success of a TRC. I hypothesize that the form of amnesty chosen (i.e. blanket v. conditional amnesty) determines the revelation of truth and realization of justice, which in turn dictates whether a TRC can achieve reconciliation. To …

Representing Afghanistan: The United States And Democracy's Imposition, Brantley Hawkins

Honors Scholar Theses

There is an ongoing mission in Afghanistan; a mission driven by external political forces. At its core this mission hopes to establish peace, to protect the populace, and to install democracy. Each of these goals has remained just that, a goal, for the past eight years as the American and international mission in Afghanistan has enjoyed varied levels of commitment. Currently, the stagnant progress in Afghanistan has led the international community to become increasingly concerned about the viability of a future Afghan state. Most of these questions take root in the question over whether or not an Afghan state can …

Executive Power And The People: Does The President Care What You Think?, James Ringold

Honors Scholar Theses

I sought to examine the relationship between public approval of the president and his subsequent behavior. Specifically, I looked at the relationship between public approval and signing statement usage along with their usage following the 2006 outcry against President Bush's use of them.

Even In Chaos: Education In Times Of Emergency, Kevin M. Cahill, M.D., H. E. Miguel D'Escoto

Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs

Children have a fundamental right to education, and to the protection that schools uniquely provide in the chaos that characterizes life for refugees and internally displaced persons. This book is grounded in the personal experiences of children, aid workers, and national leaders involved in post-conflict resolution. Experts from many troubled parts of the world consider the scope of the problem, as well as the tools needed to address the crisis.

Interest Groups And The 2008 Elections, Justin Roller

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Have Metropolitan Planning Organizations Improved Regional Policy Making? The Cases Of Kansas City And St. Louis., Joseph Edward Campbell

Dissertations

Historically, municipalities and regions continually competed for a share of transportation funds. The process was dominated by state Departments of Transportation where cooperation, equity and participation were limited. Eighteen years ago the federal government provided metropolitan areas with the opportunity to play a larger role in the regional transportation process. On December 18, 1991 President George H.W. Bush signed the Intermodal Surface Transportation Equity Act (ISTEA). The legislation ushered in a new era of cooperation between state and local leaders by empowering regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). The federal legislation’s intention was to allow a region, through their MPO, to …

Proportional Representation Or Plurality Voting Electoral System: Its Positive And Negative Aspects On Democracy, Martin Okolik

Student Theses and Dissertations

Free and fair elections are crucial elements for defining democracy. Fair elections will have to represent voters' true intent in the sense of proportionality between the votes gained in the election and the seats obtained in parliament. My project compares both the Majoritarian model and the Consensus model of democracy in terms of their electoral fairness. I ask the fundamental question: Which of the two systems promotes fairness and legitimacy in the electoral process? Most scholars have looked at this issue from different perspectives. Thus far, no study exists which explores both systems (Majoritarian and Consensus) from a fairness perspective. …

Factors Influencing State Prescription Drug Policy, Rochelle Rene' Henderson

Dissertations

Within the realm of health care, prescription drugs have been of particular concern for state legislators in terms of cost, safety, and distribution. Whether prompted by financial, social, or political pressure, states have tried to address issues associated with prescription medications by adopting or attempting to adopt a variety of prescription drug policies. My dissertation expands beyond the analysis of a singular prescription drug policy and examines the factors affecting prescription drug policies aimed at acquisition, safety and distribution. A negative binomial regression model is employed for each of the prescription drug policy areas to ascertain the influence of internal, …

Under The Volcano: Emergency Management And The Eyjafjallajokull Eruptions, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull eruptions that began on April 14^th, 2010 have exemplified challenges for transportation in a world of globalization, and ever-present need for preparation for emergencies.

A Rock Strikes Back: Women's Struggles For Equality In The Development Of The South African Constitution, Thuto Seabe Thipe

Political Science Honors Projects

In 1991, South African women’s organisations formed the Women's National Coalition (WNC) to identify and advocate for women's primary needs in the post-apartheid Constitution. The outcome of this advocacy was South Africa’s adoption, in 1996, of one of the most comprehensive protections of gender and sexuality rights of any national constitution. I argue that the WNC became a key actor in the development of the Constitution by drawing from a tradition of women’s organising in South Africa that emphasised women’s legitimacy in and value to public politics. The WNC rejected masculinist framings of politics and instead demanded that political structures …

Think Outside The Cell: Are Binding Detention Standards The Most Effective Strategy To Prevent Abuses Of Detained Illegal Aliens?, Federico D. Burlon

Political Science Honors Projects

In the last twenty years the U.S. government has increasingly utilized detention to control illegal immigration. This practice has become controversial because it has caused numerous in-custody abuses and deaths of immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees and even citizens. Immigrant rights advocates have called for the passage of binding detention standards to prevent in-custody abuses. This thesis’s policy analysis reveals, however, that while they may finesse the practice of immigration detention, such binding standards would be ineffective in protecting immigrants’ rights. Instead this policy analysis calls for and explains the feasibility of discontinuing the practice of mass immigrant detention.