The main objective of this thesis is to examine whether the European Union experienced an upwards trend of securitization of asylum-seekers and migrants at their external borders. This will be...Show moreThe main objective of this thesis is to examine whether the European Union experienced an upwards trend of securitization of asylum-seekers and migrants at their external borders. This will be established by a case study applied on the securitization practices of Frontex. To investigate how Frontex is developed as a securitising actor in the EU asylum and migration issue, the activities of Frontex will be examined and labelled as securitization (or desecuritization) by comparing two time periods, namely the activities of Frontex during 2009 against 2018. In addition, Frontex's evolution in their level of autonomy (power) will be investigated to be able to determine their degree of impact on the securitization of the EU against EU asylum-seekers and migrants. This can also be used to determine their liability concerning the criticism of NGOs on the activities of Frontex in context of humanitarianism.Show less
My master thesis is a study on the framing of Dutch and Belgian female militants connected to the jihadist organization ISIS in Dutch and Belgian newspapers from 2013 to 2019. The archetypes on...Show moreMy master thesis is a study on the framing of Dutch and Belgian female militants connected to the jihadist organization ISIS in Dutch and Belgian newspapers from 2013 to 2019. The archetypes on militant women is linked to women from Greek mythology: the monstrous Medusa, the magical mother Medea, and the misandrist Amazon Penthesilea. These women are opposites of the peaceful and beautiful Helen of Troy, who is the ‘ideal Western woman.’ From the archetypes I derived seven sub-frames: (1) Medusa brainwashed, (2) Medusa dangerous, (3) Medusa mental issues, (4) Medea supporting mother and wife, (5) Medea religion, (6) Penthesilea committed like men/ emancipation, (7) Penthesilea seeking husband/ romantic notion. From the changes over time and by country and newspaper I concluded that 2017 was a turning point in the framing of female militants. Female militants became more salient and their framing turned more agentive. Gender stereotypes became less dominant in the frame. However, framing in relation to religion stayed in the frames of newspapers. Religion remained essential to ‘other’ female militants from the norm of ‘good Western women.’Show less
Maritime security is vital for many states, and it is undermined by many acts, one of which is piracy. This threat is acknowledged by the extensive anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, in...Show moreMaritime security is vital for many states, and it is undermined by many acts, one of which is piracy. This threat is acknowledged by the extensive anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, in which China partakes. Even though piracy occurs in the South China Sea as well, China does not have a military anti-piracy operation in this area. Nonetheless, this area is vital for the operation of its economy. It is, therefore, important to analyze how the differences in these policies can be explained. By using different theoretical explanations (realism, liberal institutionalism, and constructivism), the objective of this thesis is to analyze which theory carries the most explanatory power, or if a combination of explanations could provide a better explanation to the seemingly contradictory policy. This is done through a method of congruence analysis, combined with process-tracing. After tracing China’s actions and developments in the Western Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, this thesis finds that constructivism provides the best explanation for China’s different approaches, as anti-piracy cooperation merely served as a tool of statecraft.Show less
The idea for a European military force is not new. Ideas of a European military force had been considered a key priority soon after the EU had been established in 1952, then in the form of a so...Show moreThe idea for a European military force is not new. Ideas of a European military force had been considered a key priority soon after the EU had been established in 1952, then in the form of a so-called ‘European Defence Community’, but were set aside after multiple disagreements in the 1950s. However, since the shift in the international order in the 1990s after the fall of the USSR, the general but slow shift in world powers tilting towards a rising China, the shift in the relationship with the U.S., and other continued military threats throughout the world, the EU has revoked its former stance on defence and security and has taken a variety of steps to develop this field. Yet, despite these threats, shifts and initiatives, an official and entirely European military force has never been achieved. Why has the EU only been able to come to the current level of cooperation and integration of EU defence and not any further? This thesis will argue that three obstacles have been important in this development.Show less
The use of excessive force by police officers and how the police organisations deal with political demonstrations has been widely debated. With a recent renewed interest in police militarisation,...Show moreThe use of excessive force by police officers and how the police organisations deal with political demonstrations has been widely debated. With a recent renewed interest in police militarisation, this research presents a case study of the British and French police organisations and how they have evolved to deal with political demonstrations. By creating a theoretical framework around the role of culture in police organisations, an analysis of the organisational culture of these police organisations and how they respond to political demonstrations was examined. The case study focuses on a constructivist approach to how the traditions and identities were created from the evolution of what are the modern police forces in the UK and France. This approach also analysed how these police organisations dealt with threats such as terrorism and public disorder and what norms and values were created from this. The case study examines two of the major events in the UK and France. The G20 Summit protests in London in 2009 and the 2018 Yellow Vest Movement in France. The police organisation and response to these events was examined through the identities, norms and values that have been created in the British and French police forces. These identities, norms and values continue to shape the police response to political demonstration and the public view the role of the police and the overall debate on police militarisation.Show less
