Strategic Silence: The Greek Left's Avoidance Of The 1922 Asia Minor Catastrophe During The Refugee Crisis, 2015–2019,
2026
College of the Holy Cross
Strategic Silence: The Greek Left's Avoidance Of The 1922 Asia Minor Catastrophe During The Refugee Crisis, 2015–2019, Harry Courts
College Honors Program
This thesis examines why the Greek political left, and specifically the SYRIZA government under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras during the time period from 2015 to 2019, made near-absent reference to the 1922 Asia Minor Catastrophe when addressing the refugee crisis of those years. The Catastrophe, in which approximately 1.3 million Orthodox Greeks were displaced from Anatolia, is the foundational trauma of modern Greek nationhood and a living presence in Greek political culture. When hundreds of thousands of Syrian, Afghan, and Iraqi refugees arrived on Greek shores from 2015, the historical parallel was widely noted. That SYRIZA rarely drew it requires …
Electoral Threshold: Pros-Cons And Political Party Consensus In Indonesia,
2026
Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa
Electoral Threshold: Pros-Cons And Political Party Consensus In Indonesia, Azka Abdi Amrurobbi, Donis Daviska, Alam Mahadika
Jurnal Wacana Politik
The debates surrounding the parliamentary threshold and presidential threshold have become a recurring phenomenon, particularly in the period leading up to general elections in Indonesia. This paper aims to examine the pros and cons of the implementation and determination processes of both thresholds. Employing a qualitative research method and library research as the primary data collection technique, to validate the data then this research used data triangulation technique. In the Indonesian context, the thresholds applied constitute a form of formal threshold, namely thresholds determined through political and legislative processes in parliament. Consequently, threshold policies are heavily influenced by the configuration …
Silicon Rivalry: Understanding The U.S.-China Ai Competition In Southeast Asia,
2026
Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs
Silicon Rivalry: Understanding The U.S.-China Ai Competition In Southeast Asia, Daniel Christopher Kent
Master in Public Policy Theses
In the rising global strategic competition between China and the United States, artificial intelligence (AI) has taken on a special significance given its potentially transformative impact upon economics and security. Yet while the dialogue around the “AI race” is typically centered on foundational model capability enhancement, application in security contexts, and chip design and manufacturing, there is much less attention paid to its impact on geopolitics. In particular, AI diplomacy—the work of a state to spread its model of AI governance, evangelize its AI companies, and develop critical AI interdependencies and linkages around the world—is far less studied. Nowhere is …
Imperial Continuities Beneath A Post-Colonial Pretense: Uncovering The Economic Foundations And Covert Objectives Of Operation Ajax,
2026
Fordham University
Imperial Continuities Beneath A Post-Colonial Pretense: Uncovering The Economic Foundations And Covert Objectives Of Operation Ajax, Fatimah Waqas
Senior Theses
Economic self-determination, that is, the right of a state to protect its national resources and direct its own growth, remains a topic of contention and struggle for numerous countries in the Global South. These nations’ attempts at advancing their economic self-determination are often exploited and sabotaged by industrial Western powers, notably the United States, which frequently employs covert operations and media propaganda to disguise its economic and imperial pursuits in developing, resource-rich nations. The case of Iran during the early 1950s is especially exemplary, as the nationalization of oil under Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh presented a direct conflict with U.S. …
Kenyan Foreign Policy In The Multipolar World,
2026
Fordham University
Kenyan Foreign Policy In The Multipolar World, Maryclaire Mcadams
Senior Theses
In April 2025, in a speech to university students in Beijing, China, Kenyan President William Ruto announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, Kenya and China are not merely trade partners. We are co-architects of a new world order.” The speech was a bold departure from Ruto’s announcement just a year earlier that Kenya would officially achieve Major Non-NATO Ally status with the United States. The stark contrast in public statements from Kenya’s president within just a few months signals a shift in the international order. A system that once compelled states like Kenya to bandwagon with the United States now allows them …
The Rejection Of Ostpolitik: Was Germany’S Pragmatic Special Relationship With Russia A Missed Opportunity For European Stability?,
2026
Fordham University
The Rejection Of Ostpolitik: Was Germany’S Pragmatic Special Relationship With Russia A Missed Opportunity For European Stability?, Sebastian Friedrich Orth
Senior Theses
Although the German government under Chancellors Gerhard Schroeder and Angela Merkel had success in improving relations with Russia in the 2000s through mutually beneficial trade initiatives, the leaders’ plans were foiled by the persistent pressure from the United States to support NATO expansion. In revisiting this period, one can discern the beginning of a phase of Germany’s attempts to take a more active role in European leadership, which has been fraught with difficulties due to the country’s own postwar traditions of restraint and promotion of peace. Twenty-five years later, as negotiations to end the war in Ukraine are ongoing, the …
Narrating Conflict And Producing Identity: The Institutional Roots Of Youth Division In Kosovo And Serbia,
2026
Fordham University
Narrating Conflict And Producing Identity: The Institutional Roots Of Youth Division In Kosovo And Serbia, Adelina Makovic
Senior Theses
This thesis examines how education and media shape the ethnic and national identities of postwar youth in Kosovo and Serbia, and how these identities influence the narratives these youth form of the war and of each other. Although born after the war, youth in both countries inherit divergent narratives of the war through school, traditional media, and social media. Using a qualitative, multi-source methodology, this thesis conducts a comparative analysis of textbooks, reporting and regional survey data on institutional trust. The findings reveal that textbooks in Kosovo and Serbia present accounts of the war that are ethnically biased and selective, …
