Comparative Politics Commons^™

Palestinian Motherhood In Lebanon: An Analysis Of The Legal And Humanitarian Systems, Enje Matar

Theses and Dissertations

The lives of Palestinians in Lebanon are shaped by a diversity of factors that are exogenous and endogenous. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the impact of existing institutional, legal, and societal structures on Palestinian refugee mothers. It answers the following main question: how do the legal and humanitarian systems in Lebanon impact Palestinian mothers? It specifically scrutinizes 1) How do these systems shape family dynamics, maternal relations with children, and mothers’ daily lives? 2) How are these systems gendered in ways that represent broader questions of power and control? 3) How do mothers respond to these systems …

Profit Shifting And Tax Avoidance: Evidence From Us Multinational Enterprises, Dimitris Giakoulas, Kostas Gemenis, Nikolaos Daskalakis

The Journal of Economics and Politics

In this paper, we investigate tax avoidance of MNEs through profit shifting to tax havens. Using macro data from US MNEs, we analyze at the host country level where US affiliates book their profits and where their actual production activities take place. We find that the effect of the corporate tax on excess profits is conditional on whether the host country is considered to be a tax haven. Among tax haven host countries, a difference of 1% in the corporate tax is associated with a change of 8-15% in excess profits, while the relationship between corporate tax and excess profits …

Politics Of Maritime Security Governance: Institutional Fragmentation, Securitization And Community Engagement In Decentralized Border Area Of Indonesia, Suhirwan Suhirwan, Siswo Hadi Sumantri, Lukman Yudho Prakoso, Ahmad Gafuri Dohamid

Jurnal Wacana Politik

ABSTRACT. Decentralized archipelagic states face governance challenges in translating national security frameworks into localized institutional practices. This paper analyses the formalization of coastal community participation into maritime security governance in Batam, Indonesia through multi-layered political mechanisms. The study uses a qualitative case study design incorporating insights from securitization theory and multi-level governance frameworks. Data were collected between March and July 2025, comprising 18 semi-structured interviews, policy document analysis, mapping of institutional coordination, and field observations. The findings reveal a persistent multi-level securitization gap: national threat narratives, particularly those articulated in terms of sovereignty, have not been proportionally translated into regional …

Democratic Ambivalence And The Tolerance Of Power Abuse: Evidence From Urban Voters In Indonesia, Faris Widiyatmoko, Hasyim Nawawi Agustianto

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This study examines the discrepancy between normative judgments regarding alleged abuse of power and voters’ electoral behavior in the context of the 2024 general election in Indonesia. Using survey data from urban voters in Jakarta, this study operationalizes democratic ambivalence as the tension between normative attitudes toward the candidacy of Gibran Rakabuming Raka (Gibran) and respondents’ voting behavior. The results of descriptive analysis, cross-tabulation, and multinomial logistic regression indicate that the discrepancy between normative evaluation and electoral preference is the norm for the respondents. The “conflicted accept” category (53.1% of respondents) is made up of those who accept the continuation …

Cartelized Parliament And The Decline Of Legislative Oversight In Indonesia’S Multiparty Presidentialism, Shanty Kartika Dewi, Anis Fuad

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This article examines the tendency of Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR RI) in the 2024–2029 term to move toward a cartelized parliament within Indonesia’s multiparty presidential system. It addresses how the dominance of an oversized governing coalition after the 2024 election weakens parliamentary opposition and reduces the effectiveness of checks and balances over the executive. The study employs a qualitative explanatory approach using a single-case study design, process tracing, and documentary analysis. The data are drawn from official state and parliamentary documents, KPU decisions, legislative agendas, democracy monitoring reports, credible media coverage, and public statements by political elites. The findings …

When Every Policy Is Called Innovation: Innovation Inflation And The Politics Of Policy Labelling In Indonesian Local Government, Anggia Ermarini, Anry Firmansyah, Rio Yusri Maulana, Ahmad Zaini Miftah

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This study examines how local governments construct policy innovation claims and the extent to which such claims are supported by substantive novelty, regulatory conformity, institutional capacity, and evidence of public benefit. The study employed a qualitative document analysis with a comparative multiple-case design. The analysis covered 29 documents, consisting of 21 documents related to six policy cases and eight national regulations used as comparative standards. The cases included Sekolah MAUNG, Panca Waluya Character Education, the 5 a.m. school policy, Qlue, Electronic Parking Terminals, and i-Jus Melon. The data were analysed using directed qualitative content analysis across three dimensions: substance, regulation …

