Ideopolis Volume 3, Issue 1, Fall 2015

Volume 3, Issue 1

Rhode Island College

Fall 2015

idea noun \ī-ˈdē-ə, -ˈdēə also ˈī-(ˌ)dē-ə or ˈī-dē\: a thought, plan, or suggestion about what to do; an opinion or belief; something that you imagine or picture in your mind polis noun \ˈpä-ləs\: a Greek city-state; broadly: a state or society especially when characterized by a sense of community

A Chinese Cultural Agent

By Ailton Barbosa ‘10 Many students dream of the opportunity to travel and study abroad; they want to experience life in different culture, different social interactions and perhaps even a different political system. There is a great deal one can learn from studying in a different country that no single class, book, or assignment can provide. Still, to study abroad is also to become part of a federation of unofficial diplomats suited with tools to bring people together. The US government has long realized the political/social potential of individuals going abroad and has used programs like the Peace Corps as instruments in its diplomatic agenda. Today, China has taken the idea of students-diplomats to a new level by targeting scholarships to low-income and resource-rich countries in order to attract excellent students willing to be educated in the Far East.

As a beneficiary of a Chinese scholarship for a Masters program, I consider myself an unofficial diplomat for the People’s Republic of China (PRC), here to dispel some misunderstanding and paint a small picture of the Chinese world.

Language and Social Interactions From the moment I stepped foot on campus at Fudan University, in Shanghai, China, I realized that my complete ignorance of Mandarin would cause many hurdles and headaches. The first week after my arrival I could have been

found sitting in a restaurant and pointing at the menu to one of the four dishes that a friend had written down for me.

I soon ventured out from that list but so many dishes were sadly lost because they did not fit my taste buds or were too spicy (cooks in China often assume that you enjoy your food as hot as the Devil’s toenails). Slowly, and with much help, some of the fog of not knowing the language began to lift and I started not to only eat different dishes but to speak enough Mandarin to stay away from spicy food.

The lack of the knowledge of the Chinese language also provided me with two unique opportunities. First, I was able to sit back and watch the interaction of people in their daily errands. I realized that even though people speak different languages they communicate the same message. Chinese people are much like Americans; the Chinese population just wants peace and the ability to take care and love their family and friends (the most popular TV show in China is Friends). Second, my lack of understanding of local language made me realize how much I wanted to understand the country that I was living in. Therefore, I began to make life-long friends with those who decided to 1

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Rhode Island College

speak with me in a combination of broken Mandarin, English, and gestures.

Education The similarities between the PRC and US, however, end when one talks about education. The US's free feeling, critical thinking approach to education is different from China's approach, which is laborious and requires lots of memorization. Students can be found carrying heavy loads of books as prove they work hard and spend much effort on their educations. During my two years in Shanghai, I was able to teach and tutor English classes for students of all ages. I grew to understand how difficult a Chinese student ‘s school life can be. (The stereotype of the exceptional Asian likely exists because the Chinese start studying at a young age and do it for 14 hours a day most of the time. Perhaps, not surprisingly, sleeping in class is not viewed negatively).

In my own educational journey in the PRC, I found that most of the professors in Fudan's Political Science Department were more concerned with the office's duties than talking with students. This is quite unlike my experience in RIC's political science department, where student-professor interaction is a valuable part of the educational experience.

Like most of universities in China, Fudan University had a Communist Party representative on campus, and even though he was in the background, his name and position was clearly labeled on the door. Such historical nuances are still present in the Chinese education system and actions like raising your hand in class or questioning a professor’s knowledge is viewed with distaste. (Many of my classmates ran into this problem with sensitive political issues like China-Taiwan relations, Global Warming, or the legacy of Mao Zedong).

