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Title: GEORGE LISKA'S REALIST ALLIANCE THEORY, AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF NATO.
Creator: Kireyev, Sergey, Handberg, Roger, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In many aspects, political theory forms a subjective structure of this abstract science. Perhaps, it is due to the fact that unlike natural sciences or mathematics, social sciences often lack the privilege of testing the theories in absolute and unadulterated conditions. Nonetheless, such nature of the science allows for a certain degree of flexibility, when applying political theories to real-world phenomena. Alliances and coalitions in international relations form the backbone of the theory...
Show moreIn many aspects, political theory forms a subjective structure of this abstract science. Perhaps, it is due to the fact that unlike natural sciences or mathematics, social sciences often lack the privilege of testing the theories in absolute and unadulterated conditions. Nonetheless, such nature of the science allows for a certain degree of flexibility, when applying political theories to real-world phenomena. Alliances and coalitions in international relations form the backbone of the theory, concerning IR scholars with two main questions: Why do alliances and coalitions form? And, what keeps alliances and coalitions together? As the core of my research, I examined NATO, as the most prominent and long-lasting alliance of our time, through the prism of alliance formation and cohesion theory introduced by George Liska. In particular, I explored the evolution of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization over the term of its existence, and sought to determine whether Liska's principles still apply to the contemporary situation, and in particular, how may the variables have altered the application of this scholar's theory to our future understanding of alliances. In its essence, this is a comparative study of the same alliance during the different stages of its existence. In particular, the comparison dissects such aspects of alliance theory as alignment, alliance formation, efficacy, and reasons for possible dissolution. As a result, the study led to a conclusion, that despite the permutations around and within NATO, the basic realist principles that may explain the mechanism of this alliance's formation and cohesion still apply to the contemporary organization.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000211, ucf:46247
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000211

Title: AFTER THE MOON: A STUDY OF GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY DECLINE AND NASA.
Creator: Whitman, Wendy, Handberg, Roger, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The concept of decline has variously been applied to businesses, organizations, groups, and government (Levine 1978; Lorange and Nelson 1987; Whetten 1980). The term decline has also been used to describe various government agencies such as NASA. It is the theory put forth presently that decline in its traditional form in the literature does not apply to government agencies. Decline has been previously characterized as a time of decreasing or restricted resources, conflict, a decrease in...
Show moreThe concept of decline has variously been applied to businesses, organizations, groups, and government (Levine 1978; Lorange and Nelson 1987; Whetten 1980). The term decline has also been used to describe various government agencies such as NASA. It is the theory put forth presently that decline in its traditional form in the literature does not apply to government agencies. Decline has been previously characterized as a time of decreasing or restricted resources, conflict, a decrease in innovativeness, a decrease in organizational size, a decrease in income or profits, and an organization's inability to adapt (Cameron, Whetten, and Kim; Weitzel and Jonsson). These characteristics, however, are not applicable to individual government agencies; an agency's tasks, form, and functions are usually set and defined through legislation, its budget is tied to the budget of the rest of the US government, and policy is usually generated at the top. Because of these pitfalls, I propose a new model of operations at the government level: the government agency decline model. This model posits that an agency's operations are in constant flux depending on the nature of the US economy at any given time and a number of other variables. Pursuant to this, I propose that there is a strong relationship between budget, agency performance, and power; more money in an agency's accounts contributes to bettering their performance, better performance leads to more power, which can lead to an increased budget. Therefore this cycle can begin and be interrupted at the money stage depending on the state of the American economy. Findings show that there are relationships between economy, budgets, performance, and power leading to an enhanced explanation of NASA's yearly budget. Recommendations for further research include examining a wider array of government agencies and developing better ways to measure power.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001868, ucf:47418
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001868

