2011 Conference
19th Annual Illinois State University Conference for Students of Political Science
Conference Program
Bone Student Center
Normal , Illinois
April 20, 2011
Registration: 8 - 11:45 am
Guidelines for Presenters, Chairs, and Discussants
Participating Universities:
Alabama A&M University, American University, Augustana College Ball State University, California State University, East Bay, Calvin College, DePaul University, Eastern Illinois University, Eureka College, Illinois State University, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Marquette University, Monmouth College, National Chengchi University, Portland State University, Roger Williams University, Trinity University, Truman State University, University of Chicago, University of Maine, University of Missouri-St. Louis, University of Puget Sound, University of San Francisco, University of Toronto, Western Illinois University, Western Kentucky University, Westminster College
SESSION 1: 8:30 -10:00am
Panel 1A: Civil Society and the People's Republic of China
Spotlight Room
Chair: David Becker, Illinois State University
Discussant: Emmanuel Balogun, Western Illinois University
Xiaoyi Hu, Illinois State University
The Effects of Political Participation on Political Efficacy: An Analysis of China's 2005 Survey on Self-Governance at the Village Level
Ching Shih, Illinois State University / National Chengchi University
Regionalism under international regime: The trend of economic integration in East Asia
Elyse Tompkins, Roger Williams University
Opposites Attract: The Fusion of Confucianism and the Qin Dynasty's Legalism in the People's Republic of China Today
Khin Chan Mye Min Thu, Westminster College
Role of Civil Society in China and Burma
Panel 1B: European Policy Issues
Old Main
Chair: Renee Prunty, Illinois State University
Discussant: Jacob Alonso, University of Chicago
Berenice Martinez, Monmouth College
Work in France
Patricia Padurean, University of Chicago
The European Union and Nationalism: A Policy of Nonaction
Kristin Bail, Westminster College
Piecing Together the Immigration Puzzle: Immigration and the EU
Panel 1C: Political Economy
1st Floor West Lounge
Chair: Laura Gasperik, Illinois State University
Discussant: Emily Moore, Westminster College
Jennifer Hess, Monmouth College
Child Labor
Mark Hoyert, Monmouth College
Why the Weimar Republic Failed
Minjae Kim, University of Chicago
Defining the New Korean State: Examining the Recomposition of the Korean Economic State after the Asian Financial Crisis
Adam Carlson and Cole Eastman, DePaul University
State Building and Constitutional Design in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Panel 1D: Political Economy
Founder's Suite
Chair: Margaret Anderson, Illinois State University
Discussant: Robert Helbig, American University
Katherine Dumeer, Roger Williams University
How to Calm an Explosive Situation: Nuclear Peace Networking in the Middle East
Sarah Backhaus, Truman State University
Defense Pacts and their Influence on Nuclear Proliferation: A Quantitative Analysis
David Showalter, University of Chicago
Drone Strikes and the Discourse of Ungovernability in Pakistan's Tribal Regions
John Laymon III, Sarah Scott, and Yenmi Tang, Trinity University
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Gulf War Three Veterans
SESSION 2: 10:15-11:45am
Panel 2A: Human Rights
Spotlight Room
Chair: Olivia Leonard, Monmouth College
Discussant: Katherine Dumeer, Roger Williams University
James Phiri, Westminster College
Has Silent Genocide Occurred in Eastern Congo?
Holly Thomas, Eastern Illinois University
The Process of 'Clean' Passage
Panel 2B: U.S. Politics and Policies
Old Main
Chair: Justin Thompson, Illinois State University
Discussant: Jake Johnson, Illinois State University
Brian Harney, Illinois State University
Weeding Out Public Opinion: A Study of Marijuana
Kiara Pierce, Monmouth College
Reduce Gun Violence on Chicago's Westside
Samantha Hamilton, Roger Williams University
Use of Social Media in Presidential Campaigns: Does Social Media Have an Effect on the Behaviors of Voters Aged 18-29?
Panel 2C: Foreign Policy and International Relations
1st Floor West Lounge
Chair: Juliana Quintero, Illinois State Universtiy
Discussant: David Showalter, University of Chicago
Robert Helbig, American University, Washington, D.C.
