The inconsistent application of the United Nations (UN) Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine has facilitated a discussion on the legitimacy of the principle. While the legal and ethical issues...Show moreThe inconsistent application of the United Nations (UN) Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine has facilitated a discussion on the legitimacy of the principle. While the legal and ethical issues concerning R2P have been examined in detail, scholars have mostly neglected its practical dimension. In order to interpret the inconsistent implementation of R2P, the cases of Syria and the Central African Republic (CAR) serve as a comparative framework. Thereby, this paper argues that the geopolitical interests of the Security Council’s permanent member states had a major impact on the adoption of R2P’s non-coercive and coercive instruments. From these case studies and the UNSC’s in/-action three implications for R2P are inferred: that the conditions for the successful implementation of the principle are dependent on the P5, that its application does not in fact delegitimise the doctrine and that a reformist approach can improve the inconsistencies in international response.Show less
When in 2013 the American public learned about the mass surveillance conducted by the National Security Agency, the US Intelligence Community’s public image was severely damaged. The disclosures of...Show moreWhen in 2013 the American public learned about the mass surveillance conducted by the National Security Agency, the US Intelligence Community’s public image was severely damaged. The disclosures of Edward Snowden represented the high-water mark of the problematic relationship between secrecy and privacy in the age of the Internet. With the creation of social media accounts, Privacy and Civil Liberties Offices and ‘Q&A’s about transparency, US intelligence agencies have attempted to regain the public’s trust. The paradox of secret agencies’ increasing online visibility and rhetoric on transparency has been left widely unconceptualised by scholars. This study examines how the US Intelligence Community attempts to re-establish its legitimacy by regaining power over the transparency discourse online. It further contributes to the literature by broadening the securitisation framework with the inclusion of silence in discussing when the secret state starts speaking.Show less
In 2001, an American EP-3 surveillance plane collided with a Chinese F-8 fighter jet over the South China Sea. In 2009, five Chinese vessels harassed an American reconnaissance boat called the...Show moreIn 2001, an American EP-3 surveillance plane collided with a Chinese F-8 fighter jet over the South China Sea. In 2009, five Chinese vessels harassed an American reconnaissance boat called the Impeccable. Both incidents greatly affected the bilateral relations between China and the United States. This thesis analyzes the statements made by Chinese citizen leadership and PLA commanders to find out whether China has been getting more assertive in the South China Sea in the first decade of this century. This thesis argues in the end that this is not the case. China has, looking at their statements, not adopted a new assertive strategy concerning the South China Sea between 2000-2010.Show less
This thesis investigates how European security and defence shapes German security and defence policy thinking today; and has policy on a European level and the concept of responsibility within...Show moreThis thesis investigates how European security and defence shapes German security and defence policy thinking today; and has policy on a European level and the concept of responsibility within Germany led to the development of military capabilities within the German armed forces. This paper loosely uses discourse analysis to identify motivations and ideas that have shaped German security policy. The paper begins with establishing the theoretical background of European security and defence thinking and illustrates how this is explained in constructivist and realist schools of thought. The next two sections outline the development of German policy from the Cold War till the Crimean conflict. It highlights Germany’s involvement in EU policy, conflict resolution, and the motivations within German policy thinking. The final sections directly cover the Ukrainian crisis and the rhetoric within political circles in Germany and the policy of the EU formed by the European Global Strategy in 2016. The importance of Germany in European security and defence cannot be overstated given the economic clout and the geopolitical situation in and around Europe today.Show less
The debate on climate change and migration has been a recurring theme in recent public discourse. Henceforth, through the utilisation of (de) securitization framework, this thesis observes the...Show moreThe debate on climate change and migration has been a recurring theme in recent public discourse. Henceforth, through the utilisation of (de) securitization framework, this thesis observes the perceptions of climate change and migration by the EU and Australia towards climate induced migration and the process of securitizing it as a threat. Consequently, it creates awareness and urges policy makers to realise the gravity of the issue and understand climate induced migrants as vulnerable populations. Hence, employing the process of de-securitization. Finally, by facilitating the process of de-securitization of climate induced migration, progress towards recognising ‘Climate refugees’ in the future could occur.Show less
