This thesis adds a new chapter to the environmental history of Dutch Essequibo and Demerara in the second half of the eighteenth century. Mainly using Dutch maps, plans and reports, this paper...Show moreThis thesis adds a new chapter to the environmental history of Dutch Essequibo and Demerara in the second half of the eighteenth century. Mainly using Dutch maps, plans and reports, this paper studies how Dutch knowledge of hydraulic engineering was reflected in their construction projects in the wet tropical Guianas. It examines the construction processes, structure and layout of canals, plantations, fortifications and towns. The hydraulic engineering of these projects is compared to practices in the Netherlands, Europe and European colonies, to determine whether it was as typically Dutch and unique as scholars often assume. The paper concludes that although the construction projects were planned in such a way that these fit well with the wet natural environment of the Guianas, the hydraulic engineering was neither unique nor typically Dutch. Instead, the projects resembled practices in other European colonies more closely than Dutch practices. The hydraulic engineering was therefore not the result of Dutch experience in water management, but rather the result of the environment of Essequibo and Demerara that forced the British, French and Dutch inhabitants to adapt to it.Show less
This thesis explores John Milton's complex and seemingly ambivalent stance on warfare through The Tenure, Eikonoklastes, The Second Defense, Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes....Show moreThis thesis explores John Milton's complex and seemingly ambivalent stance on warfare through The Tenure, Eikonoklastes, The Second Defense, Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained and Samson Agonistes. It argues that Milton's definition of war is complex. Milton understands two distinct forms of warfare: righteous and unrighteous warfare. In line with these distinct forms, Milton also holds two distinct opinions. To a modern reader this may appear paradoxical, but within Milton's own perception, this idea is consistent.Show less
Dit onderzoek gaat over retorica in de Tweede Sofistiek en de relatie tussen het geschreven en het gesproken woord: het geconceptualiseerde kunstwerk en de uitvoering ervan. Alle teksten die we...Show moreDit onderzoek gaat over retorica in de Tweede Sofistiek en de relatie tussen het geschreven en het gesproken woord: het geconceptualiseerde kunstwerk en de uitvoering ervan. Alle teksten die we hebben uit deze periode, die liep van grofweg de eerste tot en met de vijfde eeuw n.C., zijn op een bepaalde tijd en plaats in première gegaan. Aangezien we niet meer terug naar de première kunnen, moeten we het doen met de schriftelijke weergave. Wat is de relatie tussen tekst en spraak in de Tweede Sofistiek? De dynamiek van een redevoering, het uitvoerende aspect van een voordracht en de rol van het geschreven woord staan hierin centraal.Show less
This thesis argues that the international tax policy community is open to new ideas in times of crisis. However, in the development of an idea into policy, it is seriously weakened. Institutional...Show moreThis thesis argues that the international tax policy community is open to new ideas in times of crisis. However, in the development of an idea into policy, it is seriously weakened. Institutional norms and vested business interests have a strong conservative role in tax politics. Civil society activists fight for transparency of the practices of multinational companies in order to achieve fairer taxation. They successfully advocated a system of Country-by-Country Reporting (CbCR), where companies have to report for each country they are active in. The idea was incorporated in the 2013-2015 OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project. The global financial crisis and tax haven scandals helped galvanize political change. Previous research focusing on state actors and rational power politics cannot account for this unlikely underdog victory. Using public documents, this study traces the development of CbCR in the BEPS Project. It highlights the strong role of a global elite that is open to new ideas to legitimize its leadership of global tax policy. The OECD functions to depoliticize the process into technical discussions, where institutional norms and business interests dominate. The resulting weakened version of CbCR was implemented globally. This thesis provides an insight in the closed, though not impenetrable, bastion of international tax policy making and its mechanisms of change.Show less
This work analyses the police apparatus of early imperial Rome. The research is embedded in existing theories about policing and explores by what means the Roman state managed to police early...Show moreThis work analyses the police apparatus of early imperial Rome. The research is embedded in existing theories about policing and explores by what means the Roman state managed to police early imperial Rome.Show less
Onderzoek naar de werkzaamheden die Leidse begijnen gedurende de late middeleeuwen verrichtten in het kader van jaargetijden, de jaarlijkse liturgische herdenking van een overlijden. Door hun...Show moreOnderzoek naar de werkzaamheden die Leidse begijnen gedurende de late middeleeuwen verrichtten in het kader van jaargetijden, de jaarlijkse liturgische herdenking van een overlijden. Door hun aanpak wisten zij een plaats te veroveren op de markt van de memoriecultuur en blijkt bidden niet alleen een spirituele bezigheid, maar ook werk waar een inkomen mee kon worden verdiend.Show less
Research master thesis | Literary Studies (research) (MA)
open access
The German Schlager of the 1920s is often disregarded as a medium for entertainment purposes only. This thesis shows that it was also used as a medium for expressing critique.
Identity politics is a contested, contemporary and highly relevant term. It is used in both ends of the political spectrum and is often associated with liberal democracies. This thesis will explore...Show moreIdentity politics is a contested, contemporary and highly relevant term. It is used in both ends of the political spectrum and is often associated with liberal democracies. This thesis will explore identity polics by providing an in-depth literature analysis, arguments in favour and against the usage of it and its role with international relations (foreign policy) and democracies. Practical examples from India and the United States will be provided.Show less
This thesis aims to examine the various discursive approaches utilised by development organisations which work to ameliorate the status of women both globally and locally. In particular, the thesis...Show moreThis thesis aims to examine the various discursive approaches utilised by development organisations which work to ameliorate the status of women both globally and locally. In particular, the thesis compares the discourse analyses of international development organisations and Moroccan women's NGOs in order to identify recurrent terminologies and discrepancies in their construction of a feminist narrative. The results of the discourse analyses allow to further focus on the link between discourse, gender and hegemony by assessing whether the comparison demonstrates the presence of a prevailing feminist discourse on an ideological and linguistic level. In fact, the initial influence of international organisations in the development of Moroccan women’s NGOs has caused the presence of analogous nodal points definable as the transnational feminist language. Nevertheless, through the reformulation of the transnational language, the use of locally bounded nodal points, as well as through the unuse of the notion of empowerment Moroccan women’s NGOs have developed an independent and flexible strategy in constructing their feminist narrative which is increasingly overcoming the international tendency of hegemonizing the feminist discourse. Moreover, the semantic individuality elaborated by Moroccan women’s NGOs can be crucial to increase the participation of the principal receivers of their projects: hence, Moroccan women.Show less
In this thesis I will review the dynamics of economic relations between Israel and Palestine, in the context of its corresponding policy framework and the institutional arrangements (the Oslo...Show moreIn this thesis I will review the dynamics of economic relations between Israel and Palestine, in the context of its corresponding policy framework and the institutional arrangements (the Oslo Accords) that cover the implementation and management of those relations. I focus on the effect of the agreements on Palestine’s capacity to generate revenue, and will analyse this from three economic domains in which revenue can be generated: trade, taxation and labour. I will argue that the Oslo peace process has formalized and institutionalized economic relations that foster serious economic dependency, and that the agreements have failed to address the core economic weaknesses the Palestinian economy has had to deal with as a consequence of prolonged occupation and colonial structures.Show less
