Public Policy Commons^™

Winners Of The 2024 Essay Competitions, National Defense University Press

Joint Force Quarterly

The 2024 Essay Competitions, hosted by NDU Press, saw a wide array of thought-provoking submissions across three categories, emphasizing civilian-military coordination and national security strategy. The competitions included the Secretary of Defense National Security Essay Competition, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Strategic Essay Competitions, and the Joint Force Quarterly Maerz Awards. Winners explored topics like U.S. military logistics in the face of Chinese threats, modern blockade tactics, and military recruitment challenges in the digital age. The awards continue to foster innovative ideas and strategic thinking within professional military education institutions.

Cbrn Defense Readiness Reporting, Jeffrey A. French-Lujan, Taylor Harrington, Ron Fizer, Domah Diggs

Joint Force Quarterly

This article advocates for the implementation of standardized Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) defense reporting metrics within military services. The need for such standardization is critical to accurately assess joint force preparedness, enabling commanders and planners to understand CBRN readiness, mitigate operational risks, and optimize training and modernization efforts. Standardized metrics will lead to better reporting, offering more insight into material readiness issues, trends, and force sustainability. Additionally, these metrics will support informed decision-making for defense investments and risk management, ensuring that forces are ready to defend national interests and respond effectively to CBRN threats.

The Implications Of The New Security Environment On The National Health Systems Enterprise, Martin Charles Bricknell, Derek Licina

Joint Force Quarterly

This article explores the strategic integration of military and civilian health systems in response to large-scale conflicts, emphasizing the critical role of civil-military cooperation. NATO's experience with the war in Ukraine highlights the importance of interoperable health systems across the Euro-Atlantic region, while the Asia-Pacific presents unique challenges due to its geographic dispersal and alliance structures. The U.S. National Disaster Medical System, strengthened by lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, is positioned to manage medical evacuations and casualties in future contingencies. The article advocates for the U.S. military health system to be considered as strategically vital as the defense-industrial complex, underscoring …

The Key To Arctic Dominance: Establishing An Arctic-Focused Subordinate Unified Command, Joseph R. Blume, Nathan L. Golike, Geoffrey R. Latimer, Michael Stanski

Joint Force Quarterly

This article discusses the strategic importance of establishing an Arctic-focused subordinate unified command under USNORTHCOM to enhance the responsiveness and resilience of the U.S. Armed Forces. With climate change reducing sea ice and increasing shipping and resource exploration, the Arctic is becoming a critical region for global security. USNORTHCOM is well-positioned to lead these efforts, aligning with national strategies and leveraging its homeland defense mission through NORAD. The proposed Arctic Command would play a vital role in coordinating military operations and addressing emerging security concerns in this rapidly evolving region.

Executive Summary, William T. Eliason

Joint Force Quarterly

In a world fraught with ongoing tensions and conflicts, the strategic interests of nations are shaped by the political decisions of their leaders. As we approach a critical national election, it is essential for the next President to confront global realities with pragmatic solutions. War, its causes, and its resolutions continue to dominate international relations, with military leaders tasked with formulating strategies based on national power. As history shows, starting a war may be easy, but ending it is fraught with complexity. This summary urges reflection on how to align national interests, strategies, and actions to prevent future conflicts and …

Joint Force Quarterly, Issue 115, 4th Quarter 2024, National Defense University Press

Joint Force Quarterly

This JFQ issue highlights a range of military and security issues, including Arctic defense, health system impacts, and military readiness, while celebrating the achievements of joint professional military education and student essays on national security topics.

Failure To Implement Decentralization In Haiti As A Constitution Mandate, Alann Fils-Aime

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As of 2023, after 36 years, Haiti has yet to implement decentralization successfully per its 1987 Constitution mandate. The situation that prompted this research literature is to fill the literature gap to investigate the elites' responsibilities and their neglectfulness to implement decentralization as mandated by the Constitution. The generic qualitative methodology was the selected design to better understand the reasons for Haiti, as of 2023, and after 36 years, to remain unable to implement decentralization per its 1987 Constitution mandate successfully. Policy feedback theory served as the theoretical foundation for this study. Data were collected from semistructured Zoom or telephone …

