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Democratic Control Of Armed Forces: An Analysis Of The Role Of The Parliamentary Assembly In The Defense Reform In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Elisabeth Hubbard

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The research beings with a discussion of the legal framework for defense reform in 2003 and in 2005 followed by an analysis of the role of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina in implementing the legislation for reform.

The analysis focuses on efforts to build the capacity of the Parliamentary Assembly and asks the question: have the efforts to build the capacity of parliamentary oversight of the defense reform implementation been successful in increasing democratic control of the Armed Forces of BiH?

I conclude that yes, the capacity-building efforts have been successful in increasing democratic control. However, the Parliamentary …

Feminist Justice In Practice: Witness Experiences Of Survivors Of Wartime Sexual Violence In The Sud Bih, Brett A. Smith-Hams

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Wartime sexual violence is currently being prosecuted in numerous legal institutions across the world. In order for survivors of this sexual violence to have the best possible experiences, many improvements in the care, protection, and support of those who come forward to testify in these institutions need to be made. This study looks at the practices of one particular legal institution, the National Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is currently in the midst of trying several war crimes cases, many of which involve incidents of mass, systematic sexual violence as part of a larger military campaign in the region …

Dai Medicine: Preservation Of And Changes In Ancient Healing Practices, Geoffroy Fauchet

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This independent study project discusses the general concept and theories of Dai medicine and focuses on the conservation of and transformation that both, the traditional and modern Dai medical system have undergone over time.

Corruption In Montenegro Untangling The Knot, Anna Lipton Galbraith

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Corruption in Montenegro exists on various levels. The focus of this paper is high level corruption, particularly conflict of interest cases regarding privatization processes, spatial planning and the procurement of public contracts. The reason for this focus is that the abuse of power by the government is one of the largest obstacles to creating a democratic environment of trust and a society structured around the rule of law. These are the primary areas were the government of Montenegro continues to exert inappropriate influence. The first section of the paper will analyze the origins of corruption and attempt to simultaneously provide …

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish: The Economic And Environmental Impacts Of Commercial Fishing, Jessica Glenn

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Fish and fisheries play an important role in the Amazon River Basin. Fishing provides jobs to people of both urban and rural communities, and fish are a major source of protein in people’s diets and a major part of the Amazon River ecosystem. In recent years commercial fishing has increased due to greater access to both domestic and international markets, and government incentives which have helped fishermen obtain better equipment and boats. The purpose of this study is to observe the Belém Ver-O-Peso fish market and interview fisherman about different aspects of commercial fishing (what species of fish were caught, …

Piecing Together Social And Environmental Priorities In The Ongoing Process Of Community Development In The Mst Assentamento Of Palmares Ii, Clara C. Ward

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Over the last twelve years the Amazonian MST assentamento, Palmares II, in the Southeastern state of Para, has experienced many successes in terms of advances in education, health care services, community organization, and physical infrastructure in general. This progress in community development is often considered to support the theory of agrarian reform as an effective mechanism for achieving greater social equality and stability. Despite these relative successes, community development to date has not supported the concept of agrarian reform as a mechanism of environmental preservation and sustainable land use. This is due in part to the failure of the community …

State-Sponsored Terror And Security Force Collusion In Northern Ireland, Nate Keenan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

When I began to develop my topic I knew I wanted to study government collusion. The problem with that topic is the enormous undertaking it would require and the research only allows for three weeks. Another that I did know was that I wanted to know more about the work that the Pat Finucane Centre (PFC) does and how they deal with the families that are looking for answers concerning the deaths of their loved ones. I decided to ignore the paper topic for the time I was in Derry and focus on making the PFC the center of my …

Options And Aid: What The Future Holds For The Displaced Sugar Cane Families Of Labasa, Fiji, Lieselot Whitbeck

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In 1997, a large number of agricultural leases in the Fijian sugar belts began to expire without renewal. Stepping away from the debates over who should have access to land under what legislation and for what purpose, this paper concentrates on the people who are being directly affected by lease expiration: the cane farmers and cutters themselves. Through the collection and analysis of information gathered through personal interviews and associated literature, this paper focuses on the present moment in Fiji and identifies the needs of displaced cane families, the options available to them, and the different types of aid that …

