Since 2020 Poland has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe, with the Law and Justice (PiS) government continuously diminishing women’s rights during their 2015-2023 ruling period....Show moreSince 2020 Poland has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe, with the Law and Justice (PiS) government continuously diminishing women’s rights during their 2015-2023 ruling period. Therefore, as the Civic Coalition (KO) along with their coalition partners won the 2023 parliamentary elections, the hopes for overturning the trend were very high, considering how vocal the party was about strengthening women’s rights. In this context, the paper examines the differences in the PiS and KO discourse about abortion rights between 2015 and 2023. It argues that both parties instrumentalize women’s rights, which is investigated by using the Critical Discourse Analysis method. The analysed statements of the party politicians are categorized by time periods, which allows to distinguish discursive shifts, as well as, changing types of language, targeted audience and strategies. The results show that even though PiS and KO use different types of discourse, both parties instrumentalized women’s rights between 2015 and 2023. This implies that the crucial voice of female voters is often overused for political purposes, having a detrimental effect on women's rights.Show less
Declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak led to stringent social distancing measures and travel restrictions...Show moreDeclared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak led to stringent social distancing measures and travel restrictions worldwide. These actions precipitated significant shifts in consumer and corporate behavior while disrupting health systems, economies, and societal norms. Throughout this global turmoil, Mexico emerges as an intriguing case study due to its strategic global integration and unique pandemic response. As a result, this study investigates the evolution of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Official Development Assistance (ODA), and remittances to Mexico to assess their resilience amidst the pandemic’s disruptions. By employing a mixed-methods approach that incorporates quantitative data analysis and qualitative insights from interviews, the research reveals unexpected economic resilience in these financial flows to Mexico, positioning it as an outlier against global trends. Key factors contributing to this resilience include Mexico’s economic openness, favorable exchange rates, technological advancements, formalization of remittance channels, altruistic motivations, established migration patterns, and tailored policy responses. These findings not only shed light on Mexico’s resilience but also offer actionable insights for policymakers and academics grappling with future global disruptions. By highlighting strategies to bolster economic stability during forthcoming crises, this study contributes to the discourse on resilience-building measures, serving as a valuable resource for stakeholders across various sectors.Show less
With an average age of 45 years old and a population where one third of people is over the age of 65, Japan has one of the oldest populations on earth. This is due to two factors: one of the...Show moreWith an average age of 45 years old and a population where one third of people is over the age of 65, Japan has one of the oldest populations on earth. This is due to two factors: one of the highest life-expectancies on earth, and one of the lowest birth-rates on earth. As a result of this Japan's demographic pyramid has been flipped on its head, figuratively and literally. A demographic imbalance like this comes with many challenges, such as disappearing towns, pressure on health and pension funds, and the closure of schools across the country. There are many challenges to overcome, but arguably the key one's are two questions: how to increase the birth-rate, and how to take care of the elderly population. In this thesis we will look at how Japan has tried to tackle these two challenges, see what has been effective, and see what we can learn from it for a future where more and more developed countries are faced with aging populations and low birth ratesShow less
This paper researches ethnic politics in Uganda and its relevance to Northern Uganda's transition from humanitarianism to development. Following the end of the LRA conflict, the Ugandan government...Show moreThis paper researches ethnic politics in Uganda and its relevance to Northern Uganda's transition from humanitarianism to development. Following the end of the LRA conflict, the Ugandan government sought to transition Northern Uganda towards development through donor funded initiatives. However, ethnicity appears to be a factor not considered in this process. Consequently, this paper explores an interpretative link between Uganda’s history of ethnic politics and the humanitarian-development transition. The methodology of the study has emphasized historical research to answer its hypothesis. Secondary and qualitative data in the form of books and reports were used to provide the necessary information and data. The paper establishes that ethnic politics has played an active role in Uganda's history since colonialism. Data indicates that President Yoweri Museveni not only came to power in this context but also carried out violence against the Acholi people in a manner that played into deep-seated animosity between northern and southern Ugandans. The core finding of the paper is that the government Peace and Recovery Development Program II contains four key aspects that can be interpreted as rooted in Uganda's ethnic politics of preceding years. Despite this, Uganda's history of ethnic politics is not explicitly addressed by the government in the initiative. The conclusions of the paper are straightforward. An interpretative link can be made between Uganda's history of ethnic politics and Northern Uganda's humanitarian-development transition. And this link is best represented by the experience of the Acholi people under President Museveni. Further research should reinforce this link using primary data.Show less
This thesis examines how the European Commission strategically used European Union law to enhance its redistributive powers during the COVID-19 crisis. The research focuses on two key initiatives,...Show moreThis thesis examines how the European Commission strategically used European Union law to enhance its redistributive powers during the COVID-19 crisis. The research focuses on two key initiatives, the Vaccine Strategy and its later institutionalised version in HERA, and the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which constituted a shift in the Union’s approach to crisis management. This is demonstrated by the European Commission's assertiveness in the crisis response, which covered areas, like public health and fiscal policy, typically reserved for national sovereignty. In this thesis, I have examined both of these initiatives from legal and institutional perspectives. Firstly, I argue that these mechanisms combine both hard and soft law instruments. This is done by balancing, on the one hand, precision, binding law instruments, judicial control, and accountability with, on the other hand, taking into account national priorities and the role of national actors. While the procurement mechanism within HERA did not significantly expand the Commission's powers, the RRF did considerably. Although this development might seem limited due to the Facility's temporary nature, it suggests an increased potential for similar permanent frameworks in the future, with a significant role played by the Commission. Secondly, the thesis challenges the argument that the novelties are the result of the COVID-19 crisis. Although the pandemic was undoubtedly an exogenous shock, it cannot be regarded as a critical juncture. Alternatively, I argue that these mechanisms are built upon previous frameworks, and thus are the result of gradual change. Nevertheless, its significance in triggering European-level solidarity, opening up future possibilities for increased competencies for the Commission, and expanding the Union’s range of economic policies is unquestionable.Show less