Big vs. Small Man Politics The subject of politics in China is touchy. There are those who run from it and those who run towards it. For the majority of those who run from it, the main reason they

Fall 2015

stated is “Beijing (the capital) is so far away and I am just a little man. I don’t matter much to them” or “I don’t think about politics, I just focus on my life and let those in Beijing do their job.” I could not tell if people’s avoidance of politics was due to the fact that I was a foreign and often the Chinese think the political life of China is too complicated for the little mind of a foreigner. On the other hand, a walk to any of the parks around the city of Shanghai, one would find large groups of older gentleman hanging out and debating politics. The general feeling about political life in China is one of contentment and complicity. Furthermore, with media propaganda and such a huge focus on economic development, Chinese citizens are much more interested in starting online shops to sell their cheap products to American and European shoppers than in fussing about Beijing's political life.

Warm Beer, Hot Tea and Street Food If someone asks me today what I miss the most about my time in China, I have to say the street food and lively social gatherings. Unlike Americans, Chinese love to spend their time outside of their houses (except for those in the virtual world at the internet shops). So time with friends is often outside of the house, usually in a Karaoke bar or the local pub. I quickly picked up many of the social habits of the local population. These included things like taking shots of room temperature beer and indulging in the late night, binge eating of street food. China's cuisine is expansive and diverse, from a dog meat festival in the south of the country to sheep kebabs in the West, there is a dish for everyone.

There’s also a different type of tea for anyone or anything that needs healing. Flower tea, leaf tea and even fruit tea can all be found in the local teashop. Unlike many of my Chinese friends who had adopted coffee as their drink of choice, I drank plenty of tea.

I ask that everyone not think of China as just the factory floor of the world with a homogenous population. Rather, think of it as a country made up of many different types of people all striving for similar goals as their counterparts in the US. 2

Volume 3, Issue 1

Rhode Island College

Fall 2015

Student News and Updates Ukrainian Connection Political Science major/INGOS minor, Elisa Boschetti ’16, is currently interning at AS220 in Providence. She is working on the preparation process for Museums Connect, a program administered by the American Alliance of Museums, made possible by the US Department of State, which will start in 2016.

AS220 will be working in conjunction with the Izolyatsia nonprofit and non-governmental platform for contemporary culture based in Kiev, Ukraine. Thanks to RIC Political Science alumna and AS220 Development Officer, Terri Rodriguez ’13, for bringing this exciting internship possibility to the attention of RIC faculty.and AS

The London Trip A Practical Option for Study Abroad Travelling abroad is something I never had any intention of doing until I was a financially secure college graduate with a salary sufficient enough to pay for rent, utilities, savings, etc. That was my plan, and, for all intents and purposes, it seemed as though it would stay that way. Most study abroad courses cost thousands of dollars and require entire semesters spent abroad. I thought that I, a RIC college student, could never do that. But then I learned of the two and a half week summer London Course taught by Dr. Weiner every two years. The course provided six credits and fulfilled two of the six courses I had to take of my optional requirements for the political science major. Along with these practical benefits, I had the opportunity to experience traveling abroad and seeing the majesty of London, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton Beach, and Paris. Through museums and art galleries filled with cultural touchstones of great significance and along the scenic, but not less important, city streets with masses of human consciousness, I immersed myself in the heart of another culture and took with me lessons that will pay off years and decades in the future. I think all Rhode Island College students need to know about the London Course. Those who seek a reasonably priced, temporary study abroad program should definitely consider it. Derrick Trombley ’17.

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Volume 3, Issue 1

Rhode Island College

Fall 2015

Start Planning Early: DC Summer Internship Opportunities

Josh Estrella and Arianna Morrocco are two of the six recipients of weeklong DC summer internship opportunities provided by the Political Science Department and Student Community Government each spring. Below they discuss their experiences. nd d Josh Estrella ’16. Last summer was my time stepping foot into America’s capital after luckily being granted the opportunity to intern under Senator Jack Reed. Looking back at my seven days in DC, the experience was surreal. Throughout the week I met so many great people in and out of the office. I summarized bills, watched Senate floor debates and had special access to the Capitol. On any given day during the week I walked by offices of people like Nancy Pelosi and John McCain. By the time Friday came a long I had adjusted so well that everything felt so natural.

Walking to the Metrorail felt like something I had been doing for years, and it felt so weird knowing I would be leaving the next day.

