Political Science Commons^™

Editor's Introduction, Isaac Rubenstein, Emma Stroh

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Authors' Biographies

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Religious Accommodations From The Contraceptive Mandate: Sincere Belief Or Political Statement?, Rachel A. Williams

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

In 2014, the Supreme Court made a controversial decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, ruling that for-profit businesses were entitled to religious protections under the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and could seek and receive a religious accommodation from the contraceptive mandate of the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA). This decision split legal scholars who have since debated whether corporations may even qualify as persons under RFRA and what motivated Hobby Lobby and its litigating peers. Why did 48 other businesses litigate alongside Hobby Lobby for a religious accommodation? Should we believe the sincerity of their beliefs or consider …

Combating Inequality: The Value Of Acknowledging Gender In Transitional Justice, Zoe Hovde

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Patriarchal inequalities have become exacerbated in nations occupied by mass violence, conflict, and violations of human rights, such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Colombia. Gender-based violence is often not adequately recognized in processes transitional justice. In this essay, I observe and analyze sexual and gender-based violence in several countries and the ignorance or attention they were given by truth commissions, reparations, and other aspects of transnational justice. I also explore data regarding the aftermath of such violence, including the feminization of poverty and political insecurity. I discovered that recognizing gender when attempting to build reconciliation is a hesitant task …

Shaping Chilean Feminism, Itzel Mendoza

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

The early 1990s are marked by worldwide feminist movements and women’s suffrage. Women mobilized through feminist groups that demanded political rights, marital rights and labor rights. In the case of Chile, advocating for women’s suffrage was an extensive process that required mass unity and mobilization through agitative media. By 1935, one of the most prominent feminist leaders, Elena Cafferena, co-founded The Movement for the Emancipation of Chilean Women (MEMCH) which became a critical actor in the Chilean women's rights battle. This case demonstrates how working women and “elite women” worked in collaboration for diverse demands within the movement. This paper …

Brass’S Model And The Surat Riots Of 1992, Melinda Burgin

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Intercommunal violence in India, especially between the Muslim and Hindu communities, has been a constant cause of conflict within the nation since it achieved independence in 1947. Social scientists have attempted to understand what makes certain communities in India more and less vulnerable to this conflict. Paul Brass’s theory of an institutionalized riot system which involves every level of society in the construction of politically motivated violence, and Ashutosh Varshney’s theory of an integrated civil society being crucial to keeping ethnic conflict at bay are two of the strongest in the field. This paper applies these theories to the 1992 …

German Energy: The People’S Transition, Morgan Tadish

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

After decades of polluting the earth with fossil fuels, our reckless behaviors have finally caught up with us. Among few others, Germany leads the world in unique renewable energy transitions and sustainability solutions to best suit their country and protect the environment. Through scholarly articles, past & current news sources, and various national & world databases, this paper discusses the question: how much of Germany’s energy policy success rests on the back of civil society? In addition to following a strict set of national and international environmental policies and targets, Germany’s strategy towards renewables and sustainability comes from their German …

Cover Art, Sami Curtis

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Lapd Suffers Hiring Shortage Following A Shift In How Angelinos View Police, Nicole Norman

Honors Thesis

This is a news article written about how the nationwide police shortage following the murder of George Floyd has affected the City of Los Angeles. According to a poll done by Suffolk University and the LA Times, about one third of Angelinos believe that the police are performing poorly. However, those who are younger than 35 are more than twice likely to believe that police are performing poorly. Through this article, I will explore the changes that the LAPD is making in order to keep up with a changing social climate and an upcoming workforce that is not interested in …

Women, Populism, Democracy: A Comparative Study Of Democracy And Populism In Turkey And The United States, Ashton Jolley

Honors Theses

The rise of populism is a global phenomenon, and its impact on democracy is a significant concern. Populist leaders typically portray themselves as outsiders and champions of the working class, often using emotive and divisive language to resonate with their supporters. These leaders frequently scapegoat marginalized groups and institutions, categorizing them as distant from the people. Right-wing populism, in particular, emphasizes nationalism, anti-immigrant sentiment, and a rejection of globalism. Leaders often target the perceived threats posed by globalization and the loss of jobs to foreign countries while emphasizing traditional values and gender roles. In Turkey and the United States, religion …

Reforming Illinois K-12 Public Education Through A Four-Pronged Approach, Seth Brooks

Senior Honors Theses

Public education in the United States has produced lackluster results in the past decades. Various forms of school choice have emerged in recent years to combat the poor results seen in the public education system, but these private schools are financially unattainable for many Americans. Bureaucratic overload, city corruption, inequities in funding, and frequent teachers’ strikes have certainly contributed to the destitute state of Illinois’ public education. In this thesis, the attainability of fiscal relief for Illinois families who choose alternative education and the necessity of the state in permitting such alternatives is discussed.

