Other International and Area Studies Commons^™

Islamic-Catholic Relations: A Local And Global Comparison, Matthew Hoppler, Jennifer Bell, Ruth Donaghey

Global Studies Student Scholarship

In our modern world, religion remains one of the most important aspects of an individual’s life, no matter what faith they choose to celebrate. Given the world’s increasing interconnectedness and continuing globalization, members of different faiths are becoming more exposed to communities of one another. In modern times, the disagreements between faiths continue just as they have in the past; however there are more efforts on each side to overcome differences and establish a peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding. Two of the most prominent faiths in today’s world are Catholicism and Islam, which have many differences between them. As Americans, …

If You Want Peace, Work For Justice: An Evaluation Of International And Sustainable Peace Building In The Former Yugoslavia, Elizabeth Wasson

Global Studies Student Scholarship

This thesis paper provides an evaluation of international criminal tribunals and their ability to incite sustainable peace in ethnically conflicted regions of the world. This research focuses particularly on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the role it has played in reconciling ethnic tensions in the Balkans. First, an extensive review of the literature concerning international jurisdiction provides background information on the two opposing views of international relations: realism and legalism. Both perspectives of international relations have significant implications for the effectiveness of this UN Tribunal and whether or not such supra-national institutions are ultimately effective. …

Timing Justice: Lessons From The Tribunals In Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, And Cambodia, Zoe B. Whaley

Political Science Honors Projects

Scholarship on tribunals for mass human rights violations overlooks how the presence or absence of conflict influences its effectiveness. I argue that implementing a tribunal during conflict undermines its ability to effectively pursue justice—as I demonstrate with a case study of the Yugoslav Tribunal. Ongoing conflict makes challenges of transitional justice more acute. The absence of conflict eases a tribunal’s ability to carry out certain necessary activities such as collecting evidence. I demonstrate this using a case study of the Rwanda Tribunal. Examining tribunals in Sierra Leone and Cambodia suggests that hybrid structures influence the effectiveness of these accountability mechanisms.

We Speak For Ourselves: Grassroots Movements In The Struggle For Environmental Justice, Christopher O'Brien

Global Studies Student Scholarship

This literature review and thesis examine two main issues, one on grassroots and community organizing and the other discussing the implications of environmental racism. The paper examines the nature of why low income and minority communities experience a disproportionate amount of environmental injustices, and what can be done at the grassroots level to combat this. Through a review of literature on both community/grassroots organizing and the prevalence of environmental racism within the United States, along with experiential findings through a community partnership, the issues of remedying environmental racism and the effectiveness of the remedies are explored. Environmental racism is a …

Refugee Communities: A Campaign For Self-Sustainability, Sophia Georgeo

Global Studies Student Scholarship

The struggles of becoming self-sustainable and gaining independence from resettling institutions are prominent ones for refugees who resettled to a host country. A multitude of obstacles such as language barriers, cultural differences, and loss of sense of purpose in life are phenomena often experienced by refugees regardless of ethnicity and nationality. These phenomena leave struggling refugees in a state of dependence on any form of guidance and support in order to achieve full assimilation. Through my work at the International Institute of Rhode Island in the refugee resettlement office, I witnessed the crucial role that this humanitarian organization plays in …

The Plight Of The Roma In Italy: Human Rights Injustices Of A Feared Minority, Alexandra Errante

Global Studies Student Scholarship

Human rights is unique in that it has a universal affect on everyone world-wide no matter his or her nationality, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or economic standing. In order to narrow this down, the intention of this thesis is to explore a specific topic in regards to the overlying issue of human rights. This thesis provides evidence of the mistreatment and blatant racism that is inflicted upon the Roma living in Italy and this paper makes the claim that this is the fault of the Italian government. The methodology used for the community engagement portion of the thesis …

The Globalization Of Technology To Developing Countries, James Wiley

Global Studies Student Scholarship

This paper examines current trends in the globalization of technology to developing countries, and the current disparities that exist. This thesis will indicate why many developing nations have limited access to new technology, and what steps must be taken for them to better their economic status. In addition, the actions and effects of both Wired International, a non-profit organization, and the Gaviotas community in Colombia will be analyzed. These two organizations represent groups helping to achieve major positive change in severely underdeveloped nations, and accordingly their impact and methods have the potential to spread endlessly worldwide.

