Digital Commons Network^™

Performing Identity On Social Media: Ethno-Nationalism In A Digitised India, Tara Iyer

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Politics Of Urban Design: Racist Agendas Built Into The Environment, Chassidy Titley

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Spending Money In The Neighborhood? Trinity College, The Hartford Economy, And The Spending Habits Of College Students, Jack Godin

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

妻(Tsuma) Is Not 奥さん (Okusan) Hidden Figures In Japan: Japanese Housewives, Xingyuan Zhang

Senior Theses and Projects

In spoken Japanese, a husband will use妻 (tsuma) to refer to his own wife and use奥さん (okusan) to refer to the wife of another. The kanji for奥 (oku) means “deep inside” with 奥さん (okusan) carrying the literal meaning of “someone who is deeply hiding inside of the house”. Thus, this term illustrates the expectations for the wife to remain hidden deeply inside of the house, revealing how Japanese housewives are hidden figures in Japan.

The thesis shows the social situations of Japanese women and analyzes the pressures that lead Japanese women to become to housewives. The popular Japanese TV show …

What Is The Deal With Federal Student Loans?, Marissa Lopez-Ona

Senior Theses and Projects

Student loan debt is in the trillions. So why aren't Americans more mad about that? This thesis explores the how the submerged nature of student loan policy shapes the politics around it. Suzanne Mettler suggest that federal student loan policy is part of the submerged state where Americans do not "see" the role of government within the student loan program. However, I argue that this is not that reason. I argue and show through an original survey that the role of federal student loan servicers is actually what is hidden about federal student loan policy. And that revealing the role …

Exploring Possibility Under Constraint: A Human Rights Approach To Higher Education In Connecticut’S Prisons And Jails, Emma Hersom

Senior Theses and Projects

This thesis investigates the landscape of higher education in prison (HEP) programs in Connecticut, aiming to evaluate their efficacy in ensuring a genuine right to education for incarcerated individuals. Through a comprehensive exploration grounded in human rights principles and informed by abolitionist perspectives, the research scrutinizes the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and adaptability of these programs. Drawing on insights from incarcerated students, program leaders, and existing scholarship, it delves into the intersection of education and incarceration, challenging prevailing neoliberal narratives. Furthermore, the thesis proposes actionable strategies for everyday abolition, emphasizing the need to dismantle carceral cultures and foster transformative approaches to …

A Case For Abolition: Analyzing The Death Penalty In The United States, Abigail E. Nick

Senior Theses and Projects

This thesis delves into the multifaceted debate surrounding the death penalty in the United States, exploring its constitutionality, morality, and implications for the justice system. Drawing from legal, philosophical, and empirical analyses, it argues against the continued practice of capital punishment, contending that it violates fundamental human rights, inhibits rehabilitation efforts, and fails to align with evolving societal norms. The discussion navigates through historical contexts, international perspectives, and philosophical theories of punishment, examining the right to life, methods of punishment, and evolving standards of decency. It underscores the tension between retributive justice and the protection of human rights, highlighting the …

Abortion In America After Roe: An Examination Of The Impact Of Dobbs V. Jackson Women’S Health Organization On Women’S Reproductive Health Access, Natalie Maria Caffrey

Senior Theses and Projects

This thesis will examine the limitations in access to abortion and other necessary reproductive healthcare in states that are hostile to abortion rights, as well as discuss the ongoing litigation within those states between pro-choice and pro-life advocates. After analyzing the legal landscape and the different abortion laws within these states, this thesis will focus on the practical consequences of Dobbs on women’s lives, with particular attention to its impact on women of color and poor women in states with the most restrictive laws. The effect of these restrictive laws on poor women will be felt disproportionately due to their …

Immigration, Identity, And Sub-State Nations: A Comparative Analysis Of Madrid And Catalonia, Reagan Flynn

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Wrong Choices, Missed Chances: The Motivations Of Opposition Politicians And The Ensuing Failures At Regime Change In Venezuela, 2013-2022, Daniel Santos Ramirez

Senior Theses and Projects

This work presents a study of the failures to achieve regime change in Venezuela between 2013 and 2022. By using the critical juncture framework, this thesis shows that there have been moments of opportunity where permissive conditions (i.e., structural factors) were present to achieve regime change, that the Venezuelan opposition was incapable of seizing upon those moments of opportunity because they made sub-optimum strategic and coordination choices, and that these choices were influenced by the motivations that opposition actors have to be in politics.

