Undergraduate Journal of Political Science
The California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Undergraduate Journal of Political Science is our department's scholarly research journal, providing peer-reviewed articles and essays from subfields throughout the discipline. Areas covered include American politics, public administration, international relations, comparative politics, public law and political theory. The Undergraduate Journal of Political Science is a student-run journal.
Senior Editor-in-Chief 2024:
Kyle Chao
Junior Editor-in-Chief 2024:
Amary Corona
Faculty Advisors:
Dr. Elli Menounou (emenounou@cpp.edu)
Current Issue: Volume 8, Issue 1, Spring 2024
Previous Issues:
- Volume 7 (2023)
- Volume 6 (2022)
- Volume 5 (2021)
- Volume 4 (2020)
- Volume 3 (2018)
- Volume 2 (2017)
- Volume 1 (2016)
Previous Editors:
- 2023: Sofia Rosales and Kyle Chao
- 2022: Nicolas Hernandez-Florez and Sofia Rosales
- 2021: Natalie Kassar and Nicolas Hernandez-Florez
- 2020: Sandra Escobar and Natalie Kassar
- 2018: Kristen Khair and Samara Renteria
- 2017: Tara Kwan and Kristen Khair
- 2016: Tara Kwan
Editors Kyle Chao and Amary Corona, in addition to faculty advisor Dr. Menounoum, introduce this volume of the undergraduate journal. In addition, take a look at this year's editorial board.
Click here to read (PDF)
As the power dynamics in the world continue to change, the idea of global superpowers does too. With Russia’s influence falling since the breakup of the Soviet Union, the United States’ role as the sole hegemonic power waning and China rising in East Asia, there is the opinion that other countries could also rise to superpower status, one of those being India. This thesis explores the three forms of power that superpowers use; military, economic, and soft power to examine the potential of India to become a superpower, using a case study of both the United States and China as comparisons. The thesis comes to the conclusion that India does possess the tools necessary to become a superpower, but it still has many challenges to overcome, stemming from their status as a still developing country.
As the United States political landscape has evolved, so has the Latine population. The Latine population has grown in both size and political influence. Despite their growing size, Latine votes at some of the lowest rates in elections at every level. Many have attributed this lack of participation to the lack of political representation, group consciousness, and political salience. To address the disparities in political engagement, this thesis argues that political representation, group consciousness, and political salience will all have a positive effect on the mobilization of Latine students at Cal Poly Pomona. The findings show that each variable does positively impact voter turnout for Latine students.
Around the mid-20th century, the Philippines, Thailand, and Cambodia all became theaters of communist rebellion, availing themselves to the political interests of regional and global powers. Direct and indirect support during these rebellions reiterates the commonplace internationalization of intrastate conflicts. Yet the drastic variations in outcome between these cases introduces an important question: How did third-party intervention affect the tractability of communist rebellions in Southeast Asia? Drawing from archival records and the Uppsala Data Conflict Program's External Support Dataset, this thesis analyzes how third-party intervention transforms the landscape of intrastate conflicts by expanding the network of actor relations beyond the traditional incumbent-rebel dyad. Within this network lie multiple combinations of interdepencies and interactions that impact the balance of power between intrastate parties. Because of this, interstate rivalries between third parties can escalate the stakes of the conflict by shifting the distribution of resources or by altering the bargaining environment. This paper argues that, because of this system of dynamics, protraction is a process that can be incubated by the external party as early as the decision-making phase preceding intervention.
The current Supreme Court of The United States of America faces a never seen 6-3 supermajority court coalition. Literature and research suggest that supreme court justices are not immune to polarization. Median justices also play a big impact on the decision directions the court takes on landmark cases. In this thesis, we will explore the role of median justices throughout different recent court terms over the last ten years and how they affect policy output. We will analyze a trend in landmark decision making in the absence of a median justice and delve into the effect this has had on supreme court decisions. This thesis aims to analyze the effects that a median Justice Kennedy (and lack of) has had in recent decision outputs that have altered the direction of our nation from a previously liberal to a more conservative direction.
The crime terror nexus is the phenomena in which criminal organizations and terrorist organizations overlap through the use of terror tactics and the illicit trade market. This research paper examines meticulously selected case studies to help determine whether there is a clear distinction between the two organizations. Using qualitative analysis of the selected case studies detailing terrorist and criminal activities, this thesis investigates the unique phenomenon through a variety of factors. Exploring pivotal characteristics such as motive, long-term/short-term goals, and definitions. In the analysis section there is an extensive examination of organizations such as ISIS, Taliban, Los Zetas, the Medellin Cartel, and Sendero Luminoso to determine if their involvement in criminal or terrorist activities further blur the distinction from the two. There will be three sections within the analysis. The first examines criminal entities engaging in terrorist acts, the second analyzes terrorist organizations’ involvement in illicit trade, and the third analyzes alliances and transformations. Throughout the analysis of this thesis, based on the definition provided by the Department of Defense and case studies, it was found that there is not a clear distinction between the two organizations. While this thesis determined there are no clear distinctions, it is crucial to note that there are limitations to this research paper. These limitations include the lack of definition, political perspective, and the societal perspective of each organization.
When it comes to plastic pollution, we continually hear about policy ideas and promises to “do better” from governments around the world, especially from big- hitters like India and China, but we rarely see a focus on whether or not they are actually following through. Past literature has not adequately measured intent and outcome for countries that produce large amounts of plastic pollution, which is what this research aims to do. Specifically, data will be analyzed regarding China, India, Australia, and New Zealand. China and India produce some of the most plastic pollution, and Australia and New Zealand produce some of the least. Their green mindsets, exhibited by the amount of anti-plastic pollution policies we have seen from them recently, can be compared with how much plastic pollution they produce to measure their intent and outcome, respectively. I argue that whether or not a country has the right mindset can dictate whether or not their promises aimed at eliminating plastic pollution are fruitful or not. In conclusion, this project closely examines anti-plastic pollution policies in relation to the amount of plastic a country produces, which sheds light on gaps found in previous literature on the topic.
The housing crisis has become a worsening issue for the nation, leaving millions of families fending for themselves. What’s more, California has some of the worst conditions in the country, a problem that overlaps between housing availability and zoning reforms. Modifications to zoning laws are a necessary step for California communities to mitigate the current situation for millions of lives. If not addressed, this issue will exacerbate the current state of homelessness, drive those of lower economic thresholds further into spiraling crises, increase polarization, and drive current prices soaring. Drawing upon my experiences interning with the Community Development Department within the City of Menifee, otherwise known as a “Boom Town” in Southern California, this paper will examine the implementation of housing development and how looking to a city like Menifee can provide great insight into other new smaller but growing cities. Furthermore, this paper will showcase how incentives and other strategies may prove advantageous in reaching state goals, while also conceding to variables that may affect the likelihood of reform and other dangers brought on by the onslaught of quick development.
This study explores the critical role of census recognition in shaping health equity among Hispanic and MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) populations in the United States. It illustrates how the inclusion of the Hispanic community in demographic data has led to improved health outcomes through the formulation of health policies and programs specifically designed to meet their needs. In contrast, the exclusion of the MENA population from these data collection efforts has obscured their health disparities, limiting access to culturally competent healthcare and preventive services. This lack of visibility exacerbates existing health inequalities and hinders the development of effective interventions. The research highlights the necessity of creating a separate demographic category for MENA individuals in health data collection to enhance understanding of their health challenges and to ensure equitable health resource allocation. By advocating for more inclusive data practices, the study aims to foster a healthcare environment where all individuals, regardless of census recognition, can achieve optimal health outcomes, advancing health equity for all.