http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/u.s. Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:54:24 -0400 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:54:24 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1726/a-line-in-the-sand-drug-control-along-the-us-mexico-border By Benjamin J. Mackey - This paper analyzes the ongoing drug war being waged between Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), their rivals, and the U.S./Mexican governments. This analysis is conducted through the lens of drug control; namely, through an examination of the distinct strategies of interdiction and international operations. While both of these strategies carry inherent risks and benefits, the analysis conducted herein indicates that the realm of international operations holds greater potential to directly affect the dynamic environment in which these DTOs thrive. As such, specific international operations... Wed, 31 Jan 2018 08:28 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1726/a-line-in-the-sand-drug-control-along-the-us-mexico-border http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1720/before-drones-us-covert-action-in-africa-during-the-congo-crisis By Drew A. Calcagno - A man named Patrice Lumumba led the nation's independence struggle, starting as the head of a local anti-colonial movement and eventually growing to be the first democratically-elected prime minister. Lumumba was under no delusion that Belgium and the greater West would continue to exploit the Congo if given the chance. Due to this philosophy, he expressed in famously charismatic terms that the Congo would progress only if it fully divorced itself from the colonial yoke. Through his magnetism, Lumumba found great allies as well as great enemies. His approach was rich with revolutionary diction... Thu, 30 Nov 2017 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1720/before-drones-us-covert-action-in-africa-during-the-congo-crisis http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1659/tracing-the-success-of-soft-power-in-the-us-state-departments-future-leaders-exchange-program By Leyla R. Latypova - The United States government started exploring the soft power potential of student and scholar exchange programs as early as 1908, with the establishment of the Boxer Indemnity Scholarship Program.[1] The father of the theory of soft power, Joseph Nye, was not even born when Edmund James, then president of the University of Illinois, outlined precisely the soft power benefits of the student exchange in his letter to president Franklin D. Roosevelt. James wrote, “The nation which succeeds in educating the young Chinese of the present generation will be the nation which, for a given expenditure... Mon, 23 Oct 2017 11:42 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1659/tracing-the-success-of-soft-power-in-the-us-state-departments-future-leaders-exchange-program http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1562/the-china-dilemma-a-study-of-the-ideological-roots-of-us-foreign-policy-towards-china-during-the-cold-war By Austin Krug - This paper investigates the influence of U.S. foreign policymakers' perceptions towards China on policy formulation during the Cold War. The influence of perceptions, especially perceptions surrounding the ideology of combatant states, is especially controversial when looking at the Cold War, a period known for extreme ideological vitriol between the United States and the Soviet Union. Drawing on the literature surrounding the relationship between these two states, I aim to expand the analysis to Sino-American relations. Specifically, I ask what influence did ideology have on U.S. foreign policymakers... Sat, 31 Dec 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1562/the-china-dilemma-a-study-of-the-ideological-roots-of-us-foreign-policy-towards-china-during-the-cold-war http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1565/reevaluating-military-strategy-the-effectiveness-of-conventional-deterrence By Dan Fitzgerald - The rise of modernized and efficient militaries competing for dominance against the United States' military has resulted in increased eruptions of conflict globally. A majority of decisions by the Joint Chiefs and EUCOM about long-term U.S. military policy in these areas are currently being based off personal and historical observations, along with blatant speculation. The question that should be asked before formulating these positions is if crisis management techniques, like conventional force movement, have a positive effect on the response to crisis triggers. The aim of this research is to... Sat, 31 Dec 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1565/reevaluating-military-strategy-the-effectiveness-of-conventional-deterrence http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1454/tweeting-2016-how-social-media-is-shaping-the-presidential-election By Matthew Das Sarma - Something seems different about 2016. Something many of us just can’t place our fingers on. Sure, The Donald looms disconcertingly over us, a threatening testament to American fear, but it’s not like he has transformed the political atmosphere all that much. Historically, politicians have spanned the whole spectrum of negativity and bigotry—anti-radical, anti-Catholic, anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Semitic, anti-foreigner, anti-Left, and anti-pretty-much-everything else. While former Republican candidate Ted Cruz and Republican nominee