https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oklahoma Politics</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, an annual publication of the Oklahoma Political Science Association, explores the broad context of politics affecting Oklahoma and its place in the surrounding region. We are especially interested in submissions that bring to bear a variety of methodological, analytical, and disciplinary perspectives on state and local politics of the central-south region of the United States: Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana.</span></p> Oklahoma Political Science Association en-US Oklahoma Politics 1065-0695 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9644 Erick Ananga Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9643 Erick Ananga Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9642 Erick Ananga Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9641 Erick Ananga Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9594 Britney Hopkins Liz Lane-Harvard Thomas Milligan Bradley Paynter John Wood Copyright (c) 2023 Oklahoma Politics 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9598 <p>Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer support services to help workers address personal and work-related problems. EAPs are most known for handling mental health and substance abuse issues, which have increased over the past several years, especial- ly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research shows that although personal well-being is directly correlated with employee produc- tivity, EAP utilization is severely low. The following paper ex- plores EAPs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oklahoma from organizational experiences in municipal, healthcare, and academic settings. This paper also compares EAP literature from before and after the pandemic, employee reasons for using an EAP, employee demographics, costs, issues, alternatives, solutions, and recom- mendations.</p> Natalie Nell Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9599 <p>When looking at municipal water schemes, we must look at rates. How can cities set their rates without a statewide comparative analysis? Without a comparative analysis, cities are affecting the city infrastructure blindly. This project will cover a few important questions by examining and comparing water rates in Oklahoma. What effects can the price of rates have on the city’s water infra- structure? Are citizens able to pay for their water? This study is important in Oklahoma due to the lack of publications showing state-wide quantitative analysis of water services.</p> Reanna H. Anderson Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9602 <p>“The Theory of Nullification from John C. Calhoun, its origins in Thomas Jefferson’s Compact Theory, and how the ideas helped shape America through the Civil War.” The majority of the previ- ous research done into this topic focuses heavily on the two con- cepts’ similarities, and less so on the exploration of the connection of the political environments, nor the importance of the acts on the era outside of its origins. Looking into many of the original documents, there was an ability to get an advanced understanding of the topic. Using the methods laid forward above, reading much of Thomas Jefferson and John C. Calhoun’s works have allowed a study into the effects not only at the time, but also how they have created a wave going forward into history. Much of their language and ideas are repeated in the documents related to se- cession. Looking at the tie to the Civil War has helped understand how these actors changed history with their theories.</p> Cas Northcutt Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9603 <p>The central objective of this study is an examination of the cul- tural effects (both positive and negative) of capitalist systems of production in the context of developing countries. To accomplish this objective, the study was guided by the following two research questions: 1) what is the definition of a capitalist system of pro- duction and how has the process of globalization promoted it? and 2) what are the cultural effects (positive and negative) of the capitalist mode of production being implemented in developing countries. Uncovering answers to these questions entailed the use of secondary data collected through East Central University’s Lin- scheid Library, Google Scholar, and texts such as How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney and Global Politics by Andrew Heywood.</p> <p>The results of this study confirm that there are some positive im- pacts of capitalism and globalization in the developing world. The positive effects/impacts include free trade, the creation of non-gov- ernmental and intergovernmental organizations, the spread of de- mocracy, global connectivity, and the minimization of wealth dis- parities. Conversely, the negative impacts are greater wealth and income inequalities and underdevelopment, a flattening world and borderless societies, disease and uncontrollable pandemics, cul- tural issues and divisions of tribes, and capitalism’s roots in slavery as well as racial capitalism. Overall, based on these findings, it is important to note that the negative impacts greatly outweigh the positives. An important policy suggestion made in the study is that the capitalist system of production ought to be highly regulated, especially in countries that do not have a strong system of checks and balances against economic exploitation.</p> Aislinn Beak Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9607 Brett Sharp Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9605 Brett Sharp Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9606 Elizabeth Overman Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9608 Jacintha Webster Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9637 Erick Ananga Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9638 Erick Ananga Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9639 Erick Ananga Shanna Padgham Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32 https://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/OKPolitics/article/view/9640 Erick Ananga Copyright (c) 2023 2023-10-02 2023-10-02 32