Political Science Commons^™

Middle Powers, Capital Subscriptions, And The Inter-American Development Bank, Aaron Coates

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Using liberal theory, this dissertation examines the behavior of member states in the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), with a focus on middle powers. In particular, I analyze whether trade between middle powers and Latin America and the Caribbean is associated with an increase in middle powers’ subscription shares in the IADB. The analysis draws on a cross-sectional time-series data set of capital subscription shares (in log form, and first-differenced) for the period of 2004 to 2018. The results suggest that among all members of the IADB, an increase in members’ trade with Latin America and the Caribbean was associated with …

An Analysis Of Natural Courts: How Vacancies And Replacements On The Supreme Court Best Determine The Ideological Shifts Of The Court And What Effect Longevity Has On Ideology., Lauren Moses

Honors Theses

This thesis seeks to explore natural courts and ideology among members of the Supreme Court. Most studies of the Supreme Court allocate focus to the chief justice such that the justice and his ideology determines whether the Court will be described as liberal or conservative for the chief's tenure. However, this thesis questions this model of distinction for the highest court in the land. An analysis of natural courts from Marshall through Roberts specifically targets the highest and lowest ideological shifts between natural courts to understand how vacancies and replacements manipulate the ideology of the Court. In addition to the …

الإخوان المسلمون في الأراضي الفلسطينية المحتلة 1967-1987, Adnan Abou Amer

Al Jinan الجنان

جاءت الدراسة لتبحث واقع الإسلاميين الفلسطينيين، وتحديدا جماعة الإخوان المسلمين، في الأراضي الفلسطينية المحتلة، بين عامي 1967-1987، من خلال تناولها لمراحل تطور عملهم بدءا بالدعوة والعمل الوعظي، وبرد فعلهم على هزيمة يونيو 1967، وصولا للبحث في أسباب المد الإسلامي في الأراضي المحتلة، بما فيها الأسباب الداخلية والعوامل الخارجية ، وأثر وجود الاحتلال الاسرائيلي للضفة الغربية وقطاع غزة على انتشار مظاهر الصحوة الإسلامية، واتجاهات الرأي عقب الاحتلال، وبما يتعلق بظاهرة انتشار المساجد، والدور القيادي للشيخ أحمد ياسين في إرساء دور الإخوان المسلمين، إضافة إلى أساليب العمل الإخوانية، والجوانب التنظيمية والمالية لديهم، وانتهاء بنظرة الإخوان إلى العمل المسلح ضد الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، وما …

War, Media, And Memory: American Television News Coverage Of The Vietnam War, Brock J. Vaughan

Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections

Social and political impacts of television news coverage of the Vietnam War are often glorified and grossly overestimated. This paper argues that the role of the American media during the war did not directly affect public support for the war, nor did it profoundly impact American nationalism and military policy. Television news coverage did, however, influence how events were perceived and remembered. The commonly held belief that the American news media was directly responsible for the decline of public confidence in the U.S. government, ultimately contributing to the public’s distaste for any further involvement in Vietnam, is a narrow viewpoint …

Trump Administration’S Drawdown Of Troops In Afghanistan Risks Putting Peace, Progress In The Country In Danger, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

The conflict in Afghanistan remains one of the world's bloodiest, with ongoing violence from the Taliban, Islamic State, and al-Qaeda. Recent attacks, including a rocket barrage on Kabul's Green Zone and a massacre at Kabul University, underscore the volatile security situation. Despite the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement, the Taliban continue to conduct significant attacks. The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) struggle to operate independently, necessitating continued support from U.S. and NATO forces. The NATO-led Resolute Support Mission (RSM) and the U.S. Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS) provide essential training, advice, and counterterrorism support. However, the U.S. administration's plans for a …

Smoller And Moodian: Four Takeaways From The 2020 General Election, Fred Smoller, Michael A. Moodian

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

"Here are four takeaways pertaining to Orange County from the historic 2020 general election."

Social Housing And The Affordability Crisis: A Study Of The Effectiveness Of French And American Social Housing Systems In Meeting The Increasing Demand For Affordable Housing, Claire Sullivan

Honors Theses

The demand for affordable housing across OECD countries has sky-rocketed as the number of those cost-burdened by housing continues to increase each year. Social housing has been the traditional means by which governments have provided affordable housing to citizens, however in recent years the social housing systems of many countries have been strained to meet the rising demand for affordable housing. While this has consistently been an area of concern for major metropolitan areas, areas outside of cities are being impacted by the lack of affordable housing, as well.