On my last night in DC I planned on going back to my hostel since I had an early train back in the morning but instead I decided to wander into the Capitol to watch the Senate in session one last time before I left. I arrived at 8pm and didn’t leave until almost 2 am; I was able to witness one of Rand Paul’s filibusters, I befriended a Capitol security guard who told talked to me for hours about all of the different senators and when I left I walked just two feet away from a frustrated Elizabeth Warren. The night was unbelievable for me. I can’t thank the political science department and SCG enough for giving me the opportunity to go last summer. To anyone who thinks they might be interested, I highly suggest it. You would not believe what you get out of a one-week internship!

Ariana Morrocco ’16. As an aspiring public administrator, completing a congressional internship in Washington, DC had merely been a dream. However with the assistance of Rhode Island College’s Political Science Department and Student Community Government, Inc., that dream was made a reality.

During my time in Washington, DC, I interned for Congressman Jim Langevin. I chose to intern for Congressman Langevin because I had previously worked on his 2014 congressional reelection campaign. As a congressional intern, I completed various different tasks. These tasks included completing the daily news, handling phones, logging constituent information, providing Capitol tours, attending briefings and hearings, creating excel spreadsheets, and assisting the legislative staff as needed. As a result, I learned valuable skills and gained first hand sight to the legislative process.

Although my time in Washington, DC was short, I was sure to take advantage of all that our Nation’s Capital has to offer. I particularly enjoyed touring the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, visiting the National Mall and the National Zoo. Upon my return from Washington, DC, I spent the remainder of the summer interning for Congressman Langevin in his District Office in Rhode Island.

With that being said, traveling to Washington, DC and serving as a congressional intern is an experience that I will never forget!

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Volume 3, Issue 1

Geography Corner

Rhode Island College

Fall 2015

Oh the Places You’ll Go . . .

With Geography!

GEOGRAPHERS LEARN ABOUT THEIR PROFESSION FIRST-HAND

An essential ingredient of the Geography Major is the professional internship. Students have the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member and an on-site supervisor who, together, ensure that our majors gain first-hand experience of their chosen specialty within the "big tent discipline" that is Geography. Many students enjoy their first internship placement so much that they opt to do a second one. Geography majors may earn between four and six credits, depending on the hours they are prepared to invest in this valuable experience, by working with a mentor in an organization whose focus matches closely the career they wish to pursue upon graduation. The geography faculty members believe that our internship program provides a vital link between a student's academic advancement and the world of work. Most of our students report that the internship is one of their favorite courses and that it teaches them the difference between the kind of work they may be doing to help pay their way through college and the professional career choices that lie ahead of them once they earn their BA. This is also an incentive, of course, to maintain a commitment to graduate on time!

Geography majors pursue internships that run the gamut of sub-fields that constitute our discipline: environmental policy, regulation and conservation; weather and climate studies; urban and regional planning; housing and neighborhood development; historic district preservation; open space protection and national park supervision; recreation and tourism; demographic studies and population projections; transportation and infrastructure planning; strategic military satellite and air photo interpretation; digitally mapping the changing landscapes of our world; obtaining administrative posts in the governmental and nonprofit sectors; coastal, estuarine and riverine zone designation; natural disaster and hazard management, mitigation and remediation; conducting location and relocation analyses for private corporations' industrial, commercial and retail facilities; working side-by-side with land surveyors, civil and environmental engineers, site designers and architects to develop land parcels; engaging in all manner of applied social, cultural, economic and environmental research... and the list goes on and on!

Geographers who wish to pursue an internship should contact Dr. Mark Motte, Director of the Geography Program, to discuss the subject area that interests them most. The geography faculty member and geography major identify a shortlist of placements that will most productively engage the student in a fascinating, challenging and door-opening avenue toward a stimulating career... or to an appropriate graduate school program. Dr. Motte looks forward to hearing from you at mmotte@ric.edu or 456-8881. Let's get out into the world to test those theories, methods and skills we have worked so hard together to develop in the classroom!

