Research master thesis | Political Science and Public Administration (research) (MSc)
open access
2017-08-01T00:00:00Z
Since the proliferation of democratizing countries in Africa, ethnic conflict has also increased. One of the explanations for this phenomenon is that ethnicity become politicized when democratic...Show moreSince the proliferation of democratizing countries in Africa, ethnic conflict has also increased. One of the explanations for this phenomenon is that ethnicity become politicized when democratic institutions are installed, and ethnic cleavages are widened, creating more conflict. In order to temper conflict and stabilize the democratization process it is sometimes needed to use undemocratic tools, such as party bans. While sometimes banning an ethnic party leads to less conflict, sometimes it also leads to more. This thesis will explain how a party ban will decrease conflict when it is based on old, existing law or regulation and accompanied by other institutional arrangements giving incentives for inter-ethnic cooperation and promote cross-cutting cleavages. Two cases of party bans in Mauritania and two cases in Nigeria are used to explain the mechanism of the causal effect between party ban and conflict level.Show less
In this thesis, I will argue that counter-terrorism measures are part of a differentiated and selective focus on migrants of ‘Muslim origin’. The securitization of the Islam in Europe has led to an...Show moreIn this thesis, I will argue that counter-terrorism measures are part of a differentiated and selective focus on migrants of ‘Muslim origin’. The securitization of the Islam in Europe has led to an increasing trend in illiberal practices that destabilizes the importance of humans rights in contemporary liberal regimes under the guise of the ‘War on Terror’. I will begin with a literature review about the impact of counter-terrorism measures on Muslims and the lack of attention in the Netherlands concerning this topic. I will apply a Critical Security Studies approach, based on the theory of International Political Sociology. Thus, I will investigate the impact of bureaucratic routines and practices of security actors on the Muslim population in the Netherlands. Instead of assessing the impact of counter-terrorism measures from a state-security apparatus perspective, I will assess the impact of counter-terrorism measures from a community perspective by interviewing Muslims and gathering insights from the relevant security actors. The conclusion will be that there has not yet been any critical research about the impact of counter-terrorism measures on the Muslim population in the Netherlands. Nonetheless, Muslims experience direct and indirect consequences from the accommodating configurations of context for counter-terrorism measures. Their main concern is the decline of equal treatment in society because they have stigmatized as being part of a group of people that lack ‘moral’ citizenship and are therefore responsibilized through repressive measures. This thesis hopes to spark an academic interest and a careful reconsideration by policymakers of the drawbacks of far reaching preventive security measures and the corresponding configuration of contexts for differentiated and selective counter-terrorism measures on Muslims in the NetherlandsShow less
The topic of this thesis revolves around the identity of the Indisch Dutch in the Dutch East Indies during the Second World War and the Bersiap period. This topic has been researched through the...Show moreThe topic of this thesis revolves around the identity of the Indisch Dutch in the Dutch East Indies during the Second World War and the Bersiap period. This topic has been researched through the perspective of societal security, as put forward by the approach of the Copenhagen School in the Critical Security Studies, combined with Rogers Brubakers’ theorization of identity. It combines ethnic identity and ‘securitization’ in such a way that there is being investigated if an identity can be shaped, or further developed, by the occupier to ‘securitize’ this group (i.e. to identify them as an existential threat to society).Show less
This study examines the relationship between domestic constraints and the implementation of international agreements by concentrating on the process of ratification. Specifically, I empirically...Show moreThis study examines the relationship between domestic constraints and the implementation of international agreements by concentrating on the process of ratification. Specifically, I empirically focus on the case of German defection and the NATO mission to Libya. Since the main theories of international cooperation lacked the focus on domestic factors, this study tests the role of five domestic factors. However, with respect to their relative influence, I argue that domestic constraints are influenced themselves by (historical) narratives and prominent political elites.Show less
