This thesis examines the hard line drug policy adopted by the government of the far-right, former Brazilian president Jair Bolsnaro. A 2021 report published by the International Drug Policy...Show moreThis thesis examines the hard line drug policy adopted by the government of the far-right, former Brazilian president Jair Bolsnaro. A 2021 report published by the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) investigated the national drug policies of 30 countries and ranked Brazil in last place in relation to the compatibility of its drug policies with UN recommendations. Drawing upon the arguments of scholars involved within the academic debate surrounding the “War on Drugs,” this thesis addresses the ideological motivations behind Bolsonaro’s drug policy through an analysis of semi-structured interviews carried out with four Brazilian drug policy experts. Ultimately, the conclusions of this research are that the hard line drug policies of the Jair Bolsonaro government were motivated by a desire to maintain a system of control and domination over racial minorities. Additionally, the adoption of policies to legally and economically strengthen the drug rehabilitation institutions run by Bolsonaro’s evangelical allies can be understood as a political ploy to increase the societal influence and power of his supporters.Show less
Indigenous Peoples have been historically Othered in society but also through the use of the media. This phenomenon is based on historic asymmetries of power that are still present in the modern...Show moreIndigenous Peoples have been historically Othered in society but also through the use of the media. This phenomenon is based on historic asymmetries of power that are still present in the modern day. One contemporary example of this is that of the participation of Indigenous Peoples in Colombia, in particular the Minga, during the protests in 2021 known as the Paro Nacional. Though this period had a wide participation of vast groups of society protesting (students, feminist groups, workers unions, and other marginalised groups), the way the Minga was covered in the media was distinct in highlighting the danger they posed compared to these other groups. Thus, this research focuses on answering why were the Indigenous grouping (the Minga) portrayed as dangerous when they protested in the Paro Nacional of 2021? The central argument proposed is that this is due to the media’s power alongside the government in wanting to maintain the colonial subjectivities of Indigenous people that were posing a threat to social order during these unusually disruptive protests. To do so the research uses a multidisciplinary methodology of historical primary source analysis and frame analysis, from the cultural studies discipline, to shed light on the Othering narratives present in the chosen sources in the Colombian media during the Paro Nacional of 2021. This research not only proves important for the local Colombian context but is also relevant globally as the Othering of minorities through the media can limit the effectiveness of social justice anywhere.Show less
Many Latin American countries have faced dictatorships in the second half of the twentieth century. In Chile, the human rights violations that were committed during the dictatorship under General...Show moreMany Latin American countries have faced dictatorships in the second half of the twentieth century. In Chile, the human rights violations that were committed during the dictatorship under General Augusto Pinochet still profoundly impact modern society. The question of how to address these violations has created a situation in which transitional justice gained relevance since the end of the dictatorship. However, traditional conceptualisations of transitional justice have overly focused on judicial dimensions and thereby disregarded other dimensions that are equally as relevant in the transition to a stable democracy. These dimensions include conceptualisations of cultural and linguistic rights that were popularised in the last two decades. This thesis explores the opportunities that an inclusion of effective language policies grounded in the idea of language rights provides to advance transitional justice. This link is investigated through the case of Mapudungun. The findings from this research suggest that the successful implementation of language policies addresses different dimensions of transitional justice and should therefore be included in transitional justice policies, thus aiding the process. The findings from the Chilean case can be beneficial in other transitional contexts in which the inclusion of cultural and linguistic dimensions could contribute to advance transitional justice.Show less
This thesis examines the role of the Quipu Project in seeking justice for indigenous Peruvian women who underwent forced sterilisation. In the 1990s, under Alberto Fujimori’s administration, 311...Show moreThis thesis examines the role of the Quipu Project in seeking justice for indigenous Peruvian women who underwent forced sterilisation. In the 1990s, under Alberto Fujimori’s administration, 311,000 women and 25,000 men, got sterelised in the name of the National Program of Reproductive Health and Family Planning. Despite the astonishing numbers of victims and the lack of justice they have received to this day, the Quipu Project emerged as an encouraging initiative. Trough an analysis based on transitional justice perspective, this thesis explores how the Quipu Project would be suitable for three key mechanisms of transitional justice: The truth and Reconciliation commissions, Reparation Programs, and Institutional Reform. The Quipu Project has given a glimpse of hope for future prospects for justice by giving victims a platform and a dedicated phone line to voice their experiences. Therefore, this thesis argues that the Quipu Project has the potential to make a substantial contribution to the fight for justice for those who were subjected to forced sterilisation.Show less
In the past two decades, as the public debate about sustainable development has increasingly gained attention, sustainability goals have also reached the tourism sector, especially in lowand middle...Show moreIn the past two decades, as the public debate about sustainable development has increasingly gained attention, sustainability goals have also reached the tourism sector, especially in lowand middle-income countries. Subsequently, sustainable tourism alternatives like pro-poor, community-based, eco-, or Indigenous tourism emerged, aiming to provide inclusive economic and socio-cultural benefits to the host communities and thus contribute to broader goals like poverty alleviation and regional sustainable development. This thesis focuses on Indigenous tourism, as a particular form of alternative tourism, and assesses its potential in serving as a tool for sustainable development of the tourism sector and the host communities, taking Peru as case study. Whereas singular aspects of Indigenous tourism have already been discussed in prior research, this thesis aims to provide a full overview of the impacts of Indigenous tourism by combining insights from an economic and socio-cultural perspective. The analysis utilizes a mixed-method approach that combines qualitative literature-based research with primary data analyses and is based on neoliberal and Marxist economic theory as well as sustainable tourism studies, critical development, and post-colonial theory. Discussing the various prospects and challenges (both economic and socio-cultural) of Indigenous tourism in Peru, this research identifies clear requirements for successful development and subsequently advocates for the promotion of Indigenous tourism as a mean toward more inclusive and sustainable development of Peru´s tourism sector and the host communities.Show less