Mapping Coastal Community-Based Tourism Empowerment: Public Policy And Sustainable Development On Bangka Island, Putra Pratama Saputra, Hadiyanto Abdul Rachim, Arie Surya Gutama, Moch. Zaenal Hakim

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This study analyzes the conceptualization and practice of community-based tourism empowerment on Bangka Island, serving as a strategic approach to promote sustainable and inclusive coastal tourism. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, data were gathered through interviews with nine key informants, observations, and policy document analysis. Findings reveal that these empowerment initiatives significantly strengthen individual and institutional capacities, enhance community participation in tourism planning, and drive economic diversification from extractive industries to sustainable tourism. Furthermore, this approach facilitates economic transformation through the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and coastal ecotourism, concurrently reinforcing environmental conservation and cultural preservation. However, …

Developing A Climate-Adaptive Public Service Framework For Sustainable Agriculture: Preliminary Evidence From A Disaster-Prone Village In Indonesia, Susila Susila, Rizky Aditya Surya Pratama, Muhammad Daud Yusuf, Diah Apriliani

Jurnal Wacana Politik

Artikel ini bertujuan mengkaji bagaimana pelayanan publik tingkat desa dapat diintegrasikan dengan Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA) untuk mendukung kapasitas adaptasi petani di kawasan rawan bencana hidrometeorologi di Jawa Barat, Indonesia, serta mengidentifikasi dimensi kandidat bagi kerangka Climate-Adaptive Public Service for Sustainable Agriculture (CAPSSA). Menggunakan desain studi kasus kualitatif eksploratif yang dilandasi tinjauan literatur terstruktur dan analisis dokumen kebijakan, penelitian ini menghimpun wawancara semi-terstruktur dengan empat informan di Desa Cibiru Wetan, Kecamatan Cileunyi, Kabupaten Bandung—Kepala Desa, Kepala Dusun, Ketua RW, dan anggota kelompok tani setempat—disertai kajian dokumen kebijakan kebencanaan dan pertanian tingkat kabupaten dan provinsi yang tersedia untuk publik. Analisis awal menemukan …

Going Back To The Past: Veto Players, Historical Institutionalism, And The Asia Financial Crisis 1997/1998, Muhamad Iksan, Arif Haryadi

Jurnal Wacana Politik

Our article proposes a novel explanation of 1997/1998 Asia Financial Crisis (AFC) by going back to the past. As 2026 remarked twenty nine year anniversary of AFC. Our humble aim here is two folds. First, our paper attempts to investigate effect of veto players. Furthermore, we attempt to explain more on the concept and measurement of veto players. By incorporating such concept, it would enrich our understanding of the interlocking ideas of economic consequence of political institution with historical institutionalism. Moreover, we elaborate the concept and measurement of veto players explained how Asia-Pacific countries could learned from history for …

The Illusion Of Normative Convergence: A Neoclassical Realist Analysis Of The Ieu-Cepa And Eudr Collision, Pribadi Sutiono, Mansur Juned

Jurnal Wacana Politik

In 2026, The European Union’s geoeconomic strategy is increasingly defined by the systemic dynamics of the renewed US-China rivalry, the transatlantic alliance fracture under the Trump administration, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. To mitigate these dynamics, the EU has aggressively pivoted to the Global South, prioritizing the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA). However, the EU also seeks to enforce its normative climate agenda via the imminent December 2026 implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which contains points that also became central to the discussion on the IEU-CEPA. This research utilizes a Neoclassical Realism (NCR) framework and qualitative …

Discourse Of Open Party Contestation In Jemaah Tarbiyah In Indonesia, Gili Argenti, Caroline Paskarina, Nani Darmayanti, Nandang Alamsah Deliarnoor

Jurnal Wacana Politik

Factionalization in Indonesian political parties is commonly explained by elite rivalry, coalition choices, or clientelistic interests, leaving intra-party conflict over the meaning of ideology less well explained. This article asks how the discourse of an open party constructs and reveals ideological contestation within Jemaah Tarbiyah and how that contestation contributed to the emergence of the Gelora Indonesia Party. Using Teun A. van Dijk's critical discourse analysis (CDA), the study integrates textual analysis, social cognition, and social context. The empirical material consists of in-depth interviews with 20 purposively selected actors from PKS, GARBI, Gelora, and related Tarbiyah networks, together with party …

