Global Studies Student Papers

Correlations Between Language, Identity, and Discrimination Among Spanish Speakers in Providence

Katherine Rennie — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 09:08:01 PDT

This study examines how discrimination based on language hinges on the importance of language to one’s personal identity. In order to understand the connections between discrimination and language, the literature on discrimination and its various components is investigated. Scholars’ findings concerning the connection between language and identity are then examined. A discussion will follow of the neuropsychology of language and of the scientific argument that human language came about in response to an evolutionary need for symbolic communication. These themes create a framework for the following study. In order to understand the experience of discrimination as a result of language issues, the perception of discrimination by Spanish-speakers in Providence, R.I. is explored. Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods, it was investigated how language factors into perceived discrimination of Spanish-speakers in Providence, and what the role of language barriers are in the perception of discrimination. It was confirmed that the Spanish language is an essential element to one’s identity as a Spanish-speaker, more so even then race or gender. However, this study was inconclusive on the correlation between language as it is tied to identity with the frequency of perceived discrimination. It was discovered that Spanish speakers in Providence experience discrimination, and oftentimes perceive it as a result of language issues. The goal of this study is to provide an understanding of Spanish-speakers’ perception of discrimination, so that we may eventually overcome it.

Intrastate Conflict Resolution: Case Studies and Applications for a Globalized World

Michael Kriner — Tue, 10 May 2011 11:39:39 PDT

Building the Foundation for Rhode Island Immigrant Assistance Database: A Brief Study of the Communication and Collaboration among Rhode Island Social Service Agencies

Matthew Friedman — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:41:08 PDT

Study Abroad and Global Leadership

James Duff — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:34:40 PDT

The Bilingual Student Experience

Whitney Washousky — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:42:59 PDT

Cuba Got Health Care Right, and It's About Time We Did the Same: An Analysis of Primary Care in Cuba and the Possibility of Universal Primary Care in the United States

Jenna Stroly — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:24:05 PDT

Town-Gown Relations at Providence College: Perspectives and Interactions Between Students and the Local Community

Joe Paola — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:19:40 PDT

The Effects of the United States’ Embargo on Cuban Health During the ‘Special Period’ and Beyond

Jenna Stroly — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:06:48 PDT

Human Rights Policy Paper: Rape as a Tactic of War

Sarah Fitzgerald — Mon, 02 May 2011 12:51:33 PDT

Society’s Views and the Personal Status Code: A Discussion of Tunisian Men and Women’s Roles in Marriage and Divorce

Alexandra Betgeorge — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:01:38 PDT

This paper discusses the present characteristics of men and women’s expected roles in Tunisian society and family during and after marriage. The relationship between the Personal Status Code’s laws and Tunisian society’s general mentality were studied to see how they interacted to create men and women’s reputations and statuses before and after divorce. Four interviews were conducted with two categories of marriages considered: those with children and those without children. Each category was represented by a male and female divorcé living in the northern suburbs of Tunis, who were each asked to speak of their marriage and divorce process. Each divorcé was treated as a case study of their category. Three professionals working at Centre de Recherches, d'Etudes, de Documentation et d'Information sur la Femme (CREDIF), Femmes Democrates, and Association Des Femmes Tunisiennes Pour La Recherche Et Le Developpement (AFTURD) were consulted for their knowledge of statistics and Tunisian culture. It was found that the notion of the domestic sphere belonging to the wife is still strongly present today, and is reinforced by Tunisian family law. However, the Personal Status Code provides financial protections to women that are needed because of their high unemployment rate. The majority of female students enrolled in universities is seen as a potential source for change in the law and traditional gender spheres.

Marginal Benefit of Hosting the Summer Olympics: Focusing on BRIC Nation Brazil (Rio 2016)

Benjamin McGuirk Wagar — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:01:38 PDT

Islamic-Catholic Relations: A Local and Global Comparison

Matthew Hoppler et al. — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:19:27 PDT

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, we have witnessed firsthand, religious discrimination and stereotyping against the growing Muslim population in the United States, especially since 9/11. Unfortunately members of each faith continue to stereotype and meet each other with hostility. Through all this ignorance and animosity between Islam and Catholicism, there are members of each faith whose goal is to establish a peaceful coexistence. We wish to shed light upon such positive efforts. This paper, written equally from the perspective of being members of the Providence, R.I. and global community promotes positive dialogue and understanding between Muslims and Catholics at home and abroad.

