By seeking to explore the development of social protection national policy, this thesis has sought to contribute to the field of global social policy, by delving into the role and influence of...Show moreBy seeking to explore the development of social protection national policy, this thesis has sought to contribute to the field of global social policy, by delving into the role and influence of international organizations with regards to national social protection systems. This research has scrutinised the way Mexico applied conventions related to social protection devised by the International Labour Organisation and developed its national social protection system since 1931 (when it joined the organisation) until present. Through a historical approach, it has been demonstrated how Mexico's changing economic systems have conditioned the applicability of the internationally-devised norms of the ILO to its national context. This finding aligns with the scholarly view on international norm compliance according to which states do not always defy internationally-imposed directives willingly, but are rather conditioned by national events or circumstances of a socio-economic or political order. It has thus been concluded that the Lost Decade of the 1980s represented a moment of upheaval and economic change (from state-led industrialization to market-led economy) that influenced the effectiveness of the ILO's norms on Mexico's social protection system.Show less
This paper consists of an analysis of the failure of the Yasuní-ITT Initiative, examining the internal and external factors that influenced the Initiative’s development, progress and subsequent...Show moreThis paper consists of an analysis of the failure of the Yasuní-ITT Initiative, examining the internal and external factors that influenced the Initiative’s development, progress and subsequent failure. The Yasuní-ITT Initiative was introduced under the Correa government as an environmental project that proposed to discontinue oil extraction in part of the Yasuní National Park in Ecuador, in turn for financial compensation from the international community. As such, it had the opportunity to set an example of global collaboration in conservation by proposing to share the costs and benefits of conservation internationally. While attempting to find an explanation for the Initiative’s failure, this paper taps into the highly topical dilemma between ecologism and economism as faced by the Ecuadorian government.Show less
This thesis examines the state of regional integration in Latin America, by looking at the customs union Mercosur. The Mercosur has been widely studied in terms of regionalism, but this thesis...Show moreThis thesis examines the state of regional integration in Latin America, by looking at the customs union Mercosur. The Mercosur has been widely studied in terms of regionalism, but this thesis offers new insights by looking at the effect of the strategic partnership between the EU and Brazil. Furthermore, this thesis produces a scholarly argument by systematically connecting analytical concepts to the regional integration of Mercosur. At last, this research on the consequences of the strategic partnership EU-Brazil on the regional integration of Mercosur certainly adds new insights regarding the functioning of Mercosur.Show less
This paper analyzes Mexico’s food consumption patterns and social consequences conditioned by economic changes following the implementation of NAFTA. Market liberalization and foreign investment...Show moreThis paper analyzes Mexico’s food consumption patterns and social consequences conditioned by economic changes following the implementation of NAFTA. Market liberalization and foreign investment have proven to negatively impact public health in Mexico which experiences a steep increase of obesity prevalence and non-communicable diseases. This paper is able to trace the complex relationship between trade, health policy and the nutrition transition.Show less
This thesis seeks to investigate the possible connection between the precarious socioeconomic situation that dominates the lives of most Chileans and the historically unprecedented magnitude of...Show moreThis thesis seeks to investigate the possible connection between the precarious socioeconomic situation that dominates the lives of most Chileans and the historically unprecedented magnitude of protests that are currently shaking the country. The main research question will, therefore, take a close look at “How to understand the 2019 Chilean protests as a result of the structural inequalities produced by the radical neoliberal development strategy implemented in the 1980s? In order to make this research more tangible and feasible, the privatization of the social security (pension) system will serve as a case study to analyze the changing tolerance for inequality, as the demand for a pension system reform is one of the key drivers behind the ongoing social upheaval in Chile. The research questions will be answered by using the Hirschman “tunnel hypothesis” created in 1973 to investigate how societies in the early stages of rapid economic development have created a substantial tolerance for initial economic disparities, anticipating a future reduction of said disparities that will include everyone. Should these expectations never be met, considerable social discontent develops, that can result in disaster and turn previous supporters into enemies of the stateShow less
While some recognise tourism as the optimal companion of conservation due to their beneficial symbiotic relationship, others have addressed the negative consequences on the islands. As such, the...Show moreWhile some recognise tourism as the optimal companion of conservation due to their beneficial symbiotic relationship, others have addressed the negative consequences on the islands. As such, the Galapagos will serve as a case to study the effects of tourism on conservation and local development to understand if they can be achieved simultaneously. This research aims to look behind the curtain of the idea of pristine and untouched nature and its alignment with tourism to find out if conservational and tourist practices can indeed be compatible and lead to a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship.As will be seen, the conflicts in the Galapagos surround the concepts of power and scale. It is these concepts that also form a central concern in the academic fields of political ecology and ecological economics, which will be the perspectives used for the analysis.Show less
This thesis aims to describe the evolution on drug policies, mainly on coca, in Colombia and Bolivia. Heiren, is domestic influence and U.S. participation seen as the main effect.
