Executive master thesis | International Relations and Diplomacy (MSc)
open access
Accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare services is a crucial and basic need for women and girls worldwide, yet practical improvement of services and protections for access has been...Show moreAccessing sexual and reproductive healthcare services is a crucial and basic need for women and girls worldwide, yet practical improvement of services and protections for access has been asymmetrical and slow. International level fora serve as a platform to define and prioritize issues, serving as agenda setting agents with the capability of shaping global standards and understandings. This study applies explanatory quantitative methods to define and understand how state sponsorship factors affect understandings of sexual and reproductive healthcare in the UN General Assembly. Through understanding how “frames” of sexual and reproductive (SRHC) are employed in UNGA resolutions within broader discussions of women and gender, this thesis examines the nexus between language framing within international policy and the potential explanatory capacity of state sponsorship characteristics. The findings of this study indicate statistically significant associations between the occurrence of theoretically derived “health”, “security” and “rights” frames in contexts discussing SRHC, and sponsorship characteristics. These relationships point to an unexplored dimension of research into international agenda-setting bodies and the establishment of frames through which state actors understand and discuss key issues of sexual and reproductive healthcare.Show less
Executive master thesis | International Relations and Diplomacy (MSc)
open access
This study employs descriptive statistics and Difference-in-Differences (DID) analysis from 1990 to 2022 to investigate the impact of minimum wage policies on women's labor force participation...Show moreThis study employs descriptive statistics and Difference-in-Differences (DID) analysis from 1990 to 2022 to investigate the impact of minimum wage policies on women's labor force participation rates in the European Union (EU). The findings suggest that increases in the minimum wage have a modest but statistically significant positive effect on women's economic activity. Additionally, the analysis indicates that this impact varies depending on national socioeconomic conditions and existing labor market structures. While minimum wage policy alone cannot fully address gender inequality in the labor market, it can be a valuable tool for promoting women's workforce participation, particularly among low-income earners. This research fills a critical gap in the literature and informs policy discussions aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 5.Show less
Executive master thesis | International Relations and Diplomacy (MSc)
open access
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Europe (and beyond) has adopted its foreign policy which meant for many countries providing military support to Ukraine and/ or agreeing to...Show moreFollowing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Europe (and beyond) has adopted its foreign policy which meant for many countries providing military support to Ukraine and/ or agreeing to harsh economic sanctions against Russia. However, the German case is special: Due to historical reasons and – at the latest since 1990 – the expansion of political and economic networks, Germany has been heavily involved in EU-Russia relations and became Russia’s most important partner in Brussels. Against this background, this thesis attempts to answer the following question: Why did a major foreign policy change in Germany only happen in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine – and not already in 2014 after the Russian annexation of Crimea? This is done by performing a comparative case study and applying process tracing for the years 2014 and 2022 – enrichened by extensive interview research in Berlin with senior MFA officials, MPs specialised in foreign policy as well as with journalists. This thesis finds that in both years an exogenous political shock triggered the change process – but with a different scope. That is best explained by the reprioritisation and (partly) neglection of core pillars of German foreign policy – Ostpolitik, Wandel durch Handel, Westbindung, non-military foreign policy and historical responsibility – that occurred from 2014 to 2022.Show less
Executive master thesis | International Relations and Diplomacy (MSc)
open access
Piercing through the dust of wars in Sub-Saharan Africa has become increasingly difficult for peacekeeping operations. UN-led and regionally-led operations in this region face increasing challenges...Show morePiercing through the dust of wars in Sub-Saharan Africa has become increasingly difficult for peacekeeping operations. UN-led and regionally-led operations in this region face increasing challenges due to the evolving dynamics of intrastate conflicts and the inability of these organisations to adapt, leading to intensified violence and rising civilian casualties. The concept of local ownership in peacebuilding has gained traction over the decades as a response to these challenges but remains inadequately implemented and formulated in contemporary peacekeeping operations. This thesis conducts a focused structured comparison of two case studies in Sub-Saharan Africa – Mali and the DRC – to examine how specific approaches to local ownership influence the effectiveness of these peacekeeping operations. The findings reveal several overarching limitations in current approaches to local ownership in both UN-led and regionally-led missions, as well as some country- and region-specific issues. The key limitations include a severe lack of inter-organisational cooperation and communication, the apparent inability of peacekeeping operations to adapt to the rapidly changing nature of conflicts, failure to integrate various levels of governance in local ownership projects, and the tendency to view local ownership as a means to an end rather than part of a comprehensive framework for sustainable peace. This research contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the challenges faced by both the UN and regional organisations in transitioning from UN-dominated peacekeeping to regional ownership of these missions in Sub-Saharan Africa.Show less
