Other Political Science Commons^™

The Concept Of Moderate Islam: Monarchy Tools For Legitimacy In United Arab Emirates (Uae), Sharifah Umairah Binti Syed Mustaffa

Journal Of Middle East and Islamic Studies

The conceptualisation of religion from the perspective of power entails the state’s effort to utilise religious resources and symbols as proxy tools. In the aftermath of the Arab Spring in 2010, the state realised the threat of opposition from the independent Islamic movement to the survivability of the monarchical and autocratic regime. Hence, this study identifies the act of the UAE government in confronting the Islamic movement and its role in controlling a religious discourse based on the concept of Moderate Islam, employing a top-down approach to form a distinct religious identity that differs from that of rival countries. Qualitative …

Islamic Approach Analysis Sustainable Development: The Role Of Geopolitical Risk On Environmental In Indonesia, Basri -. Basri, Muh. Asharif Suleman

Journal Of Middle East and Islamic Studies

Studi ini mengkaji faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pembangunan berkelanjutan di Indonesia, dengan fokus pada kualitas lingkungan melalui perspektif Islam. Di tengah dinamika geopolitik global, risiko-risiko tersebut secara signifikan mempengaruhi kebijakan dan praktik lingkungan. Pendekatan Islam menawarkan kerangka kerja yang khas dengan mengintegrasikan nilai-nilai etika, spiritual, dan sosial ke dalam tata kelola lingkungan. Dengan menggunakan data deret waktu dari tahun 1992–2022 dan Model Koreksi Kesalahan Vektor (VECM), penelitian ini menganalisis hubungan jangka pendek dan jangka panjang antara risiko geopolitik, ketegasan kebijakan lingkungan, dan modal manusia terhadap kualitas lingkungan. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa risiko geopolitik memiliki efek jangka pendek yang signifikan tetapi tidak berdampak …

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Under Siege Worldwide: Moving Beyond Limiting Notions Of Gender And Sexuality In Education Organizations And Leadership, Margaret Grogan

Education Faculty Books and Book Chapters

As 2025 gets underway in the United States, educators across this country, like in many others, are bracing for unprecedented opposition to their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and policies. Newly elected President Trump is rapidly dismantling many federal agencies, cutting off aid to foreign entities, and causing major apprehension across the globe. His stated agenda to eradicate progressivism echoes many other international ultraconservative and far-right movements, who applaud his authoritarian regime. To mount the best possible resistance to these disturbing developments, and, indeed, to expand and strengthen DEI work, this chapter argues for collective action across all the …

Path Dependency And The Politics Of U.S. Health Reform, Sophia Spadafore

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study examines the impact of path dependency on health reform efforts in the United States, specifically analyzing how past policy decisions constrain subsequent reform possibilities. Utilizing the theoretical framework of historical institutionalism, the study investigates two significant cases—the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965 and the The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010—to illustrate how successful healthcare reforms embed institutional arrangements that limit future policy innovation. Through a comparative case study approach grounded in legislative records, historical texts, and scholarly analyses, the research highlights that major healthcare reforms in the U.S. have consistently been structured …

Power Asymmetry Dynamics: Assessing Interdependence In France-Cameroon Relations Through Economic And Security Cooperation (2000–2024), Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

This paper examines the dynamics of power asymmetry in the interdependent relationship between Cameroon and France from 2000 – 2024 with a focus on security and economic cooperation. The main research question asks: To what extent has power asymmetry reinforced or mitigated the interdependent relationship between Cameroon and France within the realm of economic and security cooperation? Based on the hypothesis that increased interdependence between these two states during this period has strengthened existing power disparity. The paper examines how such dynamics have restrained Cameroon’s autonomy and its capacity to pursue policy goals.

The theoretical framework combines dependency theory, postcolonial …

Exploring Guyanese Identity In Nyc: A Research Exploration, Shivanie E. Hariram

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study explores racial and ethnic self-identification among members of the Guyanese diaspora in New York City, with particular emphasis on individuals who select "Other" as their racial or ethnic category. Utilizing an IRB-approved quantitative methodology, data was collected through a structured survey targeting Indo-, Afro-, and mixed-heritage Guyanese populations. Drawing on Stuart Hall’s Cultural Identity Theory and Cultural Hybridization Theory, this research analyzes how participants negotiate potentially fluid identities within social contexts that often favor rigid racial categorizations. My findings indicate that those who identify as "Other Race" frequently resist binary classifications, instead constructing hybrid forms of "Guyanese-ness" that …

