Since 2014, Europe has faced an explosive increase in migrants, leading Europe into a migration crisis. Political parties in European countries have responded differently to this influx of people....Show moreSince 2014, Europe has faced an explosive increase in migrants, leading Europe into a migration crisis. Political parties in European countries have responded differently to this influx of people. This study aims to clarify the relationship between the agenda of these political parties and the European migration crisis. Based on qualitative research, a content analysis was used to study the differences between left-wing, right-wing and centre-parties and how the European migration crisis has impacted these points of view. The analysis shows that political parties with different ideologies about migration react differently to the crisis. The European migration crisis has little to no effect on the agenda of left-wing parties and right-wing parties, but a major effect on the agendas of centre-parties.Show less
This thesis looks into the effects of horizontal inequalities on civilian victimisation during civil wars. The contribution of this paper is two-fold. First, it gave an extensive overview of...Show moreThis thesis looks into the effects of horizontal inequalities on civilian victimisation during civil wars. The contribution of this paper is two-fold. First, it gave an extensive overview of relevant research from numerous fields, which were subsequently combined into one overarching theoretical framework. Secondly, a preliminary empirical analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression (OLS) models to test the resulting expectations - that horizontal inequalities (economic and political) are likely positively related to civilian victimisation during civil wars. The analysis came back with mixed results, and at best limited and indirect support for the expected positive link between horizontal inequality and civilian victimisation.Show less
This thesis examines the dynamics of the military-industrial complex and its impact on defense procurement and foreign relations within the European Union. Analyzing the Dutch submarine order and...Show moreThis thesis examines the dynamics of the military-industrial complex and its impact on defense procurement and foreign relations within the European Union. Analyzing the Dutch submarine order and Rheinmetall's industrial expansion into Ukraine, it explores the interplay between government policies, corporate interests, and international security. Utilizing realism and corporatism, the study highlights how states and industries navigate defense procurement to achieve national security and economic goals. Realism emphasizes state interests and competition, which is utilized by the military-industrial complex to their advantage. Corporatism focuses on collaborative interactions between government and industry which can be used by governments to get the best offer. The findings reveal that defense procurement is influenced by government priorities, key players, corporate strategies, and lobbying. Overall, this research provides insights into the military-industrial complex's role in shaping EU defense policies and international relations.Show less
Environmental protection is an increasingly salient topic for contemporary society, especially in the context of the climate crisis. People all around the world are engaging in environmental...Show moreEnvironmental protection is an increasingly salient topic for contemporary society, especially in the context of the climate crisis. People all around the world are engaging in environmental activism, yet environmentalism research has disproportionately centered on the West. Considering how most countries on the front lines of climate change are non-Western, this gap must be rectified. Southeast Asia (SEA) is a region severely overlooked in this regard, particularly in terms of what environmentalism actually brings here. There is insufficient knowledge on how SEA states respond to environmental activism, despite the relevance for its citizens and environmental sector practitioners, who witness some of the worst repercussions of environmental degradation. Therefore, this paper aims to expand our understanding of state responses to SEA environmentalism and contentious political action by investigating Vietnam and the Philippines. A comparative study was conducted on these two cases, which employed qualitative content analysis on texts like news articles to study responses to environmentalism. Findings reveal that both countries display a variety of responses, but are most inclined to repress. However, they differ considerably in how they approach each response type in terms of methods, actors involved, and consistency. It is proposed that each country’s distinct response pattern is linked to its respective regime type, as suggested by existing literature on contentious political action. Beyond the popular notion that non-democracies are more likely to repress contentious claim-making, this study illustrates how hybrid regimes can be more covert and lethal in their repression than other regimes. From these findings, this paper stresses the importance of local socio-political contexts for those engaged in environmental protection and advocacy. Additionally, this investigation hopes to spur similar research on other SEA countries and expand the political science literature on this region.Show less
The ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ Movement that started in 2022 in Iran brought another wave of women’s rights movement. The involvement of Iranian diaspora communities in cyberspace successfully...Show moreThe ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ Movement that started in 2022 in Iran brought another wave of women’s rights movement. The involvement of Iranian diaspora communities in cyberspace successfully transformed this movement into the online sphere. This paper seeks to answer the following research questions: How do Iranian diaspora communities construct identity through cyberfeminism in the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement? The paper aims to explore the effectiveness of cyberfeminism and more importantly, it aims to identity the role of X and diasporic websites in constructing Iranian diaspora’s identity through an inductive approach. Frame theory is utilized as a lens to examine how Iranian diasporas frame themselves in the cyberspace and make connections between those inside and outside Iran. This paper finds three framing strategies, namely: identification of common enemies, victimization, and empowerment of women that contribute to forming a collective identity within diasporas.Show less
This thesis examines the link between social media and democratic backsliding in Europe, highlighting a paradox in European norms that allows democratic backsliding through social media platforms....Show moreThis thesis examines the link between social media and democratic backsliding in Europe, highlighting a paradox in European norms that allows democratic backsliding through social media platforms. Analyzing data from 2000 to 2024, it explores the roles of governments, populations, European institutions, and social media companies. The central question is whether current social media restrictions aimed at protecting democracy are justified. The study addresses the normative clash between freedom of expression and democratic integrity, questioning which should prevail. It also considers whether the EU can normatively and legally regulate social media to counteract autocracy. The thesis posits that current social media restrictions undermine freedom of speech and are overly restrictive, challenging their justification. This research aims to clarify the EU's authority to limit social media and its impact on upholding democratic norms.Show less
Transitional justice aims to address the aftermath of gross human rights violations and facilitate societal healing and recovery. Traditionally, transitional justice mechanisms have been state...Show moreTransitional justice aims to address the aftermath of gross human rights violations and facilitate societal healing and recovery. Traditionally, transitional justice mechanisms have been state-centric, relying on the capacity and will of states for their implementation. In fragile states—characterised by weak authority, capacity, and legitimacy—this approach often leads to an "implementation gap," where policies are designed but not enacted. This study explores the extent to which civil society can fill this gap. Focusing on Actoras de Cambio, a civil society organisation in post-war Guatemala, this research examines how civil society operates within this state-centric framework, evaluating its ability to fulfil the five pillars of transitional justice: truth-seeking, justice, reparation, memorialisation, and guarantees of non-recurrence. The findings suggest that civil society can effectively address truth-seeking, memorialisation, and psycho-social reparation, but faces limitations in delivering justice and guarantees of non-recurrence, areas requiring broader legal and structural reforms. These results underscore the importance of a synergistic approach between the state and civil society in transitional justice processes, particularly in fragile states. This research advocates for a more inclusive and holistic transitional justice framework, recognising the critical role of civil society in fragile states and informing more tailored international responses to mass atrocities.Show less