Trump's Rise: Will China Disrupt The Current Order Or Maintain It?, Ahmad Nurcholis, Wasisto Raharjo Jati

Global: Jurnal Politik Internasional

This paper examines the long-term likelihood of a US-China war, particularly in light of Donald Trump's US presidential win. The two nations have consistently experienced strained relations and intense rivalry, especially throughout the Trump and Biden presidencies. Both leaders are worried about China's growing assertiveness. While these nations are still battling over trade, this situation could easily escalate into an armed conflict later on. Due to China's increasing economic power and America's reduced influence in specific areas, there are predictions of a change in how the world is governed. This paper examines the question of whether China will become a …

Bridging Fiscal Sustainability And Health Equity: A Policy Analysis Of California’S Healthcare Coverage Safeguards, Guadalupe Castaneda Martinez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Without structural policy intervention, approximately 4.6 million Californians remain at risk of being uninsured by 2030, worsening racial and ethnic health disparities and hospital uncompensated care burdens. This policy analysis advocates for a hybrid universal coverage model combining sliding-scale subsidies (California Senate Bill 78) with full-scope Medi-Cal expansion for all income-eligible residents regardless of legal status (California Assembly Bill 133). The framework relies on existing funding mechanisms, including the Managed Care Organization tax and the Health Care Affordability Reserve Fund. Comparative analysis indicates that market-only subsidies leave severe equity gaps, whereas immediate single-payer transitions pose substantial fiscal and administrative risks. …

Energy Transition In Africa: A Comparative Analysis Of Five African Countries, Boluwatife G. Ayankojo

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Global energy transition remains a critical challenge for reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment, with solar energy adoption driving improvements in both energy efficiency and conservation. This research focuses on Africa's transition from fossil fuels to solar energy. As population growth and blackouts increase, African countries must transition from unreliable, centralized national grids to decentralized, low-carbon alternatives that ensure quality household electricity. While some countries have advanced in this transition to sustainable solar energy, others lag behind. The limited access to electricity hinders the African continent's healthcare, education, economic growth, and mortality rates. This research establishes the importance of …

Genocide In Gaza? Social Media Discussions Of Violence In Israel And Gaza, Timothy Williams, Andreas Dafnos

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This article conducts social network and topic analyses of German-language posts on X that discuss genocide and terrorism in Israel and Gaza in the first six months after the October 7 attacks and compares these to broader English-language discourses on the platform. The comparison reveals subtle differences in how Israeli violence and governance and Palestinians are discussed and who is seen as complicit in supporting violence. Markedly, German-language posts discuss what constitutes antisemitism more and employ a more restrained language towards Israel as a state and its political actors than English-language posts. We tie these findings back to the idiosyncrasies …

Mucho Ruido Y Pocas Nueces? Rethinking Mexico's Judicial Reform In Comparative Perspective, Oscar Serratos

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

Mexico's 2024 judicial reform, which made it the first country to elect all judges by popular vote, has generated widespread criticism for allegedly threatening judicial independence and democratic governance. This Article challenges the prevailing narrative by arguing that many of these concerns overstate the reform's practical effect. Through a comparative analysis of Mexico's new constitutional framework and judicial electoral systems in the United States, the Article demonstrates that the reform incorporates structural safeguards—including balanced nomination powers, nonpartisan elections, restrictions on campaign financing, and continued judicial training—that set it apart from comparable American models. While acknowledging legitimate concerns regarding implementation and …

Identity-Conditioned Rewards For Gender Quotas In Autocracies: A Cross-National Conjoint Experiment, Zixuan Diana Wang

Quantitative Social Science Undergraduate Senior Theses

Do gender quotas in autocracies increase international public support for providing foreign aid to those regimes, and are such rewards conditioned by identity? A recent study by Bush et al. (2024) finds that quotas increase public support for foreign aid to autocracies among the U.S. public. I replicate their study beyond the U.S. to test the generalizability of their findings. I also extend their study by examining how religious and racial identities condition the reputational benefits associated with quotas, as recent studies show that identity shapes foreign aid preferences and support for democracy. I fielded a harmonized conjoint experiment in …

Women And Wars: Understanding Women’S Political Empowerment Post- Conflict In France, Lebanon, And Sierra Leone, Alaa S. Sayed

