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China and Russia in the Hyperborea: The Future of Sino-Russian Relations as Great Power Competition Reaches the High North
No full textThesis (B.A. in International Affairs, Minor in History)--John Cabot University, Spring 2020.The present study analyses the development of the interaction between Russia and China in the Arctic Region, focusing on the security dimension, looking under this perspective at the economic, geostrategic and military fields. It will do so in order to understand whether, in spite of the apparent alliance of these two countries, elements of confrontation between them are still present and have the potential to resurface, with the policy implications that they may bring. During the last two decades the factuality of climate change has become consensus among the scientific community and has become an object of increasingly greater attention by policymakers, international organisations, NGOs and civil society. Among the most outspoken consequences of climate change is exactly the melting of the ice cap that covers both the North and South Poles, which however are often analysed mainly from the ecological standpoint. This study offers instead a geopolitical outlook at this process in the Arctic, assessing how are one major Arctic power (Russia) and a non-Arctic power interest in the region (China) responding to it and how their national interests in fields such as economic development and defence are shaped by this product of climate change. This paper will then link the geopolitical dynamics of the Arctic with the global great power competition involving the USA, Russia and China. Focusing then in the interaction between Russia and China in the Arctic and at their dialectic of declining vs. emerging power, this thesis will demonstrate that their alliance is being forced by the US dual containment policy, without which they would likely compete between themselves. From this conclusion, it will then claim that the Arctic could become a region where the US or its allies may start a policy of rapprochement of Russia, which should ultimately aim at the isolation of China and its containment also from the North
Social Inclusion of Liberian Refugees and Migrants in Europe and the role of Social Media
No full textThesis (B.A. in Political Science, Minor in Art and Design/ Entrepreneurship)--John Cabot University, Fall 2020.There has been different scholars who have investigated on the role of social media in the migration route and the communication between migrants and smugglers.
The refugee and migrant crisis is an issue that has been affecting Europe for many years. In 2016, the number of refugees and migrants who risked their lives was estimated at 362,000, with 181,400 people arriving in Italy. The ongoing crisis has highlighted the importance of electronic tools, systems and devices that improve displaced people lives in different ways. A number of studies have identified that social media as one of the major channels that facilitate migration networks and mobile devices constitute a framework for socio - technical spaces in which refugees, governments, and companies relate to each other. Moreover, migration to Italy is highly connected with digital media, creating social consequences. In the last decades, a huge amount of Liberians, who were previously directed to the United States of America, are changing their migration route to Italy. The objectives of my study are to determine in which ways Liberian contemporary refugees are using social media and what are the drivers of Liberian migration to Italy. My main questions in this thesis are the role of social media in the Liberian migration process to Italy and the social inclusion on arrival at their destination. Furthermore, in this thesis I will examine how refugees are capable to depend on digital technologies to communicate with their family back home and to find the primary needs. Furthermore, this thesis is designed to build up my hypothesis about the role of social media in three different distinct phases of the migration process, such as the way in which previous migrants are influencing new migrants’ making decision, the way in which digital platforms are used by migrants on the journey for logistical movement, an digital identity narratives that are spread back to families once migrants arrive to destination. My research is guided by several scholars who have defined and explain these stages. The first chapter is divided in three sections, which examine theories of globalization and the rise of social media in Africa, the role of social media during the migratory route, and the use of social media on arrival in the new social environments. In order to explain the dynamics of the Liberian migration process, in the second chapter I examine the history of Liberia, taking a long term perspective, that also explores the changes in the migration route to Italy. In addition, I focus on how Liberian migrants engage with migration information en- route to Italy. The research instruments that were used in the study are observations and interviews methods. Semi- structured in depth interviews were conducted with 40 Liberian refugees in Italy, specifically Rome, Milan and Naples. In Conclusion, nowadays Liberians are changing the route from the United States to Italy. Indeed, Liberian migrants are using social media and digital platforms during their journey and on arrival to Italy
The Portrait Looking Back: The Game of the Gaze in Witkacy’s Portraits