Title: THE LACK OF DIVERSITY ON THE BENCH IN FLORIDA'S STATE COURTS.
Creator: Wells, Verlinda, Handberg, Roger, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Diversity in the judiciary is essential to ensure impartiality, public confidence, and the perception that all members of society are represented on the bench. Minorities and women are significantly underrepresented as judges in Florida in proportion to their numbers in the general population. Because we live in an increasingly global world, diversity is best described when people of different races, colors, ethnicity and genders work to develop a mutual respect for each other. It was...
Show moreDiversity in the judiciary is essential to ensure impartiality, public confidence, and the perception that all members of society are represented on the bench. Minorities and women are significantly underrepresented as judges in Florida in proportion to their numbers in the general population. Because we live in an increasingly global world, diversity is best described when people of different races, colors, ethnicity and genders work to develop a mutual respect for each other. It was important to use diversity in this research because it required recognition, understanding, and acceptance of the special contribution that each member of a group can make. The documentation review method was used to measure the data collected in this research. The advantages for using this method were first, to obtain comprehensive and historical information that already exists and secondly, to obtain data which demonstrates few biases about the information. I used correlation as a non-experimental, description method because the variables are not directly manipulated, as they would be if used in an experimental method. This method of research is really more of a mathematical technique for summarizing data. This study was designed to determine the degree and direction of relationship between two or more variables or measures of behavior. Diversity in 2004 judicial appointments is a high priority in Florida's present administration. Their goal is to have a judicial system composed of judges who reflect the people they serve. Since judges have so much influence over the lives of people of the state, it is important that all Floridians perceive the judiciary legitimate. Having a diverse judiciary serves the goal. The Bush/Jennings team appointed; 1) the first African American woman, Judge Peggy Quince to the Florida Supreme Court (with the agreement of Governor Lawton Chiles); 2) minorities to 53 judicial positions including the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice Raoul Cantero to the Supreme Court; 3) 26 African American, 26 Hispanics, 1 other); 4) women to 66 judicial position; and, 5) the first Haitian-American judge, Judge Fred Seraphin to the Miami Dade County Court. The judicial system has an obligation to provide equal opportunity to the extent that females, minorities, and people of color have the temperament, the legal educational background, the skills, and the abilities necessary to sit on Florida's bench. The legal profession also has an obligation to encourage more minorities and women to consider a career in law. The governor's most recent selections indicate that he is serious about improving diversity on the Florida bench.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000206, ucf:46261
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000206

Title: SAUDI ARABIA AND EXPANSIONIST WAHHABISM.
Creator: Baroni, Samiah, Handberg, Roger, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This thesis examines the development of Wahhabism as an ideology into a rapidly expanding, transportable, contemporary Islamic political system. Serving as the territorial foundation, individuals maintain allegiance to Makkah, the center of the Islamic world, through symbolic Islamic prayer. Along with a central, globally financed economic distributive mechanism, and Wahhabi social and educational institutions emerging from the traditional mosque, Wahhabism serves the demand for an Islamic...
Show moreThis thesis examines the development of Wahhabism as an ideology into a rapidly expanding, transportable, contemporary Islamic political system. Serving as the territorial foundation, individuals maintain allegiance to Makkah, the center of the Islamic world, through symbolic Islamic prayer. Along with a central, globally financed economic distributive mechanism, and Wahhabi social and educational institutions emerging from the traditional mosque, Wahhabism serves the demand for an Islamic political system in a late capitalist world. Wahhabism is fluid within contemporary dynamic political systems and rapidly changing international relations. Wahhabism continues to expand at a global level, at times, providing a foundation for new forms of contemporary terrorism.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0001005, ucf:46838
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001005

Title: THE RISE OF ASIA'S DEMOCRATIC SPACE POWERS: HOW JAPAN AND INDIA BECAME THE NEXT SPACE POWERS IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY.
Creator: Kunze, Shane, Handberg, Roger, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Since the end of World War II the world has seen several nations expand into the space age. Also after the Second World War, the Cold War began and many nations found themselves allying themselves with either the hegemony of the West or the Communists. Space was no exception in this dilemma, as weaker nations began to develop their own indigenous space programs and had technological diffusion from one of the hegemonies. Japan and India are two democracies that both sought support for their...
Show moreSince the end of World War II the world has seen several nations expand into the space age. Also after the Second World War, the Cold War began and many nations found themselves allying themselves with either the hegemony of the West or the Communists. Space was no exception in this dilemma, as weaker nations began to develop their own indigenous space programs and had technological diffusion from one of the hegemonies. Japan and India are two democracies that both sought support for their indigenous space programs from the west, particularly from the U.S. These two nations emerged from poverty and a broken infrastructure during the 1950s and have grown over the last sixty years into two of the most advanced space-faring nations in the world. These two nations have overcome several external and internal factors ranging from Communist expansion to bureaucratic strife. Japan and India have been and remain the two leading democratic nations in Asia that have risen to the rank of space power.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFH0004170, ucf:44858
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004170

