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Essays & Opinion Pieces
Looking at the past, you can start to see the possibilities of the future.
From mayoral campaign predictions, to criticisms of UN peacekeeping missions, here are a few papers I've written — all influenced by leading political science theories.
Lori Lightfoot:
The Underdog
"Lightfoot would be the first African American, openly gay woman elected to the mayoral position in Chicago. Lightfoot’s relationship with African Americans, the LGBTQ community and popularity among male voters, presents an interesting opportunity for Lightfoot to overcome her challengers and win the election."
This essay, written before the Chicago general mayoral election, analyzes the vital coalitions Lightfoot established that led to her success.
Lightfoot: Dominance in Coalition Building
"Preckwinkle, forever attached to the political machine, attacked Lightfoot at every turn. Lightfoot focused her efforts on positioning herself as an outsider, detaching herself from the political machine and prioritizing reform and change in her messaging and strategy. These strategic decisions plundered Preckwinkle’s chances, but more importantly bolstered Lightfoot’s appeals to groups."
This essay examines Lightfoot's superior ability to build coalitions, unlike her rival in the runoff election, Toni Preckwinkle.
Changing the Course: A Critique of the United Nations’ Approach to Peacekeeping
"As the United Nations has aged, rather than evolving and progressing, it has only witnessed the buildup of bureaucratic red tape and monotonous intervention strategies. The static culture within the United Nations is its hamartia and why true peace never seems to last long in areas impacted by United Nations intervention."
This essay examines theories on how to build, but more importantly, maintain peace in
conflicting territories.