Ethnic/Racial Representation In Leadership Positions In Us School Districts, 2002-2014: Are School Districts Achieving Parity?,
2025
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Ethnic/Racial Representation In Leadership Positions In Us School Districts, 2002-2014: Are School Districts Achieving Parity?, Melissa A. Taylor, Larra Rucker, Valarie H. Hunt, Brinck Kerr
Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations
Objective A representative public education workforce has substantive benefits for underserved groups. While research finds considerable differences in ethnic/racial representation among public bureaucrats, little research examines representation within the public education workforce. Methods We use US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEO-5 data to measure the levels of representation in public school district jobs among Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites (non-Hispanic). Results Based on the analysis of 4253 US districts for 2002 through 2014, we find Hispanic and Black underrepresentation among administrators, principals, assistant principals, and classroom teachers. Based on new-hire employees, we observe improvement in Black and Hispanic representation. District size …
A Democracy In Question: Policy Failures, Institutional Weakness, And Bangladesh’S Evolving Global Standing,
2025
Boise State University
A Democracy In Question: Policy Failures, Institutional Weakness, And Bangladesh’S Evolving Global Standing, Omme Habiba
Boise State University Theses and Dissertations
Democracy in Bangladesh has fluctuated since its independence, shaped by governance failures, institutional weaknesses, and socioeconomic factors. While the country has experienced economic growth, challenges such as electoral irregularities, judicial inefficiency, and corruption continue to undermine democratic stability. Despite these issues, Bangladesh's global democracy rankings present mixed trends, raising questions about the relationship between economic development, inequality, and governance. This study examines how policy failures and institutional weaknesses influence Bangladesh’s democracy rankings and explores the role of income inequality, using Frederick Solt’s SWIID dataset. A mixed-methods approach integrates quantitative analysis of democracy indices, economic indicators, and regression models with qualitative …
Concurrently Implementing Islam And Democracy In Afghanistan: Failure Causes And Future Prospects.,
2025
University of Louisville
Concurrently Implementing Islam And Democracy In Afghanistan: Failure Causes And Future Prospects., Mohammad Riaz Nassiry
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Islam and democracy have been widely considered incompatible, especially in Muslim-majority countries. This thesis, with a contextual focus on Afghanistan, looks into the failure of the concurrent implementation of Islam and democracy in that country. The thesis takes a nuanced perspective and proposes a theory in which institutions (laws and regulations) and education play a prominent role in consolidating Islam and democracy. The research employs a mixed-method research design, with an aim to explore the influence of constitutional design and public education in shaping democratic outcomes within Islamic contexts. The findings reveal that Afghanistan’s constitution and laws were broadly compatible …
A Fragile New World: An Analysis Of The History, Present, And Future Of The U.S. Global Fragility Act,
2025
Chapman University
A Fragile New World: An Analysis Of The History, Present, And Future Of The U.S. Global Fragility Act, Declan F. Coakley
International Studies (MA) Theses
In 2019, the U.S. Congress passed the Global Fragility Act with bipartisan support. (GFA). The act aimed to reform U.S. foreign aid and development, focusing on stabilization initiatives that proactively address the root causes of conflict before they escalate into full-blown violence. Despite the significant implications of the GFA for both domestic and international foreign policy, extant research examining the novel legislation remains limited and disjointed in its examination. This paper builds on previous studies by combining content analysis and qualitative interviews with a diverse group of professionals within the foreign aid sector to offer a comprehensive analysis of the …
Contracted Wars, Compromised Oversight: Private Military Companies In Iraq, Afghanistan, And The Decline Of U.S. Accountability Standards,
2025
Chapman University
Contracted Wars, Compromised Oversight: Private Military Companies In Iraq, Afghanistan, And The Decline Of U.S. Accountability Standards, Brianna N. Buzzell
International Studies (MA) Theses
The Global War on Terror, beginning in 2001, started U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, facilitating the expansion of Private Military Contractors (PMCs) through a combination of operational necessity, strategic policy decisions, and systemic oversight failures. Despite their growing role, PMCs operate in legal and oversight grey zones. Despite a growing body of work on PMC accountability, there remains little agreement on how U.S. military interventions created conditions for their proliferation. This paper examines how U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan facilitated the expansion of PMC influence, resulting in reduced oversight and accountability for both the U.S. government …
From Basel (1989) To Busan (2024): Developments And Contradictions In The Global Plastic Waste Trade,
2025
University of Mississippi
From Basel (1989) To Busan (2024): Developments And Contradictions In The Global Plastic Waste Trade, Megan E. Hughes
Honors Theses
In 1989, the international community convened in Basel to adopt groundbreaking, legally binding legislation on the transboundary movement of hazardous waste. Plastic waste was notably absent from the initial Basel Convention due to the perceived economic value in plastic recycling despite social, economic, and environmental harms. Consequently, the transboundary sale of plastic waste for recycling– known as the Global Plastic Waste Trade (GPWT)– has proceeded largely unregulated, enabling unsustainable plastic consumption while exacerbating environmental justice divides between developed and developing nations. Recent commitments in the GPWT, such as the European Commission Circular Economy Action Plan (2015), China’s National Sword policy …
Fiction For Feminist Jurisprudence: The Power Of The Literary Reality In Feminist Legal Scholarship,
2025