Title: INDIA AND CHINA SPACE PROGRAMS: FROM GENESIS OF SPACE TECHNOLOGIES TO MAJOR SPACE PROGRAMS AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
Creator: BHOLA, GAURAV, HANDBERG, ROGER, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The Indian and Chinese space programs have evolved into technologically advanced vehicles of national prestige and international competition for developed nations. The programs continue to evolve with impetus that India and China will have the same space capabilities as the United States with in the coming years. This will present new challenges to the international community in spheres civilian, to space and military applications and their residual benefits.
Date Issued: 2009
Identifier: CFE0002745, ucf:48156
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002745

Title: National Security and Political Polarization.
Creator: Funderburke, Joseph, Handberg, Roger, Pollock, Philip, Ilderton, Nathan, Kubiak, Jeffrey, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation explores how partisan polarization among the political elites (the President and key Members of Congress) impacts national security decision-making. The research examines the relationship over time beginning at the start of the Cold War through 2014. In doing so, the research tests several hypotheses to determine the nature of the relationship and what the implications might be for future U.S. national security policy-making. There are three different approaches used in the...
Show moreThis dissertation explores how partisan polarization among the political elites (the President and key Members of Congress) impacts national security decision-making. The research examines the relationship over time beginning at the start of the Cold War through 2014. In doing so, the research tests several hypotheses to determine the nature of the relationship and what the implications might be for future U.S. national security policy-making. There are three different approaches used in the research centered on the same theory of partisan polarization. The first approach examines changes in the level of polarization and defense budgets each year. The second explores the impact of partisan polarization on the outcome of key roll-call votes on national security legislation. Lastly, the third approach studies the changes in polarization relative to the Presidents' decision to use force. Poole and Rosenthal (1984) argue that political polarization has increased among the political elite since the 1960s and the Republicans and Democrats continue to move further apart ideologically (Gray et al. 2015). I argue that the combined effect of polarization and a growing ideological divide between the two major political parties puts our collective national security at risk. Using analytical regression time series models and a qualitative analysis, the findings suggests that rising partisan polarization presents a clear and present threat to our national security.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007458, ucf:52662
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007458

Title: Hidden in Plain Sight: Development and Testing of a Model to Evaluate Political Leadership Tactics.
Creator: Citron, Albert, Hamann, Kerstin, Handberg, Roger, Houghton, David, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This thesis analyzes the kinds of verbal and nonverbal signals elites manifest to show leadership qualities. Launching from Max Weber's conceptual framework of charisma as a power term and Harold Lasswell's study of propaganda, this study takes a multidisciplinary approach to studying political leadership with elements of communication methodology and an ontological basis in evolutionary psychology. The study's goal is to offer a framework for defining and evaluating the diverse signal...
Show moreThis thesis analyzes the kinds of verbal and nonverbal signals elites manifest to show leadership qualities. Launching from Max Weber's conceptual framework of charisma as a power term and Harold Lasswell's study of propaganda, this study takes a multidisciplinary approach to studying political leadership with elements of communication methodology and an ontological basis in evolutionary psychology. The study's goal is to offer a framework for defining and evaluating the diverse signal patterns employed by political elites in three real-life situations. These are the Malta Summit, the 1992 Virginia Presidential Debate, and the 2012 South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary. The cases were chosen because they display a diverse set of signal variations during different types of interactions.The three case studies are evaluated by measuring frequency and patterns of occurrence of the five different interaction constructs (indicator of interest, indicator of disinterest, demonstration of high value, demonstration of low value, and compliance testing) to explain different interaction patterns. A simple frequency distribution of the different signals during a given interaction is used to display the empirical findings and to compare patterns across the case studies. This study reveals that the presence of DLV (demonstration of low value) signals weaken an elite's position in relation to other elites and the public while the presence of DHV (demonstration of high value) signals strengthen an elite's position. It is largely the presence, absence, and frequency of these two signals that determines who conveys leadership qualities effectively regardless of leadership style. Studying the signaling patterns of political elites would allow scholars to understand better the kinds of signal patterns and signal frequencies that are used in different types of leadership styles and norm ranges for signals including for political elites belonging to different cultures and subcultures.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004984, ucf:49563
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004984

