uscga badge
uscga badge
Home / Academics / Academic Majors / Government / Government Faculty and Staff / Dr. Ginger Denton

Ginger Denton, Ph.D.

Government, Professor Department of Government School of Science, Mathematics and the Humanities

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Mississippi, Political Science. Comparative Politics & International Relations
  • M.A., University of Mississippi, Political Science. Comparative Politics
  • M.A., University of Tennessee, Political Science. International Relations
  • B.S., University of Tennessee, Political Science and Broadcasting

Courses Taught

  • International Relations
  • Comparative Politics
  • Politics of Asia
  • Politics of China

Capstone Projects

  • 2020-2021 Maritime Piracy in Southeast Asia: Impacts of U.S. Involvement
  • 2019-2020 Maritime Crime in Latin America
  • 2018-2019 EAGLE versus Dragon: Competition in Latin America
  • 2017 The Potential Effects of the Westward Expansion of Extractive Industries in the Gulf of Guinea
  • 2016-2017 Broken Windows and Broken Courts: Combatting Illicit Trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea
  • 2016-2017 Public Opinion and Public Perceptions of the United States within China
  • 2016-2017 Political Participation in the Arctic: How Differences in Alaskan and Canadian Arctic Governance Structures Influence Native Voter Turnout
  • 2016 Food Security: A Global Issue
  • 2016 The Indian Perspective: An Examination of India’s Relations with Two World Powers
  • 2015-2016 The Crisis Cycle: An Analysis of the Domestic Rally Round the Flag Effect
  • 2015-2016 United States Armed Intervention: Policy for the South China Sea

Selected Publications

  • “Who Can You Blame? Trust in institutions and mobilization across regimes in Asia,” (with Howard B. Sanborn). 2023. Asian Journal of Comparative Politics. OnlineFirst article. https://doi.org/10.1177/20578911231161352
  • “Maritime Piracy, Military Capacity, and Institutions in the Gulf of Guinea,” (with Jonathan R. Harris). 2022. Terrorism and Political Violence. 31(1): 1-27.
  • “The Impact of Illegal Fishing on Maritime Piracy: Evidence from West Africa,” (with Jonathan R. Harris). 2021. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. 44(11): 938-957.
  • Zhang, Weiqi and Ginger L. Denton. 2019. “The North Korean Nuclear Dilemma: Does China Have Leverage?” Journal of Asian Security and International Relations. 6(2): 107-135.
  • Denton, Ginger L. 2016. Political Participation in Asia: Typologies of Political Behavior across Democratizing States. Singapore: World Scientific.

Selected Conference Presentations

  • “The Impact of Institutions and Economics on Maritime Piracy in Southeast Asia,” Presented at the New England Political Science Association Annual Meeting. April 23 – 24, 2021.
  • “The Impact of Institutions on Maritime Violence,” (with Jonathan R. Harris) Presented at the Pacific Northwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Boise, ID. November 7 – 9, 2019.
  • “By the Campaign or for the Cause? Institutions and Participation in Asia,” (with Howard B. Sanborn) Presented at the 114th American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Boston, MA. August 30 – September 2, 2018.
  • ”Military Capacity and Maritime Piracy in West Africa,” (with Jonathan R. Harris) Presented at the 114th American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Boston, MA. August 30 – September 2, 2018.
  • “Emerging Threats in the Gulf of Guinea: Mapping Maritime Violence with GIS,” (with Jonathan R. Harris), Presented at the International Studies Association Security Conference, Washington, DC. October 13 – 14, 2017.
  • “Coast Guard: Missions, Organization, and Force Structure,” Moderator at China’s Gray Zone Maritime Operations Conference. Naval War College, Newport, RI. May 2 – 3, 2017.
  • “The Most Misunderstood Alliance: North Korea’s Foreign Policy on China,” (with Weiqi Zhang), Presented at the 5th Global International Studies Conference, Taipei, Taiwan. April 1 – 2, 2017.
  • “Indian Perceptions of the United States and China,” Presented at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Political Science Association, Boston, MA. November 10-12, 2016.
  • Panel Discussant, “Politics of the South China Sea,” at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Political Science Association, Boston, MA. November 10 – 12, 2016.
  • Panel Chair and Discussant, “Corruption and the Role of Elite Actors in State Government,” at the Annual Meeting of the New England Political Science Association, Newport, RI. April 21 – 23, 2016.
  • “Patterns of Political Participation in Democratizing Southeast Asia,” Presented at the 3rd International Association of Asia-Pacific Studies Annual Meeting, Manila, Philippines. November 22 – 23, 2013.
  • “Southern Thailand’s Political Participation Patterns: The Influence of Ethnicity and Religion,” Presented at the 84th Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL. January 3 – 5, 2013.
  • Guest Lecturer, China Maritime Police Academy, Ningbo, China. 2012.
  • Participant, “China’s Far Seas Operations,” Chinese Maritime Studies Institute Conference, U.S. Naval War College. May 9 – 12, 2012.
  • “The Impact of Ethnic Identity on Patriotism and Radical Islam in Insurgent Thailand,” (with Robert B. Albritton), Presented at the 70th Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL. April 12 – 15, 2012.
  • “Dimensions of Political Participation in Hong Kong,” Prepared for the Conference of The Asian Studies Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. March 2 – 3, 2012.
  • “Radical Islam and Political Behavior in Southern Thailand,” Presented at the 69th Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL. March 31 – April 3, 2011.
  • “Political Behavior in Southeast Asia: An examination of the Resource Model in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.” Presented at the 42nd Northeastern Political Science Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA. November 11 – 13, 2010.
  • “Critical Citizens or Subjects? Political Participation and Democracy in Asia,” Presented at the 68th Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL. April 22 – 25, 2010.
  • “Modes of Political Participation in Asia: Verba and Nie Revisited,” Presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Southeast Conference Association for Asian Studies, Louisville, KY. January 15 – 17, 2010.
  • Panel Chair, Asian Political Culture section, 49th Annual Meeting of the Southeast Conference Association for Asian Studies, Louisville, KY. January 15 – 17, 2010.
  • “Modes of Political Participation in Insurgent Southern Thailand,” (with Robert B. Albritton) Presented at the 66th Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL. April 3 – 6, 2008.