This study seeks to address the impact of social housing systems …

Eco-Critique And Thought As A Force Of Nature, Stephanie Erev

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

It occurred to me not long ago that each time I read something new I pay special attention, without really meaning to, to how the work projects forward into a future or futures. This has been going on, I now think, for some years. Perhaps this quasi-conscious reading practice has played a part in the recalibration of my own orientations to the future, which, with every new climatic event, seem to grow dizzier and more disorganized, feeling some of the time like players in a game of musical chairs. Whether it is in relation to “All Around the Mulberry Bush” …

Does Bitcoin Use Affect Crime Rates?, Kevin Keane

The Corinthian

Bitcoin is the most widely used cryptocurrency in the world because of its decentralized network that completes user-to-user transactions, eliminating the need for intermediaries. During 2017, the volume of Bitcoin transactions totaled $94.3 trillion. Bitcoin transactions are recorded in a public database called the blockchain. Although the blockchain can keep track of how many transactions there are, it can’t identify the people involved in transactions. The lack of identity increases the anonymity of Bitcoin transactions, making it less detectable when used for crime. Using the Uniform Crime Reporting’s state-level crime rate data and blockchain’s Bitcoin transaction information, I estimate the …

I Can’T Breathe: Assessing The Role Of Racial Resentment And Racial Prejudice In Whites’ Feelings Toward Black Lives Matter, Emmitt Y. Riley Iii, Clarissa Peterson

Political Science Faculty publications

Since 2014, public opinion data suggests that whites have become more supportive of the Black Lives Movement. The recent murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have prompted a national debate about the need to address systemic racism in policing within the United States. Recent studies have shown how racial resentment has spilled over into a wide range of political issues that are not associated with race; however, no current research examines how racial resentment might shape whites’ views toward Black Lives Matter. Employing the racial reaction theory and the 2016 American Election Study Survey, we hypothesize and confirm that …

Nature Of Home-Grown Terrorism Threat In Ghana, Mohammed Zulkarnain

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The present state of security in the West African sub-region raises important issues of the nature of home-grown terrorism (HGT) threats in Ghana. Most studies of home-grown terrorism have focused mainly on the psychological implications of terrorist acts. This paper examines the complexities of the Ghanaian state securities perceive the nature of the threat of home-grown terrorism in the country. Data was collected from representatives of the state security agencies using semi-structured in-depth interviews. Findings indicate that the threat nature of home-grown terrorism in Ghana varies but the most significant is the threat from the recruitment of Ghanaian Muslims by …

Analysis Of The End Of The Kurdistan Partiya Karkerên Terrorist Organization In Turkey, I Putu Hadi Pradnyana, Muhammad Syaroni Rofii

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This paper analyzes the end of the Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan (PKK) in Turkey. The PKK is a terrorist organization based on the aim of separatism from Turkey. Since its founding in 1978 until now, various acts of terror have been carried out by the PKK and Turkish authorities view the PKK as the most dangerous terrorist organization in its territory. The type of research used is descriptive qualitative. Politicization factors are the main variable in analyzing the end of the PKK in Turkey. The result of the analysis is that the PKK will soon end through constitutional agreements through Kurdish …

Public Opinion On Capital Punishment, Sydney Young

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The death penalty in the United States has its set of controversies from the people who support and those who oppose. I want to examine how the death penalty and public opinion has changed over time. I also want to examine if there are statistical differences in regard to gender and political party. I would also like to compare how different generations such as comparing the millennials to the baby boomers to see if there are any changes. The last variable I would like to analyze is difference in regard to race and ethnicities.

As a Deputy Juvenile Officer, this …

The Masked Demos: Associational Anonymity And Democratic Practice, Jennifer Forestal, Menaka Philips

Political Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

The increased use of anonymous digital platforms raises substantive concerns about accountability in digital spaces. However, contemporary evaluations of anonymity focus too narrowly on its protective function: its ability to protect a diversity of speakers and ideas. Drawing on two examples of anonymous political engagements – Publius’s writing of the Federalist Papers and college students’ use of the social media platform Yik Yak – we develop an account of anonymity’s associational function: the processes by which people generate and negotiate collective identities, discussions, and actions in wider publics. As we argue, anonymity’s associational function can (1) generate conditions under which …

India’S Nuclear Energy Conundrum: An Assessment Of The Country’S Energy Futures, Sneha Thomas

