Hayden Beauchemin
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At the highest level of professional surfing, the World Surf League (WSL), surfers from places with a distinct identity in the surf world will sometimes represent the region they are from rather than their country of citizenship. The most notable instances of this are surfers competing for Hawai’i, rather than the United States, or the Basque Country, rather than Spain or France. Hawai’i and the Basque Country have histories, languages, and cultures different from the countries they are part of, and both have experienced calls for independence. So, what are the implications of recognizing these regions as distinct “surf nations” in professional surfing? Does it simply pay homage to the unique surf cultures they have created? Instead, can it also serve as a way to politically differentiate these regions from the countries they are geopolitically part of, or even foster nationalist movements, through international sport? I am interested in understanding how this instance of independence in sport can facilitate diplomatic discussions with nations imposing rule over them (the U.S., Spain, etc.) regarding obtaining increased cultural recognition, political rights, and to a certain degree, autonomy. In order to explore these questions further, I will analyze histories of these surf nations, the political sentiment of athletes representing these regions, the expression of politics in surfing, etc. I will carry out interviews with relevant members of the Hawaiian, Basque, or other surf communities, while also conducting additional research over the course of the project. I will discuss my findings in a paper.
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Lena Ciganer-Albeniz
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How have foreign and private equity investments in European football clubs reshaped the sport’s economic structures and cultural diplomacy within the global political economy? Abstract: In recent years, European football has become a microcosm of globalization and monetization, where the intersection of finance and culture has played on and off the pitch. As Gerry Cardinale, founder of Red Bird Capital (private equity firm that currently owns world-renowned team AC Milan) argued in the Financial Times, sustainable growth in sport depends on long-term strategic investment rather than artificial valuation inflation. This is a rather modern view that reflects the recent shift in global capital toward sports as an asset class. This research would explore how foreign and private equity ownership in European football, particularly looking at American investors such as the Glazer family (Manchester United), Fenway Sports Group (Liverpool), and RedBird Capital (AC Milan), has transformed the sport’s political economy, governance, and cultural diplomacy. Through a comparative analysis of these case studies, the project would investigate how private and state-linked investors reshape both the economic fundamentals of clubs and the cultural identities they embody. The study situates football’s monetization within the broader context of the international political economy, examining how ownership reflects and advances the strategic interests of nations and corporations alike. At the same time, it explores how this influx of global capital has provoked fan backlash, raising questions about authenticity, given the vast cultures that clubs each represent. Because Gerry happens to be one of my best friends’ father, I would also try to contact him and conduct an interview for even more recent and relevant perspectives.
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Nicolas Burlinson
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Reconstruction is framed as a morally righteous deed, a truly humanitarian act of rebuilding a society after war. However, the history of postwar recovery has shown that the rebuilding process is never apolitical or entirely virtuous. By analyzing the case studies ranging from Iraq in 2003 after the U.S. invasion, to Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Dayton Accords, I will explore how rebuilding efforts are instruments of economic statecraft, and heavily influenced by the powerful states and corporations seeking to extend influence and shape the post-war regime, whilst under the banner of aid. My research paper would examine reconstruction as a geopolitical strategy and identify policies that can make the process more equitable for the rebuilding nation. The paper would analyze how financial institutions, donor governments, and factions within the local regime all influence the political and economic reforms of fragile, rebuilding states. It will analyze the patterns of dependency and corruption, revealing the profiteers of monetized peace. This topic is especially pertinent to the modern state of geopolitics. Ukraine is creating frameworks for its future reconstruction, and the fate of Gaza continues to be uncertain; however, many interested parties do not wish Gazans to have a say in their future. Understanding the political economy of recovery is essential to understanding the policy frameworks that can best provide stability and justice for those who have suffered under war, and the warning signs that arise when reconstruction benefits those who fund the rebuilding.
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Melissa Calderón Bracho
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Venezuela’s ongoing economic collapse has forced an entire generation to reimagine survival, resilience, and innovation. My project, Crisis and Creativity, will explore how young Venezuelans have transformed crisis into creativity through small businesses, art, technology, and community organizing. Rather than focusing only on economic data, this project highlights the human side of the international political economy and how policies, inflation, and sanctions translate into everyday ingenuity. I plan to create a bilingual podcast and short documentary style video series featuring interviews with Venezuelan youth both inside the country and across the diaspora. Each episode will focus on a different form of innovation from digital entrepreneurship to artistic expression and analyze how these acts of adaptation reflect larger global forces such as economic isolation and migration. The project will combine qualitative interviews with research on Venezuela’s economic policies, international sanctions, and informal labor markets. My goal is to connect macro level global dynamics to the lived experiences of my generation. Ultimately, Crisis and Creativity seeks to offer a more complex understanding of Venezuela’s place in the world not as a story of collapse, but of reinvention.
