This thesis assesses the transfer of knowledge in water-management techniques from Israel to the Palestinian State, as compelling sources of bilateral cooperation fostered via the usage of shared...Show moreThis thesis assesses the transfer of knowledge in water-management techniques from Israel to the Palestinian State, as compelling sources of bilateral cooperation fostered via the usage of shared hydraulic mechanisms in science, engineering or educational programs amongst other existing initiatives. The analytical approach of this thesis is not framed within a “political-conflict” assessment but rather taps into the concept of science for diplomacy.Show less
With the aim of presenting a constructive criticism on the current integration discourse in the Netherlands, this thesis explores the practices and internal narratives of a neighborhood initiative...Show moreWith the aim of presenting a constructive criticism on the current integration discourse in the Netherlands, this thesis explores the practices and internal narratives of a neighborhood initiative in the Schilderswijk, Den Haag based on a qualitative study conducted in 2016. Neighborhood initiatives are literally and figuratively situated at the junctions of society, where intrasocietal borderlines of all sorts can meet and merge. Following an exposition of recent Dutch integration policies and a critique of the discourse underlying them, the ways in which this neighborhood initiative allows for integration to be lived and understood in confrontation with hegemonic structures are investigated, yielding impulses for rethinking notions of integration, society, and citizenship. Connecting the concepts of microemancipation and thirdspace to integration illuminates how integration is enacted in juxtaposition to dominant discursive representations and structures, and shows how a vigilant observation of bottom-up practices can re-inform and enrich the integration discourse. The inclusion of grassroots approaches is a necessary step towards the reconfiguration of thinking patterns and practices which currently impede real progression of public and policy debates about integration and societal cohesion. For this reason, the translation of grassroots approaches into theoretical conceptualizations and policy recommendations forms the central aim and contribution of this article, as it seeks to make them visible to and available for academic and political discourse.Show less
The United States, commonly recognised as the world leader in the self-defined 'war on terror', publishes a 'Foreign Terrorist Organizations'list annually. This list, together with classifications...Show moreThe United States, commonly recognised as the world leader in the self-defined 'war on terror', publishes a 'Foreign Terrorist Organizations'list annually. This list, together with classifications from various other nations and institutions provide an understanding for the international community regarding the status of terrorist organisations worldwide. From 1997, the United States has categorised Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation following the 1983 bombing on an American marine barracks in Lebanon. This thesis provides an analysis of the perceived transition of Hezbollah from a terrorist organisation to a functioning and legitimate political party in order to debate the impact of international terror classifications and the need for more greatly recognised definitions for the term 'terrorist'.Show less
This thesis explores the cyclical construction and reproduction of neo-orientalist discourse in the post-9/11 world order, through a qualitative case study comparing and contrasting selected...Show moreThis thesis explores the cyclical construction and reproduction of neo-orientalist discourse in the post-9/11 world order, through a qualitative case study comparing and contrasting selected content from the British tabloid-style newspaper Mail Online, and the militant organization Daesh’s propaganda magazines Dabiq and Rumiyah. Analysis concerns a sample of articles highlighting dichotomies between the conceptual blocs of “Western Civilization” and “Islamic Civilization”; specifically the representation of Daesh on both sides of the discursive equation as a neo-orientalized entity, thereby arguably re-enforcing conceptions of Islam as an inherently barbaric, medieval, and threatening culture and religion. Based on the samples analyzed, this thesis uncovers a self-perpetuating cycle of neo-orientalist representation of Daesh, identifiable on a micro scale in its own publications as well as the British news publication. Similarities concerning the representation of Daesh in the scrutinized samples are identified and deemed problematic, opening discussion into the realm of the ethics and responsibility of contemporary journalism.Show less
Today the Orientalist figure of the Muslim female is being generalised all over the world, blurring the otherwise wide diversity of women originating from the Middle East and part of the Muslim...Show moreToday the Orientalist figure of the Muslim female is being generalised all over the world, blurring the otherwise wide diversity of women originating from the Middle East and part of the Muslim faith. Shirin Neshat's "Turbulent" encourages such a confusion, taking place in most Western art and academic circles. The discourses upholding the image portrayed in the artwork are part of a social myth that could be overcome. Therefore, this study opens with a contextualization of Shirin Neshat and of her work. Subsequently, it sets out to establish a theoretical background for the myth and the way it can be applied to the present situation in the Middle East. Finally, to demonstrate that this short film, "Turbulent" can overcome existing myths about the ‘Oriental’ woman, it will present an semiotic analysis and propose an alternative reading.Show less
This thesis compares the discourse of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and non-OIC states concerning the topic of the “Combating Defamation of Religion” Resolution in the 61st session of...Show moreThis thesis compares the discourse of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and non-OIC states concerning the topic of the “Combating Defamation of Religion” Resolution in the 61st session of the General Assembly during Agenda Point 67. It aims to provide a better understanding of norm translation and implementation, as well as the interaction between them. It does so in order to illustrate the influence these statements have had on the formation of soft law by showing the ‘sociology of states’ contributing to the institutional translation and implementation of new norms in International Relations. It shows that even though the resolutions have been passed, the argumentation for supporting the resolution of non-OIC states is not consistent with OIC argumentation. As such, OIC efforts to instill a new norm through institutional translation of their values concerning the defamation of religions has failed to gain sufficient support.Show less
