International and Area Studies Commons^™

Impact Assessment Of Uniqlo’S Neighbours Helping Neighbours, Weng Lin Ng, Dalvin Sidhu

Lien Centre for Social Innovation: Research

The UNIQLO Neighbours Helping Neighbours (NHN) is a pilot programme that redistributes recycled UNIQLO products to those in need. Preloved UNIQLO clothing in good condition are collected, washed and pressed, and then redistributed to partnered social service organisations and family service centres for donation to their core beneficiaries.

The objective of the current study is to document and evaluate the impact of the NHN programme on its beneficiaries and present evidence-based recommendations that will aid UNIQLO’s efforts to improve and scale subsequent iterations of this programme.

This report will present results obtained from the following data sources: (1) a quantitative …

Analysing The Us—China “Ai Cold War” Narrative, Yujia He, Richard Heeks

Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce Faculty Publications

Discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) are gaining prominence in the recent revival of “cold war” narratives comparing US-China relations today to the historical rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union. Drawing on a review of existing academic and policy literature engaging with the “AI cold war” narrative, this paper examines how the narrative is justified, and numerous ways that it can be challenged. It finds that the framing is largely driven by the securitisation of AI, as state actors and policy pundits view AI innovations’ dual-use capabilities as key to national security and ideological competition. However, critics posit that …

Information Monopoly: Analyzing The Implications Of Media Consolidation For Chilean Democracy, Kalina Kulig

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

This paper examines the characteristics of the Chilean media landscape between 1990 and 2023, focusing on implications for democracy. Beginning with a literature review, I will discuss previous research regarding government threats and economic pressure on Chilean media. I will then argue that although the country has a history of strong investigative reporting, the Chilean press landscape risks undermining democracy due to concentrated ownership and a lack of public trust. I conclude by discussing several factors that could improve the quality of Chilean media.

Introduction, Kyle Giardine

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

It is with great excitement and anticipation that I introduce to you the Spring 2025 edition of Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs. Our final issue in the second volume, the following research pieces cover international and domestic political issues that will continue to advance academic discourse and, importantly, preview a new generation of social scientists.

Assessing Accessibility: An Investigation Into Variations In Ada Compliance Across The Us, Stephanie A. Bird

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

Departing from prior research focused on employment and legal interpretations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this research examines the impact of demographic, economic, disability prevalence, and political factors on state-level variations in physical accessibility (PA) and mental healthcare accessibility (MHA) across the United States. PA is operationalized using the National Center for Access to Justice's Disability Access Index, which evaluates state adoption of 29 essential policies. MHA is measured by the ratio of residents to mental healthcare providers from the 2020 County Health Rankings. Using multivariate regression analysis on data from sources such as the US Census Bureau …

Asian American Navigation In Higher Education: Do We Belong At Colby College?, Amanda Rose Alpert

Honors Theses

This thesis explores how Asian American students navigate their belonging at Predominantly White Institutions (PWI), specifically a case study at the higher educational institution Colby College. In understanding how Asian American students navigate the spaces around them, this thesis dives into the history of Asian immigration to the U.S., the Asian American politicized label, and the different diasporas and cultural nuances Asian Americans experience that make up the complicated, diverse, and misunderstood label. Through exploring global racializations of Asian bodies and legacies of Western imperialism and colonialism, this gives a basis of how Asian Americans understand themselves as persons living …

From Colony To Classroom: British Rule And Contemporary Educational Outcomes In India, Yashvita Shukla

Honors Theses

This study analyzes the modern day legacy of British colonial ruling structures on Indian educational outcomes. In directly ruled areas, the British retained total control, while Indian princes in indirectly ruled areas had administrative agency. I find that directly ruled districts have higher literate population shares across both genders over three census years, but no significant difference by 2011 in primary, secondary, and tertiary education, controlling for colonial geographic conditions. Gender-disaggregated results generally find stronger colonial effects for women than men. This thesis challenges earlier findings and implies that the British effort to create an educated administrative class and their …

