Environmental Studies Commons^™

Archaeological Gis Analysis Of Raised Field Agriculture In The Bolivian Amazon, Thomas W. Lee

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Modern agricultural systems have been criticized for their detrimental effects on the environment and a general emphasis on crop yield rather than long-term sustainability. Traditional forms of agriculture may provide case-specific examples of sustainable alternatives for contemporary societies. In the seasonally inundated savannas of the Llanos de Mojos, pre-Columbian Indians piled earth into ‘large raised field platforms’ elevated high enough above the floodplain to allow crops to grow. Archaeological evidence indicates that raised field agriculture supported much larger populations than those found in the Beni today. The examination of satellite imagery has revealed more than 40,000 individual fields spread across …

Investigating The Utility Of Rapid Assessment Process For Environmental Development Work Of Peace Corps Master’S International Students, Mariah Maggio

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Peace Corps Master’s International (PCMI) students engage in international development when they assume the role of Volunteer and graduate researcher. Michigan Technological University had the largest PCMI program in the country, with many Volunteer assignments involving environmental problem solving opportunities. Unfortunately some PCMI students have experienced “failed projects,” something not un-common to international development approaches. This research design supports institutional interdisciplinary efforts aimed at preparing PCMI students to engage in productive community development that avoids historic pitfalls of international development efforts. In order to contribute to this effort, the Rapid Assessment Process (RAP) approach was identified as a potential tool …

Comparison Of Semi-Captive And Wild Gray-Shanked Douc Langurs’ (Pygathrix Cinerea) Activity Budgets, Hilary Hemmes-Kavanaugh

All Master's Theses

From 16-10-03 to 16-12-03 I studied four male gray-shanked Douc (GSD) langurs (Pygathrix cinerea) in a semi-captive environment and compared results to wild GSD langurs that were studied from 2006-2008. The semi-captive GSD langurs live at the Endangered Primate Rescue Center (EPRC) in Cúc Phương National Park, Vietnam. Four GSD langur males, three born in captivity and one rescued from the pet trade, share 5 hectares of limestone forest in a semi-captive setting at the EPRC. The semi-captive environment is intended to prepare members of this species and other endangered primates for potential release into the wild. In …

Fracked Perceptions: Changes In Perception Regarding Hydraulic Fracturing Among Residents Of Dimock, Pennsylvania., Brian Straniti

All Master's Theses

The primary objective of this research is to critically analyze changes in perceptions associated with hydraulic fracturing within Dimock, Pennsylvania. Residents of Dimock initially welcomed fracking in 2006 due to positive corporate rhetoric promoting economic benefits such as mineral rights acquisition, land-leasing, and local business development. However, economic benefits diminished as Dimock advanced through a boom period resulting in a current economic and ecological bust. Two months of data collection occurred in the summer of 2016 using semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. Political economy of nature and political ecology theoretical frameworks were used to analyze and conceptualize the …

Supplementary Studies In Rio Grande Valley History, Milo Kearney, Anthony K. Knopp, Antonio Zavaleta, Thomas Daniel Knight

Studies in Rio Grande Valley Regional History Series

Corrupted, a poem / Tom Emrick -- Primal Matamoros : ancient refuge among the Estuaries of the Rio Bravo / Craig H. Roell -- U.S.-Mexico relations during the establishment of the American Consulate in Matamoros : 1826-1842 / Melisa C. Galvan -- Captain King’s Cotton : the Civil War blockade-running adventures of Richard King and Mifflin Kenedy / Walter E. Wilson -- The sad saga of John V. Singer / Norman Rozeff -- Ulster and the Texas-Mexico Border : John McAllen and his family / Thomas Daniel Knight -- Joseph Kleiber and his letter press book / Anthony K. Knopp …

Emancipatory Rural Politics: Confronting Authoritarian Populism, Ian Scooner, Marc Edelman, Saturnino M. Borras Jr., Ruth Hall, Wendy Wolford, Ben White

