Global Studies Commons^™

Bridging Borders: Exploring Local To Global Citizenship Through Zines, Tanisha M. Jackson Ph.D.

Global Citizenship Pedagogy Community

"Empowering Voices through DIY Zine-Making" workshop, where participants will harness the power of zine-making to explore themes of community, activism, and global citizenship. Zines, small-scale publications with big messages, serve as a conduit for diverse voices to be heard and shared, making them a perfect medium for exploring the interconnectedness of local and global issues.

This workshop delves into the intersection of art, activism, and citizenship, providing a space for participants to express their perspectives on pressing social and environmental issues. Led by experienced zine-makers, attendees will delve into the rich history of zines as tools for social change, discovering …

Un's Decade Of Indigenous Languages Poster/Advertisement Document, Montgomery Hill, Anne Belew

Global Citizenship Pedagogy Community

A workshop at SUNY Geneseo, part of the Global Studies Colloquium, brought together language revitalization experts from SUNY Buffalo and the Endangered Language Fund to create a document promoting Indigenous language preservation. The workshop emphasized the urgency of sustaining linguistic diversity in the context of the UN’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032). The workshop resulted in an advertising document that highlights Haudenosaunee languages and relevant course offerings, extending the workshop’s impact into the university and beyond.

Araneum - Spring 2024

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

Richmond Journal of American and Global Affairs

Voices From Grenada: An Impact Evaluation Of A Community-Academic Partnership., Sade Richardson

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the community-academic partnership between the University of Michigan School of Public Health Office of Public Health Practice and the Grenadian community. Five key informant interviews were conducted to analyze the partnership from the perspectives of the community partners in Grenada to understand the strengths, challenges, and existing opportunities, specifically within the context of a global collaboration.

The findings highlighted the benefits of community-based collaboration, considerations for partnership design, and opportunities for education, practice, policy, research, and leadership. The organizations spoke highly of the partnership, underscoring their desire for expanded …

Carry The Revolution Until The End: The Role Of Maoist Dialectics In Modern Chinese Politics, Elijah Han

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

Despite the significant changes brought by reform and opening up and the apparent demise of Maoism as the Communist Party’s governing ideology, Maoism has continued to thrive in Chinese politics as a political language and dialectical theory despite theoretical weaknesses inherited from its European counterparts. An investigation into the frequency of mentions of “contradiction” and their contexts within the political reports to the 20 National People’s Congresses since the founding of the People’s Republic demonstrates that Maoist dialectical rhetoric is effective in setting policy goals, driving policy reform, and consolidating national unity. Furthermore, the patterns of frequency reflect changes in …

The Lion, The Fox, And The President: Machiavelli's Foreign Policy And Barack Obama, Eli Chancey

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

This undergraduate thesis is a culmination of a senior seminar course focused on the works of Florentine politician and statesman Niccol. Machiavelli. Infamous for his common caricature as an amoral shoulder devil for authoritarians, Machiavelli’s works have been interpreted in countless fashions. While The Prince and the Discourses, his two most significant writings, mainly focus on domestic politics, they give some attention to international affairs. This thesis serves to identify Machiavelli’s foreign policy philosophy within these works and reconcile the differences between their varied interpretations. Then, it will turn toward a modern-day prince, President Barack Obama, to determine his level …

"I See Your True Colors Shining Through": How Judge Attributes Affect Outcomes In Transgender Rights Cases, Jordan Jones

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

This study examines how U.S. District Court judge attributes influence case outcomes in transgender rights lawsuits. The judge attribute model says that judges are influenced by outside factors, which are the key independent variables in this study. These include judge ideology, gender, and age. There is variation in the categories that transgender cases fall under, so different case types are tested. Additionally, there is a concurring region and religiosity variable. This variable stems from data that certain regions are more religious than others and that religion may have an influence on the viewpoints of transgender people. The dependent variable is …

Deforestation, Trade Liberalization, And Environmental Politics In The Brazilian Amazon: 1990-2022, Kerin Debany

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

This paper explores the relationship between trade liberalization and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from the beginnings of widespread trade liberalization in the 1990s to 2022. This paper, through an analysis of deforestation from soy and beef production, concludes that trade openness and foreign direct investment (FDI) alone cannot fully explain the rapid environmental degradation occurring in the Brazilian Amazon. Despite Brazil’s efforts to integrate into global markets, the levels of trade and FDI are relatively low. Instead, the policies of Brazil’s government play a decisive role in shaping deforestation trends. The contrasting presidencies of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva …

Creating New Webs, Jackson Sandler-Bussey

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

No abstract provided.