Executive master thesis | International Relations and Diplomacy (MSc)
open access
In recent times, the diaspora has become a focus of interest in the study of International Relations. The diaspora communities have been engaged in both peaceful activism and violent resistance...Show moreIn recent times, the diaspora has become a focus of interest in the study of International Relations. The diaspora communities have been engaged in both peaceful activism and violent resistance fighting for the cause of homeland conflicts. Can these groups influence the foreign policy decisions on security cooperation (particularly counterterrorism) between host and homeland countries? Using the Host Integration Theory, this study investigates the impact of South Asian diaspora-led activism (India and Pakistan) on India’s bilateral counterterrorism cooperation with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. To explore the question, India’s counterterrorism cooperation with three cases (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom) and South Asian diaspora-led activism/resistance with these states has been mapped out using content analysis. Additionally, three semi-structured interviews were conducted with terrorism studies researchers to explain the trends observed in the content analysis. The findings of the comparative study revealed that Indo-French counterterrorism engagement has high levels of cooperation and lower levels of diaspora-led activism. Similarly, the Indo-Germancounter-cooperation showed medium to high levels of cooperation and lower levels of diaspora-led activism. On the other hand, lower levels of counterterrorism cooperation and higher levels of diaspora-led activism/resistance involving violence were identified in the case of the United Kingdom. Hence, the study helps to understand how diaspora-led activism/resistance can impact the bilateral counterterrorism cooperation between host and homeland countries.Show less
Executive master thesis | International Relations and Diplomacy (MSc)
open access
States in the international system create international organizations to find solutions to collective action problems. To remain relevant, these organizations oftentimes need to adapt to newly...Show moreStates in the international system create international organizations to find solutions to collective action problems. To remain relevant, these organizations oftentimes need to adapt to newly arising challenges and issues. This need for institutional rearrangement and adaptation is most prominent during short periods of times, often referred to as critical junctures. The subsequent academic thesis will contrast the two critical junctures of the UN´s 75th Anniversary and the war in Ukraine, and their respective impact on the Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. This will yield insights into how the momentum generated by such critical junctures can better be harnessed to advance reform processes in international organizations. The United Nations is the foremost international organization, and the General Assembly its most universal organ. Its 193 members come together to discuss a plethora of topics and to find solutions to the most pressing concerns of the 21st century. In 2020, amidst the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the United Nations celebrated its 75th Anniversary and adopting a set of commitments aimed at accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs outlined therein. In 2021 Secretary General Antonio Guterres proposed concrete steps to fulfill these commitments in his report Our Common Agenda. Especially, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the General Assembly has been increasingly vocal on issues related to international peace and security, originally the primary responsibility of the Security Council. The UNGA´s 11th Emergency Special Session on the war has resulted in numerous resolutions deploring the aggression, calling on Russia to remove its troops from Ukraine´s sovereign territory, but also rejecting Russia from the UN´s Human Rights Council and establishing the groundwork for an international registry of damages. Does this increasing activity constitute a broader shift in the UNGA´s self-perception, the interpretation of its mandate and of its working methods?Show less
Economic sanctions are as old as history itself. In recent times, economic sanctions are more and more used as a foreign policy tool. Recent research has shown that comprehensive, as well as...Show moreEconomic sanctions are as old as history itself. In recent times, economic sanctions are more and more used as a foreign policy tool. Recent research has shown that comprehensive, as well as targeted sanctions economic sanction have a negative effect on civil liberties. The causal mechanism between targeted sanctions and the deterioration of civil liberties is however only theorized and not empirically studied. This thesis aims at discovering this causal chain in order to provide a better understanding of how to use targeted sanctions as a foreign policy tool. To achieve this, two case studies are conducted on Sierra Leone and Rwanda. The methods used in this thesis are of a qualitative nature and are aimed at process-tracing. The data that is used comes from non-governmental organisations and other datasets. The documents are studied using in-dept document analysis. The results suggest that support exists for the last part of the causal chain. However, by because no support exists for the first part of the causal chain, it cannot be said with certainty that the evidence indeed points at the existence of the second part of the causal mechanism. However, this thesis provides a valuable stepping stone for further research on this subject.Show less
