REU Site: Democracy, Interdependence and World Politics Summer Research Program

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Project SummaryIn an increasingly interconnected world, study of the forces that shape state behavior andinteractions is increasingly essential. Building on previous success of this program since 2004,the Democracy, Interdependence and World Politics Summer Research Program at TexasChristian University in Fort Worth, Texas will be held in the summers of 2012 and 2013. Withinthe overall project theme students devise and complete independent, mentored researchprojects on issues with significant academic and popular value. Each year, 7 students will workwith faculty mentors to develop research projects, gather and analyze data and producescholarly papers reporting their findings. Activities include research methods seminars, intensiveproject development workshops, presentations by guest scholars, community events, andresearch under the guidance of project mentors with established records of research andpublication. Unlike most REU programs, the focus on international relations and independent,faculty-mentored student projects, and extensive research training.Intellectual MeritRecent geo-political events and the global spread of democracy make studying democracy?sconsequences for world politics compelling. Key concerns include the ability of democracies toformulate and sustain successful foreign policies, the prospects and implications ofdemocratization and democracy promotion, and the effect of democracy on violent conflict.Because this project promotes undergraduate research into these timely areas of study, it buildson growing areas of inquiry in world politics. High quality student research projects examinecritical factors impacting state behavior and interactions, and are disseminated publicly throughpresentation at the annual International Studies Association meetings, with whom the programwill partner to ensure dissemination and impact for the projects. Moreover, student participantsare highly likely to go on to graduate study, for which they are substantially better preparedbecause of the intensive training of the summer program.Broader ImpactsThis unique program expands national understanding of undergraduate education in PoliticalScience, which has limited examples of undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research.Second, the program provides meaningful opportunities to students to engage in internationalstudies research and contribute research projects to the discipline?s discourse. Third, consistentwith NSF principles emphasizing the positive impact of mentored research on undergraduateeducation, the program develops and enhances research skills and prepares students forgraduate study and other applications. Fourth, the program enables diverse students fromdifferent regions and institutions of the country to challenge and support each other in a cohort.Finally, by offering a competitive stipend, this project is accessible to students from middle andlower economic strata as a summer employment opportunity that enriches their education.