Publications and Research

A new political moment is underway. Although there are significant differences in how this is constituted in different places, one manifestation of the new moment is the rise of distinct forms of authoritarian populism. In this opening paper of the JPS Forum series on ‘Authoritarian Populism and the Rural World’, we explore the relationship between these new forms of politics and rural areas around the world. We ask how rural transformations have contributed to deepening regressive national politics, and how rural areas shape and are shaped by these politics. We propose a global agenda for research, debate and action, which …

The Socio-Political And Economic Causes Of Natural Disasters, Nicole Southard

CMC Senior Theses

To effectively prevent and mitigate the outbreak of natural disasters is a more pressing issue in the twenty-first century than ever before. The frequency and cost of natural disasters is rising globally, most especially in developing countries where the most severe effects of climate change are felt. However, while climate change is indeed a strong force impacting the severity of contemporary catastrophes, it is not directly responsible for the exorbitant cost of the damage and suffering incurred from natural disasters -- both financially and in terms of human life. Rather, the true root causes of natural disasters lie within the …

Critical Agrarian Studies In Theory And Practice, Marc Edelman, Wendy Wolford

Publications and Research

Abstract: In this introductory article we argue for renewed attention to life and labor on and of the land—or what we call the field of Critical Agrarian Studies. Empirically rich and theoretically rigorous studies of humanity’s relationship to “soil” remain essential not just for historical analysis but for understanding urgent contemporary crises, including widespread food insecurity, climate change, the proliferation of environmental refugees, growing corporate power and threats to biodiversity. The article introduces an innovative and varied collection of works in Critical Agrarian Studies and also examines the intellectual and political history of this broader field.

Resumen: En este artículo …

Oceans Of Space, Stephanie Steinbrecher '16

EnviroLab Asia

"Oceans of Space" relates my observations of the 2016 EnviroLab Asia Clinic Trip to Singapore and Sarawak, Malaysia. In this meditation, the concept of space serves as a lens to examine assumptions of geopolitical, historical, and philosophical positioning—regionally and globally. At the center of my inquiry is EnviroLab's connection to the Dayak communities in Baram, Sarawak. This region is experiencing dramatic social and ecological change as a result of industrial development. By triangulating my subjective impressions of this space, various knowledge systems, and the qualitative data EnviroLab gathered in Southeast Asia, I aim to untangle some paradoxes that complicate the …

Political Polarization And Nisman’S Death: Competing Conspiracy Theories In Argentina, Leopoldo Rodriguez Ph.D., Shawn C. Smallman Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

The death of Alberto Nisman, the chief investigator of the 1994 AMIA bombing in Argentina, unleashed conspiracy theories and significant political turmoil upon President Cristina Fernández. We study the case and trace two of these theories, asking what they tell us about the Argentine political system and what can be inferred with respect to other countries in Latin America. We confirm that nations with high levels of political polarization are fertile ground for the emergence of conspiracy theories and that domestic and international media play an important role in both giving credence to and spreading such theories.

Boko Haram Terrorism In The Lake Chad Basin Region: Implications For Subregional Security, Abiodun Joseph Oluwadare Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Terrorist activities in the Lake Chad Basin region of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, have impacted negatively on the security, socio-political and economic situations in the region. This paper investigates the evolution of insurgency and the factors leading to its growth in the region. It also examines its socio-political, economic and security implications. Nigeria, in the centre of the imbroglio, has had no respite from terrorist activities for a long time. Boko Haram has carried out many gun attacks and bombings in many strategic places, including the United Nations building in Abuja, the federal capital city. There have been similar …

Transformation In Lifelong Education In Thailand, Suwithida Charungkaittikul Ed.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

