Rural Minds In Modern Politics: Kinship Networks And Voting Patterns: A Comparative Analysis Of Appalachia And Rural Spain, 1986–2024,
2026
Fordham University
Rural Minds In Modern Politics: Kinship Networks And Voting Patterns: A Comparative Analysis Of Appalachia And Rural Spain, 1986–2024, Alyce Sarah Blow
Senior Theses
This paper examines how rural identity, kinship networks, and community relationships shape voting behavior through a comparative analysis of rural regions in the United States and Spain. With a base structure on sociological and political research on rural development and the rural–urban political divide, this study explores how social trust, family reputation, and community ties influence electoral support in rural communities. Using electoral data from national archives and the Global Elections Database, the analysis focuses on voting patterns from 1986 to 2024 in two rural U.S. congressional districts, West Virginia’s 2nd and Pennsylvania’s 9th, and two rural regions in Spain: …
Hammurabi’S Laws: Ancient Traditions Of Violence,
2026
Lindenwood University
Hammurabi’S Laws: Ancient Traditions Of Violence, Aaron Secrist
The Confluence
The tradition of enforcing private property through violence is truly ancient, and goes back thousands of years to the first civilizations. There exists a prevailing attitude that contemporary culture is more “civilized” than the first organized societies – and while it’s true in some ways, our laws are still remarkably similar to those practiced in antiquity. In the following essay, I analyze the Law Code of Hammurabi and examine its parallels to the way laws function today. First, I will provide context for the technological advances that made the first city-states possible, then give a cultural and economic overview of …
Comparative Environmental Jurisprudence: A Multi-Country Analysis Of Rights Of Nature Applications,
2026
James Madison University
Comparative Environmental Jurisprudence: A Multi-Country Analysis Of Rights Of Nature Applications, Lillian C. Johns
Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current
This thesis examines three distinct cases, Ecuador, the United States, and India, in their conceptualization and implementation of the Rights of Nature and environmental jurisprudence. Although the Rights of Nature have gained global traction as a response to accelerating ecological degradation and as a potential legal mechanism for addressing it, issues with implementation and enforcement consistently arise. The outcomes in each case are largely shaped by institutional design, political context, and legal cultures. Ecuador’s constitutional recognition of the Rights of Nature, the United States multilevel recognition, and India’s judicial assertions of ecological personhood represents divergent pathways for articulating environmental rights. …
Challenges In Fulfilling The Political Rights Of Indonesian Migrant Workers In Taiwan: A Case Study For The 2024 General Election,
2026
Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta
Challenges In Fulfilling The Political Rights Of Indonesian Migrant Workers In Taiwan: A Case Study For The 2024 General Election, Ardli Johan Kusuma, Dini Putri Saraswati, Jati Satrio
Jurnal Wacana Politik
Political rights are part of human rights guaranteed by international law and the Indonesian constitution. However, Indonesian migrant workers (PMIs) in Taiwan face various challenges in exercising their right to vote in the 2024 elections. This research analyzes the obstacles faced by PMIs in Taiwan in the democratic process using politic of citizenship framework by Stokke. The research method used is a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews with various relevant stakeholders. The results of this study show that the main obstacles to the implementation of elections for migrant workers in Taiwan are limited access to election information, differences in regulations …
Serving The Poor While Securing The Vote Islamic Parties And Welfare Program In Decentralized Indonesia,
2026
Universitas Jenderal Soedirman
Serving The Poor While Securing The Vote Islamic Parties And Welfare Program In Decentralized Indonesia, Luthfi Makhasin, Burhan Yahya, Indaru Setyo Nurprojo, Ahmad Rofik
Jurnal Wacana Politik
Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country with complex and diverse social and economic welfare problems. These welfare issues sometimes become sensitive electoral issues used to mobilize electoral support in elections. One of the welfare problems experienced by its citizens is the issue of inhospitable housing (Rumah Tidak Layak Huni / RTLH). This article seeks to explain how RTLH has become an electoral issue through the conceptual framework of political linkage. It begins with the question of how Islamic parties contribute to overseeing welfare programs in general and, more specifically, the handling of RTLH at the local level. In contrast to much …
