Political Science Commons^™

Negosiasi Diplomasi Budaya K-Pop Di Indonesia: Studi Kasus Boikot Penggemar Ateez, Dhannya Febryana

Multikultura

This study examines the boycott by Indonesian fans against the K-pop group ATEEZ as part of the dynamics of South Korea’s cultural diplomacy in Southeast Asia. Building on the understanding of K-pop as an important instrument of soft power in South Korea’s cultural diplomacy strategy, this research highlights how regional audiences do not always passively accept such practices. Using a qualitative approach with digital discourse analysis, the study analyzes boycott-related discourses circulating on social media and in online news coverage to explore the narratives, meanings, and cultural implications of this action. The fan boycott is not merely an expression of …

Nonprofit Leaders’ Perceived Top Struggles: A Qualitative Study With Descriptive Quantification Of Capacity, Funding, And Operational Barriers, Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Nonprofit organizations are widely understood to operate under conditions of persistent constraint, yet less is known about how nonprofit leaders themselves perceive and prioritize their struggles. This study presents findings from a qualitative analysis with descriptive quantification of open-ended responses from 77 nonprofit leaders who were asked to identify their biggest challenges. Using thematic coding, frequency counts, and order-based sequencing analysis, the study distinguishes between perceived struggles, immediate needs, and capacity-focused structural blockers. While funding and financial sustainability were the most frequently cited perceived struggles, capacity-related challenges—including board governance, staffing and volunteers, compliance burden, operational systems, and leadership bandwidth—emerged as …

Enhancing Assessment Tools For Foster Youth: A Phenomenological Approach To Preparing For Independent Living, Karen M. Armstead

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Abstract

Foster youth transitioning to independent living often face challenges that extend beyond technical life skills. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 10 former foster youth (ages 18–21) regarding readiness for independent living and the adequacy of preparation they received. Semi-structured interviews were guided by an 18-question instrument reflecting real-world transition domains commonly addressed by nonprofit independent living programs. Thematic analysis yielded three primary themes: (1) lack of preparation, (2) emotional strain and abandonment, and (3) life skills training. Findings indicate that readiness is multidimensional and shaped by practical preparation, emotional readiness, and relational support. For nonprofit …

Russian Linguistic Policy In The Post-Soviet World, Payton G. Deichler

The Dialogue

This paper examines the role of the Russian language as an instrument of soft power in the post-Soviet space, arguing that its geopolitical influence extends beyond demographic prevalence to the institutional frameworks through which it is promoted and mediated. Rather than functioning solely as a neutral medium of communication, Russian operates as an infrastructural component of influence that shapes access to media ecosystems, educational systems, and professional mobility across former Soviet republics. Drawing on the concept of a “Monopoly of Interpretation,” this study proposes that the centralized, state-linked promotion of Russian enables the consolidation of political narratives within shared linguistic …

The Family And Individual Freedoms: Thomas Hobbes' Complex Relationship With Liberalism, Max Esposito

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

In this article, the author argues that although Hobbes is often associated with authoritarianism, his account of familial dominion in Leviathan reveals important liberal elements, particularly his emphasis on individual consent, personal autonomy, and the equality of the sexes in determining authority. By using the family as an analogy for political rule, Hobbes shows that sovereign power ultimately derives from individuals who authorize it, even if later constrained by the demands of self‑preservation and majority decision-making. The paper concludes that Hobbes cannot be fully classified as a liberal thinker, but his framework contains liberal ends embedded within illiberal mechanisms, making …

A Begrudging Acknowledgement: An Analysis Of The Relationship Between The Dprk And Rok, Reese Dammers

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

This article argues that contemporary DPRK–ROK relations are best understood as a relationship structured by mutual fear, deep historical grievances, and profound distrust, rooted in the legacies of Japanese occupation, ideological division, and the unresolved Korean War. Although North Korea’s nuclear program has intensified South Korean insecurity, the paper shows that Pyongyang’s behavior is largely defensive rather than aggressively expansionist, and that past opportunities for invasion went unexploited. Recent gestures of engagement—such as sports diplomacy during the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics—suggest that while reconciliation remains difficult, cautious and incremental improvement in inter‑Korean relations is possible.

