In 2003, Argentina took an apparent left turn, and a power couple, Néstor Kirchner and his wife Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, ruled the country from 2003 until the final month of 2015. This work...Show moreIn 2003, Argentina took an apparent left turn, and a power couple, Néstor Kirchner and his wife Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, ruled the country from 2003 until the final month of 2015. This work is interested in looking at the reorientation of Argentine foreign policy during the Kirchner administrations from alignment with Washington to enhanced friendship with Chávez’ Venezuela. It attempts to answer the following research questions: “What are the main reasons for Argentina’s close relations with Venezuela from 2003 to 2015?”, “in how far can the deepening of this relationship be explained and understood by Argentina’s domestic economic and political factors?”, and, lastly, “to what extent has pragmatism shaped Argentina’s rapprochement with Venezuela?”Show less
This Thesis deals with the rather abstract topic of social sustainability in three different ways. The first chapter offers a new definition, the second examines social sustainability in regards to...Show moreThis Thesis deals with the rather abstract topic of social sustainability in three different ways. The first chapter offers a new definition, the second examines social sustainability in regards to housing minorities and the third chapter looks into social sustainability in correlation to refugee housing in the Netherlands.Show less
The topic of this thesis is Colombian nation branding. That is, this thesis is devoted to demonstrating how Colombia aims to design an attractive world-renowned country brand by exercising nation...Show moreThe topic of this thesis is Colombian nation branding. That is, this thesis is devoted to demonstrating how Colombia aims to design an attractive world-renowned country brand by exercising nation branding through both conventional and digital promotional campaigns. On the example of “The Answer is Colombia” campaign this thesis critically analyzes how Colombia attempts to create a desirable nation brand by embracing nation branding practices that would confront its prolonged weak and stigmatized nation image. For a thorough comprehension of the analyzed entities qualitative content analysis, based on a critical interpretation of the literature available on nation branding, is employed.Show less
This thesis discuss the current power relations between the NGOs and teh state in China and explores the survival and struggle strategies used by the NGOs to achieve better autonomy under the...Show moreThis thesis discuss the current power relations between the NGOs and teh state in China and explores the survival and struggle strategies used by the NGOs to achieve better autonomy under the authoritarian rule of the party. This thesis introduces the development path of civil society in China, focusing on environmental NGOs and woemns rights NGOs. By studying the strategeis used by NGOs in these fields, this thesis aims at better capture the nature of power relations between state and NGOs in china.Show less
Following the 1987 ECJ court case in which the Reinheitsgebot was deemed illegal and protectionist under EU Law, this thesis explores how German brewers responded by labelling their beers as being...Show moreFollowing the 1987 ECJ court case in which the Reinheitsgebot was deemed illegal and protectionist under EU Law, this thesis explores how German brewers responded by labelling their beers as being brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot, as a way of distinguishing their beers from other imported beers. Using Roland Barthes's ideas of Signs and Jason Bosland's theory of trade-marks and culture, it was explored in depth how German beers labelling their beers essentially trade-marked their beers to allow distinction from other beers. It was argued that by doing this, German brewers were essentially protecting their cultural heritage as the Reinheitsgebot is associated with German culture-the Reinheitsgebot is seen to be of great traditional significance in Germany. However, as Germany is renowned for its great beers, it was also explored to what extent this act by German brewers was due to economic (and marketing) reasons and not necessarily for cultural heritage reasons. Other elements were also explored such as the significance of the Reinheitsgebot as well as how it is increasingly challenged by German brewers today, with many arguing that it is prohibiting German brewers from keeping up with global beer markets. Furthermore, it was also considered how the Reinheitsgebot has an international perspective-how it is recognised by international brewers and how the Reinheitsgebot is perceived abroad.Show less
During the Iraq War the American government used Private Military Companies (PMCs) to a great extent, and in doing so they inserted a previously largely unknown force into a volatile post-conflict...Show moreDuring the Iraq War the American government used Private Military Companies (PMCs) to a great extent, and in doing so they inserted a previously largely unknown force into a volatile post-conflict situation without knowledge of the possible repercussions. This is especially of concern since PMCs have received a negative reputation for their involvement in Iraq, due to several scandals including prisoner abuse and war profiteering. When considering that the post-invasion mission of the United States was that of state building, it has to be examined if PMCs have affected state building. State building is thought to be one of the most important issues of our time-weak or failed states pose a threat to the international order and their neighbouring countries. This thesis examines how PMCs affected state building efforts in Iraq to provide future policy planners with more extensive knowledge of the possible ramifications of the use of PMCs. This is achieved through an analysis of factors contributing to state building, and an in-depth analysis of trust and legitimacy, as well as the effect that PMCs had upon them in Iraq. Based on these findings, recommendations for a more sustainable use of PMCs are made.Show less