Abrahamic Faith-Based Ngos: A New Approach To Peacemaking And Development, Nicole Chininis

Global Studies Student Scholarship

This thesis examines the new phenomenon of faith-based nongovernmental organizations and their work in peacemaking and development. In our current globalized world, religion has become a heated topic, often times being the cause of international conflict. However, this argument proves that religion, specifically those of the Abrahamic faiths, and which has been used as a means in peacemaking for many years, is now coming to the forefront of providing a strong foundation for NGOs to thrive. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have some of the most popular, successful, and expansive NGOs currently involved with humanitarian aid and peacemaking. This paper goes …

The World Water Crisis: Problems, Crisis Regions, Action & Solutions Based On Regional Opportunity, Moira Kelley

Global Studies Student Scholarship

Moira Alice Kelley, “The World Water Crisis: Problems, Crisis Regions, Action and Solutions Based on Regional Opportunity,” 2009.

This thesis explains a number of factors that are associated with the world water crisis through a multi-layered study. By examining a varied of severity levels in specific regions, the action being taken by local, national, and multi-national organizations, and solutions which present themselves to regions, I discovered the importance of everyday conservation. The research for this thesis came in two forms: (1) a review of the literature on the current crisis and (2) an action-based method which taught local high school …

How To Eliminate Corruption In Africa?, Sofia Graça

Global Studies Student Scholarship

Corruption is generally defined as the misuse of power for personal gain. The initial aim of this paper was to find a way to eliminate corruption. Even though corruption is a global problem, the research of this project is focused on African nations, particularly on the country of Angola.
The review of the literature consists of an analysis of the main causes and effects of corruption and of how they have a correlation to poverty and underdevelopment. I found that the specific case of Angola fits perfectly into all of the causes and effects of corruption that are mentioned in …

Cultural Culinary Wisdom: Combating The Nutrition Transition, Alanna O'Neil

Global Studies Student Scholarship

The nutrition transition is a rapidly developing global problem. The disparity between the rates of global obesity and malnutrition is diminishing. Westernization and industrialization are serious factors contributing to the global food and dietary epidemic. As a result, food cultures are threatened by dietary changes inflicted by Westernization. Moreover, rates of diet related non-communicable diseases are on the rise as never seen before. This study examines the problem of the nutrition transition through the context of the prevalence of food cultures, case studies, culinary recipes, dietary habits, and cultural transitions. Supporting this research is a dietary survey of study abroad …

Growing Gardens And Nurturing Community In The Urban Environment, Katie Shaw

Global Studies Student Scholarship

The following literature will analyze how urban agriculture (UA), and more specifically community gardens, address the rising global pressures on urban areas by rebuilding local networks. First, it will present community gardening as a solution to the global food crisis. Second, five case studies will compare cities’ community garden projects throughout the world: Accra, Shanghai, St. Petersburg, Havana, and Philadelphia. The next section will study the demographics of community gardeners, especially its impacts on marginalized members of society: children, women, elderly, immigrants and ethnic minorities, and physical and mentally challenged. And finally, the issues of city planning and green design …

The Effects Of Climate Change On Food Security, Nicolas Trilla

Global Studies Student Scholarship

Global hunger has become one of the most pressing issues our planet faces. The need to research the causes of this food shortage are more urgent than ever, and if we fail to act, the situation will only grow direr. Climate change and food shortage are both highly intricate, but their common ground is the area that is of greatest importance. Climate change has proven too much for global food production systems to bear, and as a result, climate-stressed regions are now experiencing food insecurity as well. Climate change has shaken the three pillars of food security—availability, access, and utilization—and …

Francophone African Immigration To The United States: Causes And Implications For American Social Work Practice, Whitney Henderson

Global Studies Student Scholarship

Francophone West Africans are a special population within whole African immigration to the US. Due to the political instability in the West African region, it is understandable why West Africans would seek immigration to more stable environment. What is not understood is why Francophone immigrants are immigrating to an English-speaking country such as the United States instead of France, where there is an official language commonality in addition to cultural similarities. In terms of social work practice, this is of great importance, as social workers will be aiding this group in resettling in the United States. This paper explores why …

