Latin American Studies Commons^™

Identity And Intervention: United States' Foreign Policy Toward The Dominican Republic, Eileen Ledesma

College Honors Program

Constructivist theory provides a framework for understanding United States foreign policy toward the Dominican Republic during the U.S. occupation (1916-1924), the rise and consolidation of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo’s dictatorship, and the regime’s eventual political isolation during the Cold War. This thesis argues that U.S. foreign policy was shaped by identity narratives and political culture, also identified through historically constructed understandings and the repeated performance of legitimacy and order. By situating U.S.-Dominican Republic relations within broader debates in international relations theory, this thesis highlights the explanatory value of constructivism in understanding the evolution and contradictions of U.S. policy in Latin America. …

The Impact Of Trump Administration Immigration Policies On Connecticut Educators And Families, Elena C. Bielesz

Honors Scholar Theses

Anti-immigrant rhetoric, policies, and practices, which have grown increasingly prevalent due to the current national political climate, have adverse effects on the mental health of immigrant families and the teachers that support them in Connecticut. This study seeks to represent the opinions of Connecticut K-12 MLL (Multilingual Learners) Education Teachers and Administrators whose daily lives are impacted by the anti-immigrant and anti-refugee policies and procedures. The study employed a human subjects-based approach supported by a review of related literature. MLL Educators from around the state of Connecticut were interviewed. These interviews found that while immigration-based trauma and stressors are common …

Munificence: The History And Legacy Of The Munson Steamship Line, 1865–1955, Nicholas C. Benda

Honors Scholar Theses

This paper provides an overview of the Munson Steamship Line, an American steamship company founded by Captain Walter David Munson. A veteran of the American Civil War, Captain Munson visited Cuba following the war’s conclusion and became involved in Cuba’s oil and sugar industries, gradually becoming involved in the international sugar shipping trade. An 1890 innovation in shipboard technology and its impact on the Cuban American molasses trade was a moment that established a multi-generational maritime empire, officially incorporating the Munson Steamship Line shortly after the American intervention in the Cuban War of Independence and expanding throughout the Atlantic. His …

Building Resilience: How Protective Factors Mitigate Acculturative Stress In The Latinx Immigrant Community, Andres I. Delgado, Jamie Tierrablanca

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This literature underscores the vital role of protective factors in reducing

acculturative stress among Latinx immigrants. Key factors such as social

support, religious affiliation, familism, and physical activity help contribute to

mitigating the negative effects of acculturation. The Latinx community can

significantly benefit from integrative, culturally responsive interventions informed

by social work frameworks such as ecosystems theory and critical race theory

(CRT) as they are essential in addressing the mental health needs of this

population. Despite existing research, gaps remain in understanding the full

scope of the Latinx immigrant experience, suggesting a need for further

exploration. The expected findings will …

Exploring The Biocultural Profile Of The Undocumented Populations Of The Sonoran Corridor: A Skeletal Assessment Of The Prevention Through Deterrence Strategy, Mary A. Vaughn

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Over the last thirty years the mortality rate of the undocumented population at the US-Mexico border has risen, requiring methods distinguishing US-born individuals from immigrants to improve the likelihood of identification and repatriation through foreign consulates. Forensic anthropologists with the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner (PCOME) have advocated for the use of the biocultural profile, combining the biological profile with factors including oral health, osteological stress, and personal effects. The biocultural profile serves two purposes, functioning both as a tool for identification and with which to document structural inequality within communities of origin.

This study examines changes in …

Art As Resistance, Art As Hope: The Crane, The Nopal, And The Knowledge They Carry, Mayra Urbina

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

This reflection explores the crane-and-nopal motif in Talavera Poblana ceramics as a lens for understanding artisan knowledge, cultural identity, and the impacts of globalization on Indigenous communities. Through my own painting of a Talavera-style vase, I trace the layered colonial history embedded in this motif — including the quiet resistance of Indigenous artisans who encoded Aztec memory into colonial art forms by replacing the eagle with the crane. The reflection examines how globalization threatens artisan traditions through fast-fashion appropriation, the limitations of Mexico's 2022 cultural heritage protection law, and the displacement of Indigenous artisans in Mexico City. Ultimately, I argue …

Toward Healing And Justice: Building Equitable Relationships With Community Archives In El Salvador, Giada Ferrucci, Amanda Oliver, Tom Belton, Fernando Chacon

Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

The article examines an archival component of a larger research initiative. Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador is a multidisciplinary, cross-sector partnership. The overall methodology of the project is participatory and survivor-centered. It aims to document and commemorate the history of the Salvadoran Civil War (1980-1992) and prevent future violence. The component of the Surviving Memory partnership the authors describe in this article elucidates the crucial importance of community archival practices undertaken to support memory, healing, and justice in El Salvador. The authors are co-investigators and collaborators who have supported the work of community archivists in El Salvador through a …

Hope Among Venezuelan Migrants In Colombia, Chadrick Tyler D. Bailey Jr

Undergraduate Research Conference

This paper looks at how hope shows up in the lives of Venezuelan migrants living in Colombia. Because of ongoing political and economic problems in Venezuela, many people have been forced to leave their homes in search of safety and better opportunities. In Colombia, even though migrants may find more stability, they still face challenges like low wages, discrimination, and difficult living conditions. Despite all of this, hope continues to play an important role in how they move forward.

Rather than treating hope as just positive thinking, this paper shows how it is something people build through real-life experiences, culture, …

Peace Without Security: Intersectional Feminism And The Reintegration Of Colombian Female Ex-Combatants, Savannah Torres

Posters - 2026

This projects speaks to those engaged in gender studies, human security, and post-conflict reintegration by examining why reintegration efforts continue to fall short for female ex-combatants. Focusing on Colombia’s 2016 Peace Agreement and its aftermath, the study analyzes how reintegration frameworks inadequately address the human security needs of former guerrilleras. It asks how reintegration processes fail to account for the intersecting identities of women as gendered, racial, and economic subjects and former combatants, and how these oversights generate persistent vulnerabilities. While existing literature acknowledges entrenched patriarchy in Colombian society, reintegration is frequently framed through victim-oriented lenses that obscure women’s agency. …

An Analysis Of The United States Hegemony In Latin America Considering The Current Advancement Of China In The Region, Hernan Mauricio Fajardo Gonzalez

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

The recent advancement of China in Latin America suggests that the traditional hegemony of the United States could be declining. The purpose of this research is to assess the degree in which the American hegemonic position in this region has diminished and what implications this likely phenomenon could eventually bring. Several dimensions of the notion of Hegemony are evaluated such as economic, military, cultural, political, and technological. The concepts of hard power and soft power are considered in order to evaluate the external influences over Latin America. The features of the IR school known as Neorealism are utilized in order …

Changing Mercy In Aotearoa New Zealand, Anna Nicholls Victoria University Of Wellington

Journal of Global Catholicism

This paper examines the evolving expression of Catholicity within the Mercy organization in Aotearoa New Zealand. It explores the impact of Vatican II, demographic shifts, and societal changes. Through interviews with lay leaders in Whānau Mercy Ministries, the religiosity, inclusive approach, and the tension between traditional Catholic identity and pluralism in the organization are explored. A pertinent discussion concerns how the organization uses a more secular portrayal of Catherine McAuley as a unifying figure for the religiously diverse audience. The author argues that while secularization influences the organization, it fosters human flourishing and community engagement, offering opportunities for growth rather …

The Untameability Of The Sacred: Votive Traditions At Notre Dame De Lourdes And El Santuario De Chimayó, Gabrielle Bibeau

Journal of Global Catholicism

This article compares divergent votive practices at Notre Dame de Lourdes in France and El Santuario de Chimayó in New Mexico. Lourdes’ embrace of modern aesthetic values—simplicity, order, and functional clarity—has led to the removal and tight regulation of most ex-votos. By contrast, Chimayó’s roots in Latin American Baroque aesthetics, with its emphasis on abundance, drama, and hybridity, create space for a vibrant proliferation of offerings. Drawing on Jacques Rancière’s theory of aesthetics and politics as the “distribution of the sensible,” the article shows how aesthetic judgments intertwine with clerical power to curate, constrain, and authorize pilgrims’ access to the …

Combating Iuu Fishing In The South American Pacific: An Opportunity To Counter Chinese Influence Closer To Home, Alexander E. Goodno

Joint Force Quarterly

A relatively small enterprise that began three decades ago in response to dwindling Chinese squid fisheries, China’s South American distant water fishing fleet has grown exponentially to now number nearly 500 vessels and creates a growing problem for the Pacific coastal nations of South America. By establishing itself at the forefront in combatting illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing (IUUF) activities off the Pacific coast of South America, the United States can strengthen its role as a leader in the Western Hemisphere and counter growing Chinese influence in South America. This paper will demonstrate how America can achieve this end by …

Moment Of Recognizability: Askancing And The Global South, Pedro Lange Churion, Tanu Sankalia

