International Relations Commons^™

Who Speaks For The State?, Robert Young, Kristina Daugirdas, Diem Ho, Duncan Pickard, Larry D. Johnson

Articles

Who speaks for the state is a critical question in international relations. Statements by government representatives have normative force—capable of binding the state in numerous ways, from norm formation to staking out a litigation position. Governments choose their representatives carefully, and typically vet positions and even statements in advance. Indeed, the stability of international relations hinges on the assumption that state representatives act with governmental authority. The stakes of disputes over who speaks for the state are thus high.

Several such contestations have emerged in recent years, in a variety of international fora. At the United Nations General Assembly, the …

Nuclear Deterrence Strategies And The Balance Of Power In Europe, Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

The beginning of the Cold War era indubitably defines nuclear deterrence strategies in Europe by reinforcing and re-strategizing security dynamics amongst European States. The balance of power in Europe has been geopolitically influenced by NATO and Russia in a quest to avoid any kind of security dilemmas from either side. In order to maintain a strategic deterrence balance posture, this complex security navigation scenario therefore act as stabilizing factor in the region as well as preventing any future conflict on the Europe continent resulting from security imbalances. NATO eastward enlargement has maintained a significant strategic balance of power in the …

The Role Of Economic Sanctions In Shaping International Trade Relationships Case Study: Russia, Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

Economic sanctions play an influential role in international relations by shaping the behavior of states. To address security threats and uphold international norms, countries seek to punish those responsible in violating these principles through the use of economic sanctions. The paper examines the impact of economic sanctions on trade relationships and its consequences on the Russian Economy. It also seeks to analyze the evolution of trade embargo during the post-cold war era to a more resilient and sophisticated measures in the age of globalization. Through this historical perspective, this analysis examines an important case study such as Russia by evaluating …

Parting The Corn Rows: Nikita Khrushchev’S Visit To Iowa, 1959, Jordan Stiles

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

On September 23, 1959, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visited Roswell Garst to inspect US hybrid corn and agricultural methods. Khrushchev’s initial reforms are discussed to show why Khrushchev sought agricultural knowledge abroad. The details of Khrushchev’s and Garst’s life regarding their work in agriculture are explored up to the visit. The visit would leave an indelible mark on the USSR and Iowa. Khrushchev and his successors would use Garst’s model for hybrid corn farming as the template for Soviet farming. Garst would use his limelight to catapult his corn diplomacy into action around the world. Lastly, the legacy of Khrushchev’s …

Emerging Technology And U.S. Presidential War Powers, Blaine D. Ravert

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Autonomous weapons, anti-satellite weapons (ASAT)s, cyber operations, and drones, among other examples of emerging and advanced technologies, have produced changes in how the United States (U.S.) conducts military operations. This thesis argues these technologies are connected by three common features that make U.S. congressional oversight of their usage by U.S. presidents more challenging. First, these systems enable U.S. presidents to act with increased speed, giving the U.S. Congress less time to respond. Second, some legal arguments suggest many uses of these technologies will not implicate war powers related authorities. Third, the legally unsettled nature of these weapons makes it more …

การกำหนดกรอบประเด็นเรื่องไต้หวันให้เป็นวาระด้านความมั่นคงของญี่ปุ่น, สิทธา ตันรักษา

