The ways in which actors conceptualize and communicate about the environment-migration nexus is fundamental in world politics. The contemporary discourse on the relationship between migration and...Show moreThe ways in which actors conceptualize and communicate about the environment-migration nexus is fundamental in world politics. The contemporary discourse on the relationship between migration and the environment is predominantly manifested within an adaptation framework. The Netherlands is, because of its reputation in adaptation, a unique case to analyze the ‘politics of causal claims’ with regard to the environment-migration nexus. By conducting a critical discourse analysis on policy documents and websites, this paper contributes to the literature on political ecology by examining how and why the relationship between migration and the environment is conceptualized in the discourse of the Dutch government. This analysis reveals that in the discourse of the Dutch government, a discursive subject has been created that is deemed to migrate in the light of environmental change. Exporting Dutch expertise in adaptation is presented as the solution to the ‘future threat’ of climate-induced migration. A paradigm shift within the neoliberal framework of Dutch development policies allowed adaptation to become instrumentalized as a business case to tap into emerging economies abroad. Future research could therefore shed light on whether a ‘trade as adaptation’ narrative exist or whether the Netherlands is a sui generis entity.Show less
Ecuador's constitution of 2008 has gathered worldwide attention for its progressive outlook. The constitution adopted Buen Vivir (good living), a concept rooted in the Andean indigenous social...Show moreEcuador's constitution of 2008 has gathered worldwide attention for its progressive outlook. The constitution adopted Buen Vivir (good living), a concept rooted in the Andean indigenous social movements, as the leading principle of the state. Scholars have called Buen Vivir a potential 'alternative to development': it redefines the objective of national planning as achieving harmony between nature, society and individuals, as opposed to narrowly-defined improved material wellbeing. Nonetheless, critics claim that the term has turned into a guise for new developmentalist state practices. This thesis assesses how a radical new discourse such as Buen Vivir evolves once confronted with the structures of the state and the constraints of society and economy. Drawing on Critical Discourse Analysis, it analyses how the framing of Buen Vivir in the speeches of Ecuador's presidents has limited its transformative potential. Furthermore, it illustrates how gaps between discourse, state practices and constitutional values have rendered the emancipatory meaning of Buen Vivir ambiguous.Show less
The following thesis is an analysis on the accountability mechanisms of the international nongovernmental organisation, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and the platform, Accountable Now. The...Show moreThe following thesis is an analysis on the accountability mechanisms of the international nongovernmental organisation, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and the platform, Accountable Now. The research question of the study is, how does accountability towards beneficiaries differ between a non-governmental organisation with an external accountability mechanism, and one without? The hypothesis that is argued is that the use of external mechanisms provides greater accountability to beneficiaries. Through a content analysis, using the aggregates of information, power, and action to conceptualise accountability, the hypothesis is confirmed. It is found that the accountability of the external mechanism Accountable Now provides greater accountability to beneficiaries than the nongovernmental organisation Doctors Without Borders.Show less
The goal of developing countries is to achieve the economic status of “developed”. As many strategies aiming to achieve that stage revolve around economic procedures, this research rather takes a...Show moreThe goal of developing countries is to achieve the economic status of “developed”. As many strategies aiming to achieve that stage revolve around economic procedures, this research rather takes a social and a more inclusive approach to the matter. As previous studies find that gender equality has a positive impact on economic growth, it has become part of the development agenda of numerous developing countries, including the Republic of Indonesia. Nevertheless, although academic work has established the existence of a major correlation between female educational attainments and the participation of women in the workforce, this paper finds Indonesia to be an outliner. Indeed, as the country successfully increased its economic rates and female educational attainments, only 0,1% increase of the female participation in the labour force has been recorded between 1998 and 2014. Examining the causes of why women’s economic participation has stagnated in Indonesia, this research uses a process tracing method of analysis to examine two gender policies. This research finds traditional customs – viewing women’s role as biological rather than on the labour force – to be the main explanation for this phenomenon.Show less