The aim of this thesis is to establish a better understanding of the inner workings of frozen conflicts, by addressing the question of how the conflicts in Moldova and Georgia in the early 90’s...Show moreThe aim of this thesis is to establish a better understanding of the inner workings of frozen conflicts, by addressing the question of how the conflicts in Moldova and Georgia in the early 90’s became frozen. The current comprehension of frozen conflicts, both in academia and policy-making circles is rather elusive, as the conflicts are often seen through a mono-theoretical lens, overlooking the potential interaction between different factors on different levels. The three main theoretical perspectives on frozen conflicts; the geopolitical, ethno-nationalist and political-economic perspective, are assessed, after which an explanatory variable is derived from each one. Subsequently, the cases of Moldova and Georgia are analyzed alongside these variables, to determine to what extent each mechanism plays a role in the development of frozen conflicts. A qualitative comparative analysis is carried out to assess the interrelation between variables, across the three different phases of a frozen conflict. The results of this research show that the frozen conflicts in Moldova and Georgia are neither solely ethnic nor geopolitical in nature. Ethnic tensions interplayed with geopolitical motives, which are substantiated by criminal economic incentives. Therefore, the multi-layered nature of frozen conflicts cannot fully be understood through a monotheoretical lens.Show less
Territorial disputes have since long been a source of conflict. Still today, economic, political and security interests lead to rising tensions in areas with disputed territories. To date, two of...Show moreTerritorial disputes have since long been a source of conflict. Still today, economic, political and security interests lead to rising tensions in areas with disputed territories. To date, two of these hot areas are the South China Sea (SCS) and the waters of the Arctic region. In the SCS, Chinese claims and activities stand out. In the past years, China has not only continued its, by the international society regarded unlawful, claims of waters, islands and reefs in the area, it has also started to build islands on which it engages in military activities. Initially, the United States (US) was not keen on getting involved in the numerous disputes over territory and adopted a policy of refusing to comment on or participate in any of the clashes. Lately however, the US has expressed its disapproval of Chinese activities and it has transferred vessels to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) states to contain the Chinese threat in the area (Yoon, 2015). Free access to the SCS is of high importance to the US, both economically as well as geopolitically (Bouchat, 2014), and it considers the respect for international law a national interest (Landler, 2010; Lajeunesse & Huebert, 2019). In addition to the SCS, the Arctic region too has been the scene of controversy for the states surrounding it (Birdwell, 2016). Due to the effects of climate change, the Arctic is now an area with ample opportunities and potential for the winning of natural resources (Conley & Kraut, 2011). Clearly, high economic and strategic interests are at stake in the changing polar region. The effects of climate change have made the Arctic Circle into a centre of geopolitics and territorial disputes with direct implications for US security. Despite these high stakes, the US has mostly lagged behind on other states. The position of the US in the disputes in these highly strategic areas is noteworthy. It raises the question why the hegemon of this current, unipolar world, does not take on a more active and assertive role. If it wants to maintain its unique position, why does it seem as is if it has been reluctant to address these possible threats to its position?Show less
When in 2013 the American public learned about the mass surveillance conducted by the National Security Agency, the US Intelligence Community’s public image was severely damaged. The disclosures of...Show moreWhen in 2013 the American public learned about the mass surveillance conducted by the National Security Agency, the US Intelligence Community’s public image was severely damaged. The disclosures of Edward Snowden represented the high-water mark of the problematic relationship between secrecy and privacy in the age of the Internet. With the creation of social media accounts, Privacy and Civil Liberties Offices and ‘Q&A’s about transparency, US intelligence agencies have attempted to regain the public’s trust. The paradox of secret agencies’ increasing online visibility and rhetoric on transparency has been left widely unconceptualised by scholars. This study examines how the US Intelligence Community attempts to re-establish its legitimacy by regaining power over the transparency discourse online. It further contributes to the literature by broadening the securitisation framework with the inclusion of silence in discussing when the secret state starts speaking.Show less
