Dear Readers,
Hello and welcome to the Fall 2021 Edition of the Michigan Journal of Political Science, our second publication commemorating our Journal’s 40th Year Anniversary. We are proud to showcase the following five pieces as exemplary research in Political Science by talented undergraduate students from around the world. These articles reflect a commitment to rigorous investigation and thought provoking historical and contemporary political analysis, while remaining academic and non-partisan. Since its founding, with an evolution in methods of analysis, diverse perspectives, and coverage of contentious topics, our publication has remained steadfast to upholding the Journal’s commitment of editing and publishing research that can further the discourse in the Political Science community. We hope that this Edition and our future work continues to uphold the spirit of our journal established in 1981.
In this edition our work has applied modern analysis to key historical events. Our authors have put together captivating lenses to better understand the current geo-political repercussions of power struggles of the past. Pieces like “On Translucent Resolution: The WTO Banana Dispute,” explore how newly empowered economic arbiters’ attempts to resolve the competing interests of corporations, imperial powers, and former colonies continue to shape our modern international political economy. Meanwhile, pieces like “Understanding the Political Parasocial Encounter” highlight the evolving landscape of social interaction that is now adapted to the widespread use of social media and projects the political ramifications of this transformation. Finally, “López Obrador’s Dilemma: Using Game Theory Tools to Understand the Release of Ovidio Guzmán” showcases how game theory can be used to understand the changing incentive structures that motivate governments’ decisions in dealing with insurgent cartel groups that have only grown in power. We hope that the creative hypotheses and analytical tools our authors have employed provides
insight on the critical political themes we have spotlighted in our Edition. These pieces reflect both on the underlying themes exacerbating and relieving political struggles of the past and present in an attempt to provide rationale that can better equip us for the political conflicts of the future.
As Editors-in-Chief for the past two years, we are greatly appreciative of those who have read, contributed, and supported this Journal. We restarted
MJPS in an attempt to better understand the political world around us, and in doing so we have made lifelong friends, mentors, and connections across the globe. We want to not only thank our current Editorial Board for all their hard work, but all our peers and alumni whose work helped create and grow MJPS. The Journal has been a cornerstone of our college experiences and enriched our understanding of the world beyond campus. We thank the Department of Political Science, and particularly Briana Akani, Brian Min, Joseph Johnson, and Dustin Hahn for giving us the platform and support to enact our vision for this journal.
Finally, we would like to extend a few personal thank you’s:
The Journal would not have been possible without the support, inspiration, and faith from the Sinha and Vyas family. I have always felt your love
and guidance in every endeavor I’ve taken. Thank you for teaching me the value of knowledge.
Por las enseñanzas y reflexiones de la Familia Ramos Salinas, esta publicación ha podido crecer y mejorarse con cada paso. Gracias por siempre aconsejarme y empujarme a ver hacia la sima.
Sincerely,
Ambika Sinha and Andres Ramos Salinas
Editors in Chief