The paper “Christianity and Politics: Korea versus Kenya” contributes to the scholarly literature by process tracing the role of religious leadership in the development of democratization social movements in two post-colonial contexts, Korea and Kenya.
It is the result of an International Research Exchange Agreement signed between SRI and The Catholic University of Korea and was published in The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Global Studies, which is indexed by Scopus (Elsevier).
Does EdTech have a Role in Improving Kenya’s Learning Outcomes Amongst Primary and Secondary Students?
SRI sponsored a postgraduate student consultancy project conducted by Maty Ngom, Marta Perich-Pallaruelo and Oliver Walker who were postgraduate students at the London School of Economics and Political Science’s Department of International Development. Their research was completed at the end of March 2022.
An Exploratory Analysis of North Korea’s Relationship with Africa: From the Cold War to Now
The research report entitled “An Exploratory Analysis of North Korea’s Relationship with Africa: From the Cold War to Now” traces the history of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s involvement in Africa starting with the country’s support of African liberation and independent movements to carrying out cyber crimes on the continent. The report argues that North Korea has always operated as an independent entity, not as a proxy, during the Cold War. Furthermore, its activities in Africa have been pursued opportunistically to support North Korea’s regime and later finance it weapons of mass destruction program.
Using Cybersecurity As A Tool To Empower Women
This research note analyzes the outcome of the 5Ws of Cybersecurity project that was funded by the U.S. Embassy Nairobi. A regression and cluster analysis was used to gauge the performance of the 517 training participants and determine if gender explains differences in aptitude. The analysis concludes that women are just as capable as men in the areas assessed during the training and therefore need more encouragement to study STEM subjects and pursue professions in technology sectors.
Who Will Win the Strategic Long Game? The G7’s Build Back Better World or China’s Belt and Road Initiative?
This research note contrasts competing development initiatives: The first is China’s Belt and Road Initiative that has been implemented since 2013 and the second is the Build Back Better World vision announced at the recent G7 summit in Carbis Bay. Both are strategies to gain global influence in the economic and political sphere though it remains to be seen if Build Back Better World emerges as an attractive alternative to the Chinese program.
Comparison of Foreign Fighter Model in Syria and Iraq with Kenya’s Schematic Model of Radicalization of Youth: The Role of Education a Second Political Socialization
This paper compares the Brookings Institution framework of foreign fighter radicalization with Kenya’s framework. Unlike the Western model based mainly on precedents in Iraq and Syria, the radicalization of non-Somali Kenyans is taking place inside the home country through political/terrorist youth groups and at mosques.
Political Culture and Collective Action: Applying South Korea's Democratization Model to Iran's Green Movement
This paper uses the within-case study analysis methodology called process-tracing to examine socio-political events that underlined these two movements. The analysis showed that both movements shared several conditions that led to the formation of social and political capital, yet Dr. Ko argues that the causal relationships between independent variables revealed two vastly different political cultures.
The paper by Dr. Ko was published by The Korean Journal of Area Studies which is a KCI A listed journal.
Mapping out Russian, Iranian and Chinese Influence Operations in Africa
Russia, Iran and China actively conduct influence operations across Africa while the United States is seen as a less significant player on the continent.
Read moreThe Myth of Ethnicity
Dr. Ko has begun research into her forthcoming book entitled “Myth of Ethnicity: Narratives of Violence.”
Read moreMigration Churches and Political Capital in Kuwait
This study conducted in Kuwait explored the impact and extent of Kuwait’s religious freedom in encouraging the accumulation of social capital for the migration workers community.
Read moreResearch into Political Behaviors in “Maasai Land”
In 2017, we explored the voting behavior around Kenya's 2013 general elections of sub-ethnicities within the Maasai community in Kajiado County. Additionally, we analyzed how Kenya’s 2011 constitutional reform affected the behavior of women and minority voters. The data were collected through field research among 600 participants.
Impact of Social Science (Economics) Distribution Requirement on Critical Thinking Skills in Kenya's Second and Third Year Social Science Students
Dr. Ko’s study indicates that attending a nine-week critical thinking course matters in developing overall critical thinking skills that improve the learning process and, ultimately, the acquirement of high order critical thinking skills such as inference and argument. The study used the R-programming language and the marginal effects technique.
Read moreConstructing Narratives as a Means of Legitimizing Political Power: Contextualizing the Propaganda Model in Iraq
This study uses the propaganda model formulated by Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman to analyze the construction of narratives related to four bombings carried out in Baghdad in the months preceding Iraq’s national election in March 2010.
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