Bachelor thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (BSc)
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The nature-culture dichotomy in Western cities, has negative effects on the acceptance of nonhumans in those spaces, because it perpetuates the boundary between humans and animals. This is further...Show moreThe nature-culture dichotomy in Western cities, has negative effects on the acceptance of nonhumans in those spaces, because it perpetuates the boundary between humans and animals. This is further reinforced by notions of human mastery and superiority, stemming from the Anthropocene. Those concepts, instead of acknowledging multispecies entanglements, influence the categorisation and hierarchisation of nonhumans between pets and pests, based on how they serve and profit humans. This thesis explores these dynamics and answers the research question: ‘How do ideas of human mastery influence notions of nonhuman animal usefulness in Western modernist urban centres?Show less
Bachelor thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (BSc)
closed access
The thesis explores notions of whiteness among three different countries, the United States, Brazil and the Netherlands through the discussion of the notion of race and post-racism. Through the...Show moreThe thesis explores notions of whiteness among three different countries, the United States, Brazil and the Netherlands through the discussion of the notion of race and post-racism. Through the notion of colourblindness in the United States, mixture in Brazil and white innocence in the Netherlands, post-racial states enhance whiteness as the superior norm to justify racial discrimination.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (BSc)
closed access
This thesis investigates how the concept of fengshui shapes attitudes towards and responses to climate change in rural communities in contemporary southern China. It highlights the historical and...Show moreThis thesis investigates how the concept of fengshui shapes attitudes towards and responses to climate change in rural communities in contemporary southern China. It highlights the historical and cultural development of fengshui through a detailed literature study, discussing the impact of the Cultural Revolution and China's huge economic expansion on environmental perspectives, as well as how fengshui is still visible today. Fengshui emphasises harmony between people and the environment, which supports ecological sustainability along with cultural importance. It goes on to explain how rural residents cope with climatic shifts, as well as how their awareness of and adherence to traditions and knowledge improve environmental management. Fengshui can be very helpful in fostering a harmonious and long-lasting interaction between people and the environment during periods of climatic change.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (BSc)
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In a world where the actions of corporations literally (and figuratively) shape our environments, this thesis focuses on the subject of environmental privilege and challenges the conventional...Show moreIn a world where the actions of corporations literally (and figuratively) shape our environments, this thesis focuses on the subject of environmental privilege and challenges the conventional boundaries of corporate social responsibility (CSR). This work focuses on corporate practices through the lens of equity and sustainability and attempts to explain the trend in which environmental benefits are unevenly distributed to people who are less influential in causing ecological degradation. Through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates anthropology, environmental studies, sociology, and business ethics this research provides a multidimensional analysis of these behaviours and how they reinforce environmental injustice. Full of anthropological case studies, this research not only emphasises the gap between social pressures and reality but also calls for a transformative shift. It requires a mode of environmental sustainability that does not only consider complying with regulatory requirements but also the adoption of new fair practices. The responsible corporate sectors should witness a shift in their operations, by aligning their actions with the combat against the deterioration of the natural environment. That hopefully, would create a new future wherein the profitability of corporations no longer depends on only the financial power but also on the environmental impact.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (BSc)
closed access
Since David Levy's notorious predictions about sex robots in 2007, debate and controversy has arisen over the potential roles and harms of sex robots in society. Some stand in support of their...Show moreSince David Levy's notorious predictions about sex robots in 2007, debate and controversy has arisen over the potential roles and harms of sex robots in society. Some stand in support of their existence and purport that they can be used for therapeutic reasons, whereas others stand staunchly against their usage and creation. This thesis aims to explore this debate through the method of 'controversy mapping', which has its roots in Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and digital methods. Through a series of maps, this thesis analyses the relationships of the actors and ideas within this controversy. It proves controversy mapping's use as a method within cases where technological development leaves space for fear mongering, and it uses the maps to show the ways in which fear has been spread about sex robots.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (BSc)
closed access
