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 …
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 …
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 …
Federalism, Fragmentation, And The Limits Of Universal Welfare In The United States: A Comparative Analysis Of Germany And Sweden,
2026
University at Albany, State University of New York
Federalism, Fragmentation, And The Limits Of Universal Welfare In The United States: A Comparative Analysis Of Germany And Sweden, Jacqueline Arena
Political Science
This paper examines why the United States welfare state struggles to achieve universal social protection, focusing on the role of federalism, political ideology, and public opinion. It argues that the U.S. welfare state is structurally fragmented due to the division of authority between federal and state governments, which produces uneven, inconsistent, and often inadequate access to social benefits. This fragmentation is rooted in historical developments, including New Deal era political compromises, racialized policy exclusions, and resistance from organized interest groups, which embedded decentralization and inequality into the system’s foundation. Using Gøsta Esping-Andersen’s welfare regime typology and T.H. Marshall’s concept of …
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 …
Mister President & May It Please The Executive: Causal Barriers To Court-Packing,
2026
Pepperdine University
Mister President & May It Please The Executive: Causal Barriers To Court-Packing, Mason Smith
Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium
As attacks on democracy have become increasingly ubiquitous, scholarship has begun to shed light on a common, effective, and inimical means of subverting governments accountable to the masses: court-packing. So, how can democracies prevent court-packing? Among many implicit causal theories taken from the extant research, which hasn’t directly tackled this problem, two seem the most plausible and ripe for analysis, suggesting that court-packing’s success turns on either the strength (i) of institutional constraints or (ii) of domestic judicial norms. To see which theory works better in practice, I use a narrowly tailored iteration of comparative process tracing, as it best …
Blessing Or Curse? Natural Resources And Women’S Political Empowerment In Post-Conflict States,
2026
Gettysburg College
Blessing Or Curse? Natural Resources And Women’S Political Empowerment In Post-Conflict States, Katelyn L. Laplaunt
Student Publications
The end of a civil war represents an opportunity for women to gain political power and improve their societal status. If women are systematically constrained from gaining this power, they are losing a valuable chance to improve levels of gender equality. Little research thus far has focused on how the post-conflict period might be impacted by a country’s natural resource wealth. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap by exploring how a country’s dependence on natural resources might influence women’s political empowerment in post-conflict societies. I argue that countries that rely more heavily on natural resources as a source …
Offside Trap: African Football As A Mirror Of Global Structural Inequality,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
Offside Trap: African Football As A Mirror Of Global Structural Inequality, Ellen Busolo Milimu
Journal of Global South Sport Studies
Football in Africa, as a legacy of European colonialism, is undeniable. The export of football through colonization resulted in the popularization of the sport while also creating a system of economic exploitation and impoverishment that is the cause of considerable problems for African society. This economic system positioned African countries as dependents of former colonizers even after achieving independence. Sports, specifically football, provide a unique perspective to explore the no-win situation in which Africa exists within the global economic system. Always chasing the elusive ‘development’ goal that is dictated by others and shifts without the interests of African countries. The …
To Ban Or Not To Ban? Should Youth Social Media Use Be Regulated?,
2026
College of the Holy Cross
To Ban Or Not To Ban? Should Youth Social Media Use Be Regulated?, Leena Hilaly
Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News
This piece discusses Australia's recent social media youth ban and the negative implications of implementing sweeping government legislation on privacy, personal liberties, and state power.
Converting The Social Security Trust Fund Into A Sovereign Wealth Fund: A Proposal To Secure The Future,
2026
Dartmouth College
Converting The Social Security Trust Fund Into A Sovereign Wealth Fund: A Proposal To Secure The Future, Keanu Moore
Dartmouth College Master’s Theses
This thesis proposes the conversion of the Social Security Trust Fund into a sovereign wealth fund (SWF), paired with the phased creation of a mandatory retirement savings system for all working-age Americans. In response to forecasts projecting Trust Fund depletion by 2034, the proposed portfolio shift would diversify assets beyond U.S. Treasuries into global equities, real estate, alternatives, and fixed income, with the goal of enhancing long-term returns while remaining passively managed. While this reform would extend the Fund’s solvency, it is not, on its own, a permanent fix. To ensure structural sustainability beyond the exhaustion date, the thesis proposes …
Call For Papers For The Journal Of Social Encounters’ Special Issue On Global And Regional Governance: The Past Present And Future,
2026
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Call For Papers For The Journal Of Social Encounters’ Special Issue On Global And Regional Governance: The Past Present And Future
The Journal of Social Encounters
No abstract provided.
