Award-Winning Capstone Projects: The South China Sea
The Team
Caolan Disini, Alexis Doreste, Richard Duncan, William Estrada, Janice He, Jack Valentine, and Sam Weiner
The Problem
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first foreign leader to meet with President Trump following his election and Japan remains one of the U.S.’s closest allies. However, the Abe administration has expanded the role of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, increased Japan’s missile capabilities, and taken a more aggressive stand against China’s expansion into the South Pacific. How should the Trump administration respond to the possibility of a new militarized Japan?
Praise from Professors
This group excelled in each aspect of the Capstone process. Their research is thorough, their prose clear and precise, and the policy a rare and welcome combination of breadth and depth. Even obscure, yet important, aspects of the dispute ended up in their Capstone. All the positives of the project came together in the policy. Here the group moved deftly between short–term and long–term solutions while also providing an impressive balance between direct American diplomacy with their Chinese counterparts and the construction of a multi–pronged Asian–Pacific alliance system that encompasses the host of countries fearful of China’s rising power in the region. In sum, one of the best projects we’ve seen in years.
How They Succeeded
- Jack Valentine (CGS’18, SAR’20): Frequent communication with our professors was key in keeping our project on track in terms of timeline and quality of our content.
What They Learned
- Jack: Keep the ball rolling everyday, because it’s easy to lose motivation especially as work starts to pile up.
Any Tips?
- Jack: Clear cut roles and manageable goals is what keeps everyone moving; any ambiguity will make starting harder.