Executive master thesis | International Relations and Diplomacy (MSc)
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This study employs descriptive statistics and Difference-in-Differences (DID) analysis from 1990 to 2022 to investigate the impact of minimum wage policies on women's labor force participation...Show moreThis study employs descriptive statistics and Difference-in-Differences (DID) analysis from 1990 to 2022 to investigate the impact of minimum wage policies on women's labor force participation rates in the European Union (EU). The findings suggest that increases in the minimum wage have a modest but statistically significant positive effect on women's economic activity. Additionally, the analysis indicates that this impact varies depending on national socioeconomic conditions and existing labor market structures. While minimum wage policy alone cannot fully address gender inequality in the labor market, it can be a valuable tool for promoting women's workforce participation, particularly among low-income earners. This research fills a critical gap in the literature and informs policy discussions aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 5.Show less
Na decennia van decentralisatie in het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid, is aan het eind van kabinet Rutte III een voorzichtige tendens richting centrale regie ingezet. Deze tendens is onder het...Show moreNa decennia van decentralisatie in het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid, is aan het eind van kabinet Rutte III een voorzichtige tendens richting centrale regie ingezet. Deze tendens is onder het kabinet Rutte IV, met onder andere de terugkeer van een minister voor Volkshuisvesting en Ruimtelijke Ordening, in een versnelling gekomen. Deze beweging past in het bredere concept van recentralisatie. Dit is een relatief nieuw en onderbelicht concept, zeker in de Europese context. Tegelijkertijd toont de huidige trend in het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid duidelijke tekenen van recentralisatie. Het doel van dit onderzoek is dan ook het vinden van oorzakelijke factoren voor de recentralisatie van het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid. Gebaseerd op bestaande theorieën verwacht het onderzoek dat de recentralisatie het gevolg is van crises als de asielcrisis, de stikstofcrisis en de COVID-19-pandemie aan de ene kant, en de verminderde lokale invloed van landelijke coalitiepartijen aan de andere kant. Deze verwachtingen zijn getoetst middels semigestructureerde interviews, welke onder een brede groep actoren zijn afgenomen. Ook is er gezocht naar alternatieve verklaringen voor de recentralisatie van het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid. De vooraf opgestelde verwachtingen worden niet, of slechts ten dele, ondersteund door het onderzoek. De verwachting dat crises een sterke invloed hebben gehad op de recentralisatie van het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid wordt slechts ten dele ondersteund. De verwachting dat recentralisatie het gevolg is van verminderde lokale invloed van landelijke coalitiepartijen wordt niet ondersteund door de resultaten. Wel blijkt uit de resultaten dat de recentralisatie van het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid past in een bredere (ideologische) trend van recentralisatie, en dat in deze ontwikkeling een grote rol is weggelecht voor gemeenten en individuele politici. Dit onderzoek beveelt onder andere aan om in volgend onderzoek verder te kijken naar deze alternatieve verklaringen voor de recentralisatie van het Nederlandse volkshuisvestingsbeleid.Show less
In an era marked by geopolitical tensions and the race for technological sovereignty, this study explores the divergent strategies and policy instruments employed by the United States (US) and the...Show moreIn an era marked by geopolitical tensions and the race for technological sovereignty, this study explores the divergent strategies and policy instruments employed by the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) in strengthening their semiconductor industries. Despite being economic powerhouses, the U.S. and the EU hold only about 12 percent and 10 percent of the global semiconductor manufacturing market share, respectively. This comparative analysis delves into the nuanced policy frameworks based on the Developmental Network State (DNS) model of targeted resourcing, brokering, facilitation, and protection in shaping their semiconductor policy. This thesis aims to provide insights that extend beyond mere policy descriptions, intended to inform policymakers, industry stakeholders, and academic scholars to understand the strategic underpinnings that are influencing the global competitive semiconductor industry.Show less