Religion In Hobbes’ Political Project: God And Secularism In The Leviathan, Lea Mancarella

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

This article argues that Hobbes views religion as a fundamental threat to political stability because competing religious authorities and claims of divine revelation undermine obedience to the sovereign and risk returning society to a state of civil war. Through close readings of Leviathan, it shows how Hobbes reframes religion as a human invention rooted in fear, critiques the political power of the Church, and ultimately uses contradictions about God’s nature to suggest that divine law cannot be rationally known. The author concludes that Hobbes’s political project requires a secular commonwealth in which religion has no public role, ensuring that civil …

The Fall Of France And Public Opinion During The 1940 United States Presidential Election, Ethan Moyer

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

This article argues that the fall of France in 1940 triggered a profound shift in American public opinion, weakening long‑standing isolationist attitudes and creating fertile ground for Franklin Roosevelt’s internationalist agenda. Drawing on contemporary polling and political developments, it shows how period effects, elite signaling, and coordinated media messaging converged to move the United States toward greater engagement in global security. Ultimately, the study demonstrates how Roosevelt leveraged both crisis and persuasion to redefine the boundaries of mainstream foreign policy in the 1940 election cycle.

From Superstition To Stability: Hobbes On Religion And Political Order, Erin Schulz

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

In this article, the author argues that Hobbes treats religion as a profound political problem because its psychological origins, susceptibility to manipulation, and competing claims to authority can fracture obedience and destabilize the commonwealth. Through a systematic reinterpretation of miracles, prophecy, spirits, and Scripture, Hobbes strips religious authorities of independent power and places all public religious meaning under the sovereign’s control. The paper concludes that Hobbes does not abolish religion but domesticates it, transforming faith into a politically safe instrument that reinforces unity, obedience, and civil peace.

Why Right-Wing Populism Endured In Hungary But Collapsed In Brazil: A Comparative Institutional Analysis, Cooper Fensterstock

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

The main argument of this article is that right‑wing populism has endured in Hungary but collapsed in Brazil because of fundamental differences in institutional design, party cohesion, media control, and the strength of horizontal accountability. Orbán leveraged Hungary’s parliamentary fusion of powers, disciplined Fidesz party, and near-total media dominance to consolidate illiberal rule, while Bolsonaro was constrained by Brazil’s fragmented presidential system, weak party ties, independent judiciary, and pluralistic press. Through this comparative analysis, the paper shows how structural conditions—not just populist rhetoric—shape the durability of democratic backsliding.

Final Report: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), Chelsea Livingstone

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

The article evaluates the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), arguing that while it is one of the nation’s most effective anti-hunger policies—reducing food insecurity, lifting millions out of poverty, and stabilizing household resources—it continues to produce uneven outcomes due to administrative burdens, geographic disparities, and barriers faced by rural, immigrant, and mixed‑status households. Using Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework, the paper explains how SNAP’s expansions and limitations reflect shifting alignments among problem recognition, feasible policy solutions, and political will. It concludes with evidence‑based recommendations to improve equity and access, including streamlined enrollment, regionally adjusted benefits, strengthened outreach, and reduced stigma to …

Can Counterterrorism Be Taken Too Far?, Charles Tracy

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

The article evaluates three major counterterrorism tools—surveillance, torture, and drone warfare—through the lens of Just War Theory, arguing that each raises distinct ethical and strategic dilemmas. It concludes that surveillance can be morally permissible when tightly regulated, torture is indefensible both legally and morally, and drone strikes are conditionally ethical only under strict oversight that minimizes civilian harm and ensures accountability. Overall, the paper contends that effective counterterrorism is possible without abandoning human rights, but only when transparency, proportionality, and legal constraints guide state action.

Maritime Piracy In The Straits Of Malacca And Singapore, Brian Kenny

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

This article examines the sharp rise in maritime piracy in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, arguing that the surge stems from the convergence of structural vulnerabilities—dense shipping traffic, poverty-driven motivated offenders, and limited state enforcement capacity—now intensified by global supply chain disruptions and new technologies. It shows that piracy, though currently less violent than in past decades, poses significant economic and security risks for Southeast Asia and the broader global economy. The paper concludes that effective long‑term mitigation requires both strengthened regional maritime cooperation and domestic reforms addressing the socioeconomic roots of piracy, particularly in Indonesia.