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2025 - 2026 Winter Passion Projects
Niall Connor
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Saudi Arabia’s expansive investment in the world of soccer is a deliberate exercise in soft power that is attempting to recast a controversial international identity often thought of for the nation’s migrant‑labor abuses, restriction of civil liberties, and the 2018 Khashoggi assassination, aligned with their repression of free speech. From a heavily invested domestic league with new stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, Riyadh’s acquisition of foreign clubs like Newcastle, and Premier League sponsorships, Saudi presence has become normalized and headlines have been reframed from rights violations to transfer gossip and sporting ambition. This research project will explore the ethical and political consequences of that reframing, asking how sport functions as an instrument for control of worldwide reputation and what it means for their human rights abuses. The country is set to host the 2034 World Cup, which will amplify diplomatic leverage but not without renewed scrutiny of the labor and civil liberties there. Saudi selection as a host places it as an interesting host nation alongside recent tournaments held in Russia, Qatar, and the United States next summer. All countries not without their own international critiques. Particularly Qatar, with countless accusations of illegal labor usage in the development of stadiums and infrastructure leading up to the last World Cup, a topic that will likely be prevalent in 2034 too. This research project will examine how the mega‑sporting spectacles displace accountability, and the impact of covering up labor abuse, restriction of civil liberties, and the suppression of free speech.
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Sara McMurtray
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An interview-based field research project investigating the NBA’s effectiveness in rebuilding its presence in China based on the Hong Kong market (generally considered a “gateway” to China for Western brands) and what this implies for cultural and economic (soft power) strategic competition between the US and China. This project interests me and suits this year’s themes as it combines sports diplomacy, international political economy, and geopolitics, while collecting firsthand field research during my winter break stay at home in Hong Kong. In November 2025, the NBA hosted a multi-week activation marking its most visible presence in Hong Kong since 2019. Although concluded before I arrive, it serves as a conversational anchor for interviews with Hong Kong youth about the NBA. I will conduct 20-30 field interviews with 15- to 24-year-old Hong Kong residents regarding how the NBA’s presence, how US-China political tensions shape sports fandom, and their attitudes towards China’s management of sports and popular culture. I will supplement these interviews with my own documentation of NBA retail spaces, advertisements, events, and sports media coverage in the city. Using these data, I will evaluate whether the NBA has resurrected its presence, whether Hong Kong still functions as an entry point for the NBA into the mainland market, and analyze how the US might use sports diplomacy to sustain cultural influence among Chinese-speaking youth. The final product will be a fifteen-page qualitative field report incorporating transcripts, summaries from interviews and photographs and a separate ten-page policy memorandum.
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Abylaikhan Orazgali
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The goal is to produce a minimum two-episode podcast series that unpacks the World Nomad Games as a critical, yet under-examined, arena for modern Central Asian geopolitics, economic ambition, and cultural diplomacy. The project will analyze how the WNG transcends a mere sporting event to become a strategic tool for nation-branding, regional leadership, and integration into the global economy. The series will move beyond simple cultural showcase analysis to explore the high-stakes realities of the Games.Revival, Unity, and Soft Power will examine the WNG's role in reviving traditional nomadic culture and fostering regional unity, analyzing how host nations leverage the spectacle for soft power and international recognition. Episodes will explore the diplomatic efforts and cultural exchanges that underpin the event, drawing parallels to established international sporting diplomacy. The Economic Play and Geopolitical Rivalry episodes will investigate the Games as a structured economic project, detailing the behind-the-scenes government strategies, business deals, and infrastructure investments tied to the New Silk Road. It will also address the underlying geopolitical tensions and regional rivalries, such as the competition for leadership between my motherland Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries. By synthesizing expert interviews, policy analysis, and media coverage, the podcast will reveal how seemingly traditional festivals are leveraged as frontlines for power struggles, investment competition, and media attention.This project offers a fresh, narrative-driven perspective for a Western audience, demonstrating how sports can serve as a powerful, multi-faceted instrument of economic and political ambition in a strategically vital region.
