RESEARCH

This paper reinterprets participatory budgeting through the lens of classical republicanism, exploring how civic virtue and institutional design together shape efficient and equitable governance outcomes.

Bridging the gap between philosophy and practice, the study integrates empirical participatory budgeting (PB) data with theoretical insights from Machiavelli, Montesquieu, and Cicero to assess how institutional frameworks can cultivate public responsibility rather than passive dependence.

The research argues that effective governance depends not only on democratic procedure but on the moral disposition of citizens, a principle rooted in ancient republican thought and newly relevant to modern civic policy.

This paper analyzes U.S. dependence on Chinese rare earth elements (REEs) and develops a strategic framework to enhance national security, economic resilience, and environmental stewardship. It integrates quantitative modeling, policy analysis, and international case studies to examine domestic production expansion, allied sourcing, and multilateral mechanisms such as border-adjusted environmental and labor standards.

Bridging the gap between economics, geopolitics, and sustainable development, the study demonstrates how coordinated domestic and allied strategies can reduce reliance on China while promoting higher global production standards. The research argues that effective REE supply chain management requires not only capacity and investment but also principled international engagement and strategic leverage, transforming vulnerability into sustainable competitive advantage.