Volviéndose Rebelde: Participación Política Juvenil La Historia De Participación Política De La Juventud Nicaragüense: 1975-2006 Recurring Rebellion: Youth Political Participation In Nicaragua, Julia Beaufait

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Youth act as both reflections of and protagonists within history and society. This is even more apparent in Nicaragua, where the 1979 triumph of the Sandinista revolution was sustained by the high levels of youth participation. In the following two and a half decades, youth have continued to play a defining role both following the example of and rejecting the proceeding models of participation. This essay is an exploration of the history of youth political participation in Nicaragua in the years between 1975 and 2006: from the insurrection to the most recent elections. I work under the assumption that the …

The Effects Of The 2006 Spraying Of Deltamethrin For Tsetse Control On Aquatic Macro-Invertebrates In The Kwando/Linyanti River System, Botswana, Emily Lyczkowski

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The presence of the tsetse fly has historically been an obstacle to the utilization of the resources of the Okavango Delta and the rest of Northern Botswana. In the late 1990’s, an outbreak of trypanosomiasis in cattle, the disease carried by tsetse, prompted the government of Botswana to implement an aerial spraying operation to eradicate the flies. The broad spectrum pesticide deltamethrin was applied over three months in a Northern block of the delta in 2001 and a southern block in 2002. Post-spray monitoring, carried out by the Henry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Center (HOORC), showed that although the pesticide did …

Letters Of The Bush: A Case Study Of Traditional Setswana Herbal Medicine, Kristen Danley

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Traditional medicinal techniques in southern Africa are under-studied, but they continue to play an important role in many people’s lives. In addition to its anthropological value, traditional medicine also has the potential to lead to new treatments for diseases. This study proposed to document the plants and methods used by a traditional healer in the village of Goo-Tau, Tswapong Hills region, Central District, Botswana.

The study was conducted over a period of three weeks through a series of interviews. Samples were collected of selected plant species. Plants were identified both during and after the study through field guides and consultation …

The Effects Of The Makgadikgadi Wildlife Fence On Cattle Populations And Local Cattle Industry, Jenny Hazelhurst, Elliot Vander Kolk

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study was conducted to determine the effects of the erection of the Makgadikgadi wildlife fence along the western border of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park on cattle populations and livestock owners to the west of the fence. Cattle foraging behavior and movement patterns were recorded using GPS and focal observation methods to determine resource use and pressures affecting the populations. Interviews were also conducted in the area of Meno-a-Kwena camp to examine the effects of the fence on the economics of the local cattle industry. Signs of resource stress were found in the continued selection of poor quality forage, …

Fire Making Fuel: How A Surface Fire In A Primary Forest Affected The Availability Of Potential Fuel One Year Later, Alex Leckie

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Fires affect millions of hectares of tropical forests around the world. These fires result in great environmental damage and economical losses. Many farmers are dependent on fire for managing their lands and many times their fires accidentally spread into forests via fuels on the forest floor. This study attempted to analyze and quantify the difference of potential fuel in a primary forest which burned one year before and an unburned part of the same forest at a primary forest fragment surrounded by farms and with a history of anthropogenic accidental fires burning it. This was done by making three sample …

Study Of The Cultural Sexuality: A Matter Of Honor And Shame, Alyssa Mceachran

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research seeks to understand the nature of a collective society. It seeks to attain knowledge about the role of sexuality and women in the context of a collective society. I intend to ascertain information through interviews and qualitative research with Turkish Cypriots. My questions will relate to a specific topic and how honor and shame are present. In the end of the research I hope to find connections between the concepts of honor and shame and the idea of sexuality in a collective society. I also want to note if morals and ideologies of the aforementioned concepts shift with …

The Cyprus Property Issue: A Study On Proactive Steps To A Resolution, Anya Esmaili

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper attempts to reveal what the citizens of Cyprus, both in the Republic of Cyprus and in the “TRNC,” think about the property problem in Cyprus. It explains what the problem is, and what actions can be taken to find a solution, in addition to what has already been done in the past. The property problem is one of the most critical, if the not the most critical facet of the Cyprus problem. To get the opinions of a wide range of people, this research includes personal interviews with displaced individuals (both Greek and Turkish Cypriot), interviews with political …