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Jayla Provance
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For my project, I explore the LIV Golf Tour and its role in international diplomacy. The tour, financed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, has led to a significant amount of controversy around the world as Saudi Arabia continues to face human rights issues such as restrictions on freedom of expression, women's rights, and the treatment of dissenters. Many critics have argued that LIV Golf represents a form of sportswashing, which is the practice of using a high-profile sporting event to improve a nation’s public image, distract people from unethical conduct, and soften criticism. My project will analyze how international reactions, athletic participation, sponsorships, and media narratives interact with these broader political issues. Additionally, I want to analyze the broader effectiveness of sportswashing and whether initiatives such as LIV Golf can successfully improve a country’s public image or if such actions have the opposite effect and merely intensify international criticism. I will consider how different audiences and countries respond to these efforts, and what this suggests about how much sports can actually influence a country's reputation. The final product of my project will be a policy memo outlining guidelines for sports leagues, athletes, and event organizers when interacting with and participating in internationally backed-events like this one. My goal is to provide recommendations that address diplomatic implications and ethical responsibilities, while also considering economic incentives. This project will allow me to make connections between global diplomacy and the increasingly influential role sports play in shaping international perception.
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Taneesha Sheth
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India’s digital payments revolution has changed much more than how people pay. UPI, a real-time payment system that lets people transfer money instantly with just a phone, has become one of the most powerful tools for financial inclusion in the country. The Unified Payments Interface has reshaped who gets to participate in the economy, who can start a business, and who finally gains access to financial opportunity. What interests me most is how this change is unfolding in two places at once: inside India, where millions have been brought into the formal economy, and across borders, where UPI is slowly influencing how money moves between countries. My project will explore both sides of this shift. Within India, I want to understand how UPI has opened new doors for entrepreneurship. Digital payments create transaction histories that work like informal credit scores, allowing small vendors, gig workers, and first-time entrepreneurs to apply for loans and build financial identities they never had access to before. For many people, this move from the informal to the formal economy has created room to dream and grow in ways that were once out of reach. But UPI’s impact doesn’t stop at India’s borders. Partnerships with countries like the UAE, Singapore, and Nepal show how UPI-linked systems are beginning to make cross-border transfers faster and more affordable. For families who rely on remittances, this is a meaningful shift. And in international trade, real-time digital payments may help small exporters, reduce settlement delays, and create new pathways for India to participate in global commerce. The final project will be a 20-page research paper based on economic literature, policy reports, case studies, and available data. I want to understand how a simple digital system is shaping opportunity within India while also influencing the country’s growing connections to the world.
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Shelby Tang
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The passion project seeks to investigate how U.S. semiconductor-focused industrial and foreign policy intersects with Taiwan’s domestic political narratives. The United States’ current administration’s interest in building an “America First” foreign-policy approach and seeking to alter the narrative of the semiconductor industry’s dominance in East Asia affects Taiwanese domestic policies and opinions of those residing in Taiwan. By examining how evolving narratives in Taiwanese domestic politics—particularly debates over relocating major semiconductor manufacturing facilities—shape U.S.–Taiwan trade relations and the strategic value of the “Silicon Shield,” the project aims to uncover key policy implications. In detail, the memo analyzes how the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have been criticized by each other and by domestic stakeholders for leveraging the semiconductor sector in negotiations with the United States for the sake of military security commitments. The analysis also evaluates the effects of Trump-era tariff exemptions for Taiwanese semiconductor firms relocating production to Phoenix, Arizona, and how these policies intersect with Taiwan’s internal political positioning—specifically how progressive and conservative groups have developed conflicting perspectives regarding the relocation of TSMC facilities and the associated “brain drain” concerns. It is crucial to take into note how the United States’ relations with Taiwan are further shaped by the CHIPS and Science Act and its provisions that incentivize semiconductor reshoring while influencing Taiwan’s strategic and economic calculations. The memo therefore addresses the central policy question: How should the United States balance semiconductor-focused trade policy with its security commitments to Taiwan amid contested political narratives on the island?
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Joanne Tran
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State power in the global economy is now being practiced through markets instead of the conventional methods of diplomacy. The current world sees states exerting their influence in international relationships not solely by the use of treaties or diplomacy, but by making investments that determine industries. Sovereign wealth funds play a major role in this shift, as a way in which states project influence across borders.
This project will focus on Saudi Arabia’s use of the Public Investment Fund as a case study in understanding the role of the market in the exercise of state power. The function of this study is to show how the Public Investment Fund functions both as a political and financial entity, using investment as a tool to achieve economic change as well as foreign policy objectives. It will analyze how ownership, sponsorship, and development create political effects.