This research provides an empirical analysis of the latest international development aid strategy of the European Commission, namely, the Global Gateway. This new approach to the European Union’s ...Show moreThis research provides an empirical analysis of the latest international development aid strategy of the European Commission, namely, the Global Gateway. This new approach to the European Union’s (EU) development policy aims at developing equal partnerships through the correction of asymmetries of power as well as environmental and social inequalities. It notably puts a specific emphasis on the inclusion of the civil society in Global Gateway’s partnerships. The underlying empowerment of partner countries and the civil society through ‘local ownership’ and the objectives of the Global Gateway echo Manners’ notion of Normative Power Europe (NPE). This research investigates the synergies between the strategy and an NPE by asking: How can the inclusion of the civil society in the Global Gateway strategy contribute to a Normative Power Europe? It identifies how the participation of the civil society to avoid neo-colonial relations in the EU-Togo partnership can fulfil the three prerequisites of an NPE: i.e. an ‘action in concert’; a ‘simultaneous awareness’ and; a ‘non-adversarial relation’. Early studies suggest that the Global Gateway’s discourses replicate neo-colonial and prescriptive diffusion of norms. But these findings rely on publicly available documents from the European Commission, adopts a Eurocentric view of the strategy and don’t look at its practical application. This research takes these critics duly into account by analysing through an interpretative approach empirical material from both the EU and Togo, panel discussions of EU and partners’ leaders and semi-structured interviews with EU policy makers. Findings stress the centrality of policy makers’ intentions and visions vis-à-vis the Global Gateway. The instrumentalization of the strategy for economic and geopolitical purposes directly undermines the empowerment of EU partners despite effective civil society inclusion. If the EU were to be a normative power through the inclusion of civil society in the Global Gateway, it should make of development the principal objective of partnerships over trade and geopolitics.Show less
This paper seeks to find an answer to the question: "How does BlackRock interact with European industrial policies, such as the Green Deal, and what implications might this have for public...Show moreThis paper seeks to find an answer to the question: "How does BlackRock interact with European industrial policies, such as the Green Deal, and what implications might this have for public objectives?" Key findings suggest that BlackRock has a significant sphere of influence in and around the institutions that constitute the European Union. BlackRock hires strategically by employing former high-ranking government officials, people who have often overseen regulatory processes about BlackRock itself. Furthermore, BlackRock employees occupy strategic positions within several European bodies, such as the EFAMA. BlackRock is very pro-Green Deal to the outside world, but behind the scenes they actively lobby for policies that either delay or undo the Green-Deal policies. They don’t do this using the name “BlackRock” however, they do this through many different Trade Groups which BlackRock dominates. The study concludes that we can speak of a “regulatory capture” of these bodies. However, it is unclear if there is a causal relationship between BlackRock’s sphere of influence and European policy outcomes, and if there is, to which extent. To quantify that, we would need full access to insider information from BlackRock, something that is beyond the scope of this paper. BlackRock’s influence, however, is undeniable.Show less
This thesis investigates the representative bureaucracy theory within the context of the Dutch government. Specifically, it examines how conditions facilitating the translation from passive to...Show moreThis thesis investigates the representative bureaucracy theory within the context of the Dutch government. Specifically, it examines how conditions facilitating the translation from passive to active representation may explain potential differences in the degree of active representation of minority groups between New Professionals and Rijkstrainees. To explore this, a qualitative research method was employed, opting for a comparative case study. A total of 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted with trainees from both groups. The findings indicate that the selected factors, namely differences in trainee programs, policy congruence, internal political support, and external political support, have little to no impact on the degree of active representation. However, a difference in the degree of active representation between the two groups was identified. It was revealed that New Professionals more frequently engage in active representation. This difference appears to be primarily associated with distinctions in the approach of the recruitment processes of the programs, rather than with the goals or organizational structure of the programs.Show less