Venezuela's And Mexico's Oil Industries: Policy Making Sets The Course, Camila Gimenez Valero

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The puzzle of Venezuela's crisis is one that researchers often try to understand. How did one of the richest nations in the world become one of the poorest? Venezuela is nowadays seen as a country with political unrest, where people struggle to get by and with a corrupt government. However, this was not always the case. Throughout the 20th century Venezuela had remarkable economic stability. Having discovered the world's largest known oil reserves, the nation's economy quickly developed, and the country also became known for its long-standing democracy. After the election of Hugo Chavez in 1998, Venezuela began to decline …

You Go, I Will Wait, Rasim Bayramov

Theses and Dissertations

On the other side of the coast, a hand is waiting. On the other side of the shore, someone is waiting for you to come. This space between you and them is an asymptote. The more you wait, the colder the pan is to the hand. But the salt of the sea will cover and warm your hand. There’s much to play with while you wait. The destination is only a promise, a figure disillusioned. Waiting spaces are enchantingly altering

in their premise. A bureaucratic fantasy with no avail and no ending. Systematically accumulated levels of power and control lies …

The Media Framing Of India’S Nuclear Weapons Discourse, Sitakanta Mishra, Hely Desai

International Journal of Nuclear Security

The Indian media has had an immense role in framing public perceptions of nuclear weapons within the Indian subcontinent. Examining the largely nationalistic tone of news coverage helps analyze how the media has shaped India’s idea of its status as a nuclear weapon state. Examining the sociocultural discourse around the bomb, this paper analyzes the major influence that the Indian media has in information distribution and how that influence translates to the formation of the atomic attitudes of the masses. In situating the Indian media’s approach to nuclear weapons at large, this work studied the framing of domestic nuclear weapons …

Globally Cross-Examining Case Studies Of Refugee Resettlement: How Do These Help Us Understand “Successful” Refugee Integration? A Look At Refugees And How They Are Resettled In The Usa, Canada, And Italy., Elyssa Parker

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The world’s refugee crisis is ongoing and increasing in severity. By employing a thematic analysis this thesis seeks to center refugee perspectives to define success in resettlement. Through comparative analysis, commonalities and differences are found within the resettlement practices and policies of the USA, Italy, and Canada. The Integrated Threat and Cultural Adaptation theories are utilized to help understand the actions of both the receiving society and the refugees themselves. Canada remains a top destination for refugees; however, the worsening housing crisis is proving to put significant hardship on refugees. The US refugee resettlement program is contradictory in that it …

I Roll To Attack The King: An Examination Of Far-Right Dissent And Ttrpgs In The Contemporary Age, Jenna C. Johnston

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Far-right ideologies have become more prevalent, both in the political sphere as well as fictional and fantasy spaces. This project analyzes the rise of far-right ideology within tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) and offers potential reasons as to why this shift is occurring. Through the analysis of three Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) campaigns from TTRPG show Dimension 20, combined with psychological and sociological research, this work highlights the importance of actions within TTRPGs and their impact on our actual reality. Many may act within the confines of fantastical worlds such as TTRPGs in a way that aligns with far-right ideology because …

Adaptation For Whom? Understanding The Impacts Of Dyke Policies On Small-Scale Farmers In Ca Mau Province Of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Van Minh, Nguyen Vo Chau Ngan, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Low-lying deltas worldwide are extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise. As the risks of climate-induced flooding become increasingly clear, the thirst for infrastructure-driven adaptation increases. This highlights a patent need to understand the impacts of engineering adaptation solutions, especially those targeting built structures such as dykes and sluices, on farmers from a bottom-up, farmer-centred perspective. The study addresses this call by examining cases where dyke policies, while successful in some dimensions, have undermined small-scale farmer livelihoods in Ca Mau ― Vietnam’s southernmost rural province. It identifies areas in need of attention and adds empirical data related to this group of farmers. …

