The 11th of September, 1973 marked the beginning of an oppressive dictatorship in Chile, which lasted 17 years. Nowadays, the legacies of the dictatorship are still visible in Chilean society. This...Show moreThe 11th of September, 1973 marked the beginning of an oppressive dictatorship in Chile, which lasted 17 years. Nowadays, the legacies of the dictatorship are still visible in Chilean society. This thesis asks the question: To what extent was cultural trauma visible in the annual commemoration of the 1973 coup in Chile during the first presidency of Sebastián Piñera?Show less
In 2016 the whole world watched, as three elections around the world produced results that virtually no one had expected. In June that year the Brits voted to leave the European Union. In November...Show moreIn 2016 the whole world watched, as three elections around the world produced results that virtually no one had expected. In June that year the Brits voted to leave the European Union. In November the American population voted Donald Trump as their 45th president and on the second of October 2016 the Colombian public voted NO to peace. The unexpectedness of the Colombian outcome is illustrated by the Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to Santos a mere 5 days after the disappointing result of the peace referendum. Current research is not yet conclusive as to what produced the unexpected result of the Colombian peace referendum. The strong division between Uribe and Santos politicised the referendum and polarised Colombian society. As an effect, the campaigns became highly emotional and ever-present in Colombian society in the months leading up to the referendum. To provide insight into the question as to how the NO camp could convince the Colombian public to vote against peace in the peace referendum and analyse the effectiveness of both strategies, I will analyse the following research question: what were the strategies used by supporters and opponents of the 2016 peace referendum to contest the legitimacy of the peace agreement between Colombia and the FARC? This research will not only provide an insight in the Colombian context but can be applied and adapted to provide insight into other peace referendums as well.Show less
This research examines the causes behind the emergence of border conflicts in Venezuela. One of the main objectives is to demonstrate that an internal crisis externalises itself in the shape of...Show moreThis research examines the causes behind the emergence of border conflicts in Venezuela. One of the main objectives is to demonstrate that an internal crisis externalises itself in the shape of territorial disputes. Venezuela´s case is tested against other relatively recent border conflicts in South America. This thesis proves the influence of internal crisis and historical precedents on the emergence of border conflicts, and adds value to the existing literature by examining causes instead of consequences.Show less
Ever since their elections in 2003 and 2006 respectively, Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva and Michelle Bachelet have been dominant figures within their national politics and have also been influential...Show moreEver since their elections in 2003 and 2006 respectively, Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva and Michelle Bachelet have been dominant figures within their national politics and have also been influential at a regional level. Their individual dominance can be viewed through the wider phenomenon of increasingly personalised leadership throughout the world. Politics is viewed and covered through the lens of individual politicians, instead of political parties. Headlines are dominated by Trump and May, not by the Republicans or the Conservatives respectively. Furthermore, populism has also been a key aspect in modern politics, especially in Latin America where the rise of leftist-populist governments, often called the “Pink Tide”, has dramatically reshaped regional politics (Remmer 2012, 949). Similar populist movements have only come to the US and Europe far more recently. This essay will analyse the wider context of the left in Latin America, both Lula and Bachelet individually, their respective political parties, and populism as a theory. This will be done through a critical literature review and comparative analysis. The aim is to answer the question, to what extent have individual leaders replaced political parties as the dominant force within politics.Show less
This thesis analyzes security policies by the Calderon administration to determine how they were used to increase the political legitimacy of the Calderon administration after the 2006 legitimacy...Show moreThis thesis analyzes security policies by the Calderon administration to determine how they were used to increase the political legitimacy of the Calderon administration after the 2006 legitimacy crisis.Show less
As the first of its kind, this paper evaluates the UNHCR's construction of refugees in its annual campaigns between 2011 and 2016. First establishing the complex nature of anti-refugee sentiment in...Show moreAs the first of its kind, this paper evaluates the UNHCR's construction of refugees in its annual campaigns between 2011 and 2016. First establishing the complex nature of anti-refugee sentiment in the United Kingdom using Integrated Threat Theory and the trinity of policy, politics and media, the paper identifies the instances in which UNHCR has offset, overlooked or encouraged public hostility and protectionism. It is concluded that UNHCR’s campaigns before 2014 did not internalise local social and historical hierarchies and anti-refugee discourse. It was only with the ‘I Belong’ campaign of 2014 that UNHCR fulfilled its role as the global guardian of refugee protection norms, addressing UK anti-refugee sentiment directly and effectively.Show less
Blockchain technology is an innovative, new and fast growing industry, with most countries around the world uncertain on what to do with blockchain and how to react. Previous research on blockchain...Show moreBlockchain technology is an innovative, new and fast growing industry, with most countries around the world uncertain on what to do with blockchain and how to react. Previous research on blockchain has mainly focussed on bitcoin and cryptocurrency, this paper goes beyond just cryptocurrencies while also looking at the ‘why’ question to try and explain the different early responses towards blockchain by different countries. It starts with an explanation on what blockchain is and what cryptocurrencies are, it then focusses on the responses that countries took with regard to blockchain. The main goal of this paper is to categorize countries around the world on their early responses towards blockchain technology and then investigate what could explain these early responses towards blockchain technology by different countries. Economic, political and cultural variables are included to investigate a possible answer to the early responses towards blockchain.Show less
