The informal economy is ever-present in developing countries. It is present in any worker and small business out of the state’s regulatory environment. Moreover, high poverty rates are also present...Show moreThe informal economy is ever-present in developing countries. It is present in any worker and small business out of the state’s regulatory environment. Moreover, high poverty rates are also present in such developing countries. Therefore, finding a way to address the informal economy to see whether poverty can be reduced is paramount. Thus, this thesis will explore the research question of: What state interventions to the informal economy can affect the countries’ poverty rates across different levels of economic development? For this purpose, this research will explore two state interventions: those facilitating business formalization and those providing social protection. By analyzing over 100 countries and conducting a multiple linear regression, this research has found a statistical effect of state interventions on the countries’ poverty rates. The findings show that state interventions can affect the poverty rates of developing countries. However, such an effect is contingent on matters such as the level of corruption and government effectiveness. Thus, these findings pave the way for future focus on how the countries’ institutional environment must be addressed when looking into how to target the informal economy to reduce poverty.Show less
This thesis examines the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on transatlantic relations through a neoclassical realist perspective. It tests the hypothesis that the sustained conflict would...Show moreThis thesis examines the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on transatlantic relations through a neoclassical realist perspective. It tests the hypothesis that the sustained conflict would foster nationalist and regionalist sentiment, leading to continued divergence in the transatlantic alliance. The paper does this by employing a holistic grading method to analyze nationalist and European regionalist rhetoric in speeches from key Western leaders, specifically French President Emmanuel Macron, American President Joe Biden, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Contrary to initial expectations, the findings indicate that nationalist and European regionalist sentiments have not significantly increased among these leaders. Consequently, the US-EU relationship remains on a convergent path, suggesting resilience in the liberal international order.Show less
This paper analyses the strategic evolution of France and India in response to the intensification of Sino-American great power competition. The theoretical foundation is that the world order...Show moreThis paper analyses the strategic evolution of France and India in response to the intensification of Sino-American great power competition. The theoretical foundation is that the world order transitioned to multiplexity. A multiplex world order is defined by interaction capacity, which is a state’s capability to move ideas, goods, people, money, and armed forces across the system. A key observation is that emerging powers can more easily assume leadership positions in a multiplex world than during polarity. The case study of France and India demonstrates that both states recognise a changing world order. As an established middle power, France is concerned about a changing order. India, on the other hand, views it as a chance to gain power and influence. Both focus on diplomacy and capacity-building measures in their relationships with others, especially other middle powers. Additionally, both reject balancing and bandwagoning while instead building strategic autonomy. The study underscores how multiplexity empowers middle powers to strengthen their autonomy and actively shape global dynamics amid great power competition, contributing to a deeper understanding of contemporary international relations.Show less
The unequal distribution of environmental goods and bads intensifies inequalities. What is further needed to understand the extent of environmental injustices is the element of coloniality, and,...Show moreThe unequal distribution of environmental goods and bads intensifies inequalities. What is further needed to understand the extent of environmental injustices is the element of coloniality, and, subsequently, decoloniality. In Latin America, scholars have noted indigenous groups make use of decolonial thought and praxis to advocate for their rights. While countries like Bolivia and Ecuador have advanced in implementing a pluristate – wherein indigenous livelihoods and epistemologies are recognized by the state – Brazil is described as incohesive and regressive when regarding indigenous rights. In the Amazon specifically, where natural resources attract business and development projects, indigenous groups have severely suffered from environmental injustices. This research focuses on studying how and to what extent is decoloniality employed to advance environmental justice for indigenous groups in the Amazon. In specific, the research focuses on the Munduruku people of the Tapajós Valley. In analyzing letters, demands, and public statements by the Munduruku, this study was able to infer strategies of decoloniality used to attain justice. Self-determination efforts are made through local governance structures, opposition to central government, and mobilization amongst themselves. Likewise, the Munduruku make use of their epistemologies, knowledge, and connection to their ancestors to press for epistemic justice. Finally, the Munduruku assert that justice for them is also justice for nature, breaking down the hierarchical notion of human/nature. Thus, this study showed that through decolonial strategies, the Munduruku empower themselves, their narrative, and their fight towards attaining a pluristate. With this in mind, this research showcases the need to further integrate indigenous knowledge within national frameworks and the need to confront the underlying structures of oppression that maintain groups like the Munduruku in environmental injustice.Show less