Donald Trump continue to echo this tradition... Mon, 26 Sep 2016 11:06 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1454/tweeting-2016-how-social-media-is-shaping-the-presidential-election http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1444/spectrums-of-nationalism-a-comparison-of-american-and-chinese-nationalism By Aeron L. Roach - American media generally depicts nationalism as a negative concept, which is threatening to peace and security. However, in its broadest sense, nationalism can incorporate two phenomena: “(1) the attitude that the members of a nation have when they care about their identity as members of that nation and (2) the actions that the members of a nation take in seeking to achieve (or sustain) some form of political sovereignty.”1 Neither of these is inherently threatening to either peace or security. Why, then, is Chinese nationalism so often viewed as a threat? I propose that this perception... Mon, 12 Sep 2016 10:02 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1444/spectrums-of-nationalism-a-comparison-of-american-and-chinese-nationalism http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1572/thrifty-authoritarians-us-regime-change-1945-present By Daniel J. Savickas - The efficacy of efforts by the United States government to influence regime change in foreign nations has been increasingly called into question. Motivated by these statements of skepticism, the study herein provides a statistical analysis of the impact US intervention has had on both democratic evolutions in target nations for regime change, and for the development of their GDP per capita. An analysis of GDP per capita in target nations for US-sponsored regime change offers observers insight into both how standard of living conditions may have improved in those nations and a brief overview of... Tue, 31 May 2016 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1572/thrifty-authoritarians-us-regime-change-1945-present http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1320/united-states-india-defense-relations-a-strategic-partnership-for-the-21st-century By John Pedro - The uptick in U.S.-India cooperation originated late in the Clinton administration, was carried through the Bush Administration, and has been continued by the Obama Administration's pivot to Asia and recent renewal of the mutual defense framework. I argue that although past relations have been tumultuous, collaboration will continue to grow in the future as a result of converging interests and strategic necessities. India is rapidly growing in influence and power; with 1.3 million active personnel, it is the world's third largest military, and with 1.2 billion people, its largest democracy.1 In... Fri, 01 Jan 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1320/united-states-india-defense-relations-a-strategic-partnership-for-the-21st-century http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1179/a-new-cold-war-explaining-russias-new-confrontations-with-the-west By Michael McFaul - What I want to do today is answer one really big question. If we have time maybe we’ll get to the second question, but I want to answer one big question, because that’s what we should do as academics. It comes from an experience I had right after I left government. I came home to Palo Alto, and one of my neighbors said, “Mike you should come over for lunch, we’re interested in hearing about your experiences in Moscow.” So I went over to lunch and we started talking, and my neighbor started telling some stories about his time in government. My neighbor is George... Wed, 15 Apr 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1179/a-new-cold-war-explaining-russias-new-confrontations-with-the-west http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/997/examining-the-image-of-the-united-states-in-the-arab-world-and-the-relationship-with-israel-during-the-obama-administration By Alexandra M. Quinn - President Obama did, however, have options that would lead to more immediate upticks in ratings: in a January 2009 Foreign Policy Opinion Briefing, Gallup polling of various North African and Middle Eastern countries (including the Palestinian territories) showed pulling out of Iraq and closing the Guantanamo Bay as the factors most likely to improve those countries’ views of the U.S. On the other hand, the complexities of the United States’ deeply embedded relationship with Israel, as well as its involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, have continually been a source... Mon, 09 Feb 2015 05:12 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/997/examining-the-image-of-the-united-states-in-the-arab-world-and-the-relationship-with-israel-during-the-obama-administration http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/994/how-eric-holders-role-as-attorney-general-impacted-the-obama-presidency By Federika A. Cariati - Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.’s recent resignation is not the first controversial issue to arise out of his nearly six-year career in the White House. Since his nomination process began, Holder’s career as Attorney General has been as groundbreaking as it has been inconsistent. His fierce defense of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as well as his efforts to broaden civil rights have molded Holder’s legacy in the American Justice system as well as his impact on the shape of Obama’s presidency. While there is no doubt that Holder left a mark on the Obama... Sun, 08 