Research Project – United Nation

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International Studies Program

The City College of New York

SENIOR SEMINAR, SPRING 2021

THE UNITED NATIONS AND DEMOCRACY BUILDING:

BRIDGING POLICY AND PRACTICE

Assignment description

Topic: Students are requested to produce a research paper on the role of the United

Nations in democracy building, by focusing on one of the main issues addressed during

the Seminar. Examples of possible topics include:

a) Democratic governance and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: How
may democratic processes and institution contribute to the achievement of the

Sustainable Development Goals?

b) Democracy, human rights and the rule of law: What are the main functions of the
UN in support of strengthening the rule of law and respect for human rights and

fundamental freedoms?

c) Gender equality and democracy: What can the UN do to increase women’s
political participation and representation?

d) Peace operations and peacebuilding: How can democratic processes support the
UN’s objective of sustaining peace?

e) Strengthening civil society: What role can the UN play to protect the shrinking
space for civic society engagement and action at the country level?

f) What should the UN do to address the impact of the pandemic on democracy and
human rights?

The paper should provide a critical analysis of the chosen topic, based on the analysis of

the main challenges and opportunities for UN action. It can use a concrete example (a

project, an initiative or a country case study) in support of the argument.

Deadline: The final assignment should be sent to me by email by Sunday, May 23, 2021.

Parameters: The paper length will be approximately 14-15 pages (without including the

title page, abstract, or references page), double spaced, typed in size 12, Times New

Roman font, for a total of approximately 3500 words. There should be a cover sheet with

the title of the paper and the name of the student (name, title, class, date). After the cover

page, and before the body of the paper, there should be an abstract, i.e. a brief,

comprehensive summary of the paper, no longer than 150 words. References should be

listed on a separate page at the end of the paper. Margins should be no wider than 1”.

Pages should be numbered.

References: The paper should include a minimum of 5 references. The analysis should be

supported with a minimum of 3 scholarly sources (only one of which can be an assigned

course reading) and 2 primary sources. Appropriate sources include: (a) research articles

from scientific journals; (b) academic books; (c) primary sources, like UN reports, UN

resolutions or other UN official documents.

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Format: The paper should follow one of the following formats: MLA, or APA. For

further information, please refer to: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

Structure: The paper should be articulated into three parts:

• Introduction: The introductory material should briefly summarize the main
findings on the subject and the substance of the paper. If the sources disagree on

different perspectives on the subject, the introduction should point out the areas of

disagreement. The thesis proposed by the paper should come at the end of the

introductory material, stated in the form of a sentence or two. It should not be

stated in the form of a question; it should rather be a brief statement that points

out the major issues about this topic that the student discovered through the

research.

• Body of Paper: Use subheadings, where appropriate, to separate different aspects
of the paper which support the thesis. This section of the paper should provide

evidence in support of the thesis, in a logical, fully developed manner. For each

new topic which supports the overall thesis, provide a topic sentence or two which

would be, in effect, the thesis for that sub-topic. In case no subheadings are used,

the student should provide transition sentences to move readers from one

paragraph to the next. The research paper should synthesize the information

gained from sources and organize them into a well ordered discourse, using the

sources as evidence to support key points.

• Conclusion: The conclusion should make some “wrap up” statements about what
the student learned about the chosen topic and the possible impact of the paper’s

findings on key multilateral actors and their policies. It should also address any

issues that may still not be resolved for the student.

Grading: Criteria for grading will be:

• Content: 40%
o Full explanation of topic
o Introduction to topic
o Background, method, results, conclusions of at least 3 studies
o Conclusion to paper

• Depth of thought: 30%
o Provided own conclusions and thoughts
o Critical analysis of research
o Provide future directions

• Clarity: 20%
o Written in clear and understandable language
o Logical order
o Provides connections among papers
o Succinct and concise language
o Technical aspect (such as spelling, punctuation, correct quotations,

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

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grammar)

• MLA/APA style / other requirements: 10%
o Includes section headers
o Referencing within paper
o Reference page at end (with all references from paper)