Rachel Vanderhill
Biographic Data
| ID | 4096581 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Rachel Vanderhill |
| GIVEN NAMES | Rachel |
| FAMILY NAME | Vanderhill |
| SIGNATURE | VANDERHILL R |
| AFFILIATIONS | Wofford College |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2255-0188 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 8 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 15 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 8 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2014 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Forum
The purpose of this forum is to illuminate the pros and cons of a career at a small liberal arts college (or SLAC). Using different perspectives, the forum highlights the diversity of international studies career paths. The forum places particular emphasis on the differences between SLAC careers and those at research-intensive institutions and discusses the ways that teaching-centric jobs at SLACs can be both extraordinarily rewarding and challen…
In the shadow of the dragon
This article employs the theoretical framework of soft power to examine the complex and often contradictory dynamics of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in central Asia. It addresses two interrelated puzzles: first, why China's considerable economic investments and political influence have failed to translate into a corresponding increase in soft power across the region; and second, why responses to the BRI vary so markedly among central As…
Teaching, Self-Care, and Reflective Practice during a Pandemic
Political science courses often address difficult topics that can take an emotional and psychological toll on students, including burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious traumatization. There is a growing awareness of the importance of reflective and self-care practices in teaching, especially considering the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on student mental health. However, this is a rarely discussed topic in political science. This art…
Iran and Its Neighbors
The case of Iran and its involvement in Syria and Iraq provide insight about both the motives of authoritarian promoters and why they choose certain mechanisms to promote autocracy. Similar to other regional authoritarian promoters, the Iranian leadership perceives a strong relationship between the survival of their regime and the persistence of authoritarianism in both Syria and Iraq, demonstrating the interconnectivity between geopolitics, stra…
Between the bear and the dragon
Kazakhstan has followed a foreign policy of multivector diplomacy since its independence from the former Soviet Union. While multivectorism was a strategy of necessity in its early years, it has evolved to empower Kazakhstan to effectively protect its independence and negotiate its relationship with the great powers on its borders and further afield. After the 2014 Russian seizure of Crimea it is noteworthy that Kazakhstan has maintained positive…
Do Economic Linkages through FDI Lead to Institutional Change? Assessing Outcomes in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan
Foreign direct investment (FDI) can deliver benefits beyond the provision of capital, such as efficiency gains. We argue that the theorised positive effects of economic linkage are reduced when linkages are based on natural resources. Domestic elite coalitions supporting reform are also weaker in countries with extensive natural resources. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have high-value natural resources and significant FDI, making them most likely cas…
Active resistance to democratic diffusion
Recent research on the international diffusion of democracy has focused on demonstrating how diffusion can change regime outcomes. Although there is still debate within the field of democratization over how important democratic diffusion is relative to domestic factors, autocratic leaders believe that democratic diffusion can be a threat to their rule. It is clear that some countries, such as North Korea, prevent diffusion by severely restricting…
Promoting Democracy and Promoting Authoritarianism
Although scholars have made great progress over the last few years studying the international dimension of democratisation, questions remain about this complex relationship, especially about the understudied area of external promotion of authoritarianism. This article seeks to develop more refined understanding of specific mechanisms linking one type of external involvement, financial assistance, to regime change. Financial assistance can increas…
Between the bear and the dragon
Kazakhstan has followed a foreign policy of multivector diplomacy since its independence from the former Soviet Union. While multivectorism was a strategy of necessity in its early years, it has evolved to empower Kazakhstan to effectively protect its independence and negotiate its relationship with the great powers on its borders and further afield. After the 2014 Russian seizure of Crimea it is noteworthy that Kazakhstan has maintained positive…
Promoting Democracy and Promoting Authoritarianism
Although scholars have made great progress over the last few years studying the international dimension of democratisation, questions remain about this complex relationship, especially about the understudied area of external promotion of authoritarianism. This article seeks to develop more refined understanding of specific mechanisms linking one type of external involvement, financial assistance, to regime change. Financial assistance can increas…
Do Economic Linkages through FDI Lead to Institutional Change? Assessing Outcomes in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan
Foreign direct investment (FDI) can deliver benefits beyond the provision of capital, such as efficiency gains. We argue that the theorised positive effects of economic linkage are reduced when linkages are based on natural resources. Domestic elite coalitions supporting reform are also weaker in countries with extensive natural resources. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have high-value natural resources and significant FDI, making them most likely cas…
Active resistance to democratic diffusion
Recent research on the international diffusion of democracy has focused on demonstrating how diffusion can change regime outcomes. Although there is still debate within the field of democratization over how important democratic diffusion is relative to domestic factors, autocratic leaders believe that democratic diffusion can be a threat to their rule. It is clear that some countries, such as North Korea, prevent diffusion by severely restricting…
Teaching, Self-Care, and Reflective Practice during a Pandemic
Political science courses often address difficult topics that can take an emotional and psychological toll on students, including burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious traumatization. There is a growing awareness of the importance of reflective and self-care practices in teaching, especially considering the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on student mental health. However, this is a rarely discussed topic in political science. This art…
Promoting Democracy and Promoting Authoritarianism
Although scholars have made great progress over the last few years studying the international dimension of democratisation, questions remain about this complex relationship, especially about the understudied area of external promotion of authoritarianism. This article seeks to develop more refined understanding of specific mechanisms linking one type of external involvement, financial assistance, to regime change. Financial assistance can increas…
Active resistance to democratic diffusion
Recent research on the international diffusion of democracy has focused on demonstrating how diffusion can change regime outcomes. Although there is still debate within the field of democratization over how important democratic diffusion is relative to domestic factors, autocratic leaders believe that democratic diffusion can be a threat to their rule. It is clear that some countries, such as North Korea, prevent diffusion by severely restricting…
Do Economic Linkages through FDI Lead to Institutional Change? Assessing Outcomes in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan
Foreign direct investment (FDI) can deliver benefits beyond the provision of capital, such as efficiency gains. We argue that the theorised positive effects of economic linkage are reduced when linkages are based on natural resources. Domestic elite coalitions supporting reform are also weaker in countries with extensive natural resources. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have high-value natural resources and significant FDI, making them most likely cas…
Iran and Its Neighbors
The case of Iran and its involvement in Syria and Iraq provide insight about both the motives of authoritarian promoters and why they choose certain mechanisms to promote autocracy. Similar to other regional authoritarian promoters, the Iranian leadership perceives a strong relationship between the survival of their regime and the persistence of authoritarianism in both Syria and Iraq, demonstrating the interconnectivity between geopolitics, stra…
Between the bear and the dragon
Kazakhstan has followed a foreign policy of multivector diplomacy since its independence from the former Soviet Union. While multivectorism was a strategy of necessity in its early years, it has evolved to empower Kazakhstan to effectively protect its independence and negotiate its relationship with the great powers on its borders and further afield. After the 2014 Russian seizure of Crimea it is noteworthy that Kazakhstan has maintained positive…
Teaching, Self-Care, and Reflective Practice during a Pandemic
Political science courses often address difficult topics that can take an emotional and psychological toll on students, including burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious traumatization. There is a growing awareness of the importance of reflective and self-care practices in teaching, especially considering the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on student mental health. However, this is a rarely discussed topic in political science. This art…
Forum
The purpose of this forum is to illuminate the pros and cons of a career at a small liberal arts college (or SLAC). Using different perspectives, the forum highlights the diversity of international studies career paths. The forum places particular emphasis on the differences between SLAC careers and those at research-intensive institutions and discusses the ways that teaching-centric jobs at SLACs can be both extraordinarily rewarding and challen…
In the shadow of the dragon
This article employs the theoretical framework of soft power to examine the complex and often contradictory dynamics of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in central Asia. It addresses two interrelated puzzles: first, why China's considerable economic investments and political influence have failed to translate into a corresponding increase in soft power across the region; and second, why responses to the BRI vary so markedly among central As…
Political science (6 works) · China (4 works) · Economics (4 works) · Development economics (3 works) · Economic system (3 works) · Law (3 works) · Political economy (3 works) · Politics (3 works) · Authoritarianism (2 works) · Democracy (2 works)