The German energy transition (Energiewende) is fuelled by a distrust towards nuclear power, foreign energy dependency and climate change. This paper assesses the media representation of the German...Show moreThe German energy transition (Energiewende) is fuelled by a distrust towards nuclear power, foreign energy dependency and climate change. This paper assesses the media representation of the German Energiewende, especially how the use of framing and narrative could influence public opinion on the matter. The analysis which aids to this goal is foucauldian discourse analysis.Show less
After the Eurozone crisis, the problem rooted in the Spanish political system exposed and the population wanted to create an alternative democracy to replace the dominant one, a series of social...Show moreAfter the Eurozone crisis, the problem rooted in the Spanish political system exposed and the population wanted to create an alternative democracy to replace the dominant one, a series of social movements were initiated afterwards. This thesis aims to deliver an analysis regarding the influence of using cyberspace in a contemporary social movement, Acampada Sol (Occupying La Puerta del Sol). By applying the "Imagined Community" theory from Benedict Anderson, I found that the changing material condition and technological development would affect the way people participate in the social movement. Looking at the application of the latest online technology, Acampada Sol demonstrates a new way of doing social movements.Show less
Can the private sector reverse the high-skilled labour shortage in Bulgaria after the country’s accession to the European Union? The main claim of this research is that the Bulgarian private sector...Show moreCan the private sector reverse the high-skilled labour shortage in Bulgaria after the country’s accession to the European Union? The main claim of this research is that the Bulgarian private sector cannot reverse the high-skilled labour shortage on its own, and thus needs to cooperate with the state.Show less
This paper is concerned with the Nordstream 2 pipeline, and with the ethical principles of the European Union. The paper uses Chantal Mouffe's agonistic approach as its theoretical framework and...Show moreThis paper is concerned with the Nordstream 2 pipeline, and with the ethical principles of the European Union. The paper uses Chantal Mouffe's agonistic approach as its theoretical framework and suggests that the European Union should move towards a more agonistic approach in its cooperation. It outlines the Polish, German and Russian perspective on Nordstream 2, European Union principles and laws related to gas and energy are discussed followed by a set of recommendation which the European Union could implement in order to reach a conflicting consensus on the matter.Show less
Drawing upon Neo-Gramscian and Unequal Ecological Exchange theories, this thesis offers a new perspective on the political dynamics of the European Union’s Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)...Show moreDrawing upon Neo-Gramscian and Unequal Ecological Exchange theories, this thesis offers a new perspective on the political dynamics of the European Union’s Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Least Developed Countries. My research focuses on the EPA between the EU and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and seeks to unravel the discrepancy between the EU’s pledges and the material outcomes of the trade agreement. It is argued that, on the one hand, the EPA tends to benefit the EU environmentally while contributing, on the other hand, to environmental degradation and underdevelopment in the West African region. This aspect of the agreement reinforces the EU’s legitimacy as a political player internally and externally, which makes the EPA part of a European hegemonic project that perpetually sustains structural inequalities in today’s global order. As this paper concludes, the EU’s use of sustainable development as a concept and policy tool is therefore questioned, thereby subverting the effectiveness and legitimacy of its external actions.Show less
