Political context, economic bonanza, and political ideology explanations have been the focus in the literature in attempting to account for social policy expansion in Latin America. Yet, there is...Show morePolitical context, economic bonanza, and political ideology explanations have been the focus in the literature in attempting to account for social policy expansion in Latin America. Yet, there is lack of in-depth analyses for several countries that present different ideologies and nevertheless expanded their social policies between the 1990 and 2000s. In light of this empirical gap, this study investigates the mentioned explanations of how social policy is expanded in a new case, the health-care system in Colombia. Through a single case analysis and using the theory-testing process-tracing method, this study finds that the explanations revolving around the economic bonanza and political competition do not satisfactorily explain the expansion of the health-care system, while the perspective on political ideology provides the best alignment. This study shows that in Colombia, despite it being a traditionally rightwing country, the left-had a major role in the expansion of the healthcare system.Show less
Malaysia, which inherited a colonial division of labor along ethnic lines, has through the past 50 years corrected interethnic economic disparities by means of the New Economic Policy. In...Show moreMalaysia, which inherited a colonial division of labor along ethnic lines, has through the past 50 years corrected interethnic economic disparities by means of the New Economic Policy. In particular, the Malay community went from being the poorest group to developing a middle- and business class. Despite these developments, mobilization along ethnicity remains more prevalent than along class lines. This paper attempts at understanding why by studying ethnonationalist discourse from Malay elites. It finally contributes to the literature on socioeconomic inequalities in ethnically diverse societies, by reaching the following main finding: the way group elites mobilize their community can be aimed at crystallizing ethnic boundaries, thus hindering the rise of class solidarity.Show less
Drawing from literature on neoliberal multiculturalism, this thesis approaches recent developments in the relationship between the Chilean state and the Mapuche movement. Critical discourse...Show moreDrawing from literature on neoliberal multiculturalism, this thesis approaches recent developments in the relationship between the Chilean state and the Mapuche movement. Critical discourse analysis is used in examining media articles, government speeches, and organizations reports covering the interaction of neoliberal governance and indigenous demands in the period 2017- 2018. Findings suggest Chile subjects the ‘authorized’ Mapuche to unfruitful bargain over resources and rights, while condemning ‘insurrectionary’ subjects to state violence and criminalization. This complex process involves many actors, from private companies settled on Mapuche ancestral lands, to judiciary bodies and police forces involved in the repression of radicalized activists.Show less
This thesis explores the unconstructive nature of foreign aid donor-recipient partnerships in the context of state fragility. It does so by examining the interaction between Norway as a foreign aid...Show moreThis thesis explores the unconstructive nature of foreign aid donor-recipient partnerships in the context of state fragility. It does so by examining the interaction between Norway as a foreign aid donor, and South Sudan as a recipient state. This thesis contends that we must gain an indepth understanding of how aid donors and recipients interact, to be able to gauge the longterm implications of foreign aid on state-building. The argument is that that the relationship between Norway and South Sudan has been unconstructive because the donor agenda for statebuilding has not ensured the domestic South Sudanese ownership of the process. The research is guided by a series of in-depth expert interviews and is supported by a NORAD aid evaluation report, as well as a series of numeric secondary data.Show less
Africa has experienced sustained aggregate economic growth over the past two decades, effectively disproving the “good governance” agenda. However, this has not been matched by a substantial...Show moreAfrica has experienced sustained aggregate economic growth over the past two decades, effectively disproving the “good governance” agenda. However, this has not been matched by a substantial reduction in poverty and inequality, thus raising concerns about the reach and sustainability of the current development. On the basis of the success in Southeast Asia, Henley and van Donge (2013) identify the agricultural sector as the central actor for a broad-based growth with substantial poverty reduction. They argue that the African inability to generate a growth that is inclusive can be traced back to the absence of a bundle of pro-market and pro-rural policies. Based on this theory, this paper analyses the relationship between agricultural policies and poverty reduction on the case study of Ethiopia, through qualitative analysis. The thesis argues that while poverty reduction in Ethiopia is resulting from a pro-rural/pro-poor public spending along with relative macroeconomic stability, it is slowed down by land grabbing by foreign investors.Show less