Title: Rivalry-Prone Dyads? Interstate Religious Differences and Military Conflict.
Creator: Elkhaldi, Manar, Kinsey, Barbara, Handberg, Roger, Dolan, Thomas, Rudkevich, Gennady, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The link between religion and interstate military conflict has attracted a lot of attention among scholars of international relations and also foreign policy makers and religious organizations. This study examines whether religious differences between states in a dyad may partly affect various types of militarized conflict. It is argued in the literature that religion promotes stronger loyalty and sense of obligation than other cultural identities (Juergensmeyer, 1993); I argue that religious...
Show moreThe link between religion and interstate military conflict has attracted a lot of attention among scholars of international relations and also foreign policy makers and religious organizations. This study examines whether religious differences between states in a dyad may partly affect various types of militarized conflict. It is argued in the literature that religion promotes stronger loyalty and sense of obligation than other cultural identities (Juergensmeyer, 1993); I argue that religious identity may be used by states effectively to mobilize people by means of rhetoric to generate and sustain popular support for conflict with other states. Thus I expect that states with different predominant religions to be more likely to engage in various dimensions of rivalry. The objective of this research is to contribute to understanding why certain dyads may be more likely to engage in military conflict. I construct new datasets and develop statistical models to evaluate the connection between religion and interstate military conflict. I focus on the onset of different types of interstate rivalries and war and examine the link of each of these types with different kinds of religious differences. I explore whether (a) interstate dyads with religious difference, (b) Christian/Muslim dyads, and (c) interstate dyads with different religious denominations have a higher propensity to engage in (a) enduring rivalry, (b) rivalry recurrence, and (c) war. This study covers the time period between 1945 and 2001. I conduct the analyses using logit models that incorporate alternative explanations of each of these three dimensions of rivalry. In addition, I provide a case study of the 1947 India-Pakistan war to examine closer the mechanism of the relationship between religious difference in this dyad and war. Analysis results suggest that dyads with (")religious difference(") are associated with rivalry recurrence and war; (")Christian/Muslim Differences(") do not appear to have an effect on rivalry. The findings of this research are expected to offer a better understanding of rivalry between dyads.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006296, ucf:51615
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006296

Title: Determinants of Terrorist Target Selection: A Quantitative Analysis.
Creator: Haywood, Taylor, Handberg, Roger, Dolan, Thomas, Boutton, Andrew, Vasquez, Joseph, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Existing research on the subject of terrorism is vast, spanning causes of terrorism, the membership of terrorist groups, types of terrorist attacks, and more. One area of terrorism research, though, has received only limited consideration: terrorist target selection. What research does exist explains target selection almost exclusively as a function of ideology (Asal et al. 2009, 270 and 274; Drake 1998b, 54-56 and 58). However, such a limited causal focus obscures other possible, and...
Show moreExisting research on the subject of terrorism is vast, spanning causes of terrorism, the membership of terrorist groups, types of terrorist attacks, and more. One area of terrorism research, though, has received only limited consideration: terrorist target selection. What research does exist explains target selection almost exclusively as a function of ideology (Asal et al. 2009, 270 and 274; Drake 1998b, 54-56 and 58). However, such a limited causal focus obscures other possible, and probable, explanations of terrorist target selection. This paper proposes an alternative explanation of terrorist target selection that includes ideological and terrorist group capability variables, as well as a variable measuring the security levels in the geographic areas in which terrorist attacks take place. A research design employing multiple ordinary least squares regression is utilized. The findings demonstrate the importance of the independent variables, as well as the significance of the effects of the two-way and three-way interactions of variables from the three categories. Furthermore, the multiple regression models explain a greater percentage of the effects of the independent variables on the percentage of attacks against civilian targets when the three-way interaction variable is included than when this interaction variable is not included. From these findings, two primary policy implications are derived.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006744, ucf:51853
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006744

