8411 research outputs found
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Instrumentalizing Aid: U.S. Foreign Policy, Civil Society, and Democracy Prevention in Morocco
No full textThis paper examines the implications of the United States’ withdrawal of USAID development funding from Morocco, analyzing how this decision reflects broader U.S. foreign policy priorities and impacts the viability of Moroccan civil society organizations. Despite official rhetoric centered on democracy promotion and human rights, U.S. policy in Morocco has consistently privileged strategic and regional interests—particularly military cooperation and counterterrorism—over long-term democratic development. Using interviews with Moroccan NGO staff, along with analysis of USAID history, policy documents, and secondary scholarship, this study demonstrates how the loss of USAID funding may disrupt civil society networks, undermine sustainable development programs, and narrow the operational space for NGOs engaged in rights-based advocacy. This research builds on Jason Brownlee’s theory of “democracy prevention.” It contributes to broader critiques of Western aid regimes in the MENA region, arguing that U.S. engagement in Morocco has been instrumental in maintaining authoritarian governance under the guise of reform. By tracing the material and political consequences of aid withdrawal, the study reveals the tensions inherent in donor-state relationships. It raises critical questions about the future of civil society under conditions of shrinking international support, which has been overhauled entirely under the current U.S. administration. The conclusions demonstrate the need to reassess foreign aid frameworks that claim to support democratization while enabling regimes to constrain local actors and limit political transformation. U.S. aid to Morocco helped to entrench authoritarianism through a relationship of leverage and linkage not based on human rights, but the undoing of USAID will only further exacerbate the already existent challenges faced by civil society organizations in opposition to regime policy. The findings in this paper suggest that under the Trump administration, democratization efforts continue on a path of marked de-prioritization as strategic interests increasingly eclipsed even the rhetorical support for political reform
Exploring Perceptions of Generative AI on Study Abroad Programming
No full textThis study examines the perceptions and experiences of international education professionals regarding the integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. While AI offers new opportunities for enhancing learning, existing research highlights both potential benefits and ethical, environmental, and pedagogical concerns. Using a qualitative approach, this study explores how study abroad staff in the Claremont Consortium engage with and assess the implications of AI within international contexts. Guided by critical frameworks from Paulo Freire, the research situates AI within broader discussions of power, labor, and knowledge production. Findings indicate that sampled staff predominantly use AI for low-stakes tasks or exploratory purposes and express skepticism about deploying it for sensitive, student-related work due to concerns over privacy, academic integrity, and trustworthiness. Respondents highlighted the potential for AI to undermine critical thinking, creativity, and reflective learning if over-relied upon. Simultaneously, they recognized opportunities for AI to enhance workflow efficiency, information synthesis, and student preparation when thoughtfully applied. The study further underscores ambiguity regarding institutional responsibility for guiding AI adoption and establishing best practices. Overall, results suggest that the integration of generative AI in international education is shaped by a combination of personal discretion, institutional structures, and professional ethics. The study highlights the need for targeted guidance, training, and policy frameworks to ensure AI supports, rather than diminishes, critical learning and professional integrity
The Familiar Stranger An Ethnographic Account of Khamlia Berhane, Lidya
No full textThis ISP is an autoethnographic exploration of Khamlia, a small rural village settled in southeastern Morocco at the edge of the Sahara Desert. Conducted over two weeks, this study engages with themes of indigeneity and identity, Gnawa music and culture, and the complex dynamics of tourism, particularly heritage tourism, and its effects on a town like Khamlia. Particular attention is given to how Gnawa music is performed and utilized as a tool of cultural heritage. The autoethnography also delves into gender roles, family dynamics, and the environmental consequences of tourism on both Khamlia and the surrounding Sahara. Additionally, it reflects on the transformative impact of migration as well as the profound impact of climate change on Khamlia’s physical environment and socioeconomic conditions since its founding in the 1950s
From Larvae to Livelihoods: Examining the Realities of Black Soldier Fly Farming in Malawi
