Browsing by Author "Mahoney, Pat, committee member"

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Open Access
Chinese trade & investment in the 21st century: the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on industrialization in developed & less developed economies
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Cahill, Michael J., author; Roberts, Anthony, advisor; Mahoney, Pat, committee member; Harris, Peter, committee member
Over the past few decades, China's rise as a global industrial leader has profoundly impacted developed and less developed economies. Most recently, the Chinese government has pursued the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to increase its reach and integration into the global economy through trade and investment agreements with roughly 147 countries. Drawing on longitudinal data from 124 countries, I analyze the effects of Chinese trade and investment on the industrialization of developed and less developed economies in the 21st century. Specifically, I analyze whether participation in BRI agreements moderates these effects. The results indicate that Chinese trade and investment increase industrial employment and growth, especially in countries participating in the BRI. However, Chinese trade and investment have a more extensive negative impact on industrial productivity within BRI countries than their non-participating counterparts. While the results are mixed on the benefits and consequences of increased bilateral relations with China, they depict an interesting picture of how Chinese trade and investment affect foreign economies.
Open Access
The "power" of coal: the US Diplomatic Coal Regime under the current global environmental discourse
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Batty, Evan, author; Taylor, Peter, advisor; Mahoney, Pat, committee member; Malin, Stephanie, committee member; Stevis, Dimitris, committee member
Considering the scientific consensus that anthropogenic forces intensify climate change, addressing this "wicked" problem requires international cooperation to mitigate disastrous future global impacts. The increasing rate of international treaties and agreements focused on addressing climate change emphasize sustainable development as the global discourse for the environment. This thesis describes the global discourse, or more specifically a global environmental regulatory regime, as it emerges from the annual meetings of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change parties. Although it has been argued that these Conferences of Parties lack the enforcement mechanisms needed to directly affect the environmental regulations of nation-states, I argue that the international discourse on sustainable development has an indirect effect on state sovereignty, specifically related to domestic energy development and the US coal industry. In an effort to highlight this point, I discuss the alignment of recent attempts at environmental regulation in the United States related to the coal industry to the global environmental discourse.
Open Access
We couldn't even pass a resolution strongly condemning something': decision-making and procedural injustice at Rocky Flats
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Milnes, Travis, author; Malin, Stephanie, advisor; Mahoney, Pat, committee member; Trumbo, Craig, committee member
Over the course of the Rocky Flat's Nuclear Plant's operation, multiple incidents led to radioactive contamination in the surrounding environment. In 1996, state agencies agreed on a $7.3 billion remediation of the site, which was completed in 2005. On September 15, 2018, the periphery of the site was opened to the public as a Wildlife Refuge, in the center remains a space overseen by the Department of Energy. Despite remediation efforts, public opposition for both the Wildlife Refuge and the proposed roadway construction adjacent to the site remains due to concern with increased health risk for local communities. Given the history of contamination and community health response, Rocky Flats is an example of warranted environmental and procedural justice concerns. Literature indicates that procedural justice and environmental justice requires both access to information and public participation in decision-making. To examine these two elements at Rocky Flats, fifteen face-to-face interviews, participant observation of public meetings, and archival analysis was conducted. Findings indicate that Rocky Flats remains a site of environmental and procedural injustice due to the requirement of technical knowledge for public deliberation, and development of the Wildlife Refuge and the roadway despite clear public opposition. This thesis aims to contribute to environmental and procedural justice literature by examining public opposition in a post-remedial setting.