Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Faulty Structure And Uninspired Member States Fail The Euro: Lessons Learned From The Greek Crisis, Maximilian Bevan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The conception of the euro was a moment that revolutionized the role of a monetary union. States no longer dealt internally with their monetary policies nor made their decisions autonomously from other nations. The euro countries in 1999 became dependent on one another’s success of policymaking and proper governance. There were skeptics of this single currency theory but if it was executed properly, the Eurozone becomes one of the most important economic regions in the world. From 2002, when the euro coins were issued, up until eight months ago, the euro accomplished a level of significance rivaling the dollar and …

Social And Community Media In Poor And Marginalized Urban Communities: A Study Of Collective Action In Kiber, John Perkins

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Traditional media is often thought of as a space for resourced storytellers to inform a passive and silent audience. In the Kibera informal settlement, this paradigm has allowed large commercial media houses to misrepresent the realities of everyday life. Community media houses have the opportunity to correct this misrepresentation and redefine who we perceive to be the storyteller. By striving to highlight news and issues affecting the community, media houses such as Pamoja FM radio station and the Kibera Journal have given a voice to Kibera. Yet with the introduction of innovative media technologies, the distinction between the storyteller and …

Civil Society And Inequality In Jordan: A Study On The Effectiveness Of The Community Development Center In Ashrafiyah, Mary-Katharine Johnson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Poverty exists across the globe, in almost every region and area there is present a form of social injustice. This inequality comes from several different factors and is caused by a multitude of both domestic and foreign affairs alike. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is no exception to the rule. This study is aimed at measuring the effectiveness of the Community Development Center in reducing the inequalities that exist in the town of Ashrafiyah, however, through the method of teaching civil society. Civil society, originally a western, democratic concept, is not often spoken about in Jordanian society. However, with the …

Alcohol And Dutch Masculinity: How Does Alcohol Influence The Dutch Male Image?, Adriana Lara

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The present study investigated the impact alcohol has in creating Dutch masculinity. Twenty Young men between the ages of thirteen and nineteen participated in interviews for this project, participants under the age of eighteen were required to have a parental consent form signed. The focus of the research was to find out how, and if, alcohol plays a role in creating masculinity. It was assumed that most participants would drink alcohol on a regular basis and believe that drinking it was essential to be a man. In my results, my assumptions were proven incorrect. Most of the boys were not …

Mujeres En Las Sombras: Un Estudio Sobre El Aborto En Chile, Molly Serventi-Gleeson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Mi proyecto consistió en una investigación sobre la situación actual del aborto en Chile. A través de entrevistas con expertos y investigación directa, realicé una análisis de las razones históricas por la redacción de la ley permitiendo el aborto terapéutico, la situación hoy en día y la posibilidad de un cambio en el futuro. El aborto en Chile representa el nexo entre la historia, la política, la economía y la cultura Chilena. A través de mi estudio, concluí que los efectos de la dictadura resultó en una democracia incompleta, que no se atreve de hacer cambios a la estructura social …

Coloured Identity In The Rainbow Nation: Historical Narratives Of The Durban Coloured Community, Olivia Greene

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

South Africa is working to come to terms with the residual effects of institutionalized racist policies that governed all aspects of its citizens’ lives during Apartheid. One struggle individuals and communities must wage is to define how they see their own racial identity in a post-Apartheid South Africa. There are many questions to ask. Is race no longer pertinent, or does it have a past that must be earnestly engaged and challenged, or does it constitute eternally fixed boundaries embodying cultural norms and biological traits? I, as I show in this paper, see the concept of race itself as a …

Painting The Town Green: Realities, Challenges, And Possibilities In Mexico City’S Budding Urban Agriculture Movement, Molly Alexandra Croog

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper explores the Urban Agriculture movement in Mexico City. It investigates who is practicing Urban Agriculture, how, and why. It looks the benefits of Urban Agriculture, and Urban Agriculture’s role in a potential future food system that does not rely on transnational corporations for supply. The paper begins by discussing the significance of food as nutrition, and how the individual’s right to food has been transformed into the corporation’s right to make a profit off of food. The concept of food security and food sovereignty and their place in the organic Urban Agriculture movement are then explained. Three Urban …

Indlovukazi Yase-Afrika (Zulu Queen): A Curriculum For Young Women’S Empowerment In Kwa-Zulu Natal, Judith Merzbach

