Undergraduate Awards:
Daniel Cruz-Cortez
Assessing the Efficacy of OAS Multilateral Initiatives in the Venezuelan Migration Crisis
The Venezuelan migration crisis, the largest displacement crises in Latin American history, has placed extreme pressure on regional governance structures to act. This research paper evaluates how well the Organization of American States (OAS) initiatives addressed migration trends stemming from Venezuela’s economic collapse, political instability, and social unrest since 2014. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data, like migration data and policy analysis, this research project uses this information to critique the OAS's response. Although the initiatives have done well to advocate for migrant human rights, the findings reveal a large amount of limitations caused by factors like ideological polarization and sovereignty. The tension between the OAS's principles of non-intervention and its mission to uphold and defend democracy is also a key focal point of this project. All in all, this research projects calls for the need for more effective multilateral strategies and stronger collaboration to address future regional migration crises.
Soyeon Kim
Renewable Energy in Kenya: Advancing Sustainability
This project explores Kenya’s renewable energy transition, focusing on its contributions to sustainable development and carbon emissions reduction. Key case studies include the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project and Rift Valley geothermal initiatives, which represent Africa’s largest wind and geothermal energy sources, respectively. These projects have significantly enhanced Kenya’s renewable energy portfolio, contributing over 80% of its electricity generation. They align with the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7, which emphasizes affordable and clean energy. The research employs methodologies such as policy analysis, surveys, and secondary data evaluation to examine Kenya's Vision 2030 and the Energy Act of 2019. Public perception surveys reveal gaps in awareness and the uneven distribution of benefits, highlighting the need for inclusive strategies. Challenges include urban-rural energy disparities and high implementation costs, while successes showcase job creation and regional energy security advancements. This study underscores Kenya’s renewable energy model as a potential blueprint for sustainable development in the Global South. It provides insights into balancing technological innovation, policy frameworks, and community engagement to create a resilient and equitable energy future.
Undergraduate Honorable Mentions:
Haley Waddell
Turkey's Balancing Act: Navigating NATO Obligations and Strategic Relations with Russia
Turkey's dual alignment between NATO and Russia has become a focal point of international relations, especially after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This balancing act creates stress that impacts the unity within NATO, stability in surrounding areas, and Turkey’s ability to pursue an independent foreign policy. This research addresses the central question: How does Turkey navigate the tensions between its obligations as a NATO member and its strategic partnerships with Russia, and what are the implications of this dual alignment for regional stability, alliance cohesion, and Turkish foreign policy autonomy? The study uses critical discourse analysis to examine Turkey's foreign policy narratives and framing strategies, focusing on its behavior in the Black Sea region, energy diplomacy, and defense procurement. By evaluating the language and rhetoric surrounding Turkey's actions, this research uncovers aspects of its shifting foreign policy priorities. The findings reveal that Turkey's balancing approach allows for short-term adaptability but risks causing lasting divisions within NATO and exacerbating instability in the region. These results emphasize that NATO strategies must consider Turkey’s security concerns and mitigate the risks posed by its partnerships with Russia. This research contributes valuable insights to broader discussions on alliance cohesion and regional security during times of geopolitical change.
Gaeun Joo
Assessing the Impact of Plastic Waste Management Policies and Community Initiatives on Environmental Sustainability in Nigeria
Nigeria's plastic waste crisis represents a significant threat to environmental sustainability, public health, and urban development. With millions of tons of plastic waste generated annually and insufficient waste management infrastructure to handle it, the country faces severe pollution, blocked drainage systems, and widespread environmental degradation, particularly in urban centers like Lagos. This thesis explores the environmental, economic, and social implications of plastic waste, critically assessing current policies, waste management practices, and community initiatives. Through a comprehensive review of secondary data, including academic journals, government reports, and industry publications, the study identifies key challenges and inefficiencies in Nigeria’s waste management systems. Special attention is given to innovative solutions, such as recycling initiatives and waste-to-energy projects, alongside the potential role of the informal sector in improving waste collection and recycling rates. The findings emphasize the need for strengthened governance, enhanced public engagement, and investment in sustainable infrastructure. The research proposes a multi-stakeholder approach involving government action, community-driven initiatives, and long-term technological investments to effectively reduce plastic waste and promote environmental sustainability in Nigeria.
Graduate Awards:
Ibrahima Diallo
Private Proxies and Power Projectors: Implications of Private Military Contractors in Modern Conflict
Private Military Companies (PMCs) have emerged as key actors in contemporary conflict zones, challenging traditional notions of sovereignty, accountability, and governance and redefining the roles of state security apparatuses. This research will investigate how the increasing ubiquity of PMCs in combat, security, and intelligence operations impacts state sovereignty, legal accountability, and decision-making processes. I will draw on interdisciplinary frameworks from security studies, international law, and political science and employ a qualitative case study approach to examine four key cases: Blackwater in Iraq, Bancroft Global Development in the Central African Republic (CAR), Executive Outcomes in Sierra Leone, and the Wagner Group in Mali and Syria. By analyzing these cases, I will highlight how PMCs signal a paradigm shift from conventional uses of force to more asymmetric approaches in conflict and erode traditional accountability frameworks across varying geographic, governance, and operational contexts. The research will also explore the structural mismatch between existing international legal frameworks and the operational realities of PMCs, revealing how they exploit regulatory loopholes to avoid accountability for their actions. Through expert interviews, archival research, and comparative analysis, this research will identify critical governance and judiciary gaps, emphasizing the need for robust regulatory mechanisms to address these challenges. This research contributes to ongoing debates on the privatization of military force by providing new insights into how PMCs influence state decision-making processes and reshape geopolitical dynamics, offering a nuanced understanding of their role in contemporary conflicts and the urgent need for comprehensive legal and governance reforms.
Diana Fernandez
The Maya Train: Narratives of Development
This research examines the discourse on development embedded within discussions of the Maya Train project in Mexico by examining debates between representatives of the Mexican government which promotes this form of development and the Indigenous and environmental coalition that opposes it. The paper begins with a discussion of the literature on infrastructure development, how indigenous and environmental rights are related to development, and overall theoretical perspectives on development and resistance that may surround the Maya Train project. By using Critical Discourse Analysis to analyze the positions of those promoting and opposing the Maya Train project, I present a case study in which the two competing views on development are deconstructed from their language and actions and contested with each other. I argue that the pro-development side of the Maya Train project primarily sees tourism-drive development as a modernizing force lifting livelihoods, while the anti- or alter-development side sees the Mayan Train as a destructive, capitalistic force that enables the violation of Indigenous and environmental rights.