Chile currently finds itself in the middle of a constitution-making process. This is the second attempt to replace the current constitution, since in 2015, the president at that time tried to...Show moreChile currently finds itself in the middle of a constitution-making process. This is the second attempt to replace the current constitution, since in 2015, the president at that time tried to launch a constitution-making process, which eventually failed. A large majority of the public sees the current constitution as responsible for the social and political problems in the country. One way to investigate how the public made this association between the constitution and social misery is to look at the media, especially newspapers. With the help of Critical Discourse Analysis, this thesis compares how newspapers reported on the different constitution-making processes in Chile (2015-2017 and 2019-2021), in order to detect underlying ideologies that could influence the public opinion. This paper argues that the discourse changed over the years, because in the first attempt, the newspapers mainly focused on the process itself. On the other hand, during the second constitution-making process, newspapers took a closer look into the potential content and form of a new constitution.Show less
Governance constitutes an important feature of organized crime. Across the world, millions of people live under criminal governance. In such cases, criminal organizations are involved in enforcing...Show moreGovernance constitutes an important feature of organized crime. Across the world, millions of people live under criminal governance. In such cases, criminal organizations are involved in enforcing rules and collecting taxes, providing security, as well as offering basic goods and services. This phenomenon primarily takes place in areas of weak state presence, where the government fails to satisfy the population's basic needs such as physical and social security. As of today, criminal governance remains particularly widespread throughout Latin America. Indeed, the region suffers from high levels of violence and public insecurity, which bear significant impacts on social, economic, and political life. The states of Mexico and Brazil, in particular, are home to some of the largest criminal organizations in the world. The latter include cartels and gang networks of various sizes and organizational structures. In turn, the same organizations have been involved in establishing localized governance practices in their respective countries. Despite being a well-researched concept in academia, criminal governance remains understudied in contexts of crisis. The states of Brazil and Mexico have been greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and its negative socioeconomic impacts. In addition, the said crisis profoundly altered the environment in which criminal organizations operate. Using a comparative case study methodology, this thesis, therefore, investigates the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on criminal governance practices from criminal groups in Mexico and Brazil. In doing so, it aims to form a better understanding of how criminal organizations adapted their governance activities to the health crisis.Show less
By seeking to explore the development of social protection national policy, this thesis has sought to contribute to the field of global social policy, by delving into the role and influence of...Show moreBy seeking to explore the development of social protection national policy, this thesis has sought to contribute to the field of global social policy, by delving into the role and influence of international organizations with regards to national social protection systems. This research has scrutinised the way Mexico applied conventions related to social protection devised by the International Labour Organisation and developed its national social protection system since 1931 (when it joined the organisation) until present. Through a historical approach, it has been demonstrated how Mexico's changing economic systems have conditioned the applicability of the internationally-devised norms of the ILO to its national context. This finding aligns with the scholarly view on international norm compliance according to which states do not always defy internationally-imposed directives willingly, but are rather conditioned by national events or circumstances of a socio-economic or political order. It has thus been concluded that the Lost Decade of the 1980s represented a moment of upheaval and economic change (from state-led industrialization to market-led economy) that influenced the effectiveness of the ILO's norms on Mexico's social protection system.Show less
Using political science literature focused on democratic transitions and peace-making this paper explores the possibilities of a negotiated democratic transition in Venezuela. Often is the pacted...Show moreUsing political science literature focused on democratic transitions and peace-making this paper explores the possibilities of a negotiated democratic transition in Venezuela. Often is the pacted transitions considered to be the most lucrative path to a democracy due to its peaceful nature. However, domestic challenges in Venezuela make a sustainable transition to democracy challenging. Venezuela has seen massive levels of democratic backsliding under the presidency of both Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro. Particularly, Maduro’s presidency has been riddled with severe economic crisis and human rights abuses. While the international community has been involved for several years, their use of negotiations and sanctions have not been successful in causing a regime change. By analyzing the literature on Venezuela and policy papers I identify the obstacles to a democratic transition. As the COVID-19 pandemic made a deep impact on the world, I will also analyze whether the pandemic has created incentives for the regime to democratize or if it has made the regime’s hold on power stronger.Show less
