Master of Arts (MA)

<p>This is a study of the Japanese role in the events leading up to the creation of the state of Manchoukuo in 1932, with the emphasis of the study being placed on domestic Japanese politics.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

Master of Arts (MA)

Master of Arts (MA)

Master of Arts (MA)

<p>This paper has two related goals: (1) to examine the impact of crisis, in general, and stress, in particular, on certain aspects of foreign policy-making; and, (2) to understand the motivations underlying the actions of American decision-makers within the political environment of 1898. The data is derived through a content analysis of documents written by certain "key" American decision- makers during the sixteen weeks prior to the outbreak of the Spanish American war in 1898.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

Master of Arts (MA)

<p>The unprecedented economic growth and development in China over the past two decades has been as impressive as it has been daunting. Surpassing all expectations, China's GDP continues to grow at an average of 6 - 8 percent annually since 1999. However such growth has not been without consequences including: 1) increased migration; 2) the increased gap between rural and urban development; 3) and the changing place of women in the economy and society as they are among the number of those migrating. The changing political economy of China has increased the costal-interior, urban-rural as well as gendered economic inequalities while exposing the inadequacies of social and labour policies to accommodate the changing needs of Chinese citizens. As a result, the rural and migrant women who have traditionally been marginalized continue to be vulnerable to the forces of market reform and globalization. It is therefore the purpose of this thesis to show that while the changing political economy in China has afforded rural women an opportunity to enter the off-farm labour market with the hope of improved economic security, policy deficiencies continue to marginalize migrant rural women by categorically framing them as second-class citizens within the cities they move into.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

2011 / Bachelor of Arts (BA)

<p>This thesis is an examination of Plato's proposal for female guardians, which he introduces as the first wave in Book V of the Republic. The proposal for female guardians elicited attention in the early 1970s, because it contained a discussion of gender equality. The thesis specifically focused on the political implications and consequences of Plato's discussion of the idea of justice, the purpose of politics and a conception of gender. For the purpose of this examination, the thesis was divided into two main sections. First, the thesis systematically catalogued the current commentary on Plato's proposal for female guardians. To facilitate an understanding of this commentary, the thesis explored both the previous theoretical framework and the public issues that provided a context for the recent commentary on Book V. Second, it provided an independent examination of Book V. To more thoroughly understand the proposal, the thesis focused on three aspects often neglected in commentary, but relevant to interpretation: the relationship between oikos and polis in ancient Greece, the connection between the first wave and the argument of the Republic and an argument against a literal interpretation of Book V. The independent interpretation of Book V focused on the connection between the function an individual performed in the city and the foundation of politics. For Plato, this foundation was based on organizing the functions in the city according to the need each individual has for others. The proposal for female guardians bases the qualification for ruling and soldering on an understanding of an individual's physis or potential that is not connected to gender. This organization of the city by of non-gender specific functions is Plato's idea of justice. Each individual performs the one function which suits him or her in order to be the most useful to each other. The necessity of gender for reproduction complicates Plato's organization by non-gender specific functions. Thus, the proposal for female guardians is not possible, because during their childbearing years guardian women are most useful as bearers of children and primarily would not perform the function based on their physis. In addition, the attempt to make all aspects of human life, including one's emotions, gender, and family fulfill the requirement of usefulness questions whether the city in speech is the best city. Thus, an examination the first wave of Book V indicates that the city in speech is neither possible nor desirable. Instead of a literal political manifesto, Book V is revealed to be a discussion of the consequences of implementing an extreme idea of justice in a political regime.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)