Voices From The Closet: Male Homosexuality And Dual Identity In The Republic Of Cyprus, Tasia Jelatis-Hoke

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

What is the relationship between semiotics and gay identities in the Republic of Cyprus? I initially planned to explore the complex relationship between language, and more specifically semiotics and gay male identity in Greek Cypriots. Early in my research, however, I realized that a lot of background research was required before I would be able to do this sort of in-depth analysis. In addition, after becoming aware of the deep colonial legacy left to homosexuals in Cyprus I was reluctant to use the work of European theorists to analyze a post-colonial space. I also came across a pertinent assertion of …

Individual Responsibility Concerning Hiv Transmission Among Msm: A Comparative Study Of The Effectiveness Of Ngo Intervention Policies And Their Practical Applications Within The United Kingdom, Australia, And The Netherlands, Martha Kienbaum

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study investigates the complexities involved in utilizing the terms of individual responsibility for the construction of HIV prevention campaigns that target men who have sex with men. Four health workers in the Netherlands were interviewed about their personal opinions regarding HIV intervention, and these interviews were analyzed qualitatively for their points of comparison and contrast. Then, campaign materials from organizations in the United Kingdom and Australia were analyzed for their use of the language of responsibility, their portrayal of MSM, their balance between promoting disclosure and communication, their focus on individual groups within the MSM community, and their overall …

The Scholarship Of Vietnameseness: The Dialectic Of “National Identity” Between Self And Society In Vietnamese Education, Amber North

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study explores how college aged youth from various regional time and space identities access “national identity” in Vietnam. The study uses a theoretical framework as follows (1) Benedict Anderson’s theory that “nation” is in an “imagined” community (2) Keith Taylor’s theory of how surface orientations of linear time and space do not accurately characterize history. (3) Subaltern Studies: a field of Postcolonial Criticism that considers the alternative historical narratives of subalterns (non-elites, and for our purposes the nationally marginalized). Using this theoretical framework, I then explore how the youth access this “national imagination.” How is it that students connect …

Cross-Cultural Encounters: Gringos And Ladinos In Zapatista Territory, Amy Chin

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper is principally an analysis of the international observers’ experiences in Olga Isabel and the implications of their continual presence in the community. I begin by explaining my methodology in carrying out this project. I then give a brief history of the Zapatistas, followed by a summary of the present situation in Olga Isabel and its historical and political context. The body of the paper examines the experiences of international observers and the effects of their presence within communities. I conclude by placing my findings in the context of the larger Zapatista movement for indigenous rights and autonomy.

La Ley De Maternidad Gratuita En Intag: Su Aplicación, Educación Y Uso, Stephanie Lewis

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The country of Ecuador has a high rate of infant and maternal mortality, as well as problems with malnutrition. The Minister of Public Health responded to these problems with a law to provide the public with different types of free medical attention. The Minister’s hope is to reduce these problems with the law. The law is called the Law of Free Motherhood and Attention for Infants (Ley de Maternidad Gratuita y Atención a la Infancia), and includes free attention and vitamins for pregnant women, free birth and post-birth care, and vitamins, attention and vaccinations for children under 5 years of …

La Economía Del Transporte Público En Santiago De Chile, Jacqueline Ann Strenio

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Throughout the years, as well as the world, transportation has always played a large role in the economic development of countries, cities and people. However, the idea of public transportation as a theme of study and investigation has only recently taken priority among the other problems facing developing nations. In the developed countries of the world, public transportation is viewed as a solution to the problems of congestion and contamination. However, the role it plays is reversed in countries such as Chile. In the capital city of Santiago where almost half of all daily journeys are made using some means …

Bienes Raíces En La Comuna De Pucón, Brendan Hayes

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This investigation provides an in depth analysis of real estate development in the comuna of Pucón, Chile. The author begins by explaining the sentiment of real estate investment in Chile and continues by providing readers with a detailed background about the municipality of Pucón and its touristic economy. Next the author provides information about current property values in Pucon and what it is that drives the values of properties in the comuna most. By providing information about zoning law, tax law, Volcán Villarrica, infrastructure in the area, and the public’s perception of increased growth the author virtually targets all aspects …

Cows And Colobus (Procolobus Kirkii): Resource-Sharing Habits At Jozani National Park, Emily Walz

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Due to population compression, the Zanzibar red colobus monkeys of Jozani have been forced to explore new food options on the ground. I studied the food preferences of this endangered species in the agricultural land adjacent to Jozani National Park and compared it with the species consumed by local cattle that graze in the same space. This information, along with a preliminary behavioral assessment of the red colobus monkeys when near cattle, provides a first look at the food species eaten by both cows and colobus, in addition to documenting some of the direct and indirect interactions that occur between …

A Separate World: Conflicts Between Malagasy Society And The Mentally Handicapped, Jesse Travis

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

No abstract provided.