Influence Of Incomplete And Unverified Vote-By-Mail Ballots On Mail-In Voting, Susanne Lynne Timmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Vote-by-mail (VBM) ballots that were returned inaccurately during past general elections contributed to votes that were not counted in Florida. Since 2016, more than 600,000 mail ballots were not counted in the state; 73,000 were not counted in Broward County, Florida. The problem was that VBM ballots were returned as incomplete due to missing or mismatched signatures and not counted during the election processes. However, it was not known if this issue impacted voter perceptions of VBM voting. The public choice theory was the theoretical framework. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of voter perceptions …

How Does The Reauthorization Of The Farm Bill Impact Snap?, Colleen Heflin, Camille Barbin

Center for Policy Research

From 2021 to 2023, food insecurity in the United States increased from 10.2% to 13.5%, and food inflation rose to nearly 20%. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - the largest food assistance program, in the U.S. is funded and governed by the Farm Bill – a multi-year federal omnibus bill that provides agriculture and nutrition program funding. The 2018 Farm Bill expired on September 30, 2024, and while funding for SNAP has been extended through a Continuing Resolution, program reauthorization is needed. Negotiations on a new Farm Bill have included SNAP proposals to limit state discretion on work requirements …

Student Loan Policies And Payments During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Closing The Gap Or Widening Inequalities?, Jason Jabbari, Takeshi Terada, Haotian Zheng, Stephen Roll

Journal of Student Financial Aid

Student debt was specifically addressed in the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through forbearance polices. However, not all individuals were eligible for forbearance, and it is possible that forbearance would leave some feeling further behind. Yet, little is known about student loan debt over the course of the pandemic, especially in relationship to forbearance policies, loan payments, and household financial stability. Leveraging a representative longitudinal survey of households during the pandemic, we use descriptive regression techniques to explore changes in loan balances throughout the pandemic, as well as the relationships among student loan policies, payments, and measures of …

An Update To The October 2015 Working Draft On Drogheda – Ireland’S Emerging Sixth City, Using 2022 Census Data, Brian Hughes Dr, Brian Hughes Dr

Reports

This research update of author’s earlier Paper of October 2015 ‘Greater Drogheda: Emerging Demographic Evidence Base for Ireland’s Sixth City’ by reviewing and updating the growth of the Greater Drogheda Area (GDrA). It includes an examination of the fusion of its two largest settlements, Drogheda and fast-growing Laytown, Bettystown, Mornington and Donacarney (LBMD) towns. The scale of Drogheda’s growth is evidenced as a city and not that of the National Planning Framework’s Regional Growth Towns, as the evidence of this Paper will show. My 2015 paper and also my 2010 PhD are published in [email protected], under Brian Hughes.

State-To-State Migration In Nevada, 2017-2022, Ayda Atici, Reese Howard, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Demography

This fact sheet examines data on state-to-state migration patterns of people moving from other states to Nevada, as well as individuals leaving Nevada and moving to other states between 2017 and 2022. Data for all 50 states are found in the United States Census Bureau’s report, “State-to-State Migration Flows."

Federal Election Commission And Indiana Secretary Of State Campaign Finance Information Resoures, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

This presentation covers campaign finance information resources produced by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and Indiana Secretary of State. It describes how these agencies began, details how they oversee and regulate U.S. federal and Indiana state elections, and documents contributions made by individuals, organizations, political parties, and political action committees to individual candidates and organizations. Reporting documentation on these election races is also included.

A Qualitative Examination Of Factors Potentially Impacting Displacement Of Historically Black Communities, Daffney Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically, Black communities have often been discussed in the context of crime and poverty; however, most Black communities were flourishing neighborhoods with businesses, churches, and schools. Most of the literature related to gentrification and displacement does not address the root causes of the disappearance of Black communities, which generally centers on policies, legislation, force-outs, economic development, and racial disparities. This case study aimed to explore the displacement of a suburban historically Black community in St. Louis County, Missouri. Scholars have scarcely examined or written about the history of Black communities. The research question sought to explore the impact of displacement …

Contextualized Transitional Justice Policy Development In Uganda: Differentiating Between Normativity Types In Evidence-Based Problem Analysis, Saghar Shahidi Birjandian

