Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Adjudication Of Kenya’S 2013 Election: Public Perception, Judicial Politics, And Institutional Legitimacy, Charles Herman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This article presents the findings from an exploration of the 2013 Kenya Supreme Court ruling on the election petition. Raila Odinga, who averred that Uhuru Kenyatta was wrongly declared the victor of the election, brought a challenge to the Supreme Court. This article presents an overview of the election and judicial proceedings and then delves deeper into the issues. An application of Judicial Politics theory to the decision suggests that the Supreme Court was unbiased in the process. It is found that Uhuru Kenyatta supporters generally view the Supreme Court and the decision favorably and believe that no credible evidence …

Shaping Young Women For The Future: A Case Study Of A South African Girls’ School, Colleen Mcgeehan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This project seeks to examine the place of private schools in preparing young women for a future in the new South Africa. Specifically, this project focuses on high school learners at South African Girls’ School (SAGS) in Durban, South Africa. By examining ways of learning, succeeding and fitting in at SAGS as well as perceptions of a democratic South Africa and how the learners at this school see themselves fitting into the future of their country, we gain a fuller understanding of what it means to be a citizen of this country for a group that is not often studied. …

Evolving Stages: Duty And Fate In The Construction Of Tibetan Tradition, Divya Chandramouli

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In this paper, I discuss themes of preservation, adaptation, and the construction of tradition in the context of Tibetan performing arts. I chose to explore these issues by looking specifically at a play composed by His Holiness the current Karmapa, based on the life of Milarepa, one of the most revered yogis of Tibetan Buddhism. This play is unique in the sense that many of its aspects stem directly from traditional Tibetan opera, or lhamo, yet the ways in which it was presented and the reasons why it was presented this way diverge considerably from “tradition.” I conducted my research …

La Apertura De Un Barrio: Las Transformaciones Del Espacio Urbano En Palermo, Buenos Aires = The Opening Of A Neighborhood: The Transformations Of Urban Space En Palermo, Buenos Aires, Daniel Rosenblum

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The transformations of neoliberalism in Latin America produced profound structural shifts throughout the urban environment. In Buenos Aires, Argentina certain neighborhoods became hotbeds for change. One neighborhood, Palermo, formerly a working class neighborhood, transformed into a neighborhood of distinct locales, each with its own name connected to another large world city, such as New York and London. These areas became deeply tied to international brands and markets, sourcing goods and businesses from all over the world. In addition, the area grew tremendously in the sectors of leisure, entertainment, and gastronomy. New shops, bars, discotheques, restaurants, and boutiques sprouted up in …

El Peso Profundo De 9 Millones De Toneladas: Un Análisis De Los Efectos Del Modelo Sojero Paraguayo En Las Vidas De Mujeres Campesinas = The Heavy Weight Of 9 Million Tons: An Analysis Of The Effects Of The Paraguayan Soy Model On The Lives Of Rural Women, Abigayle Dolmseth

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

A partir de los años 50, Paraguay ha tenido como objetivo una forma de desarrollo basada en la exportación de productos agropecuarios. Históricamente, Paraguay ha estado asociado a la imagen de un país “eminentemente agropecuario,” cuyos cultivos principales han variado con la demanda del mercado externo. En los años más recientes, la producción del monocultivo de soja ha llegado a dominar este modelo “agroexportador,” lo que ha causado y continúa causando, junto con el advenimiento de las políticas neoliberales de los años 90, gran cantidad de problemas climáticos y políticos dentro de las comunidades campesinas. Pero los problemas del modelo …

You, Me And Society: Political Theatre And Its Impacts, Holden Taylor

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

For a period of one month I researched three distinct categories of political theatre: Theatre of Witness, Theatre of the Oppressed and more traditional theatre –wherein the audience and performers are clearly defined and separated. I was interested in getting an in-depth look at various forms of theatre and their potential effects on both producers and consumers of the art form. To conduct my research I interviewed eight individuals involved in the theatric world, participated in a theatre workshop, studied a variety of theatric literature and attended three politically charged theatre productions. I discovered a litany of things from my …