It is important to understand this phenomenon globally because it is the same strategy that is being employed by nations to gain leverage in the multipolar system. As the use of capital as a tool of governance continues to rise, the distinction between economics and international relations continues to blur. Through the way Saudi Arabia uses investment to achieve Vision 2030, the transformation in the exercise of power in the contemporary international political economy will be brought to light
Research Question: How does Saudi Arabia leverage the Public Investment Fund as a mechanism of achieving economic diversification while at the same time influencing the international political structure as outlined by Vision 2030?
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Reeyan Udani
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This project will examine how Saudi Arabia secured hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup and what this decision reveals about the intersection of sports, soft power, and authoritarian diplomacy. Under Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), Saudi Arabia has pursued an aggressive strategy of global sports investment as part of its Vision 2030 agenda, using football, golf, boxing, and Formula 1 to reshape its international image and reduce global attention to its human rights record. The 2034 bid represents the centerpiece of this strategy. My research will analyze how the bidding window was shortened to a matter of weeks, how the Asian Football Confederation rallied unanimously behind Saudi Arabia, and how FIFA’s internal politics and financial incentives aligned with Saudi interests, effectively eliminating competition before the process even began. I will use investigative reporting, leaked FIFA communications, and policy briefs from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to trace how MBS and senior Saudi officials leveraged diplomatic relationships and financial influence across global football. I will also examine the broader implications for states, players’ unions, and NGOs now forced to decide how to engage with a tournament hosted by a regime associated with repression, extrajudicial killings, and the silencing of dissent. By comparing the 2034 case with Qatar 2022 and Russia 2018, this project will assess whether global sports governance has reformed after past scandals or whether authoritarian host states have become even more central to the future of mega-events.
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Roystone Varuma
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The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) of 2000 provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 6,500 products from more than 30 eligible sub-Saharan African countries. For two decades, AGOA has been the cornerstone of U.S.–Africa trade relations, expanding African exports in textiles, agriculture, and automotive manufacturing. However, AGOA is set to lapse in 2025, placing U.S.–Africa trade at a moment of unprecedented uncertainty. Although AGOA enjoys bipartisan support as a key counterweight to China’s influence, its future is complicated by rising U.S. protectionism. New country-specific tariffs in the Trump era directly undermine AGOA’s core promise of free market access. This project will make a case for AGOA’s renewal and evaluate its strategic relevance in a multipolar world. It will analyze AGOA’s economic impact on African economies and assess what is at risk if preferences lapse. The project will also explore why Africa–U.S. trade matters now more than ever: China–Africa trade exceeds $250 billion annually, Russia is expanding its influence, and Africa holds critical minerals essential for U.S. semiconductor supply chains. It will further examine emerging U.S. investments in the Lobito Corridor as a strategic counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The final output will be a blog website featuring five accessible think pieces or policy briefs, accompanied by one expert interview (recorded and transcribed), with the goal of clarifying AGOA’s fate, unpacking U.S. tariff contradictions, and mapping pathways for a renewed, resilient Africa–U.S. economic partnership
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Amy Weng
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I study China’s stadium diplomacy, specifically its construction of sports stadiums across Africa, as a form of soft power shaping Africa's evolving geopolitical landscape. Since the 1980s, Chinese-funded stadiums from Nairobi to Kigali have symbolized solidarity and modernization, yet their strategic purpose has now shifted alongside the global order. What began as a Cold War project of indirect ideological competition with the United States has transformed into a more China-centric model of infrastructural and diplomatic dominance, particularly in Eastern Africa. The goal is to plainly show China’s growing use of infrastructure as a tool of economic leverage in Africa. Rather than simply marking a shift in who wields influence, stadium diplomacy illustrates a shift in how influence is built and sustained: through financing, construction contracts, and long-term maintenance arrangements that embed Chinese firms, labor, and capital within local economies For my finished project I would like to make an interactive map of the stadiums China has funded in Africa and the amount of funds provided alongside pop-up case studies linked from the map. If there is enough time and information I would like to develop a chronological timeline tracing key moments in Sino–African sports diplomacy—beginning with Mao-era solidarity projects to Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road using short annotated entries, archival photos, or embedded news clips to show how China’s diplomatic goals shifted from ideological to economic and cultural influence.