Beyond Authorization: United Nations Institutional Reform And Humanitarian Intervention,
2026
Fordham University
Beyond Authorization: United Nations Institutional Reform And Humanitarian Intervention, Basma Laassel
Senior Theses
The United Nations’ failures to prevent mass atrocities in Rwanda (1994), Srebrenica (1995), and Syria (2011) have sparked persistent calls for institutional reforms to overcome P5 veto gridlock and bureaucratic paralysis. This thesis asks the question: “what United Nations reforms could realistically enhance the UN’s ability to effectively intervene in cases of humanitarian crises?” To answer this question, this thesis employs rigorous counterfactual analysis to test whether three specific institutional reforms would have realistically prevented these humanitarian catastrophes: (1) providing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) with limited binding authority under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, (2) the UN …
Understanding Chinese Students’ Intent To Study Abroad: Case Study Of A Collaborative Chinese & U.S. University Program,
2026
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Understanding Chinese Students’ Intent To Study Abroad: Case Study Of A Collaborative Chinese & U.S. University Program, Jaekeun Cho
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
This study examined how Chinese undergraduate students enrolled in a Sino-Foreign Cooperative Program (SFCP) made decisions about studying abroad and selected a U.S. institution, with particular attention to institutions in less traditional destinations, such as Nevada. International student enrollment has become a critical strategy for U.S. higher education institutions facing declining state appropriations, demographic contraction in domestic enrollment, and increased global competition. Although China has remained the largest source of international students to the United States for decades, states such as Nevada enroll comparatively few international students and lack empirical research on recruitment pathways. This study addressed this gap by …
The Making Of An Extremist: How Do We Become Someone Else’S Nightmare?,
2026
Lindenwood University
The Making Of An Extremist: How Do We Become Someone Else’S Nightmare?, María Paula Morales
The Confluence
This article explores how ordinary people can be pulled into extremist movements and what psychological forces drive that process. It looks at three perspectives: social identity theory, which explains how group belonging shapes behavior, identity development, which shows how people searching for meaning may find it in extremist causes; and social neuroscience, which connects radicalization to brain activity linked to fear, loyalty, and moral judgement. Together, these approaches show that radicalization is not simply about ideology but about identity, emotion, and belonging. By understanding these dynamics, we can find better ways to prevent extremism and promote healthier, more inclusive communities.
Treatment Of Different Non-State Actors In Detention: A Legal, Moral, And National Security Analysis,
2026
James Madison University
Treatment Of Different Non-State Actors In Detention: A Legal, Moral, And National Security Analysis, Alison P. Raedel
Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current
This thesis analyzes state behavior regarding the treatment of non-state actors through three major frameworks: international law, ethical theory, and national security. Two cases are compared: the treatment of al-Qaeda detainees by the United States after the attacks of September 11th, 2001, and the treatment of the Angolan liberation movements by the Portuguese during the Angolan War of Independence. These cases were chosen to assess how the three frameworks apply across different non-state actors, which include terrorist organizations and liberation movements. International law provides a baseline for rights and protections, but it is often selectively interpreted. Just war theory gives …
Identity And Intervention: United States' Foreign Policy Toward The Dominican Republic,
2026
College of the Holy Cross
Identity And Intervention: United States' Foreign Policy Toward The Dominican Republic, Eileen Ledesma
College Honors Program
Constructivist theory provides a framework for understanding United States foreign policy toward the Dominican Republic during the U.S. occupation (1916-1924), the rise and consolidation of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo’s dictatorship, and the regime’s eventual political isolation during the Cold War. This thesis argues that U.S. foreign policy was shaped by identity narratives and political culture, also identified through historically constructed understandings and the repeated performance of legitimacy and order. By situating U.S.-Dominican Republic relations within broader debates in international relations theory, this thesis highlights the explanatory value of constructivism in understanding the evolution and contradictions of U.S. policy in Latin America. …
Geopolitical Chessboard: How Vietnam Shapes American-Chinese Competition,
2026
US Army War College
Geopolitical Chessboard: How Vietnam Shapes American-Chinese Competition, Kiet H. Lê, Hiep X. Trần
The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters
Vietnam’s geostrategic position—bordering China and commanding key South China Sea maritime routes—makes it a pivotal actor in shaping great-power competition in Southeast Asia. This article argues that the United States should support Vietnam’s neutrality and strategic autonomy as a means of countering Chinese influence. Unlike prior studies that portray regional states as passive players, this analysis highlights Vietnam’s active role in influencing regional dynamics. Through comparative analysis with the Philippines, using historical case studies, geographic assessments, and policy reviews, the article offers practical insights for military and policy practitioners on how geography shapes alliance formation and strategic competition.