¿“El Pueblo, Presidente”?: Ejemplos De Poder Ciudadana En El Municipio De San Ramón, Matagalpa, Maura Lewandowski

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Mucho@s de nosotr@s consideramos que tenemos ciertos derechos que nadie puede quitarnos. La libertad, acceso a salud y el derecho a controlar nuestras propias vidas son algunos ejemplos. Creo que hay mucha gente que dirá que el gobierno debe representar nuestros deseos y hacer lo que queramos y lo que nos beneficie. Es verdad que existen diferentes leyes en cualquier país pero en mi opinión, hay ciertos derechos que son fijos y permanentes. Uno de esos derechos, en mi mente, es el derecho de l@s ciudada@os de ejercer su poder como ciudadan@. Es decir, para mí, cualquier/a ciudadan@ tiene el …

Reviviendo Las Voces Perdidas: El Papel De La Educación Intercultural Y Bilingüe (Eib) En El Sistema Educativo Chileno, Ashlie Busone

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

A pesar del apretón que tiene el sistema capitalista en la implementación educativa de hoy, la tensión de cultura y poder se manifestó tanto en el aula como en el gobierno. En Chile, con un trasfondo de fuerzas de globalización y neoliberalismo, esto especialmente se ve en el intento político de reconciliar la gente indígena y la gente no indígena por el uso del sistema educativo. Con un marco teórico compuesto de las ideas de Freire, Gramsci y Bourdieu, este estudio desea aplaudir y criticar los educadores chilenos en sus esfuerzos de mantener y promover las culturas indígenas en un …

Chiriquí, Panamá: Una Investigación Del Esfuerzo Multi-Nivel Que Aspira A Mejorar La Alimentación En Escuelas Primarias De Zonas Rurales Y Urbanas, Ni Cole Sofia Smallwood

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study aimed to discover how external organizations, teachers, and parents impact primary student health in rural and urban areas in the Chiriquí Province of Panama. The objectives were to analyze the role of the stated variables in student nutrition and to evaluate the effectiveness of the food programs implemented at the schools. With permission and help from MEDUCA I chose two urban and two rural schools in the David, Chiriquí area. I conducted semi-structured interview with four parents and five teachers in the rural area; three parents and five teachers in the urban area; and one government official. Panama …

To Vote Or Not To Vote: Youth Political Agency In Post-Revolutionary Tunisia, Sarah Dickson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In the wake of the Tunisian Revolution, young people in Tunisia have become very interested in politics. For some young people, this excitement has resulted in positive feelings about voting. For others, voting is not seen as an effective way to express political agency. This paper will analyze field research conducted by the author with young Tunisians in order to better understand Tunisian youth attitudes towards voting, and explore various interpretations of political agency. This paper will ask the fundamental questions: why didn’t revolutionary activism translate to voting for more young Tunisians, especially as they continue to express interest in …

Dharma And The Free Market: Reconciling Buddhist Compassion With A Market Economy In Post-Socialist Mongolia, Yazmeen Mendez Nuñez

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In this inductive ethnographic study, I explore the unique social and theological pressures placed on Mongolian Buddhists after the wake of free market transition in Mongolia. It utilizes the Buddhist virtue of compassion as a lens by which the study might examine how Mongolians balance their spirituality and commitment to Buddhist ethics with new roles as rational agents in an emergent free market. In this study I draw on narratives from thirteen subjects as well as extensive participant observation to examine the ways that Mongolian market reform has guided social paradigms of ethic that present ethical contradictions with Buddhist dharma, …

La Vulnerabilidad De La Tercera Edad En Desastres Naturales: Un Estudio De La Inundación En La Plata, Argentina El 2 De Abril De 2013 = The Vulnerability Of The Elderly During Natural Disasters: A Study Of The Flooding In La Plata, Argentina On April 2nd, 2013, Katelyn Dutton

