Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2010, Latin American Studies (International Studies)

The purpose of my study is to understand why the United States intervened in Nicaragua in the early 1980s to overthrow the Sandinista government. I will be looking at declassified documents, radio transcripts, campaign papers, and presidential speeches to determine why officials in the Reagan administration believed that American involvement in Central America was crucial to U.S. national security. This thesis argues that the Reagan administration's decision to overthrow the Sandinista government was shaped by the preconceived notion of Ronald Reagan, the administration's inability to distinguish from perception and reality of the events occurring in Nicaragua, and to undermine the Nicaraguan revolution as a model for other guerrilla organizations in Central America that could have potentially challenged American hegemony in the region.

Committee: Patricia Weitsman PhD (Committee Chair); Thomas Walker PhD (Committee Member); Brad Jokisch PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Hispanic Americans; International Relations; Latin American History; Political Science

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2009, Political Science (Arts and Sciences)

In modern international relations, the analysis of UN peace-keeping operations involved in the civil wars is increasingly important because of its significant impact on international security. To understand the effectiveness and limitations of UN peacekeeping operations, first, I define the terms of successes and failures of peace-keeping missions and the fundamental factors for successful missions, and introduce realism and liberalism as the framework of the analysis in this thesis. Second, I examine two case studies – peace-keeping operations in Nicaragua (ONUCA) and in Western Sahara/Morocco (MINURSO). Finally, I will discuss contemporary UN peace-keeping and the theoretical implications on the case studies through the framework of realism and liberalism. The analysis reveals that the UN is useful in settling civil wars because it provides a favorable environment for peace. On the other hand, it is almost powerless when warring parties and other actors in the conflict are not willing to cooperate.

Committee: Patricia A. Weitsman PhD (Committee Chair); Myra Waterbury PhD (Committee Member); Andrew Ross PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: International Relations; Political Science