International Relations
Analyses of U.S. Global Democracy Promotion and the Growing Rift Between the U.S. and Latin America
Gabriel Dayley ('12); Mentor: Christopher Clement
Abstract: The research investigated two topics:
(1) trends in U.S. democracy promotion and (2)
the growing political divergence between the
United States and Latin America. Topic 1 focused
on statistical analysis of National Endowment for
Democracy grant data and examined government
documents, reports, and statements. The research
suggests that democracy promotion remains a key
component of U.S. foreign policy under President
Obama and is likely to continue as such. Topic 2
focused on the hemispheric response to three
recent crises in Latin America: the 2002
Venezuelan coup, the 2008 Bolivian crisis, and the
2009 Honduran coup. The examination compared
the responses to these crises of the U.S.
government, various Latin American leaders, the
OAS, and regional groups like UNASUR. The
research suggests that there is indeed a growing
divergence and that the ability of Latin American
countries to respond to hemispheric crises
effectively without U.S. support is growing.
Funding provided by The Faucett Family Foundation
"Fumbling in the Dark": Chinese Grass-roots NGOs in a Dynamic Regulatory Environment
Raymond Lu ('11); Mentor: David Elliott
Abstract: Unable to meet existing requirements to
obtain non-profit status, an estimated 1 million
grassroots NGOs in China have chosen to remain
unregistered, operating in a legal grey zone
fraught with uncertainty. This project aims to
explore the implications of contradictory policy
shifts toward grassroots NGOs, from new
restrictions on overseas donations to seemingly
positive developments such as expanded state
funding of nonprofit organi-zations. Based on
interviews with leaders from 12 grassroots NGOs
and my experiences interning at a labor rights
group, I find that government actions do not fully
conform to narratives of either repression or
liberalization. Rather, they can be better described
as attempts to “reorder” a growing third sector,
channeling funds to groups that reinforce existing
development agendas while limiting space for
groups critical of government policy. Although the
policy is a boon for NGOs in fields such as
environmental protection or poverty alleviation,
for organizations that engage.
Funding provided by The Paul K. Richter and
Evalyn E. Cook Richter Award
Microfinance and Household Finances in East Africa: Case Studies in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania
Scott Wilkinson ('11)
Abstract: Spectacular growth of the microfinance
industry has been fueled not by market forces but
by conscious actions of national governments,
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and
donors who view microfinance as an effective tool
for alleviating poverty. Since much of the impetus
behind this large and increasing support for
microfinance hinges on the assumption that its
economic and social impacts are significant, it
seems necessary to justify that pretense beyond
reasonable doubt. This study attempts to add to the
wealth of knowledge on this subject by examining
some of the financial and social benefits of
microfinance—specifically when capital is filtered
through women—in the Kilimanjaro region of
Tanzania. This research seeks to show that
microfinance generates smooth income
accumulation, and consequently that women more
commonly tend to spend this stable flow of
income on children’s food, education, and health
care, ultimately raising the economic, social, and
physical well-being of the family.
Funding provided by The Faucett Family Foundation