This thesis has examined the coherence of U.S. foreign policy toward NATO during the Trump presidency. It has compared the political narrative, the policy enunciation, and the policy implementation...Show moreThis thesis has examined the coherence of U.S. foreign policy toward NATO during the Trump presidency. It has compared the political narrative, the policy enunciation, and the policy implementation of the United States toward NATO. As a result, this thesis was able to compare and analyze the political narrative and the actual policy of the United States toward NATO during the Trump presidency.Show less
My main research question states that because of a set of economic and political conditions, the CFA Franc zone negatively affects the economic growth and sovereignty of Francophone Africa. In this...Show moreMy main research question states that because of a set of economic and political conditions, the CFA Franc zone negatively affects the economic growth and sovereignty of Francophone Africa. In this study, I investigate the mechanisms that cause the latter in order to identify the relation between CFA membership and the lack of economic sovereignty and development. The insufficient development of CFA countries, the financial restrictions linked to the monetary system, and the rise of African resentment towards CFAF will be the premise to reply to the research question and show how the disadvantages of the CFAF prevail over the benefits. This paper argues that CFA membership may not be as favourable for Francophone Africa as it was declared.Show less
On April 7, 2018, a rebel-held town in Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, was attacked. The Douma attack is just one example of the many violent outbursts in the Syrian conflict. The civil war that...Show moreOn April 7, 2018, a rebel-held town in Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, was attacked. The Douma attack is just one example of the many violent outbursts in the Syrian conflict. The civil war that started in 2011 slowly unfolded into a larger regional and international conflict. The complexity of alliances in the Syrian conflict might be a reason of the long-lasting hostilities that still continue today. This thesis investigated the role of two main actors in the Syrian conflict: the United States and Russia. This study aimed to answer the following research question: how are the US-Russian relations in the UNSC on the Syrian conflict from March 2011-June 2018? In a heightened atmosphere in international relations, it is important to find out if more room for cooperation between the two countries exists within the UNSC framework. A document analysis of the UNSC meeting records, presidential statements and (draft) resolutions from 2011-2018 has been conducted. The contribution of this study lies in the systematic analysis of the UNSC minutes on the Syrian conflict which enables the author to draw conclusions over the entirety of the war. By looking at three main categories – the use of chemical weapons, humanitarian assistance, and the political peace process – this thesis found out that the US and Russia seem to agree on a broader level, but that filling in the details proves to be problematic.Show less
This thesis is focussing on the experiences and memories of the Chilean exiles created by the Pinochet regime and how they are represented in the memory culture and national story of Pinochet’s...Show moreThis thesis is focussing on the experiences and memories of the Chilean exiles created by the Pinochet regime and how they are represented in the memory culture and national story of Pinochet’s Chile from 1989 till 2017.Show less
A research on the strategic culture and transatlantic security policies in first decade post-9/11. This thesis tries to answer the question to what extent the change in strategic culture and the...Show moreA research on the strategic culture and transatlantic security policies in first decade post-9/11. This thesis tries to answer the question to what extent the change in strategic culture and the resulting security policies of the EU and the US changed between 2002 and 2010; and how this shaped the transatlantic relationship in the post 9/11 era. The thesis concludes that there was a change in the strategic culture of the United States due to the external-shock caused by the 9/11 attacks on American soil; this shock was not experienced in the European Union. Hence, the security policies of the two powers on both sides of the Atlantic were not in line with one another in the period following 9/11. A decade later, the strategic culture of the United States shifted towards that of the European Union.Show less