“Beauty” As A Public Health Concern: An Analysis Of The Internalization And Effects Of The Western Beauty Ideal In Nairobi, Kenya, Elizabeth Lownik

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Acts of personal decoration or even body modification for the purpose of attaining a cultural norm of “beauty” have been undertaken in every human society for centuries. In certain societies, however, people engage in acts or practices to obtain such cultural beauty only at the expense of individual and community health. The current eating disorder epidemic in the United States, based on the Western beauty ideal of an extremely thin woman, is an example of such destructive behavior in the name of beauty. With the current phenomenon of globalization, Western cultural norms, including the beauty ideal, are spreading around the …

Stones, Slabs, And Stelae: The Origins And Symbolism Of Contemporary Oromo Burial Practice And Grave Art, Christopher Grant

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study addresses many of the issues relative to the study of contemporary Oromo society and tradition. While the primary focus is the study of contemporary Oromo burial traditions and grave art, there is also insight into the ways in which Oromo history and cultural tradition have been dispossessed among the Oromo today. There is an attempt to understand Oromo burial practices and grave art within a larger African burial tradition that extends across East Africa and far into ancient and prehistoric times. Traditional Oromo burial practices have been identified and documented at the extent to which they are practiced …

The Art Of Politics: Portraits Of Ethiopian Emperors Throughout History, Anna Barrera

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study seeks to uncover the significance of painted portraits of Ethiopian emperors within the Ethiopian culture. By evaluating artworks throughout Ethiopian history and interviewing the art community and scholars, the author has attempted to draw a relationship between power, religion and art. In doing so, this study reveals how emperors have historically legitimized their power within the context of religious imagery. It follows this pattern until the decline of the monarchy and the rise of realism in the twentieth century. This transition highlights the tension between tradition and modernity as well as the ideological changes which caused them.

Positive Living: Nutritional Realities And Interventions For People Living With Hiv/Aids In Northwest Province, Cameroon, Rachael Massell

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In this paper I will discuss the range of realities and interventions relating to nutrition for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the Northwest Province of Cameroon. After discussing the background of the topic, including the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the facts about nutrition and HIV, I will move on to discuss the methodology and findings from my fieldwork in the provincial capital, Bamenda. In the section titled “Realities,” I will detail the poverty, local diet, and stigma that PLWHA face everyday, in the context of the province with the nation’s highest prevalence rate, and present PLWHA’s own justification of the …

“Il Faut Manger” : Eating Disorders In Cameroonian Women, Jennifer Madowitz

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The purpose of this study is to investigate unhealthy eating attitudes and negative body images in young Cameroonian women. The study will center around a standardized questionnaire that covers eating attitudes. The research will also focus on the traditional Cameroonian idea of beauty, versus the more Western, “modern,” body image that is popular today. By exploring cultural factors through observation, as well as interviews, and analyzing key statistics from the questionnaire, this paper has come to the conclusion that though the problem of eating disorders and body dissatisfaction are not as high in Cameroon as they are in the United …

Visiting The Past, Reclaiming The Present: The Africanisms Of Capoeira Angola, Juan Esteban Sosa

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

A key puzzle for contemporary scholars is how capoeira originated but more importantly the way in which it has been transformed. Along these lines, this study focuses on what is most commonly referred to as the mother or the traditional form of capoeira, that is capoeira angola. This research will examine the africanisms of Capoeira Angola and the way in which they have been maintained throughout centuries of its existence. Accordingly, this study places great emphasis on reclaiming the roots and traditions of this art form that has been appropriated and incorporated into Brazilian commercial and mainstream culture. I conducted …