Enlargement is often considered to be European Union’s (EU’s) most successful foreign policy tool. However, in the last 15 years, further expansion has become problematic. Conditions and demands to...Show moreEnlargement is often considered to be European Union’s (EU’s) most successful foreign policy tool. However, in the last 15 years, further expansion has become problematic. Conditions and demands to the candidate states have been becoming stricter, leading to delays in the process and the discourse about the EU’s readiness to welcome new members. Considering the negative consequences of stricter criteria, coupled with some visible compliance on the side of candidate states, it is not immediately clear why the EU decided to make conditionality stricter. This thesis explores the causes of the enlargement criteria tightening, focusing on both internal political dynamics of the EU and performance of the candidate states. It finds that stricter conditionality is caused mostly by the increased role of intergovernmentalism in the EU, due to an existing enlargement fatigue. The findings are then applied to and tested in the context of Albania and North Macedonia.Show less
This thesis is aimed to demonstrate that the term 'Political Correctness' is more complex than the way that we use it in popular culture indicates. The trivial manner in which this term gets thrown...Show moreThis thesis is aimed to demonstrate that the term 'Political Correctness' is more complex than the way that we use it in popular culture indicates. The trivial manner in which this term gets thrown around in debates, where it triggers tensions on both sides to run high, is an indication of the simplistic manner in which many have regarded the term. We examine where the term ‘political correctness’ originates from, how is has been possible for the term to proliferate in political debates, without it being clearly defined, and what the differences are in perception and usage of the term. Moreover, this thesis provides a deeper analysis on why it this term provokes such polarizing views in those who use it, or have it be used against them.Show less
This thesis examines North Macedonia’s response to the European Council’s decision of rejecting the opening of accession negotiations, resulting from a veto by French President Emmanuel Macron in...Show moreThis thesis examines North Macedonia’s response to the European Council’s decision of rejecting the opening of accession negotiations, resulting from a veto by French President Emmanuel Macron in October 2019. North Macedonia is considered to be a pioneer in complying with the EU’s conditionality framework since 2001 and has received the European Commission’s positive recommendations to open the accession negotiations in 2009 and 2019. Although the EU’s incentive-based conditionality strategy is considered to be effective in academia, a scenario whereby a candidate country has adopted the EU conditions and was nevertheless rejected by the European Council has not been analysed yet. Consequently, this thesis is based on qualitative primary and secondary data, in which interviews played the essential sources of information. Rationalist and constructivist theories in EU conditionality studies play the fundamental basis as explanatory behavioural models in this research. The results of this research reveal that North Macedonia has not been discouraged by the French veto and eventually implemented final provisions of the EU integration process. On 24 March 2020, North Macedonia received the green light to the start of the accession talks.Show less
Historically, Libya has played a crucial part in Italian foreign policy inside the Middle East- and North-African (MENA) region. Serving as the prime supplier of fossil fuels, Libya has also long...Show moreHistorically, Libya has played a crucial part in Italian foreign policy inside the Middle East- and North-African (MENA) region. Serving as the prime supplier of fossil fuels, Libya has also long functioned as a transit point for migrants taking the route toward the European continent. To safeguard both energy security and irregular migratory flows, Italy has invested in creating a mutually beneficial relationship with Libyan leader Moammar al-Ghaddafi. The 2011 Arab Spring would trouble these bonds, as Ghaddafi's reign was challenged - and ultimately toppled. Italian foreign policy-making has been described as notoriously self-contradicting, inefficient and serving self-interest at best. To test these theories, the events and resulting Italian foreign policy during the Libyan Revolution in 2011 serve as a case study. It will be shown that Italian foreign policy produced some tangible short-term results, especially in terms of energy security. Nonetheless, the processes that preceded these results were characterized by periods of uncertainty in Italian foreign policy making. Indeed, several actions of the Italian government proved to acknowledge the 'propensity for self-contradiction' that has long characterized Italian foreign policy-making in International Relations theory.Show less
Using a grounded theory qualitative research approach the author constructs a theoretical framework around understanding the subjective experience of incoming (newly elected) Member European...Show moreUsing a grounded theory qualitative research approach the author constructs a theoretical framework around understanding the subjective experience of incoming (newly elected) Member European Parliament (MEPs) to the European Parliament and proposes a theory to explain the relationship between MEPs and the Parliament. Using a grounded study framework, a select group of MEPs were interviewed around their subjective experience of joining the European Parliament, and how they attempt to resolve their main concerns. In an on-going iterative process of ‘comparative analysis’ which stayed close to the original data, and while exploring the emerging concepts, to theorise that when transitioning into the EU Parliament, MEPs experience a changing identity, and in seeking to shape Parliament, MEPs are themselves shaped by the Parliament. The findings suggest that newly elected MEPs experience a changing identity on joining the Parliament, and in response attempt to change aspects of the Parliamentary structures and practices. However, MEPs themselves are changed during their term in office, and the Parliament remains fundamentally unchanged. The process is repeated with the periodic arrival of newly elected MEPs.Show less
The thesis seeks to answer the question of the reasons for the fear of Muslim immigrants, observable within the Polish society since 2015 migration crisis, despite the relatively low percentage of...Show moreThe thesis seeks to answer the question of the reasons for the fear of Muslim immigrants, observable within the Polish society since 2015 migration crisis, despite the relatively low percentage of migrants approaching the country. The author applies Arjun Appadurai's theory of the fear of small numbers and examines rhetoric of the crucial entities of the country, such as political parties, media and church, in order to analyse the changing attitude of the society, presented in national polls and voting.Show less
This thesis aims to bring abstract conceptions of morality in politics into a current, comparative case study. It will compare the arms export policies of two Western democracies, Germany and the...Show moreThis thesis aims to bring abstract conceptions of morality in politics into a current, comparative case study. It will compare the arms export policies of two Western democracies, Germany and the UK, which are similar in many ways but have taken different stances on arms exports. It will consider a range of factors and compare them to account for the difference in arms policy. It looks at a variety of factors, including comparing political parties, civil society, public opinion, opposition politics and economics but ultimately concludes that the most important factors are historic accountability and the formation of government.Show less
Honduras, as part of the Central American Integration System, trades with the European Union. In return, the European Union uses its normative power to promote and secure human rights in Honduras....Show moreHonduras, as part of the Central American Integration System, trades with the European Union. In return, the European Union uses its normative power to promote and secure human rights in Honduras. The emergence of China, as an alternative trade partner, puts a strain on the responsiveness of Honduras to EU conditionality.Show less
