Thesis advisor: Jennie Purnell / This thesis discusses, by chapter, the following topics: the rise of gang violence in El Salvador, the structure of gangs in El Salvador, contributing factors to the rise of gang violence in El Salvador, United States deportation legislation, and the deportation of Salvadorans and the nature of their re-assimilation into El Salvador. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2007. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

Peacebuilding has become increasing important as a means of preventing continuing hostilities among previously warring factions. Traditional peacebuilding strategies to date have included activities that strive to address challenges related to security, governance, relief, development, and reconciliation with the goal of curbing potential volatile situations from once again becoming full-fledged conflicts. However, peacebuilding strategies or designs have not fully recognized the particular needs of women and have not acknowledged the significance of womens contributions to peacebuilding in war torn communities. In Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala women responded to this marginalization by initiating unique peacebuilding mechanisms and making space for themselves during the process of rebuilding.<p> This analysis therefore begins with an analysis of traditional peacebuilding, introducing four areas that have been identified as important during peacebuilding, and outlining some of the concerns, problems and limitations that plague the peacebuilding process in the post-war setting. It then turns to an examination of womens role in peacebuilding in three case studies, namely Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala.<p> This study is significant because it demonstrates that women have played an integral role in the peacebuilding process in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. While marginalized from traditional peacebuilding processes, womens experiences and knowledge building peace post-conflict have the potential to contribute to an improve and more inclusive peacebuilding design that may result in increased effectiveness for future operations.

Peacebuilding has become increasing important as a means of preventing continuing hostilities among previously warring factions. Traditional peacebuilding strategies to date have included activities that strive to address challenges related to security, governance, relief, development, and reconciliation with the goal of curbing potential volatile situations from once again becoming full-fledged conflicts. However, peacebuilding strategies or designs have not fully recognized the particular needs of women and have not acknowledged the significance of womens contributions to peacebuilding in war torn communities. In Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala women responded to this marginalization by initiating unique peacebuilding mechanisms and making space for themselves during the process of rebuilding.<p> This analysis therefore begins with an analysis of traditional peacebuilding, introducing four areas that have been identified as important during peacebuilding, and outlining some of the concerns, problems and limitations that plague the peacebuilding process in the post-war setting. It then turns to an examination of womens role in peacebuilding in three case studies, namely Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala.<p> This study is significant because it demonstrates that women have played an integral role in the peacebuilding process in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. While marginalized from traditional peacebuilding processes, womens experiences and knowledge building peace post-conflict have the potential to contribute to an improve and more inclusive peacebuilding design that may result in increased effectiveness for future operations.

There is limited information on the utilization of sorghum for human consumption in El Salvador. Increased wheat prices have driven the baking industry to seek alternative cereals for manufacturing of their products. The white color and bland taste characteristics of Salvadorian sorghum is ideal for use as a partial substitute of wheat (up to 50 percent) or alone in baked goods and a wide variety of foods. Further information on the grain quality, milling characteristics and impact on end-product was assessed to make better use of the available grain. Three different varieties of improved and local cultivars (RCV, Native and ZAM 912) were evaluated for their grain, flour and end-product quality. Grain hardness, color and composition of the grains varied from hard to intermediate to soft. Burr, hammer and roller milling were used for sorghum flour production. Impact of grain characteristics and milling quality was evaluated through the flours produced and their end-product quality. Grain hardness significantly affects flour and final product characteristics. Harder grain, RCV, produced flours more difficult to cook and with a grittier texture than those produced from Native cultivars (floury endosperm). Cupcakes produced from harder grain flours had lower volume and harder texture than cupcakes made from the Native varieties. ZAM 912 was an intermediate hard sorghum variety and produced the darkest flour and darkest cupcakes due to its pericarp hue. Appropriate use of this grain’s flour can be used in baked products with a darker hue (e.g. chocolate pastries). Harder grain flours can be utilized in coarse crumb products (e.g. cookies, horchata, and atole). Hammer mills produced the coarsest particles for all the varieties evaluated. Burr mills produced flour with similar cooking and end-product texture qualities as the roller mill. However, burr mills are not suitable for production of large quantities of whole sorghum flour. Nevertheless, they are more affordable for small entrepreneurs. Cultivars analyzed produce quality flour that can be used in an array of baked foods, i.e. ethnic beverages, porridges, cookies, flour mixes, tortillas, sweet breads. Whole sorghum flour substitution as low as 25 percent in wheat-based foods can represent significant cost savings for its users.

This thesis examines disaster-relief-housing and identifies some of the challenges faced by the traditional housing response. Focusing on relief efforts as a second responder, an alternative process for housing displaced populations is proposed and demonstrated through a specific proposal for disaster-relief-housing for the town of San Vicente, El Salvador. Working within the discipline of architecture, the proposed project will provide beneficiaries with an increased ability to cope in the face of disaster. It does so by design and implementation of self-build housing that transitions from a temporary to a permanent state/location, by using bamboo as a primary construction material, and by providing an adaptable solution that is environmentally and culturally responsive. The building of a community laundry facility by the affected population facilitates this process by serving both as a teaching and as an inspirational building for the use of bamboo in quality construction.

The purpose of this research is to explore the use of a faith-based holistic approach to community development. The concept of transformation development will be explored through a case study of the community development work of Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) in the Usulután region of El Salvador – specifically sustainable agricultural production, provision of clean water, provision of safe housing, leadership training and Christian education. Transformational development attempts to partner religious mission and development in a holistic framework for practical application. Within this framework, the following study attempts to address the gap between theory and practice surrounding holistic approaches to faith-based development. This research project explores the role of religion in development; the evolution of perspectives on evangelism and social action; the emergence of transformational development and integral mission; and finally, a study of the impact and effectiveness of a holistic and transformational approach shown through the work of CBM.

During the civil war in El Salvador, approximately 38,000 Salvadorans came to Canada, making them the largest group of Latin American migrants to Canada in that era. The arrival of these Salvadoran refugees has received limited academic attention. My thesis examines how Salvadoran refugees to Canada were portrayed in Canadian newspapers. I specifically examine how Salvadorans were written about in the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star and Montreal’s Gazette; I focus on three eras: 1980 to 1982, 1986 to 1987, and 1991 to 1992. I argue that, throughout these years, Canadian newspapers acted as discursive gatekeepers to the “imagined community” of Canada. Salvadoran refugees moved closer to this community, but were not granted full admittance.

Thesis (M.S. in National Security Affairs (Western Hemisphere))--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Giraldo, Jeanne ; Bruneau, Thomas C. "June 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on July 14, 2009. DTIC Identifiers: Organized crime. Author(s) subject terms: El Salvador, Guatemala, organized crime, police reform, political party system, peace accords, gangs, drug trafficking organizations. Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-87). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 329-344). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (M.S. in International Resource Planning and Management) Naval Postgraduate School, June 1997. / Thesis advisors, Maria Moyano, roger E. Evered. Includes bibliographical references (p. 189-196). Also available online.