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

วิทยานิพนธ์ฉบับนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อวิเคราะห์ว่าญี่ปุ่นทำให้เรื่องไต้หวันเป็นวาระด้านความมั่นคงอย่างไร เพื่อตอบคำถามดังกล่าวผู้เขียนใช้กรอบแนวคิดเรื่องการกำหนดกรอบประเด็น (issue framing) โดยศึกษาเนื้อหาของเอกสารรัฐบาลญี่ปุ่น คำแถลงในที่สาธารณะหรือสุนทรพจน์ ผลการศึกษาพบว่าการกำหนดกรอบประเด็นเพื่อที่จะสร้างวาระความร่วมมือด้านความมั่นคงกับไต้หวันมี 3 ด้าน ได้แก่ 1) การกำหนดกรอบประเด็นให้ปัญหาไต้หวันเป็นเรื่องสำคัญต่อความอยู่รอดและความมั่นคงโดยตรงของญี่ปุ่น โดยเน้นย้ำว่าญี่ปุ่นทางตะวันตกเฉียงใต้กับช่องแคบไต้หวันเป็นยุทธบริเวณเดียวกัน ทั้งนี้ยังทำให้ปัญหาไต้หวันเชื่อมโยงกับสิทธิป้องกันตนเองร่วมกัน 2) การกำหนดกรอบประเด็นว่าญี่ปุ่นและไต้หวันมีค่านิยมร่วมกัน อันเชื่อมโยงกับการทำให้ญี่ปุ่นและไต้หวันเป็นกลุ่มก้อน ตัวตน และร่วมอุดมการณ์เดียวกัน รวมถึงใช้ประเด็นดังกล่าวเชื่อมโยงกับการสร้างวาระความร่วมมือด้านความมั่นคงกับไต้หวัน และ 3) การกำหนดกรอบประเด็นให้เรื่องไต้หวันเป็นปัญหาความมั่นคงที่กระทบเสถียรภาพในภูมิภาคและระเบียบโลก ซึ่งมีความเชื่อมโยงกับการทำให้ประชาคมโลกตระหนักร่วมกันถึงสันติภาพและเสถียรภาพบริเวณช่องแคบไต้หวัน ทั้งยังเป็นการส่งเสริมให้เกิดความร่วมมือกับชาติที่มีความคิดอุดมการณ์เดียวกัน (like-minded countries) เข้ามาสอดส่องดูแลสันติภาพและเสถียรภาพบริเวณช่องแคบไต้หวัน โดยการกำหนดกรอบประเด็นทั้งสามด้านมีนัยสำคัญเพื่อลดข้อจำกัดด้านการป้องกันประเทศและด้านความมั่นคงที่จะทำให้ญี่ปุ่นสามารถสร้างแนวร่วมในการป้องปรามจีนไม่ให้รุกรานไต้หวัน

Technology, Repression, And Contention: How Do Internet And Communication Technologies Affect Political Violence And Collective Action?, Reyhan Topal

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This dissertation explores the impact of new technologies on state repression, political violence, and contentious politics via three interrelated studies. The first chapter presents a novel theory that describes the technology policies the Chinese government uses to oppress Uyghurs and turn them into obedient citizens. The chapter analyzes artificial intelligence tools, incarceration testimonies, official documents, police data, satellite evidence, and reports by nongovernmental organizations and scholars. Its findings shed light on the pervasive and increasingly dangerous nature of state repression in the digital age. The second chapter investigates the relationship between digital repression and the nature of conflicts using a …

Soccer Sheikhs: Qatar, Football, And The Quest For Self-Confidence And Global Prominence, Ali Ahsan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation examines Qatar’s strategic use of football as a mechanism for securing ontological security within the international system. Moving beyond standard International Relations explanations of state behavior, the study draws on ontological security theory which emphasizes the need of states to sustain a coherent sense of self through routines, narratives, and recognition. By framing football as such a practice, the dissertation advances the study of sport as a growing area of interest in the political sciences. Through a qualitative methodology employing Reflexive Thematic Analysis of expert interviews, the research analyzes Qatar’s football policies, including hosting the 2022 FIFA World …

Civilian Manufacturing And National Defense: Strategic Planning For Globalization's Challenges, Izeck Kohler

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This thesis examines the interconnection between civilian manufacturing and national defense within the context of globalization. The study aims to identify the challenges faced by the United States in maintaining its manufacturing capabilities and to propose strategic solutions to address these challenges. Through a comprehensive analysis of historical data, case studies, and policy recommendations, the research highlights the critical role of specialized and process manufacturing sectors towards national defense. The findings suggest that the creation of a federal executive department, strategic investment, diversification, policy re-evaluation, and collaborating with allies are essential for sustaining national defense capabilities. The study concludes with …

Empowering U.S. Allies In The Indo-Pacific: An "America First" Approach To Great Power Competition, Nathaniel Benjamin

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The Indo-Pacific is the primary area for Great Power Competition between the United States and China. China’s rapid but cautious rise has allowed it to achieve a position that threatens to upset the norms and rules of the U.S.-led system in the region. The second Trump Administration has pursued an “America First” policy since taking office in January 2025, but pushing U.S. allies to take on more responsibility for their own defense will not be enough. U.S. allies are major regional players and should be trusted to uphold the principles of the current international system; therefore the U.S. must limit …

Indopacom Force Structure: A Trajectory Into The 2030s, Robert Burke

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Over the past ten years Taiwan has become a major point of friction between the United States and People’s Republic of China with both militaries preparing for a potential conflict over the island. China vastly expanded its military forces and capabilities over the past thirty years and is intent on obtaining the ability to both seize Taiwan by force and prevent the United States from generating enough combat power to intervene and defend the island. The Pentagon began to restructure its conventional forces in the Western Pacific at the end of the 2010s, implementing new operational concepts designed to fight …