Since the euro debt crisis, a polarized debate erupted with regards to which policy measures should be taken in order to rein in excessive public debt figures and regain economic growth during a...Show moreSince the euro debt crisis, a polarized debate erupted with regards to which policy measures should be taken in order to rein in excessive public debt figures and regain economic growth during a crisis. This debate holds two sides, proponents and opponents of austerity measures. Within this context, both sides of the debate have taken Portugal’s remarkable economic recovery as a prime example of their rational. Through an analysis of policy changes that occurred between the Passos-Coelho and Antonio Costa this thesis proposes that the line of policy that the Costa government implemented suggests a nuanced version of both sides. The policies of the Costa government adhere to fiscal discipline, whilst implementing policies that protect the most vulnerable, suggesting a third way between austerity and fiscal expansion.Show less
In recent years, the expanding role of Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) under the realm of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has drawn worldwide attention and has sparked academic and...Show moreIn recent years, the expanding role of Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) under the realm of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has drawn worldwide attention and has sparked academic and policy debates about the attendant risks and benefits of Chinese FDI for recipient countries such as Serbia. The Serbian tradition of non-alignment in foreign affairs, its progress towards EU accession and warm relations with Russia make the country a very significant geopolitical intersection. For these reasons, the case of Chinese FDI in Serbia and its role in EU-Serbian accession negotiations is the central issue in this research. This thesis considers two central theoretical aspects: it considers whether and to what extent Chinese FDI in EU candidate countries is driven primarily by efforts to circumvent EU regulations and it considers arguments for Chinese FDI as an instigator for economic development and growth in Serbia. It employs a case study design that draws on directed content analysis, construing EU-Serbian relations as a particular case or instance of EU relations with EU candidate countries receiving FDI from China. The main finding of this research is that the role of Chinese FDI is dominated by several other issues that receive greater priority in EU-Serbian negotiations.Show less
Some serious concerns regarding the growing role of higher education in the world-wide knowledge economy are that the neoliberalization of higher education is undermining higher education’s...Show moreSome serious concerns regarding the growing role of higher education in the world-wide knowledge economy are that the neoliberalization of higher education is undermining higher education’s contributions to the public good. This role of higher education historically has been seen as fostering economic development of nations and the provision of opportunities for individuals to promoting and harmonizing cultural diversity, political democracy, and economic trade. Critics allege higher education institutions worldwide, but especially in Latin America have become or are becoming handmaidens of neoliberal institutions, including neoliberal states and such global institutions as the world bank or the OECD (Rose 2003, 67-68). Is this true? If neoliberalization of higher education is indeed happening, do neoliberal reforms promote more inclusive higher education responsive to labor market needs? By addressing this research question, we can have a better understanding of the dynamics of higher education and their position within society. This might give more insight on a regional level of how these dynamics function, but it could also be an insight into the comparison with other developing regions.Show less
While theoretical literature on Varieties of Capitalism routinely labels Germany as an instance of a coordinated market economy, the apparent inability or unwillingness of the country’s government...Show moreWhile theoretical literature on Varieties of Capitalism routinely labels Germany as an instance of a coordinated market economy, the apparent inability or unwillingness of the country’s government to address deleterious effects and risks of financialisation raises important questions about the character of the country’s economic governance and how and to what extent it may be changing and why. Germany – the centre of Euro-capitalism - has failed to hold its banks accountable for various incidents of questionable behaviour during, before, and after the crisis, also in the context of the Cum-Ex tax scandal and the non-implementation of a financial transaction tax. While attempts at regulating finance have been ineffective in most countries, it nonetheless remains mostly unclear why states fail in the face of increasing inequality and widespread voter discontent with recent developments in German and European capitalism.Show less