This research aims to evaluate the operational performance of the Office of NonFormal and Informal Education (ONIE) based on the Non-Formal and Informal Education Promotion Act B.E. 2551 during 2008–2012. The samples were selected from personnel of ONIE and learning networks by means of the multiple-stage sampling method. The research instruments are: (a) a form used for recording operational results of related non-formal and information education; (b) an interview form to observe factors influencing the performance of ONIE; (c) an evaluation form to observe the factors linked to the operational results; and (d) a form to evaluate the relevancy between …

Onunamu, C. China’S Struggle For Modernization: From Revolution To Reform. Abuja, Nigeria: Yaliam Press. 2016., Njunga Michael Mulikita Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Zayani, M. Networked Publics And Digital Contention: The Politics Of Everyday Life In Tunisia. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015., Susan Marie Martin Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Springer. A. L. Cases Of Conflict: Transboundary Disputes And The Development Of International Law. Toronto: University Of Toronto Press. 2016., Tarique Niazi Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Sun, J. & Lancaster, S. Chinese Globalization – A Profile Of People-Based Global Connections In China. New York: Routledge, 2013., Raviprasad Narayanan Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Milton-Edwards, B. The Muslim Brotherhood: The Arab Spring And Its Future Face. Abingdon: Routledge, 2016., Arolda Elbasan Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Etzioni, A. Hot Spots: American Foreign Policy In A Post-Human-Rights World. New Brunswick And London: Transaction Publishers, 2014., Şerif Onur Bahçecik Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Nguyen, Viet Thanh. Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam And The Memory Of War. Cambridge, Ma: Harvard University Press, 2016., Michael G. Vann Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Hovsepian-Bearce, Y. The Political Ideology Of Ayatollah Khamenei: Out Of The Mouth Of The Supreme Leader Of Iran. New York: Routledge, 2016., Ali A. Alomi

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Leiken, R. S. Europe’S Angry Muslims: The Revolt Of The Second Generation. Oxford And New York: Oxford University Press, 2016., Habil. Agata S. Nalborczyk Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Flag Politics In Ethiopia And The Ethio-American Diaspora, Goshu W. Tefera, A. Peter Castro Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Flags hold “rich symbolic and political connotations,” yet the examination of their use has been “relatively neglected in research on nationalism” (Eriksen, 2007, p. 1-2). Our study explores the transnational politics of Ethiopia’s national flag, exploring its manifestation within the EthioAmerican community in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, where the largest Ethiopian diaspora population in the United States resides. We also examine the historical roots of Ethiopian flag politics within Ethiopia’s historical political economy. The country’s well-known imperial flag, containing the emblem of the Lion of Judah against green, yellow, and red stripes, emerged by the late 19th century as …

Makhulu, A. Making Freedom: Apartheid, Squatter Politics, And The Struggle For Home. Durham And London: Duke University Press, 2015., Crystal Powell Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Goodman, D. S. G. The New Rich In China: Future Rulers, Present Lives. London: Routledge, 2008. Ebook., Fang Xu Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Melber, H. Understanding Namibia: The Trials Of Independence. Oxford And New York: Oxford University Press, 2014., Robert H. Hitchcock Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Felsch, M. & Wählisch, E. (Eds). Lebanon And The Arab Uprisings: In The Eye Of The Hurricane. London: Routledge 2016., William Benton Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Wong, Pak Nung. Post-Colonial Statecraft In South East Asia: Sovereignty, State Building And The Chinese In The Philippines. London: I. B. Taurus, 2013., Michael G. Vann Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Korstanje, M. A Difficult World: Examining The Roots Of Capitalism. New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2015., Kenneth Bauzon Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

O’Brien-Rothe, L. Songs That Make The Road Dance: Courtship And Fertility Music Of The Tz’Utujil Maya. Austin: University Of Texas Press, 2015., Susan Fitzpatrick-Behrens Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.

Grossman, M. Artists Of The Possible. Governing Networks And American Policy Change Since 1945. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014., Maximiliano E. Korstanje Ph.D.

Journal of International and Global Studies

Book review.