University of New England
Fiction For Feminist Jurisprudence: The Power Of The Literary Reality In Feminist Legal Scholarship, Elia M. O'Hara
All Theses And Dissertations
This paper asks what can it mean when we take women's stories and their realities seriously and allow them to paint a more nuanced portrayal of life and law? I will argue that a feminist legal theory — which aims to recognize and remedy the subordination of women seen through the legal system — needs a literary counterpart. Furthermore, I will argue that subtleties and nuances that make literature so alluring to us can also benefit in part from the structure and clarity that feminist jurisprudence can offer. One of my central aims is to show that we can create …
Discovering The True Meaning Of Federalist No. 27,
2025
Utah State University
Discovering The True Meaning Of Federalist No. 27, Mckenzie Pedersen-Campbell
Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects
The Federalist Papers are widely known as they helped explain the Constitution and gather support for its ratification. However, what they mean is not always clear. This is problematic, especially when Supreme Court Justices look to the Federalist Papers to help them make decisions. A particularly fascinating example of this problem arose in the case Printz v. United States (1997). Both the majority and dissent argued that their interpretation was supported by Federalist No. 27. That leads to the question of what Federalist No. 27 actually means. By looking at the context surrounding Alexander Hamilton (the author) and previous Supreme …
Voting For Winners And Losers In A Hybrid Regime: How Thailand's 2023 Election Shaped Voter Opinion,
2025
Singapore Management University
Voting For Winners And Losers In A Hybrid Regime: How Thailand's 2023 Election Shaped Voter Opinion, Jacob Ricks, Allen Hicken
Research Collection School of Social Sciences
Research in Western Democracies suggests voting has substantive impacts on how one feels about democracy and state institutions. Voting for winners leads to positive feelings while voting for losers has the opposite effect. How, though, do voters interpret electoral results in a system prone to authoritarian intervention? Thailand's 2023 election offers a unique opportunity to examine how voting in a hybrid regime can impact voter opinion. Using a pre- and postelection survey, we demonstrate that, like elections in democracies, an election in a hybrid regime can have a significant impact on voter opinions. When pro-democracy voters win an election in …
State Legislature Demographics And Anti-Transgender Legislation,
2025
Utah State University
State Legislature Demographics And Anti-Transgender Legislation, Sophie Christensen
Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects
Starting in 2015, anti-transgender bills have been introduced in state legislatures in exponentially increasing numbers, with a sharp uptick in 2020 and numbers that nearly doubled every year since then. These bills concern a wide variety of issues, from sports participation for transgender adolescents to drag bans to restrictions on bathroom usage. This paper finds that only a small percentage of the bills are passed into law, indicating that passing laws is less important to legislators than introducing bills. Given these intentions, this paper seeks to analyze the demographic makeup of chambers that introduce and pass these bills to understand …
Chess Not Checkers: A Contemporary Analysis On Judicial Retirement And Lingering Justices In The Modern U.S. Supreme Court,
2025
University at Albany, State University of New York
Chess Not Checkers: A Contemporary Analysis On Judicial Retirement And Lingering Justices In The Modern U.S. Supreme Court, Nic Feldman
Political Science
In an era where the Court is particularly partisan, Justices choosing to stay on longer due to these motivators is lowering the legitimacy the Court has with the general public. First, partisan effects and interests are explored in regard to how the Court has gotten partisan and the effect that has on judicial retirement. Then, interest groups and their effect on judicial retirement is looked into. Next, it is shown why judicial retirement is significant, and the factor that these external forces play into it is explained. Finally, some recommendations for change regarding the High Court, since there is reform …
The Effects Of The Expanded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance On Non-Standard Workers' Financial And Mental Wellbeing,
2025
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
The Effects Of The Expanded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance On Non-Standard Workers' Financial And Mental Wellbeing, Juhyun Bae
Political Science Faculty Publications
During COVID-19, for the first time in U.S. history, Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits were extended to non-standard workers who are not typically eligible for that. Given the exclusion from the social security system, this offers an important opportunity to investigate such benefits on their economic and emotional security. To estimate it, I analyze staggered difference-in-differences and triple difference models using the Household Pulse Survey. I found that the early termination of the expanded pandemic UI program led to increases in financial and mental difficulties among residents, especially non-standard workers with more difficulty in paying expenses and depression. These findings suggest …
Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Foster Youth Independent Living Programs In The State Of California,
2025
California State University, San Bernardino
Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Foster Youth Independent Living Programs In The State Of California, Ingrid Flores
Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations
Foster youth transitioning into adulthood often confront a myriad of challenges stemming from limited social capital and unstable support systems. The transition out of foster care, particularly for Transitional Age Youth (TAY), is fraught with barriers including disconnection from familial ties, inadequate knowledge regarding higher education, financial instability, unemployment, and housing insecurity. In 2021, approximately 4,920 foster children aged out of the system, facing the option to participate in extended care programs designed to facilitate their transition into independent living. Despite these programs, many youths struggle to achieve self-sufficiency. Key legislation, including the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and …