No full textBlack Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae offer a cost-effective, nutrient-rich alternative to synthetic fertilizers and conventional feed inputs such as soy, fishmeal, and maize bran in sub-Saharan Africa. In Malawi, where smallholder farmers grapple with declining soil fertility, high input prices, chronic food insecurity, and livestock nutritional challenges, BSF farming is emerging as a promising circular agricultural innovation. Despite its technical promise, the social, economic, and ecological realities of BSF adoption remain underexplored.This study investigates the early implementation of BSF farming in Malawi through the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, focusing on farmer experiences, challenges, and the social and structural processes shaping uptake of the practice. Data were collected through 10 key informant interviews and 60 semi-structured surveys with current, former, or prospective BSF farmers. Qualitative analysis, descriptive insights, and logistic regression models were used to examine the barriers to entry, drivers of sustained adoption, and overall livelihood strategies emerging from BSF engagement. Findings suggest that integrating BSF farming into livestock systems and selling BSF products were the most common livelihood pathways, often pursued in tandem. Income support and technical training emerged as significant predictors of sustained adoption, while challenges related to start-up capital access, feedstock shortages, technical knowledge gaps, and uncertain market linkages persist. These findings highlight the need for material support and capacity-building interventions to enable equitable and scalable livelihoods through BSF farming. Interview insights further emphasize the importance of strengthening farmer networks, expanding market access, and harnessing government support to fully realize BSF’s potential with Malawi’s evolving agricultural landscape
Effective Strategies for Addressing the Root Causes of Conflict and Instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo
No full textAs part of a bottom-up qualitative study, I sought to understand how non-elite Congolese people make sense of and cope with recurrent violence and displacement in the eastern DRC. Conducting semi-structured open-ended interviews with 12 adults (P1–P12), I collected 106 coded segments and applied Braun & Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis on Taguette. I identified six superordinate themes: (1) State Fragility & Governance Failures (28 segments), (2) Neo-Colonial Economic Exploitation (21 segments), (3) Pathways to Sustainable Peace (20 segments), (4) Foreign-Backed Armed Groups (18 segments), (5) Ethnic Divisions & Historical Grievances (12 segments), (6) International Responses & Their Effectiveness (7 segments). Participants described how kinship ties and mutual-aid cooperatives buffer everyday insecurities, how customary law compensates for the failures of state courts, and how elders, women’s groups, and youth councils mobilize collective action through ritual exchanges, joint ceremonies, and shared agricultural projects. By focusing on local knowledge and the psychosocial aspects of peacemaking, my study challenges top-down interventions and shows the need to better coordinate national and international policies with grassroots practices. In conclusion, I offer policy recommendations to recognize and resource local peace councils, integrate customary justice into official transitional justice mechanisms, support community-led economic cooperatives, and reform peacekeeping mandates to emphasize cultural humility and local ownership. My study adds a people-centered perspective to the peacebuilding literature and provides practical insights for policymakers, practitioners, and donors working in the DRC
Authoritarian Practice, Liberal Rhetoric: Journalism, Surveillance, and the Paradoxical Architecture of Silence in Morocco
No full textThis research study explores the perceptions of Moroccan journalists on issues related to press freedom, human rights, and freedom of expression, and how these topics are repressed in Morocco’s political, social, and economic context. The goal of this paper is to provide a contextual analysis of the current state of press freedom in Morocco through a historical and contemporary lens by addressing the distinct institutional, social, political, and cultural spheres of society. This study uses a qualitative approach using the methodology of individual interviews with Moroccan journalists, activists, and researchers. The findings of this study illustrate a direct alignment between the literary analysis and personal testimonies of experiences related to surveillance, persecution, and human rights violations. Altogether, this study found there is a sense of consensus among scholars, researchers, and journalists that there is currently no freedom of the press in Morocco. This study is significant in developing an understanding of the mechanisms of repression to silence dissent from journalists and activists in Morocco. The broader impact of this research will contribute to ongoing discourses on the operation of authoritarianism in specific social, political, and cultural contexts
Crucial Components Of An English Literacy Curriculum For Moroccan Adults
Full text linkThis research paper examines the lived experiences and expertise of Moroccan teachers of English in teaching English literacy to Moroccan adults. Current research indicates that approximately 33 percent of Moroccan adults are illiterate. While there is research highlighting the need for adult literacy and its benefits, there is a lack of studies on how to develop an effective English literacy curriculum for Moroccan adults. Additionally, existing research underscores the growing importance of English in Morocco and the increasing desire among Moroccans to learn English.
