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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Why Oil Production Has A Negative Impact On Socioeconomic Development In Chad?, Annicette Kessely Jan 2012

Why Oil Production Has A Negative Impact On Socioeconomic Development In Chad?, Annicette Kessely

Dissertations and Theses

"Oil production in Chad is considered one of the most important Sub-Saharan investments in Africa. In 2000, the World Bank agreed to finance oil production under the condition that oil revenues would be invested in socioeconomic development projects. Furthermore, the World Bank emphasized that oil revenues should be used in a transparent and accountable matter.1 Oil production started in Chad in 2003 and brought billions of dollars to the government. Nevertheless, the Chadian population continues to live in extreme poverty. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of oil production on socioeconomic development. It will demonstrate that …


The Post-Conflict Reconciliation Process; Truth Commissions, Tomoe Nakagawa Jan 2012

The Post-Conflict Reconciliation Process; Truth Commissions, Tomoe Nakagawa

Dissertations and Theses

"Since the end of the Cold War, our world has seen an increase in intra-state conflict and the emergence of the notion of state accountability for the treatment of their citizens. Furthermore, sovereign states increasingly see that it is in their interest to apply the rule of law and human rights norms beyond their borders. While peace building efforts have been achieved through criminal prosecutions, truth commissions, reparation programs, and vetting, a truth commission, in particular, has been progressively used in the past decade as one aspect of transitional justice measures. This increase in use illustrates its popularity in handling …


The "Europeanization" Of The Western Balkans; Is European Conditionality Fostering Democracy?, George Kostakis Jan 2012

The "Europeanization" Of The Western Balkans; Is European Conditionality Fostering Democracy?, George Kostakis

Dissertations and Theses

"This thesis analyzes the current model of European Union conditionality toward the Western Balkans, which based on a dual approach through the Stabilization and Association Process (SAP). Through SAP, the European Union (EU) is trying to stabilize the Western Balkans, while at the same time associating them with EU policies and supporting them in taking over the EU acquis. My hypothesis is that in order to promote democracy and the rule of law, the EU's policy of stabilizing and integrating should be reformed to better strengthen and clarify conditionality. In order to test my hypothesis, I focused on the three …


Iran; A Nuclear Super Power? Understanding Nuclear Ambitions, Lindsey Sera Jan 2012

Iran; A Nuclear Super Power? Understanding Nuclear Ambitions, Lindsey Sera

Dissertations and Theses

"Iran is a nation in flux, with a history of political strife and revolution. The everchanging political atmosphere in the nation has made Iran an unpredictable political actor. It is a nation coping with a new governing system, just a few decades out from a revolution from the reign of the Shah of Iran. The fall of reformism has left the nation politically isolated from the international community. Iran is a nation on the brink of nuclear weapon capabilities and with strained relations there is little comfort in sight for an amicable solution. The conservatives of today's Iran seek independence …


National Sovereignty V Regionalism; Toward A Common Fisheries Policy For Caricom, Andrea Chambers Jan 2012

National Sovereignty V Regionalism; Toward A Common Fisheries Policy For Caricom, Andrea Chambers

Dissertations and Theses

The hypothesis which guides this thesis is that successful integration cannot be achieved so long as member states of a regional grouping are unwilling to subordinate the individual interest to the collective interest. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) – which is the second oldest regional institution in the Western Hemisphere – is the central focus of the work. In order to assess this hypothesis, the study first discusses the relevant integration literature, and then addresses the issue of individual vs. collective interests in CARICOM overall. Next it examines the specific functional area of fisheries which effectively illustrates the complexity of this …


Does Democratic Peace Theory Apply To Small Powers? A Case Study Of Turkey And Israel, Robert Lattin Jan 2012

Does Democratic Peace Theory Apply To Small Powers? A Case Study Of Turkey And Israel, Robert Lattin

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis hypothesizes that shared democratic values and institutional constraints, proposed as explanations by Democratic Peace Theory (DPT), should in theory prevent small powers from engaging in physical conflict. However, because these democracies are small and developing, these constraints may not influence outcomes in the same way as they do in larger and more developed powers. To test this hypothesis, a dyadic case study was conducted of the relationship between Turkey and Israel. Specific focus was given to two related events, both of which could have resulted in a physical conflict between the two countries: the May 2010 Flotilla incident …


