Alliance politics and securitisation theory have been studied and theorised. However, research on a possible link between these fields remains absent. Yet, when we look at prevalent alliance theory...Show moreAlliance politics and securitisation theory have been studied and theorised. However, research on a possible link between these fields remains absent. Yet, when we look at prevalent alliance theory by Walt, we see that security and threat perceptions play a great role in the formation and persistence of state alliances. We would then expect that the discursive construction of these threats would too. This research takes the “special relationship” between the United States and Israel and their most recent rift over a nuclear Iran as its case study. Other than most analyses of the construction of threat within foreign policy discourse, this research aims to trace interaction between two converging or diverging formal state discourses. A Post Structuralist discourse analysis of formal speeches given by Netanyahu and Obama on policy towards Iran will show that over the eight years of their simultaneous leadership, interaction between their respective discourses increased and took an a more direct form. Results thereby illustrate that securitisation discourse should perhaps more often be studied as not simply emanating from and interacting with the domestic realm. It is not simply a dialogue between leadership and a respective domestic audience. Obama and Netanyahu are also required to legitimate their foreign policy options towards one another and both of their domestic audiences.Show less
Het is geen recent fenomeen dat Iran beschuldigd wordt als zijnde de grootste sponsor van wereldwijd terrorisme. Met name haar steun aan de Libanese organisatie Hezbollah ligt vaak onder vuur. De...Show moreHet is geen recent fenomeen dat Iran beschuldigd wordt als zijnde de grootste sponsor van wereldwijd terrorisme. Met name haar steun aan de Libanese organisatie Hezbollah ligt vaak onder vuur. De doelen van Iran en Hezbollah vallen op een cruciaal punt samen: het verzet tegen Israël. Ondanks dat Iran zich meerdere malen publiekelijk uitsprak tegen het bestaan van Israël, kwam het echter nooit tot een militair conflict. Maar kunnen we stellen dat Iran, door Hezbollah te steunen, wel degelijk in oorlog is met Israël en er sprake is van een zogeheten proxy-oorlog tussen de twee landen?Show less
Ecuador became the first country in the world to acknowledge the rights of nature in the constitution. However, Ecuador is dependent on the revenue generated by the export of (crude) oil. The...Show moreEcuador became the first country in the world to acknowledge the rights of nature in the constitution. However, Ecuador is dependent on the revenue generated by the export of (crude) oil. The regions where the oil deposits are located are found in fragile ecological environments, the Amazon rain forest for example. These regions are also home to many indigenous communities. These communities belong to the poorest section of Ecuadorean society, and the communities are also the first to be negatively affected by the exploitation of the oil fields. This essay strives to explain the effects of constitutional rights of nature on the economic position of the country. Environmental, and ecological challenges have risen to prominence in recent years. A majority of countries have signed the Paris Climate Accord in 2016. Ecuador was the first country to enshrine the rights of nature in the constitution. Other countries might follow and therefore research is needed to learn from the Ecuadorean experience. A special focus must lie on the trade position of developing countries when developing ecological policies, or rights of nature. Because trade is needed to develop and might clash with the intention of nature conservation.Show less
This thesis contains an analysis of the concept 'li', often translated as 'rites', within the received text of the Confucian "Analects". It discusses several meanings which li takes on in the text:...Show moreThis thesis contains an analysis of the concept 'li', often translated as 'rites', within the received text of the Confucian "Analects". It discusses several meanings which li takes on in the text: li as rituals from earlier times; li as ritual propriety, an accompaniment of 'ren' [humaneness]; and li as order in one’s daily life. Thereafter, it discusses the possible value of these meanings of li in battling stress in the modern time, using some literature from the field of psychology.Show less
This study offers a socio-historical analysis of three selected chapters of the Prapannāmṛtam, a hagiography composed by Anantārya most probably in the 17th century. The aim of the present research...Show moreThis study offers a socio-historical analysis of three selected chapters of the Prapannāmṛtam, a hagiography composed by Anantārya most probably in the 17th century. The aim of the present research is that of showing how the socio-political and religious affiliation of the author can be identified as the main force which led to the composition of chapters 123-125, here under analysis. Anantārya is a proud member of the decayed Tātācāryas, a family of raja-gurus which had dominated the political and religious scene of Vijayanagara between the 14th and 16th century: Prapannāmṛtam 123-125 might, in this sense, be read as a praśasti (eulogy) of the glorious past of the family, expressed through the celebration of the miraculous events narrated in chapters 123-125. The political and religious strength of the family is put forth, in the narration, by the acts of two Tātācārya teachers, Nṛsiṃhārya and his younger brother: it is thanks to their actions that, in chapter 125, the religious conversion of king Virūpākṣa II and its subjects from Śaivism to Vaiṣṇavism takes place. Moreover, through the analysis of an alleged ‘a-historical’ hagiographic text, I introduced the issue of how, in the Indological context, the concepts of ‘history’ and ‘historiography’ should be revised in light of new, more fruitful, theories (e.g. Bloch 1949, Bulke 2001 and Corrao & Viola 2005).Show less