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis will assess the practicality of implementing nuclear energy into India’s power system by considering different security risks, political factors, and COVID-19 complications. Access to energy is essential to modern survival because it contributes to the safety, success, and overall well-being of individuals; allowing for a better acquisition of food, education, and industry necessities. A big concern for India has been the inability to give energy access to millions of citizens that live in no proximity to a power grid, and this has shown to correlate with a lower quality of life. Another concern for India is the search …

The Influence Of Foreign Elite Rhetoric: National Identity, Emotions, And Attitudes Toward Austerity, Alessandro Del Ponte

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

How does foreign elite rhetoric affect citizens’ emotions and attitudes about austerity? In a survey experiment conducted on the online blogs of the two major Italian newspapers, participants read a fictional news article where the German Chancellor addressed Italians. Across treatments, I varied whether the message blamed or praised Italians, and whether the message focused on economic or symbolic concerns. Praise generated enthusiasm whereas blame spurred anger and anxiety. Moreover, respondents with a strong national or European identity who read a message of praise were more enthusiastic, less angry, and less opposed to austerity. Finally, people who identify strongly with …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 96, No. 13, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news. This issue contains articles:

• Burned Out – COVID-19
• Payne, Michael. 15 Years with the Bagel Brothers – Sandra Hurley
• Hargrove, Matthew. Hilltoppers Get in the Win Column, Home Finale Up Next - Football
• Kieser, Nick. All Eyes on the Spring – Basketball, Softball, Soccer, Baseball
• Leboutier, Addison. Little Flock of Jesus Christ Fellowship Comes Home – Clarence Tapp
• Cox, Alex. Editorial Cartoon re: Kamala Harris
• What a Kamala Harris Vice Presidency Means for Young People of Color
• Lattimer, Jacob. Student Government Association Sustainability Committee Looks to Make an Impact …

Ua12/2/1 Adulting, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Special edition of the College Heights Herald, includes articles:

• Spainhoward, Emma. Editor’s Letter
• What to Consider When Considering Grad School
• Norvell, Abbey. Dear Hilltoppers – Mackenzie Moore, Stephen Mayer, Hannah Reardon, Megan Devore, Danny Zeidan
• Harden, Olivia. Cooking (Ahead) for One
• Dressman, Jake. Small Changes Save Big Bucks
• Normalizing Conversations on Sex – Lion’s Den
• Harden, Olivia. Finding Your Place in Politics

Human Migration Rates In Relation To Hdi Scores Of States, Amy E. Docter

Honors College Theses

Migration is a human phenomenon impacting various factors of society, politics, and cultures today that will continue to grow in both domestic and international importance. Despite this profound significance, there are numerous challenges for migration with little control of the flow of populations and limited understanding of the changing trends of migration. Historically, migration has been defined by South-to-North movements, with the main motive being economic opportunities with the allure of developed countries, but many articles today have found more South-to-South movements and myriad other factors influencing migratory decisions. By examining net migration population from 2014 and 2015, in conjunction …

The Charismatic Revolutionary Leadership Trajectories Of Fidel Castro And Lázaro Cárdenas: From Guerrillas To Heads Of State In The Age Of Us Imperialism, Joseph J. Garcia

Journal of Global Initiatives: Policy, Pedagogy, Perspective

After attempting to overthrow the government of Fulgencio Batista in 1953, Fidel Castro fled to Mexico where he, his brother, Raul Castro, Ernesto Che Guevara, and other revolutionaries were later jailed by the Mexican government under the orders of the Batista dictatorship to be returned to Cuba. Using his knowledge of the Mexican Revolution, Castro wrote a letter asking for help from former president and revolutionary general, Lázaro Cárdenas, appealing to his sense of revolutionary history and social justice. Cárdenas was impressed by this young revolutionary and worked to obtain political asylum for he and his comrades. This allowed Castro …

Predictors Of Economic Outlook In Stability Operations, Juan Carlos Garcia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The participation of the United States military in stability efforts has increased dramatically since 2001. The core of current U. S. stabilization policies and measures derives from the US military's lessons in countering insurgencies since the late 20th century through the ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and countries experiencing radical Islamic insurgencies. Counterinsurgency operations focus on gaining support from the relevant population through security, governance, and economic efforts. This research seeks to improve the understanding of the relationship between perceptions of security and governance on populations' economic outlook during stability operations. Applying the “Winning Hearts and Minds” approach to the …