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This article discusses the fundamental impact of normativity on producing evidence-based guidance for context-sensitive transitional justice policy. It draws on lessons learned from Uganda’s complex transitional justice context and extensive fieldwork to demonstrate the necessity and the means to differentiate between belief-based normativity and evidence-based normativity in conducting problem analysis as a crucial site that determines the integrity of evidence-based guidance. It also establishes that evidence-based normativity guiding problem analysis must include empirical evidence of societal dynamics and views of affected communities or there is a significantly higher risk of belief-based normativity decontextualizing strategy development. Findings establish significant substantive differences …

Executive Summaries

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Resourcing Transformational Strategies: How Funding With The Right Timescales, Places, And Relationships Can Advance Multiracial Feminist Democracy, Lauren Jacobs, Elly Matsumura, Rachel Rosner, Eric Wat

The Foundation Review

This article explores how philanthropy can support movement organizations and networks organizing for long-term power building that transforms who holds governing power. PowerSwitch Action, a network of influential regional advocacy and organizing groups in the U.S., draws on a recent evaluation that laid out key elements of its approach to the work to share learnings in hopes that they will benefit both other movement organizations and the philanthropic sector that provides critical backing to the field.

Specifically, the article identifies three recommendations for funders: 1) support long-term efforts to shift governing power rather than expecting quick victories; 2 recognize how …

Tfr 16.2 Full Issue

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

The Weight Of Power: Reframing Evaluation In Philanthropy To Amplify The Voices Of Communities Of Color, Martena Reed, Blanca Flor Guillen-Woods, Kantahyanee W. Murray, Dabney Brice, Ashley Barnes, Liza Mueller

The Foundation Review

Philanthropy’s current structure and practices perpetuate a relationship with nonprofits led by people of color that can keep foundations removed from the work and keep these nonprofits fighting to stay effective and sustainable. When equitable and responsive strategies to support grant partners are implemented, however, relationships and power begin to shift.

This article explores the complexities of philanthropy’s relationship with POC-led nonprofit and grassroots organizations as mediated by evaluation and reporting practices. By critically analyzing these practices and power dynamics within philanthropy, it aims to uncover the root causes of disparities and establish a basis for creating pathways toward greater …

Construction Contracting In The Zero Emission Transportation Sector: Evidence From Underrepresented Businesses, Gökçe Soydemir, Orestis P. Panagopoulos

Mineta Transportation Institute

This study investigates the degree to which underrepresented construction contractors face challenges in California's zero-emission transportation sector to devise a simpler and more efficient bonding structure. Using a survey dispersed over underrepresented businesses across the state, the study provides several suggestions for a statewide bonding program that caters to the needs of contractors. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used in the study. The survey data are evaluated using econometric tools to analyze whether there are any statistically significant associations between contractors' characteristics and their industry experiences. Focus groups and focused interviews are conducted to identify those perspectives the survey …

Zero Textbook Cost Syllabus For Paf 9140 (Budget And Financial Analysis), Rahul Pathak

Open Educational Resources

Managing available resources effectively and undertaking appropriate financial analysis is central to strategic decision-making. This course provides an overview of public finance, budgeting, and fiscal decision-making in the public sector and nonprofit sector. The course covers key topics in public finance and budgeting, and aims to provide students an opportunity to learn some essential skills for financial analysis, which are central to becoming good managers. Expertise over the course material should be advantageous to anyone who is aiming for positions such as a budget analyst in a government, bond rating/credit analyst in the private firm, and various other consulting roles …

Seeding Impact: Shifting From Orchestration To Emergence, Marilyn Darling, Veena Pankaj

The Foundation Review

The 2016 Foundation Review article “Emergent Learning: A Framework for Whole-System Strategy, Learning and Adaptation” talked about what an emergent strategy promises — to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Has this prediction played out in practice? Since it appeared in 2016, what has the growing community of Emergent Learning practitioners learned about what it takes to seed and grow impact?

This article addresses those questions, drawing on interviews with Emergent Learning Community members to illustrate what EL looks like in practice and how it is producing results that are emergent in nature. It …

Front And Back Matter

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Editorial, Hanh Cao Yu

The Foundation Review

No abstract provided.

