Human rights and foreign policy often come together in dealing with humanitarian crises, especially when we consider how a country’s foreign policy affects the rights of refugees as protection of the refugees often involves bringing together international actors and different countries. One such example is the Rohingya refugee crisis. Since the outbreak of the Rohingya refugee crisis in 2017, Bangladesh’s foreign policy and its aims have directly impacted the rights of the refugees who have sought shelter in Bangladesh. The country has adopted a foreign policy that aims to seek assistance in hosting the refugees while putting pressure on Myanmar to take back the refugees. In doing so, Bangladesh has both protected the rights of refugees and has restricted or threatened them. Bangladesh’s identity as a Muslim majority state and also one of fast economic growth has played a significant role in shaping Bangladesh’s policy. A meaningful analysis of Bangladesh’s foreign policy concerning the Rohingya and its impact on their rights, therefore, requires us to use the theory of constructivism in international relations studies. Constructivism’s focus on identity as the primary shaping foreign policy grants us the tools to understand how and why Bangladesh treated the Rohingya humanitarian crisis.

Many nation-states have their potential for growth hindered by the involvement of developed nations. These low-income nation-states are primarily located on the continent of Africa. There are three parts to this phenomenon of neocolonialism which is the process of continuing involvement of developed nations in developing nations that creates a negative growth in those nations. The research I've conducted is in three parts. The first consists of analyzing the social construction of neocolonialism, how the phenomenon occurs, and where it stems from. The second part is to show how this involvement is damaging to the developing nations. I will use examples such as the multinational corporation profit recycling, the life of foreign aid, and unwise economic deals. As it turns out the phenomena brings on the hindrance of developing in the low-income nation. The last part of my research is to come up with an economic improvement plan. For instance, rather than country A trading money (or some monetary value) for a resource in country B, "A" would build a school, hospital, or infrastructure in "B" to improve the conditions in the low-income nation. It is hypothesized that will leave room for growth in both nations without creating harmful economic repercussions because money would be taken out of the equation.

Contrary to the assumptions of realist theory, this thesis suggests that reality is subjected to social constructions. The national discourse of one country constitutes the context from which societies will generate perceptions and ideas about another society. It is from these socially constructed ideas that states' interests are formed. States interests are what constitute the foreign policy of a country. Given that the United States is the world's hegemon, understanding the process by which countries' interests take shape and evolve will give the United States social awareness and strategic advantage to lead the world's current speedy integration with less volatile rivalries. In order to grasp the factors contributing to the relationship between specific states, some context is needed beforehand. By tracing and comparing historical events in the relations between the United States, Venezuela, and Iran, this thesis examines the constructivist claim that states behavior towards another is directly affected by the social interpretation of their interactions. It is social constructions, not power, what determines if states will view each other as "enemy" or "ally". National identity and worldview ultimately drive state behavior and how countries choose to utilize their capabilities.

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As the plastic crisis has emerged as a prominent environmental issue, among others like climate change and biodiversity loss, it has become increasingly important to examine current models of plastic governance. Studying plastic governance provides opportunities to better understand, challenge and hopefully improve upon the landscape of governance within the plastic crisis. For the purposes of this paper, plastic governance is defined as the management and regulation of plastic throughout its life cycle, from production to disposal. The plastic crisis has complex socio-political and ecological dimensions that shape both plastic's problems and potential solutions. Environmental rhetoric surrounding plastic and plastic governance fosters, as well as exemplifies, the dynamic human and ecological dimensions at play in the plastic crisis. For example, the prominence of rhetoric like "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" and recycling generally demonstrate the creation and reinforcement of waste management and consumer responsibility as the main problems and solutions within plastic governance. Focusing on Canada and the recent announcement of a national ban on single-use plastic, I explore the impacts of environmental rhetoric on the existing and developing governance landscape for plastic. By examining the use of or appeal to environmental rhetoric among state, corporate and civil actors in Canada, I apply concepts from the social science theories of critical political ecology and constructivism in order to gain a deeper understanding of the political and ecological dimensions of the plastic crisis and governance. In particular, I examine the ways in which the coproduction of science and politics informs the characterization of the plastic crisis itself as well as any potential solutions. By studying how rhetoric shapes the problems and solutions we see and emphasize, I will identify and explore norms and gaps within governance throughout plastic’s life cycle. As well, I consider rhetoric surrounding the actors within the plastic crisis and examine how identity and perception play a role in plastic governance. This research allows for deeper critique of plastic policies or initiatives in order to provide potential recommendations for advancing environmental sustainability in Canada.