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Fifteen years into a democratic society, fifteen years after the abolition of a governmental structure that purposefully marginalized a majority of citizens, South African women are still living as a marginalized majority. While the position of women holding symbolic and representational positions remains changed for the better, the role of women in civil society has made little progress. Since the end of apartheid, the number of cases of sexual assault and rape against women continues to increase, painting a bleak picture regarding the protection of women. Young women also find themselves the victims of HIV/AIDS at an incredibly unbalanced rate …

La Prise De La Violence, La Force De La Femme, Abi Pollokoff

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Excerpt from Introduction:

Qui est Olympe de Gouges ? Au fond, c’ est la femme qui a écrit la Déclaration des Droits de la Femme et de la Citoyenne. Mais, cette définition est de ce qui elle était : phrase peu claire. Aujourd’hui, elle représente le courage et une âme prête à défendre celles qui ont besoin de défense, de protection. Elle est l’espoir des femmes terrorisées par l’abus, la violence. Et donc, on a pris son image et ses connotations pour nommer une association qui assiste exactement le groupe ciblé par Olympe elle-même.

L’association Olympe de Gouges est la …

Border Conflict And Tibet: The Asian Giants And Their History Of Power Struggle, Evan Towt

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The South Asian world is dominated by India and China, their combined populations equaling almost a full half of humankind. In 1962, the two countries clashed over their border. The main reason for the war was the contest over large areas of territory claimed by both countries. The border still has not been adequately defined. This essay examines the border dispute from its roots in history, through the 20th century and into the present. It was the goal of this work to give an unbiased account of the dispute, though the weight of evidence in favor of the Indian claim …

The Rice Farmer Vs. The Multinational: Mali’S Winding Path Toward Food Sovereignty, Emily Bell

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Land grabbing by foreign investors is a growing problem for the Global South. Rice production in Mali is no exception. To counter this trend, there is a greater push from countries like Mali for food security and food sovereignty. Despite this push, decentralization and a lack of government funds have led Mali to sign multiple agreements with multinational companies. The Malibya Society, a partnership between Mali and Libya, is one of these investors that could jeopardize Mali’s autonomy. This paper will describe the details of the project, the reactions of government officials, peasant organizations, and farmers, and what Malians can …

Policing With The Community, Dream Or Reality: Perspectives Of The Police Service Of Northern Ireland In West Belfast, Tom Carey

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This report is a culmination of three weeks of intensive primary research on community policing methods suggested in the Patten Report and the perspectives concerning police and policing in west Belfast held by Police officers as well as members of the community. My research question was; is the PSNI policing with the community as the Patten Report suggested in 1999? I set out to find if the active partnerships between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the community were actually being realized. Data was collected through interviews with both the Police Service of Northern Ireland officers from the Woodbourne …

Lebanese Water Resources: A Potential To Alleviate Middle East Water Stress, Basil Mahfouz

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Years of war have left the Lebanese water sector in a very bad shape. This has caused excessive water waste in practically all aspects of water consumption. As Lebanon wastes water, its neighbors are desperately seeking to secure their water needs. Consequently, this paper proposes investing sovereign wealth funds from the oil rich water poor Arab countries to assist in developing an efficient water network to maximize the efficiency of the Lebanese water sector. Such investments would be made for the purpose of creating a large enough water surplus in Lebanon that would eventually be exported to the gulf to …

The Kora And Korafolaw: A Treatise On The Musical Instrument And Those Who Play It, William Ridenour

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

“The kora is what they play in heaven” a friend once told me. I agreed with him, easily. Ever since I first heard the kora played in the United States, my interest in it and the culture that produced it has deepened. Being able to carry out research on it has been a blessing and a pleasure.

All of my fieldwork was done in Bamako, the capital of Mali between April 15th and May 7th 2010. I spent most of my time in the company of the venerable jeli and korafola Dialy Mady Sissoko, who more or less adopted me …

Queering Normal Or Normalizing Queer? Marriage Equality And The Divisions Between The Queer And Mainstream Gay Movements In The Netherlands, Catharine Atkins

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This Independent Study Project examines the queer movement and the mainstream gay movement in the Netherlands and the ways in which these communities are divided and the ways in which they are united. The project specifically uses the issue of marriage equality to understand these differences and similarities. Data was obtained by conducting eight in-depth semi-structured interviews and attending a queer conference called “Queeristan.” This data was then analyzed using Butler’s theory on recognition, regulation, and normalization, the theory of Intersectionality, the theory of Covering, and Subculture theory. It is concluded that, while there are several differences between the queer …