Deze scriptie onderzoekt de ervaren spanningen bij Nederlandse buurtbudgetprogramma's, met een specifieke focus op Gouda, Katwijk, Den Haag en Eindhoven. De centrale vraag richt zich op de invloed...Show moreDeze scriptie onderzoekt de ervaren spanningen bij Nederlandse buurtbudgetprogramma's, met een specifieke focus op Gouda, Katwijk, Den Haag en Eindhoven. De centrale vraag richt zich op de invloed van de democratische inrichting op deze spanningen. De scriptie is ter afronding van de master management van de publieke sector van de Universiteit Leiden. Het onderzoek combineert literatuuranalyse met percepties van respondenten, waarbij vier casussen zijn onderzocht die op basis van het model van Engbersen, Fortuin & Hofman (2010) anders zijn ingericht. De resultaten tonen drie hoofdspanningen aan. Allereerst blijkt dat beleidsmakers die kiezen voor uitgebreide participatie, meer kosten maken, maar ook meer druk ervaren om zoveel mogelijk mensen bij het buurtbudget te betrekken. Voor buurtbudgetten met vertegenwoordigende democratie geldt dit niet. Een tweede spanning doet zich voor tussen het buurtbudget en bestaande belangengroepen zoals wijkberaden. Gemeenten worstelen met de manier hoe ze wijkberaden en belangenorganisaties het beste kunnen betrekken bij het buurtbudget. Ten slotte blijkt er spanning te zijn tussen het buurtbudget en de ambtelijke organisatie. Hoe groter die afstand, hoe groter de interne ambtelijke dynamiek. Heldere kaders verminderen deze spanning. De scriptie biedt inzicht in lokale uitdagingen bij het ontwerpen van buurtbudgetten en benadrukt het belang van flexibiliteit, lokale contextkennis en aandacht voor organisatorische capaciteiten voor het succesvol inrichten van buurtbudgetprogramma's. Toekomstig onderzoek zou zich moeten richten op gedetailleerdere casestudy's en longitudinale analyses om een gefundeerd model voor buurtbudgetten in relatie tot mogelijke spanningen te ontwikkelen.Show less
Dit verkennende, inductieve onderzoek heeft als doel om leeftijd als onafhankelijke variabele en als sociaal demografische antecedent van PSM te onderzoeken. In bestaande literatuur wordt over de...Show moreDit verkennende, inductieve onderzoek heeft als doel om leeftijd als onafhankelijke variabele en als sociaal demografische antecedent van PSM te onderzoeken. In bestaande literatuur wordt over de relatie tussen leeftijd en PSM er enerzijds gezegd dat leeftijd wel invloed heeft op PSM terwijl onderzoek van Moynihan en Pandey een contrasterend resultaat laat zien (Moynihan & Pandey, 2007; Perry, 1990). Om te achterhalen wat het mechanisme achter deze relatie voorstelt, is ervoor gekozen om bestaande literatuur verdieping te geven in een kleinschalig onderzoek, waarbij de doelgroep is afgebakend naar backoffice ambtenaren van drie ministeries. De onderzoeksvraag luidt: hoe beïnvloedt leeftijd de mate van PSM van ambtenaren die in de backoffice werkzaam zijn van het Rijk? Om antwoord te geven op deze vraag zijn in totaal tien Rijksambtenaren geïnterviewd. De waargenomen resultaten tonen geen opmerkelijke patronen waaruit kan worden afgeleid dat leeftijd als onafhankelijke variabele een positief of negatief effect heeft op de mate van PSM.Show less
The European Union has made great strides in integration in many areas. However, military cooperation is lagging behind. Various factors such as the war in Ukraine show that the EU must pull...Show moreThe European Union has made great strides in integration in many areas. However, military cooperation is lagging behind. Various factors such as the war in Ukraine show that the EU must pull together and not remain dependent on the US and NATO. The introduction of PESCO as an instrument appears to be a step towards strategic autonomy for the European Union’s defence entity. The aim of this research is to discuss PESCO and to what extent this instrument can lead to the European Union’s strategic autonomy. The following research question was therefore used: Will PESCO contribute to strategic autonomy for the European Union's defense and if so, why? Through interviews with various experts in the field of European military cooperation and document research, there is a high degree of coherence between the member states to expand military cooperation. This also has a positive effect on external events such as the war in Ukraine, making PESCO appear to be adaptive. However, the EU's presence has not yet reached that point and NATO is still mainly looked to when it comes to military cooperation. Despite of this PESCO has shown to be promising for the near future.Show less