Unintended Consequences: How Direct Cash Payments To Families Experiencing Poverty Lowered Child Poverty Rates In The United States,
2025
California State University, San Bernardino
Unintended Consequences: How Direct Cash Payments To Families Experiencing Poverty Lowered Child Poverty Rates In The United States, Wayne Dunn
Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations
Child poverty has adverse effects for the children who experience it and it has long term social and economic consequences into adulthood. This policy analysis looks at the policy choices America has made in addressing child poverty and what effects, if any, those policies have had. After reviewing traditional in-kind policy options for addressing child poverty, this article focuses on the decreases in the child poverty rate that occurred with the passage of pandemic era legislation that provided direct cash assistance to all Americans. Because the assistance programs only happened in two consecutive years and were terminated at the end …
The Impact Of Absolute Education On Young Voter Turnout,
2025
Utah State University
The Impact Of Absolute Education On Young Voter Turnout, Reagan Roark
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present
American civic education continually proves to need attention and reform. This research evaluates whether implementing specific teaching strategies at the high school level impacts a student's future political participation; specifically, to more clearly outline whether a high school level civics curriculum directly impacts a student's likelihood to cast a voting ballot in midterm and presidential elections within six years of graduation. This paper aims to understand better if teaching and/or education reform is effective in helping future generations and the democratic fate of our country. In this study, we measure the current state civic graduation requirements compared with the state's …
Deterring Gray Zone Activity In A Strategic Flashpoint: U.S. Freedom Of Navigation Operations And China’S Maritime Militias,
2025
Utah State University
Deterring Gray Zone Activity In A Strategic Flashpoint: U.S. Freedom Of Navigation Operations And China’S Maritime Militias, Joseph D. Potter
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present
In today’s complex world, nations often use irregular forces, such as militias, to achieve political goals without escalating conflicts. This study examines how the United States of America uses its Navy’s Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea to influence the behavior of Chinese maritime militias. These militias are involved in activities such as harassment, assault, and other aggressive or deceptive actions. By analyzing data from 2012 to 2024, this research discovered 239 incidents and discovers that these militias reduce their confrontational activities during Freedom of Navigation Operations to avoid direct conflict while continuing their broader objectives in …
Third Parties As A Matter Of Rhetoric: The Development Of Third Party News Coverage, 1890-2020,
2025
University at Albany, State University of New York
Third Parties As A Matter Of Rhetoric: The Development Of Third Party News Coverage, 1890-2020, Aedan Perry
Political Science
There has been a lot of debate in academia over the reasons that third parties have traditionally fared poorly in the United States. Such explanations have largely ignored discussion of how the public's perception of third parties have changed over the course of 120 years' worth of elections and political evolution. By first taking a broad look at the prevalence of key terminology, and then drawing connections between the coverage of various campaigns, it can be noted that while third parties have lost a significant amount of esteem, the two party system itself has also declined relative to the mid …
The Effects Of Political Polarization On Congressional Oversight,
2025
University at Albany, State University of New York
The Effects Of Political Polarization On Congressional Oversight, Jason Aguayza-Palaguachi
Political Science
The increasing political polarization in the United States has had affected the relationship between the Democratic and Republican Parties and their ability to work together so they can govern the country effectively. While numerous scholars have previously conducted research on political polarization, one important aspect that requires further research is the extent that polarization has affected the role of congressional oversight. In this study, I will examine the congressional committee investigations of the Iran-Contra Affair and the 2012 Benghazi attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi. The analysis of newspaper articles, media reports, voting records, and public statements will reveal …
An Analysis Of Climate Change Communication In The Modern World: What Works And What Doesn’T,
2025
University at Albany, State University of New York
An Analysis Of Climate Change Communication In The Modern World: What Works And What Doesn’T, Erin Donnellon
Political Science
Effective climate change communication is a broad and widely researched topic, attempting to address how to communicate the issue of climate change in a way that will not only lead people to believe in and to care about it, but also to act on the changing climate. While individual action is progress made, collective action is more effective and more often the goal of this communication. Climate change is consistently considered to be one of the most critical political issues due to its time sensitivity and exponentially increasing, drastic results. Scientists have agreed that climate change is an impending and …
Allen V. Milligan And Predicting Louisiana V. Callais,
2025
University at Albany, State University of New York
Allen V. Milligan And Predicting Louisiana V. Callais, Noah Kasprzak
Political Science
In its 2021 docket, the United States Supreme Court would take on the case Allen v. Milligan from the Eleventh Circuit in the United States Court of Appeals. This case surrounded the new Congressional map that Alabama had drawn following the 2020 Census, which would be in effect from the 2022 House of Representatives Elections until 2030. In this map, a single majority-minority district was drawn of the seven total, despite nearly 1 in 3 Alabamians belonging to a racial minority. Voters and several organizations would challenge this new Congressional map on the grounds of it violating Section 2 of …