The Invisible Hand Of Networked Repression, Thuy Anh Tran

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

U.S. history is awash with contentious episodes involving a legion of governmental and non-governmental actors operating through an array of means and arenas to destroy the political opposition. Yet, there has been little systematic examination in the repression literature of how and why repressive efforts proliferate so far beyond the police, military, and intelligence agencies tasked and equipped to preserve the existing order. This dissertation presents a novel framework for studying the relational basis of repression—particularly as it is organized, mobilized, and extended through a networked social structure. Social network analysis and interpretive case studies are conducted on two historical …

Framing Economic Inequality On Tiktok: A Qualitative Analysis Of Gen Z'S Engagement Across Three Issues, Braydan Brown

University Honors Theses

This thesis investigates how economic inequality is framed and engaged with on TikTok, particularly in comparison to two other highly-salient sociopolitical issues to Gen Z: racial justice and climate change. Through a qualitative content analysis of 45 TikTok posts tied to specific public events, the study examines how issues are visually and emotionally presented on a platform heavily used by Gen Z. Drawing on existing literature in digital political expression and social movement theory, the research identifies eight coding categories including tone, emotional appeal, and identity framing, to analyze content. Findings show that economic inequality is consistently portrayed with less …

Productive Discussion Across Political Differences: Understanding Students’ Experiences With Comfort And Discomfort Within Structured Discussions Of Public Policy Issues, Gregory E. Mcavoy, Paula Mcavoy, Rachel Waltz, Emily Grace

Democracy & Education

This study investigates the effectiveness of two pedagogical strategies—deliberation and debate—in fostering productive political discussions among high school students, with a focus on overcoming affective polarization. Paying attention to students’ comfort, engagement, and willingness to participate, this study employs a mixed-method approach using data from surveys, observations, and interviews with students participating in a civic immersion program in Washington, DC. Using deliberative theory and the concept of “productive classroom discussion across political differences,” the research explores the extent to how students perceive each strategy as productive, as well as their experiences of comfort and productive and unproductive discomfort. Additional attention …

Social Media News Consumption & Alternative Für Deutschland Support Among Voters In Germany, Jackson Pace Campbell

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This study investigates the relationship between social media news consumption and support for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party among male voters in Germany. Utilizing logistic regression analysis, the research explores how exposure to news content on social media platforms influences political attitudes and voting behavior. Drawing on survey data from German male voters, the study examines the extent to which social media news consumption correlates with AfD support. Preliminary findings suggest a significant positive association between frequent social media news consumption and increased likelihood of supporting AfD, particularly among male and less educated voters. These results highlight the …

Comparative Trends In Campaign Finance For United States Senate Elections After Citizens United, Jackson P. Terrell

Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

While experts and laymen alike have agreed that United States politics have become more polarized over the last few decades, there are few answers about what has driven that polarization, as well as how that polarization has affected the campaign system. In addition, changes to campaign finance as a result of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, 558 US 310 (2010) altered the ways that money could be raised and spent to support or oppose candidates. The effects of these changes in presidential election campaigns have been well documented. This research will investigate changing trends in campaign finance in United …

The Effects Of Dystopia On Political Thought, Kate Marie Rashevich

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The popularization of dystopian fiction throughout the 20th and 21st centuries make it vital to consider how this media has affected entertainment consumers. Authors such as George Orwell and Suzanne Collins invigorated the genre and spurred public interest such that dystopia emerged throughout film and television as well. The recent, widespread popularity of dystopian media has made it crucial to examine its impact on entertainment consumers. Through my research I aim to answer whether the popularization of dystopian media, particularly literature and film, has influenced the political beliefs of its consumers and hypothesize that individuals who have consumed dystopian media …

Deep-Fake Revenge Porn: The Intersection Of Artificial Intelligence And Revenge Porn For A Modern Attack On Women, Eva C. Hunt

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This study aims to provide a legal analysis grounded in gender legal theory to critique current legislation enacted in the United States. It focuses on the societal and gendered impacts of revenge porn, particularly examining how victimization differs across genders. The legal analysis explores state-by-state legislation addressing revenge porn, assessing the severity of criminal penalties and the timeline of enactment. For current contextual reasons, the study evaluates how emerging Deepfake artificial intelligence technologies intersect with and complicate existing revenge porn laws. Finally, it analyzes the extent to which each state has incorporated Deepfake AI considerations into its legal framework.

