How did Mexico and Turkey develop themselves from migrant sending nations to transit countries and how does this affect the borders between the global north and south?
Despite many attempts to curb corruption throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, corruption remains to be one of the main reasons for NGOs to fail. This thesis analyses the motivations for actors to...Show moreDespite many attempts to curb corruption throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, corruption remains to be one of the main reasons for NGOs to fail. This thesis analyses the motivations for actors to participate in the NGO sector. Additionally, the thesis uses literature to illustrate how corruption functions in highly corrupt countries. Finally, three case studies demonstrate how these factors contribute to the failure or success of an NGO.Show less
Art provides a reflection on political and social conditions and for that reason, has been a tool used to express opposition. In communist Poland, film became a popular means for engaging in...Show moreArt provides a reflection on political and social conditions and for that reason, has been a tool used to express opposition. In communist Poland, film became a popular means for engaging in political discourse that would otherwise not be allowed. This thesis seeks to explore the role of art and film in Poland between the 1950s and 1970s, using Andrzej Wajda's film "Man of Marble" as a case study.Show less
This thesis discusses the militarization process that came along with Plan Colombia in Colombia and the promotion of the nation state. During the era of Pastrana’s government and the Clinton...Show moreThis thesis discusses the militarization process that came along with Plan Colombia in Colombia and the promotion of the nation state. During the era of Pastrana’s government and the Clinton administration in the U.S. Plan Colombia was implemented. This program should create a situation in which the Colombian State could develop itself and get out of the negative spiral of violence and killings, due to the drug industry and the rise of FARC. By intensifying the military actions, their goal was to restore the idea of a nation state. By connecting this idea with a chosen theoretical framework, it will become clear how militarization has helped to transmit ideas about statehood throughout this thesis. This research will be supported by using case studies that represent military actions during Plan Colombia.Show less
As the second most-traded commodity in the world, coffee is an essential part of world trade. In 2002 a crisis hit the global coffee sector and prices hit their lowest point in a century. As the...Show moreAs the second most-traded commodity in the world, coffee is an essential part of world trade. In 2002 a crisis hit the global coffee sector and prices hit their lowest point in a century. As the birthplace of coffee, and home to some of the most unique varieties of coffee, Ethiopia was hit hard by this crisis. Since then many reforms have taken place in Ethiopia's coffee sector in order to improve its standing within the global coffee trade, however in order to understand the success of these reforms and the potential for more to be done, it is essential to truly understand the value chain of Ethiopia's coffee. This thesis is an analysis of Ethiopia's coffee sector, and provides an insight into some of the ways in which Ethiopia may be able to capitalise from the rarity and quality of its coffee varieties.Show less
As the militarily most powerful and economically most developed riparian, Egypt occupied the position of the Nile’s hydro-hegemon for centuries. The appearance of China, a new influential actor,...Show moreAs the militarily most powerful and economically most developed riparian, Egypt occupied the position of the Nile’s hydro-hegemon for centuries. The appearance of China, a new influential actor, previously unconnected to the region, however, has significantly impacted the Nile River Basin’s historic power balance. China’s emergence as a financier and contractor of hydro-infrastructure in the Upper Nile basin has provided upstream riparians with unprecedented leverage. Chinese engagement in the hydro-politics on the Upper Nile undermines Egypt’s established hydro-hegemony, as it equips upstream states with viable powers to contest the status quo for the first time in history. Additionally, Beijing’s involvement alters the individual riparians’ approaches towards the hydro-conflict. Whereas certain upstream states seem encouraged by Chinese backing to pursue an increasingly unilateral agenda, Beijing’s presence might contribute to a basin-wide hegemon-led multilateral initiative. Surprisingly, despite China’s role in the hydro-political conflict, its relations with Egypt have not been impacted significantly.Show less
Community-based Eco-tourism (CBET) has been promoted as a model that can reconcile sustainable development and environmental conservation, and ultimately empower local populations. However, how...Show moreCommunity-based Eco-tourism (CBET) has been promoted as a model that can reconcile sustainable development and environmental conservation, and ultimately empower local populations. However, how this empowerment is achieved in particular among women is still largely debated given the gender norms in which these models are embedded. By focusing on Costa Rica as a case study, and drawing on an array of empirical evidence collated through desk research, this dissertation examines the role and participation of women in CBET initiatives; seeking to understand how women have been empowered through such models, and what the underlying factors that can promote or inhibit this. This study highlights that while the participation of women in CBET has been largely confined to the domestic spheres and underpinned by gender-defined activities, such opportunities are important in kick-starting and fomenting an initial process of empowerment that can be positively attributed to these schemes. Such changes are an initial stage of empowerment that can certainly ripple to other spheres and ultimately empower women.Show less
