Dr. Brad Lockerbie has applied his academic expertise in the world outside the academy. He served as a consultant in several lawsuits involving absentee ballots. These included suits with regard to collection of ballots, signature requirements, and poll watchers. The national Republican party and state parties in Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania made use of his academic training to ensure free and fair elections.

In this text, Jonathan D. Rosen and Hanna Samir Kassab explore the linkage between weak institutions and government policies designed to combat drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence in Latin America.

Using quantitative analysis to examine criminal violence and publicly available survey data from the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) to conduct regression analysis, individual case studies on Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, and Nicaragua highlight the major challenges that governments face and how they have responded to various security issues. Rosen and Kassab later turn their attention to the role of external criminal actors in the region and offer policy recommendations and lessons learned. Questions explored include:

• What are the major trends in organized crime in this country?
• How has organized crime evolved over time?
• Who are the major criminal actors?
• How has state fragility contributed to organized crime and violence (and vice versa)?
• What has been the government’s response to drug trafficking and organized crime?
• Have such policies contributed to violence?

Crime, Violence and the State in Latin America is suitable to both undergraduate and graduate courses in criminal justice, international relations, political science, comparative politics, international political economy, organized crime, drug trafficking, and violence.

Available at Amazon

 

The Center for Survey Research released a report of a poll taken after the Democratic Party and Republican Party conventions (August 29-30) on the 2020 election in North Carolina. The poll’s results appeared on several websites including Politico, MSNBC, Bloomberg, The Hill, The National Review, The Charlotte Observer, and The Daily Reflector. The Center’s director, Peter Francia, also appeared on evening television with WXII in Winston-Salem and WNCT in Greenville (September 1), as well as the radio program, Talk of the Town (September 2) to discuss the poll’s results with host Henry Hinton.

To all involved in the Center’s work: Nice job! In just a couple of short years, the Center is now recognized as a major player in the polling industry.

 

Brad Lockerbie recently presented his work on presidential and congressional election forecasting at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association. He forecasts continued divided government with the Democrats retaining and enhancing their control of the House and Trump winning reelection.

His forecast in 2016 was right on the money. He was within three-quarters of a percentage point of the actual popular vote.

Dr. Mosier has recently published an article examining various policy responses by government leaders during the pandemic.

Abstract: Policy responses to the Covid-19 pandemic are important to understanding how some governments have been able to effectively combat the crises. Early efforts by many government leaders included policy actions to effectively shut-down society through stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders. Drawing from several key decision-making theories, this article examines the process of issuing stay-at-home orders in two U.S. States, California and Colorado, with a specific focus on three vice industries: liquor, cannabis, and firearms. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the liquor, marijuana, and gun industry have experienced a dramatic increase in sales. Using policy documents, news articles, and available resources, several decision-making theories help explain the context for how essential businesses were defined in California and Colorado’s stay-at-home orders. As the evidence suggests, a combination of health, economic, and political factors influenced when and how each industry was determined as essential industries. Scientific reasoning alone was not the determining factor for if these vice industries were permitted to continue operations during a global pandemic. As the globe continues to combat Covid-19 this paper sheds some light on balancing of political and economic concerns despite the need to protect public health.

Opp, Susan M. and Samantha L. Mosier. 2020. Liquor, Marijuana, and Guns: Essential Services or Political Tools? Policy Design and Practice

DOI: 10.1080/25741292.2020.1810397

Brad Lockerbie has had an article accepted for publication in PS: Political Science and Politics in which he forecasts the presidential election and the House elections. Based on the relative level of economic pessimism and that incumbent parties seeking a first reelection are advantaged, he forecasts that Donald Trump will win the upcoming election. Taking the foregoing into account and that incumbent House members tend to win reelection, he forecasts that the Democratic party will enhance their majority in the House of Representatives by six seats.

The Department of Political Science at ECU and its Master of Science in Security Studies Congratulates Graduate Kaitlyn Rose!

Kaitlyn earned her Master of Science in Security Studies with a concentration in International Security. She was a graduate assistant for the Department of Political Science, is the author of an article titled “Military Intervention and the Destabilization of Target States”, and is in the process of co-authoring research on the onset of pro-government militias and the impact of gender provisions in peace agreements. She would like to thank her family and friends for their unconditional love and support from afar these past years. They always believed in her abilities and continue to do so. She further wants to thank the faculty of the department for their encouragement and clarity along the way, as many of them served as close mentors during her time at East Carolina University. As she moves forward with her professional, personal, and academic aspirations, she holds the Pirate motto, “Servire” or “To Serve”, close to her heart.

Congratulations, Kaitlyn, and Good Luck!

The Department of Political Science at ECU and Its Master of Public Administration Program Congratulate Graduate!

Chastidy’s graduation takes an extra-hard tug at the heart strings!

Chastidy has been the best darned Departmental Administrator anyone could ask for during the past 4+ years and we’re all thrilled to see her achieve this professional milestone! She’s an amazing colleague and friend to the Department’s faculty and students, as well as a real asset to our College. We are all so excited to see what the future holds for you Chastidy, whether with us or as you leverage your MPA to advance your career.

Congratulations, Good Luck, and All Our Love, Chastidy!

The Department of Political Science at ECU’s Master of Science in Security Studies program Congratulates Graduate Taylor Kriminger!

Taylor is grateful for his time at ECU and the knowledge he has gained. During his time as a graduate student he has maintained a 4.0 GPA, been awarded the Roger Sharpe Political Science Scholarship, and was inducted into ECU’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. He says he would not have been able to accomplish any of these feats without the unwavering support of his wife and daughter. Upon graduation he looks forward to a career in the federal government.

Congratulations, Taylor, and Good Luck!

The Department of Political Science at ECU’s Master of Public Administration Program Congratulates Graduate Jessica Honeycutt!

Jessica thanks Dr. Scavo and Dr. Fleming for always pushing her beyond what she thought she was capable of. She hopes to continue to work in a leadership role to encourage employees to grow and develop in order to become the very best they can be.

Congratulations Jessica, and Good Luck!