Feb 2015 10:15 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/994/how-eric-holders-role-as-attorney-general-impacted-the-obama-presidency http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/991/inaction-on-gun-control-reform-during-the-obama-administration By Jordan A. Lieberman - Gun control and federal reform of firearm legislation have recently become popular and contentious topics in Washington D.C. and around the country. Yet despite vast public support, none of the legislation proposed by the Obama administration has been enacted. The Obama administration and the several Congresses that have served during his time in office have failed to produce meaningful change in the area of gun control. In many cases, regulations have actually become less restrictive, allowing for easier access to guns and limiting rules governing their use. Several interrelated phenomena help... Sat, 07 Feb 2015 09:38 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/991/inaction-on-gun-control-reform-during-the-obama-administration http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/990/e-electioneering-the-political-and-cultural-influence-of-social-media-in-the-2008-and-2012-presidential-elections By Rebecca Pineiro - Early in 2007, a junior senator with a thin legislative résumé but an inspiring background in community organizing approached a Facebook executive during the site’s period of exponential growth. That senator, later known as our 44th President, was gearing up to embark on his own professional expedition: his monumental campaign for the American presidency. Senator Obama had his own ideas for the network’s leap into politics and potential for growth. At this momentous juncture, Senator Barack Obama wondered if the network’s reach and usage could be used as a tool... Sat, 07 Feb 2015 04:19 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/990/e-electioneering-the-political-and-cultural-influence-of-social-media-in-the-2008-and-2012-presidential-elections http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/989/why-taking-the-white-house-online-does-not-make-it-more-accessible-to-the-public By Leah C. Campbell - Much has been said in regards to Barack Obama’s revolutionary use of technology during both his 2008 and 2012 campaigns for President of the United States. Yet, during his administration, that groundbreaking tactic suddenly disappeared. In 2013, with the launch of the We The People website, the Obama administration focused its efforts on reigniting that feeling of connection that powered two successful elections. The site was created as an update to the Office of Public Engagement, which had drawn criticism in past administrations for its ineffectiveness. While the website and corresponding... Sat, 07 Feb 2015 03:31 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/989/why-taking-the-white-house-online-does-not-make-it-more-accessible-to-the-public http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/988/the-myth-of-obamas-post-racial-presidency-why-barack-obamas-election-didnt-end-racial-inequality-in-america By Breanna M. Bacon - The presidential campaign of Barack Obama was met with enthusiasm and controversy. If you were alive and cognizant at the time, you understood the importance and historic value of the 2008 election no matter your position. Barack Obama, the Hawaii-born Senator representing the state of Illinois, was the first black[1] candidate nominated by one of the two major political parties. Never before had there been a black candidate as viable to win the presidential election. The uniqueness of the Obama campaign led apolitical groups to actually get out and participate in the political process. The fervor... Sat, 07 Feb 2015 12:05 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/988/the-myth-of-obamas-post-racial-presidency-why-barack-obamas-election-didnt-end-racial-inequality-in-america http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/987/does-obamaism-exist-an-analysis-of-ideology-and-its-place-in-the-obama-era By Elliott A.S. Memmi - Philosophers have been grappling at what characterizes the manifestation of what we call “ideology” for some time now. Is it based in some written or spoken manifesto? Or is it much murkier than that— a frame for what we think in the same way language or culture might? And what of its prophets? How do we determine the ideological nature of an individual and the legacy it might entail? The name “Obama” excites such unusual passion that it is hard not to conceive his visage, already branded across highly colorful paraphernalia, as a symbol of this decade. But for the... Fri, 06 Feb 2015 11:09 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/987/does-obamaism-exist-an-analysis-of-ideology-and-its-place-in-the-obama-era http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1485/the-effects-of-the-us-pivot-to-asia-on-european-strategic-cooperation By Thomas Armstong - The current state of European strategic cooperation is optimistically described as "splintered" and pessimistically labeled as "nonexistent" by politicians and pundits alike. A potential retreat of the EU to staunch intergovernmentalism frustrates those who hoped Europe could reach its supranational potential to address global strategic challenges. The EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), its subsidiary Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP), the European Defense Agency (EDA), and the European External Action Service (EEAS) were all designed to address modern strategic challenges... Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1485/the-effects-of-the-us-pivot-to-asia-on-european-strategic-cooperation http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/737/the-oklahoma-city-bombing-and-bill-clintons-eulogy-to-bombing-victims By Sujay Kulshrestha - On Wednesday, April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh detonated a bomb at the base of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. For the 168 individuals who lost their lives and the countless more injured and affected by the tragedy, otherwise going about their daily business, the bombing represented one of the most devastating acts of domestic terrorism. Roughly 90 minutes after the bombing, a state trooper arrested McVeigh on weapons charges and he was linked to the bombing the day after. With justice seemingly obtained, the question that then remained by that weekend’s memorial service was not &ldquo... Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:59 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/737/the-oklahoma-city-bombing-and-bill-clintons-eulogy-to-bombing-victims http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/736/commencement-addresses-delivered-by-incumbent-us-presidents-1914-2010-a-historical-analysis By Alexander E. Hopkins - Each year, thousands of colleges and universities across the United States hold commencement. This is a time when campus is in full bloom—manicured lawns, farewell hugs from classmates, and final exams. As the graduates march in unison to their seats, their colorful school robes flow gently amid the sea of flashing camera bulbs. Like a Hollywood premiere, the graduates are the stars whose years of hard work can finally be recognized by invited guests. Since a commencement is a significant investment in time and money, the ceremony is planned down to the last minute. In a sense, a commencement... Wed, 05 Jun 2013 08:13 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/736/commencement-addresses-delivered-by-incumbent-us-presidents-1914-2010-a-historical-analysis http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1199/the-great-convergence-asia-the-west-and-the-logic-of-one-world By Kishore Mahbubani - Mr. Mahbubani is a Professor of Public Policy and Dean of the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. He is the former Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Ministry, and later served as Singapore Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In that capacity he served as the President of the UN Security Council from January 2001 to May 2002. He is the author of Can Asians Think?, Beyond the Age of Innocence: Rebuilding Trust between America and the World and The New Asian Hemisphere: the Irresistible Shift of Global Power to the East. His articles have appeared... Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1199/the-great-convergence-asia-the-west-and-the-logic-of-one-world http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1200/the-forgotten-continenent-the-story-of-the-uss-return-to-africa By Marina Tolchinsky - When President Eisenhower created the Bureau for African Affairs within the U.S. State Department in 1958, the intent was clear: to prevent the spread of communism. Never before had there been an office within the U.S. government that was solely responsible for developing U.S. foreign policy towards countries in Africa. The U.S. Bureau for Africa was born from the Cold War, and anti-communist rhetoric shaped much of its early policies. As the U.S. engaged in proxy wars to prevent the spread of communism on the continent, African issues gained a new importance to U.S. foreign policy. However, when... Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1200/the-forgotten-continenent-the-story-of-the-uss-return-to-africa http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/733/ronald-reagans-presidential-radio-addresses-themes-of-unity By Alexander E. Hopkins - Ronald Reagan’s public speaking career began in 1932 at the age of 21. By this time, the recent Eureka College graduate was hired as a sports radio broadcaster. The following year, Franklin D. Roosevelt became President and began the Fireside Chats radio series. According to political historian J. Jeffrey Auer (1992): “Each listener received the impression that Roosevelt was talking directly to him. Millions of Americans sat at their radios and agreed that they “could practically feel him physically in the room.” His voice communicated his expansive personality; it registered... Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:57 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/733/ronald-reagans-presidential-radio-addresses-themes-of-unity http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1610/the-states-struggle-to-master-asymmetrical-warfare By Joe Wisniewski - The only way to truly study asymmetrical warfare is to take into account its long history. Thus, this paper utilizes a dataset that contains almost two hundred wars fought since 1817 in order to measure the relationship between the duration of asymmetrical war and the state's chances of victory. The results showcased little difference in the state's percentage of victory for short and medium length wars. For wars over three years, the chances of victory for the state plunged by thirty-one percent. This "three year switch" fits into existing models on how terrorism is effectively evolving to combat... Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1610/the-states-struggle-to-master-asymmetrical-warfare http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1619/american-aid-to-greece-the-marshall-plan-as-a-model-for-development-aid By Sebastian Beckmann - In response to a growing acknowledgement of the failure of international aid, one school of scholars has identified a lack of aid as the defining crisis in development. From their perspective, aid has failed in driving change not due to inherent flaws, but because developed nations have failed to give enough. This school points to the American Marshall Plan in Europe, which provided an enormous fund to the reconstruction and development of Europe's shattered post-war economies, as the crowning achievement of international aid and a historical model for future endeavors. Surprisingly, few works... Thu, 31 May 2012 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1619/american-aid-to-greece-the-marshall-plan-as-a-model-for-development-aid http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1622/the-hivaids-epidemic-in-the-deep-south By Andrew Menefee - This paper examines explanations for the current HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Deep South United States. The first set of explanations is categorized as social determinants of health and includes social and economic factors that influence public health care such as poverty rates, high school graduation rates, and existing health infrastructure in the region. The second set of explanations examines the influence of less visible barriers to health care, and includes studies related to shared communal narratives of conspiracy theories and stigma. The paper employs a quantitative analysis of social and... Thu, 31 May 2012 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1622/the-hivaids-epidemic-in-the-deep-south http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1242/deconstructing-the-camarena-affair-and-the-militarized-united-states-mexico-border By Benjamin Schenk - Recently, the state of the United States-Mexico border has assumed primary importance in American domestic politics. And with that, the border has been conflated with notions of security. This paper will investigate the root causes of the border's securitization by grounding the case study of the Camarena Affair within The Copenhagen School's burgeoning constructivist literature on securitization. The paper will conclude by discussing the legislative fallout from the Camarena Affair's legacy, and arguing that the successful linkage between border and security occurred long before the events of... Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1242/deconstructing-the-camarena-affair-and-the-militarized-united-states-mexico-border http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/535/nuclear-weapons-testing-in-the-united-states-sacrificing-health-for-national-defense By Christopher Millson - As WWII ended, and the Cold War began, America began to strengthen its national defense against the Soviet Union. Alliances were created resulting in the formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact. The United States began to create an arsenal of nuclear weapons in order to protect the freedom of its citizens, and the freedom of the world. But freedom from communism would come with a price for the American people, and they would become victims of the United States government’s most lethal form of national defense, nuclear weapons. Despite early public support, victims of the tests eventually reacted... Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:20 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/535/nuclear-weapons-testing-in-the-united-states-sacrificing-health-for-national-defense http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/320/the-obesity-epidemic-in-america-and-the-responsibility-of-big-food-manufacturers By Janelle R. Stanish - Millions of people in the United States are considered obese. As waistlines continue to increase, people are asking the question: Who is to blame? Is it because American’s have become lazy and are more irresponsible with their food choices? Are fast food chains the “bad guys”? Are we all genetically pre-disposed to be “fat” or “skinny”?  Or, is there another factor contributing to the widespread obesity problem? We are exposed on a daily basis to hundreds of advertisements, many promoting specific foods that are supposed to be convenient and nutritious... Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:58 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/320/the-obesity-epidemic-in-america-and-the-responsibility-of-big-food-manufacturers http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1256/the-same-bed-articulating-a-continuity-thesis-in-us-china-policy By Emmanuel Rizzi - In a controversial and popularly cited 1999 Foreign Affairs article, Gerald Segal posed the question “Does China matter?” in response to growing international attention regarding China’s economic miracle over the preceding decade. Segal’s answer, “the Middle Kingdom is a middle power - China matters far less than it and most of the West think, and it is high time the West began treating it as such”1 resonates considerably less today; since then, both China and opinion regarding it have advanced significantly, giving rise to new fears and perceptions of U.S.... Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1256/the-same-bed-articulating-a-continuity-thesis-in-us-china-policy