Strategy For Now, Jara Dean-Coffey, Jill Casey

The Foundation Review

We are in a profound period of understanding who we are as a people, past and present. This applies to practices held as core to how society operates. If we are to thrive as a species, the present and future necessitate reimagining the structures, systems, and conventions that limit some and thus us all. This includes not defaulting to control, competition, and certainty as we navigate circumstances we created.

Amid growing desires to integrate and embody practices aligned with equity, emergence, and complexity, concepts and points of view that dominate business continue to lead conversations about strategy formation in philanthropy …

Advocacy And Bridging Strategies Are Failing On Their Own. Multifaith Nonprofits Embody Six Solutions For A Pluralistic Democracy, Allison K. Ralph

The Foundation Review

This article clarifies a strategic dilemma between bridging difference or advocacy strategies for funders and their grantees seeking social change in the context of polarization, putting it in conversation with social science research on intergroup contact theory, on which bridging strategies are based, and advocacy. Based on a set of interviews and surveys, this article explores how multifaith organizations embody strategies that navigate the contact/advocacy divide.

This article posits that multifaith organizations — those intentionally formed of people or institutions with different faith identities — embody six practices that avoid the false dichotomy of bridging and advocacy strategies: “dual identity” …

Raising The Bar: Improving How To Assess Evidence Quality In Evaluating Systems-Change Efforts, Marina Apgar, Thomas Aston, Mieke Snijder, Tom Zwollo

The Foundation Review

Facing the great scale of societal challenges, philanthropic organizations are increasingly calling for systems change. Evaluating systems change requires innovative approaches that respond to the complexities of such change in ways that support equity and multiracial democracy rather than undermining them.

A key concern in evaluating systems change is how to do so rigorously. Rigor has traditionally been equated with evaluative criteria such as independence and objectivity, and experimental methods and evidence hierarchies which sit uncomfortably with both complexity and equity. Yet when taking an alternative approach, many philanthropic organizations fear that without these standards, there are no standards at …

Are California’S Local Jurisdictions Disproportionately Directing Growth Toward Existing Disadvantaged Communities? Evidence From The Southern California And San Francisco Bay Area Regions, Shishir Mathur, Christopher Ferrell

Mineta Transportation Institute

Communities across the United States are striving to promote smart urban growth through compact urban infill residential development. They are doing so to mitigate sprawl's negative fiscal, environmental, social, and physical impacts, strengthen land use-housing-transportation linkages, and develop at densities needed for well-functioning public transit. Some states, such as California, have gone a step further by linking compact urban infill development as critical to meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets. Anecdotal evidence suggests some California local jurisdictions are planning disproportionately large amounts of new urban development in disadvantaged communities (DACs). However, empirical evidence is lacking. This study aims to fill …

Forest For The Trees: Collective Accountability And Trust As Groundwork For Systems Change, Shaady Salehi, Pia Infante

The Foundation Review

Since 2020, trust-based philanthropy has gained momentum as a strategy to alleviate inherent power imbalances between funders, nonprofits, and the communities they serve. The cornerstone of the approach is a set of grantmaking practices, such as multiyear unrestricted funding and streamlined paperwork, that support nonprofit self-determination toward achieving impact goals.

At a deeper level, trust-based philanthropy is driven by core values that position funders as collaborators and supporters working alongside nonprofits to advance a more just and equitable society. This requires a radically different stance on accountability from conventional philanthropic norms. Rather than reinforcing a sense of one-way transactional accountability, …

What Practices For Shifting Power Are Core To Advancing Racial Equity?, Kantahyanee W. Murray, Ji Won Shon, Ashley Barnes, Natalia Ibanez, Karuna Sridharan Chibber, Janelle Armstrong-Brown, Elvis Fraser

The Foundation Review

Power-shifting approaches are increasingly being recognized as practical solutions funders can employ to amplify the voice and agency of grant partners and communities, especially those historically under-resourced and marginalized.

Informed by a literature review and interviews with funders, grant partners, and thought leaders, this article describes four common practices for shifting power to advance equity: embed a racial equity lens into the process to shift power; demonstrate a genuine commitment to communities; give grant partners the power to define success; and embrace an internal systems change orientation.

This article explores the capabilities, mindsets, policies, skills, and resource considerations needed for …