One of the characteristics of right-wing extremism is the large number of men compared to women. Masculinity was identified as a potential cause of this discrepancy through a review of existing...Show moreOne of the characteristics of right-wing extremism is the large number of men compared to women. Masculinity was identified as a potential cause of this discrepancy through a review of existing literature. To further investigate the connection between masculinity and right-wing extremism, this thesis conducted an analysis on expressions of masculinity in the right-wing extremist manifestos ‘2083 – A European Declaration of Independence’ by Anders Behring Breivik and ‘The Great Replacement’ by Brenton Harrison Tarrant. Through a thematic analysis, both manifestos were coded on 11 the dimensions of masculinity as described by the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI). Then, the dimensions were analyzed through the lens of Social Identity Theory. Masculine expressions were discovered to be the manifestations of an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ mentality, originating from a social comparison process caused by the activation of the authors’ social identity.Show less
This study is on the effectiveness of three different P/CVE practices in Germany on Neo-Nazi movements from 1990. This study applies an adapted theoretical framework to this topic. The theoretical...Show moreThis study is on the effectiveness of three different P/CVE practices in Germany on Neo-Nazi movements from 1990. This study applies an adapted theoretical framework to this topic. The theoretical framework bases effectiveness on (1) appropriateness, (2) impact, and (3) sustainability. The answers to the question of effectiveness were previously unclear as they were based on different indicators. By applying this framework to make a codebook for a qualitative content analysis of several different types of documents, a threefold answer was found. Firstly, the adaptations of the German Criminal Code are effective. Secondly, the policy on limiting freedom of assembly and speech is not effective. Thirdly, the policy programs are effective. These findings show which P/CVE practices should be adapted to improve the effectiveness and it shows which P/CVE practices are effective as they are.Show less
This research analyses the role of masculinity in two manifestos by far-right extremists: ‘The Inconvenient Truth’ by Patrick Crusius and ‘An Open Letter’ by John T. Earnest. The analysis of...Show moreThis research analyses the role of masculinity in two manifestos by far-right extremists: ‘The Inconvenient Truth’ by Patrick Crusius and ‘An Open Letter’ by John T. Earnest. The analysis of masculinity’s emergence in the manifestos builds upon academic debates on the intersection of masculinity with the far right. This research uses a comparative case study to analyse masculinity as a stimulating factor in the far-right extremist violence the manifestos advocate for. This study found the prevalence of masculinity significant in the analysed manifestos as Crusius and Earnest expressed various variations of masculinity to explain their actions. Based on the findings, this paper recommends that policymakers observe expressions of masculinity-related grievances emerging online and attempt to relieve the individual articulating his frustrations concerning masculinity.Show less
This thesis aims to further refine the existing academic knowledge about the framing of refugees by conducting a critical discourse analysis focused on the portrayal of Ukrainian refugees at a...Show moreThis thesis aims to further refine the existing academic knowledge about the framing of refugees by conducting a critical discourse analysis focused on the portrayal of Ukrainian refugees at a subnational level in East and West German newspapers utilizing securitization theory as a theoretical framework (n=48). The analysis found that Ukrainians are framed from a German-centric perspective. On the one hand, they are framed as vulnerable, requiring German aid. On the other hand, their mass migration into Germany is associated with challenges and threats utilized in securitizing moves. This suggests that the frequently cited victim and threat frames are not as mutually exclusive as previous academic literature suggests. Moreover, the threats utilized in securitizing moves are nonexistential, supporting calls for broadening the securitization framework. Contrary to what the initial hypothesis would suggest, no significant differences in the portrayal of Ukrainian refugees between Eastern and Western German newspapers were observed.Show less
Throughout the past decades, nuclear accidents have had a significant impact on the debate surrounding nuclear energy, causing public concern about the safety and reliability of utilising nuclear...Show moreThroughout the past decades, nuclear accidents have had a significant impact on the debate surrounding nuclear energy, causing public concern about the safety and reliability of utilising nuclear energy. In the last year, public concern has been fueled up again because of the Russian bombing and occupation of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine. This study seeks to investigate to what extent the media is framing nuclear energy, by especially looking at articles since the events at Zaporizhzhia. The media present various narratives regarding social concerns and debates, such as nuclear energy, and can affect public opinion by the selection of topics, frames and sources that the media uses. The main purpose of this research is to explore the presence of framing of nuclear energy in British and Irish mainstream newspapers. The study will focus on how nuclear energy is represented in news articles in a sample of mainstream news media outlets in both the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland. Fifteen articles from four different newspapers and with different political stances were collected and coded for analysis using a comparative content analysis and a risk-benefit coding scheme. The coding scheme was both based on an existing set of codes from previous research and existing theories, as well as newly generated codes. The results from this analysis demonstrated that British media tends to be overall supportive of nuclear energy, even after the events at Zaporizhzhia. In comparison, analysis revealed that the Irish media tends to be unsupportive and critical of nuclear energy and that Zaporizhzhia has negatively impacted the risk frames used by Irish media. Depending on the nation’s history with nuclear energy, and the government’s stance towards nuclear energy, the narrative of the newspapers were either positive or negative.Show less