Cultural Culinary Wisdom: Combating the Nutrition Transition

Alanna O'Neil — Wed, 13 May 2009 07:13:01 PDT

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 and international students at Providence College. Additionally, dietary interviews with the refugees of the International Institute of Rhode Island illustrate the prevalence of the nutrition transition if present. This dissertation advocates that loss of food cultures is predisposed to the nutrition transition. Cultural dietary wisdom is affirmed to be the guide to good health and nutrition.

If You Want Peace, Work for Justice: An Evaluation of International and Sustainable Peace Building in the former Yugoslavia

Elizabeth Wasson — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:53:55 PDT

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. The most significant element of research, however, was done in conjunction with the ICTY Outreach Programme office in The Hague, Netherlands, and with the organization Human Rights Watch. After an extensive evaluation of the Tribunal’s development over the last decade, and most importantly, the activities of the ICTY Outreach Programme in the states which formerly comprised Yugoslavia, the conclusion is reached that the ICTY provides an effective model for other international criminal tribunals. Recommendations for international policy and further research are also provided.

We Speak For Ourselves: Grassroots Movements in the Struggle for Environmental Justice

Christopher O'Brien — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:53:55 PDT

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 pervasive problem which is far from over, let alone even recognized as a legitimate social problem by many opponents within the United States. Many grassroots organizations have formed to address this problem. The case study for the effectiveness of grassroots organizations in combating environmental injustices is Clean Water Action Rhode Island, a nation-wide non profit working toward promoting healthier, more sustainable communities. Through their work within Providence, Rhode Island to specifically combat high levels of diesel pollution, it is concluded that they effectively employ organizing methods of well-know community organizing models. Furthermore, their effectiveness from the grassroots level is evident, (as opposed to a top-down bureaucratic approach,) and they have successfully gained a power base of membership and constituents within the state of Rhode Island to combat further cases of environmental racism and inequities.

The Plight of the Roma in Italy: Human Rights Injustices of a Feared Minority

Alexandra Errante — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:39:47 PDT

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 is a combination of surveys and an interview. The findings reveal the opinions and sentiments towards the Roma, immigration, and the Italian government on a personal level. The conclusion sums up the general synopsis of the thesis and uses it in order to draw solutions to the initial problem of human rights injustices against the Roma minority living in Italy.

Diplomacy meets conflict: Darfur, Sudan and the limits of international diplomacy

Tinacho Chitongo — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:39:47 PDT

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. The government's counterinsurgency has been called genocide and the paper examines these accusations and the evidence put forward for this. The international community has been hesitant to act discovery in this crisis due to a lack of political will possibly? The ghost of the Rwandan genocide of the early 1990s lingers though and world leaders have been pressured to act. The paper also assesses what sort of pressure is being applied on governments, their reaction and the validity of it. No pre-conceived notion of this conflict is taken to start off just to try and reach objective conclusions. The issues of genocide is complicated. Quarrels over definition seem to have limited decisive action in areas like Sudan.

How to eliminate corruption in Africa?

Sofia Graça — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:39:46 PDT

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 the literature review.
In an attempt to find solutions for the problem of corruption, a collection of interviews were performed. Through a combination of the research, the interviews, and the real-life experience of living in Angola, I found that corruption cannot be eradicated within the economical and political system that we currently live in.

Francophone African Immigration to the United States: Causes and Implications for American Social Work Practice

Whitney Henderson — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:39:46 PDT

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 these immigrants would possibly choose the United States over France for relocation and why this is important to social work practice.

The World Water Crisis: Problems, Crisis Regions, Action & SOlutions Based on Regional Opportunity

Moira Kelley — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:39:45 PDT

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 students about the water crisis in addition to the local and global impact of personal water conservation. Findings from this research come in the form of evaluations and personal statements from students that proved the lesson taught was effective. I hope the success of the lessons in my action-based thesis will propel the students to be more aware of unnecessary overconsumption of water and to, subsequently, stop the progress of the current crisis.