This thesis examines the state of regional integration in Latin America, by looking at the customs union Mercosur. The Mercosur has been widely studied in terms of regionalism, but this thesis...Show moreThis thesis examines the state of regional integration in Latin America, by looking at the customs union Mercosur. The Mercosur has been widely studied in terms of regionalism, but this thesis offers new insights by looking at the effect of the strategic partnership between the EU and Brazil. Furthermore, this thesis produces a scholarly argument by systematically connecting analytical concepts to the regional integration of Mercosur. At last, this research on the consequences of the strategic partnership EU-Brazil on the regional integration of Mercosur certainly adds new insights regarding the functioning of Mercosur.Show less
This paper analyzes Mexico’s food consumption patterns and social consequences conditioned by economic changes following the implementation of NAFTA. Market liberalization and foreign investment...Show moreThis paper analyzes Mexico’s food consumption patterns and social consequences conditioned by economic changes following the implementation of NAFTA. Market liberalization and foreign investment have proven to negatively impact public health in Mexico which experiences a steep increase of obesity prevalence and non-communicable diseases. This paper is able to trace the complex relationship between trade, health policy and the nutrition transition.Show less
This thesis seeks to investigate the possible connection between the precarious socioeconomic situation that dominates the lives of most Chileans and the historically unprecedented magnitude of...Show moreThis thesis seeks to investigate the possible connection between the precarious socioeconomic situation that dominates the lives of most Chileans and the historically unprecedented magnitude of protests that are currently shaking the country. The main research question will, therefore, take a close look at “How to understand the 2019 Chilean protests as a result of the structural inequalities produced by the radical neoliberal development strategy implemented in the 1980s? In order to make this research more tangible and feasible, the privatization of the social security (pension) system will serve as a case study to analyze the changing tolerance for inequality, as the demand for a pension system reform is one of the key drivers behind the ongoing social upheaval in Chile. The research questions will be answered by using the Hirschman “tunnel hypothesis” created in 1973 to investigate how societies in the early stages of rapid economic development have created a substantial tolerance for initial economic disparities, anticipating a future reduction of said disparities that will include everyone. Should these expectations never be met, considerable social discontent develops, that can result in disaster and turn previous supporters into enemies of the stateShow less
While some recognise tourism as the optimal companion of conservation due to their beneficial symbiotic relationship, others have addressed the negative consequences on the islands. As such, the...Show moreWhile some recognise tourism as the optimal companion of conservation due to their beneficial symbiotic relationship, others have addressed the negative consequences on the islands. As such, the Galapagos will serve as a case to study the effects of tourism on conservation and local development to understand if they can be achieved simultaneously. This research aims to look behind the curtain of the idea of pristine and untouched nature and its alignment with tourism to find out if conservational and tourist practices can indeed be compatible and lead to a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship.As will be seen, the conflicts in the Galapagos surround the concepts of power and scale. It is these concepts that also form a central concern in the academic fields of political ecology and ecological economics, which will be the perspectives used for the analysis.Show less
This thesis aims to describe the evolution on drug policies, mainly on coca, in Colombia and Bolivia. Heiren, is domestic influence and U.S. participation seen as the main effect.
As the subject of my thesis, I wanted study flex crops, because I want to find out how flex crops can help to obtain food security in order to help my reader understand how food security can be...Show moreAs the subject of my thesis, I wanted study flex crops, because I want to find out how flex crops can help to obtain food security in order to help my reader understand how food security can be reached in a sustainable manner. The region of specialization for this thesis is Latin America. Therefore, the research question of this thesis will be: ‘To what extend is there a link between flex crops and food security?’. The hypothesis is that major actors in the agricultural sector, such as corporations and governments claim that flex crops will help to reach food security in the near future, because flex crops have the capacity of multiple uses and therefore, the food sector does not have to compete with other sectors like fuel, but the livelihoods of rural populations and the biodiversity in ecosystems are not taken into consideration in these claims, only the mere idea of prospects of capital accumulation.Show less