Breaking The Cycle Of Domestic Violence, Rebecca Bolden

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Domestic violence is a serious problem that affects women all over the globe. It has been found that children who witness domestic violence in their homes are more likely to be involved in a violent relationship later on in life, perpetuating an intergenerational cycle of violence. This project aims to look at services that exist for women who suffer from domestic violence, in order to suggest future prevention strategies to end the cycle of violence. My methodology was interviewing four different organizations that exist in Salvador that support women who have suffered domestic violence as well as work to prevent …

Las Jefas De Hogar Empobrecidas: Servicios Y Recursos Públicos Para Estas Mujeres En Chile, Florence Williams

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Background: There is a high number of female head of households in Chile, a phenomenon that adds to the poverty of the country and causes a difficult livelihood for many families. Objectives: Analyze the case of Chile in regards to this phenomenon and the services and resources available for these women, paying attention to social, economic, and political factors. Suggest changes to existing programs and provide ideas for future public policy that could help in the future. Methods: Interview female head of households and single mothers and contact social and economic organizations related to the theme. Use information from publications, …

Pabean Sangsit: A Cultural Study Through The Lives Of One Family, Sylvie Kovnat

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The objective of this Independent Study Project was to investigate life in Bali as a cultural and religious minority. I had already spent nearly two months with my family in Bedulu, a typical Hindu Balinese family, and I was curious to see how other people in Bali live. I decided to spend the ISP period in Pabean Sangsit, living with a Muslim family with Bugis roots. The main question I wanted to answer through this study was: What is life like in Bali for the religious and cultural minority? I decided to look into religion, culture, and daily activities to …

Innovation Education: Problems And Prospects In Governance And Management Of The Vietnamese Higher Education System, Taylor Brooks

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Vietnam is currently in the process of creating and implementing an important series of reforms to their higher education system. Their commitment to the process is encouraging, but the level of institutional autonomy at the college and university level is still low. Higher education institutions are unable to fully make academic and financial decisions without government oversight, an issue that appears to be hindering innovation and development within the sector. Based on the high importance of human resource development, and higher education’s distinct role in that process, these reforms are becoming increasingly important and necessary. Reforms are being created but …

Utopian Marketization And The Historical Fate Of Rural Society: Sideng Village, Shaxi Township, Ilona Nanay

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In his analysis of post-Mao China, historian Maurice Meisner writes, “it was the countryside where the majority of the Chinese people live and work, that was first to feel fully both the economic dynamism and the social destructiveness of a market economy” (Meisner 460). Meisner’s statement underscores how the commercialization of the rural economy changed rural society. Deng Xiaoping’s ascension to power in 1978 marked a re-articulation of state orthodoxy that prioritized economic development. The era of ‘reform’ was launched in the countryside with the break up of the communes and the introduction of the household responsibility system. What are …

Simplicity And The City: Understanding The Voluntary Simplicity Movement In Melbourne, Gershwin Penn

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The purpose of this study was to understand the lifestyle of members of the voluntary simplicity movement in an urban setting. I sought to understand how they practiced simplicity in their day to day lives, how simplicity effected their emotional life, how simplicity influenced their values, how simplicity influenced their interaction with the city, and what their general ethos was. This study was conducted to understand how it is possible for individuals to live ecologically and socially responsible lives in settings that, by in large, reject their values. I conducted fifteen face to face in-depth interviews in Melbourne in April …

“Real Culture” Preservation, Authenticity, And Change In Hoi An’S Heritage Tourism Industry, Ursula James

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Following the achievement of World Heritage site status in 1999, Hoi An shifted from a primarily agricultural economy to a primarily tourism-oriented economy. This economy is based on the idea of heritage tourism, focused mostly on preserved tangible heritage but increasingly accompanied by attempts to preserve and capitalize on intangible heritage. As the heritage tourism industry grows, the city of Hoi An must make constant decisions as to the nature and goals of the ideas of preservation and authenticity and their interplay with economics and the forces of globalization. The city has consequently had to balance the many conflicting demands …

Malagasy Conceptions Of Good Governance And Democracy, Molly Fredrickson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Democracy is a universal concept that has spread rapidly throughout the world in the 20th century with the end of colonialism and the rise of large international organizations. Democracy in Madagascar was officially declared in 1960 after 65 years under French colonial rule. Over the 50 years of its independence, Madagascar has faced several political crises and has struggled with development and poverty. Democracy was brought to Madagascar by the French which means that the Malagasy people were not given much choice for their form of government and since independence have had trouble maintaining a democracy and all of the …

