Colorado Political Science Review

CPSR

Welcome to CPSR

Welcome to the Colorado Political Science Review! CPSR is a student-written and student-edited journal bringing political science perspectives to important issues of the day. The opinions and perspectives in the CPSR are those of the individual authors. We seek to generate thoughtful discussion and analysis rooted in social science theory and supported by research and data. The CPSR is housed in the Political Science Department at the University of Colorado Boulder and is supported by the American Politics Research Lab and the LeRoy Keller Center for the Study of the First Amendment.

CPSR Honors Thesis Edition

CPSR Presents the 2025 Honors Thesis Edition

The Colorado Political Science Review is proud to present its first feature edition of honors theses from students in the Political Science and International Affairs programs at the University of Colorado Boulder. The honors thesis process is one of the most rigorous experiences that any undergraduate can partake in. It takes months of hard work, discipline, and resolve to see a thesis project through to completion. In this edition of the Colorado Political Science Review, we are highlighting six such proje...

CPSR 2025 Edition

The White House vs. The Free Press: How the Trump Administration is Reshaping Media Access

The Trump administration is shaking up Washington in more ways than one, and the White House press conferences are no exception. Traditionally, the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) has been in charge of deciding which pool of journalists gets to ask questions of the President of the United States. However, the dynamics of the White House press conferences have now undergone significant restructuring. On February 25th, 2025, the Trump administration announced that the authority to select the pre...

Why the Judiciary Is No Longer the “Least Dangerous” Branch: Examining Its Expanding Power in Modern American Democracy

Alexander Hamilton’s portrayal of the judiciary as the “least dangerous” branch of government in Federalist No. 78 starkly contrasts the courts' significant influence in contemporary American politics. In Federalist Paper No.78, Alexander Hamilton famously characterized the judiciary as the weakest branch of government. He argued that, unlike the executive and legislative branches, the judiciary lacks “the power of the sword and the purse,” implying that it neither enforces laws nor controls resources. Inst...

The Demise of Democracy in the U.S.: Authoritarian Parallels with El Salvador

Last year, I wrote a critical piece on the political state of El Salvador. I argued that their leader, Nayib Bukele, manipulated both the Salvadoran government and its people in order to secure the presidency. Since his victory, he has overstepped his presidential power in many respects, establishing himself as an authoritarian leader while operating under the guise of a democratic one. As I researched the fall of their democracy, I was relieved to be living in ours. But now, only a year later, this America...

Balancing Aid and Accountability: Evaluating Welfare Conditionality in Modern Social Economic Policy

Many scholars, politicians, and citizens across the globe examine welfare conditionality and its effects on its people and economies. Understanding the outcomes of the programs implemented to approach welfare and the practical strategies countries can take to support their people while balancing redistributive practices remains imperative. Welfare conditionality exists as an approach where benefits are accompanied by specific behavioral requirements, such as job searching, fulfilling parental responsibiliti...

From Shogun to Tennō and Naikaku Sōri-Daijin: An Introduction to Japanese Politics Prior to the Taishō Era

IntroductionIn the current day, Japan is widely renowned for its history, landmarks, and pop culture. With over 33 million tourists visiting the country in 2024 alone, Japan continues to be a hotbed of international travel and interaction (Japan Tourism Statistics | 日本の観光統計データ 2024). While various aspects of Japan work to build its global image, including its world-renowned technological exports, unique cuisine, and blend of traditionalism and modernism, one aspect does little in shaping the country’s image...

The U.S.'s Responsibility in the Destruction of Haiti

“When Haiti is more prosperous, secure, and firmly rooted in democracy, Haitians and Americans benefit” (“Haiti,” n.d.). Right now, Haiti is not prosperous, secure, or firmly rooted in democracy. Besieged by gangs, with 1 million starving and killings on the rise, Haiti’s demise appears to be in full effect. The crisis is surely one they cannot tackle alone, prompting the U.S. government to publish its 2022 plan to aid the struggling state. The U.S., however, has a history of intervening in the Caribbean na...

With Liberty and Justice For All: Protecting the Rights of Incarcerated and Previously Incarcerated Individuals Through Constitutional Interpretation

The United States Constitution remains one of the highest protections of individual freedoms; however, these rights remain frequently ignored, eroded, or denied despite protections for current and former inmates. As mass incarcerations and systematic barriers to reintegrations persist, it remains imperative to recognize that constitutional protections do not vanish behind bars. An originalist approach to constitutional interpretation—one that seeks to uphold the text’s meaning as understood at the time of i...

Print Editions

Faculty and Staff Advisors

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor coming soon! 

 

How to be involved

Would you like to be a member of CPSR?

Please email janet.donavan@colorado.edu or madeline.mader@colorado.edu 

Meet CPSR

Co-Editor

Jenny Brown

Co-Editor

Deven Kukreja

Senior Editor

Makayla Gardner

Senior Editor

Preston Meyer

Senior Editor

Franny Willardson

Senior Staff Writer

Edyn Webber

Senior Staff Writer

Kate Huntington