In an era marked by geopolitical tensions and the race for technological sovereignty, this study explores the divergent strategies and policy instruments employed by the United States (US) and the...Show moreIn an era marked by geopolitical tensions and the race for technological sovereignty, this study explores the divergent strategies and policy instruments employed by the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) in strengthening their semiconductor industries. Despite being economic powerhouses, the U.S. and the EU hold only about 12 percent and 10 percent of the global semiconductor manufacturing market share, respectively. This comparative analysis delves into the nuanced policy frameworks based on the Developmental Network State (DNS) model of targeted resourcing, brokering, facilitation, and protection in shaping their semiconductor policy. This thesis aims to provide insights that extend beyond mere policy descriptions, intended to inform policymakers, industry stakeholders, and academic scholars to understand the strategic underpinnings that are influencing the global competitive semiconductor industry.Show less
Na decennia van decentralisatie in het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid, is aan het eind van kabinet Rutte III een voorzichtige tendens richting centrale regie ingezet. Deze tendens is onder het...Show moreNa decennia van decentralisatie in het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid, is aan het eind van kabinet Rutte III een voorzichtige tendens richting centrale regie ingezet. Deze tendens is onder het kabinet Rutte IV, met onder andere de terugkeer van een minister voor Volkshuisvesting en Ruimtelijke Ordening, in een versnelling gekomen. Deze beweging past in het bredere concept van recentralisatie. Dit is een relatief nieuw en onderbelicht concept, zeker in de Europese context. Tegelijkertijd toont de huidige trend in het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid duidelijke tekenen van recentralisatie. Het doel van dit onderzoek is dan ook het vinden van oorzakelijke factoren voor de recentralisatie van het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid. Gebaseerd op bestaande theorieën verwacht het onderzoek dat de recentralisatie het gevolg is van crises als de asielcrisis, de stikstofcrisis en de COVID-19-pandemie aan de ene kant, en de verminderde lokale invloed van landelijke coalitiepartijen aan de andere kant. Deze verwachtingen zijn getoetst middels semigestructureerde interviews, welke onder een brede groep actoren zijn afgenomen. Ook is er gezocht naar alternatieve verklaringen voor de recentralisatie van het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid. De vooraf opgestelde verwachtingen worden niet, of slechts ten dele, ondersteund door het onderzoek. De verwachting dat crises een sterke invloed hebben gehad op de recentralisatie van het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid wordt slechts ten dele ondersteund. De verwachting dat recentralisatie het gevolg is van verminderde lokale invloed van landelijke coalitiepartijen wordt niet ondersteund door de resultaten. Wel blijkt uit de resultaten dat de recentralisatie van het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid past in een bredere (ideologische) trend van recentralisatie, en dat in deze ontwikkeling een grote rol is weggelecht voor gemeenten en individuele politici. Dit onderzoek beveelt onder andere aan om in volgend onderzoek verder te kijken naar deze alternatieve verklaringen voor de recentralisatie van het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid.Show less
This paper seeks to find an answer to the question: "How does BlackRock interact with European industrial policies, such as the Green Deal, and what implications might this have for public...Show moreThis paper seeks to find an answer to the question: "How does BlackRock interact with European industrial policies, such as the Green Deal, and what implications might this have for public objectives?" Key findings suggest that BlackRock has a significant sphere of influence in and around the institutions that constitute the European Union. BlackRock hires strategically by employing former high-ranking government officials, people who have often overseen regulatory processes about BlackRock itself. Furthermore, BlackRock employees occupy strategic positions within several European bodies, such as the EFAMA. BlackRock is very pro-Green Deal to the outside world, but behind the scenes they actively lobby for policies that either delay or undo the Green-Deal policies. They don’t do this using the name “BlackRock” however, they do this through many different Trade Groups which BlackRock dominates. The study concludes that we can speak of a “regulatory capture” of these bodies. However, it is unclear if there is a causal relationship between BlackRock’s sphere of influence and European policy outcomes, and if there is, to which extent. To quantify that, we would need full access to insider information from BlackRock, something that is beyond the scope of this paper. BlackRock’s influence, however, is undeniable.Show less
This thesis investigates the representative bureaucracy theory within the context of the Dutch government. Specifically, it examines how conditions facilitating the translation from passive to...Show moreThis thesis investigates the representative bureaucracy theory within the context of the Dutch government. Specifically, it examines how conditions facilitating the translation from passive to active representation may explain potential differences in the degree of active representation of minority groups between New Professionals and Rijkstrainees. To explore this, a qualitative research method was employed, opting for a comparative case study. A total of 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted with trainees from both groups. The findings indicate that the selected factors, namely differences in trainee programs, policy congruence, internal political support, and external political support, have little to no impact on the degree of active representation. However, a difference in the degree of active representation between the two groups was identified. It was revealed that New Professionals more frequently engage in active representation. This difference appears to be primarily associated with distinctions in the approach of the recruitment processes of the programs, rather than with the goals or organizational structure of the programs.Show less