For decades now, the earth’s climate has been tampered with as greenhouse gases have been pumped into the atmosphere without any constraints. On top of that, the world is still troubled by immense...Show moreFor decades now, the earth’s climate has been tampered with as greenhouse gases have been pumped into the atmosphere without any constraints. On top of that, the world is still troubled by immense social inequalities, putting the feasibility of realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nation in 2015 in question. The last decade has been a period overshadowed by a variety of crises, from immigration crises to financial crises. This has raised criticism, demanding to reconsider the current development paradigm. The rational of development through economic growth cannot be maintained, particularly due to our planets’ boundaries. We have exhausted our planets limits and are steering towards its tipping point. This paper will look at the Ecuadorian case of Sumak Kawsay, a variant of Buen Vivir which, has been an increasingly popular worldview in the Andean and Amazon region of Latin America. This paper will explore Buen Vivir as an alternative development strategy and critically assess its viability to achieve a set of three distinct UN sustainable development goals. Additionally, the current global political economy will be critically discussed. Thus, this paper can be placed within the wider debate of development studies, seeking alternatives to the current development paradigm.Show less
Obesity prevalence is on the rise globally. Often, national policies to address this issue are lacking or have limited effect. Public health advocates are therefore campaigning for regulatory...Show moreObesity prevalence is on the rise globally. Often, national policies to address this issue are lacking or have limited effect. Public health advocates are therefore campaigning for regulatory measures in the form of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). In the UK, advocates achieved this goal, whereas in Australia, they did not. In this study, the question was asked whether the framing strategies used by public health advocates mattered in their effectiveness. The aim of the study was to increase understanding about the causal mechanisms behind framing. Through content analysis, this study showed that effective framing enabled advocates to guide the public and political debate about obesity and the SSB-tax. Dominating the debate, however, did not in itself result in policy change. Contextual factors matter in this regard. Show less
Public-private Partnerships (PPPs) are today considered an integral avenue for the pursuit of Kenya’s sustainable development agenda. They are seen as a vehicle through which the government...Show morePublic-private Partnerships (PPPs) are today considered an integral avenue for the pursuit of Kenya’s sustainable development agenda. They are seen as a vehicle through which the government involves the private sector in its development agenda to assist in the provision of public goods and services. The international development community continues to promote PPPs as a model for sustainable development too. Nonetheless, our understanding of the contributions of PPPs for sustainable development is limited. The academic streams on the topic hold rival claims, which further impedes our understanding of the limits and contributions of PPPs for sustainable development. Therefore, it is essential to understand the theoretical implications of PPPs applied on a practical context. Through a case study comparison of two PPP projects in Kenya, this thesis finds that PPPs are not inherently effective or ineffective for sustainable development, but that bottom-up people-first objectives can significantly contribute to local sustainable development, to a national development agenda and the SDGs more broadly. This bottom-up approach, as opposed to the more generally used top-down approach, allows for a more effective and efficient PPP process due to political support and community engagement. Furthermore, the thesis finds that next to PPP design, the political economy of a country can significantly influence the overall effectiveness of PPPs. This means that that future PPPs should take into account the political economy context of the country and its sectors, as well as bottom-up approaches, to optimally contribute to sustainable development.Show less
This thesis seeks to contribute to a causal explanation of the divergence in levels of state effectiveness between Rwanda and Ethiopia. Both authoritarian states have been lauded as economic...Show moreThis thesis seeks to contribute to a causal explanation of the divergence in levels of state effectiveness between Rwanda and Ethiopia. Both authoritarian states have been lauded as economic success stories and beacons of hope in Africa. They have both gone through rapid economic growth and progress across many other indicators of development which they, supposedly, thank to their political culture and system of governance, recognized as ‘developmental patrimonialism’. This has enabled them to achieve strong economic growth in spite of the potentially damaging characteristics of neopatrimonial governance characteristics. On the other hand, despite their similarities, the Rwandan state is significantly more effective than that of Ethiopia according to the “government effectiveness” levels measured by the World Bank in 2017, as well as a number of other similar surveys. This thesis provides an explanatory account of the sources of Rwanda’s and Ethiopia’s divergence in state effectiveness, by sociologically analysing each state in its respective domestic and international environment. This takes the form of a qualitative comparative case study in search of causal mechanisms that link the social and political relationships in which each