Union College

Department of Political Science

Thesis topics for 2004 - 2005


 The Political Science Department considers the research and writing of the senior thesis to be of central
 importance to the completion of the major.  Because of the demands that the thesis places upon the
 student's capacities for independent thought and expression, it represents a fitting culmination of the
 entire undergraduate education.
 
The following is a list of seniors and their senior thesis topics.

Ahmanson, William Territorial Disputes and the Japanese Men that Love Them
Albano, Travis S. The Media Message: A Look at Media Coverage of the 2004 Presidential Debates
Beal, Willis T. A Contest of Conflicting Ideologies and Identities: The 'Troubles' of Northern Ireland and a Call for a Fusion of Theory
Beveridge, Megan Tort Reform: An Argument for the States
Butterfield, Laura A. A Political Unveiling: Explaining Women's Accession to Executive and Legislative Power in the Muslim World
Carrig, Joseph J. U.S. Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: A Chronological Analysis of Three Cold War Warriors
Feinstein, Ross  The Evolution of Media: Role in Influencing Public Opinion
Freundlich, Michael The Clean Water Act: A Tale of Bureaucratic Gridlock, Stagnant Enforcement and Public Complacency
Gabriel, Carolyn  M. The Withering Commitment of the Federal Government Towards Public Housing
Greengrass, Seth E. Vietnam War Films: A Comparative Analysis
Griffin, Brian The Patriot Act: A Challenge to Civil Rights?
Gross, Peter The Federal Air Marshal Service: Better Understanding of the Program & Thinking Critically, How Americans Understand Security
Hughes, John Homeland Defense Our Biggest Vulnerability: Port Authority Security
Jewett, Peter  Strategies, Structures, Rhetoric and Dirty Tricks of the White House Office of Communications 1993-2005
Kantareva, Silva   A Study of Genocide Theories, Causes, and Patterns
Kirsch, Daniel A Comparative Analysis of Hate Speech Laws in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom
Ladd, Marc  Anti-Americanism in Greece: Its Causes, Patterns, and Effects
Lawkowski, Stacy J. Discrimination in Alternative Sentencing: A Case Study of Schenectady County
Lazar, Aaron R.  Organized Crime and its Effects on American Politics
Leckerling, Christopher  Localizing Agriculture: A Policy Perspective
LePage, Thomas W. A Comparative Analysis of Afghan Political Relations with Western Culture
Loeck, Jonathan  The Affect of Institutional Structures on Potential for Authoritarian Breakdown in the Middle East
Lovett, Mandon P. "Dirty Laundry": An Examination of African American Male Underachievement in Urban Public Schools
Lubarsky, Jillian H. Nation-Building & Reconstruction: Assessment of Political & Economic Factors Influencing Democracy in Afghanistan 
Lyon, Benjamin R. The Conflict between Wal-Mart and Organized Labor
Manocchio, Andrew  The Roman Catholic Church as a Political Entity: State or Empire?
Mathen, Santosh Investigation into Young Americans' Perception and Attitude Toward Medicare Reform
McManus, Michael Praxis
Morris, Laura  Protest Movements Concerning The United States Presence on Okinawa Between 1949 and 2000
Moulton, Timothy Scandal and Corruption in the Modern Olympic Movement
Naun, Caitlin  Cruel and Unusual Punishment: Roper V. Simmons And the Constitutionality of the Juvenile Death Penalty
O'Connor, Kevin M. Is America Vulnerable?: An Analysis of the 9/11 Commission Report
Pollard, Katherine  President George W. Bush: Iraq Foreign Policy
Potter, Charles The NHS - A Greater Solidarity of Care?
Rautenberg, Karyn M. The Importance of Ethnicity in a Hispanic's Vote Choice: A Case Study in Florida
Rivers, Leilani-Kali No Dream Left Behind: Economic Disparity and its Effect on Educational Opportunity in New York City
Sawyerr, Oyinlola The Impact of Oil on the Political and Economic Development of Nigeria
Schur, Jordon The Reasons Why the Field of Sport Agents Evolved and Why Agents are Necessary
Shaffran, Gregory A. A Dialectic Examination of Latin America and the Need for Socially Inclusive Economic Development
Shortle, Allyson  Poncho Politics or Picky Pundits: A Look into No Child Left Behind
Shulkin, Jennine From Success to Hindrance: How No Child Left Behind is Impacting Special Education Students
Smith, Nevin J. U.S.-Sino Relations in the Wake of Tiananmen 
Squires, Lauren Intelligence Communities: A Critique and Analysis of the Secret Services in Israel, France, and Great Britain
Starnes, Joe Islamist Groups in the Middle East: An Examination of the Origins of Extremist Islam
Stock, Annette C. The Silent Majority Speaks; The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Asians Values Debate
Stoner, Christopher H. George W. Bush Environmental Policy: Overview of Environmental Policy and Predictions for the Future  
Vercillo, Margaret   ETA & Political Violence in Spain: From the Dictatorship to the Age of Global Terrorism
Werner, Jaime  The Implications of Globalization on Morality; A Need for a Global Morality