Off The Grid: Rural Identity, Environmentalism, And Renewable Energy Policy In Rural New England,
2025
Colby College
Off The Grid: Rural Identity, Environmentalism, And Renewable Energy Policy In Rural New England, Joseph A. Grassi
Honors Theses
This thesis investigates how rural identity, environmental values, and place-based resentment interact to shape support for land use regulation in rural New England. Despite their vulnerability to climate change, rural communities often resist renewable energy development—a pattern commonly attributed to economic concerns or NIMBYism. Using an original survey of over 1,400 New England residents, this study tests six hypotheses through multivariate regression and subgroup analysis. Findings confirm that environmental identity is a strong predictor of support for land use regulation; however, this effect diminishes significantly among rural respondents. Place identity alone is associated with greater policy support, but when combined …
Shared Tracks, Divided Rule: The Role Of Polycentrism In Shaping Public Transportation In U.S. Metropolises,
2025
Colby College
Shared Tracks, Divided Rule: The Role Of Polycentrism In Shaping Public Transportation In U.S. Metropolises, Dev Purohit
Honors Theses
American public transportation is notably less comprehensive and efficient relative to peer nations. The reliance on private automobiles and commercial air travel for routes that can be served by high-speed rail is a uniquely American phenomenon. This inefficiency is deeply rooted in governance structures, where centralized decision-making has often failed to address the complexities of metropolitan transit systems spanning multiple jurisdictions. This project explores polycentric governance as a potential mechanism to address these shortcomings by fostering competition, enhancing collaboration, and promoting localized responsiveness within metropolitan transit systems. By developing an empirical inventory to measure governance polycentricity and comparing transit outcomes …
Shouting Down Democracy: The Role Of The Deeply Engaged In American Political Discourse,
2025
Colby College
Shouting Down Democracy: The Role Of The Deeply Engaged In American Political Discourse, Annaliese Fleck
Honors Theses
In an age of heightened polarization and increasing incivility in politics, a small but influential subset of Americans, known as the deeply engaged have emerged as dominant voices in political dialogue. This thesis investigates who these individuals are, what drives them, and how their behavior impacts democratic participation in the United States. Through a combination of theoretical analysis and original survey data, this study constructs a profile of the deeply engaged and distinguishes them from the general electorate. Drawing on foundational concepts of free speech, including isegoria and parrhesia, and the philosophies of John Stuart Mill and Karl Popper, this …
When Choice Disappears: Voter Cynicism In The Absence Of Competition,
2025
Colby College
When Choice Disappears: Voter Cynicism In The Absence Of Competition, Benjamin J. Kaden
Honors Theses
This thesis explores the democratic consequences of uncontested state legislature elections in the United States, focusing on how the absence of electoral competition influences both voter engagement and political attitudes. While state legislatures wield significant influence over public policy and resource allocation, an increasing number of these elections proceed without meaningful opposition. Drawing on an original survey of 2,775 respondents, this study tests two core hypotheses: first, that uncontested state legislature elections lead to decreased voter engagement, as reflected in voter attitude towards election participation and candidate qualities; and second, that uncontested state legislature elections increase negative attitudes towards government …
Are Cities Still Liberal? An Analysis Of Post-Pandemic Political Change In American Cities,
2025
Colby College
Are Cities Still Liberal? An Analysis Of Post-Pandemic Political Change In American Cities, Olivia Mundy
Honors Theses
This thesis investigates whether American cities are experiencing a political shift to the right in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as suggested by recent media narratives. Drawing on an original national survey of 2,385 respondents conducted in early 2025, the study examines attitudinal and demographic changes among urban residents, with a particular focus on ideology, trust in local government, economic perceptions, and views on race and immigration. Despite anecdotal evidence of conservative gains in urban elections, the findings show no significant trend toward conservatism among urban residents overall. In fact, urban respondents were slightly more likely than their non-urban …
Statement From The Indiana Academy Of The Social Sciences And Board Of Directors,
2025
Valparaiso University
Statement From The Indiana Academy Of The Social Sciences And Board Of Directors
Midwest Social Sciences Journal
No abstract provided.
In Memoriam: Bruce Bigelow, 1943 - 2025,
2025
Butler University
In Memoriam: Bruce Bigelow, 1943 - 2025, Kenneth Colburn
Midwest Social Sciences Journal
No abstract provided.
