Date of Award
Spring 6-13-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Honors Thesis
Degree Name
B.A. in Communication Studies, Ecology and Biodiversity
Organizational Unit
College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Communication Studies
First Advisor
Joshua Hanan
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Neoliberalism, Environment, Law, Policy, Ideology
Abstract
Neoliberalism is an ideology that prioritizes market rationality, self-responsibility, and economic interests. Neoliberalism has been used to promote environmental solutions, but also to undermine social good. This study seeks to situate two recent environment and public health related Supreme Court cases, West Virginia v. EPA (2022) and City and County of San Francisco v. EPA (2025) within a neoliberal framework. I analyzed two case studies in order to identify the ways this powerful ideology is used in policy debates on a national stage. I examined the court opinion, concurrence, and dissent statements from each court case by identifying phrases that concur with a neoliberal ideology. I then analyzed a petition for writ of certiorari and respondent brief from each case to gain an understanding of neoliberal influences in the original court documents.
Copyright Date
2-28-2026
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. This work may only be accessed by members of the University of Denver community. The work is provided by permission of the author for individual research purposes only and may not be further copied or distributed. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Grace Uhrain
Provenance
Received from Author
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
39 pgs
File Size
624 KB
Recommended Citation
Uhrain, Grace, "Neoliberalism as a Policy Determinant: A Rhetorical Analysis of Neoliberal Influence in Supreme Court Cases Involving Environmental Regulation" (2026). Restricted Access ETDs. 133.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/restrictedetd/133