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Volume 3, Issue 1

INGOS Corner

Rhode Island College

Fall 2015

In the KNOW about INGOS? The INGOS Program introduces students to international nongovernmental organizations (like Amnesty International, Doctors without Borders and Greenpeace), and explores the many ways these important organizations are shaping the world. The program offers two tracks: a certificate and a minor; both tracks are open to all students. For more information, contact Professor Robyn Linde at rlinde@ric.edu.

NYC, Here we come! This fall, the INGOS program, along with Student Activities and the Political Science Department, is traveling to New York City for a tour of the United Nations. The trip will take place on Friday, October 23 and promises to be fun. Tickets for RIC students are $40, which includes bus fare and the UN tour. Tickets are on sale now at the Welcome and Information Desk in the Student Union. Feel free to contact Professor Linde at rlinde@ric.edu for more information.

This summer and fall, three students carried out their internships for the certificate in INGOS. Two of these students, Davina Mettelus ’17 (INGOS and Public Administration) and Janelle McCarren ‘15 (INGOS and Anthropology) have previously worked at Capital Good Fund and the World Affairs Council of Rhode Island here in Providence.

Another student, Kenya Louis ’17 (INGOS and Health Administration) travelled to Haiti this summer to work with International Child Care in Port au Prince. See the photos below. Kenya also had the chance to meet Nobel Laureate Muhammed Yunus, social entrepreneur and founder of the Grameen Bank, at an international conference in Washington, D.C. this summer.

INGOs 302: INGOs and Social Entrepreneurship Professor Robyn Linde Spring 2016 Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00 – 5:50 p.m.

This spring, Professor Linde will teach INGO 302: INGOS and Social Entrepreneurship. The class will partner with Healthy Families Initiative, a community organization that works on domestic violence issues in Muslim communities in Rhode Island. There is a prerequisite (POL 203: Global Politics), but students need not be in the INGOS program to enroll.

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Volume 3, Issue 1

Public Administration Corner

Rhode Island College

Fall 2015

The PERKS of Being a PUB AD Major!

Professor Leazes, in partnership with Dr. Mikaila Arthur of the Sociology Department, received a research grant from The Collaborative, which is funded by the Rhode Island Foundation. The purpose of the grant is to study higher education outcomes in Rhode Island. Three Public Administration and Political Science Majors are assisting in that research: Lindsey Callahan ’15, Michelle Arias ’17, and Kristen Roy ‘17. Two Sociology majors, Viviana Gonzalez-Gomez and Christopher Tirrell, also are part of the research team. The students will assist in compiling data regarding the professional outcomes for students who have graduated from RIC over the past few decades. It’s already proving to be a fun and challenging assignment for the students.

Public Administration majors take note: Public Administration (PBAD) 325: Politics of Public Management will not be offered next semester (Spring 2016). If you are planning to graduate in May, August, or December of 2016, you should enroll in Political Science 306: State and Local Government for the spring.

The class is going to focus, in part, on creating a budget transparency scorecard and manual for use by citizens and communities in Rhode Island. Dr. Leazes reports there will be plenty of fun and energizing activity to ensure everyone will be awake by 8:05 AM, Monday through Thursday!

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Volume 3, Issue 1

Rhode Island College

Fall 2015

Professor Weiner’s Book on the Indignados Movement Coming Soon Rich and his co-author, Iván López (now at the University of Zaragoza in Spain), will see publication of their book, LOS INDIGNADOS: Amidst the Legitimation Crises in Spain, at the end of winter by Zero Books in Oxford/Winchester UK. Strong interest by the international press required a low cost paperback/ EBook format. The Indignados Movement is transforming Spanish politics and society, heralding an end to The Transition since Franco, and responding to multiple legitimation crises in Spain and in Europe.

This movement is rooted in the Stop Evictions campaign led by Ada Colau in Barcelona following the bursting of the subprime mortgage bubble and the Finance Crisis of 2008; as well as the 15-M Movement arising in May 2011 in the Puerta del Sol of Madrid, symbolizing Indignez-Vous outrage of a lost generation spurred by the Stéphane Hassel 2010 pamphlet-style call to action. In May 2011, the world media took notice of a further development in this movement in the European Parliament Elections where a new five-month old political party called Podemos (Yes We Can!) polled eight percent of the Spanish national vote, netting five Euro Members of Parliament.