The debate on climate change and migration has been a recurring theme in recent public discourse. Henceforth, through the utilisation of (de) securitization framework, this thesis observes the...Show moreThe debate on climate change and migration has been a recurring theme in recent public discourse. Henceforth, through the utilisation of (de) securitization framework, this thesis observes the perceptions of climate change and migration by the EU and Australia towards climate induced migration and the process of securitizing it as a threat. Consequently, it creates awareness and urges policy makers to realise the gravity of the issue and understand climate induced migrants as vulnerable populations. Hence, employing the process of de-securitization. Finally, by facilitating the process of de-securitization of climate induced migration, progress towards recognising ‘Climate refugees’ in the future could occur.Show less
This study analyses the conflicts and trade-offs of the concept of privacy with itself, as privacy can be seen as an umbrella term with many interpretations and definitions. The research focus on...Show moreThis study analyses the conflicts and trade-offs of the concept of privacy with itself, as privacy can be seen as an umbrella term with many interpretations and definitions. The research focus on side effects of privacy measures made in US intelligence policies, particularly on the USA Freedom Act. While its aim was to better protect privacy interests, the study has shown that policies made in the USA Freedom Act led to changed interpretations of other legislations which actually created violations to privacy. Hence, these side-effects, so-called privacy-privacy trade-offs, contradict the goal of the USA Freedom Act, which has been adopted to safeguard the privacy and civil liberties of US citizens. Consequently, this study urges for a better understanding of the phenomenon of privacy-privacy trade-offs and to better anticipate on possible negative side-effects of the measures that are taken to protect privacy.Show less
This thesis assesses whether the EU is as a market power shaping third countries' legislation and policies as asserted by "Market Power Europe", a theoretical framework, which has been...Show moreThis thesis assesses whether the EU is as a market power shaping third countries' legislation and policies as asserted by "Market Power Europe", a theoretical framework, which has been insufficiently explored in the literature so far. More concretely it is scrutinised if electricity market liberalisation and emissions trading acquis has been externalised to Switzerland and Ukraine. First, it is shown that there is market power potential in the field of energy, as the European regulatory order was increasingly strengthened since the mid-1990s and gave birth to two significant markets for electricity and carbon emissions trade. Second, it is demonstrated that even though acquis externalization occurred to a certain extent in both cases, four intervening variables filtered the EU's market power. Indeed, market interconnectedness, political culture, the nature of the political system and the level of institutionalization of the EU's relations with a third country need to be taken into account when assessing the EU's market power in a given third country. These findings are not only theoretically relevant, they also suggest that the EU should concentrate on the development of its Single Market and regulatory order as well as on solid institutional framework conditions to cement its power towards third countries and enlarge its global influence.Show less
This thesis examines the foundations for success in peacekeeping operations. To this end, the absence or presence of two preconditions, commitment, and credibility, which are essential for the...Show moreThis thesis examines the foundations for success in peacekeeping operations. To this end, the absence or presence of two preconditions, commitment, and credibility, which are essential for the fulfillment of the assigned mandate are explored on a cross-case- study comparison between UNMISS and MONUSCO. Indicator questions yield information on the extent to which each operation encompasses the investigated preconditions. The findings of the analysis indicate that UNMISS has low commitment and low credibility, and MONUSCO has high commitment and rather high credibility. Based on the absence of the preconditions in UNMISS, this thesis argues that the operation lacks a strong foundation for the effective fulfillment of its mandate, and thus has negative prospects for success, while MONSUCO, due to the presence of credibility and commitment has rather positive prospects for a successful implementation of its mandate.Show less
The conventional wisdom holds that ‘once a terrorist always a terrorist’. This paper will examine, on the contrary, how very different groups and individuals have abandoned political violence. The...Show moreThe conventional wisdom holds that ‘once a terrorist always a terrorist’. This paper will examine, on the contrary, how very different groups and individuals have abandoned political violence. The paper will provide a review of the literature on terrorism, particularly since 9/11 and on disengagement more specifically. Subsequently the paper will assess disengagement in Italy and South-East Asia in two ways: by looking both at the factors leading to disengagement reported by the former ‘terrorists’ and at the policies implemented by different states to foster disengagement. The author aims to show that, contrary to much of the literature on ‘new terrorism’, though violent groups, and target states differ vastly similar conclusions can be drawn on why disengagement occurs and how it can be fostered. Finally concluding remarks will be made along with policy recommendations in particular on the issue of disengaging and reintegrating returning foreign fighters.Show less
This thesis looks if Britain's decision to leave the EU will lead to more European defence and military cooperation between the remaining EU member states.
