GRS: Sociology: Undergraduate Honors Theses

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    Democracy from the dust: ethnonationalism's role in the state-building of Eastern Europe
    (2024-05) Dupre, Michael
    In this study, I consider how ethnic nationalist sentiments complicate the state-building process, creating added considerations on the basis of perceived ethnic identity. Such considerations include the establishment of a bicameral legislature, and decentralization efforts. After the Soviet Union fell and the Iron Curtain lifted, hopes soared for democracy. But challenges, especially in Ukraine, have slowed representative state-building since the Cold War. "Democracy From The Dust" serves as my analysis of why. State-building is a multi-faceted process, one that requires substantial change in the economy, media, and the rule of law. These topics all constitute their exploration, but this report investigates the critical role ethnicity and identity play in constitutional design, as well as region-powersharing and decentralization processes. The surge of nationalism in Eastern Europe is well-studied, yet the significance of social factors in state-building remains overlooked. Adding an ethnic dimension to this conversation does not negate previous research, but instead reaffirms the diversity of experience in post-Soviet states. Polish scholarship highlights Western investment, EU integration, and NATO accession in democratization. Conversely, Ukraine lacked similar support. Focus should shift to internal factors, like leadership, institutions and public confidence. Who leads and by what jurisdiction is a central task in democratic pursuits, influenced by nationalist sentiments. A historical comparative analysis of Poland and Ukraine between 1985 and 2000 demonstrates how ethnic factors impact the socio-political fabric of nations. I argue that a country’s sense of identity significantly influences the state-building process. Contrasting Ukraine’s fragmented identity with Poland’s more cohesive one underscores this point. In Ukraine, the struggle for identity isn’t merely ethnic Ukrainians versus ethnic Russians; rather, it’s a clash between a Ukrainian identity and a Soviet one. This dichotomy serves as a barrier to effective state-building as ethnicity can intersect with broader forces including class struggle and external powers. The Soviet identity, rooted in the Russian language and culture, downplayed ethnic differences, presenting a facade of unity while suppressing independent expressions of ethnicity. This controlled narrative of peaceful coexistence under Russian cultural hegemony persisted even after the Soviet Union's collapse. Fears of secession and separatism in this era debilitated state-building. I have employed John Stuart Mill’s Joint Method of Agreement and Difference (JMAD) to investigate competing historical narratives. The study identifies causal relationships while leaving room for points of divergence by working within JMAD’s framework which accounts for extraneous factors. Comparative studies operate best when constructed to juxtapose multiple causes within each case. By triangulating public survey sources, theories, and expert perspectives, I will argue that in addition to ethnicity’s role in the collapse of the Iron Curtain and Soviet Union, such sentiments carried over to the state-building that followed. Given the scope of the project and the time considered, “process tracing” has allowed for the examination of a period, rather than a moment, tracing the causes of particular social phenomena to their development. I aim to illustrate Russia's significant influence on the regional dynamics, given its unavoidable proximity. Historically, Ukraine has grappled with a dual identity, with a considerable portion still identifying with its Soviet past. This complex interplay of identities can fuel tensions, despite the country's diverse demographics. My research incorporates these nuances and the pivotal role of identity and ethnicity, alongside economic and international factors, in shaping outcomes. Debates surrounding language, borders, and representation underscore the significance of ethnicity in defining each nation's identity. The war in Ukraine is a stark reminder that ethnic complexities are intertwined with political decisions, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of the region.
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    Music and society: the effects of capitalism on busking
    (2024) Bhumitra, Amana
    In this thesis, I examine the relationship between musical busking and capitalism. Busking refers to the act of street performance to solicit donations. I utilized literature on the legalities surrounding busking, as well as Marxist theory and symbolic interactionism to analyze the capitalist intersections. It examines an overlooked, pure form of music and artistry. Analyzing the legal framework and the permitting systems of the MBTA and MTA allows further insight into the plights of navigating busking as a performer. Furthermore, Adam Krim’s study “Hip-Hop Sublime” argues the mass production of specific styles of music through a Marxist lens, and discusses the commercialization of music, which busking resists by allowing all artists a platform. There is limited research into the lives of buskers, previous scholarship focuses on musicology, economics, and historical research. The approach of lived experiences in a sociological framework is unique in this realm of research as it comes from the perspective of those who are undervalued and ignored by mainstream society. It is important because buskers are integral fabrics of the urban communities and soundscapes. Using Facebook groups and canvassing popular busking locations in New York City and Boston, I interviewed 30 musicians to investigate their experiences. Specifically to analyze “How does busking interact with capitalism?” These interviews can help shed light on the art form and foster a deeper appreciation of busking. I argue that the relationship between busking and capitalism is multifaceted. My findings suggest that busking is a form of resistance, an emotional experience, and a non-commodified pure form of artistry, however, monetary compensation impacts buskers’ motivations and strategies. Busking serves as a political and social form of resistance through the interactions, emotional experiences, and motivations of the buskers. The findings suggest that buskers resist the legal framework working against them to protect their First Amendment rights and to preserve their artistry. However, monetary compensation is still a priority for the buskers which is evident through their strategies, like social media promotion and song choice, as well as their motivations. Overall, the motivations, strategies, and emotional experiences all contribute to the anti-capitalist art form of busking while adhering to capitalist structures in our society.
