In addition to their work for the PMBF Program, our interns and fellows pursue research outside of the PMBF office. Here is some of the work that our students have published:
“The Political Motives Behind Bangladesh’s Abuse of Rohingya Refugees”
Published by Sam Schiffer, a double major in Political Science and Journalism, in Political Violence at a Glance, this article breaks down and tries to understand the various reasons behind the Bangladeshi policy toward the Rohingya people.
“The Future of the U.S.-Saudi Relationship”
Part of the University of Central Florida’s Middle East Initiatives, the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Program for Strategic Research and Studies (PMBF Program) was established as an interdisciplinary and collaborative program which works to enhance debate, dialogue, partnership-building and scholarship in a number of fields: culture, economy, energy, education and U.S.-Saudi relations. The program was also to look at four issues in the broad U.S.-Saudi context: bilateral relations (U.S.-Saudi governmental ties); security (regional security, stability); culture (society, Islam and the West); and economy (business, trade). The PMBF Program, which is part of the College of Sciences and School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs, stems from a partnership between UCF and Prince Mohammed bin Fahd University (PMU).
Among the Program’s offerings is an array of student research and internship opportunities. This includes providing qualified students an opportunity to conduct independent research. This paper is part of a series of student research publications. The views expressed in this publication are entirely those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff, officers or advisors of the University of Central Florida’s Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Program for Strategic Research and Studies or School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs Department.
We are proud to publish this paper, which was written by recent UCF graduate John Derks. John, who graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, was an undergraduate fellow with the PMBF Program in Spring 2017. Previously, he interned with the UCF Global Perspectives Office, where he researched African development issues. John studied abroad in Rome, Italy, during the summer of 2016 and is currently studying in Lyon, France. He plans to attend graduate school and pursue a master’s degree in Political Science, specializing in Africa.
Sincerely,
David Dumke, Director
Security Studies Students Honored
Fellow Security Studies Ph.D. candidate Christopher Faulkner won runner-up honors for his paper “Following the Money? Considering the Effect of External State Sponsorship on Rebel Child Soldiering.” Faulkner explores how foreign states’ domestic political institutions might impact rebels’ recruitment practices concerning child soldiers.