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Esta investigación, realizada dos meses después de la inundación en la ciudad de La Plata el 2 de abril de 2013, explora y describe las consecuencias que sufrieron la población de la tercera edad a través del desastre. Con una revisión bibliográfica de fuentes secundarias, se desarrolla un contexto de la historia de las inundaciones en esta región de Argentina y los efectos comunes en la salud física y mental que son causados por este tipo de evento. A través de una serie de entrevistas con funcionarios y voluntarios, este estudio detalla las respuestas que fueron llevadas a cabo por …

Mas Que El Apoyo Academico: La Educacion No Formal Y El Programa Servicio Pais Educacion, Leah Ewald

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This investigation aims to analyze the operation and overall results of Servicio País Educación, an intervention-based program of the non-profit organization, Fundación de la Superacíon, offered to primary, low-resource, municipal schools in Chile. Functioning from 2010-2012 as an after-school program, Servicio País Educación provided a non-formal educational environment which provided hands-on learning opportunities for students. Children selected to participate in the program came from especially poor socioeconomic situations and often underperformed academically in the classroom or exhibited behavioral issues. Students participated in small groups led by tutors where they received not only individualized academic help but practical education in the …

Development Narratives: How Rwandans Perceive, Re-Make, And Re-Imagine Themselves Within And Without Government Development Programs, Katy Lindquist

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Rwanda is currently pursuing an ambitious development agenda that already has led to impressive results. The government has created many development programs that are aimed at poverty eradication and urban development in Kigali including housing regulations, cooperatives, and access to loans. However, how are these programs translated into the daily life of Rwandans who operate within the lower economic strata of Kigali? Who get’s to participate in these programs and who doesn’t? Through a month of ethnographic research in markets, umudugudus, and small businesses I gathered different narratives of development in Kigali. What I discovered was small lines of exclusion …

“Resistencia Es Permanencia”: Concepciones De Resistencia, Territorio Y Recuperaciones De Tierra En Dos Comunidades Mapuche, August Williams-Eynon

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In recent decades the world has seen a backlash of resistance, especially among First Nations and indigenous populations, to what some characterize as new forms of colonization: the development of globalization, and the spread of neoliberal economic institutions and their guiding principles (Vanden 2007). This work locates the social movements of the Mapuche (an indigenous nation conquered by the Chilean army in 1883), and especially their pursuance of land recovery and territorial sovereignty, among the many such mobilizations occurring in Latin America, including the Zapatista movement in Mexico, the organizing of indigenous groups in Bolivia and the CONAIE (Confederación de …

Going Green And Staying Sustainable: Community Based Tree-Planting Projects In Mongolia, Rachel Klassen

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Community based tree planting projects are abundant in Mongolia and have become a popular form of social movement towards promoting a healthy environment. With so many different varieties of tree planting projects in Mongolia, it is necessary to evaluate how well the different forms of Community-based tree planting projects function. The first research question created to access said Community projects is, are Community based tree planting projects environmentally sustainable? And the second, are Community-based tree planting projects in Mongolia sustainable from an organizational standpoint? To answer these questions interviews, surveys and case studies were given in the three …

Reading, Writing And Resources: The Conditions Of Creativity, Mariclaire O’Neill

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper addresses the question of whether young Samoans are adequately encouraged to pursue creative fields, specifically writing. It examines relevant literature on the role of libraries and catalysts for early-learning reading as well as the benefits of creative writing, uses interviews with professors, editors, authors and librarians in surveying the current state of creative writing among young Samoans and how the roles of the culture, resources and the curriculums impact this, utilizes surveys to gauge student interest in writing, and finally culminates in a creative writing workshop held to expose university students to writing. The findings point to a …

