Union College

Department of Political Science


Thesis topics for 2005 - 2006


 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.
Name Title
Acciani, Matthew The Founders, The Supreme Court, & The First Amendment: The Wall of Separation Between Church & State in Contemporary America
Baum, Andrew They Came, They Saw, They Conquered: The Reality and Implications of Gentrification on Manhattan's Lower East Side
Beaty, Benjamin  The State of the Union: Political Participation in the 21st Century America
Benjy, Bryan There Will Be No Next Year
Bernstein, Jennifer  Democracy in Ancient Athens and Modern America: A Comparative Study
Blout, Emily The Right, The Might, The Future of European Security and Defense.
Bonforte, Philip  The Impact of Terrorism on Civil Liberties
Bradbury, Scott The Impact of Social Standards on Acceptable Content in the Average Television Sitcom
Blonstein, Jonathan Failure to Act: The United States and the 1994 RW Andan Genocide
Burniche, Edward The War in Iraq: Combating a Threat to the American People or a Chase at an Imperialist Dream
Cagianello, John Contradictory Human Rights Policies of the US Government
Capecelatro, Linsey The Study of Local Television News: Politics, Gender, Crime
Carr, ChristopherI Combating Terrorism: A Case Study of Tactics
Cassella, Kate Maternity Leave
Charlap, Emily The Biblical Mentality in American Politics
Cheatham, Wade  Examining  Liberal Democracy: A Study of Corruption in American Government
Chused, Adam Major League Baseball Player performance in Contract Years and the History and free Agency
Clark, G. Nicholas Corporations Manipulation of the Media and its Effect on Consumer Society
Coons, John Confronting the Islamic Republic: How domestic Iranian History Should Influence U.S. Policy
Cutro-Kelly, Nina LaFemme Invisible: La Femme en Algerie Actuelle
Davies, Ari Evolution of the American Party System
DeSarbo, Ashley Mafia Development & Adaptation: Is There an Explanation?
Duchesne, James  The History and Analysis of the Republican's K Street Project: Influencing the Influence Industry
Eber-Schmid, Noah Bridging the Chasm: The Situationist International as a Model for Contemporary Anarchism
Ferrer, Francisco The Future of the Hispanic Vote: Why Political Parties Will Change Forever as a Result
Flike, Kevin The Link Between the Obesity Epidemic & Liberal Hollywood Elitism
Frankel, Jessica  Punishment for life: The Impact of Collateral Consequences of Conviction on Women in the United States
Friedman, David America's Moral Decision? The Political Mobilization of the Religious Right in the 2004 Presidential Election
Gordick, Amanda Judicial Opinion on the Expansion of Fetal Personhood in the United States
Hadji, Andreas National Interest vs. Ideological Allegiance: The Case of the Greek MEPs
Halpert, Alex The Impact of the Web on Politics
Hatch, Patrick Explaining the Absence of Universal Health Care in the United States of America
Hohman, Colin The Perfect Plan
Holiday, William America in the Global Future
Hull-Ambers, Harold Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarian Revolution: Uncovering the Truth About Venezuela's Controversial President
Jacobson, Scott Narrative Counterterrorism: The Postmodern Art of War
Kolodny, Aaron  Public Funding of Faith-Based Organizations: The Case of Local Charitable Organizations
 Kominar, Brian Canada in Vietnam: Secret Perpetuation
Laddey, Ryan God Over Greenbacks: Republican Party & Religious Rights Revolutionizing the American Political Landscape
Laurence, Jennifer From Nihilism to Power: A Critique of Nietzsche's Theories to Benefit the Modern Woman
LoPresti, Sasha  "Alo? Presidente!": An Examination of Hugo Chavez's Socialism of the Twenty-First Century
Martland, Amelia The Evolution of the Government Response to Substantial American Disasters
Mattone, Vincent  The Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002: Corporate Governance Reform
Mehaffey, A. Elizabeth The Commodification of Foster-Care Children: Advertising Children and the Utilitarian Response
Meyer, Sarah The Tiger and The Villain: A comparison of Tammany Hall and the Fujimori Administration
McCallum Jr, Jon  Capitalism and its Relentless Incentive to Cheat
Michaelson, Daniel  Housing for the Elderly in Modern Nations: How Population Aging Influences Culture & Public Policy in Japan, the US, and Sweden
Millan, Roberto A Comparative Study of the Leaders of Modern Mexico
Moffitt, Thomas President Ronald Reagan's National Security Council Conducts Foreign Policy
Myerow, Dan Nuclear Terrorism: A Genuine Threat- A Realistic and Cinematic Assessment
Perry, Ryan The History and the Current State of America's Public Defender Offices
Pieciak, Michael A Return to Normalcy: Presidential Power in Post September 11th America
Reid, Evan The Psychology of Patriotism and its Effect on Post 9/11 American Democracy
Rice, Amanda A Feminist Perspective of Aristophanes
Rubin, Julie Reestablishing Hope in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The Impacts of the First & Second Intifada on Peace Organizations
Salvia, Annasophia The Dirty Wars of Latin America and Their Legacy: What Happened and How to Cope in Argentina, Uruguay and Guatemala
Saxena, Sonya With God as Their Leader: A Study of Party Politics in India
Shanley, Molly Globalization: Outsourcing to India and Offshoring to China, an Opportunity not a Threat
Silverstein, Elliot Truths and Consequences: An Impartial Analysis of Campaign Finance Reform
Simmon, Jessica Tudor Intellectual Networks and Henry VIII
Simon, Michael A Latino Voice is Joining the Chorus: A Social, Economic & Political Analysis of Latino Immigrants in New Rochelle, NY
Simon, Trevor Establishing a Rhode Island Political Culture
Smith, Marnie Collateral Consequences of Criminal Convictions: Past Criticisms, Present Happenings, and Future Recommendations
Snow, Lauren Culture of Fear
Solimeo, Andrea Democratic Corruption: Understanding the Italian Political Scandals of the Early 1990's
Stearns, Jonathan Union of Intelligence & Foreign Policy: Improving US Intelligence Efficacy & Reforming the Intelligence & Policy Community Relationship 
Stern, Joanna R. The Impact of Blogs on the Media and Journalism
Stoudt, Dale Thailand and Sri Lanka: A Comparative Analysis of Buddhism's Effects on Economic and Democratic Development
Stoyan, Alissandra  The Tyrant's Folly: A Comparative Study of Opposition Under Sultanistic Dictators in Nicaragua and Romania
Sullivan, Garrett Is a Publicly Financed Professional Sports Stadium Beneficial to the Average Taxpaying Citizen?
Tilbor, Jared M. Asian Cultures & Historical Roots: The Lack of Democratic Governance in Japan and China, & its Impact on their Economic Success
Walters, David The Russian Military: A Re-Evaluation of an Old Enemy
Walton-Yedlin, Dylan Drug Policy in the Netherlands and US: What Effect Has the Judiciary Had?
Webb, Clinton An Assessment of the Lobbying Industry: Congressional Appropriations, Safetea-Lu, and Higher Education
Wein, Rebecca To Preserve the Life or Health of the Mother: A study of abortion law and how the Supreme Court decides cases
Wilde, Alex A Comparative Analysis of the Stabilization & Reconstruction Efforts in Germany, Japan, Afghanistan & Iraq