This thesis examines the relationship between notions of belonging and citizenship and the reception of Ukrainian and Islamic refugees in the Netherlands. I argue that the perception of different...Show moreThis thesis examines the relationship between notions of belonging and citizenship and the reception of Ukrainian and Islamic refugees in the Netherlands. I argue that the perception of different refugees by Dutch people is one key factor contributing to this differential treatment. I will show that the essentialization of culture has helped exclude certain individuals from being a Dutch citizen and, consequently, from belonging to the Netherlands and having a right to Dutch citizenship. This differential treatment underscores the deeply ingrained biases and stereotypes prevalent within Dutch society, highlighting the selective empathy extended towards certain refugee groups based on perceptions of cultural similarity and belonging. Furthermore, I show how other factors, like the geopolitical situation with Russia and the perceived feeling of togetherness with Ukraine because of shared European citizenship, have likely influenced the reception as well.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (BSc)
closed access
This thesis discusses the interconnection between (auto)ethnography, sex work, and digitalisation. Referencing Donna Haraway’s ‘Situated Knowledge’ and other feminist perspectives, I explore the...Show moreThis thesis discusses the interconnection between (auto)ethnography, sex work, and digitalisation. Referencing Donna Haraway’s ‘Situated Knowledge’ and other feminist perspectives, I explore the complicated nature of doing ethnographic work on sex work, particularly within our digital contexts. As the blurred boundaries between researcher and researched call for an inclusion of the self and methodological reflexivity in such scientific inquiry. I attempt to emphasise both agency and exploitation, adding to a more well-rounded understanding of sex work amidst a capitalist and digital context. At its core, this thesis aims to interlink academic inquiry with lived experience, questioning conventional dichotomies and authoritative assertions of knowledge, overall contributing towards an inclusive and feminist science.Show less
Sexual violence against girls and women in times of conflict is a widespread and devastating human rights violation worldwide. With this issue increasingly recognized as an international security...Show moreSexual violence against girls and women in times of conflict is a widespread and devastating human rights violation worldwide. With this issue increasingly recognized as an international security issue, the international community has begun to take steps to address it. Yet, despite a large number of measures implemented by the United Nations (UN), conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) persists. This thesis explores the UN’s ineffectiveness in combating CRSV. Drawing on a comparative case study of the Iraq war and the South Sudan conflict, this paper seeks to understand how the UN’s legitimacy and resources may be at the root of this ineffectiveness. The results of this research contribute to a better understanding of the complexities of sexual and gender-based violence in different conflict contexts, and provide insight into strategies to strengthen the UN’s capacity to prevent and respond to these violations of human rights.Show less
India's transformation from being a participant in environmental discussions to assuming environmental responsibilities on the global stage has been remarkable. Since endorsing the Paris Agreement,...Show moreIndia's transformation from being a participant in environmental discussions to assuming environmental responsibilities on the global stage has been remarkable. Since endorsing the Paris Agreement, India has exhibited substantial progress in aligning global policies with domestic initiatives. The objective of this thesis is to grasp the determinants behind changes in India's discourse on climate change through an examination of Indian climate politics and textual analysis across different time periods. The research builds on compliance theory and contributes to the study of compliance in climate change discourse in India since the Kyoto Protocol of 1997. The case study presented in this research demonstrates how a shift to a pragmatic diplomatic approach and India’s aspiration to become a globally responsible leader may alter a nation’s behaviour in international environmental negotiations.Show less
The existing academic literature explores the causal relationship between ethnic cleavage and the outbreak of war, with a particular emphasis on repression, resistance, and identity. While scholars...Show moreThe existing academic literature explores the causal relationship between ethnic cleavage and the outbreak of war, with a particular emphasis on repression, resistance, and identity. While scholars recognize the importance of these concepts, they typically examine two distinct areas: the interaction between repression and resistance, and the isolated analysis of identity. This compartmentalized approach overlooks the interplay between these concepts and their combined impact on the path to war. The dissertation addresses this gap by testing the theory of the nexus of repression, resistance, and identity in the case of Kosovo from 1981 to 1998. To explore this relationship, the study integrates data from secondary sources, semi-structured interviews with individuals involved in the activities leading up to the Kosovo War, and archival material.Show less
The values the Liberal International Order (LIO) professes to uphold in theory, such as the promise of equal treatment, are not always lived up to in practice. In fact, it cannot always live up to...Show moreThe values the Liberal International Order (LIO) professes to uphold in theory, such as the promise of equal treatment, are not always lived up to in practice. In fact, it cannot always live up to this promise. The LIO’s social hierarchy prevents non-Western countries from fully acquiring the recognition they believe they are entitled to, leading them to contest the legitimacy of the LIO. For some countries, the emerging multipolar world presents an alternative option to gain international status and recognition. This thesis uses South Africa as a case study to examine how misrecognition in the LIO motivates countries to join BRICS. The results and analysis indicate that the LIO’s inability, but BRIC’s ability, to promise recognition motivated South Africa to join BRIC. Yet, in assessing the available empirical record, and whether the collective body of evidence can support making an inference that the causal relationship existed in the case of South Africa, this thesis concludes that there is only weak confirmatory evidence.Show less