Identifying Intangible And Biocultural Heritage Elements Toward Environmental Understanding: Engaging Stakeholders Through Art, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Grounded in a case study in Barbuda in the Caribbean, this research examines sustainability from the perspective of what arts and heritage can contribute to community engagement and local and broader understandings about the environment. This article documents a growing body of literature recognizing the role of arts and culture, including local knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), in climate change endeavors. Art and TEK present expansive world views. Contextual information situates research done on the island of Barbuda pre- and post-Hurricane Irma. Visual arts workshops engaged community members in mixed methods research. Results documented cultural elements, particularly intangible and …

The Black-Market Commodification Of Human Organs And Bones: A Marxist Perspective, Erik Schulz

Nebraska Anthropologist

The trade and treatment of human remains, while seemingly straightforward, have increasingly become subjects of ethical and moral debate. Over time and in light of recent events, questions have emerged regarding the appropriateness of how human remains are handled and exchanged. This paper examines these issues through the lens of Marxist framework and the perspective of forensic anthropology. The objective is to provide contextual understanding and encourage a reevaluation of current practices, particularly within academic settings, to ensure that human morals, dignity and ethical standards are upheld.

The Paradox Of Survival: Gendered Food Insecurity, Labor Inequalities, And Coping Strategies During The 2023/4 Drought In Eastern Ethiopia, Meron E. Lemma

Theses and Dissertations--Geography

In drought-prone regions of Eastern Ethiopia, recurring droughts profoundly reshape everyday life in ways that deepen existing gendered inequalities. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Fedis district, including semi-structured interviews with women, project implementers, and government officials, as well as group discussions with community members, this study explores how women experience, navigate, and resist the gendered impacts of drought. By attending to the sociopolitical dynamics of drought and the development interventions that accompany it, I analyze how these forces restructure labor, land, food systems, and authority in ways that reproduce and exacerbate existing inequalities. Women’s coping strategies, ranging from begging and …

A Geopolitical Economy Analysis Of China And India’S Approaches To Transnational Data Governance, Yujia He, Ka Zeng

Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce Faculty Publications

Recent literature on the behavior of rising powers in digital trade and data governance highlights their discourses of data sovereignty and desire to preserve domestic policy autonomy. This article contributes to the literature by employing a political economy lens that shifts the focus from the nation-state/inter-state framework towards the dynamics of state–capital relations, allowing for a more historical and contextual understanding of the geopolitics of data governance in emerging economies. Using China and India—two of the largest emerging economies—as comparative cases, and drawing on secondary data from government documents and other sources, the article argues that the interplay between the …

The Key Revolutionary Element: The Development Of Russia’S Military And The Vitality Of The Russian Soldier To Revolution, Max C. Jones

Tenor of Our Times

This paper looks at the substantial role the Russian Military played in the events leading up to and during the February Revolution in 1917 in Russia. It looks at the military history of Russia prior to the February Revolution (from Peter the Great-Nicholas II) and how certain decisions and events in that timespan created a military that was completely unprepared for the total war of WWI. The paper takes closer looks at the Crimean War and the Russo-Japanese War/1905 Revolution, in which significant changes in the military occurred but, as is seen in the outcome of WWI, were not enough …

Ideologies And Fears As Mechanisms Of Military Regime Legitimation : A Comparative Analysis Of Sarit Thanarat In Thailand And Ne Win In Burma, Hyeon-Min Kim

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This thesis examines how Sarit Thanarat in Thailand and Ne Win in Burma legitimized their military regimes through ideological narratives and threat discourses. Both leaders, who came to power through coups d’état without democratic legitimacy, sought to justify their authoritarian military rules by constructing discourses that transformed coercion into moral guardianship. Sarit emphasized traditional Thai values, lak-thai, aligning them with the monarchy and anti-communism to portray his military regime as the protector of national identity. Ne Win, by contrast, promoted Burman ethno-nationalism and the Burmese Way to Socialism and emphasized the Burmese Armed Forces (Tatmadaw)’s role in safeguarding the unity …