Current school choice policies in the …

Literature And Censorship During Fransisco Franco's Dictatorship Of Spain, Adriana Cuca

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Women In Conflict: The Psychological Effect Of Propaganda In Conflict, Elizabeth Valerio-Boster

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

In conflicts across the world, propaganda is used to encourage people to support causes whether than be freedom, revolution, or political or economic changes. Previous research has shown that propaganda that targets preexisting notions is particularly effective. Women have been found to be particularly susceptible to propaganda that has emotional implications. My research has been conducted to discover if propaganda that is centered around female empowerment is more effective in getting women to participate in conflict. I use accounts from women participating in conflicts to learn about the roles they play, and the number of women involved. These numbers are …

Arming Development: Measuring The Effects Of Development Aid On Armed Conflict. An Analysis On West Africa, 1990-2020, Alyk Collins

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Did the securitization of the development aid to West Africa lead to an increase in armed conflict and one-sided violence? The goal of this research is to provide evidence that development aid allocation following the September 11th terror attacks had undergone securitization that led to an increase in casualties from armed conflict and one-sided violence in West Africa. I argue the Global War on Terror shifted development aid allocation from development projects to security projects in countries that were geostrategic partners. My approach is based on the Security Complex theory conceptualization of development aid in West African countries. Using both …

Power Transition Theory And The Determinants Of Regional Integration Agreement Accession And Exit, James Langford

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

While the phenomenon of regional integration has been paid substantial attention, the question of what causes states to accede to or exit from regional integration agreements (RIAs) has not. I draw from power transition theory to explain membership in RIAs, hypothesizing that states accede to an RIA when there is a high level of both power preponderance and status quo satisfaction, and exit when the levels of those variables are both low. I employ large-N quantitive analysis to test my two hypotheses. I find weak support for the hypothesis on RIA exit and offer concluding remarks on what the results …

Conflict Minerals: 3tg Minerals And Low-Scale Violence In The Democratic Republic Of Congo, Jesus Tlaloc Maldonado

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Existing literature on resource curse and conflict minerals tends to focus on violent events that result in large amounts of fatalities. These studies seemingly exclude from their analysis populations which experience violence at less fatal levels, like sexual violence, violence against protestors, and child-labor. This thesis studies the relationship between 3TG minerals (tin, tungsten, tantalum, gold) and "low-scale violence" fatalities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This study defines low-scale violence (LSV) as violence which results in no more than 24 fatalities per event. In contrast, high-scale violence (HSV) results in 25 or more fatalities per event. Through quantitative …

Effects Of Witnessing Terrorist Attacks On Perceived Causes Of Terrorism And Support For Security Measures, Austin Trevor Sullivan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The following research aims to understand how individuals who were aware of, and affected by, terrorist attacks at the time they took place perceive the causes of terrorism and support security measures. It is hypothesized that the extent to which one â??witnessedâ?? attacks characterized by more traditional forms of terrorism, such as bombings and religiously motivated and affiliated perpetrators (Wave four), versus new forms of terrorism, such as shootings and lone wolves (Wave five), would be affected by the age of the witness. This research proposes an indirect pathway from age to "witnessing" terrorist attacks to attributions for the attacks …

The Impact Of Rule Of Law And Property Rights On Development And Economic Growth: A Comparative Analysis Of Cameroon And Côte D'Ivoire, Raoul Tayou Tayou

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The issues of economic growth and development occupy a central place in the studies of underdeveloped or developing countries. Many solutions have been proposed, including foreign aid or institutional reforms. This last aspect is the subject of this research, particularly the rule of law and the property rights.Analyzing what is the impact of these two institutions on economic growth and development is at the center of my dynamic. Over a period from 1960 to 2022, I carry out a comparative study of the growth, and development trajectories of two countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which share the same demographics: Cameroon, and …

Opportunities And Challenges From Major Disasters Lessons Learned Of Long-Term Recovery Group Members, Eduardo E. Landaeta

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Natural hazards caused by the alteration of weather patterns expose populations at risk, with an outcome of economic loss, property damage, personal injury, and loss of life. The unpredictability of disasters is a topic of concern to most governments. Disaster policies need more attention in aligning mitigation opportunities with disaster housing recovery (DHR). The effect of flooding, which primarily impacts housing in coastal areas, is one of the most serious issues associated with natural hazard. Flooding has a variety of causes and implications, especially for vulnerable populations who are exposed to it. DHR is complex, involving the need for effective …

A Leftist Political Surge: How An Authoritarian Past Helped Spawn A Modern Political Movement In Spain And Portugal, Jared Sykes

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Since the 2008 financial crisis ravaged the EU, Spain and Portugal struggled economically to recover, especially as forces in the EU, the European Central Bank (ECB), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) enforced bailout packages conditional on the implementation of austerity. Additionally, Spanish and Portuguese society have continuously struggled with a history of authoritarian legacies, of the Franco and Salazar dictatorships that ruled the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 50 years. As outrage continued, protest movements, most notably the Spanish 15-M Movement, fueled voter dissatisfaction. Eventually, many prominent figures from the protest movement founded or brough momentum to left-wing political forces, …