As the subject of my thesis, I wanted study flex crops, because I want to find out how flex crops can help to obtain food security in order to help my reader understand how food security can be...Show moreAs the subject of my thesis, I wanted study flex crops, because I want to find out how flex crops can help to obtain food security in order to help my reader understand how food security can be reached in a sustainable manner. The region of specialization for this thesis is Latin America. Therefore, the research question of this thesis will be: ‘To what extend is there a link between flex crops and food security?’. The hypothesis is that major actors in the agricultural sector, such as corporations and governments claim that flex crops will help to reach food security in the near future, because flex crops have the capacity of multiple uses and therefore, the food sector does not have to compete with other sectors like fuel, but the livelihoods of rural populations and the biodiversity in ecosystems are not taken into consideration in these claims, only the mere idea of prospects of capital accumulation.Show less
This thesis outlines the dynamics of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its importance for sustainable development in the region of Latin America. Two state-owned oil and gas companies,...Show moreThis thesis outlines the dynamics of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its importance for sustainable development in the region of Latin America. Two state-owned oil and gas companies, Petrobras in Brazil and Pemex in Mexico, are analyzed throughout the paper. These case studies establish that CSR is embedded in the contemporary socio-cultural structures of a country. Political practices of corruption in both cases hinder the positive impact the companies’ CSR agendas could potentially have on sustainable development. A final section concludes that the lack of enabling environments and strong governments hinders a potential positive link between CSR initiatives and sustainable development in Mexico and Brazil. Therefore, pressing issues of poverty, inequality and environmental degradation cannot be tackled by implementing CSR in its current form.Show less
In light of Africa’s gradual integration into the global market economy, the continent has increasingly attracted international investments from the emerging economies, in particular Brazil and...Show moreIn light of Africa’s gradual integration into the global market economy, the continent has increasingly attracted international investments from the emerging economies, in particular Brazil and China, since the early 2000s. Since Africa has a rich historical past related to colonialism, exploitation of and subordination to the global North, these developments question the potential of these new, dominant players in Africa to break with this vicious cycle of dependency on dominant economies. As Latin America’s strongest economy by nominal gross domestic product (GDP), Brazil’s growing cooperation with the African continent is therefore raising the question of the country’s economic and political intentions behind its South-South Cooperation (SSC) projects. Formerly regarded as a promoter of cooperation between Southern countries by the African community, Brazil’s shift in foreign policy towards economic pragmatism is now viewed as a double-edged sword. While extensive academic research has focused on China’s role in accessing these new markets, less work has looked at Brazil’s underlying intentions behind its SSC projects. In fact, Brazil’s leading agricultural SSC project in Mozambique, the ProSAVANA project, has sparked a public and academic debate about the implications of Brazil’s cooperation for its Southern partners. The hypothesis of this thesis therefore argues that since president Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva’s rise to power in 2003, Brazil uses SSC as a tool to strengthen its economic and political influence on Sub-Saharan Africa and to diversify its economy, while subordinating the local markets to Brazil’s economic activities, hence reproducing the dependency theory. In order to confirm this hypothesis, the following research question will be central to the discussion of this thesis: How does Brazil’s agricultural South-South Cooperation with Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on the ProSAVANA project in Mozambique, reproduce the dependency theory?Show less
For decades now, the earth’s climate has been tampered with as greenhouse gases have been pumped into the atmosphere without any constraints. On top of that, the world is still troubled by immense...Show moreFor decades now, the earth’s climate has been tampered with as greenhouse gases have been pumped into the atmosphere without any constraints. On top of that, the world is still troubled by immense social inequalities, putting the feasibility of realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nation in 2015 in question. The last decade has been a period overshadowed by a variety of crises, from immigration crises to financial crises. This has raised criticism, demanding to reconsider the current development paradigm. The rational of development through economic growth cannot be maintained, particularly due to our planets’ boundaries. We have exhausted our planets limits and are steering towards its tipping point. This paper will look at the Ecuadorian case of Sumak Kawsay, a variant of Buen Vivir which, has been an increasingly popular worldview in the Andean and Amazon region of Latin America. This paper will explore Buen Vivir as an alternative development strategy and critically assess its viability to achieve a set of three distinct UN sustainable development goals. Additionally, the current global political economy will be critically discussed. Thus, this paper can be placed within the wider debate of development studies, seeking alternatives to the current development paradigm.Show less
CCTs are a social policy that abides by market logic that underscores self-help and co-responsibility of state and households. However, there is little evidence that human capital promotion results...Show moreCCTs are a social policy that abides by market logic that underscores self-help and co-responsibility of state and households. However, there is little evidence that human capital promotion results in poverty alleviation. Firstly, because both the quantity and the quality of supply of social services falls short in Latin America. This is particularly the case for poor and hard to reach areas. Nevertheless, governments remain reluctant to invest in social infrastructure due to restricted budgets and political orientation. This creates extra costs and burdens for participants. Secondly, because CCTs have limited concern for gender in its policy design due to male-centered notions of well-being and agency. This tends to reproduce traditional gender roles and complementary intra-household inequalities since women are responsible for the children, working for income and in the home. Thirdly, because CCTs are unjustly perceived as cost-effective due to targeting mechanisms. Targeting is inherently discriminatory and is must follow a simplified perspectives of poverty in order to work. This however, disregards multidimensional aspects of poverty. This indicates that there is room for future study on societal interventions to combat gender inequality while simultaneously reduce structural and inter-generational poverty.Therefore, the research question focus on: How do large scale CCTs affect social inclusive development in Latin America from a feminist perspective?Show less
