Archive
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Healthy Civilian-Military Affairs: A Critical Component of Success in War
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Common measurements of the likelihood of success of military or national security endeavors tend to be quantitative factors such as budget size, number of personnel, level of technological advancement, or functionality of equipment. However, sociological factors can also be a significant indicator of military success. In an article published in…
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Opioid Use and Employment: A Complicated Relationship
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Opioid use can be traced back at least as far as the end of the 3rd millennium B.C., with notable crises worldwide in both the 19th and 20th centuries. However, today’s epidemic is “the worst drug addiction epidemic in [U.S.] history,” accounting for the deaths of 72,000 Americans in 2017…
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A Ceasefire that Backfired: Examining the Increase in the Killing of Social Leaders in Colombia
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Negotiating peace is difficult. However, an equally difficult challenge arises when implementing peace where multiple non-state actors compete for territorial dominance. In “Killing Social Leaders for Territorial Control: The Unintended Consequences of Peace,” economists Mounu Prem, Andrés Rivera, Dario Romero and Juan Vargas found that an increase in the homicides…
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How Do Electoral Gender Quotas Impact Government Spending?
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Over the past few decades, an increasing number of countries have established gender quotas for elected positions. Typically, these quotas are enacted to address underrepresentation of women in political offices. According to data collected by the United Nations (UN), women represented just “22.8 percent of all national parliamentarians” in June…
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Do Terrorists Deter Tourists?
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German Christmas markets, French concert venues, British stadiums, and Tunisian beach fronts draw thousands of visitors from across the world. In the last five years, all of these sites have also been visited by tragedy when terrorists staged attacks designed to kill en masse in each destination. This is, sadly,…
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Housing Programs Improve Stability and Health of Homeless Families
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A home is an invaluable space, providing not only physical shelter but also psychological sanctuary and security. In January 2017, the National Alliance to End Homelessness identified 553,742 homeless individuals living in the U.S. Housing instability causes numerous challenges for the homeless, including negative health consequences. For example, homelessness increases…
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The Impact of Gentrification on Homeowners
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When wealthy new residents move into lower-income neighborhoods, they often renovate homes and open upscale businesses. This drives up property values, property taxes, and rent. This chain of events may force current lower-income residents to move out. Gentrification is a major issue nationwide, and cities are searching for the “magic”…
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In Small-Business Lending, Technology Hasn’t Replaced Face-to-Face Contact
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Technological advances in information processing have dramatically transformed consumer banking. Americans today can apply for home mortgages, credit cards and bank accounts without ever stepping foot in a bank branch. Indeed, these advances have rendered the local bank branch obsolete for many, with in-branch visits accounting for only a small…
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Going Solo: Public Backlash to Unilateralism
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Although observers and experts alike have been struggling to define the exact nature of the current U.S. administration’s strategy, its emphasis on unilateralism and occasional dismissal of multilateralism is apparent. In fact, a common idea suggests that resorting to unilateralism, bluntly understood as the will to “go it alone” and…
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Bias May be Implicit in Current Law on Search and Seizure
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Over the past several years, questions about racial bias in law enforcement have commanded a great deal of public attention. Across the country, citizens have called for reforms to address—and hold police accountable for—racially motivated misconduct. Many municipalities have instituted substantial reforms. But not all police activity is regulated by…
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Understanding Political Polarization: Perceived Threat and Conflict Attitudes
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Recent election results around the world reflect political polarization that is straining the fabric of democracy. Voting patterns indicate a preference for authoritarian leaders who promise closed borders and promote nationalism as an ideal. In a world where immigration is rising, it is important to understand both the resulting policy…