Cracks In The Great Wall: Zero-Covid Protests And The Reassertion Of Political Security In China,
2026
Padjadjaran University
Cracks In The Great Wall: Zero-Covid Protests And The Reassertion Of Political Security In China, Khannia Zhafira Ronaulli Pandjaitan, Arfin Sudirman
Jurnal Wacana Politik
The protests of the zero-COVID policy in 2022, which led to the issuance of Ten New Measures in China, are an interesting political phenomenon to study. This phenomenon raises questions about the dynamics of China’s political security during the zero-COVID policy period and how the government responded to the social pressures that arose. Applying political security theory that emphasizes national objectives, threat perceptions, and political freedom of action, this article analyzes China’s political dynamics during that period. This article concludes that political security for a country is often realized through various actions justified to protect national interests and maintain social …
Integrated Voter Education Model To Students As Pre-Voters,
2026
Universitas Riau
Integrated Voter Education Model To Students As Pre-Voters, Hariyanti Hariyanti, Cecep Darmawan, Rahmat Rahmat, Leni Anggraeni, Radini Radini, Hamdi Abdullah Hasibuan
Jurnal Wacana Politik
This research aims to describe the importance of preparing pre-voters to become intelligent and participatory beginner voters, through an integrated voter education model. This solution was born from the fact that in general voter education only aggressively targets first-time voters during the election stage. This research was carried out by the Pekanbaru City KPU and the Kampar Regency KPU as well as several secondary schools in Pekanbaru City and Kampar Regency. The research used a qualitative design with descriptive methods, with research informants including KPU commissioners, Election Smart House Managers, and Pancasila and Citizenship Education (PPKn) teachers at schools. Research …
Disinformation, Polarisation And Digital Campaigns: A Comparative Study Of Political Communication In The Online Sphere,
2026
Universitas Diponegoro
Disinformation, Polarisation And Digital Campaigns: A Comparative Study Of Political Communication In The Online Sphere, Agus Sugiharto, Wijayanto Wijayanto, Kushandajani Kushandajani, Nurul Hasfi
Jurnal Wacana Politik
Digital political campaigns have become a key phenomenon in contemporary politics. They significantly transform the patterns of communication between political parties, candidates, and voters. This study aims to analyze the development, dynamics, and implications of digital political campaigns on voter behavior as well as political communication strategies in the era of information technology. Using a qualitative approach through literature review of scholarly articles, the results show that digital political campaigns offer high efficiency in reaching a broad audience and enable the personalization of messages based on big data and predictive analytics. However, this practice also brings new challenges, such as …
A Practitioner’S Perspective On Teaching Ap Comparative Government And Politics,
2026
Utah State University
A Practitioner’S Perspective On Teaching Ap Comparative Government And Politics, Edgar Díaz
The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal
In this paper, I share my perspective and experiences as an Advanced Placement (AP) Comparative Government and Politics teacher during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. To engage students with the content and strengthen their literacy skills, I adopted the Teaching and Learning Cycle (TLC), a pedagogical framework for scaffolded instruction, in combination with technological tools. This article includes a sample lesson plan illustrating how the TLC was implemented in an AP Comp Gov course to support students’ content understanding and their ability to express their ideas through structured, purposeful writing. My goal is to highlight practical strategies for effectively …
How Ai Governance Differs Between Regime Type,
2026
University of Mississippi
How Ai Governance Differs Between Regime Type, Jackson T. Guillou
Honors Theses
This thesis will examine how artificial intelligence (AI) regulation and development differ across political regime types, arguing that governance outcomes are fundamentally shaped by institutional political structures. This thesis will draw on comparative frameworks analyzing democratic and authoritarian systems. This thesis will also include case studies of the European Union, the United States of America, China, and Russia. The study finds that democratic regimes tend to emphasize transparency, accountability, and rights-based regulation of AI. This often results in slow regulation of AI, but it is more ethically legitimate and constrained. In contrast, authoritarian regimes prioritize centralized control, strategic coordination, and …