No full textThesis (B.A. in Art History and Communications)--John Cabot University, Fall 2020.Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz (1885-1939), better known by the pseudonym Witkacy, wasa Polish painter, photographer, playwright, novelist, philosopher, and art theoretician. This thesisfocuses on one phase of Witkacy’s career, the portraiture he made starting in 1925. In that year,Witkacy set up the “S. I. Witkiewicz Portrait Firm,” which produced only pastelportraits. The Portrait Firm became Witkacy’s major occupation and source of income. Besidescalling his one-artist studio a “firm,” Witkacy whimsically took on the nomenclature of corporatebusiness and sold portraits as if they were commercial products. Witkacy put out a menulike“Rulebook,” which functioned as a ‘contract’ between Witkacy and his ‘client’/sitter, andfrom which sitters could order portrait types. This thesis analyzes how central to Witkacy’s Firmwas the game with the portrait’s and viewer’s gaze.This first chapter analyzes Witkacy’s portraits in terms of how he handles thegaze of the portrait itself as well as the gaze of the viewer. Looking at four of Witkacy’sportraits, this chapter argues that the artist rejects the traditional practice of making the sitterthe primary object of scrutiny. Witkacy introduces a challenging and reciprocal gaze to hisportraits. This chapter also analyzes Witkacy’s annotations, which he included on the surfaces ofhis portraits. On a formal level, the annotations function as ‘spacing’ of vision and as adisturbance in the perpetual field. As writing, the annotations seem to float above the figures inthe portrait, as if they were explanatory mediators between the viewer and the image.The second chapter focuses on annotations and signatures which appear on Witkacy’sportraits in comparison to the practices of Marcel Duchamp, looking at how both artistshumorously and ironically included written language in their works. The chapter examines howthey both use their signature as a complex trope and as a ‘shifter’ to indicate and question the presence and the role of the artist in a work of art, as well as to question the basic assumptions ofauthorship and signature as a commodity.The last chapter analyzes Witkacy’s Portrait Firm in light of the recurring themes of thestandardization of art under the bourgeoise. It also discusses how Witkacy’s strategy inhis Portrait Firm, combined with the issue of the gaze and his understanding of art, mightsuggest a different answer to avant-garde debates on ‘the end of art,’ in particular to Duchamp’sand Dada’s approaches to this question
An Exposition and Analysis of the Factors Which Influence the Relationship Between Evangelicals and Climate Change
No full textThesis (B.A. in Political Science, Minor in Creative Writing)--John Cabot University, Fall 2020.Religious belief is a widely influential and guiding factor within politics. It has already been acknowledged that our faith, or lack thereof, plays a part in guiding an individual's political beliefs and activity. Further, the interpretation of a specific religious belief plays a greater role in dictating an individual's political beliefs, which raise the following question: in the case of Evangelicalism in relation to Climate Change, how does the interpretation of religious belief differ, and why does it? Scholars’ position on evaluating the significance of the interpretation of religious belief is guided firstly by the interpretation of the dominion mandate, which is the supposed command of God to Adam in the Book of Genesis, scripture used by Evangelicals, wherein He gives him dominion over the earth. The interpretation of the dominion mandate is a factor which is further influenced by two ulterior elements: race and political affiliation. The scholarly debate is shaped by how these three factors play out, and can be narrowed down to whether or not one interprets the dominion mandate as a right or as an obligation to our planet. By investigating and analyzing the schools of thought outlined by previous scholars, and by examining the effect of race and political affiliation on the interpretation of the dominion mandate, it can be determined that those within Evangelicalism who determine the dominion mandate as a right are more prone to be Climate Change deniers and skeptics. On the other hand, those within Evangelicalism who determine the dominion mandate as a responsibility toward the planet are more prone to recognize Climate Change and be pro-environmental activists. The position taken is influenced by both race and political affiliation, which have been evidenced to be crucial factors which determine an individual's political outlook. Evidence has been found demonstrating that Black or Black Evangelicals typically identify themselves as Democrats, and thus are more prone to recognize Climate Change. Whilst, Caucasian or White American Evangelicals typically identify themselves as Republicans, and thus are more prone to be Climate Change skeptics and even deniers. Their race and political affiliation give form to their interpretation of biblical scripture in regards to the dominion mandate. The interpretation of religious belief, in the case of Evangelicalism in relation to Climate Change, has been evidenced to differ due to these two factors, race and political affiliation, which have been given evidence to outline the very interpretation of the dominion mandate, which, in turn, is identified as the primary distinguishing element in driving an individual to believe in Climate Change, or deny its existence. These findings further illuminate the complexity of the relationship between religion and politics. They demonstrate how religious belief is in practice an influential and guiding factor in regards to shaping an individual's political beliefs and activity. Further, they show how the interpretation of that religious belief can in turn shape the individual's relationship with politics. We find that the relationship between religion and politics is not as black and white as one may have thought and their dynamics are constantly shifting
The Black and White of Homeownership in America