Caregiving And The Work-Life Balance; The Impact Of Gender Expectations On Employed Parent Caregivers, Meghan Amato Jan 2012

Caregiving And The Work-Life Balance; The Impact Of Gender Expectations On Employed Parent Caregivers, Meghan Amato

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this research is to understand how men and women differ in how they handle the division of caregiving for aging parents and children and work responsibilities. Previous literature states that gender differences in caregiving exist due to the structure of the workforce and family. The workforce is often inflexible concerning employees’ personal schedules and is more welcoming for individuals who do not have to compromise career with family responsibilities. Often, one spouse must curtail his or her career to make time for child or parent care. Care work is typically seen as a “feminine” job and often …


The Impact Of Internet On Economic Growth In Bangladesh, Mohammed Meah Jan 2012

The Impact Of Internet On Economic Growth In Bangladesh, Mohammed Meah

Dissertations and Theses

"The purpose of this paper is two fold. The first goal is to reveal that an increase in the number of Internet users has a positive effect on economic growth within a nation. Based on this causality, the next objective is to demonstrate that less developed countries, specifically Bangladesh is in the best position to increase investment in the Internet to experience economic growth. Finally, the implications of Internet penetration on various economic sectors in Bangladesh are discussed. Panel data for 244 countries from the World Bank from 1990-2011 is used to carry out the experiment for the first goal. …


Minority Rights In Europe; The Roma Population As A Case Study, Michael Brooks Jan 2012

Minority Rights In Europe; The Roma Population As A Case Study, Michael Brooks

Dissertations and Theses

"This thesis undertakes an in-depth analysis of the minority rights of Roma populations living within the European Union. The Roma people face economic, social and political discrimination that permeates both government institutions and society in general and has prevented this minority group from integrating into the workings of society. This issue is important because the Roma lack a positive identity both of themselves and from other groups, which deprives the state of an important source of productivity. This is due in part from their own actions based on chosen isolation to some degree, and also because some Roma have become …


The One State Solution An Alternative Vision For Ending The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Abdul Yousef Jan 2012

The One State Solution An Alternative Vision For Ending The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Abdul Yousef

Dissertations and Theses

"The debate for a two state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing for decades. However, given the current circumstances and realities on the ground, this approach has become more implausible with each passing day. Therefore, many have come to argue the real solutionwould be a single state that would afford equal rights for both Israeli and Palestinian citizens regardless of ethnicity, religion, or racial background. Considering the troubled history of the region, many would view a state where Israelis and Palestinians living together, sharing land, and engaged in a peaceful democratic process to be an unattainable fantasy. This …


The Impacts Of Neo-Liberal Policies On Turkey In 2000-2001, Rezzan Alagoz Jan 2012

The Impacts Of Neo-Liberal Policies On Turkey In 2000-2001, Rezzan Alagoz

Dissertations and Theses

Since the late 1970s, many developing countries have been faced with difficulties due to their adoption of neo-liberal policies through agreements with World Bank and IMF. Especially due to the Structural Adjustment Programs and the conditions imposed by these Institutions on developing countries, the development process of these countries has been fraught with problems. Many of these countries faced severe economic crises, causing them to rely more heavily on the intervention of international institutions, thus becoming more engaged with neo-liberalism. As seen in Turkey, for example, engagement with these institutions generally resulted in a crisis; the burdens of the crises …


Immortalizing The Spirit Of The Colonizer, Maximiliano Lombardi Jan 2012

Immortalizing The Spirit Of The Colonizer, Maximiliano Lombardi

Dissertations and Theses

"European colonial expansion has institutionalized and simultaneously normalized, at the global level, the supremacy of a class, of an ethno-racial group, of a particular type of state organization, spirituality, an epistemology, a particular kind of institutionalization, a production of knowledge, language, pedagogy, and an economy oriented toward the accumulation of global capital. To understand these processes we cannot separate them from each other. In fact, even the word ""capitalism"" is misleading because it leads us to think of an economic system, when in reality it is a hegemonic system that transcends economic relations and includes race, sex, gender, spiritual, linguistic, …


An Endless Array Of Options; How The Internet Is Revolutionizing The Ways We Meet And Mate, Maria Montesano Jan 2012

An Endless Array Of Options; How The Internet Is Revolutionizing The Ways We Meet And Mate, Maria Montesano