This American Suburb: Fossil Fuels, Personal Misconceptions, And Loss Of Community, Stephan Mirando

Global Studies Student Scholarship

How did we come to live this way? The modern suburb has become synonymous with the American dream and yet its inception is still rather new. This work examines the creation of this way of life thanks to the ready availability of cheap fuels and questionable modes of thinking. In light of the energy crisis these vast expanses of homes may not be able to sustain themselves after the peak consumption of oil. In light of this possibility, the author questions what these people will be missing since the sense of community has all but been lost in these areas …

The Ngo Sector In Community Development: Emerging Roles, Strategies And Identities, Victoria Neff

Global Studies Student Scholarship

This community engaged thesis will articulate some of the identities, patterns, and dominant practices of NGOs related to community development in the hope of uncovering emerging trends. The literature review of this thesis will have a slight focus on NGO’s working in direct conjunction with the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, it will manifest the promise of social capital as necessary to an organization’s success. Civic participation remains critical in enabling an NGO to be politically active, to continue building networks, and instilling positive social attitudes. After expounding on these issues, this thesis will then propose a solution- …

Peace From Below: Recent Steps Taken Along The Track-Two Diplomacy Path, Michael Thomas Kuchinsky

Human Rights & Human Welfare

A review of:

Peacemakers in Action: Profiles of Religion in Conflict Resolution. Edited by David Little. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007.

and

Peace Out of Reach: Middle Eastern Travels and the Search for Reconciliation. By Stephen Eric Bronner. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2007.

Diplomacy Meets Conflict: Darfur, Sudan And The Limits Of International Diplomacy, Tinacho Chitongo

Global Studies Student Scholarship

Despite claims that the world is generally more developed and stable than previous times in man's history there are places on earth where war is still the name of the game. Tactics such as rape, murder, vandalism and ethnic cleansing are still prevalent. The paper studies the complex issues confronting Africa's largest country, Sudan. The country stands on a fragile ceasefire that ended a 2 decade civil war in 2002. The main focus is on the Darfur region which is in Western Sudan. Rebels there began fighting in 2003 and the region has been something of a conundrum of violence. …

Establishing Multicultural Interdependence In Europe: Overcoming The Legal Challenges Facing Cosmopolitan Citizens, Jessica L. Hawkinson

International Studies Honors Projects

Modern states and legal structures around the world are pressed by the forces of globalization to accommodate increasingly diverse multicultural populations. Older and more frequently followed models for cultural integration are rooted in theories of assimilation or liberal pluralism. These theories can demand unbalanced changes from either minority communities or the state. Few theories identify the dual process of interdependence necessary for the democratic inclusion of diverse minority communities in Europe. This thesis explores the historical intent and shortcomings of immigration and integration legislation as it relates to ethnic minority communities in Great Britain and the Netherlands, and makes a …

Rights And The Hijâb: Rationality And Discourse In The Public Sphere, Howard Adelman

Human Rights & Human Welfare

The Rights of Others: Aliens, Residents, and Citizens by Seyla Benhabib. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2004. 251 pp.

and

Why the French Don’t Like Headscarves: Islam, the State, and Public Space by John R. Bowen. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2006. 290 pp.

and

Muslim Girls and the Other France: Race, Identity Politics & Social Exclusion by Trica Danielle Keaton. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2006. 223 pp.

and

Human Rights and Religion: The Islamic Headscarf Debate in Europe by Dominic McGoldrick. Portland, Oregon: Hart Publishing, 2006. 320 pp.

Germany, Afterwards, Rhoda E. Howard-Hassmann

Human Rights & Human Welfare

A review of:

Race after Hitler: Black Occupation Children in Postwar Germany and America. By Heide Fehrenbach. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2005.

and

The Holocaust and Catholic Conscience: Cardinal Aloisius Muench and the Guilt Question in Germany. By Suzanne Brown-Fleming. Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 2006.

and

A Woman in Berlin. By Anonymous. New York: Henry Holt, 2000.

and

Johanna Krause, Twice Persecuted: Surviving in Nazi Germany and Communist East Germany. By Carolyn Gammon and Christiane Hemker. Waterloo, Canada: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2007.