History Does Not Repeat Itself, But It Often Rhymes: Comparing The Messaging Of Adolf Hitler And Donald Trump,
2026
University of Minnesota - Morris
History Does Not Repeat Itself, But It Often Rhymes: Comparing The Messaging Of Adolf Hitler And Donald Trump, Elaina Varney
Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal
With the growing divide between the left and right, many on the left have raised alarms that Donald Trump is a fascist. My research paper compares Donald Trump’s messaging to Adolf Hitler’s messaging to find any similarities between the two in order to determine if Trumpism is a precursor to fascism. This study begins by looking at previous scholars’ research into whether or not Trumpism is a precursor to fascism and then I proceed to draw on primary sources such as speeches, Mein Kampf, and Trump’s TruthSocial posts, particularly those related to immigration and minorities, attacks on and suppression …
Finding Luis: A Creative Nonfiction Account Of Law & Society,
2026
CUNY Graduate Center
Finding Luis: A Creative Nonfiction Account Of Law & Society, Jason M. Leggett
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
This essay explores the contradictions in legal theory and human experience through creative nonfiction. Its main purpose is to argue that a truly just society requires acknowledging the profound influence of individual narratives on the law. This is supported by blending personal narratives, critical analysis, and philosophical inquiry to reveal the gap between codified law and lived realities for marginalized individuals. This unique Legal Poetics methodology employs a series of six vignettes, such as the author's and Luis's shared experiences with traumatic brain injury and the denial of justice, as data. By integrating autoethnography, law as narrative, and performativity theories, …
Molding The Mosaic: Progressive Coalition Formation In The 2021 New York City Council Elections,
2026
CUNY Graduate Center
Molding The Mosaic: Progressive Coalition Formation In The 2021 New York City Council Elections, Sam Goodson
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
The 2021 New York City Council primaries marked a decisive breakthrough for the city’s progressive left. A cohort of democratic-socialist and socialist-adjacent candidates won office across multiple boroughs, dramatically expanding the size and influence of the left flank of the council. This dissertation analyzes those victories and argues that they constituted a hinge moment in the construction of a progressive governing regime in New York City, with implications that extend beyond New York City politics to the study of social- democratic party families more broadly. Drawing on electoral returns, demographic data, campaign materials, and elite interviews, the project demonstrates that …
Roots And Routes: Tracing Identity Through The Life Of One Person,
2026
College of the Holy Cross
Roots And Routes: Tracing Identity Through The Life Of One Person, Daniel Rivard
Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News
This op-ed highlights the differences between ethnic, national, and collective identity through the story of a first-generation Lithuanian Immigrant. It discusses how ethnic identity remains salient even when national identity changes or deteriorates, exploring how one person’s decisions can seriously affect their family's future culture and identities.
Status Anxiety And Public Support For Reactionary Political Movements,
2026
University of Texas at Arlington
Status Anxiety And Public Support For Reactionary Political Movements, Timothy E. Randall
Political Science Theses
In this enquiry, I explore the conditions that make members of the public receptive to the appeals of reactionary political movements. I also explore the means by which reactionary movements leverage those conditions to gain support. I argue that crisis and status threat conditions prime members of the public to be receptive to the appeals of reactionary movements and that the strategic leveraging of these conditions in their narratives gives rise to status anxiety which, in turn, moves members of traditionally dominant groups to support these movements. I develop an explanatory theoretical framework for understanding status anxiety and its role …