Using a qualitative approach, this study explores the crucial components of an English literacy curriculum based on the lived experiences and expertise of eight Moroccan English teachers. The research is grounded in the theoretical framework of andragogy, an adult learning theory, to analyze and interpret its findings. The results emphasize the importance of teaching adult learners the alphabet and helping them distinguish individual letter sounds. Additionally, lessons should incorporate ample time for repetition and purposeful practice. Throughout all stages of instruction, teachers should integrate extensive listening opportunities. The use of pictures and realia is also essential for fostering comprehension. Furthermore, the findings highlight adult learners’ motivations and the critical role of cultural considerations in the classroom
Applicability of Syntropic Agriculture to a Semi-Arid Continental Climate: Alentejo to New Mexico
No full textConventional industrial agriculture has detrimental effects on the environment including pollution and overconsumption of water, soil degradation, and biodiversity reduction. An environmentally sustainable future of food production requires alternative methods that limit negative environmental consequences. Syntropic Agriculture (SA) is a promising farming alternative especially for arid systems at risk of desertification. New Mexico, USA, is a semi-arid continental climate in a prolonged period of drought and predicted to experience worsening agricultural conditions including desertification, wildfire intensification, and exacerbated water scarcity. The Alentejo region of Portugal has a Mediterranean climate with similar agricultural challenges. The agroecological transition project, Terra Sintrópica, located in Mértola, Portugal, is testing SA with beneficial outcomes. Thus, this study aims to fill a knowledge gap in SA by exploring its viability and potential benefits beyond tropical and Mediterranean climates. With the Alentejo Region case study as a foundation of understanding, a SWOT analysis was conducted to provide agricultural, ecological, and climatic contexts for the application of SA in New Mexico. Findings suggest that SA is presently feasible in New Mexico on a small-scale and could benefit farmers. The primary benefits of syntropic farming systems encompass enhanced carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, improved soil enrichment, and more effective pest management without the use of insecticides. Additionally, these systems can potentially result in higher profitability for farmers, even with comparatively lower yields. Large-scale and efficient implementation suggests further experimental and applied research in the form of regional educational pilot projects
Researching English Teacher Development and Classroom Instruction in Indonesian Madrasahs and Pesantren
Full text linkThis collection is an account of the research network, and resulting research studies, that were part of the English Language Teacher Training Project, organized by World Learning, a U.S-based non-governmental organization, with funding through the U.S. Embassy’s Regional English Language Office in Jakarta, and with the support of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs. The network had a shared research focus—to examine the experiences of English language teachers in Indonesian madrasahs and pesantren in the Project. These teachers were completing National Geographic Learning’s ELTeach Program, a suite of two on-line courses, while also receiving support and coaching from local university-based trainers
BUILDING CLIMATE RESILIENCE: COMMUNITY GARDENS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND
No full textThe socio-political movements in post-earthquake Christchurch are studied to better understand the interplay of community gardens, climate, environmental, and land-based education, and to analyze their relevance to entrenching climate resilience in the region. Social networks and community responses to natural disasters like an earthquake are leveraged to understand their ability to influence the pillars of climate resilience, those being community, economic, and ecological resilience, respectively. The central hypothesis and research question of this paper will seek to answer: Can social cooperation in the wake of a natural disaster influence the ability of a community to respond to similar disruptions caused by climate change? Semi-structured narrative interviews, participant observation, and volunteering composed the backbone of the methodology used to produce a qualitative analysis of these social movements and evaluate their relevance to building resilience. The rich narratives composed from this suggest that the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence unilaterally brought the Christchurch community together, with many grassroots, bottom-up social movements led by educators and gardeners materializing. Christchurch has supported the upscaling of community gardens, in no small part due to the social, mental, and physical well-being they inspire. In concert with land-based education, they positively impact the pillars of climate resilience. However, despite Christchurch’s political progress through Food Resilience and Regeneration plans, the City Council and New Zealand still sorely lack a comprehensive approach to climate curricula and action. An update of the New Zealand Curriculum is scheduled for implementation in 2027, and the three largest metropolitan areas have climate resilience plans of their own, but it is still too early to determine if they will deliver transformative climate action that other well-meaning policies and curricula promised and failed to deliver. This research recommended building on the positive momentum of social movements, where communities are used as resilience capacity builders