Title: Reconciling Ex Ante Expectations with the Ex Post Reality: A Look at the Effectiveness of Third-Party Diplomatic Interventions in Civil Wars.
Creator: Benchimol, Matthew, Handberg, Roger, Kinsey, Barbara, Mousseau, Michael, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Research has begun to focus on the role third-party diplomatic intervention plays in the length of civil conflicts. Diplomatic interventions by a third-party actor are assumed to help resolve or alleviate violence over time. Is this really the case? Hypotheses relating to these aspects of civil wars are proposed to test this long-standing assumption. This thesis uses statistical analysis to observe the relationship between diplomatic interventions and civil war duration and then observe the...
Show moreResearch has begun to focus on the role third-party diplomatic intervention plays in the length of civil conflicts. Diplomatic interventions by a third-party actor are assumed to help resolve or alleviate violence over time. Is this really the case? Hypotheses relating to these aspects of civil wars are proposed to test this long-standing assumption. This thesis uses statistical analysis to observe the relationship between diplomatic interventions and civil war duration and then observe the relationship between duration and civil war violence. The data incorporates approximately 150 civil wars from 1945 to 1999, 101 of which had outside interventions. This thesis finds that, contrary to ex ante expectations, diplomatic interventions are a significant contributing factor to civil war length. Furthermore, longer civil wars are not associated with more civil war intensity in the aggregate, suggesting that longer civil wars do not mean more violent or intense ones.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005578, ucf:50253
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005578

Title: Community Responses to Mass Casualty Events: A Mixed Method Approach.
Creator: Payne, Jeffrey, Handberg, Roger, Dolan, Thomas, Kang, Kyungkook, Knox, Claire, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation explores how traits of a mass casualty event and community institutionalization affect how a community demonstrates solidarity after a mass casualty event. A systematic examination of mass casualty events along these lines has not been conducted before. Theoretically, individual helping behaviors like altruism help explain individual involvement in demonstrations of solidarity while solidarity and resilience help in explaining group behaviors. A typology is proposed that...
Show moreThis dissertation explores how traits of a mass casualty event and community institutionalization affect how a community demonstrates solidarity after a mass casualty event. A systematic examination of mass casualty events along these lines has not been conducted before. Theoretically, individual helping behaviors like altruism help explain individual involvement in demonstrations of solidarity while solidarity and resilience help in explaining group behaviors. A typology is proposed that breaks up mass casualty events into four different types: terrorism, criminal, weather and accidents. These types of events make up the majority of non-war mass casualty events. Experimentally a sample of students is used to assess how individuals are likely to respond to mass casualty events by gauging how they would respond using five different types of demonstrations of solidarity. Findings suggest that victim type positively influences demonstrations of solidarity while casualty number and event type are only selectively influential. Two cases (Orlando, FL 2016 and San Bernardino, CA 2015) are used to test three hypotheses that are related to how a community demonstrates solidarity after a mass casualty event. Results indicate that victim type positively influences demonstrations of solidarity, particularly through the specific institutions within vulnerable communities that increased access to demonstrations. Additionally, increased institutionalization within the victim community also positively influences demonstrations of solidarity. Furthermore, results suggest that event specific traits do influence demonstrations of solidarity under certain circumstances. However, more empirical research is needed to examine how individuals respond and the exact processes available to communities that would aid in their recovery from such an event.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007850, ucf:52778
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007850