No full textThesis (B.A. in Art History)--John Cabot University, Spring 2020.Post-World War II was a pivotal time for homeownership in America. The GI Billallowed multitudes of veterans to purchase homes and in trade provided them with a wealthgenerating asset that would lead to massive transfers of intergenerational wealth. However, thiswas mostly a one-side experience by white homeowners. African Americans were increasinglyshut out from participating through segregation and racial discriminatory tactics. Future AfricanAmerican generations have been hindered and it has left the legacy of a widening racial wealthgap. This paper will explore racial tensions and housing segregation during the second half of the20th century, the government’s role in encouraging segregation and its unsuccessful attempts atcreating policies and programs to resolve racial discrimination and segregation issues in housing.The result is that the homeownership experience for African Americans has remainedremarkably different than the experience of post-war white middle class homeowners and theracial wealth gap has grown as a consequence
A Journey through Santa Maria Maggiore in Tuscania: A Multimedia Decorative Program in the Middle Ages
No full textThesis (B.A. in Art History, Minor in International Affairs)--John Cabot University, Spring 2020.The church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Tuscania is a fascinating, and paraphs unique, example of both Romanesque and Gothic art in central Italy. Carved reliefs of monstrous creatures characterize the Romanesque architectural sculpture of the church in both its exterior and interior. Grotesque figures are a standard iconographic presence in many surviving western Romanesque sculptural programs; however, they are usually relegated to the exterior of churches and other Christian spaces, in an effort to delineate the boundaries between the sacred and the profane. In Santa Maria Maggiore, instead, the steady reoccurrence of hybrid and monstrous creatures all over the church seems to suggest a thematic continuum between the outside and inside of the church, and thus of a program deliberately envisioned by the designers, the patron, and the local clergy. This visual interconnectedness culminates in front of an early 14th century Last Judgment fresco. Like the monstrous corbels placed within the sacred environment, the fresco is "dislocated" too as, instead of following the standard medieval location for this image-type on the West-end of the church -whether on the interior or the exterior-, it is located on the eastern sanctuary wall. Thus, it appears that the unusual, if not unprecedented, placement of the fresco on the East-end might have been dictated not only by architectonical exigences, but also by the pre-existing sculptural decoration of the church, in an effort to forge a thematic continuum encompassing the entire decorative program. This thesis will mainly explore the iconography and meaning of the Last Judgment fresco in its original 14th century context. However, because it is impossible to explore this context without taking into consideration the local history and the pre-existing Romanesque decorative program, this study will also consider the dialogue that would have accompanied 14th century viewers in their journey across the different phases and spaces of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore
Citizenship for Sale: The Implications of the Maltese Individual Investor Program for the European Union
No full textThesis (B.A. in Political Science, Minor in Philosophy)--John Cabot University, Spring 2020.Beginning in 2014, the Republic of Malta has been operating a citizenship by investment program known as the Individual Investor Program. For a total contribution of just over one million Euros, anyone in the world, with a few exceptions, can buy Maltese citizenship. As Malta is a member of the European Union, this means that European citizenship is for sale, as are all the benefits that come with it, such as internal freedom of movement in the EU and visa-free travel to 183 countries worldwide. This raises a variety of ethical and legal concerns both for Malta and the EU. Consequently, the EU has published a variety of reports studying the possible effects that the selling of EU citizenship could have on the Union, such as the infiltration of organized crime groups into the Union, as well as the proliferation of money laundering, tax fraud, terrorist financing, and corruption, as well as the European Parliament in 2014 passing a resolution condemning the practice of putting citizenship up for sale. The above stated are issues Malta has left itself open to through its implementation of the program, which is highly opaque in its decision-making processes when it comes to who is accepted or denied and why, and the ways in which the money raised through the program are used. The sale of passports also raises the obvious ethical conundrum of whether citizenship should even be for sale in the first place. Ultimately, the answer to that question is no, because the act of selling citizenship for profit can lead to undermining the value of citizenship and can worsen inequality. Though the EU does not have the authority to end the practice of selling passports, it should continue to take a stand against the IIP and programs like it to ensure its continued safety and security
Populism an increasingly international phenomenon? Populism in the world
No full textThesis (B.A. in Political Science)--John Cabot University, Spring 2020.The purpose of this thesis is to show and make people understand how populism has become an increasingly global and unreliable phenomenon. To demonstrate this in the literature review of this paper, it will show different concepts and ideas concerning different countries and international organizations such as the European Union. The countries taken into particular consideration will be Czech Republic and the United States. The thesis will explain the reasons for the strong international growth of populism in the world in recent decades and how the economic crisis and the failure of traditional parties have brought rise to the power of non-traditional parties or politicians. The thesis will also analyze other international cases that have come to international attention, such as Brazil or Russia. The conclusion will lead to the question of whether populism is a phenomenon that could end or is destined to grow and become increasingly popular