This thesis focuses on the potential of integrating the principles of Ubuntism into Good Governance techniques in order to re-legitimise democracy in South Africa. With the plea for unity and...Show moreThis thesis focuses on the potential of integrating the principles of Ubuntism into Good Governance techniques in order to re-legitimise democracy in South Africa. With the plea for unity and national reconciliation prompted by Nelson Mandela, the country now faces several challenges in preserving its democratic institutions amid rising authoritarianism in the region. This thesis utilises a normative comparative analysis of the UN Good Governance framework, and argues for the integration of the values inherent in Ubuntism, to propose a governance model that is more representative, inclusive, and effective. Further, through the use of value theory this thesis examines case studies exhibited by the UN Good Governance framework, in order to argue that values such as survival, compassion, and respect can combat corruption and state capture, ultimately enhancing the legitimacy of South Africa's present day democracy. This thesis acknowledges the limitations of its argument most notably: the narrow scope of strategies analysed and the absence of empirical research. However, it further calls for a more in- depth and extensive exploration of Ubuntism’s impact on governance. With the upcoming 2024 national elections in South Africa, this research highlights how imperative it is for structural changes in governance in order to prevent the erosion of its democratic principles. The integration of Ubuntism into governance ultimately offers a promising approach to addressing governance failures and fostering a more interconnected and accountable government within the country that inherently contributes to the broader fight against authoritarianism in Africa.Show less
This thesis investigates the political effect of the United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act, a non-reciprocal trade agreement granting eligible Sub-Saharan African states tariff free...Show moreThis thesis investigates the political effect of the United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act, a non-reciprocal trade agreement granting eligible Sub-Saharan African states tariff free access to the US-American market. In both the scholarly literature and real-world politics, the threat of AGOA suspension seems to spook African leaders. The exclusion mechanism is highly exploitable and political compliance therefore important to stay included in the agreement. The economic impact of AGOA is however highly limited. This thesis tackles the puzzle of why an agreement with no major economic impact leads to political compliance to the US by its member states. My argument is the limitation of AGOA’s utilization to a capacity-abundant elite, which can afford to overcome the utilization barriers (high transportation costs, permits, etc.) and earn the agreements benefits. Following the elite theory, this benefitting elite is then able to influence its government to comply with US policies, in order for AGOA benefits to retain.Show less
Based on the comparison of Hungary and Poland during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, this study determines that the party ideology of the ruling party does not have a significant impact on...Show moreBased on the comparison of Hungary and Poland during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, this study determines that the party ideology of the ruling party does not have a significant impact on financial crisis response. Based on results derived from the National Bank and IMF reports of both countries in 2008 and 2009. Despite having ideologically different parties in power the government responses are not particularly divergent. I demonstrate that any particular response to a crisis is impacted by several factors both internal and external. In Hungary the social democratically oriented government was pushed to abandon ideology in favour of dominant economic neoliberalism. While Poland stayed the course but also deviated from ideology slightly. Thereby demonstrating that ideology becomes secondary in times of financial difficulty, particularly when international institutions are involved.Show less
This thesis investigates the factors explaining the varying levels of success of international funded microfinance projects in Kenya, focusing on the role of the theory of asymmetric information....Show moreThis thesis investigates the factors explaining the varying levels of success of international funded microfinance projects in Kenya, focusing on the role of the theory of asymmetric information. This research highlights Kenya as a critical case due to its significant financial exclusion, and many Kenyans lacking access to basic financial services. Through process tracing, the thesis examines the impact of microfinance projects funded by the World Bank and the European Union. The analysis reveals that the World Bank’s emphasis on sustainability and innovations leads to higher success levels compared to the European Union’s focus on long-term loans and gender equality. Additionally, the World Bank’s ability to navigate and mitigate problems caused by asymmetric information contributes significantly to the success of its projects. This thesis contributes to the broader theoretical debate on international development finance, providing insights into optimizing the operations of global financial institutions. The implications of this thesis are relevant for both developed and developing countries, as they provide for financial inclusion and poverty reduction, ultimately benefiting the global economy.Show less
This thesis seeks to broaden the liberal understanding of tolerance by taking an Arendtian notion of freedom. It will find that liberalism's notion of freedom, resting on the notion of an...Show moreThis thesis seeks to broaden the liberal understanding of tolerance by taking an Arendtian notion of freedom. It will find that liberalism's notion of freedom, resting on the notion of an egalitarian plateau, offers too little room to put a threshold on tolerance, and that Arendt's notion of freedom, based on her understanding of action, offers an alternative basis on which justify a threshold on tolerance.Show less
