Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense))--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2004. / Thesis advisor(s): Paul Stockton. Includes bibliographical references (p. 41-42). Also available online.

Any agreement, treaty or commercial transaction needs to be governed in order to work. The New Economics of Organisation literature glosses over the fact that different parts of the same transaction may be governed in different ways. In contrast, this thesis argues for the existence of "hybrid transacting" and presents two international bargaining cases to illustrate how interstate agreements are entered into legally, but enforced extra-legally. Given that the enforcement of international agreements is extra-legal, this thesis presents two lines of argument that are designed to answer the question, why do states enter into their agreements with other states in a legal way? It is suggested that treaty law offers states two important advantages. First, treaty law is a solution to an "information ordering" problem. Second, it is suggested that treaty law operates as a baseline against which reputation can be assessed.

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Geomatics, Faculty of Engineering, 2006. / Author's name on spine: K. McDougall. Spine title: Local-State government SDI partnership model. Includes bibliographical references (p. 233-251).

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Melbourne, Dept. of Geomatics, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (p. 233-248).

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Mississippi State University. Department of Political Science and Public Administration. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

CHDS State/Local / Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / To defend American agriculture against foreign or domestic terrorism, it is essential that states build multi-state partnerships to provide for the collaborative plans, programs and operations needed to protect the nations food security. The National Homeland Security Strategy puts states on the front lines in the war against terrorism---including the struggle to secure the agriculture industry from potentially devastating attack. The issues surrounding agro-terrorism are vast and complex and the resources of the Federal government to address these issues are limited and overextended. If states attempt to address this threat independently, important opportunities to reduce vulnerability and enhance capability will be lost. To achieve the capabilities needed for agro terrorism detection, mitigation, preparedness and response, states must collaborate to build the partnerships and programs their citizens require. This thesis argues multi-state partnerships are critical to defeating this threat as well as providing a robust response to an attack. Whether intentionally introduced or naturally occurring , infectious diseases can easily cross state borders before an outbreak is even detected. States must be prepared to act quickly to mitigate the effects of any crisis. There is a significant opportunity for states to strengthen their abilities to provide for a stronger agriculture counter terrorism preparedness system. The states can further their ability to combat attacks on agriculture actively by demonstrating leadership in implementing administrative agreements and ultimately adopting compact(s) between states as well as with the private sector. / Civilian, Homeland Security Advisor and Emergency Management Administrator, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division

The vast majority of large river systems in the United States cross (or comprise) one or more state lines, creating numerous administrative challenges. Addressing these multijurisdictional challenges in an efficient and equitable manner often requires the development of sophisticated institutional arrangements. Several types of "regional organizations" have been created for this purpose, including compact commissions, interstate councils, basin interagency committees, interagency-interstate commissions, federal-interstate compact commissions, federal regional agencies, and the single federal administrator format. These organizations feature a wide variety of authorities and responsibilities; what they inevitably share in common is a hostile political environment, a consequence of political geography and bureaucratic entrenchment. In this study, the challenges associated with the governance, administration, and management of interstate water resources are examined, using the Colorado River Basin as a case study. The Colorado is the only major river in the United States utilizing the "single federal administrator" format, an institutional arrangement that is often criticized for its subordination of the states and its concentration of policy-making authorities in the hands of administrators. When evaluated against carefully defined normative criteria, the Colorado is shown to feature many institutional deficiencies that are, in part, derivative of the Colorado's unique institutional arrangements. The primary objective of this study is to determine if the governance and management of the Colorado could be improved by the establishment of an alternative form of regional water organization. It is concluded that a type of federal-interstate compact commission, if carefully tailored to the political realities of the region, could improve many of the observed institutional deficiencies. This study also presents a widely-applicable methodology for the description and evaluation of institutional arrangements.