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Mehrezat Abbas
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Immigration to the European Union has been rising for decades and seen massive 21st-century influxes, especially due to conflicts that have displaced millions. My project will record a moment of migration-borne change in the German identity by interviewing those experiencing it. I hope to attract participants of all backgrounds, including citizens of German heritage, descendants of immigrants, and recent immigrants alike. I will conduct street interviews in Munich and Berlin, posing questions inviting participants to reflect on their personal histories and their relationships with Germany in order to convey diversity as simultaneously personal, communal, and political. Interview responses will be presented in audio, photography, and as a woven basket to emphasize the significance of individual and communal experiences. I will compile photographic portraits into a book to emphasize the personhood of the participants, and the basket will contain an interviewee's memory on each strip. By blending traditional documentary with artistic expression, I hope to bridge the gaps between policy, identity, archival, and experience.
This project moves beyond nation-specific storytelling to demonstrate how human stories drive the creation of communal identity in any society. By documenting real voices, I aim to foster interpersonal understanding, contribute to archives of migrant stories, and present diversity as something we all participate in and create, together.
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Thwahir Malafu
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The introduction of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Kenya aims to provide holistic, learner-centered education that equips students with practical skills. However, its implementation has highlighted significant challenges, particularly for low-income families in rural areas such as Musembe and Lugari Sub-county in Western Kenya. This research compares Kenya’s CBC with education systems in countries like the United States and Finland. These global comparisons provide insights into how education policies, government involvement, and resource allocation can address inequities in rural schools. By identifying best practices from these nations, the study aims to inform strategies for more equitable CBC implementation.
The findings will guide policy recommendations and community-driven initiatives to improve access to quality education in rural Kenya. By addressing systemic gaps, the research seeks to empower families and foster an inclusive educational ecosystem that leaves no child behind. Ultimately, the study aims to bridge global knowledge with local action to promote educational equity.
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Grego Garavaglia
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Growing up in the western end of the Pampas of Argentina, I was deeply immersed in the gaucho way of life since I can remember. My nanny would always dress me as a little gaucho, with a boina and everything. There were so many things about my upbringing that resembled gaucho traditions, from attending rodeos, to living between horses and cows, to spending the weekends at my dad’s ranch. However, as a teenager, I began to grow distant from these customs. I didn’t like my small town anymore, and all I wanted was to leave, so I rejected everything that reminded me of my life at the time. My connection with the gaucho culture faded. I didn’t realize it until I moved to California for college where I began to appreciate my background. How could I have demeaned gaucho culture so much? Unfortunately, it might be a general issue in today’s Argentina. The history of gauchos is intertwined with the founding of Argentina itself, but with the increasing globalization of a highly urbanized country, many of the customs, values, and practices that defined gaucho life have been diluted. Younger generations often view the traditional gaucho lifestyle as outdated or irrelevant. This has a great impact on the gauchos of the countryside who seem to have been forgotten by most Argentines, although there are efforts to restore their place in society. I hope that this project contributes to the understanding and appreciation of this unique foundational nation within Argentina.
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Mehrin Khan
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This summer, I was in Bangladesh when the world went dark for us. For 37 days, we lived under curfews, media censorship, and internet blackouts as a historic youth-led revolution, the July Uprising, unfolded. What began as a protest against an unjust quota system turned into a life-or-death struggle after the government responded with violence. Thousands were injured, and hundreds lost their lives. My younger brother was among the injured, struck by rubber bullets and tear gas.
Despite the repression, my friends, neighbors, and I joined millions of young people who refused to back down. The chants of “Tui ke? Ami ke? Razakar, Razakar!” echoed through the streets, uniting strangers in a fight for justice. Together, we toppled a 15-year authoritarian regime, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This was not just a protest but a movement that reshaped the nation, with students even selecting Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus as the interim government’s Chief Advisor.
This project is my effort to preserve that historic summer. Through a memoir and a digital archive, I will document the slogans, posters, and graffiti that fueled the movement. By translating and contextualizing these artifacts, I aim to ensure the sacrifices and resilience of my generation are never forgotten. This is more than a story of Bangladesh—it’s a tribute to the universal power of youth-led activism to bring about change, even in the darkest times.
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2024 - 2025 Winter Passion Projects
Talia De Beer
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Amid Argentina's worst economic crisis, far-right candidate Javier Milei's victory ushers in a new political era. For my winter passion project, I will produce a short documentary, aiming to examine the day-to-day implications of Milei's presidency and the ongoing economic challenges. Through interviews, footage, and analysis, the film will explore the potential impact of Milei’s unconventional ideas on Argentina's future, and how they are being received by the general public.
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Madeline Dornfeld
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A policy memo focusing on the challenges of Ukraine's EU accession and the necessity of budgetary and institutional reform of the EU to accommodate future enlargement.
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Marco Valsania Bacherer
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My passion project involves an exploration of Milei's changing outlook on MERCOSUR, transitioning from a dissolution-oriented campaign rhetoric to a more accommodating stance in his presidency.
