PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2009, Arts and Sciences : Political Science

This study tests the proposition that increased economic interdependence between states reduces conflict and promotes peace between them. The study examines dyadic relations between China and its neighbors. This research finds that one of the benefits of interstate trade and investment is improved interstate relations. In both quantitative and qualitative assessments in this study, dyadic trade flows improved interstate relations. Financial flows were also found to improve interstate relations in the qualitative assessment alone and did not reach statistical significance in the quantitative study. However, economic interdependence can foster peace between the actors as long as relative power capabilities remain stable.

Committee: Dinshaw Mistry PhD (Committee Chair); Thomas Moore PhD (Committee Member); Barbara Bardes PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: International Law

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2012, Art Education

The primary question that framed this study was “How can social consciousness and the development of social responsibility grow through the meaning-making processes of collaboration and artmaking?” This source of inquiry was investigated through the practices of arts-based service-learning and participatory action research and was grounded in social interdependence theory. As an artist, teacher and researcher, the author set out to better understand how the processes of collaboration and artmaking could aid in the growth of social consciousness and the development of social responsibility. Working in cooperative learning groups, students from The Ohio State University and Graham Expeditionary Middle School collaboratively created digital art in a joined community space. Through investigations of the big ideas of community and identity, participants worked cooperatively to create meaning in the processes of artmaking and reflection. The results of this study provide a discourse that uncovers many important issues relevant to social consciousness and social responsibility, the practices of service-learning and participatory action research and the theory of social interdependence. It also raises several questions that will inspire numerous new inquiries that continue this reflexive spiral of meaning-making.

Committee: Karen Hutzel PhD (Committee Co-Chair); Christine Ballengee-Morris PhD (Committee Co-Chair); Vesta Daniel PhD (Committee Member); Sydney Walker PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Art Education

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2013, Political Science (Arts and Sciences)

This thesis focuses on a special sphere of the bilateral relations between the US and China – the problematique of security rivalry under conditions of economic interdependence. This question is central to the theoretical dispute between realists and non-realists, including complex interdependence theorists, about what will dominate the international system in the future. While being mutually beneficial, bilateral trade involves a range of complicated processes related to the military sphere, energy resources, national welfare, and the environment. The main argument of this thesis is that these problems are unlikely to cause a major conflict between the current leader – the US – and the rising power – China. The interdependence that has developed through years between these two nations will minimize the possibility of conflict in both economic and military areas, and will prevent the outbreak of war. I further argue that both sides will make efforts to prevent any existing areas of tensions from affecting their relationship in general. In other words, there are grounds to believe that both countries will prefer to preserve the current state of affairs, and the rules of the game, which constitute the overall predominance of economic issues over security in the bilateral relations.

Committee: James Mosher (Advisor); Takaaki Suzuki (Committee Member); Andrew Ross (Committee Member) Subjects: International Relations; Political Science