Are Colleges Good Neighbors? The Impact Of Higher Education Community Engagement On Urban Neighbors, Kendra Keelan

Senior Theses and Projects

For the people who live in communities surrounding colleges and universities, does community engagement materially improve their lives? Does it help them to advance their goals? Are higher education institutions even aware of neighborhood needs and wants? Without hearing from neighbors, is higher education community engagement serving its purpose? This thesis aims to understand the current landscape of higher education community engagement and evaluate the extent to which small, selective liberal arts institutions in urban settings understand, communicate with, and uplift the goals of their immediate neighbors. This thesis will discuss Trinity College in comparison to nine similar urban engaged …

The Paradox Of Death Penalty Delay: A Judicial, Empirical, And Ethical Study, Zoë Gill

Senior Theses and Projects

The American death penalty has been at the center of political debates for decades. More specifically, the complexity of death penalty delay has gained significant attention from the public as well as the Supreme Court justices. Death penalty delay represents the time that transpires between when a capital crime is committed and when the execution is carried out. Today, more than half of all prisoners currently sentenced to death have been on death row for more than 18 years. This staggering statistic has ignited debate and divided the conservative justices from the liberal justices even more. This thesis will first …

An Incomplete Necrography Of The Gilbert Farmstead: A Case Study Of The Reinforcement Of A Southern New England Settler-Colonial Narrative And The Silencing Of Indigeneity At An Early American Living History Museum, Aiden Chisholm

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

“I Am The Democratic Party”: The Role Of Washington Experience In Democratic Presidents’ Success, Coleman P. Mcjessy

Senior Theses and Projects

Upon his election to the presidency, Joseph R. Biden Jr. was the first Democratic President elected in a half century with extensive “Washington experience,” that is experience as a Senator, Congressman, or Cabinet Member. In doing so, he brought a different perspective to the White House, one that was familiar with the electoral, legislative, and organizational institutions that the leader of the Democratic party must manage. In addition, this experience has led Biden to be more trusting of the formal Democratic Party infrastructure and therefore more able to use it to support his goals. In comparison to former Presidents Clinton …

Muslim Immigration To Connecticut: An Analysis Of Muslim Communities' Role In Immigrant Incorporation, Hannah M. Lynch

Senior Theses and Projects

This research investigates the relationship between Muslim religious identity and immigrant incorporation outcomes in the United States. There is much existing literature discussing the outcomes of different immigrant groups to the United States, but Muslim immigrants have been largely left out of the discussion. Through interviewing Muslim immigrant residents of Connecticut, I discovered a two-fold relationship between Muslim identity and immigrant outcomes. On one hand, Muslim immigrants were able to incorporate more successfully through their Muslim religious community, such as their mosque. On the other hand, Muslim immigrants faced more difficult incorporating because of negative attitudes towards Muslim immigrants from …

The Peronist Paradigm: The Impact Of Peronist Traditions On The Economic Recovery Of Argentina In The Wake Of Covid-19, Jay Park

Senior Theses and Projects

First elected to the presidency in 1946, Juan Domingo Perón has remained one of the most seminal – yet controversial – figures in the history of Latin America. His rise to power brought about not just a new era in Argentine political history, but also resulted in the emergence of one of the longest lasting political movements in the world: Peronismo, or Peronism. Since its inception, it has been the salient driving force within the realm of Argentine politics for the better part of seven decades; indeed, since 1946, the Peronists have won 10 of the 13 presidential elections …

Variation In Covid-19 Outcomes In The United States: A Policy Perspective, Lauren Mcrae

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Backsliding: Donald Trump, Conspiracy Theory, & Democratic Decline, Hannah Kessel

Senior Theses and Projects

The relationship between conspiracy and democratic decline is well established in political theory. The tradition of American conspiracy imposes fear, mistrust, and unreality on citizens, which threatens the legitimacy of democratic institutions. Democratic electoral processes rely on a shared sense of objectivity and truth. Without this, electoral legitimacy crumbles. Twitter’s emergence as a new medium for political discourse alongside the Donald Trump presidential administration have jointly posed unique challenges to American democracy within this theoretical framework. The impacts of social media on the electoral process are unmeasured, and the implications of a conspiracy-minded president are unprecedented. I observe this relationship …

Gender Performance In Contentious Politics: A Case Study Of The 2020-2021 Protests In Belarus & The 2013-2014 Euromaidan Protests In Ukraine, Darya Maliauskaya

Senior Theses and Projects

This thesis aims to explore women’s participation in contentious politics in post-Soviet Eurasia states. In both Belarus and Ukraine, women were both visible and invisible drivers of demonstrations: attending marches, creating solidarity chains, supporting other protestors, providing medical assistance, participating in peace-keeping, etc. By performing different gender roles and utilizing particular gender symbols, women were able to claim their presence in these protest spaces. However, such moments of upheaval tend to create both opportunities and threats for women. The thesis will identify what gender roles, symbols, and discourses women utilized in the 2020-21 Belarus uprising and the 2013-14 Euromaidan protest …

The Vanishing Arab Adult: A Male Coming Of Age Crisis Driving Social And Political Change In The Jasmine And Egyptian Revolutions, Antonio Guirola