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Tudor Galan
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Discover the fascinating world of soccer diplomacy and investigate the backroom deals that led to Saudi Arabia being awarded the privilege to host the 2034 World Cup. From secret negotiations to the unexpected decision of Australia's withdrawal, this project's purpose has been to become an essential source for anyone interested in top-notch politics and world-class sport. Analyze the diplomatic maneuverings and political importance of the World Cup's hosting in Saudi Arabia. Whether you are a soccer enthusiast or a diplomatic aficionado, there is an array of insight and resources in this paired article and board game that users may employ to examine the multiple layers underlying Saudi Arabia's strategic chessboard on the international playing field
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Nyassa Garg
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Diving into the heart of Asia's power play, this project unravels the complex Kashmir border dispute from the lesser-investigated India and China perspective. It explores the historical roots, dissects the political and legal narratives, and analyzes how this decades-long conflict shapes the contentious region. From territorial tussles to the impact on local communities, this study brings to light the evolving geopolitics and the deep-seated nationalistic sentiments it stirs.
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Kahani Malhotra
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With jarring news stories airing at breakneck speed, it can feel impossible to keep up—so much so that we close our minds to the disasters raging around us. Balance the Ballot, a news account on Instagram, was created to report nonpartisan news ‘by students, for students’ and help a new generation of young adults get excited about politics. Unfortunately, it became inactive last year. Thus, I spent this winter break revitalizing Balance the Ballot by building a new administrative team, hiring writers and graphic designers, and reigniting the account with unbiased reporting to an audience of over 16,000 followers. Our youth is the future, and I am eager to continue expanding Balance the Ballot under a new motto: news by students, for all.
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Miranda Chen
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My interest in Sweden's sociopolitical landscape took me to study abroad in Stockholm, where I gained a personal connection to the country. There, I learned about the pros and cons of Sweden's welfare state and progressive culture from my Swedish professors and locals. My project seeks to use a balanced perspective to explore Sweden's struggle with controlling gang violence, one of the country's most challenging short-term struggles. It also presents a broad spectrum of key facts and information contributing to this issue, including the legal system, immigration, and public consensus
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2023 - 2024 Winter Passion Projects
Akriti Poudel
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This winter break, I worked on a podcast about the Bhutanese refugee crisis. An almost unknown refugee crisis, I delved into why Bhutan expelled over 160,000 ethnic Lhotshampas out of their country, and how the lives of Bhutanese refugees changed forever. As an International Relations major, it baffled me that a crisis involving refusal of citizenship and human rights was perpetuated by a nation to the point where a UN agency had gotten involved, and yet, it seemed as if the rest of the world had not noticed. I decided to do my own research and created a four-part series to help share the story of Bhutanese refugees.
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Annalice Sandiero
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For my winter passion project, I wanted to explore Rock en Español role in Latin American history and in the development of Latin American identity. Rock en Español music is a formative part of my own identity as a daughter of Mexican parents who are also fans of the genre. Through resistance and language, the genre has unified people in Latin America and beyond.
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Pieter van Wingerden
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Pieter’s work was featured in The National Interest’s April 2023 issue.
As Taiwan continues to fend off China’s coercive activities around the democratically ruled island that Beijing asserts as its own, I will explore how the U.S. defense industrial base can effectively support Taiwan and address the ongoing backlog and procurement issues. Areas of focus will include the benefits and drawbacks of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS), the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, and the efficacy of Presidential Drawdown Authorities and the Defense Production Act to address procurement issues. This project will broaden the debate surrounding the U.S. arms sales policies toward Taiwan and provide policy recommendations to tackle the procurement backlog that continues to grapple Taiwan.
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Chloe Kastl
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In more recent years in North Korea, more women have advanced to higher positions in politics and the public sphere. However, women have also experienced increased levels of abuse and persecution. This past winter I developed a website that explores and provides more information on this topic. By hosting multiple articles, a thorough timeline of important advancements, videos and infographics on the issues, and a list of additional resources aiming to also understand the status of women in North Korea, this website will become an all-encompassing hub of information aimed to inform anyone who wishes to delve into the status of women in North Korean politics.
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Sajah Ali
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I wrote my winter passion project on political activism and protest throughout the 2022 World Cup.
