Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Averting A New Nuclear Arms Race, Michael Anthony Calhoun

Honors Theses

The first goal of this thesis is to defend the claim that working towards nuclear disarmament is a rational, ethically pressing, and urgent goal. I will parse, condense, and array the arguments of statesmen, military leaders, philosophers, peace advocates, scientists, and religious leaders against the continued production, modernization, and maintaining of nuclear arsenals. After this, I will examine the current challenges to nuclear disarmament and promising and pragmatic options on the way to a world without nuclear weapons, with a focus on United States’ policy.

Toward An Islamic Modernity: Ataturk, Erdogan, & Gulen, Kevin Jackson

Honors Theses

The Gülenist movement, also known as Hizmet, is an Islamic reform movement that has arisen recently in Turkey. Centered on the teachings of Fethullah Gülen, an Islamic scholar and teacher, the movement has been the focus of both praise and controversy. Accused of being a dangerous “state within a state” by the Turkish government, it has nevertheless attracted a wide following in Turkey and seeks a global audience. In Hizmet, Fethullah Gülen has developed a movement that offers to reconcile the tensions between Islam and Western modernity, encouraging its followers to keep the Islamic faith while embracing the challenges and …

The Palestinian Right To Self-Determination And Statehood, Beth Holland

Honors Theses

Israel and the United States believe that the Israelis have the right to exist as a nation and that the Palestinians do not have this right. The Palestinians believe that Israel, with the help of the United States, has usurped their land, and that they, the Palestinians, have the right to self-determination and statehood.

Who, then, is right, and who is wrong? The writer of this paper believes that Israel's right to statehood has been used to justify the suffering of the Palestinians. When right is used to sanction another's misery, it becomes wrong. Therefore, hoping that she may strengthen …

The United Nations: Its Successes, Failures, And Future, John Finley

Honors Theses

Organization for peace, avoidance of war, freedom from invasion, universal brotherhood of all nations and peoples--these have been the hopes and dreams of the peoples of the world for centuries. But not until the 20th century have these goals been both far away and yet so near. This century has witnessed the most horrible wars of mankind's history and the greatest advances in the organization for universal peace. But which has gathered the most support? Does the world have protection from another major war? Perhaps, an understanding can be obtained through the following examination of the successes, failures, and future …