Introduction, Kyle Giardine

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

No abstract provided.

Why Do We Vote?: An Analytical And Data-Centered Approach To The Impact Of Infrastructure Quality On Voter Turnout In Virginia Counties, Alex F. Broening

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

Everyday political discourse centers around the direction of voting far more than the choice to vote itself, despite low turnout rates in the United States overall, and especially in local and non-presidential elections. No existing model provides a complete explanation of the reasons and influences that cause individuals to participate in politics by casting a ballot, and the literature is especially fractured with regards to issue-specific activation of voters. This work expands on previous issue-focused studies by performing turnout analyses for Virginia counties alongside geographic analysis of infrastructure quality and access. The findings suggest that the quality of infrastructure has …

Introduction, Jackson Sandler-Bussey

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs aspires to give a voice to the students who seek to address, through research and academia, the issues that we face as individuals, a community, a nation, and a world.

Letter From The Editors

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

It is our distinct pleasure to present to you the Fall 2024 issue of Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs. As the first edition of Volume II, this edition of Araneum contains scholarly work on an array of political and global issues from undergraduate students at the University of Richmond.

Araneum - Fall 2024

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

No abstract provided.

“I’M Jackson Wang From China”: Global Celebrities As China’S Messengers Of Nationalism, Keira Vogel

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

This paper examines the rise of nationalist expressions among globally recognized Chinese celebrities, such as Jackson Wang, Fan Bingbing, and Jackie Chan. Global Chinese celebrities, defined here as individuals born in China who have risen to international prominence, used to appear generally apolitical in the public eye, but can now more often be observed expressing nationalism, despite having access to uncensored information about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In this paper, nationalism refers to expressions of pride in one’s nation, often linked to support for the government and its policies. Here, the term carries a less negative connotation than it …

The Hindu Mahasabha: How Humanitarian Relief Became An Agent Of Hindu Nationalism, Sanjna Kaul

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

Humanitarianism is deeply linked with the politics of religion, and in South Asia, it has played a vital role in the spread of Hindu nationalism. Prior to British colonialism, South Asian humanitarianism was guided by spiritual traditions of service and duty, and relief typically took the form of religious donations. The only audience of those small-scale humanitarian actions were the giver’s interpersonal community and the gods. However, with the shift to British rule, humanitarian work in the Indian subcontinent became located within the state and donned broader political motivations. Once the audience of humanitarianism also included the ruling British state, …

How To Create Feminist Policy: The 2021-2022 Chilean Constitutional Rewrite, Maria Zambrano Davila

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

Had it been approved, the 2022 Chilean Constitutional draft would have been the first Constitution in world history to be written by the same number of men and women. At the same time, it would have been one of the most progressive constitutions worldwide, guaranteeing the right to abortion; recognizing carework as an economic activity; and mandating equal representation for women in Chilean Congress, the Supreme Court, and political parties, among others. During the summer of 2022, I interviewed 12 women delegates from the 2021 - 2022 Chilean Constitutional Convention to understand the impact of gender parity in the policy …

Letter From The Editors

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

No abstract provided.

One Party Democracy: Explaining The Ldp’S Electoral Dominance In Japan, James Carroll

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

Two of the essential features of a democracy are free elections and political parties. Although frequent transitions of power between parties are common in most established democracies, one notable exception is Japan. Since its formation in 1955, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has dominated Japanese elections and politics and has ultimately shaped much of Japan’s modern history and government. With the notable exceptions of 1993-1994 and 2009-2012, the party has either been the majority party or the largest party in the governing coalition. The LDP is often described as a center-right party, although it is also accurate to describe it …

Navigating The Impact Of Great Powers Enmity On Multilateralism: Challenges And Opportunities, Tayyaba Atiq

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Multilateralism’s significance in tackling world challenges is undeniable. Its contribution post-cold war in fostering international cooperation and preventing any major war after two disastrous world wars clearly depicts the potential it holds in maintaining world stability. In addition, the rapid globalization and further digitalization resulted into the rise in shared challenges and thus stimulated the relevancy of multilateral interactions between nations in contemporary world. However, the relentless resurgence of great powers competition for influence in international affairs have made it difficult for the phenomenon to continue smoothly. Enduring rivalries between present world powers such as China, America and Russia have …