Cultural Heritage Preservation Meets Modern Port Development: Securing The Integrity And Authenticity Of The Lamu Town World Heritage Site In The Face Of Current And Future Challenges, Sarah M. Wiggins

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study identifies the current major threats to the Lamu Town World Heritage Site, which lies on the coast of Kenya. Lamu gained status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its well preserved Swahili living culture as well as the physical representations of that culture in architecture etc. Lamu is a tourist hotspot within the region and hosts over 50,000 for the Maulidi Festival alone. However, the town is in desperate need of infrastructure development if it is to be maintained for the future. The greatest barrier to development and cultural heritage preservation is the lack of a …

Modernization Of The Hijab In Amman, Jordan: A Symbol Of Islam And Modernity, Nicole Mcdermott

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This goal of this research is to obtain data that describes how modernization has affected the practice of women wearing the hijab in Jordan. The intention of this project is also to refute the commonly held notion that the Islamic veiling practice is a backwards, oppressive act that is hinders women from becoming modernized in current society. This study collected data through distribution of surveys to 38 subjects and by conducting six in-depth interviews with respondents (44 respondents in total). The survey consisted of questioned that aimed to capture beliefs on the mandates of wearing the hijab in Islam, views …

Internal Displacement: Recent History, Visions For The Action Ahead, Mayela Calderon

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research project is meant entirely to highlight the suffering of millions of people around the world outside of their homes and inspire the addressing of this. Internally displaced people face human rights violations on all levels starting from political representation all the way to their basic needs and when their national government who has the primary responsibility, is either unable or unwilling to do something about this, it is up to the international community and civil society to ensure these rights are being fulfilled. The mainstreaming of this topic is essential to pressure influential actors to mobilize and achieve …

“We Can No Longer Declare Ourselves A Multicultural City Until We Start Reacting To Things Like This” : Contextualizing The Violence At The 2008 Queer Sarajevo Festival, Sarah Schrag

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The 2008 Queer Sarajevo Festival was an effort by LGBTIQ activists to raise visibility and educate the public through a series of artistic and cultural exhibitions over the course of five days. However, the Festival was preceded by a month-long media campaign in widely distributed right-wing newspapers, which declared the immorality of the Festival—particularly because of its timing during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan—and a crowd gathered outside the opening exhibition, throwing stones and violently assaulting at least eight Festival attendees. The remaining events of the Festival were cancelled. Government officials, political parties, and religious leaders’ responses to the …

Contrainsurgencia Y Salud: Contradicciones En La Teoría, Historia Y Aplicación Del Programa Oportunidades En Comunidades Rurales En Chiapas, José Carlos Gutiérrez

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Este estudio explora las contradicciones en la teoría, historia y aplicación del Programa Oportunidades enfocado a la salud y a combate de la pobreza, basándose en la investigación de recursos secundarios y primarios pero especialmente en entrevistas con actores relevantes en la salud en Chiapas. El ensayo argumenta que las contradicciones del programa, que se manifiestan de forma concreta en las comunidades, no son producto de un error de planeación sino de una deliberada estrategia de contrainsurgencia empleada por el estado mexicano. El ensayo introduce el conflicto histórico entre el estado y las poblaciones indígenas mexicanas, expone la situación de …

Babylon By Tro-Tro: The Varieties Of Rasta Identity And Practice In Ghana, Jonathan Tanis

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

1. Title: Babylon by Tro-Tro: The Varieties of Rasta Identity and Practice in Ghana

2. Author: Jonathan Tanis (tanis@usc.edu; University of Southern California)

3. Objective: Intrigued by the lack of scholarship in Ghana on the highly visible and prominent Rasta culture, I sought to examine aspects of Rastafari identity and practice including the following:

a. How the Rasta identity is defined, constructed and maintained by both Rastafarians and non-Rastafarians of varied backgrounds.

b. How Rastafarians perform and express said identity through specific practices

c. The importance of iconography and symbolism in transmitting Rastafarian identity, and the negotiation of identity through …

“It’S A White People Thing”: The Experience Of Negotiating Sexual And Cultural Identity For Young-Adults In Durban, Erin Schaff

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The creation of the post-apartheid government founded itself on the principles of equality for all people as laid out in the Constitution. However, while discrimination against people based on sexual orientation is illegal, homosexuals still experience a lack of acceptance in mainstream South African society. The purpose of this study is to understand the experience of Zulu and other black and coloured young-adult lesbian, gay, and bisexual (lgb ) peoples living in Durban, South Africa. I looked at how these people have developed their identities and what challenges and surprising joys they have found in their lives in relation to …