state has engaged to that state’s effectiveness. The case study consists of four levels of analysis, each of which exploring a dimension of state interactions in the period 2000-2017, including input relationships, output relationships, shared beliefs and the relations with the international community. The analysis locates determinants of state effectiveness in features of the states’ relations with their environment both inside and outside the state. The study suggests the Rwandan state tends to engage in relationships in a more responsive way than is observed in Ethiopia. This will be shown to be the explanatory factor underpinning the divergence in state effectiveness and an explanation of these differences will thereafter be advanced. The source of this divergence in responsiveness seems to rest on properties of the political settlements of both countries: the properties of the political settlement of Rwanda are compatible with a more responsive form of governance, whereas the properties of the political settlement of Ethiopia are not. These findings contribute to a theory of state effectiveness where the possession of effectiveness and its outcomes may be delineated.Show less
This master thesis uncovers the influence of business lobbying on the Dutch Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) program from the 1960s until 2016. Drawing on a wide collection of sources, historical...Show moreThis master thesis uncovers the influence of business lobbying on the Dutch Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) program from the 1960s until 2016. Drawing on a wide collection of sources, historical archives, extensive literature and press research, public records and interviews, this thesis examines more than 100 BITs to reveal the corporate and governmental drivers of the Dutch BIT program. It finds that the role of business preferences and lobbying in the context of Dutch BITs is generally overstated, although Dutch corporations like Shell, Philips and Unilever were actively involved in the early days.Show less
Over the past decade, Ethiopia achieved rapid and stable economic growth, considered as a ‘miracle’ when compared to other Sub-Saharan African countries. Ethiopia’s average real GDP growth per...Show moreOver the past decade, Ethiopia achieved rapid and stable economic growth, considered as a ‘miracle’ when compared to other Sub-Saharan African countries. Ethiopia’s average real GDP growth per annum was estimated at 10.8% between 2003 and 2015 . In addition, Ethiopia succeeded in reducing its poverty rate by 21.8% between 2000 and 2011 . Classical development theories provide analytical tools to help outline traditional patterns of economic development. However, this paper will reveal that the EPRDF government defied generally accepted assumptions concerning processes of economic growth by establishing ‘the Ethiopian way of development’. The EPRDF ruling party fostered an environment for economic growth stability by focusing on original programmes and policies that developed infrastructures and improved access to basic services, expanded the commercialization of agriculture, and provided more opportunities for the private sector. The state’s development strategy was inspired by multiple economic and development theoretical elements. However, these concepts were adapted in an unprecedented manner in order to achieve Ethiopia’s development goals. This paper will complement this analysis by considering the influence of geographical and institutional factors on the economic growth of Ethiopia.Show less
Realism offers a useful tool for analyzing the intentions and actions of rising powers. However, taking a closer look at a particularly “strategic” aspect of China’s recent New Silk Road Initiative...Show moreRealism offers a useful tool for analyzing the intentions and actions of rising powers. However, taking a closer look at a particularly “strategic” aspect of China’s recent New Silk Road Initiative, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which has become a major cornerstone of China’s current foreign policy, shows discrepancies between what Realism would predict and what can be observed. Further analysis of the actors involved suggest that China is not, as Realism would suggest, a ‘black box’ unitary actor, but instead a complex weave of foreign policy relevant actors. The inability of Realism to say anything constructive about the movement of this intricate web below the immediate surface is a major shortcoming that requires a rethink of the theory. State transformation offers one alternative, but in the end, Realism needs a series of models for varying types of actors in power, if it wishes to have explicatory or even prognostic power in an increasingly internationalized and complex world.Show less
This thesis examines soft power and self-image building in China and contrasts this with the current Western hegemonic ideology in order to establish to what extent China can operate within the...Show moreThis thesis examines soft power and self-image building in China and contrasts this with the current Western hegemonic ideology in order to establish to what extent China can operate within the world order. Furthermore, this thesis analyses several films in order to indicate that the image surrounding China is heavily influenced by external powers. The findings of the thesis suggest that within the current Western hegemonic ideology China's influence is limited and partly affected by certain discourses.Show less