While such a large part of the world is moving towards more acceptance of homosexuality, this seems to not be the case in Uganda or in many other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Which poses the...Show moreWhile such a large part of the world is moving towards more acceptance of homosexuality, this seems to not be the case in Uganda or in many other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Which poses the question “If attitudes towards homosexuality are shifting towards more positivity in the West, why is the opposite happening in Uganda?”.Show less
The rise of drug-related violence which Mexico has experienced since 2007 has attracted a lot of attention worldwide. The rise of violence is related to the administration of president Felipe...Show moreThe rise of drug-related violence which Mexico has experienced since 2007 has attracted a lot of attention worldwide. The rise of violence is related to the administration of president Felipe Calderón, which term of office began in December 2006. Although the violence within Mexico was already at a high level to begin with, the level of violence increased even further under his government. This was due to his ‘war on drugs’ which he launched immediately after his inauguration on the first of December. This meant an extremely militarized approach, in an attempt to diminish the activities of the drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) heavily present in the country. While the final goal of the president was to limit the extent of the drug cartels to such a degree that it would no longer be a threat to Mexican national security, but instead a problem for the country’s law enforcement, the Calderón administration failed severely in accomplishing this. This has also been illustrated by the Conflict Barometer, composed by the Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research (HIIK), which classified Mexico’s armed conflict as an ‘intrastate war’ in 2010, which raised the level of conflict intensity from 4 to 5 (Lier 1). The focus of this paper will be the trade-off between security and human rights during the Calderón administration. With the government’s approach to enforce security in the country, they have increased both the levels of violence within the country, with disastrous results for the human rights situation in the country with not only the DTOs as perpetrators, but also the Mexican government. This paper will research whether the human rights violations by the governments can be allowed to ensure Mexican national security regarding the DTOs, and look into the factors which have influenced this. This will be accomplished by firstly establishing a theoretical framework for further understanding of the paper, followed by giving a historical context of the security issue within Mexico. For this will be looked to the period between 1970 and 2006, which should allow a clear understanding of the former authoritarian regime which is due to the recent transition to electoral democracy, extremely relevant to the security issues Mexico experienced under the Calderón government. Subsequently, it will also look into the policies related to the DTOs conducted by the governments before Calderón came into power and how these were influenced by external actors. This second chapter will also analyze the human rights situation under the authoritarian regimes before the careful transition to democracy in 2000. Naturally, both the earlier policies regarding the DTOs, and the human rights situation during earlier de Rijk 3 Mexican governments have strongly influenced the situation the Calderón government was dealing with, making it also extremely relevant to the trade-off between security and human rights during the ‘war on drugs’. The third chapter will look into the actual Calderón administration, and thoroughly analyze the policies employed during Calderón’s term of office and the human rights situation influenced by this, in order to finally make an extensive conclusion regarding the balance between security and human rights between 2006 and 2012.Show less
Although many academics agree nationalism represents one of the main causes of the 1990s war in the Balkans, there remains a clear divide in the opinions of where the emerging nationalism...Show moreAlthough many academics agree nationalism represents one of the main causes of the 1990s war in the Balkans, there remains a clear divide in the opinions of where the emerging nationalism originated from. The thesis works to fill the gap in this debate by focusing on the influence of nationalist leaders on the ideology emerging at the time of the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Through the discussion of two methods with which Slobodan Milošević affected the raising nationalism, in the early 1980s and early 1990s, this thesis performs a detailed analysis of the academic theory of 'ancient hatreds' and 'new' nationalism. The paper offers the reader a better understanding of the possible influences nationalist leaders might have on the emerging ideologies.Show less