Comparative Trends In Campaign Fundraising For United States Democratic Senatorial Candidates After Citizens United, Averi E. Foster

Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Political polarization has grown more prevalent in the United States political atmosphere in recent years (Pew Research Center 2017). While political polarization is a prevalent topic of discussion, there is a limited understanding of exactly how polarization affects various aspects of political elections, such as the financing of campaigns. This research aims to explore the relationships between the ideological scores of U.S. Senate candidates and the varying types of campaign funding that they received, such as individual contributions, independent expenditures, PAC contributions, and party contributions. A data analysis was conducted utilizing Stanford University’s Database on Ideology, Money in Politics, and …

Dekonstruktion Der Afd: Eine Analyse Der Rechtspopulistischen Deutschen Partei Der„Alternative Für Deutschland”, Elizabeth A. Breckenridge, Elizabeth Breckenridge

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Die Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) ist eine rechtsextreme populistische Partei, die innerhalb eines Jahrzehnts rasch an Macht gewonnen hat, insbesondere in den ostdeutschen Bundesländern, aufgrund ihrer Betonung der Nationalisierung, ihrer populistischen Rhetorik und ihrer Anziehungskraft auf Wähler, die Ängste vor Einwanderung und kulturellem Wandel hegen. Die AfD hat es innerhalb von fünf Jahren geschafft, eine starke Wählerschaft zu mobilisieren, 2017 Sitze im Bundestag zu erringen und gilt nun als wichtigste Oppositionspartei zu den etablierten Parteien. Die AfD ist die erste rechte Partei seit 1945, die aufgrund des Aufstiegs rechtspolitischer Ideologien bedeutende Wahlerfolge erzielen konnte. Aufgrund des reaktionären Pendelschwungs nach dem …

The Wavering Future Of Democracy In Latin America, Brianna N. Bleeck

Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The erosion of democratic governance in Latin America has emerged as a critical area of concern for political scientists, policymakers, and international organizations. Historically, the region has experienced fluctuating political landscapes marked by periods of democratic consolidation followed by authoritarian regression. Throughout the 20th century, countries such as Chile, Argentina, and Brazil witnessed military dictatorships resulting from socio-economic crises and political instability. Despite widespread democratic transitions throughout the 1980s and 1990s, contemporary Latin America faces new challenges that threaten its democratic integrity. The resurgence of authoritarian tendencies within the region coincides with escalating homicide and assault rates in many countries, …

Political Nonverbal Dynamics: An Analysis Of Smiles In Contentious Political Events, Megan Zingerman

Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study analyzes smiles during the 2024 U.S. Presidential Debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, revealing how nonverbal cues act as emotional signals and social tools. Findings indicate Harris displayed a significantly higher percentage of smiles than Trump. Limitations include potential human error in coding and influences of facial cosmetic procedures. The analysis underscores the importance of nonverbal communication in political settings and suggests future research on specific types of smiles, such as fear smiles, which are less understood in the context of political interactions.

Latino Voter Turnout In The Nuevo South, Stephane C. Escobar-Velasco

Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Latinos have had a growing presence in the South for years, leading it to be referred to as the “Nuevo South.” This thesis will examine Latino voter turnout in the South and the factors that influence them to show up at the polls. This study uses data from the Collaborative Multi-racial Post-Election Survey (CMPS) for 2016 and 2020. Through this data, I seek to understand why turnout is low and which factors impact turnout the most. I use rational choice theory to further understand how Latinos choose whether or not which considers the advantages and disadvantages of voting. Throughout this …

How Does Fiscal Decentralization Shape Corruption?, Sharandy G. Appiah

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

In this paper, I offer a comprehensive review of the impact of fiscal decentralization on corruption. Corruption has been a big hindrance to development, it undermines the inflow of foreign direct investment and even affects education. The literature on fiscal decentralization and corruption has conventionally argued that fiscal autonomy for local officials lowers corruption whereas most recent papers have found that fiscal decentralization increases corruption. I identify four possible pathways through which fiscal decentralization affects corruption and address possible reasons for the difference in findings in the literature. Understanding the mechanisms through which fiscal decentralization shapes corruption at the national …

Representation Styles Amongst Establishment And Non-Establishment Parties In Germany, Nicco T. Elie-Pierre

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

The question of representation and its typology is still an ongoing discussion in the literature. There has, however, been a seminal approach, first posited by Hanna Pitkin, discussing a polysematic view of representation. There has, however, been a lack of coverage of how political parties utilize the different forms of representation Pitkin describes. This project studies political posters around the city of Leipzig, Germany, categorizing them based on their displayed messages into the three applicable types of representation (Symbolic, Descriptive, and Substantive). Through this lens, we will analyze how the political parties in Germany use these differing representation styles, and …