A research on the conflict in the South China Sea between China and other claimant states. This thesis tries to answer the question how China has been able to maintain its dominance and activities...Show moreA research on the conflict in the South China Sea between China and other claimant states. This thesis tries to answer the question how China has been able to maintain its dominance and activities in the South China Sea despite the negative ruling of the arbitral case between China and the Philippines. Special focus is being given to the explanation of absence of expected conflict between China and other claimant states or third parties (e.g. the Philippines, Vietnam and the US). The thesis concludes that conflict has stayed out mainly due to political change in involved countries, China's use of its recently increased hard and soft power and because of ineffectiveness of international institutions to solve these kind of conflicts.Show less
The thesis explores the socio-political climate in Spain and the Basque country in the aftermath of the definitive 2011 ceasefire and the eventual 2018 dissolution of the Basque nationalist...Show moreThe thesis explores the socio-political climate in Spain and the Basque country in the aftermath of the definitive 2011 ceasefire and the eventual 2018 dissolution of the Basque nationalist militant group Euskadi ta Askatasuna (ETA), coming after more than half a century of its armed struggle against the Spanish state. Despite the end of physical violence, its legacies nevertheless still echo in the Basque Country and in Spain as a whole. The thesis analyses the highly polarised ‘fringe’ yet influential “Abertzale” and “Spanish nationalist” narratives which reflect these legacies, with fundamentally opposed parties effectively utilising these discourses as rhetorical weapons in public discourse and politics. A particular feature standing out in these narratives is the problematic conceptualisation of victimhood. The thesis examines these post-2011 narratives of victimhood in detail, specifically focusing on how they detrimentally affect the prospects for societal reconciliation following the end of ETA, whilst taking into account the complex historical burdens of the Basque case and the controversial legacies of the Francoist dictatorship which further entrench these narratives. Furthermore, the conceptualisations of victimhood in the often-compared Northern Irish case are scrutinised in order to devise a theoretical framework for this largely unexplored concept in the Basque case. It is finally concluded that clashing victimhood claims, deeply intertwined with the long-standing narratives of “political conflict” and “terrorism,” fundamentally impede progress towards reconciliation in the Basque case. The thesis suggests a victim-centric approach as well as a push for inclusive conceptualisations of victimhood may be the key avenues to explore in order to pursue societal reconciliation in the post-ETA era.Show less
Unrecognized states seek legitimacy, both domestic and international. The most recent unrecognized state is the Russian backed 'Donetsk People's Republic' (DNR) in South-Eastern Ukraine. The DNR...Show moreUnrecognized states seek legitimacy, both domestic and international. The most recent unrecognized state is the Russian backed 'Donetsk People's Republic' (DNR) in South-Eastern Ukraine. The DNR presents itself with their 'state' media, published on-line in Russian and English. This thesis analyzes the media with the help of Analyzing the articles published, it becomes clear the legitimation strategies of the DNR focus on highlighting the differences between the DNR, which is portrayed as the victim, and Ukraine, which is portrayed as the agressor. The strategy is based more on discrediting Ukraine than promoting the DNR. Such a strategy may be relatively successful, given that local attitudes are relatively anti-Ukrainian due regular shelling and the predominance of Russian news media in the region. The English language articles follow the same line. However, these articles do not reach a wide audience and the effect on international legitimacy is negligible.Show less
The war on drugs is does not only take place in South America, but also in other, less expected, parts of the world. In particular, opium travels from (mainly) Afghanistan to parts all over the...Show moreThe war on drugs is does not only take place in South America, but also in other, less expected, parts of the world. In particular, opium travels from (mainly) Afghanistan to parts all over the world, carried by all sorts of groups and organizations that have specialized in this trade. The PKK is active in a number of regions in the Middle-East and illicit drug trade is one of the means of its financing. Using the crime-terror continuum of Makarenko, this research describes the PKK as a commercial terrorist organization with mainly financial interests, at present stronger than their political motives. The research question of this thesis is as follows: “To what extent has the Kurdistan Workers’ Party transformed into a criminal organization from its erewhile politically motivated terrorist origins?” The relevance of this research is therefore to give the PKK a spot on the crime- terror continuum of Makarenko (2004: 131) and to show its evolution into a transnational organized crime organization, rather than just a static politically driven organization. This research could improve the formulation and implementation of future counter measures. The hypothesis of this thesis is that the PKK can be defined as a predominantly commercial terrorist organization.Show less