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    Which teaching strategies are perceived as effective in inspiring in-person STEM class engagement? Comparison of instructors, U.S. and international college students
    Tian, Jinxin
    Education researchers found that engagement can enhance students’ motivation and achievement (Reeve & Lee, 2014), so it is essential to understand what pedagogical strategies improve engagement. Engagement has four components: behavioral (attention, effort, and persistence), emotional (positive emotions during tasks), cognitive (elaboration and sophisticated learning), and agentic (contributions to the instruction) (Reeve & Lee, 2014). While researchers have identified these components, how instructors and students understand engagement is unclear. In this paper, I compare instructors' and U.S.-born and international students’ understanding of engagement and ask what teaching strategies are perceived as effective in inspiring engagement in in-person STEM classrooms. It is crucial because disengagement can undermine student success and teachers’ efficacy. Previous researchers used surveys, interviews, or quasi-experimental designs to investigate if particular teaching strategies can encourage students to engage. However, they primarily focus on behavioral engagement. Further, much of the work focuses on K-12 rather than higher education. To fill this gap, I first conducted interviews with 22 instructors and 21 college students (13 U.S.-born and eight international students) to explore how they would interpret engagement and the teaching strategies they perceived most effective in encouraging engagement. Then, I followed up with a closed-ended survey to compare U.S. and international students among a broader student population. Interviews show that students and instructors commonly understand engagement as behavioral, but students are more inclined to mention cognitive than instructors. This holds in the survey, although international students view agentic engagement as more crucial than U.S. students. The teaching strategies that are perceived as the most and second most effective by students are “adjust the instruction based on class members’ learning” and “be available outside of the classroom.” International and U.S. students are only statistically different in the teaching strategy of required participation, where international students rate it higher on average than U.S. students. The results suggest several practices to improve engagement. First, instructors could distribute surveys throughout the semester to understand how students follow and adjust accordingly. Second, instructors who want to grade engagement could consider students' cognitive efforts, such as taking notes.
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    Conditional victimhood: examining social and legal attitudes toward sexual violence survivors in a progressive state context
    (2024-04) Belisle, Lilian
    Since its rise in the 1970s, the anti-rape movement has been described as one of the most successful projects of second wave feminism. Reforms in criminal law, gains in funding for rape research and service providers, and the passage of the comprehensive Violence Against Women Act strengthened criminal due process protections for victims, improved the medical response to rape, and raised the public profile of sexual violence (Corrigan, 2013). However, in the wake of the #MeToo and #BelieveHer movements, the general public has been forced to reckon with the reality that there remains a profound cultural and legal bias against survivors of sexual assault. Through a comparative analysis of criminal cases arising from non-sexual assault- and sexual assault-related charges, my project examines the ways that rape myth narratives are mobilized by defense attorneys and how other legal actors attempt to derail them in a progressive state context. Incorporating evidence from a four month-long period of court observations (involving proceedings from 40 criminal cases) and 25 in-depth interviews with attorneys, judges, and police detectives, this study explores the pervasive concept of “real” or “legible” victimhood and why, despite significant legal reform, this rhetoric continues to prevail. I identify three distinct categories through which survivors of sexual violence are judged against societal expectations of a "legitimate" victim: (1) the victim’s display of non-consent, (2) the victim’s perceived culpability, and (3) the victim's response and presentation after the assault. I also articulate the barriers in legal infrastructure that stand in the way of attorney-level reforms. Ultimately, this research contributes valuable insights into the complex dynamics surrounding sexual violence cases, highlighting the need for a paradigm shift in societal attitudes and a disengagement with legal frameworks to ensure justice for survivors. With an increased awareness of these structural failures and a simultaneous recognition of the fact that incarceration is not a productive solution, I argue we must address the root causes of systemic sexual and gender-based violence and rechannel our resources toward its prevention (Greer, 2021).
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    Sacred spaces and secular visions in the Bahá’í Holy Gardens
    (2024-04-22) Kostina, Elizabeth
    This thesis examines the nuanced interplay between religious practice and heritage tourism within the context of UNESCO world heritage sites, focusing specifically on the Bahá’í Holy Gardens in Haifa, Israel. Recognized for their global significance, these sites o en face the challenge of balancing their roles as spaces of devout religious practice and attractions for secular tourism. This balance is complicated by an inherent contradiction between preserving sacred spaces for religious adherents and marketing these spaces to a global audience, potentially diluting the depth of religious experience in favor of broad appeal. Central to this study is the exploration of the dichotomy between tourists and pilgrims at the Bahá’í Holy Gardens, a distinction that illuminates the varied ways in which individuals engage with the site. Despite the clear roles visitors adopt—either as pilgrims engaging in spiritual practices or tourists attracted by the site's beauty and heritage—the study reveals a trend towards a middle-ground 'spirituality' experienced by both groups. This phenomenon suggests a move beyond the binary of religious secularization or 'heritagization', pointing towards the rise of religious pluralism and a shared spiritual experience at religious heritage sites. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this thesis analyzes 21 interviews with Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í visitors and conducts a content analysis of nearly 6,800 reviews from Google Reviews and TripAdvisor. This data provides insights into how the Bahá’í Gardens serve dual purposes: as a sacred space for the Bahá’í community and as a heritage attraction for global tourists. The findings indicate that, while tourists may not initially recognize the religious significance of the Gardens, their experiences o en parallel the profound respect and spirituality described by pilgrims, albeit to varying degrees. This research addresses three critical questions: the connection of the Bahá’í community to their religious heritage through the Holy Gardens, the reconciliation of contradictory expectations of heritage performance for secular and religious needs, and the contribution of tourists and pilgrims' converging perspectives to a 'secular spirituality'. The comparative analysis of visitor experiences and public perceptions underscores the complex role of the Bahá’í Holy Gardens in mediating between sacred and secular functions, revealing how heritagization is experienced and navigated within this unique religious heritage site. Through this investigation, the thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics at play in religious world heritage sites, offering a novel perspective on the intersection of faith, tourism, and heritage in the contemporary world. It challenges traditional narratives of secularization in heritage spaces, highlighting instead a collaborative emergence of a spirituality that transcends religious boundaries, facilitated by the unique setting of the Bahá’í Holy Gardens.