In 2015 Iran, the P5+1 and the European Union signed the Nuclear Deal that was to dismantle, supervise and lead the process to minimise the nuclear capacity of Iran. This deal, together with its...Show moreIn 2015 Iran, the P5+1 and the European Union signed the Nuclear Deal that was to dismantle, supervise and lead the process to minimise the nuclear capacity of Iran. This deal, together with its preceding negotiations led to tensions between Iran and its rival Saudi Arabia. The question was whether this historical event would change the relation between these two countries and alter the Middle Eastern landscape, or whether it fits within the historical timeline of Saudi Arabia and Iran and that it merely was just another upheaval with little consequences. To examine this question, it is important to put this inquiry in the broader context of the Middle East, and to scrutinise the power relations those countries are involved in.Show less
The research underlying this thesis concentrates on a critical evaluation of the academic as well as biopolitical discourses that developed around the 1986 nuclear disaster of Chernobyl. It...Show moreThe research underlying this thesis concentrates on a critical evaluation of the academic as well as biopolitical discourses that developed around the 1986 nuclear disaster of Chernobyl. It presents an analysis of the paradoxical case of the ‘samosely’, the ‘self-settlers’ that re-settled themselves back into the highly contaminated exclusion zone illegally after the incident. The analysis of the studied case and the conclusions of this research are based on a theoretical framework of philosophical and psychological literature around the notions of identity and trauma, with a specific focus on the dimension of temporality. Perceived from our perspective as paradoxical and irrational, the study of the reasons underlying the behaviour of the ‘samosely’ aims to generate a new and multifaceted understanding of trauma. Furthermore, this thesis advocates for a complexification of the notion of survivor identity that ought to be disconnected from the misuses through political agendas and biopolitical interests.Show less
Public opinions, political visions and international interference were important aspects of the duration of the decolonisation wars in Indonesia and Algeria after the Second World War. These three...Show morePublic opinions, political visions and international interference were important aspects of the duration of the decolonisation wars in Indonesia and Algeria after the Second World War. These three factors influenced together the events that formed the wars. This thesis concentrates on these three aspects and shows how they are combined and explain the duration of the wars.Show less
This paper set out to examine how successful ASEAN was in making its regional governance more inclusive and “people-oriented”, as aimed for in its charter. This rhetorical shift towards greater...Show moreThis paper set out to examine how successful ASEAN was in making its regional governance more inclusive and “people-oriented”, as aimed for in its charter. This rhetorical shift towards greater people empowerment can be seen as a response to such external pressures as the rising civil society, international normative pressures as well as diminishing credibility due the regional challenges faced in the 90s, an attempt to regain ground domestically as well as internationally. It must be acknowledged that by adopting rhetoric of people empowerment slow but steady successes have been achieved. Notwithstanding the progress and benefits ASEAN’s change of course and following interactions have brought, in reality rhetoric is decoupled from ASEAN’s political practices. While attempting to regain ground, the association’s intergovernmental nature and on-going tensions between more and less democratic member states prevented it from actually embracing this course. Despite its expressed goals, ASEAN has so far failed to establish clear formal interfaces for the interaction with civil society. The conflict between the principle of sovereignty and the clear advantages of adhering to global trends and domestic pressures towards integration and democratisation that ASEAN faces is important to understand this discrepancy between expressed aspirations and political reality. Within ASEAN, ever increasing regional economic integration in the region stood in contrast with nationalistic sentiments and socio-economic developmental pressures. Indeed, existent consultations with civil society seem largely to be aimed at giving greater legitimacy to the charter- that ultimately only consolidated ASEAN’s state-centred nature. Facing competing institutional logics of the more democratic and traditionally more illiberal or even authoritarian member states, a situation of institutional complexity, decoupling rhetoric from practice enabled maintenance of the stability of the ASEAN community while retaining organisational efficiency. The association remains largely inaccessible to those rendered unsuitable to its reform agenda, making it not “people-oriented”.Show less
