Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2021, Political Science

In discussing the intersection between business and politics, Robert Dahl claimed that there is "no dearth of important and even urgent questions." This dissertation tackles one such question: How do economic firm intervention in the development of the state influence modern outcomes? I argue that when institutions are in transition, firms and state actors both face uncertainty, and as a result, they enter an arrangement in which the state actor consistently provides the firm with public resources in return for patronage. I define this as state capture. Across my three papers, I find that when we focus on the role of firms in political development, there are widespread and long-term consequences for the state and local populations when the state is captured. Across all three of these papers, I explore these ramifications in Appalachia Kentucky. State capture is not a novel concept, but its usage is uneven and unclear, and there is no cohesive intellectual conversation. The first paper ameliorates this by taking this literature and synthesizing a concept from which we can derive clearer implications. I use Kentucky and the Appalachian coal region to explore this concept. I collect archival data to test one observable implication of the concept---lack of democratic commitment and non-competitive elections. I find the inverse of what I expect to observe, elections in Appalachia Kentucky, for the locally elected sheriff and tax commissioner are more competitive than my theory predicts. I discuss this finding considering my concept and argue that this represents a need for understanding how economic firms can influence political outcomes. The second paper applies the conceptualization of state capture more deeply to the case of Appalachia Kentucky, to create a model to better understand the region's persistent economic underdevelopment. I argue that compared to previous Appalachian development models, understanding the region's local politics as captured is empiric (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Amanda Robinson (Committee Chair); Jan Pierskalla (Committee Member); Janet Box-Steffensmeier (Committee Member) Subjects: Political Science

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2019, Political Science

Since the end of the Cold War, the international community has dealt with problems of state fragility in the developing world, partly as their own "security" issue. Their approaches to address it have been varied, and more direct interventions such as external state-building has drawn more attention, but this dissertation focuses on a less "direct" form of assistance: foreign aid and its different modalities. Particularly, I theorize that general budget support (GBS), which is most fungible and gives the recipient the largest financial discretion, will have positive effects on the recipient state capacity when the latter also perceives terrorist threats on their own, because then donors can engage its local willingness to counter such threats by building institutional capacity. I test the implications of my theoretical argument both quantitatively and qualitatively. In Chapter 3, I explore how OECD donors as a donor community and the major donors among them have allocated their aid, depending on terrorist threats posed to either or both of the international community and the recipient. Then, in Chapter 4, I examine at how foreign aid and terrorist threats interact in their effects on state capacity of recipient countries, using an annual dataset as well as one divided into five-year periods. In order to examine the mechanisms specified in my theoretical argument, in Chapter 5 I conduct case studies with three countries in East Africa -- Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. There, I try to verify the following mechanisms: (1) does presence of domestic terrorist threats lead to willingness on the part of the government to build institutional capacity to counter these threats?; (2) when the government is willing to build its institutional capacity, does it face a problem of signaling -- communicating its intention behind its effort -- vis-a-vis its domestic audience?; and (3) is donor involvement in the form of GBS provision helpful in overcoming such signaling problem (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Christopher Gelpi (Committee Chair); Daniel Verdier (Committee Member); Alexander Thompson (Committee Member) Subjects: International Relations; Political Science

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2013, History

The frequency of wars in modern China between 1924 and 1945 was accompanied by the phenomenon that the soldier figure played an important ideological role in state rhetoric and social discussions. Different political, social and cultural forces, such as Jiang Jieshi (1887-1975)'s Nationalist government (1927-1949), the Whampoa Military Academy, urban intellectuals, activists, professionals, writers, students, and the Chinese Communists in the revolutionary base of Yan'an constructed the soldier figure to argue for their agendas and assert their political influence. The multiple meanings assigned to the soldier figure by diverse forces as well as the intentions behind the meanings are the main theme uniting this dissertation. This theme serves as a useful window to explore the state-building processes in the GMD and CCP areas and the complex state-society relations that were engendered by these processes in modern China. By examining how different political, social and cultural forces resisted, collaborated with, complicated, questioned and confronted the heroic ideal of the soldier promoted by Jiang and the Nationalist government, this dissertation demonstrates that the cultural negotiations over how to create and support a strong army were central to the state-building processes in modern China, and a significant factor in determining different trajectories in state-society relations in the regions controlled by the GMD and the CCP.

Committee: Christopher A. Reed (Advisor); Patricia Sieber (Committee Member); Ying Zhang (Committee Member) Subjects: Asian Studies; History; Military History

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2023, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Urban Heat Island effect is an observed phenomenon where temperatures in urban areas are warmer than those in rural areas due to the materials used and the relative lack of green spaces. As the world continues to warm, there are mitigation strategies that can be taken to reduce the increase in temperature. When the temperatures rise above 28 °C, there are major health implications and can cause death. This thesis examines if the Ohio State University campus is affected by Urban Heat Island effect, how the Ohio State University self regulates through its Building Design Standards for roofing and paving materials, and the impact that has on the microclimate across campus, with particular focus on temperature and wind. Temperature and wind data was collected from eight weather stations across the campus and subsequently analyzed. The Building Design Standards were reviewed to understand regulations on the types of roofing and paving materials. This study found that the Ohio State University's campus is prone to the impact of Urban Heat Island effect. It is warming faster than the City of Columbus and the world. The buildings on campus near the weather stations tended to obstruct the natural wind pattern. The university's Building Design Standards do not priorities climate change or Urban Heat Island effect. Any mention of either is just a consideration or recommendation, not a requirement. Offices across campus are trying to make progress to become more sustainable, but not everyone is on the same page.