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis attempts to discusses how conflict can be a time of change for women and how conflict can be a crucial aspect for change and improvement. Conflict provides a chance for the women to witness and experience the disruption of gender roles, which was a common practice during wartime, as women were placed in roles that were not officially theirs, according to what society adheres to or ascribes as acceptable roles for women. The conflict is presented as a “window” of opportunity. However, the reality of the situation of this “window” is not uniform across all post-conflict societies; the …

The Sustainable Autonomy Framework: Explaining Autonomy In Aceh And Southern Yemen, Abdulsalam Saad, Arie Kusuma Paksi

Jurnal Politik

This article examines why post-conflict autonomy consolidates into durable self-governance in some cases while remaining fragile and externally dependent in others. While Aceh has maintained stable self-governance since the 2005 Helsinki Agreement, Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council remains a fragmented authority sustained by external patronage. To explain this divergence, the article develops the Sustainable Autonomy Framework (SAF) and asks: under what conditions does post-conflict autonomy become viable and sustainable? The SAF argues that durability depends on the alignment of three mutually reinforcing pillars: elite legitimacy, resource sovereignty, and mediation credibility. Using a most-similar systems comparison of Aceh’s Free Aceh Movement and …

Elite Manipulation Of Accountability Institutions: A Comparative Analysis Of Cicig And Maccih, Kevin E. Contreras

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Strong accountability institutions are expected to limit elite manipulation. Yet elites continue to manipulate them. This paper shows that strong accountability institutions are insufficient to prevent elite manipulation. A comparative analysis of Honduras (MACCIH) and Guatemala (CICIG) traces the relationship between institutional strength and elite manipulation. The findings indicate that this relationship is contingent on context. Preventing manipulation would require accountability institutions to sustain greater mobilization and institutional leverage than elites. Accountability institutions alone are insufficient to achieve this condition.

Beyond The Veil Of Modernity: René Guénon, Prophet Of The Metapolitical Imaginary, Frederic Colier

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Heralded by some as one of the greatest intellectuals of the 20th century, French metaphysician René Guénon (1886-1951) is also the controversial father of Primordial Tradition, a metaphysics designed to remedy the decline of Western civilization. Guénon viewed the West in the grip of a prolonged cycle of degeneration. He sought to implement a pseudo-authoritarian spiritual reset that required a total rejection of its Western intellectual heritage and an embrace of Eastern doctrines.

Focusing on his landmark book The Crisis of the Modern World (1927), the dissertation examines how Guénon implemented his controversial reset. After outlining the religious, cultural, and …

The Impact Of Turkey’S Policy On Refugees (Case Study Of Syrian Refugees), Muhammad Kadhafie, Abdullah Haidar

Jurnal Wacana Politik

In the aftermath of World War II, the international community sought to establish a global order that guarantees the protection of human rights, formally declared through the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Fundamental principles such as the right to life, the right to security, and freedom from torture became central to the international human rights regime. However, contemporary realities demonstrate that human rights violations persist, particularly in situations of armed conflict. The Syrian conflict, which began in 2011, has evolved into one of the largest humanitarian crises of the 21st century, forcing millions of civilians to flee their country …

Forest Fire Governance And Regional Environmental Politics In Southeast Asia: A Bibliometric Analysis, Agung Wicaksono, Data Wardana, Hendry Andry, Rio Yusri Maulana

Jurnal Wacana Politik

Forest fires remain one of the most persistent environmental governance challenges in Southeast Asia, generating significant ecological, economic, social, and political consequences, including transboundary haze pollution. Despite the growing body of literature on forest fire management, a comprehensive understanding of the intellectual structure and development of forest fire governance research in the region remains limited. This study aims to map and analyze the evolution, thematic structure, collaboration patterns, and intellectual foundations of forest fire governance research in Southeast Asia using a bibliometric approach. Bibliographic data were collected from the Scopus database, resulting in a final dataset of 644 publications after …

The Struggle Of Indigenous Women From A Critical Feminist Perspective: A Literature Study Of The Indigenous Communities Of Lake Toba, Mudiyati Rahmatunnisa, Cusdiawan Cusdiawan

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This article explores the struggle of indigenous women in the Lake Toba region through a critical feminist perspective. Critical feminism is employed here not only to analyze the complexity of Indigenous women’s experiences in the Lake Toba region, but also as a theoretical framework for envisioning and advancing Indigenous women’s movements. Using a literature study method, this research analyzes various academic works, reports, and secondary data related to indigenous women, capitalism, patriarchy, and corporatist development. This study argues that indigenous women experience various forms of marginalization caused by the intersection of state-supported capitalist expansion, which has led to the loss …