A Comparative Case Study Of Face-To-Face Vs Virtual Fortune Telling In Bangkok In The Aftermath Of Covid-19 : Relevance And Adaptation, Jade Evalyn Di Donato

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study explores the adaptation of Thai fortune telling practices, specifically astrology and tarot card reading, in response to increasing digitization and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. While the practice has been traditionally rooted in face-to-face interactions, it has transformed in recent years with the growing prevalence of online consultations. Utilizing Catherine Bell's theory of ritualization alongside the Transfer of Ritual theory, this research analyzes how the ritual meaning and symbolism of Thai fortune telling are preserved across digital and physical spaces, especially in a post-pandemic world. Relying on a comparative case study of two female fortune tellers—one who …

The Representation Of The Lgbtq2+ Community In The Context Of Pride Month In Thai Online Media From 2022 To 2025, Julia Borawska

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This thesis examines the representation of Thai Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ community in Thai online media between 2022 and 2025. It provides a comprehensive analysis of content featured on both individual- and organization-based media, distinguishing between social media and mainstream news outlets. Within the social media sphere, the study further differentiates between influential Thai celebrities—particularly actors and actresses involved in queer-portraying productions—and organizational entities involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy as well as BL/GL production companies. The first two groups rarely feature queer-related content or express explicit support for Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ community, choosing to engage only when personally …

Identity, Norms And Recognition : A Constructivist Account Of Singapore–Taiwan Relations Under Strategic Constraint, Mohamad Faisal Bin Jamain

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This thesis examines the enduring resilience of the Singapore–Taiwan relationship, which persists despite intensifying geopolitical constraints, rising diplomatic risks and modest material incentives. This persistence presents a realist paradox: while traditional materialist accounts establish the structural constraints (such as the “One China” policy and great-power rivalry) that rationally predict disengagement, they fail to systematically account for the specific mechanisms and ideational strategies that underpin the relationship's resilience. Addressing this critical theoretical gap, this study applies a constructivist framework centred on identity, norms and recognition, situating these ideational insights alongside material and geopolitical constraints to offer a holistic explanation. The primary …

Chilean Perceptions Of Thailand As Seen Through Social Media (2015 – 2024), Nicolas Agustin Castillo Aldunce

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This thesis has two main objectives: 1) to examine the perception of Thailand as seen in Chilean social media between 2015 and 2024 and 2) to identify the prevailing narratives and stereotypes and underline the factors responsible for these perceptions. 120 social media posts about Thailand from 11 institutional and independent Chilean content creators are collected and analyzed and Richard Gregory’s theory of perception is applied as its theoretical framework. It is found that there was an increase in online contents related to Thailand since 2015 after the ratification of Chile-Thailand Free Trade Agreement, particularly between 2022 to 2024 when …

Imagining Peace From Abroad : How Myanmar Students In Bangkok Define Peace, Shinhyoung Choi

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This thesis examines how Myanmar students living in Bangkok understand and define peace through their everyday experiences, social positions, and transnational lives. Drawing on a multi-stage, qualitatively driven research design—including a narrative survey, a structured follow-up survey, and in-depth interviews—the study investigates how students’ peace perceptions emerge while they navigate between Myanmar’s instability and Bangkok’s relative institutional order.Findings from 105 participants show that students’ peace orientations cluster into two dominant narratives: a Development-Oriented Narrative emphasizing education, opportunity, and gradual change, and a Resistance-Oriented Narrative emphasizing justice, accountability, and structural reform. Although the initial hypothesis assumed that Bangkok’s stability would directly …

Walkable City Development In Bangkok : A Case Study Of The Ari-Pradiphat Area, Shengnan Li