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Pallavi Raju
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Pallavi was inspired by her family’s past to capture the stories of survivors of the Sikh Genocide in India in 1984. She started her research journey with a Keck Center Passion Projects Fellowship and expanded further with a documentary sponsored by the CMC Soll Center for Student Opportunities. Pallavi was given the opportunity to interview her family members, along with other people in the community that faced the atrocities of the anti-Sikh riots. Her reflections from the passion project and documentary can be found in the link below.
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Sumanje Chigwenembe
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I am a Malawian-American and I took my research back to Malawi this winter break. In a four-part blog on Agriculture and Fishing industries in Malawi I explored topics such as agriculture, fishing, politics, supply chain, and Chinese interference.
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Maureen Tchatchoua
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In this infographic, I explore the ways the civil war and ‘blood diamonds’ have culturally impacted Sierra Leone (Salone) and its citizens 20 years post. Throughout my interviews I focus on anecdotes and research supported memory recollections of the time period during and after the war. With many citizens not feeling comfortable being recorded speaking of the topic, the ones that did accept professed chilling testimonials that helped me guide the scope of my research to depths I did not foresee.
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A Selection of 2022 - 2023 Winter Passion Projects
Jonathan Becker
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Jonathan compiled a zine of his translation of 古物记 (gu wu ji), a Chinese book that examines various artifacts from the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1912 AD). Over the course of the project, Jonathan learned over 1800 new words and studied over a dozen artifacts. Jonathan’s zine includes a short introduction to the text, a translated version of sections, and a bilingual reflection on five parts of the book. By investigating the origin of these artifacts, the author illuminates many fascinating aspects of daily life in Imperial China, both for Qing nobility and for common people.
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Yunqing (Isaac) Han
Bertha Tobias
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Bertha’s website includes ten rules for Black girls to help them navigate — perform whiteness as best as you possibly can — at a predominantly white institution. While the blog posts are meant to be light-hearted, they are also an authentic reflection of what it means to be “the Other:” it requires alertness, deliberate self-preservation, and laborious conversation. Her work is intended to be received as deliberately satirical - not to evade the seriousness of conversations about the role of race in your experience, but to reclaim the narrative of your story in a way that maximises the ease with which other people connect to and engage with you.
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The clauses of treaties are usually quite clear for both Chinese and English records. Should the main points of a treaty appear different in the two sections, it is done to reflect the different emphasis the records had between the two languages. The same is done for wars that involved a significant number of battles. It is also worth noting that a majority of Chinese records referenced on this website are from sources from Mainland China, after 1949. Some historical events that Yuqing writes about incudes the First Opium War, War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and Chinese Civil War.
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Lintong Lyu
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Lintong studied the role of the media in shaping the public’s perception of COVID-19 and how it contributes to public policy making. To be more specific, Lintong studied the effect of media in the U.S., UK, and China. In these three countries, media is controlled by the government/capital to different extents, and he was curious to explore how people react to the news and how the public reactions generate political and social consequences. Lintong conducted his research by interviewing people in the UK from his travels, friends from China, and friends from the US.
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Brandon Isem Caceres
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Guatemala is known as the Land Of Eternal Spring and with it carries one of the most beautiful places in the world. Along with a title befitting of its beauty, Guatemala has a large population made up of indigenous Mayans. Guatemala isn't the only place where Mayans can be found, a lot of them reside in Los Angeles as immigrants looking for a better future. There are an estimated 21 Mayan Communities that reside in Guatemala with K'iche' being the second-most spoken language in the country. This passion project seeks to educate people about an indigenous community in Central America, particularly Mayans in Guatemala.
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Yiwen (Emma) Pan
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Contemporary Chinese obsessions with California can be found in various art and representations of popular culture. As someone born and raised in China, I remember California being a fantasy, a place adults couldn’t stop talking about. The obsession is cultural, and its origin can be traced back to history. In this project, I will look through movies such as Be There or Be Square by Feng Xiaogang, paintings like “Immigrants Disembarking Ship” by Jake Lee, California landscape paintings by Situ Jin, Art Exhibitions like Under the Sky of the Golden State California Landscape Paintings by Hong-Bo, and historical literature like essays on “The Golden Hills’ News” and books like The Chinese Question: The Gold Rushes and Global Politics. I will also conduct interviews with Chinese immigrants in California around Rowland Heights and Chino Hills. The obsession originates from something beyond the nice weather and the beaches. It is a “dream” infused into Chinese culture, which directs hundreds of thousands of people to immigrate despite the difficulties. By analyzing this obsession, we can better understand Chinese culture and history.