Restrictive Voting Laws In The United States, Brian Kenny

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

In this article, the author argues that the recent wave of restrictive voting laws in the United States is driven less by genuine concerns about voter fraud and more by Republican efforts to counteract demographic and political changes that disadvantage the party electorally. Reviewing political science research, it shows that while some restrictions—especially felon disenfranchisement—clearly suppress turnout among marginalized groups, the overall electoral effects of most laws remain mixed due to backlash mobilization and uneven implementation. The paper concludes that despite uncertain partisan gains, these restrictions pose significant risks to democratic equality and require both short‑term mobilization and long‑term structural …

The Equal Pay Act Of 1963, Alyssa Dawson

The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations

In this article, the author argues that while the Equal Pay Act of 1963 marked an important early milestone in addressing gender‑based wage discrimination, its narrow “equal work” standard, ambiguous language, and employer‑friendly judicial interpretations have limited its long‑term effectiveness. Through policy analysis and case law, it shows how the Act’s incremental design, business‑driven compromises, and failure to address structural and intersectional causes of pay disparity have left significant gaps—particularly for women of color and workers in emerging sectors like the gig economy. The paper concludes that meaningful progress requires strengthening existing enforcement mechanisms and pursuing new, adaptive policies that …

Hidden Barriers: Enforcement Asymmetry And The Political Economy Of U.S.–Mexico Food Trade And The Cattle Industry, Sabina Prieto, Chris Jackson

Honors Thesis

This project examines how enforcement irregularities in Mexican food safety regulation affect small exporters’ ability to access U.S. markets. On paper, agricultural trade is regulated by laws on food quality, certification, and logistics. In practice, it is how those rules are enforced. In Mexico, big firms and producer associations tend to gain steady support and easier certification, while smaller producers face delays, rejections, or inconsistent oversight that make it much harder to compete. This study uses a comparative case study approach to analyze how similar industries produce different outcomes in market access. By tracing key events such as disease outbreaks, …

Structural Corruption And Political Development In Arizona: Growth, Governance, And Accountability, 1912-1980, Kaitlin D'Amico

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation argues that corruption in twentieth-century Arizona flourished because the regulatory structures created during the Progressive era contained foundational vulnerabilities that were exposed and exploited by Sunbelt-era economic growth. While scholars have tended to treat Arizona’s corruption scandals as episodic, this study demonstrates that they were the predictable outcome of institutional weaknesses embedded at statehood. Covering Arizona’s political structures and identity from statehood in 1912 through the post-Bolles reform era ending in 1980, the dissertation focuses on institutional development while using Don Bolles’s investigations and 1976 assassination as a focal point. This study draws primarily on contemporary newspaper reporting, …

China-Canada Resource Diplomacy: New Era Of Land Grabbing, Valdrin Dragusha

Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections

This paper examines the evolving economic relationship between China and Canada, particularly in the context of China's transition from a strictly social economy to an authoritarian socialist market economy. It highlights the implications of China's Going Out Policy initiated in 2000, aimed at securing vital natural resources amidst growing domestic demands driven by rapid economic expansion. The paper analyzes China's significant demand for resources, its sustainable development policies, and the changing dynamics of land acquisitions, particularly in relation to Canada, which is perceived as a strategic investment destination due to its abundant natural resources and technological advancements in clean energy. …

The Game Pattern And Related Thoughts In The Implementation Of The U.S. Intelligence Reform And Terrorism Prevention Act, Zhongjian Hu, Peng Cao

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] To summarize the implementation of the US Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act(IRTPA), and to comprehensively examine the contemporary disputes surrounding the IRTPA,and the power expansion and checks and balances of US intelligence agencies, is beneficial for further understanding the evolution of the US intelligence legal framework and its impact on the national intelligence system and mechanisms. [Method/process] This paper, from the perspective of stakeholder theory, combines methods of literature analysis and case study to summarize and analyze the basic situation, development process, and contradictory disputes of IRTPA. [Result/conclusion] The IRPTA addresses the systemic governance of intelligence dysfunction issues …

Considering Moderating Forces As A Critical Lens For Understanding The Internationalization Of Higher Education, Jonah M. Otto

Critical Internationalization Studies Review

No abstract provided.