Committee: Ryan Winston (Committee Member); Qian Chen (Advisor) Subjects: Climate Change

Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, 2014, Educational Leadership

Politicians and educators frequently refer to the lack of science being taught in public schools. President Obama has voiced concerns about employers' economic interests not being served through public school's science education. An understanding of science is also required in order to evaluate political and social justice issues. This project identifies aspects of the epistemological understandings of science known as Nature of Science (NOS) that were found in elementary school teachers' science identities and their teaching practices. The case study used surveys, interviews, and classroom observations, to construct individual stories that capture participants' science identities. Emergent themes were identified within the teachers' identities. Experiences with informed NOS instruction (K-16) were lacking. Instructional practices of teachers aligned with their understandings of science epistemology. Consequences of national, state, and local, education policies were identified. All participants acknowledged needs and desires for professional development in science instruction. However, no efforts were being undertaken to pursue or provide in-service training for science. The statuses of these teachers cannot be unique in a nation possessing numerous similar rural settings. The insight gained through this study provides an important glimpse of U.S. education that policy makers need to appreciate in order to be able to generate the political advocacy necessary to enact quality science education reform. This project concludes with proposals for future training designed to foster understandings of science epistemology that are necessary for effective science teaching. Providing support effecting informed science epistemology (NOS) requires alterations to professional and personal identities; not lists of standards or administrative directives to teach science. Teachers' naive science identities, transformed through an acculturation of NOS, may gene (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Richard Quantz PhD (Committee Chair); Thomas Poetter PhD (Committee Member); Lawrence Boggess PhD (Committee Member); Nazan Bautista PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Education Policy; Educational Leadership; Elementary Education; Epistemology; Inservice Training; Public Policy; Science Education; Teacher Education; Teaching

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2003, History

From 1914-21, the Russian countryside underwent an enormous social and political transformation. World War I and civil war led to conscription into the tsarist, Bolshevik, and anti-Bolshevik armies, removing over fourteen million young male peasants from their villages. Revolution destroyed the centuries-old peasant-landlord relationship, redistributed land among the peasantry, democratized the countryside, and allowed villages to install autonomous governing bodies. War and social turmoil also brought massive famine and government requisitioning of grain and possessions, killing thousands of peasants and destroying their means of existence. The Bolshevik victory, a defining event of the twentieth century, was ultimately determined by the temporary support of the peasantry, the vast majority of Russia's population. This project studies the interaction between peasants and government in the Russian province of Viatka from the beginning of World War I to the end of the Civil War in 1921. In doing so, it will advance how scholars understand the nature of the Revolution, peasant-state relations, and peasant society and culture in general. On the one hand, I analyze Russia's changes through a study of peasant responses to tsarist, Provisional Government, and Soviet recruitment into the armed forces; requisitioning of grain and possessions; and establishment of local administrations. In examining peasants' language and interaction with the state, I show how the population adopted, rejected, and helped to shape government power, just as it shaped them. The destruction of the tsarist system created an ideal environment for the rural populations to break free from traditional roles. Indeed, political and social turmoil helped to fashion new peasant identities and social relationships. On the other hand, I strive to understand the diverse peasant experiences by conducting a case study of the internal dynamics and cleavages in the countryside. My study underscores that the exp (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: David Hoffmann (Advisor); Eve Levin (Other); Nicholas Breyfogle (Other) Subjects: History, European

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2011, International Development Studies (International Studies)

State-building effort is a continuous process in post-conflict countries. Since 2002, Timor-Leste has been in the process of its state-building endeavor with the support of the international community. Most of the foreign aid to the country has been for the purpose of state-building projects, the result however is a mixed record. Considerable criticisms have pointed towards donors' lack of concern regarding the state-building needs of the recipient country, as too much focus has been placed on their national interest. In recent years, Australian and Chinese aid has come under criticism. Critics have argued that important issues like poverty reduction and social and economic development have become secondary to both countries' national interests. This study explores the two countries' long-term goals in Timor-Leste by comparing and contrasting their aid programs to state-building initiatives from 2002-2011. It found that the two countries have differences in their aid programs as well as commonalities in terms of their approach to aid projects and programs and their national interest. The study argues that both countries' aid has been used as currency for buying time, political influence, and the hearts and minds of the Timorese for the purpose their long term goals. Foreign aid serves as a soft power instrument for maintaining the two countries' geopolitical and geostrategic interests and future influence and for achieving economic opportunities in the region. The government of Timor-Leste needs to play a "smart diplomacy" card, continue to befriend, and open to all countries, while maintaining balanced relations between Australia and China and at the same time strengthen its coordination role at home by taking a more active and effective leadership role in the management of international assistance for the purpose the country's state-building needs.

Committee: Dr. Yeong-Hyun Kim (Advisor); Dr. Thomas A. Smucker (Committee Member); Dr. Ariaster Baumgratz Chimeli (Committee Member) Subjects: International Relations

Master of Public Administration (MPA), Bowling Green State University, 2012, Public Administration

State-building literature in relation to Afghanistan has tended to focus on how to combat the insurgency in order to promote internal state stability. However, there has been little analysis of the role the Afghan central government appointees in state-building at the provincial level. This thesis will help correct for the deficiency by focusing on the central government's appointment of provincial governors and its impact on insurgent penetration in the provinces. With many governors using their positions to create elaborate patronage networks as well as using their position to eliminate their opponents, these tactics can create a breeding ground of domestic insurgency by recruiting from disaffected tribes/ethnicities. Using original data on the governors of each of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, from 2002 to present day, as well as data on insurgent attacks this thesis will test the hypothesis that there is a relationship between the central government's appointment of provincial governors and the number of insurgent attacks in each of the providences. To conduct this empirical analysis I will use bivariate statistical tests to help determine if there is any potential relationship between the appointment of provincial governors and insurgent attacks.

Committee: Neil Englehart PhD (Advisor); Marc Simon PhD (Committee Member); Neal Jesse PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Public Administration