Privatization, Efficiency, Gender, Development, And Inequality— Transnational Conflicts Over Access To Water And Sanitation, Srini Sitaraman

Human Rights & Human Welfare

A review of:

Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability, and Peace by Vandana Shiva. Boston, MA: South End Press, 2005.

and

Gender, Water, and Development edited by Anne Coles and Tina Wallace. New York: Berg, 2005.

and

Dams and Development: Transnational Struggles for Water and Power by Sanjeev Khagram. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2004.

Suicidal Terrorism : A Dying Strategy, Michael Jessee Adkins

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study identifies a causal model for suicidal terrorism consisting of three primary blocks of factors. First, terrorist organizations must desire to expel a social entity from a geographic area and typically operate with a perception of religious asymmetry. Second, members of terrorist organizations must undergo active exposure to specific socialization practices that directly glorify martyrdom and render suicidal behavior socially acceptable within the context of their community. Third, terrorist organizations must adopt an organizational philosophy that indicates they are capable of achieving victory. This study analyzes the characteristics of several high-profile terrorist organizations to demonstrate the noted factors are …

The Effects Of The Madrid And London Subway Bombings On Europe’S View Of Terrorism, Katie Friesen

Human Rights & Human Welfare

Terrorism within Europe, until 2004, was limited to internal, historical conflict between the state and dissenting factions, such as Spain’s Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) or the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in the United Kingdom. Islamic violence was strongly linked to the Middle East, as well as to America’s “War on Terror” initiative following the attacks of September 11. However, after the Madrid bombings in 2004 and the London subway bombings in 2005, Islamist terrorism has not only become a very real threat, it has also developed into an issue with which Europeans identify personally. The bombings resulted in mass casualties …

Pakistan: Teetering On The Brink Of Islamic Revolution?, Muhammad Ahmad Yunas

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

.

Europe, Victoria Lowdon, Angela Woolliams, Robin Davey

Human Rights & Human Welfare

Both individually and collectively, European countries have vast experience with international and domestic terrorism. Because the point of terrorist attacks is primarily within a particular country (United Kingdom, Turkey and Spain), terrorism has come to be viewed by these states as a domestic problem. At the same time European countries have recognized the value of inter-governmental cooperation, which has been codified in various bilateral and multilateral agreements and conventions dating back to the 1950’s.

A Thematic Content Analysis Of National Anthems: Europe Vs. Members Of The Arab League, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The authors conduct a political psychological analysis of national anthems from European, African, and Middle Eastern nations. Their results focus on the difference between anthems of European nations and members of the Arab League, and potential reasons behind those differences.

Decisions Tools Manual, Cisr

CISR Studies and Reports

This decision tools manual outlines methods through which nations and organizations with limited resources can accurately prioritize humanitarian mine action projects and clearance efforts. This methods include a cost-benefit analysis of the socio-economic effect of mine clearance with field examples from Thailand and Ethiopia.

Pinochet’S Chile: The United States, Human Rights, And International Terrorism, Todd Landman

Human Rights & Human Welfare

A review of:

International Human Rights and Authoritarian Rule in Chile by Darren Hawkins. Lincoln and London: University of Nebraska Press, 2002. 259 pp.

and

The Pinochet File: A Declassified Dossier of Atrocity and Accountability by Peter Kornbluh. New York and London: The New Press, 2003. 551 pp.

and

The Condor Years: How Pinochet and His Allies Brought Terrorism to Three Continents by John Dinges. New York: The New Press, 2004. 322 pp.

Shaping Asylum: The Power Of Language, Teresa Tellechea

Human Rights & Human Welfare

A review of Arguing about Asylum: The Complexity of Refugee Debates in Europe by Niklaus Steiner. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2000. 186pp.

It is June 1992. War has broken out in the Balkans. When we leave Madrid by car for the frontlines in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bosnians and Croats are defending themselves against Serbians. Our license plates begin with SA, the abbreviation for Salamanca, Spain, which is taken to mean Sarajevo, which is currently under siege. On the road to Mostar we are greeted as heroes having been able to escape from SArajevo, though we are two free-lance photographers from …