Title: Superforecasting or SNAFU: The Forecasting Ability of the US Military Officer.
Creator: Raugh, David, Handberg, Roger, Dolan, Thomas, Powell, Jonathan, Gannon, Barbara, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: What is the impact of military institutional tendencies and habits on U.S. Army senior officer forecasting accuracy and how does this forecasting ability shape success in battle? Military leaders plan operations based on the forecasted strengths and vulnerabilities of their adversary. Negative habits, such as limited option development, confirmation bias, doctrinal overreliance, and over-consideration of sunk costs, inhibit effective forecasting. The tempo of the modern battlefield,...
Show moreWhat is the impact of military institutional tendencies and habits on U.S. Army senior officer forecasting accuracy and how does this forecasting ability shape success in battle? Military leaders plan operations based on the forecasted strengths and vulnerabilities of their adversary. Negative habits, such as limited option development, confirmation bias, doctrinal overreliance, and over-consideration of sunk costs, inhibit effective forecasting. The tempo of the modern battlefield, hierarchical culture, and institutional tendencies of the US Army may promote and reinforce these habits. I surveyed Colonels in US Army War College programs to measure their individual tendencies, levels of education, and accuracy in forecasting events during a three to twelve-month future. Quantitative analysis of the resulting data shows that these habits are present and negatively affect forecasting ability; additionally, higher levels of education positively affect forecast accuracy, possibly counteracting the effects of negative institutional tendencies and habits. Extending the research using historical and contemporary case studies of senior US Army Generals, including interviews of General David Petraeus and other high-ranking officials, I find that rejection of these institutional habits and tendencies enabled superior forecasting, leading to battlefield success. I conclude by examining how educational levels of commanding generals in the Iraq War affected military success. Exploratory quantitative analysis of data collected from the US Army historical archives shows that higher levels of education positively affected significant activities within the general's assigned areas.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007519, ucf:52609
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007519

Title: Human Spaceflight Decision-Making as a Potential Well Problem.
Creator: Litwin, Ari, Handberg, Roger, Dolan, Thomas, Houghton, David, Sadri, Houman, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study investigates funding within the US human spaceflight program in the time-period from 2004 to 2012. The approach taken employed the (")potential well(") model from physical science. The potential well model constrains any physical body trapped within it, and similarly a political (")funding well(") will constrain all programmatic decision-making.Two potential well models are employed, one represents classical physics while the other represents quantum physics. Since each model...
Show moreThis study investigates funding within the US human spaceflight program in the time-period from 2004 to 2012. The approach taken employed the (")potential well(") model from physical science. The potential well model constrains any physical body trapped within it, and similarly a political (")funding well(") will constrain all programmatic decision-making.Two potential well models are employed, one represents classical physics while the other represents quantum physics. Since each model results in motion with certain properties, it can be seen if funding decisions also exhibit similar properties. In physics, the bifurcation between the classical world of aggregate bodies and the quantum world of individual particles is an indicator of deeper physical principles. This study seeks to explore whether this bifurcation exists in the political world as well. If so, it would help explain space policy evolution from 2004 to 2012, and provide evidence concerning the usefulness of physical models for discovering further trends in social science, including political science.The study of a bifurcation in space policy political decision-making resulted in an unclear relationship since some properties were found to be similar to their physical counterpart, some were found to be different, and one property, the quantization of funding into discrete increments, was absent from political decision-making. Further studies are required to explore this bifurcation in greater detail. However, the potential well did prove to be a powerful model in explaining the evolution of human spaceflight policy in 2004 to 2012 as it provided a framework to explain dynamics that may have otherwise remained unclear.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004401, ucf:49370
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004401