Further in the wake of the May 2015 regional elections, we are witnessing the fast developing momentum of a larger Social Movement as it responds pre-emptively to the multiple legitimation crises of the welfare state; the housing bubble burst; European Union austerity policies; and the disintegration of the post-Franco Transition façade. In Madrid, the long-time Franco foe and labor lawyer/judge Manuela Carmena is elected mayor, and in Barcelona Ada Colau is elected Mayor. The respective Popular Unity platforms of Ahora Madrid and Barcelona en Común elect women mayors, revealing that amidst the immiseration since 2008, the trust of the Spanish people is moving beyond the traditional political parties and may herald a Third Republic. A popular front strategy is emerging called Confluence – Ahora en Común – preparing primaries to nominate parliamentary candidates for the December 20 elections. Weiner and Lopez are studying currently, in this fall electoral campaign, how Confluence builds on the Indignados’ horizontal democracy in terms of assemblies and circles, as well as municipal and regional social pact-ing.

New mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena, a long-time anti-Franco labor lawyer, successful on a Popular Unity Platform, along with Pablo Iglesias, leader of upstart Podemos Party.

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Volume 3, Issue 1

Rhode Island College

Fall 2015

Faculty Focus

Catching up with the Folks in Craig-Lee Robyn Linde: Professor Linde’s book, The Globalization of Childhood: The international diffusion of norms and law against the child death penalty, will be released by Oxford University Press in summer 2016. Professor Linde also won the Best Paper Award for her research on LGBTQ human rights at the 2015 International Studies Association.

Additionally, she received a grant from the American Political Science Association to travel for fieldwork in London in summer 2016.

Richard Weiner: Professor Weiner has had numerous publications in 2015: ”In the sea of globality only island of globality will emerge” in The European Legacy v. 20/ n.7; and “Post-Secularity, Sacralization and Principled Distance” in The European Legacy v. 20/n. 4; “Otto Kahn-Freund” for The International Encyclopedia of Social Thought, ed. Bryan Turner (Blackwell); “Transnational History as Historical Subject,” in TELOSscope (March 2015); “(Mis)Readings of Marxism in Continental Philosophy,” in Council of European Studies Crit.Com (April 2015); and “Marketing the Moon” in Technology and Society Magazine (September 2015).

In July, Professor Weiner formed and led a daylong seminar on “MultiScalarity in TransNational Policy Making” at the 2nd International Colloquium on Public Policy for the International Political Science Association in Milan. Also in July, he, along with his co-author, Iván López (Complutense Univ. Madrid), presented their research on the Indignados Movement, Podemos and Ahora en Común in Spain since 2011 in terms of survey data on betrayal of trust in institutions of the post-Franco Transition. The long working paper was presented at the Council of European Studies Annual Meeting at Sciences Po Paris.

NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS POL 350 Social Justice and Political Activism Professor Robyn Linde Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:00 – 3:50 p.m.

From the American Civil Rights movement to #BlackLivesMatter, grassroots mass movements for social justice have been critical driving forces for social and political change. Social movements can raise popular awareness and sway public opinion, influence lawmakers, help set the political agenda, shape law and governance, and affect global civil society. In this course, we will cover several important historical and contemporary types of

NEW COURSE For Spring!

political activism, including the Zapatistas in Mexico, the gay rights group ACT UP, Occupy Wall Street, the Arab Spring, Marriage Equality, and Black Lives Matter. All of these movements employed tactics of nonviolence, including civil disobedience and creative uses of art, music, and social media. Through these case studies, we will examine nonviolence as a strategy for change and explore the ways that social movements learn from one another and spread or diffuse ideas to other movements.

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Volume 3, Issue 1

Rhode Island College

Fall 2015

MORE NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS •

As those of you who have stopped by the office may have discovered, our long-time department secretary, Beverly Trenn, retired at the end of the summer. We know that she was always very help to students, and we will all miss her. For now, Erin Riordan is filling in 8:30-12:00 and we have student workers most afternoons. We are working on hiring a full-time replacement for Beverly, and hope that we will have one soon.

