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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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International Relations

James Madison University

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Fragility As An Impediment To Development In The Democratic Republic Of Congo, Samantha Soter Jun 2020

Fragility As An Impediment To Development In The Democratic Republic Of Congo, Samantha Soter

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

This paper is written for the purpose of providing an objective analysis of the fragile state that is the Democratic Republic of Congo, in order to critically and holistically analyze the limiting factors of conflict, resource exploitation, and corruption within the context of hindering sustainable development. For the past decade-and-a-half, a multifaceted struggle comprised of numerous armed groups has plagued the region, each vying for control over the nation’s plentiful natural resources. Given the combined presence of the United Nations MONUSCO intervention, Congolese forces, and over one-hundred different militia groups, whose actions each contribute to fragility, a complex power-struggle at …


Throwing (Sh)Aid: Optimizing Aid Conditionality For The Developing World, Timothy F. O'Shea Mar 2016

Throwing (Sh)Aid: Optimizing Aid Conditionality For The Developing World, Timothy F. O'Shea

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

Aid conditionality has emerged as a dominant tool by donor countries in nation building efforts in the developing world. Unfortunately, this strategy has encountered obstacles in achieving substantive change. The purpose of this paper is to investigate possible modifications and augmentations to aid conditionality regimes that could more easily induce political development in recipient countries. To provide a background against which to plan changes, the paper documents important determinants of political change, including public opinion, donor self-interest, and unconscious biases. The paper also evaluates possible malleable policy factors, including adoption speed, proportionality, outcome-based provision, and donor co-ordination. While much of …


Jordan: A Negative Case In A Tumultuous Region, Ann Marie Margaret Hager Apr 2015

Jordan: A Negative Case In A Tumultuous Region, Ann Marie Margaret Hager

MAD-RUSH Undergraduate Research Conference

International media brings attention to the worst conflicts worldwide. When ISIS beheads journalists, like Foley and Sotloff (Vourvoulias, 2014) journalists around the globe turn their editorial dockets to these heinous actions. Yet, it is easy to pay attention to conflict when it becomes severe, i.e., escalates to the level of war. It’s no wonder that the Arab/Israeli conflict has such a plethora of literature and media attention while tensions in places like Jordan, right next door, have not. However, Jordan is an example of a negative case: a country that has, despite its significant tensions, not experienced large-scale violence in …