Yang Guifei is considered to be one of China’s most beautiful women. Her beauty is portrayed in several Chinese historical and literary writings over the ages. Each generation of (mostly male)...Show moreYang Guifei is considered to be one of China’s most beautiful women. Her beauty is portrayed in several Chinese historical and literary writings over the ages. Each generation of (mostly male) authors is influenced by the technique of the male gaze and imbued her with their own contemporary beauty ideals creating new, updated versions of Yang as the perfect beauty. Most of the descriptions of Yang Guifei’s beauty tend to be general and are applicable to any beautiful woman in premodern China. Trends that remain consistent through time are cloud-like hair, red cheeks and lips, a creamy bosom and a white skin. Changes in the portrayal of her beauty can be found in the way of presenting her physique and feet.Show less
This thesis explores whether and to what extends Chino’s kara-yamato binary structure in traditional Japanese art history can fit into Japanese art in modern time periods, and what would be the...Show moreThis thesis explores whether and to what extends Chino’s kara-yamato binary structure in traditional Japanese art history can fit into Japanese art in modern time periods, and what would be the reason behind. It does so by analysing different artworks in the Meiji period, the early Taisho period and the contemporary period, and applying Chino's structure onto these artworks. In doing so, it extends the context of the structure further and tries to discover if new understandings of the structure can be added to the academic debate. The result of the analysis suggests that whether or not Chino’s structure can be applied onto certain contexts highly depends on Japan’s view towards the West in that context. The structure can fit better in earlier periods, and does not fit in more modern periods. Such change in the applicability of Chino's structure is influenced by Japan's cultural relation with the West throughout its modern history. It suggests that Japan has moved from the status of seeing itself in the cultural periphery in relation to the West, to taking more proactive role to challenge social inequalities and (re)construct cultural identities.Show less
The author looks at the way humanitarianism evolved during the Cold War/decolonization period, namely the merging of humanitarian relief and political activism. The case study used for this thesis...Show moreThe author looks at the way humanitarianism evolved during the Cold War/decolonization period, namely the merging of humanitarian relief and political activism. The case study used for this thesis is Operation Omega, a radical NGO active during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.Show less
Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
open access
Since the late 1940’s, the Kashmir region has been a disputed area. The three central actors involved in this conflict (the Kashmiri people, India and Pakistan) have been claiming sovereignty over...Show moreSince the late 1940’s, the Kashmir region has been a disputed area. The three central actors involved in this conflict (the Kashmiri people, India and Pakistan) have been claiming sovereignty over the region. Ever since, there has been a constant dispute over the Kashmiri territory which of late has turned more violent. In July 2016, another wave of armed riots erupted in Kashmir after the Indian army killed the pro-Kashmir independence militant, Burhan Wani. Such event raised the question one more time concerning who has a legitimate right over this territory, and if there is a possibility to finally close this chapter of uncertainty in Kashmir.Show less
Contradictory to a common assumption in criminology, which assumes crime rates to be the lowest among senior citizens, the crime rates among the elderly share of the Japanese population is on the...Show moreContradictory to a common assumption in criminology, which assumes crime rates to be the lowest among senior citizens, the crime rates among the elderly share of the Japanese population is on the rise in recent years. This development is accompanied by a rapidly aging Japanese population. Considering the speed of this process in Japan and seeing other industrialised nations follow the aging trend, this phenomenon poses a severe threat to the economy and social security in aging societies and Japan in particular. As the number of elderly offenders is rising much faster than the total share of senior citizens in Japan, it is of crucial importance to identify potential causes for the rise of criminal offenses amongst the Japanese elderly. Analysing crime rates, demographic change, government reports and secondary literature, this study identifies potential factors that contribute to rising elderly crime rates between 1989 and 2014. As a result, this research finds that social disintegration is the most significant factor in explaining the changing crime patterns in Japan.Show less