Title: Ideas, Beliefs, Strategic Culture, and Foreign Policy: Understanding Brazil's Geopolitical Thought.
Creator: Rosas Degaut Pontes, Marcos, Handberg, Roger, Mousseau, Michael, Mirilovic, Nikola, Dantas, George Felipe De Lima, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Brazil is an important player both at regional and global levels, figuring prominently in almost all lists of emerging states and regional powers. It is one of the world's largest democracies, the fifth most populous country in the world, the world's seventh-largest economy, and Latin America's largest economy, accounting for approximately 60% of South America's GDP, 47% of South America's territory and 49% of South American population, a G20 member, and an active contributor to United...
Show moreBrazil is an important player both at regional and global levels, figuring prominently in almost all lists of emerging states and regional powers. It is one of the world's largest democracies, the fifth most populous country in the world, the world's seventh-largest economy, and Latin America's largest economy, accounting for approximately 60% of South America's GDP, 47% of South America's territory and 49% of South American population, a G20 member, and an active contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations. However, despite being usually depicted as a "monster country" which would help shape global affairs, Brazil has never been able to match its geographic, territorial and demographic assets with global geostrategic clout, and military, political, and economic power. This research seeks to explain how a rising power such as Brazil has historically behaved, reacted and constructed a discourse that, at the same time, constrains/motivates its decisions, explains its actions, and legitimizes its behavior. More specifically, the puzzle to be solved is why Brazilian regional policies are not more assertive given Brazil's capabilities? In order to answer this puzzle, this research will seek to analyze how a strategic culture influences a country's geopolitical thought, and consequently its policy choices and outcomes; to identify and qualify the elements of Brazilian strategic culture and its nature, as well as determine the relationship between these elements and Brazilian foreign and security policy decisions; to analyze the influence of Brazilian strategic culture features upon the country's geopolitical thought and grand strategy, and Brazil's geopolitics to South America; and finally to discuss the question of the dynamics of strategic cultural change in Brazil and its implications for the country's security and foreign policy decision-making process, as well as for its regional neighborhood.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006382, ucf:51521
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006382

Title: Terrorism: The Effect of Positive Social Sanctions.
Creator: Hibbert, Curtis, Morales, Waltraud, Knuckey, Jonathan, Dolan, Thomas, Handberg, Roger, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Research shows that relative deprivation, mental illness, culture, ideology, and various forms of social learning are often identified as factors that can lead an individual to terrorism. However, understanding the value of influences in the form of positive social sanctions through social contact has not been fully explored throughout terrorist studies. In regards to influencing behavior, positive social sanctions elicit a desired behavior which is reinforced through praise or rewards. By...
Show moreResearch shows that relative deprivation, mental illness, culture, ideology, and various forms of social learning are often identified as factors that can lead an individual to terrorism. However, understanding the value of influences in the form of positive social sanctions through social contact has not been fully explored throughout terrorist studies. In regards to influencing behavior, positive social sanctions elicit a desired behavior which is reinforced through praise or rewards. By utilizing a case study approach, this thesis looks to determine the significance of positive social sanctions through social contact on select individuals who have committed an act of terror in the United States, from the time period of 2002-2012.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004689, ucf:49871
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004689

terrorism (2)	+ -
Asia (1)	+ -
Bargaining (1)	+ -
Brazil (1)	+ -
CHANDRAYAAN (1)	+ -

CHINA COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAM (1)	+ -
CHINA GEOPOLITICS (1)	+ -
CHINA HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT (1)	+ -
CHINA LUNAR MISSION (1)	+ -
CHINA MANNED MISSION (1)	+ -
CHINA ROCKETS (1)	+ -
CHINA SATELLITES (1)	+ -
CHINA SPACE ACTIVITIES (1)	+ -
CHINA SPACE BUISINESS (1)	+ -
CHINA SPACE COOPERATION (1)	+ -
CHINA SPACE EXPLORATION (1)	+ -
CHINA SPACE LAUNCHERS (1)	+ -
CHINA SPACE POLICY (1)	+ -
CHINA SPACE PROGRAM (1)	+ -
CHINA SPACE PROGRAM BUDGET (1)	+ -
CHINESE COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAM (1)	+ -
CHINESE LUNAR MISSION (1)	+ -
CHINESE MISSILE PROLIFERATION (1)	+ -
CHINESE NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION (1)	+ -
CHINESE ROCKETS (1)	+ -
CHINESE SATELLITES (1)	+ -
CHINESE SPACE BUISINESS (1)	+ -
CHINESE SPACE LAUNCHERS (1)	+ -
CHINESE SPACE POLICY (1)	+ -
CHINESE SPACE PROGRAM (1)	+ -

ETD Collection (15)	+ -
Honors Collection (1)	+ -

University of Central Florida (16)	+ -
Handberg, Roger (15)	+ -
Dolan, Thomas (6)	+ -
Houghton, David (2)	+ -
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