Defining its Future, Engaging its Public: NATO's New Strategic Concept as a Tool for Survival
Emmanuel Balogun, Western Illinois University
Critique of Foreign Aid Toward Education in Sub Saharan Africa
Panel 2D: Political Theory
Founders Suite
Chair: Casey Coker, Illinois State University
Discussant: Ben Hansen, Illinois State University
Joshua Bowman, The Catholic University of America
Quentin Skinner's the Age of Reformation and the Medieval Legacy in Modern Political Thought (removed)
Jacob Alonso, University of Chicago
Testing Hegemonic Preservation Beyond Judicial Review: A New Theory of Political Insurance Through Rights Implementation
Brandon Sward, University of Chicago
A Thrasymachean Problem: Constitutionalism in The Republic and The Laws
Emily Moore, Westminster College
Denmark, Happiness, and the Rawlsian Conception of Social Justice
Luncheon 11:50 to 12:30pm
Circus Room
(for participants)
Keynote Speaker (12:30-1:15)
Circus Room
(open to the public)
"From Cameron to Chicago; Why Corruption Matters"
Cindy Canary,
Director
Illinois Campaign for Political Reform
SESSION 3 1:30-3:00pm
Panel 3A: National, Ethnic, and Religious Identification
Spotlight Room
Chair: Xiaoyi Hu, Illinois State University
Discussant: Minjae Kim, University of Chicago
Olivia Leonard, Monmouth College
Russia's Oligarchs and the Case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Jamison R. Crawford, Niagara University
Dimension Dementia: A Universal Approach to Religiosity
Guy Ras, University of San Francisco
An Economic View of Ethnic Conflict: the Case of Kyrgyzstan
Panel 3B: Ethnic and Racial Politics
Old Main
Chair: Adrienne Anderson, Illinois State University
Discussant: Jason Britz, Illinois State University
Adam Harris, Alabama A&M University
Why We Should Vote: Voting Abstention and African-Americans
Kay Varela, Calvin College
'I Don't Trust Them:' Latino Perceptions of Discrimination and Identity, and What This Means for Latino Trust in the Government
Elizabeth Whitehall, Monmouth College
The Amish: In, Not of America
Panel 3C: Confronting the Islamic World
1st Floor West Lounge
Chair: Sarah Backhaus, Truman State University
Discussant: Mujtaba Isani, Marquette University
Joe Bell, Eastern Illinois University
Religion and Counter-Terrorism: The Islamist Case
Russell Feely, Roger Williams University
Iran: A Case for Engagement
Meredith Vinez and Sarah Leonard, Trinity University
The Iraq Marshlands: the Loss of the Garden of Eden and its People
Panel 3D: Politics and the Media
Founder's Suite
Chair: Cassandra Chapman, Eureka College
Discussant: Samantha Hamilton, Roger Williams University
Georgia Gum, Western Illinois University
Blame and Responsibility: A Look at Media Coverage of Disasters
Micca Russell, Western Illinois University
Use of Media as a Deterrent by Law Enforcement and the Judiciary
Brad Ryba, Western Illinois University
The Freedom of Truth: The impact of a free press on the quality of life
Christopher Solger, Western Illinois University
Violence and the Media: Does a free press decrease violence in a country
Media and Politics Poster Session: 3:00-5:00pm
Old Main Room
David Cifuentes, Western Illinois University
Media Ownership In the United States
Chad Ewing, Western Illinois University
Using the Target Model of Discretion to Evaluate Intragency Communication
Robert Flinn, Western Illinois University
Public Broadcasting in America
Kyle Leng, Western Illinois University
Omnipresence: The Future of News Technology and its Effects on American Politics
Joseph McWalter, Western Illinois University
Equal Representation of Political Debate
Matthew Metzger, Western Illinois University
Federal Legislative Political Scandals: How the Media Reports Differently Between Political Parties
Lavon Powell, Western Ilinois University
How Does Media Affect Public Opinion?
Cesar Salas, Western Illinois University
Opinion, Now How'd You Get There? The perceived differences between political opinion makers
Jacob Schweit, Western Illinois university
Change in media and politics since 1990
Kristine Tume, Western Illinois University
When and why does the news portray the president negatively?
Michael Vanovermeir, Western Illinois University
Negative Campaigning: Is it really effective?
SESSION 4: 3:15 - 4:45pm
Panel 4A: Critical Points in U.S. History
Founder's Suite
Chair: Adam Harris, Alabama A&M University
Discussant: Brandon Sward, University of Chicago
Cassandra Chapman, Eureka College
Senator Joe R McCarthy: The Man and the Legend
Adam Howe, Eureka College
Struggle Over Power
John D'Attoma, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Hegemony or Dominance? A Gramscian Analysis of US Ascendancy
Mylhan Myers, Westminster College
The American Presidency: An Examination of the Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb
Panel 4B: Islam: Politics and Political Theory
Spotlight Room
Chair: Joe Bell, Eastern Illinois University
Discussant: Russell Feely, Roger Williams University
Mujtaba Isani, Marquette University
The Rise and Fall of the Jamaat-e-Islami in the Light of Social Movement Theory
Jenny Johnson, Truman State University
Political Islam and Gender Inequality
Syed Muhammad Mehdi Zaidi, Truman State University
Islam and Democracy in Asia: Friends or Foes
Christopher Simmering, Western Illinois University
Islam in Modern Europe
Panel 4C: Policy Analysis
1st Floor West Lounge
Chair: Josie Maggio, Illinois State University
Discussant: Stephanie Marie Arrowsmith, Eastern Illinois University
Samantha Hendrix, Monmouth College
Welfare Reform Dynamic: 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
Jared Cernansky, Monmouth College
2008 Financial Crisis
Amber Ford, Western Kentucky University
Workforce Planning in the Water/Wastewater Industry