Every day, thousands of people go to bed hungry, die of malnutrition, or do not know where their next meal is going to come from. Food security is a central topic of the United Nations Sustainable...Show moreEvery day, thousands of people go to bed hungry, die of malnutrition, or do not know where their next meal is going to come from. Food security is a central topic of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda, but despite international attention to this topic, there is no sufficient improvement. In particular, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are identified as potential actors to fill financial gaps of food security projects in developing countries. However, the existing literature has failed to carefully assess which aspects of MDB finance are most effective in improving food security. Thus, this research paper aims to answer the research question “Which aspects of MDB finance are most suited to improve food security in developing countries and why?”. Using a quantitative approach, a cross-country, longitudinal analysis is applied to assess the effect different aspects of MDB finance have on national levels of food security. The results indicate that MDBs should focus on a higher number of projects per country rather than highly financed projects, as well as prioritize financial instruments of grants and technical assistance. However, no genuine effect of MDB finance on levels of food security could be established due to no statistical significance. Thus, the findings must be treated with caution. It is, therefore, crucial to further investigate the different aspects of MDB finance and their effects on levels of food security, to be able to make meaningful recommendations to the MDBs.Show less
Land grabbing is a form of dispossession whereby an actor with large-scale capital acquires a vast area of land and, in the process, alienates the former local rulers of the land. Agricultural land...Show moreLand grabbing is a form of dispossession whereby an actor with large-scale capital acquires a vast area of land and, in the process, alienates the former local rulers of the land. Agricultural land grabs exploded during the 2007/08 global financial crisis and the concurrent commodity, food, and energy crises. A pervasive phenomenon ever since, land grabs are directly associated with negative micro-economic, environmental, and social outcomes. Although global structural causes to land grabbing are well known, there is a stark lack of research on its national-level determinants. Therefore, this thesis investigates the relationship between countries’ private property security and the magnitude of land grabbing they experience through a large-N, cross-sectional research design. The main hypothesis, captured by the idea of ‘institution shopping’, is that large-scale capital investors will prefer countries with secure property rights regimes, leading to higher land grabbing magnitude. The methodology utilised is a multivariate ordinary least squares regression model which uses all transnational agricultural land grabs recorded in the Land Matrix database from 2008 to 2017 for Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Beyond private property security, four other predictors are included in the model: forest land cover, percentage of external debt, an indicator of food insecurity, and an indicator of financial market development. The model finds no correlation between private property security and land grabbing magnitude. Moreover, only the control for food insecurity finds evidence of statistical correlation. Due to the complexity of the phenomenon and issues of data incompleteness, the national-level determinants behind land grabbing cannot be determined with the model tested in this thesis.Show less
The Covid-19 pandemic led to more than 7 million deaths, global economic depressions and political disputes about vaccine distribution. Although many political actors emphasised the importance of...Show moreThe Covid-19 pandemic led to more than 7 million deaths, global economic depressions and political disputes about vaccine distribution. Although many political actors emphasised the importance of vaccine equity in the beginning of the pandemic, global vaccine distribution mechanisms like COVAX were quickly abandoned. The high vaccine inequity led to a prolonged pandemic that negatively affected both Global North and South. While many former studies focused on establishing the reasons for a lack of vaccine equity, it is relevant to analyse to what extent political actors have critically reflected upon these reasons and acquired new understandings of how to improve vaccine equity during future pandemics. This research filled the gap by applying the policy learning framework by Heikkila & Gerlak (2013) and conducting a qualitative content analysis of EU Parliamentary Debates. The findings suggest a learning process of the European Parliament which entails: a strengthened belief that more vaccine equity is necessary when handling future global health crises as well as an in-depth understanding of potential policies that could advance equity during global health crises. These cognitive learning products are likely to shape future policy making of the EU regarding global vaccine equity.Show less
