This thesis investigates the effects of metaphoric framing on the evaluation of immigrants. More specifically, the effects of the metaphoric description of immigrants by politicians and media,...Show moreThis thesis investigates the effects of metaphoric framing on the evaluation of immigrants. More specifically, the effects of the metaphoric description of immigrants by politicians and media, equating them with viruses that are harmful for countries they enter. In line with the Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) and prior metaphor research, the hypothesis of this thesis is that heightening contamination concern of participants results in a more negative evaluation of immigrants. The study contributes to our understanding of the role of metaphor in public discourse, by showing the effects of metaphors on people’s reasoning, which could eventually undermine the position of immigrants.Show less
This research examines the influence of nationalism on the outbreak of the armed conflict between Turkish and Greek Cypriots from 1950 until 1976. This armed conflicts between the both Cypriot...Show moreThis research examines the influence of nationalism on the outbreak of the armed conflict between Turkish and Greek Cypriots from 1950 until 1976. This armed conflicts between the both Cypriot communities was reflective of an enduring ethnic conflict between two different cultural communities. Therefore, this research is focused on understanding the ethnic conflict in relation to the rise of Turkish and Greek nationalism. The structure of this research starts by placing the ethnic conflict in its historical context; secondly, the effects of Turkish and Greek nationalism on the both Cypriot communities will be elucidated; and lastly, this research will analyze the ethnic conflict from Kohn's theory of nationalism, which distinguishes two different forms of nationalism: civic and ethnic nationalism.Show less
This study investigates attitudes toward heritage language maintenance and shift among Chinese parents and their children in The Hague. It specifically explores the attitudes held by the parents...Show moreThis study investigates attitudes toward heritage language maintenance and shift among Chinese parents and their children in The Hague. It specifically explores the attitudes held by the parents and efforts made by them to maintain their children’s proficiency in Chinese language varieties. Ten families residing in The Hague were included in the study. Data for this paper were drawn from an online questionnaire shared through Wechat and face-to-face interviews with two families. Analysis of the data indicates that Chinese parents value their heritage language very much and they make a lot of efforts to maintain their children’s proficiency in Chinese language varieties. The children, however, do not have the same attitudes compared to their parents. Most of them consider Chinese to be a challenging language and do not see the necessity of learning it. Meanwhile, a lingua franca shift from Cantonese to Mandarin is gradually taking place and a new Chinese migrant category has been emerging in The Hague over time. Moreover, the local Dutch schools also play an important role in heritage language maintenance (HLM). My findings suggest that parents should attempt to adopt more measures to encourage their children to learn Chinese, and cultivate interest in Chinese culture and language for their children in order to motivate them to learn Chinese at a young age. Furthermore, the local Dutch schools should also continue the current education system and try to cooperate with parents in emphasizing the significance of Chinese heritage language.Show less
Mandatory exchange of populations between Turkey and Greece in 1923 was embodied at the Lausanne Conference in Switzerland. The forced transfer of people during the early years of the new Turkish...Show moreMandatory exchange of populations between Turkey and Greece in 1923 was embodied at the Lausanne Conference in Switzerland. The forced transfer of people during the early years of the new Turkish Republic exemplified the nationalist sentiments of the time. This compulsory transfer was not based on language or ethnicity of people, but on religion. During the time of Turkish identity construction and the execution of Turkification policies, Muslim refugees —comprising not only Turks but also other ethnic groups— had to (re)adjust to their “homelands”. In this context, this thesis examines the detrimental effects of nation-building processes on the (minority) immigrant population from a historical and socio-political perspective. By analyzing the adjustment of Muslim refugees to their life in Turkey, more specifically in the town of Kayaköy/Fethiye, this study aims to contribute to the broader field of politics by shedding more light on the effects of nationalism on minority groups.Show less
This thesis is an attempt to examine the meaning, relevance, and impact of German citizenship on the lives of Germans of Turkish and Russian-German ancestry in Germany. More generally, it set out...Show moreThis thesis is an attempt to examine the meaning, relevance, and impact of German citizenship on the lives of Germans of Turkish and Russian-German ancestry in Germany. More generally, it set out to discuss the politics of belonging and membership in a political community, such as the (German) nation-state. The findings as well as the literature that was discussed showcase some of the difficulties, which prevent certain Germans from having full access to their citizenship rights in the German national community. This difficulty arises mainly because Germany has not yet stripped itself completely from an ethnic or cultural understanding of German citizenship and thus identity. As a result citizens are deemed ‘the other within’ based on criteria, such as ethnicity and culture in the public imagination and must negotiate belonging to the national community accordingly. This ‘otherization’ leads to deny certain German citizens of full membership in the national community. Especially so, in relation to their substantive citizenship.Show less