Dissertations and Theses

Marriage rates are at a record low in the United States and there are currently more single people searching for partners than there have ever been at any point in our history. The Internet has revolutionized many aspects of our lives and it is increasingly playing a role in the formation of relationships. Much the way one looks for work online; shops for clothes, stays in contact with friends, or gathers information - one may now search online for a suitable romantic partner. Using a qualitative approach, this study seeks to explore the experiences of online dating site users through …


The Security & Development Nexus, Manizha Sayar Jan 2012

The Security & Development Nexus, Manizha Sayar

Dissertations and Theses

In the 21st century the need for conflict and post-conflict reconstruction efforts have increased since a number of conflicts in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe necessitated the building of newly-democratized states while aiming to achieve security and promoting development. The difficulties that arise when helping to reconstruct states that have failed or those approaching a “failed state” status is that they are neither stable nor have a secure environment which prevent the opportunity for economic development, despite reconstruction efforts. These are the most difficult of situations due to the interconnectedness and direct correlation of the two significant criterions for established …


Economic Growth And Energy Consumption In Oecd Countries; A Causality Analysis, Daria Kostyannikova Jan 2012

Economic Growth And Energy Consumption In Oecd Countries; A Causality Analysis, Daria Kostyannikova

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.


The Effects Of High Skilled Non-Immigrants (H-1b Visa Holders) On The Wages Of Natives, Onur Arslan Jan 2012

The Effects Of High Skilled Non-Immigrants (H-1b Visa Holders) On The Wages Of Natives, Onur Arslan

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.


Female Leaders And Women's Empowerment; 3 Case Studies, Nicole Dimarco Jan 2012

Female Leaders And Women's Empowerment; 3 Case Studies, Nicole Dimarco

Dissertations and Theses

"The issue of women’s empowerment and gender equality is a global issue and one that, in many parts of the world, is in dire need of attention. It is for this reason I have decided to examine whether women in positions of power facilitate the enactment of gender-oriented measures or whether they continue to focus on the traditional national security interests, or interests of another kind, of their countries. My hypothesis is that women in power are not significantly more likely than men to pursue gender-specific policies while in office. Instead, much depends on environmental factors and individual personality. Sometimes …


The United Nations And Gender-Mainstreaming; International Conferences On Women And The Development Of Gender Mainstreaming Policies In Caribbean States, Camasita Campo Jan 2012

The United Nations And Gender-Mainstreaming; International Conferences On Women And The Development Of Gender Mainstreaming Policies In Caribbean States, Camasita Campo

Dissertations and Theses

"International conferences, especially UN-sponsored summits, are popular venues for political coalition around various issues of global concerns, mobilizing large audiences consisting of state representatives, NGO groups and other interested parties. Many small states participate at leading international summits. Some of these states for many obvious reasons are preoccupied with economic survival. Their limited resources are expended on economic priorities and little or none is left for the implementation of social development programs. As a result, these small states are constrained from defining contours of social development, without the cooperation of the international community. They must therefore depend on external actors …


The Effects Of Social Media On Democratization, Melissa Spinner Jan 2012

The Effects Of Social Media On Democratization, Melissa Spinner

Dissertations and Theses

"Within the past decade people around the world have become progressively more aware and interested in the new uses of digital technologies in movements for political change. The technologies have given more people and groups access to information and the tools needed to increase productivity and communication than in the past. As a result of these new digital technologies, the number of people contributing to their civil societies has radically increased. My thesis questions: What is the value of digital activism in the process of democratization around the world? How did those that succeed successfully use these new technologies as …


The Rising Threat Of Food Security; A Keynesian Solution To A Global Problem, Auour Heoinsdottir Jan 2012

The Rising Threat Of Food Security; A Keynesian Solution To A Global Problem, Auour Heoinsdottir

Dissertations and Theses

"Is food security a threat to Global security? Recent history suggests so. After all, since 1947 the international community has struggled to implement agreements on agriculture in the name of preserving peace. Most recently, in the last of the Doha Development Round negotiations, efforts have been made to enhance food security (with measures such as equal access to resources, trade liberation, and the removal of tariffs for developing countries). In my thesis I will explore both the theory of these policies and their efficacy in practice. More specifically, I will examine the limitations of past policies (such as ""anti-dumping"") aimed …


Brazil As A Regional And International Leader, Justin Ferber Jan 2012

Brazil As A Regional And International Leader, Justin Ferber

Dissertations and Theses

Brazil's critical role in South American integration and political crisis management in Latin America, as well as its increasing power in international trade, finance, and security underscorethat Brazil influence over regional and international affairs.This thesis argues that Brazil has leveraged its economic strength and soft power—which it derives from its successful domestic social policies and distinguished diplomatic history of promoting international cooperation and peaceful conflict—to project regional and international leadership.


