American Political Development

The Virtue of Necessity: the prudential treatment of the Senate in The Federalist

by Murray S. Y. Bessette

Prepared for delivery at: The 2009 Northeastern Political Science Association Meeting, 19 November 2009 – 21 November 2009

Any examination of the constitution, whether critical or complimentary, must begin by acknowledging the political... more Any examination of the constitution, whether critical or complimentary, must begin by acknowledging the political necessities that governed the outcome. In other words, the examination of the constitution must square with the political facts as they were known to the convention that drafted it. Given the political circumstances certain institutional arrangements simply could not have been adopted – no matter how desirable they happened to be.  In light of this, and in recognition of the fact that there are no harm-free alternatives in political life (because any change within the institutional and legal framework of a polity will result in the diminution of certain preexisting powers), the discussant who thinks politically about the constitution will abide by the “the advice of prudence ... to embrace the lesser evil." Nowhere is such political thinking required more than in discussion of the Senate, the institutional arrangement of which is the exemplar of the effect of the peculiarity of American political circumstance. It is in his examination of the Senate that Publius shows most explicitly that he is a political thinker of a very high order who recognizes when and how theory of necessity must bend to political circumstance.

Historischer Institutionalismus und Vergleichende Föderalismusforschung: Fragestellungen und Analyseperspektiven

by Jörg Broschek

published in Swiss Political Science Review 17 (1) 2011, 27-50

With some exceptions, efforts to systematically apply a historical-institutionalist framework to the study of... more With some exceptions, efforts to systematically apply a historical-institutionalist framework to the study of federalism have been few and far between. This paper argues, however, that historical institutionalism lends itself particularly well for addressing two important research questions in the field of comparative federalism: the origins of federal systems and their dynamics. It is suggested that a historical-institutionalist framework can significantly contribute to encourage theoretical cross-fertilization within the field of comparative federalism.

Bill Clinton's "New Partnership" Anecdote: Toward a Post Cold War Foreign Poiicy Rhetoric

by Jason Edwards

co-authored with Joe Valenzano

Kofi Annan traveled to Rwanda in May of 1998 attempting to repair the image of the United Nations (U.N.) and to heal... more Kofi Annan traveled to Rwanda in May of 1998 attempting to repair the image of the United Nations (U.N.) and to heal the fractured political relationship between the two entities. However, the U.N. secretary general largely failed to fulfill his mission. This article analyzes the reasons why Annan's mea culpa failed. It argues that in Annan's address before the Rwandan parliament, his rhetorical choices constrained his ability to repair the U.N.'s image and U.N.-Rwandan relations. Specifically, this article demonstrates that the U.N. leader's nondiscussion of his personal culpability for U.N. action, his democratization of blame for the genocide, and the appearance of personal arrogance created by his language choices hindered his ability to fulfill his mission. The article concludes with implications for image repair theory, lessons from Annan's failure for rhetors who apologize for historical wrongdoing, and directions for further research into the phenomena of public apology.

Sanctioning Foreign Policy: The Rhetorical Use of Harry Truman

by Jason Edwards

This article examines how contemporary presidents invoke the memory of President Harry Truman within their foreign... more This article examines how contemporary presidents invoke the memory of President Harry Truman within their foreign policy discourse. Specifically, it is argued that Truman has become an authorizing figure—a person of historical importance that rhetors invoke and interpret in justifying their own policies and principles. Presidents Reagan, Clinton, and Bush cited and interpreted Truman's words and deeds in various ways to serve different foreign policy ends. Exploring how contemporary presidents use and appropriate Truman's memory presents an opportunity to mine the contour of the thirty-third president's foreign policy legacy and to obtain a better understanding of collective memory in presidential rhetoric.

Defining the Enemy in the Post-Cold War World: Bill Clinton's Foreign Policy Rhetoric in Somalia and Haiti

by Jason Edwards

American presidents use images of savagery to identify and construct America’s
adversaries, especially prior to... more American presidents use images of savagery to identify and construct America’s
adversaries, especially prior to and during some form of armed intervention. During the
Cold War, presidents used images of modern savagery to craft a Soviet enemy and its
proxies. In the post-Cold War world, Bill Clinton did not have the luxury of a monolithic
enemy to organize American foreign policy. He faced a threat environment that was
more complex, transnational, and diffuse. Within this environment, I argue Clinton used
images of primitive and modern savagery to define America’s adversaries. An analysis
of Clinton’s discourse reveals that his use of both of these rhetorical forms broadened
how presidents construct America’s enemies. Moreover, the use of both images of
savagery provided a rhetorical flexibility that was needed for the threat environment of
the post-Cold War world. This essay contributes to deeper understandings of
presidential rhetoric in general and crisis rhetoric in particular.

Apologizing for the Past for a Better Future: Collective Apologies in the United States, Australia, and Canada

by Jason Edwards

This article examines the rhetorical phenomenon of collective apology. Specifically, collective
apologies issued... more This article examines the rhetorical phenomenon of collective apology. Specifically, collective
apologies issued by American President Bill Clinton, Australian Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper were analyzed inductively
to determine the purposes and strategies that make up these speeches. This inductive
approach reveals that the purpose of collective apologies is to repair relationships
damaged by historical wrongdoing. Moreover, it is found that rhetors use the rhetorical
strategies of remembrance, mortification, and corrective action. Ultimately, this research
lays the groundwork for collective apology to be considered a distinct rhetorical genre.

Debating America's Role in the World: Representative Ron Paul's Exceptionalism Jeremiad

by Jason Edwards

This essay examines Texas representative Ron Paul’s foreign policy discourse during
the 2008 presidential... more This essay examines Texas representative Ron Paul’s foreign policy discourse during
the 2008 presidential campaign. The author argues that Paul encased his opposition
to America’s foreign policy within a secular jeremiad. Although Paul failed to win
any of the Republican primaries, his opposition to America’s involvement with Iraq
and other parts of the globe is a microcosm of a larger debate occurring among U.S.
foreign policy elites on the extent of America’s role within the world and about the
very nature of its exceptional status. This analysis informs a theoretical understanding
of American exceptionalism and interrogates a larger debate in U.S. foreign policy.

Redress for Old Wounds: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Apology for the Chinese Head Tax

by Jason Edwards

This essay examines how political leaders apologize for historical injustices.
Specifically, we analyze Canadian... more This essay examines how political leaders apologize for historical injustices.
Specifically, we analyze Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s apology for
the head tax imposed upon Chinese immigrants. The prime minister’s apology was
historic in that it marked the first time a Canadian Prime Minister formally
apologized for the head tax. We argue that Harper used a combination of the
frontier myth and collective apology rhetoric in his expression of remorse toward
the Chinese-Canadian community. While controversial, this rhetoric created a
discursive space for a constructive and strengthened relationship between the
Chinese-Canadian community and the Canadian government.

In Search for Canadian Political Development: An Examination of Canadian State Transformations Through the APD Lens

by Jörg Broschek

State Action and the Material Context of American Exceptionalism

by Jeffrey Meiser

Federalism and the Old and New Liberalisms

by Jacob Levy

Social Philosophy & Policy

The Impact of Lobbying Laws and Their Enforcement: A Contrasting View

by Bruce Anderson

The VP Card

by Boris Heersink

This paper concerns itself with the question of how a qualitative judgment of the campaign performances of... more This paper concerns itself with the question of how a qualitative judgment of the campaign performances of vice-presidential candidates can be given. As a test case the performances of Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin as running mates in the 2008 presidential election are analysed and judged.

Performances of Denial

by Boris Heersink