Ho Chi Minh’S Thoughts On Gender Equality In The Political Sphere In Vietnam And Strategic Implications For Indonesia, Tri Minh Nguyen

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This paper provides an exhaustive examination of the theoretical foundations of Ho Chi Minh’s thought regarding gender equality and its institutionalization within the political fabric of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Focusing on the contemporary period (2021–2026), the analysis evaluates the efficacy of the Vietnamese model of State Feminism in achieving descriptive and substantive representation for women in legislative and executive bodies. Furthermore, the paper conducts a comparative analysis with the Republic of Indonesia, particularly following its 2024 general elections, to identify structural, cultural, and legal divergences. By synthesizing data from government reports, international indices, and academic literature, this study …

Trends Towards Political Communication Strategy On Social Media: A Bibliometrics Analysis, Annisa Atha Hanifah, La Mani, Zidane Ahmad Busthomi, Giovanni Sunrise, Matthew A. Kristanto, Indra Prawira

Jurnal Wacana Politik

Social media has become the center of digital political communication, enabling politicians to convey messages, form narratives, and mobilize public support directly and interactively. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok serve not only as campaign tools but also as deliberative spaces where political discourse is formed and debated. This study uses a bibliometric approach to analyze global trends in research on political communication on social media during the period 2020-2024. Data were collected in October 2025 from Scopus database, comprising 608 documents from 253 publication sources and author affiliations in 24 countries. The search was conducted using …

Clientelism And The Quality Of Democracy: A Comparative Analysis Of Rule Of Law And Public Goods Provision In Indonesia And Malaysia, Ahmad Mikail, Muhammad Arief Virgy, Mustabsyirotul Ummah Mustofa

Jurnal Wacana Politik

Clientelism remains common in Southeast Asian politics even though electoral democracy has expanded. This study examines how different forms of clientelism influence democratic quality, focusing on the rule of law and public goods provision in Indonesia and Malaysia. Building on the theories of clientelism, understood as the exchange of material benefits for political support. Such practices can weaken the fair enforcement of laws and shift public spending toward targeted groups instead of universal welfare programs. This study uses panel data from the Varieties of Democracy Institute and applies a comparative approach to analyze Indonesia and Malaysia. A multiple linear regression …

Public Interest As An ‘Empty Signifier’: Discourse Hegemony Strategy Of Pro-Dam Group In The Contestation Of The Development Discourse Of The Bener Dam National Stragic Project., Muhammad Nadhif Achyansyah, Yusa Djuyandi

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This article examines how the discourse of public interest is constructed and mobilized by pro-dam actors to legitimize the construction of the Bener Dam National Strategic Project amid resistance against andesite quarry mining in Wadas Village, Purworejo Regency. Using Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe’s discourse analysis framework, this study employs qualitative methods to analyze textual and non-textual data drawn from official government documents, policy statements, press conferences, mass media coverage, and public communications by central and local governments as well as pro-dam community actors. The analysis shows that public interest functions as an empty signifier that is articulated as a …

From Agroecology To Democratic Resilience: Community-Based Food Security And Climate Adaptation In West Sumatra, Dina Yulianti, Virtuous Setyaka, Arry Bainus, Deasy Silvya Sari, Akim Akim

Jurnal Wacana Politik

The West Sumatra has a high index of food security and because of its dependence on modern farming systems that are chemical based, farmers are susceptible to environmental degradation and market forces worldwide. Through the Critical International Relations (CIR) approach of Robert W. Cox, this paper analyzes how community-based agroecological practices can be the solution to a transition between climate change adaptation and democratic resilience in West Sumatra. The current study is dedicated to the case of Cheap Staple Rice Fields (Sawah Pokok Murah - SPM) an agroecological farming system, a grassroots movement that helps to break free of the …

Governing Longevity: Biopolitics And Economic Restructuring In East Asian Aging Societies, Sherlyn She

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

How do rapidly aging societies govern longevity when demographic change threatens established welfare arrangements? This thesis examines aging governance in China, Japan, and South Korea to show how states simultaneously manage aging as a public-health problem and build it into an economic sector through what I term life capitalism.

Two interpretations of East Asian aging policy are widely circulated: that it is a peripheral case of Western neoliberalism, or a residue of Confucian familism. I reject both: the neoliberal reading captures marketization but misses the state as its active builder, since these states are expanding rather than retreating; the Confucian …