2008 Conference Program - Midwest Political Science Association

Saturday, April 5-12:45 pm
Poster 3 A Subservient United States
The United States has maintained a realist world view, thus failing
to evolve to the forefront of future political institutions. The United
States’ role within the international system has subsequently been
redefined.
John P. Diego, Flagler College
Jdiego@flagler.edu
Poster 4 Arab American Interests in Congress: Ethnicity, Constituency,
and 9/11
Scholars have examined descriptive and substantive representation
of minority interests. I build on the existing literature by focusing
on Arab American representation. Studying this group allows me to
test whether 9/11 affected representation.
Nadia Aziz, Clemson University
naziz@g.clemson.edu
Poster 5 The Compatibility of Liberty and the Good
Alasdair MacIntyre’s criticisms of liberal individualism cannot
stand in light of further examination. The functional concept of a
human being he demands as support for ethical claims can in fact be
constructed for liberal individualism.
Ben A. Bryan, Belmont University
bryanb@pop.belmont.edu
Poster 6 Economies of Size in Florida: School District Size and Student
Achievement
I investigate whether Florida's public school districts enjoy
economies of size - as the school districts increase in size, does
student success rise I build upon literature of two fields of social
science concerning organizational size.
William Massengill, Clemson University
wmassen@clemson.edu
Poster 7 Confucianism and the Liberal Democratic Party
I examine the links between Confucian thought and the Liberal
Democratic Party of Japan (LDP). I then use the World Values
Survey to test whether citizens holding Confucian values have
higher support for the LDP.
Andrew J. Redmann, Wheaton College
Andrew.J.Redmann@wheaton.edu
Poster 8 Ireland and the European Union’s Common Agricultural
Policy: Influences and Implications
This study considers the relationship between Irish policy makers
and the social, economic, and political factors that influenced their
position during reform negotiations to the Common Agricultural
Policy of the European Union.
Brittany M. Law, Alma College
09bmlaw@alma.edu
Poster 9 America’s Political Nationalism: The Freedom and Order
Struggle for Political Capital
This paper examines the fundamentally political nature of American
culture and national identity. It extends this aspect of American
‘exceptionalism’ to explain the reaction of Americans to national
threat or crisis and the corresponding impact.
D. Kent Sausaman, Flagler College
dsausaman@flagler.edu
Poster
10
Poster
11
Oil and the Prospect of Democracy in Iraq
Upon examination of the top 15 oil exporting nations, it is clear that
the Iraqi government stands little chance of becoming a healthy,
transparent democracy. One way this can be achieved, however, is
through the use of Natural Wealth Checks.
Jacqueline M. Melillo, Loyola College in Maryland
jmmelillo@loyola.edu
Islam and Authoritarianism: A Replication and Extension
Using New Measures
I re-examine the link between Islam and Authoritarianism discussed
by Fish (2002). I replicate Fish's original results, and extend them
using new measures of democracy developed by Melton, Meserve,
and Pemstein (2007).
Daniel J. Krall, Wheaton College
daniel.krall@gmail.com
Poster
12
Poster
13
Poster
14
Poster
15
Poster
16
Poster
17
The Marginalization of Vietnamese Migrants in South
Louisiana ca. 1970-1980
I'm studying the effects of Vietnamese migration in South
Louisiana, and the tensions that resulted between new and
residential populations, as a result of social structures such as the
Catholic Church and Fisheries Industry.
Amy Theresa Triche, Louisiana State University
atrich6@lsu.edu
Security Policy and Professional Resistance: Libraries and the
Patriot Act
This paper studies librarian decision-making and behaviors in the
wake of the USA PATRIOT Act. It considers the choice librarians
must make to act in accordance with a professional identity or aid in
the achievement of asserted security goals.
Ahna Minge, Macalester College
aminge@macalester.edu
A Comparative Analysis on Immigration in the United States
and Europe
This paper aims to examine the causes and outcomes of the influx of
immigrants in the European Union and the United States from 1995
to 2005.
Stephanie Pavolini, University of Central Florida
Stephpavo88@gmail.com
Public Perceptions of the Environment: The Role of Mass
Media
This paper examines the relationship between TV news coverage of
environmental issues and variations in public concern for the natural
environment in the United States.
Meghan E. Mercier, Univerisity of Missouri, Columbia
memcn3@mizzou.edu
First Lady Influence: Twentieth and Twenty-First Century First
Ladies
This piece examines the influence of 20th and 21st century first
ladies with an original typology, concluding with observed trends
over time, the evolution of the role, and explores the potential of the
position in the future presidencies.
Courtney M. Page, Indiana Wesleyan University
courtney.page@student.indwes.edu
Shaelyn M. McClanahan, Indiana Wesleyan University
shaelyn.mcclanahan@student.indwes.edu
Laurelin M. Weiss, Indiana Wesleyan University
lauren.weiss@student.indwes.edu
Sarah C. Forman, Indiana Wesleyan University
sarah.forman@student.indwes.edu
Al Jazeera English's News Coverage of the Developing World: A
Comparison to the BBC
A comparison of the online news coverage of Al Jazeera English,
the only 24 hour, English language news channel headquartered
in the Middle East, and the BBC concludes there is a positive
correlation between topical and regional news coverage.
Sarah E. Tanbakuchi, University at Buffalo, SUNY
set4@buffalo.edu
Philip Milks, University at Buffalo, SUNY
pdmilks@buffalo.edu
58-107 ROUNDTABLE: WHAT TO EXPECT AS A NEW
FACULTY MEMBER: HELPFUL ADVICE
Room PDR 18 on the 5th Floor, Sat at 12:45 pm
Chair Ashlyn Kuersten, Western Michigan University
ashlyn.kuersten@wmich.edu
Panelist Wendy L. Martinek, Binghamton University, SUNY
martinek@binghamton.edu
Malia Reddick, American Judicature Society
mreddick@ajs.org
Tracy Osborn, University of Iowa
tracy-osborn@uiowa.edu
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