Key Themes In Sino-American History,
2026
US Army War College
Key Themes In Sino-American History, David J. Lorenzo, Ian Murphy
The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters
This article examines how historical narratives shape the messaging of the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Republic of China, particularly regarding Sino-American relations. It identifies three key historical themes—trade, discriminatory policies, and Taiwan—that are frequently invoked in China’s statements and information campaigns. By contextualizing these themes, the article argues that military and national security professionals need a deeper understanding of Sino-American history to interpret China’s messaging correctly and counter its influence effectively. The article advocates for the integration of Sino-American historical content into professional military education curricula to enhance strategic awareness and policy formulation.
From The Editor In Chief,
2026
US Army War College
From The Editor In Chief, C. Anthony Pfaff
The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters
Welcome to the Summer 2026 issue of Parameters, which consists of two In Focus special commentaries, three forums (Indo-Pacific, Strategy, and Historical Studies) and the Strategic Competition Corner.
Parameters,
2026
US Army War College
Parameters, Usawc Press
The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters
No abstract provided.
Rethinking Power: E. H. Carr’S Enduring Lessons For Modern Strategists,
2026
US Army War College
Rethinking Power: E. H. Carr’S Enduring Lessons For Modern Strategists, Brian J. Hasse
The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters
This article argues E. H. Carr’s classic conception of power provides enduring lessons for national security, but these lessons are easily lost in application. Unlike much of the existing literature, this article emphasizes how modern conceptions of power convey an illusion of balance, while the national security bureaucracy constrains the effective synchronization of power. The analysis leverages both historical and contemporary case studies to identify what a balanced conception of power looks like in practice, with the hope of informing US national security strategy and policy in today’s complex security environment.
How Is Going To War Like Buying A Car?: The Bargaining Model Of War,
2026
US Army War College
How Is Going To War Like Buying A Car?: The Bargaining Model Of War, Richard R. Johnson
The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters
The bargaining model of war, a popular, yet complex international relations theory, emphasizes how nations communicate signals regarding military strength, resolve to fight, and foreign policy goals. Since the military plays a major role in communicating these signals, its leaders should understand this theory, despite its complexities. This article explains the model and its components through the used car sale bargaining process and supplements the analogy with real-world examples of international events. This article will help military and foreign policy professionals easily grasp the concepts of the model.
A New Security Framework For Nato’S Eastern Flank,
2026
US Army War College
A New Security Framework For Nato’S Eastern Flank, Matthew J. Kukla, Anna Batta
The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters
This article argues for a NATO-EU–led security strategy to achieve long-term deterrence in Ukraine after the end of the Russia-Ukraine War. Unlike existing analyses, this article straddles the strategic level of deterrence, outlining an operational road map. Its historical example of the Iraq War shows that long-term security requires the development of plans before a conflict ends, long-term commitments, and multilateral—not unilateral—security efforts. The proposed solution provides strategic planners and policymakers with a low-risk, high-reward approach that leverages burden sharing through a multinational framework.
Turning Tactical Victories Into Strategic Success: Counterinsurgency In The Irish Civil War, 1922–23,
2026
US Army War College
Turning Tactical Victories Into Strategic Success: Counterinsurgency In The Irish Civil War, 1922–23, Gareth Prendergast, John A. Nagl
The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters
The fundamentals the Irish National Army used in the Irish Civil War (1922–23) are a model for the successful application of a classic counterinsurgency which, if understood earlier, could have made a difference in the United States’ most recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Irish Civil War has not been examined in-depth through the lens of modern counterinsurgency doctrine. This article draws on military history and recent counterinsurgency doctrines to provide US policymakers and military practitioners practical guidance for how counterinsurgent forces can foster trust and use appropriate tactics that lead to strategic success.