This thesis delves into the intricate landscape of (green) industrial policies, focusing on Tata Steel Nederland (TSN) and its governance within the Netherlands from 2009 to 2023. Against the...Show moreThis thesis delves into the intricate landscape of (green) industrial policies, focusing on Tata Steel Nederland (TSN) and its governance within the Netherlands from 2009 to 2023. Against the backdrop of global sustainability imperatives, the study navigates the evolving paradigm of industrial policies in response to climate challenges. As the manufacturing sector, particularly steel production, stands pivotal in achieving emission reduction targets, the research unravels the change in governmental rhetoric and policy outcomes towards TSN. This thesis addresses change surrounding TSN governance, injecting agency into Historical Institutionalism (HI) analysis and considers three pressures — expert knowledge, mobilisation, and salience — collectively to address existing research gaps. HI provides the theoretical lens, supported by agency to address the theory’s limitations. The directional flow of pressures, from the communicative to the coordinative policy sphere, elucidates the role of actors in inducing institutional changes. A process-tracing case study methodology is employed and the research analyses governmental documents, health reports, news articles, and interviews to trace the unfolding changes in TSN's governance. The empirical findings show a departure from historical patterns, marked by the maatwerkafspraken, as well as increased monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure the company adheres to the new green industrial vision of the Netherlands. The findings indicate a necessity of coexisting pressures—expert knowledge, mobilisation, and salience—to trigger change. The absence of any one pressure prompts dynamic equilibrium in favour of the powerful interests of TSN, emphasising the need for high pressure in the communicative policy sphere.Show less
This thesis has investigated the extent to which expert advice on cross-cutting policy issues, as expressed by the WRR in its reports, led to political adoption at the national level in the...Show moreThis thesis has investigated the extent to which expert advice on cross-cutting policy issues, as expressed by the WRR in its reports, led to political adoption at the national level in the Netherlands. Text analysis of cabinet reactions showed levels of agreement indicating degrees of influence. High levels of agreement, and thus strong influence, were found. A supplementary citation analysis of parliamentary debates showed references to reports indicating types of influence. Very limited references were found. In conclusion, the WRR possesses expert influence to a great but limited extent.Show less
This thesis investigates the effects of government satisfaction and political trust on public attitudes towards the ‘social investment’ state in Italy. In the thirty years following the Second...Show moreThis thesis investigates the effects of government satisfaction and political trust on public attitudes towards the ‘social investment’ state in Italy. In the thirty years following the Second World War, advanced industrial economies established the welfare state to protect (male) breadwinners against income loss due to old age, disability, sickness, or unemployment. However, since the post-war years, the structure of social risks has changed dramatically. The dilemmas of modern societies comprise long-term unemployment, in-work poverty, precarious jobs, single parenthood, and a growing difficulty in reconciling work and family life. These challenges have called for a recalibration of the traditional welfare state towards a ‘social investment’ model focused on the generation, preservation, and mobilisation of human capital. However, welfare state recalibration remains, for some countries more than others, an arduous challenge. Welfare state institutions successfully adapted to the emergence of new social risks in the Nordic countries, but not in Southern Europe, still lagging behind. Why has it been so difficult for some welfare states to implement future-oriented strategies? Under which conditions would citizens be willing to accept welfare state modernisation based on social investment measures? Focusing on the Italian case, this thesis argues that a recalibration towards future-oriented reforms is complicated by the low levels of political trust that characterise the Italian welfare regime. Relying on micro-level data from the eight wave of the European Social Survey (ESS), the empirical analysis investigates the effects of governmental trust and satisfaction on the willingness of Italian citizens to support recalibration towards social investment, financed through retrenchment of existing social benefits or tax hikes. The evidence confirms that trust and satisfaction encourage the disposition of Italians to support investment-based reforms that are costly in action at present, with uncertain future outcomes. Overall, these findings suggest that governments’ trustworthiness broadens our understanding of the political viability of future-oriented policymaking under financially constrained scenarios.Show less