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Elizabeth Hernandez
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Since the beginning of the environmentalism movement, it has largely been led by white, middle and upper class males. Their efforts make up mainstream environmentalism which places an emphasis on nature and conservation, often overlooking the struggles and living conditions of BIPOC communities. Although the assumption prevails that Latine communities are not interested in the environment, Latines in the US say global climate change and other environmental issues impact their local communities and they support policy measures that will address climate change and other environmental issues. In a time of overconsumption and inequality, Latines carry a disproportionate environmental burden, whether it be through pollution in the US or resource extraction in Latin America. Thus, this project provides some key historical moments in environmentalism for and environmental issues faced by Latine communities.
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Sambhav Maheshwari and Margo Cohen
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Sambhav and Margo explore the question, “How is development perceived in Hyderabad, India, and Chicago, USA? What are the commonalities and differences between the results?” To collect data points, they interviewed 20 people from each city, Hyderbad and Chicago.
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Bhanu Cheepurupalli
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Therapeutic Landscapes is an investigation of the historical immigrant exploration of American and Asian cultures through places of worship, which have long been therapeutic landscapes for immigrants and are optimal for examinations of the cultural history of communities. Bhanu’s interviews, research, and photography aims to employ the lens of individual narratives to capture the impact of historical relations between America and Asia and, subsequently, highlight the relationship between the two cultures in Asian-American communities. When curating the exhibition, Bhanu’s aim was to showcase the diverse manners in which Asian and American cultures meet and those impacted by this marriage of nations.
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A Selection of 2021 - 2022 Winter Passion Projects
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This screenplay will try to understand how American military intervention in Asian countries affected the Asian women and the mixed-race children produced from these Asian survival marriages created after WWII. The film will try to understand how mixed-race identity, trauma, and culture play a role in these relationships. Real stories will be collected and then compared to recent studies on mixed-race women, the history of colonization, and research on Asian war brides. I hope to highlight, the different cultural norms between the ethnic parent and the westernized children which can lead to a cultural disconnect. Due to this cultural disconnect each party, the parent and the child, do not have the familial relationship that is built on the same understanding and the same cultural norms. In order to cope with the cultural disconnect from not being raised in the ethnic parent’s country, the children then reject the ethnic culture and learn how to forge their own path.
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Dri Tattersfield
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I plan to create a short narrative video game set in the future exploring Taiwanese & Taiwanese American identity called Taipei Metro Quest. My premise centered around a Taiwanese-American protagonist returning to Taiwan and arriving in the far future. This project is a way to process and channel my anxieties about returning to Taiwan post-graduation and finding it different from when I left six years ago due to political, social and environmental changes, as well as navigating my multicultural identity. Beyond these specific personal motivations, I hope to create a game that touches on the broader theme of trying to find home while caught between worlds.
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A Selection of 2020-2021 Winter Passion Projects
Sarah Chen and Ava Liao
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Video games tend to center around conflict, no matter the genre. The player is often given fantastical, supernatural weapons and thrust into violent situations with little to no explanation, only purpose. Players must adapt to controls that replicate analogous real-world movements: some intuitive, some absurd. The Digital Utility of Conflict aims to break down and conceptualize the logistics of weaponry, combat design, and systems from 21st century video games across a variety of genres, and feature commentary breaking down objectives, justifications, and the efficiency of conflict. The project will also include an analysis of user experience and user design of the games themselves, and be presented in full as an interactive, multimedia website. We will be examining fictional narratives, game design literature, scientific capabilities, and motivations for conflict.
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Valentina Gonzalez
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“Human Trafficking in the Borderland” is a project that analyzes how human trafficking affects people of color and other vulnerable groups in border towns. Additionally, it considers how this violation of human rights is interwoven in the international realm, specifically because traffickers oftentimes exploit marginalized communities in multiple countries, through ports of entry in border cities. This project will study the dynamic between the US-Mexican and India-Nepal borders and their current situations in human trafficking. The purpose of comparing these areas is to highlight that human trafficking is an international issue that no country is safe from. Unless there is more done to prevent forced labor, in whatever form it comes in, this atrocity will continue to thrive in every country.
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Rukmini Banerjee
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The way early South Asian feminism was able to establish itself was by asserting that women were equal to men on the basis that they were able to successfully participate in activities that were characterized to be traditionally for men. This paper seeks to analyze this compromise within feminism and the implications it has had for contemporary South Asian feminism through the examination of the autobiography of Rashsundari Devi and the testimonies of women during the modern-day Punjabi protests. It is necessary to understand the culture that has necessitated compromises in South Asian feminism to better articulate the issues South Asian women face and how the general society and feminist movement have exacerbated them.
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