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Enduring Ethnic Conflict: The Institutional Origins Of Conflict In Myanmar, Olivia Zeiner-Morrish

Senior Theses and Projects

Myanmar has a history of divisive institutions built during the British colonial period and the Japanese occupation. Colonial legacies suggest Myanmar’s enduring ethnic conflict is path dependent, sustained by a self-reproductive system of violence. Yet, wartime disruption and Japanese institution building, as well as later ceasefire politics and limited ethnic defection, challenge theories of path dependency. This thesis compares distinct periods of institution building and the experiences of three ethnic minority groups in Myanmar, revealing a disastrous institutional trajectory that continues to reinforce ethnic conflict. In doing so, this thesis yields key insights to the conditions that precipitate change in …

Defining Trumpism: Where Did The Movement Come From And What Is Its State Today?, Aidan M. Arnold

Senior Theses and Projects

Donald Trump came roaring onto the political stage when he announced his presidential candidacy in 2015. In the years that followed, he amassed a loyal following of motivated voters. During the Trump era, his followers have developed a reputation for loud bigotry, shameless xenophobia, and unmasked white supremacy. The movement has to come to strongly resemble the nativist populism that, until Trump, was generally confined to Europe. In order to better understand the motivation of Trump voters and their intense dedication to the 45^th president, I surveyed 82 voters from the Midwest about their feelings towards politicians, policies, and …

Trust In Government During Crisis, Aníbal Gómez-Contreras

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Pandemic Public Policy: Social Capital And Italy's Covid-19 Crisis, Matthew Conover

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Complexities And Origins Of Gun Violence In Chicago, Christopher Bilicic

Senior Theses and Projects

This thesis attempts to re-think the way lawmakers, policy makers, and everyday Chicagoans look at and talk about gun violence in Chicago. I attempt to do this by taking a historical approach where Chicago's history of housing and police discrimination against its black communities is outlined. In doing this, I seek to show that many of the factors that are driving violence in the city's black neighborhoods - such as legal cynicism and concentrated inequalities - were created by this discriminatory past. Urban gun violence in Chicago is heavily concentrated in and driven by its black neighborhoods. After taking a …

Nation-Building And Cultural Heritage: A Study Of Turkey And Its Greek Orthodox Community, Sophia E. Kyrou

Senior Theses and Projects

This thesis is an exploration of the intersection between nationalist ideology and cultural heritage policy. This thesis answers how and why states utilize cultural heritage policy to build exclusivist forms of nationalism and, more specifically, models of nationalism that exclude ethno-religious minorities. In my work, I employ a case study of Turkey and its treatment of the Greek Orthodox minority population, and examine two specific periods in Turkish history: the Atatürk period (1920 to 1938) and the Erdoğan period (2001 to present). I answer the case-specific question: How and why has the Turkish state utilized policy dealing with tangible and …

Democracy And Economic Development: A Historical Process Tracing Of Botswana And Zimbabwe From 1981-2008, James Kaynor

Senior Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Armenia’S Past, Present And Future -- Where It Was? Where It Is? Where Is It Going? -- Velvet Revolution 2018, Stella Tangiyan

Senior Theses and Projects

Armenia is a country with a long and complicated history. This project explores Armenia and the 2018 Armenian Velvet Revolution. In order to understand the Velvet Revolution, other cases of Color Revolutions should be explored -- the Bulldozer Revolution in Serbia, the Rose Revolution in Georgia, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, and the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan. External factors that led Armenia and Armenians towards the Velvet Revolution are discussed. The three main focuses are Democratic Diffusion and Linkage/Leverage, the role of the West and Western NGOs, and the role of Russia when it comes to Armenia’s decision-making process. This …

Spectacular Imaginations Of The Sinking Island, Emma Schneck

Senior Theses and Projects

As entire island nations slip beneath rising seas, how can we reimagine a political future where the effects of climate change are already in full force? In recent years, it has become increasingly apparent that there is a fundamental lack of legal protections for those fleeing environmental degradation and the effects of global sea level rise. This lack of protection is felt particularly strongly in the Pacific region, where many communities are faced with existential threats to their way of life and self-determination. However, despite this historic lack of support from the international community, the Pacific Islands states have continuously …

Gender-Based Violence: A Global Crisis That Is Handled Ineffectually, Marlén Miranda

Senior Theses and Projects

This research seeks to outline the current understandings of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in academic literature and how it contrasts from the ways governmental and non-governmental bodies interpret and address GBV. A little more than a yearlong investigation in Chile, Nepal, Jordan, Spain, and the United States serves as the foundation of the research. The researcher uses the ethnographic method (Draper, 2015) and the interpretive approach (Schwartz-Shea & Yanow, 2012) to interview individuals successfully and to comprehend better how GBV operates within each of the countries. The study focuses on answering the research question: How is GBV understood, and do current …