Global Studies Faculty Publications

This article introduces askancing as an epistemic strategy for the Global South to challenge the Global North’s construction of the Global South’s alterity. Askancing is a neologism we propose by engaging with Jacques Lacan’s speculations on the gaze as it pertains to the construction of “the other.” We argue that this strategy of askancing might already be implicit in postcolonial theories, from the notion of the subaltern, through “decoloniality,” to “ecologies of knowledge.” Central to askancing—and contrary to the decolonial call for an epistemic break with modernity—we agree with Dipesh Chakrabarty’s assertion that modernity’s rational discourse is both “indispensable and …

A Comparative Analysis Of U.S. And Mexico’S Migration Policy From 2009 To 2025: How Their Approaches Shape And Constrain Each Other’S Policy Choices, Viviana Adame

Senior Theses

The long history of movement across the U.S.–Mexico border has made migration one of the main issues shaping their bilateral relationship. This thesis examines how U.S. and Mexican migration policies from 2009 to 2025 affect and limit each other. Using the idea of migration diplomacy, it argues that migration is not just a domestic issue but a way both countries negotiate power and cooperation. The study compares six administrations: Obama, Trump, and Biden in the United States, and Calderón, Peña Nieto, and López Obrador in Mexico, through policy documents, data, and reports. It finds that the United States depends on …

On The Future Of The Blue Economy: Comparing Indonesia’S Role In The Asean And Lac Regions, Darynaufal Mulyaman, Bambang Dwi Waluyo, Dewi Aulia Maharani

Global: Jurnal Politik Internasional

This study aims to determine the concrete development and implementation of blue economy programs in the future by examining Indonesia's role in the context of international political economy, particularly through maritime diplomacy and cross-regional cooperation such as ASEAN, the Indonesia-Latin America and Caribbean Business Forum INA-LAC, and the Alliance of Island States AIS. Using a constructivist approach, this study concludes that Indonesia, as a middle-power country, utilises soft resources, such as maritime identity, sustainability values, and diplomatic leadership, to strengthen its position in global blue economy governance. The results of the study show that Indonesia has strategic potential for developing …

Reparations Delayed, Not Denied: The Inter-American System Confronts Chile’S Dictatorship-Era Violations, Maggie Titus

Human Rights Brief

On September 24, 2025, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) submitted Gustavo Guillermo Ramírez Calderón v. Chile to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR), seeking reparations and justice for victims of forced disappearances during Chile’s military dictatorship. According to the application, Chile has failed to fully comply with the IACtHR’s recommendations from Merits Report No. 154/23.

Teaching The Sociological Imagination: Creating Community In Tumultuous Times, Marta Ascherio

Faculty Publications - Criminal Justice Sciences

Opening paragraph:

In fall 2022, I began a tenure track position at Illinois State University (ISU), as a joint hire between the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences and the Latin American and Latino Studies Program (LALS). LALS is a multi-disciplinary program with affiliated faculty from multiple colleges and departments across campus. In contrast to affiliated faculty whose main teaching responsibilities are in their home departments, as a joint hire I have teaching responsibilities in Criminal Justice Sciences (two classes) and LALS (one class). I became part of a small cohort of faculty across departments (Languages, Sociology and Anthropology, Communications, and …

Entre Nos: A Three-Part Study Exploring The Experiences Of The American Association Of Hispanics In Higher Education Members, Monique Posadas

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Membership and participation in national associations or professional societies are the cornerstone of academic and career advancement in higher education. These organizations allow faculty and career professionals to connect and grow their networks. However, like other social structures, they can also reflect, reinforce, and reify exclusionary colonial, hegemonic norms. Professionalization for people of color in the academy, through formalized organizations and societies, was grossly delayed, despite the emergence of “mother societies” at the turn of the century. Academics of color took matters into their own hands to build professional networks. While associations are assumed to be academic and professionally rich …

Bridging The Language Gap: The Impact Of In-Person Versus Remote Interpreter Services On Medication Adherence And Patient Safety In Adult Spanish-Speaking Patients, Ashley E. Alarcon Martinez, Jocelyn N. Lopez Maradiaga

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Significant health inequities are caused by language barriers between patients and health care staff, resulting in miscommunication among adult Hispanic patients with low English proficiency, reducing medication adherence, impairing patient safety, and raising the possibility of medical errors. To address this issue, interpreter services, both in-person and remote translation, have been introduced in healthcare settings to enhance communication. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in patient safety and medication adherence between in-person and remote translation services for adult Hispanic individuals with limited English proficiency in healthcare settings. Methods: The proposed research involves five local …