Cape Town Performance Poetry: The Activist’S Pen Is Mighty, Kelsey Rae Brattin

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Beginning with a look back to historical Xhosa oral traditions and then examining the role of performance poetry in resistance during Apartheid, this paper explores the existence of contemporary Cape Town performance poetry in a setting that has been a home to poets for centuries. Specifically, this project is a look into the space, mental and physical, that exists within Cape Town’s current performance poetry scene for themes of resistance and activism. Through the observation of public poetry performances in local bookstores and coffeehouse, and through interviews with poets and audience members, contemporary attitudes of writers and community members toward …

The Impact Of Syrian Refugees On Food Security In The Northern Badia, Jesse Schaffer

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The crisis in Syria has caused a massive influx of refugees into Jordan to the detriment of the Jordanian host communities. This research paper seeks to examine the direct impact of the Syrian Refugees on Jordanians’ food security. The researcher hypothesized that the large influx of refugees reduced the overall food security of Jordanian families in terms of food accessibility and availability. The methodology consisted of two major parts. First, field interviews were conducted with Jordanians in the Northern Badia and representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGO) in Amman. Second, forty-two families were surveyed in the Northern Badia about their food …

Out Of This World: An Ethnographic Study Of Mystics, Spirits, And Animist Practices In Senegal, Peter Balonon-Rosen

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Although the overwhelming majority of Senegal’s inhabitants consider themselves Muslim, there are still many customs and behaviors throughout the country that derive from traditional animism. In both the metropolitan regions and village settings, animist beliefs and practices are still present despite many influences including Islam and colonialism. Animist practices often work in conjunction with the very schools of thought that deem them forbidden. The purpose of this study is to explore surviving animist traditions in Senegal, their role in the present context, and animism’s relationship with Islam in order to fully understand the Senegalese culture in which these traditions play …

The Teaching Of The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade And It’S Lasting Implications On The African Diaspora, Mara Meyers

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Objectives

i. Gain an understanding of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade from the Ghanaian perspective

ii. Understand the ways in which the history of slavery and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade are a part of Ghanaians identities today

iii. Acquire knowledge regarding Ghanaians understandings of the African Diaspora

iv. Explore Ghanaians views on the history of slavery as compared to African Americans perspectives on slavery

4. Methodology: For this research I used a versatile approach. I observed and taught two Social Studies classes at a school in Cape Coast, both of which were of relevance to my topic. I also interviewed, both …

Fa’Amatala Lau Tala: Samoan Pregnancy And Childbirth Narratives, Elsa Kendall

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Pregnancy is, for each individual woman, situated in a particular historical, social, and cultural understanding of her own body; the experience cannot be divorced from these components that inform what is deemed unhealthy or inappropriate. Most social research regarding pregnancy and childbirth focuses on economic and political implications. This study explored personal narratives of Samoan women’s experience with pregnancy and childbirth to shed light on cultural aspects of events. Seven women were interviewed as key informants using informal, unstructured interviews to better understand these topics, and are presented as a compilation of stories of the most intimate parts of their …

Investigating The Paradigms Of Sikkim’S Built Environment, Bennet Song

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The region of Sikkim is located on the Aplide-Himalayan global seismic belt, a seismically vulnerable area of the world. The 2011 M6.9 earthquake caused a severe disruption in the functions of both rural and urban Sikkim. In areas populated by humans, most of the visible damage and harm done in an earthquake is due to poorly designed and constructed buildings and infrastructure rather than the earthquake itself. The focus of this paper lies in study of the relationship between the predominant building types of rural vs. urban Sikkim. Ikra is a low cost vernacular building type found in Sikkim’s rural …

Food From Foreigners: Examining Expatriate Entrepreneurship In The Food Sector Of Nepal, Melanie R. Couchman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Recognizing the large impact that entrepreneurship can have on the development of a country, this research attempts to study the process foreigners face in starting up a business, the motives for entering the Nepalese market place, and ultimately how these foreign business owners are finding success in Nepal. Focusing primarily on the food sector, this research hopes to answer the question of whether foreign entrepreneurs can successfully integrate into the Nepalese market, how foreign business might differ from native business, and how foreign presence is affecting Nepal’s development. This study takes place in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Patan, and will use …