Mind The Gap: Public Opinion And The Gender Pay Gap In The American States,
2025
Butler University
Mind The Gap: Public Opinion And The Gender Pay Gap In The American States, Ashley C.F. Hutson, Joel Jennings, Gregory Shufeldt
Midwest Social Sciences Journal
Although women earn less than men in all fifty states, some are skeptical of the gender pay gap. In this era of heightened polarization, voters increasingly disagree on established facts and the scientific consensus, such as climate change and the efficacy of vaccines. Utilizing an original survey of 1,075 respondents conducted during the summer of 2022, our findings showed four groups of respondents to be more likely to disagree with the statement that women earn less than men in their state: men, Republicans, conservatives, and those with more negative views toward women. Our findings suggest that worldview, shaped by partisanship, …
Editor-In-Chief's Note,
2025
Indiana University Northwest
Editor-In-Chief's Note, Surekha Rao
Midwest Social Sciences Journal
No abstract provided.
Mission And Editorial Policy,
2025
Valparaiso University
Meme Wars As Socially Situated Learning: Learning In Online Communities Of Hate, Conspiracy, And Insurgency,
2025
Indiana University Kokomo
Meme Wars As Socially Situated Learning: Learning In Online Communities Of Hate, Conspiracy, And Insurgency, Kevin M. Clark
Midwest Social Sciences Journal
Learning is important in a pluralistic democracy, to enable citizens to make informed decisions. However, with the rise of the internet and social media, we need more than ever to understand how learning is shaped by social context and intertwined with issues of identity and belonging. One theoretical framework that addresses these social aspects of learning comes from the work of Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger on socially situated learning in communities of practice. This article focuses on what many would consider to be the darker side of learning—the rise of hate, disinformation/conspiracy, and insurgency in online communities. Specifically, it …
Reviewers And Referees,
2025
Valparaiso University
Volume 28, Issue 1 Full Contents,
2025
Valparaiso University
Volume 28, Issue 1 Full Contents
Midwest Social Sciences Journal
No abstract provided.
George C. Roberts Award Recipients,
2025
Valparaiso University
George C. Roberts Award Recipients
Midwest Social Sciences Journal
No abstract provided.
Exploring Characteristics Of Indiana's Local Park And Recreation Leaders,
2025
Ball State University
Exploring Characteristics Of Indiana's Local Park And Recreation Leaders, Amy L. Gregg, James A. Jones, Halyn Ferris
Midwest Social Sciences Journal
This was an exploratory study about the characteristics of Indiana’s local leaders in parks and recreation. Results of a statewide survey showed different roles of employees and volunteers in local agencies. In managing the supply side of recreation, they reported vast differences in scale of levels of populations served and natural resources managed, such as acres and trails. The Northern, Central and Southern regions were compared for types of local government, communities of different sizes, and nonprofit collaboration. Local leaders represented municipal, township and county providers collaborating with other local community organizations. Results showed that size of community served affected …
Author Biographical Notes,
2025
Valparaiso University
Call For Papers,
2025
Valparaiso University
Pandemics And Partisanship: The Impact Of Political Identity On Public Health Responses,
2025
Indiana University - Kokomo
Pandemics And Partisanship: The Impact Of Political Identity On Public Health Responses, Andy Tuholski
Midwest Social Sciences Journal
This literature review examines the intersection of political partisanship and public health responses during pandemics, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Historically, pandemics such as the Venetian plague (1575-1577) and the Great Plague of London (1665-1666) have elicited responses driven by socioeconomic and health factors. In contrast, the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. was distinctly shaped by pre-existing political affiliations, particularly between conservative and liberal factions. Applying Social Identity Theory (SIT), this review explores how group identity and partisanship influenced pandemic-related behaviors and attitudes. Empirical evidence indicates that Republican-leaning states experienced higher COVID-19 mortality rates, …
Editorial History,
2025
Valparaiso University
Venezuela's And Mexico's Oil Industries: Policy Making Sets The Course,
2025
University of Central Florida
Venezuela's And Mexico's Oil Industries: Policy Making Sets The Course, Camila Gimenez Valero
Honors Undergraduate Theses
The puzzle of Venezuela's crisis is one that researchers often try to understand. How did one of the richest nations in the world become one of the poorest? Venezuela is nowadays seen as a country with political unrest, where people struggle to get by and with a corrupt government. However, this was not always the case. Throughout the 20th century Venezuela had remarkable economic stability. Having discovered the world's largest known oil reserves, the nation's economy quickly developed, and the country also became known for its long-standing democracy. After the election of Hugo Chavez in 1998, Venezuela began to decline …
