The creation of the European Defence fund and the search for projects has led France and Germany to announce the creation of a co-developed European main battle tank. France and Germany share a...Show moreThe creation of the European Defence fund and the search for projects has led France and Germany to announce the creation of a co-developed European main battle tank. France and Germany share a history of attempts to cooperate on the development of armaments. Few of these projects atually succeded. This thess examines previous attempts by France and Germany to cooperate on the development of land armaments and tries to ascertain what these attempts can tell us about future cooperation in this area.Show less
This paper details the path of the British defence industrial base against the development in Western capitalism. British economic hegemony of the nineteenth century was inherited by the United...Show moreThis paper details the path of the British defence industrial base against the development in Western capitalism. British economic hegemony of the nineteenth century was inherited by the United States throughout the first decades of the twentieth. The shifts in global ecnonomic structures had profound effects British State-capital relationships. The British state has long been a facilitator of capital. Yet US in the twentieth global dominance has seen this paradigm taken to hitherto unseen levels. Nowhere is this more apparaent than UK government dealings with the Britih defence industry.Show less
This thesis addresses the issue of hostility towards migrant-aiding NGOs operating in Greece, and in particular acts of hostility and criminalisation of NGOs by state actors. The thesis argues that...Show moreThis thesis addresses the issue of hostility towards migrant-aiding NGOs operating in Greece, and in particular acts of hostility and criminalisation of NGOs by state actors. The thesis argues that the European response to border policing and migration management, especially during and after the 'European refugee crisis' of 2015-2016, is permeating a destabilising environment for those who give support to migrants and try to uphold traditional humanitarian values. To support this claim, the thesis present theory and examples of a number of restrictive and punitive measures which have facilitated the process of criminalisation in Greece. The purpose of the thesis is to demonstrate that the initial emergence of autonomous migrant and refugee solidarity movements is in opposition of attempts by national and supranational state actors to securitise the EU's external borders. Furthermore, the thesis argues that processes of criminalisation of aid and solidarity towards irregular migrants ultimately perpetuate a politics of invisibility and indifference, which serves to conceal the EU’s failure to provide adequate humanitarian care to migrants. In doing so, the thesis supports Tugba Basaran’s theory on the societal implications that accompany the practice of criminalising specific forms of aid (2015). Specifically, that practises which criminalise aid also encourage domestic audiences to becoming indifferent towards the existence and suffering of specific populations.Show less
The European Union (EU) has played a vital role in the creation of the globalized world known today. Through the many challenges and setbacks the union has experienced the past decades it has...Show moreThe European Union (EU) has played a vital role in the creation of the globalized world known today. Through the many challenges and setbacks the union has experienced the past decades it has demonstrated how unification and cooperation has become increasingly important. This study argues how in this process of globalized consolidation solidarity plays a vital role. Communities such as the EU rely to a large extent on all its member states involved willing to be solidary. The aim of this study has been to find justification for demonstrating solidarity during the refugee crisis of 2015/2016. This has been done by examining Dutch media and interviewing Dutch government officials. Upon examination of the sources, it became clear that the failures of the most important EU asylum regulations were due to a lack of solidarity. The theory of intergovernmentalism demonstrated how states preferred applying their own national regulations instead of following the supra-national EU policies. By applying the theories of instrumental and normative solidarity this study was able to grasp an idea of what is vital to improve in order to increase solidarity in the union. Focusing on the self-interest of the member states within the union is vital in order to stimulate solidarity. The member state should be well informed of why it is beneficial to be part of the EU. In addition, the union should focus on further developing a European identity among its residents in order to improve the feeling of solidary.Show less
This works examines the social position of central- and eastern european (labour) migrants in the Netherlands. While most academic literature focus on economic aspects this work examines social...Show moreThis works examines the social position of central- and eastern european (labour) migrants in the Netherlands. While most academic literature focus on economic aspects this work examines social aspects; most notably in terms of integration. Such aspects are, inter alia, social assistance benefits, language, cultural norms and values, living- and housing conditions and crime. Additionally, civil servants of several municipalities were contacted to gain insight, as these actors are directly involved with such EU citizens. The research showed that most stereotypes associated with central- and eastern migrants are unsubstantiated and that the vast majority contribute in a positive manner to Dutch society.Show less
This thesis seeks to explain that the EU’s development as a counterterrorism actor collides with its identity as a normative power. The EU has created various instruments, among them the autonomous...Show moreThis thesis seeks to explain that the EU’s development as a counterterrorism actor collides with its identity as a normative power. The EU has created various instruments, among them the autonomous terror list, to portray itself as a capable counter-terrorism actor towards itself and its allies . However the success of its normative power relies on ability to show actors the merits of the norms. At the hand of a comparative case study of two cases, the Kurdish Workers’ Party and Hezbollah, this thesis will explore the EU’s choice for the use of sanctions against non-state actors and how it interferes with the identity of the EU as a normative power.Show less
The Netherlands is geographically and historically highly concerned with the maritime domain. Major involvement in the Atalanta mission and the BeNeSam cooperation shows the Dutch encouragement to...Show moreThe Netherlands is geographically and historically highly concerned with the maritime domain. Major involvement in the Atalanta mission and the BeNeSam cooperation shows the Dutch encouragement to collaborate with other countries when covering the subject of maritime security. The current Dutch EU Presidency is after the introduction of the EUMSS a good opportunity to see what the Dutch are doing with the issue of maritime security at EU level. Therefore, maritime security on the EU level and the role of the Netherlands will be the focus of this thesis. This thesis will cover the subject of the increasing interest in maritime security on EU level. The Atalanta mission and the BeNeSam show the Dutch encouragement to collaborate with other countries within the domain of maritime security. Therefore, the topic of this thesis is European maritime security and the role of the Netherlands. The research question is; what can the Netherlands ‘upload’ to European maritime security cooperation? European maritime security is something that is still developing and because of the new focus to maritime security in the EU, this thesis will also look how the Netherlands can shape European maritime security cooperation at the moment. In order to answer this research question this thesis will look at the Dutch position within European maritime security cooperation.Show less