Research Experience

  • Center for Advanced Studies Research Grant, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 2014, 2022.
  • Visiting Research Fellow, King Prajadhipok’s Institute, Bangkok, Thailand. 2010.
  • Nelson Mandela University Exchange Program, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 2009.
  • Research Assistant, Foundation for Environmental Security and Sustainability grant program, University of Mississippi. 2009.
  • Graduate Student Council Research Grant, University of Mississippi. “Drugs, Violence, and Political Participation in Colombia.” Bogota, Colombia. 2007.
  • Research Assistant, Social Science Research Laboratory, University of Mississippi. 2006-2007.

Contact Information

Apply Now
Apply Now

Stay in touch with our online community

Icon-twitter-x Facebook-f Youtube Instagram Linkedin

Sponsor Family Application

Thank you for submitting your application to be part of the Sponsor Family Program. Your application will be processed in the upcoming week. Coast Guard Academy’s policy on background screening now requires all adults (everyone 18 and older living in the home) who volunteer to mentor, teach, coach or sponsor cadets, whether on or off Coast Guard Academy grounds, to be screened every 5 years. They are required to provide personal information (name, birth date and social security number) for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check.

The Security Officer at the Coast Guard Academy, CWO2 Gina Polkowski, is overseeing this process. Her email is: Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.

Sponsor Family designations fall into several different categories. Below are the guidelines to help you determine how best to meet the background screening requirement:

  1. If you are Coast Guard active duty you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
  2. If you are a Civilian working for the Coast Guard you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
  3. If you are non-Coast Guard Active Duty, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at  Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
  4. If you are non-Coast Guard civilian who has a current security clearance or National Agency check, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at  Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
  5. All civilians in the families who are 18 years or older and do not have a security clearance or a National Agency Check are required to be vetted through Mind Your Business, the third party vendor hired by the Coast Guard Academy for the vetting process.

After you complete your application, please e-mail the Sponsor Family Program Coordinator at CadetFamilySponsorProgram@uscga.edu. In your e-mail, you must include the e-mail address and phone number of every adult living in the home. The Sponsor Family Coordinator will then initiate the background check process and you will receive an email with further instructions.

Important things to note:

There is a Sponsor Family Training that is a one-hour training which we ask sponsors to attend once every four years. This training is designed to give you an overview of the program, what is expected of you as a sponsor, and what you can expect from your cadets. This training will also help familiarize you with the cadet regulations onboard CGA. You will be notified via e-mail once the training is scheduled.

The matching process of swabs to families will occur during July and August. Please bear with us and remain flexible through this process. There will be a meet and greet scheduled on Campus, typically in late August. This will give families an opportunity to formally meet their cadet if they have not already done so. Details on this will also be via email.

CGA Badge
Links from these pages to non-Coast Guard sites are provided as a customer service and do not represent any implicit or explicit endorsement by the United States Coast Guard of any commercial or private issues or products presented there.
learn more