51 research outputs found
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Millennial’s Political Activism
Get PDFPolitical activity is a telling behavior about a generation, influencing how policy makers in the U.S. do their jobs and how budgets are set. A generation without any political activity risks missing out on benefits from activity, while an active generation may help shape the institutions and traditions in a political culture. There are significant challenges to measuring individual political activity, and the question isn’t simply “how politically active are you?” A tool traditionally used to address this challenge is a seven- point scale based on the correlation between an individual’s party identification and political activism. This measurement allows polltakers to label themselves as strong or weak for either major party, independent leaning Republican/Democrat or truly independent. For a deeper look, scholars can gauge political activism by examining a number of sub-levels of activism, rather than relying simply on a seven-point scale. Social identity has become an important way to measure levels of partisanship and interest amongst the citizenry.
Shahs and Sanctions: The Story of Past, Present, and Future Tensions with Iran
Get PDFIt’s hard to deny that the historically intense distrust between the United States and Iran helps motivate some of the anti-deal sentiment in each country. It’s also, however, this same shared history of suspicion that may hold some of the most import-ant insights about the deal itself. The context for this understanding is the thread of Iranian-Western relations through the ages of colonialism and decolonization, the Islamic Revolution, and the formation of the current regime in Iran. A further layer of complexity in looking at the nuclear negotiations is added with the consideration of the contemporary social and political atmosphere in the Iranian domestic sphere. This often-overlooked background speaks of a situation far more complex than what many who oppose the accords seem to entertain and that must be taken into account if the United States and the West want to see long-term diplomatic success with Iran
Is Free Education Really Free?
Get PDFThe cost of college is remarkable. Shelling out thousands of dollars for some knowledge and a receipt claiming you paid is, in a few words, the modern American college system. Perhaps unsurprisingly, policies have been proposed to reduce the cost of college, even making it free in some instances. On Jan. 9, 2015 President Obama unveiled a plan to make “two years of community college free for responsible students across America.” Given the Republican control of Congress, the idea stands little chance of being passed, but it is still interesting to consider. Under the President’s plan, all Americans, regardless of income, would have access to two years of free community college education provided the student maintains a 2.5 GPA and part-time status. Though the benefits would be numerous, so would the costs.
Complacency and Controversy: Transgender Policy on Pitt\u27s Campus
Get PDFThe University of Pittsburgh updated its Nondiscrimination Policy in 2008 to include "gender identity and expression." This article looks at the transgender policies of other universities in order to evaluate whether Pitt could be doing more to be an advocate for social equality
The Shortcomings of Contemporary Political Rhetoric
Get PDFThis article examines some important trends in American political discourse. In tracing the problems present in contemporary debates back to their rhetorical roots, it argues that our political discourse is harried not only by party schisms, but also by inefficient modes of speech and debate
#140ToWinIt
Get PDFThe Internet has transformed from being almost insubstantial in political campaigns to being essential in only ten years. The elections of 2008 and 2010 have revolutionized the way that campaigns reach out to voters, with a new benchmark set by President Barack Obama and his campaign team in 2008. In the 2010 midterm elections, Republicans in Congress were able to match Obama’s social media success, and voters turned out in their favor. By delving into the uses of social media in those campaigns, we can evaluate how Republicans in the upcoming 2012 campaign are sharing the same success
Making a Beast With Green Backs: The Legal Battle Over Money in American Elections
Get PDFAn examination of the legal battle over Citizens United and its consequences for our electoral system
Hillary 2016: Will a Second Clinton Era Arise?
Get PDFGiven Hillary Clinton’s role as Secretary of State over the past four years, how electable of a candidate would she be for the presidential election in 2016? The PPR senior editorial staff briefly summarizes the past four years and evaluates her chances at a 2016 bid
Plan to Restore the Vote: Ron Paul and the Third-Party Voting Dilemma
Get PDFTexas Congressman and Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has been a figure in American politics for more than 40 years. While Paul has commanded a dedicated support base composed of both liberals and conservatives, he remains well behind in the 2012 Republican primary race. This article examines the hypothetical case of a Ron Paul third-party presidential run, and the dilemma that voters face between voting conscientiously for Paul and voting strategically for the most electable and ideologically similar candidate