Democratic Legitimacy And Data Governance: Data Privacy Philosophy And Regulatory Preferences In The U.S. Vs Eu,
2026
Chapman University
Democratic Legitimacy And Data Governance: Data Privacy Philosophy And Regulatory Preferences In The U.S. Vs Eu, Mia H. Truong
Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and large-scale data collection has intensified tensions between commercial innovation and consumer privacy, raising a fundamental democratic question: do Americans understand their data protections–and does this shape their demand for regulation? The EU and U.S. represent two fundamentally opposed approaches to data privacy regulation: the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) treats personal data as a fundamental human right, rooted in post-WWII constitutional protections against state surveillance and authoritarianism, while the U.S. operates through fragmented, sector-specific state laws that treat personal data as a market commodity. This study is the first to empirically investigate …
State-Religion Entanglements And Public Acceptance Of Censorship: Appeals To Social Harmony In Asian Hybrid Regimes,
2026
Chapman University
State-Religion Entanglements And Public Acceptance Of Censorship: Appeals To Social Harmony In Asian Hybrid Regimes, Jackson Pace Campbell
Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters
In Asian hybrid regimes, where religious and ethnic diversity intersects with political authority, governments often justify censorship through appeals to social harmony. This paper examines how state-religion entanglements shape public tolerance for such restrictions on speech. Drawing on theories of authoritarian resilience and Durkheimian collectivism, this study argues that higher state-religion entanglements embed religious legitimacy in institutions, legitimize suppression of dissent under the precept of collective harmony, and prioritize collectivist norms over individual rights, thus increasing public acceptance of censorship. Employing a sequential mixed-methods design, the study analyzes Asian Barometer Survey Wave 6 data from Indonesia, Vietnam, Mongolia, and South …
Trust In Mainstream Elites And Right-Wing Voting Among Young Voters: A Comparative Study Of Germany And The United States Since 2016,
2026
Chapman University
Trust In Mainstream Elites And Right-Wing Voting Among Young Voters: A Comparative Study Of Germany And The United States Since 2016, Samantha Parrish
Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters
This study examines how trust in mainstream elites influences the likelihood that young voters (ages 18-25) support right-wing parties in Germany and the United States. While existing research links declining trust in political elites to the rise of populist and right-wing support, less attention has been given to the relationship among young voters. This project addresses that gap by analyzing whether discrust in elite independently drives right-wing voting or whether it interacts with other potential attitudes. I argue that lower trust in mainstream elites increases the likelihood that younger voters will support right-wing parties, but this relationship is also shaped …
Education’S Role In Indian Democracy,
2026
Chapman University
Education’S Role In Indian Democracy, Kiranjot K. Atwal
Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters
What impact do higher levels of education have on support for democracy in India? Existing research has largely demonstrated that education can foster democratic values through increased political awareness and civic involvement; however, researchers have only just begun to explore how education contributes to developing democracies, where social and political contexts may influence the formation of attitudes in distinct ways. This gap creates a question as to whether or not the positive impacts of education on democratic support hold true across diverse populations. I argue education promotes democratic governance by serving as a catalyst for increased engagement and interaction between …
Perceptions Of German Eugenics: An Analysis Of German Eugenics In The Eugenics Review, 1920-1945,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Perceptions Of German Eugenics: An Analysis Of German Eugenics In The Eugenics Review, 1920-1945, Ally Iandolo
Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses
This research examines how the eugenics movement in Germany was perceived by academic peers. I utilize entries from the British journal, The Eugenics Review, from 1920-1945 to create a database of all journal articles, book reviews, correspondence, and other entries that mention German eugenics. Then, using this database, I determine how German eugenics was perceived and which topics were identified by the journal’s contributors. Further, I analyze the careers of the authors who wrote these articles to understand the scope of interest in German eugenics from the Eugenics Review.