Human Rights Psc 360, Michael Cerbo

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

Enemy Mine: Negative Partisanship And Satisfaction With Democracy, Hannah M. Ridge

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

Polarization has increased in recent decades, including emotional distance between partisans. While positive partisan identity has been linked to the absorption of democratic norms and democratic satisfaction, this article addresses the impact of negative partisanship on citizens’ satisfaction with the functioning of their democracies. Employing two measures of negative partisanship – dislike for a party and unwillingness to ever vote for a party – the article finds that negative partisanship is linked to lower satisfaction with democracy, particularly negative partisanship for major parties. It also finds that respondents’ sentiments towards other parties moderate the experience of electoral outcomes; the win/loss …

What Makes Green Parties Successful: A Comparative Analysis Of Germany, Austria, And France, Macy Miller

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Starting in the 1980s, green parties began to make their debut. Their establishment was considered to be largely in response to environmental and anti-nuclear movements. Although their history has been quite brief, these parties have been making waves throughout the world. Throughout this research, a pattern arises between economic stability and quality of life, mainstream party competition, policy positions, and green voters themselves when examining the success of the green parties. In particular, they have demonstrated great success in the European Union. In an attempt to explain this success, this research explores three specific green parties: the German, the Austrian, …

Networks In The Norm Life Cycle And The Diffusion Of Environmental Norms, James E. Fry

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this research, I analyze how Transnational Municipal Networks (TMNs) and cities affect the diffusion and transmission of a decarbonization norm. Urban policy and political science scholars assert that cities and their networks are influential in implementing internationally coordinated environmental policy. However, few projects have analyzed how local actors may diffuse environmental norms that have been developed in the international system. Using the norm life cycle, this research explores the transmission of a decarbonization norm by means of GHG measurement and mitigation. I identify two critical objectives associated with a decarbonization norm: establishing a system for monitoring GHG emissions and …

Migration And Inequalities In The Face Of Covid-19: Vulnerable Populations And Support Networks In Mexico And The United States, Claudia Masferrer

Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center Research

Our world changed drastically on February 11th 2020 when the World Health Organization announced the name of the new coronavirus disease as COVID-19, and the pandemic was later considered the greatest challenge we have faced since World War II. Although we have started to experience social life in various new ways, the impacts that it will bring are still unknown. In recent years, migration had already undergone different transformations globally, and more changes are expected. How will populations on the move and migrant populations live in the following years post-COVID, and how different actors will respond to these changes, is …

Migration And Inequalities In The Face Of Covid-19: Economic, Political And Social Context In Mexico And The United States, Claudia Masferrer

Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center Research

Our world changed drastically on February 11th 2020 when the World Health Organization announced the name of the new coronavirus disease as COVID-19, and the pandemic was later considered the greatest challenge we have faced since World War II. Although we have started to experience social life in various new ways, the impacts that it will bring are still unknown. In recent years, migration had already undergone different transformations globally, and more changes are expected. How will populations on the move and migrant populations live in the following years post-COVID, and how different actors will respond to these changes, is …

How Much Is Too Much?: Administrative Burden And Texas State Policy, Dominique J. Baker

Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center Research

Several states, including Texas, have implemented an “excess semester credit hours (ESCH)” policy. State ESCH policies assess a fee to students at public institutions when they exceed a set number of lifetime cumulative credit hours (e.g., students with more than the 120 credit hours needed for a bachelor’s degree). Little is known about the administrative burden the implementation of and communication about state ESCH policies places on students. Therefore, I conducted a document analysis of the websites of all Texas public institutions. I analyzed 120 documents that were collected from November 2019 to April 2020. While some institutions created systems …

Ending Federalism As We Know It: Review Of The Divided States Of America By Donald F. Kettl, Philip Rocco

Political Science Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Muslims’ Religious Freedom And Religiosity: Measurement And Impact, Hannah M. Ridge

Political Science Faculty Books and Book Chapters

Multiple measures of religious freedom and states’ regulation of religion are at work in sociology of religion. These scales apply one score to a country or to a subset of its policies. A uniform state score conceals the internal religious diversity and the heterogeneous experiences of religious freedom that can result. These, in turn, encourage ecological fallacies and mask the disparate impact that religious freedom for one’s own community and for other groups can have on individuals’ preferences and decisions. To demonstrate the value of measuring and studying religious freedom at the individual level, this study applies individual-level assessments of …