Unveiling The Headscarf Debate; A Study Of Multiculturalism, Zaineb Malick Jan 2012

Unveiling The Headscarf Debate; A Study Of Multiculturalism, Zaineb Malick

Dissertations and Theses

"Thanks to the deepening of globalization, we live in an increasingly diverse world. International migratory patterns bring people of different, often less familiar, cultures to other parts of the world, including the West. For some, assimilation into a dominant culture and broader national identity seems appropriate; for others who want to preserve their unique identity, there is a struggle in accommodating to the new norms and behaviors of their host country. This paper attempts to survey the challenges of multiculturalism; more specifically, it reviews the difficulty in integrating non-western norms into western culture. As I will discuss in greater detail, …


The Impact Of Design On The Compliance Of States With International Agreements, Jakub Walko Jan 2012

The Impact Of Design On The Compliance Of States With International Agreements, Jakub Walko

Dissertations and Theses

This work tackles the question of the importance of design of international agreements on the compliance they elicit on all levels of the global trade regime. Discussing the international legal theories that underpin the different perspectives on this issue and scrutinizing case studies of both large and small treaties this thesis establishes the impact that elements of an agreement's structure have on its aggregate success. A case study of the GATT/WTO system illustrates the challenges of scale and diversity of trade issues while the study of the OILPOL and MARPOL environmental pollution regimes presents a lens on the practical implementation …


Psychosis In Films: An Analysis Of Stigma And The Portrayal In Feature Films, Yancy Aracena Jan 2012

Psychosis In Films: An Analysis Of Stigma And The Portrayal In Feature Films, Yancy Aracena

Dissertations and Theses

Films have a major impact on popular beliefs in American society. The images and ideas in movies are absorbed without difficulties into the popular imagination. This effect can leave long-lasting impressions. Movies can inspire people to raise awareness of various issues such as mental illness but can lead to inaccurate assumptions and stigma. In this thesis, I write about the media and its portrayal mental illness and especially how mental illness can be cast in a negative light with little positive effects. I viewed films with depictions of mental illness and developed four categories for analysis: 1) ―The thin line …


Triangular Diplomacy And The End Of The Vietnam War; Forcible Diplomacy And Feeble Bombings, Christian Fauerbach Jan 2012

Triangular Diplomacy And The End Of The Vietnam War; Forcible Diplomacy And Feeble Bombings, Christian Fauerbach

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.


Poor And Marginalized Women Active In The Public Arena During Nepal's Peace-Building Process After Maoist Insurgency, Rakshya Pandey Shrestha Jan 2012

Poor And Marginalized Women Active In The Public Arena During Nepal's Peace-Building Process After Maoist Insurgency, Rakshya Pandey Shrestha

Dissertations and Theses

In Nepal, a country where more than half of the population is female, the society is blatantly patriarchal, and the social system is based on caste, class, ethnicity and gender discrimination. It cannot be denied that the violent Maoist insurgency led to socioeconomic and political deterioration in the country. The decade- long violent conflict killed an estimated figure of more than 13,000 people and has displaced even more. Currently, the country is in the process of transformation and peace-building and is moving towards adjusting the past discrepancies to address root causes of the insurgency. However, the Maoist insurgency also brought …


Women's Development In Guangdong; Unequal Opportunities And Limited Development In A Market Economy, Ying Hua Yue Jan 2012

Women's Development In Guangdong; Unequal Opportunities And Limited Development In A Market Economy, Ying Hua Yue

Dissertations and Theses

In the context of China’s three-decade market-oriented economic reform, in which economic development has long been prioritized, women’s development, as one of the social undertakings peripheral to economic development, has relatively lagged behind. This research is an attempt to unfold the current situation of women’s development within such context by studying the case of Guangdong -- the province as forerunner of China’s economic reform and opening-up -- drawing on current primary resources. First, this study reveals mixed results for women’s development in Guangdong: achievements have been made in education, employment and political participation in terms of “rates” and “numbers,” and …