Splitting Shores: Comparative Analysis Of Italy’S And Spain’S Reactions To Immigration,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Splitting Shores: Comparative Analysis Of Italy’S And Spain’S Reactions To Immigration, William E. Montgomery V
International and Global Studies Undergraduate Honors Theses
The divergence in public immigration sentiment between Italy and Spain, two countries with striking historical, geographic, and demographic similarities, is seen as a mystery for popular theoretical frameworks. Although both nations transitioned from net emigration to net immigration beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, Italy has consistently exhibited more negative attitudes toward immigration relative to the European average, while Spain has seen sustained improvement in immigration sentiment despite receiving immigrants at historically unprecedented levels. Employing a Most Similar Systems Design and drawing on quantitative demographic and survey data, primary legislative texts, and secondary scholarly literature, this thesis tests Group Threat …
Evaluating Bawaslu’S Sigaplapor For Electoral Justice In Indonesia’S 2024 Election,
2026
Diponegoro University
Evaluating Bawaslu’S Sigaplapor For Electoral Justice In Indonesia’S 2024 Election, Nur Hidayat Sardini, Muhtar Muhtar
Jurnal Wacana Politik
This article assesses the effectiveness of the Election Violation Handling and Reporting Information System (SiGapLapor) operated by Indonesia’s Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) as a case of digitalising electoral oversight. Using a qualitative-exploratory case study, the research draws on document analysis (regulations, internal reports, and SiGapLapor web statistics) and semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with election supervisors and ICT managers. Findings indicate that SiGapLapor works reasonably well as an administrative registry and an internal reporting tool, but remains weak as a participatory public complaints mechanism and as an instrument of electoral justice. Key constraints include a non-user-centred interface, predominantly manual …
Colonialism, Conflict, Capital, And Coups: Drivers Of Médecins Sans Frontières Operations In Mali Post-2022,
2026
Northern Illinois University
Colonialism, Conflict, Capital, And Coups: Drivers Of Médecins Sans Frontières Operations In Mali Post-2022, Gina T. Fiorenza
Honors Capstones
Previous research has indicated that an NGO’s funding stream can limit its organizational decision making and inadvertently cause NGOs to place the priorities of donors over that of their beneficiaries. Additionally, Western-international NGOs operating in the Global South have been accused of engaging and perpetuating imbalanced power structures, often facing accusations of racism. To analyze these issues, I conducted a quantitative analysis of financial reports in conjunction with a qualitative analysis of activity reports in Mali in the past 20 years. My findings indicate that MSF’s past collaboration with the Malian government and decision to reject state funding allows the …
The Costs Of Selective Intervention: Why The Obama Administration Chose To Intervene In Libya Over Syria,
2026
Bates College
The Costs Of Selective Intervention: Why The Obama Administration Chose To Intervene In Libya Over Syria, Rayanne Attar
Bates College Journal of Political Studies
This paper examines the Obama administration’s selective military intervention during the Arab Spring, comparing case studies of Libya and Syria. I argue that the decision for the Obama administration to militarily intervene in Libya but not Syria was justified because intervention in Syria was far more costly in terms of risks. In Libya, Qaddafi’s regime lacked strong external support, relied on dated military systems, and faced a fragmented opposition, making intervention politically feasible. In contrast, in Syria, Assad’s alliance with Russia and Iran, threatening air defense capabilities, and internal sociopolitical divisions made military action highly risky and unlikely to produce …
Church, Mosque, And State: The Impacts Of Sectarian Politics On Lebanon’S Democracy,
2026
University of Mary Washington
Church, Mosque, And State: The Impacts Of Sectarian Politics On Lebanon’S Democracy, Tonia Attie
Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects
As Lebanon seeks to reform multiple sectors of the country, it is crucial to understand how its consociational government, centered on religious identities, interacts with its citizens. Electoral accountability is the process by which an electorate holds politicians liable for their actions while in office. While previous studies, such as Vincent Hutchings’ “Public Opinion and Democratic Accountability,” have shown how electoral accountability functions within traditional party systems based on political ideology, there is little research on how accountability mechanisms operate in confessional party systems based on religion. This paper posits that within countries with confessional systems, voters are less able …