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Walkable city development has become an important concept in sustainable urban mobility development, because it can create multiple benefits to improve people’s quality of life. Bangkok city has joined this walkability initiative, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), promoted “Bangkok Good Walk Project”. However, it still faces challenges in improving walkability, such as lack of safety, discomfort, and inaccessibility. Previous walkability study have focused more on physical walking conditions and fewer in people’s walking perception, although perception is a key step for improvement. It is necessary to supplement the existing knowledge of people’s walking perception to promote walkable city development. Following this …

The Popularity Of The Untamed In Thailand And I Told Sunset About You In China : Reciprocal Fandom And Cultural Diplomacy, Yuanwei Gao

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study aims to explore cross-cultural fan interactions between China and Thailand and their influence on cultural diplomacy. In recent years, television dramas from both China and Thailand have gained remarkable popularity in the respective countries. Among various types of dramas, BL (Boys’ Love) dramas stand out as a typical case of transnational fan interaction due to their large cross-border audience and highly active online and offline interaction. Among them, the Chinese TV drama The Untamed (Chen Qing Ling) has received wide attention in Thailand, and the Thai TV drama I Told Sunset About You (แปลรักฉันด้วยใจเธอ) has sparked heated discussions …

Peripheral Rebels: Western-Derived Symbols Of Resistance In Thai And Colombian Films About Male Youth Subculture, Andres David Garcia Suarez

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This paper examines how Thai and Colombian films portrays marginalized male youth reworking Western countercultural symbols as forms of empowerment and resistance. Focusing on Nonzee Nimibutr’s Dang Bireley’s and Young Gangsters (1997) and Víctor Gaviria’s Rodrigo D: No Future (1990), it examines how Thai gangsters in 1950s Bangkok and Colombian punks in 1980s Medellín confront structural violence and generational alienation through the rearticulation of American rock and roll and British punk. Drawing on Homi K.Bhabha´s notion of cultural resignification, García Canclini´s theory of cultural hybridization, and Theodor Roszak´s understanding of counterculture, this paper analyzes how both films depict the adoption …

Religion And Culinary Practices In Thailand : From Buddhist And Islamic Dietary Restrictions To Social Hierarchy And Identity, Gao Yaxuan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study adopts the analytical framework of "food as a moral economy" to explore how the dietary practices of Buddhism and Islam in Thailand constitute two parallel yet complementary religious ethical systems, and further shape social relations and cultural identities. The research holds that in the social environment of Thailand, "eating" and "giving food" are not only the satisfaction of physiological needs, but also important ways for religious values to be practiced, expressed and negotiated in daily life. The Buddhist mechanism of almsgiving and accumulating virtue emphasizes the establishment of emotional networks and social reciprocity through diet. The halal dietary …

From Chinese Danmei To Thai Y-Series : A Case Study Of The Sino-Thai Co-Produced Y-Series My Stand-In, Xinyi Su

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study examines the Sino-Thai co-produced series My Stand-In as a case of cultural translation and dissemination of Chinese Danmei (Boys’ Love) fiction through transnational screen adaptation. It analyzes narrative transformation, localization, and cultural reproduction across three levels: text, industry, and audience. Reviewing the development of Chinese Danmei from 2006 to 2025, the study shows that My Stand-In exemplifies a collaborative production model in which Chinese platforms provide financing and distribution while Thai teams lead production. The series retains the original storyline while adapting visual and cultural elements to the Thai context. At the communication level, the series’ circulation is …

Opportunities And Challenges Of Thailand's Durian Exports To The Chinese Market, Yafang Tang

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Thailand remains the world's leading durian exporter, with China emerging as its most dynamic and influential import market. This thesis explores the competitiveness of Thai durian exports to China amid intensifying regional rivalry. Its objectives are threefold: (1) to evaluate Thailand's internal strengths and weaknesses; (2) to identify opportunities and threats in the Chinese market; and (3) to benchmark Thailand against Vietnam and Malaysia to formulate strategic recommendations. The study employs a mixed approach, combining SWOT analysis with Porter's Diamond Model and using secondary data, policy documents, and industry reports. Findings reveal that Thailand's competitive advantage lies in large-scale production, …