An Evaluation Of Environmental Education Programs On Pemba Island, Lindsay Kingston

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Pemba Island, a member of the Zanzibar archipelago, is intimately connected and highly dependent on their natural resources, which are rapidly deteriorating. How to sustain their agrarian-based economy whilst also conserving the environment is the current challenge facing this island. Key to overcoming this dilemma is the development of knowledgeable and effective environmental organizations, such as environmental clubs and NGOs. A small-scale assessment of the environmental education (EE) and associated clubs was established primarily through a student survey, on-site visits, and interviews. It focuses primarily on evaluating three schools and their associated clubs, but also provides information on the Island’s …

Elle Doit S’Épanouir: The Women’S Entrepreneurial Program And Women’S Empowerment In Dschang, Melanie Meisenheimer

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper provides a field study of the Women’s Entrepreneurial Program (WEP) in Dschang, Cameroon. It looks at the obstacles that impede women’s involvement in Cameroon’s economic development and that keep them trapped in a cycle of poverty, especially their access to financing and socio-cultural influences. Notions of ‘women’s empowerment’ are discussed and an overview of the WEP’s functions and goals is provided. This study seeks to explore how access to micro-finance in conjunction with entrepreneurial training has impacted the economic situation of WEP participants as well as any corresponding changes in their culturally dictated roles and responsibilities. The gendering …

What Really Matters: A Triangular Study Of Gender Roles And Standards Of Beauty In Cameroon Through The Lens Of Television Advertisements, Deborwah Faulk

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Mass media increasingly has become a powerful force around the world. It is impactful and useful in its various forms such as film, books, newspapers, magazines, television and visual and audio music. However even in its informative, educational, communicative, and entertaining character, the media also has the propensity to mirror larger societal practices, perceptions, thoughts, and opinions pertaining to social dynamics encountered within society. Thus social constructs of gender, race, class and other identity characteristics are exemplified and amplified through media forms. Such realities found in the media have the propensity to be socially dangerous in that it can shape …

Everyone Counts : Une Enquête Sur Le Recensement Général De La Population De Madagascar, Charlotte Mcdonald

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Qu’est-ce que c’est le recensement ?

D’habitude, lorsqu’on parle de « recensement », on veut dire un recensement général de la population et de l’habitat dans un pays. Le recensement est une opération statistique qu’un pays devrait mener d’une manière régulière pour suivre la croissance de sa population, les changements démographiques et les besoins de son peuple. Ce travail comprend des centaines d’indicateurs (comme l’âge, la religion, l’accès à l’eau potable, et les problèmes de santé) à partir desquels on collecte les données pour chaque ménage dans le pays.

Dans un pays riche comme les Etats-Unis, le recensement permet au …

Traditional Healing In Madagascar: A Study Of A Tandroy Ombiasa And His Methods Of Healing, Haleemah Jackson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In Madagascar, traditional healthcare is practiced and used by those who have no other access to healthcare or who simply cannot afford it. This form of healthcare is known throughout in the form of the Ombiasa. These men and women not only have extensive knowledge on the land around them and the healing capabilities of local plants, they are also the mediums in their communities between the spirit world that guides and the human world that is in constant need of guidance. In the Ifotoka and Morafeno region in the south of Madagascar there is a powerful and well known …

A Web Of Violence: Local Perceptions On The Power Relations Of The Tanzanite Trade Network In Arusha, Ellie Ng

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The global mining industry is a site of contention and conflicts. While the term conflict stone generally refers to minerals that fund war activities, this paper understands conflicts in the broader sense: various forms of violence that perpetuate inequalities, impoverishment and suffering. This study looks at how the tanzanite trade network is organized and what can be done to change the uneven power dynamics maintained by the current political-economic system. I conducted 42 semi-structured interviews with local brokers, dealers and retailers in Arusha during the month of April, 2013. Using the global commodity chain sustainability analysis, I analyzed the perceived …