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Congratulations to Deirdre O’Donnell ’14 (Political Science and Gender and Women’s Studies), winner of a fellowship to pursue a Master’s degree at Boston University’s School of Public Health!

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Eleven students travelled to Europe this summer with Dr. Weiner’s London Program Here they are at the home of Dr. Sigmund Freud in Hampstead, UK.

Standing: Jessica Rieman, Sarah Stathis, Rebecca Galloway, Gian-Carlo Rossi, Sarah Isherwood, Kati Cage, Sean Rock, Adam Fague Kneeling: Elisa Boschetti, Rich Weiner, Derrik Trombley, Patrick Hall

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Volume 3, Issue 1

Rhode Island College

Fall 2015

Goings-On in Craig-Lee and Beyond A look at student organizations, events and activities...Go ahead, get involved!

Fall Festivus: Be on the lookout for information about a party for students, faculty and alumni to be held on Wednesday, December 9th, during the free period.

Poli Sci Club: The Political Science Club is up and running. Members of the Executive Board are: Michelle Arias ‘17, President; Carson Moore ‘17, Vice President; Nicauris Heredia ‘17, Secretary; Derrik Trombley ‘17, Treasurer. The Club is co-sponsoring the Asian Student Association’s annual Festival of Lights on Wednesday, October 28th from 7pm to 10pm in the Quad.

Pi Sigma Alpha: Each semester, the Alpha Beta Epsilon chapter of the National Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha, invites a small group of students to become members. To become a member, a student must have: completed 60 credit hours, taken a 300 (or above) level course, a 3.3 in their political science courses and a 3.25 cumulative GPA. This fall, 13 students were invited to join. If you did not receive an invite but think you qualify, please contact Prof. Brophy-Baermann (mbrophy@ric.edu). Learn more about Pi Sigma Alpha at: www.pisigmaalpha.org.

Pi Sigma Alpha’s Executive Board is: Sarah Isherwood ’16, President; Lindsey Callahan ’16, Vice President; Tina Marie Smith Tavares ‘17, Treasurer; Cameron Moquin ’16, Secretary.

Pre-Law Club: The purpose of the Rhode Island College Pre-Law Society is to provide NEW CLUB! information and resources to undergraduate and graduate students of Rhode Island College who are interested in pursuing a career in the legal field, in addition to fostering engagement with the law by facilitating discussion and exploration of its various applications in society. Members of the Executive Board are: Sarah Isherwood ’16, President; Alec Lengyel ’16, Vice President; Logan Rausch ’17, Treasurer; Kati Cage ‘17, Secretary.

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Ideopolis Rhode Island College Department of Political Science 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave. Providence, RI 02908

Rhode Island College

Fall 2015

Visit the Political Science Department's website and Facebook page!

Editor Michelle Brophy-Baermann If you like to write and have ideas for the newsletter, consider writing for Ideopolis. The newsletter comes out once each semester.

Send all comments, questions, suggestions, news and more to: mbrophy@ric.edu. We’re especially seeking brief alumni updates, with headshots if possible.

Registration for spring semester begins on Monday, November 2nd. If you haven’t already met with your advisor, please schedule a meeting before the end of the month.

I would like to remind majors that you should complete POL 308 and POL 300 no later than first semester of your junior year.

Don’t forget that POL300 meets the AQSR General Education requirement. We also recommend that you take POL308 before other 300-level courses, especially those that count toward the department writing requirement.

Pre-registration is available for POL300, 308 and 328. These courses tend to fill very quickly. If you have met the prerequisites and your advisor has removed your advising hold, you can contact me (tschmeling@ric.edu) and I will enroll you in one of these courses on the Friday before registration begins. That way, you’ll be assured of a seat.

You can find your enrollment appointment on MyRIC. Be sure to register as soon as you are able so you don’t get locked out of courses you need or want.

Please also remember that, if you’re reaching 90 credits this semester, you should apply for graduation on-line. The Registrar’s office will check your transcript to make sure you are on track to graduate. Thomas Schmeling

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