This paper examines the various configurations of conditions that lead to the occurrence of war crimes by the Wagner Group in its operations abroad. Current research on this topic has tended to...Show moreThis paper examines the various configurations of conditions that lead to the occurrence of war crimes by the Wagner Group in its operations abroad. Current research on this topic has tended to focus on the personality types of the perpetrators and the group culture or dynamic of private military companies (PMC), this research, however, focuses more on socio-political and economic factors. The four key contributing conditions selected for this study are: the complicity with the host government, economic motivations, the multiplicity of armed groups in the country, and the dehumanisation of the victims. Using data from non-governmental organisation (NGO) reports, news articles and academic articles, a Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) was applied to 10 countries in which the Wagner Group has been active, including six countries where war crimes were committed, and four where war crimes were not committed. The QCA found that the following configurations; G*E*D, E*m*D and g*e*M*D led to the occurrence of war crimes; and two instances of these were exemplified by the cases of the Central African Republic and Libya. These results appear to be applicable to other PMCs, with the dehumanisation of the victims appearing to be the only necessary condition, whereas the multiplicity of armed groups was found to be the less reliable condition, highlighting the need for future research.Show less
In this study the following research question was examined by doing an experimental survey: To what extent is there a difference in the public acceptance of counterterrorism measures against right-...Show moreIn this study the following research question was examined by doing an experimental survey: To what extent is there a difference in the public acceptance of counterterrorism measures against right- and left-wing terrorism? The results indicate that there is not a significant difference noticeable. However, a correlation between right- and left-wing terrorism and public support was found. Nonetheless, the mean difference between the two was too small to state that one of the two types of terrorism had a stronger effect. Even though this difference was not found, the effect of radicalism was present, as an increase in radicalism and more extreme acts led to a higher level of public support for counterterrorism measures. Additionally, the analysis underlined the fact that the public sympathized more with the motives of radicalized left-wing groups than radicalized right-wing groups.Show less
This thesis examines the evolution of intelligence and security cooperation between the United States and Mexico for fighting the Mexican War on Drugs since 2006. This year marks the presidency of...Show moreThis thesis examines the evolution of intelligence and security cooperation between the United States and Mexico for fighting the Mexican War on Drugs since 2006. This year marks the presidency of Calderón in Mexico, and the start of his distinctive policy against cartels. He signed the Mérida Initiative with American President George W. Bush in 2007, creating a framework for bilateral intelligence and security cooperation to combat drug trafficking and the influence of drug trafficking organisations on society and democracy in Mexico. Gathering evidence from congressional research service reports, Spanish and English press material, and academic literature from Mexican sources, as well as from American sources, this study reveals that intelligence and security cooperation between the US and Mexico for fighting the War on Drugs has evolved from a violent top down strategy under Presidents Calderon and Peña Nieto, and with intense American involvement to a less violent bottom up strategy under the presidency of Obrador with less American involvement, aiming for a rather holistic proposal. The study reveals that governments cannot reduce levels of violence in society and threats to democracy by using more violence.Show less
Joiner (2005)'s interpersonal theory of suicide has been one of the most popular and influential theories in the last decade of suicide research, with many papers that test the theory’s theses...Show moreJoiner (2005)'s interpersonal theory of suicide has been one of the most popular and influential theories in the last decade of suicide research, with many papers that test the theory’s theses applauding its usability. However, some authors have argued that the popularity of the interpersonal theory is not deserved and that the academic discourse surrounding it does not challenge the theory enough. This paper seeks to test the applicability of the interpersonal theory of suicide using the Human Relations Area Files (HRAF), which contains data on small-scale societies across the world. The interpersonal theory will be critically tested, evaluating where the theory fits and where it does not. This study seeks to add to the critical discourse surrounding the interpersonal theory of suicide and generate interest for the HRAF database as a setting for suicide research.Show less
After being neglected for decades, females are more increasingly becoming the subject of research in right-wing extremism (RWE). Most attention however is going to their roles in RWE movements, and...Show moreAfter being neglected for decades, females are more increasingly becoming the subject of research in right-wing extremism (RWE). Most attention however is going to their roles in RWE movements, and not to how women perform these roles. This paper analyses the book Patriots Not Welcome by Brittany Sellner, an RWE influencer, to analyse how Sellner brings forward RWE discourse. A discourse analysis was conducted based on an interpretative approach to identify the presence of different concepts of RWE discourse. A framing theory was used to identify how certain frames were used to present this discourse. The analysis shows the presence of six RWE concepts: anti-immigration beliefs, anti-establishment beliefs, criticism or aversion to the mainstream media, freedom of speech and censorship, traditionalism and Christianity, and Antifa. Furthermore, diagnostic and motivational frames were used to strengthen these concepts, and frame amplification was used for emphasizing certain arguments.Show less
