Whilst the principle of European solidarity has been promoted as one of the key parts of European identity, it remains a debated topic, due to the implications it has for Member States, for example...Show moreWhilst the principle of European solidarity has been promoted as one of the key parts of European identity, it remains a debated topic, due to the implications it has for Member States, for example in terms of giving up sovereignty. The prospect of European integration at different speeds has been seen in a negative light by the European Union, despite there being significant historical and structural differences amongst the Member States, which have not been resolved through EU membership. During the 2015 refugee crisis, solidarity became a hot topic once again, due to the overburden experienced in the arrival Member States of Greece and Italy. However, despite being a frequently evoked term, only the mandatory aspect of solidarity has been defined by the EU, who shuns the idea of a flexible solidarity. Whilst refusing the xenophobic ideals of the countries behind this new perception of solidarity, this thesis engages in a critique of the concept of mandatory solidarity, in light of different historical pasts, and experience with migration across Member States.Show less
In an even more globalised world, the role of international institutions has become both increasingly important and controversial. The rise of global governance also has an impact for governance at...Show moreIn an even more globalised world, the role of international institutions has become both increasingly important and controversial. The rise of global governance also has an impact for governance at the domestic level as many issues are decided, at least partly, at the international level. The question is, then, how great is this influence of international institutions at the domestic level? This thesis will explore this topic by doing a case study analysis that focuses on a specific issue, the Irish abortion law. The case study will focus on three instances in which Irish women sued the Irish state in the international courts for the suffering that the strict abortion law had caused them. The research question that will be used is ‘How did international institutions such as the United Nations and the European Union influence the abortion law in Ireland?’. This thesis’ hypothesis is that the executive power of international institutions at the domestic level is limited. Instead, the influence that international institutions have mainly flows from their ability to set international norms and standards. Through a qualitative document analysis of official court documents, court rulings, reports, and news articles, the impact of international institutions on the Irish abortion has been explored. Previous research on the practical impact of UN treaties and the concept of ‘soft power’ have been used as the foundation for the research. The main research findings are that the international institutions’ impact at the domestic level varies per domestic issue and context. Further, the hypothesis was correct in that the international institution’s involvement in the issue was considered legitimate due to its use of soft power. The final conclusion was that for the Irish abortion law specifically, an interplay of both international and domestic factors were needed for a change to be brought about.Show less
The way in which a group of individuals can develop a collective memory has fascinated scholars for decades and gave birth to different definitions and conceptualisations of memory. From the...Show moreThe way in which a group of individuals can develop a collective memory has fascinated scholars for decades and gave birth to different definitions and conceptualisations of memory. From the studies conducted on memory, one notion stands out for its particular and captivating character: cultural memory, a form of collective memory that embraces ongoing societal and historical changes. Cultural memory has proven to be powerful and influential in various domains of human life. This thesis aims at investigating the influence of cultural memory on the shaping of social movements, a yet little explored field. Through a thorough analysis of two case studies – Germany and Italy – this research will shed light on the ways in which remembering and forgetting past experiences intertwine with the development of social movements.Show less
This thesis discusses the Danish ‘master narrative’ of World War Two, of the Nazi occupation with the Danes mainly being characterized as resistant, and as rescuers of the majority of the Danish...Show moreThis thesis discusses the Danish ‘master narrative’ of World War Two, of the Nazi occupation with the Danes mainly being characterized as resistant, and as rescuers of the majority of the Danish Jewish population, and that they had been able to hold onto to their values of democracy, freedom, and equality. This thesis will focus on the change that took place from this 'master narrative' towards a more critical one, on the part that Denmark had played in the Holocaust, with its own restrictive refugee policy of the 1930s and 40s, and the cooperation of Danish businesses with the Nazis, to name two such critical aspects. Since the cultural memory of these events had an impact on the perception of society today, it is important to know exactly what happened, and to analyse the background based on which the Danish historical narrative was constructed then, as well as the background for the more critical historical narrative today. Thus, this research has as its main focus the circumstances of occupation-time Denmark, and how the narrative of the characterization of occupied Denmark, as well as how Denmark relates to the Holocaust has changed over time.Show less
The Liverpool Dock Dispute (1995-8) was one of the longest movements in British labour history, and mobilised large-scale international support, yet it has received only a modest amount of...Show moreThe Liverpool Dock Dispute (1995-8) was one of the longest movements in British labour history, and mobilised large-scale international support, yet it has received only a modest amount of scholarly attention. Using a combination of ego documents and newly produced sources, this thesis seeks to illuminate three particular areas of neglect relating to the dockers’ emotions and identities, their international campaign, and the legacy of their movement. Central to this is an approach that embeds social movement concepts – and theories on emotions, narratives, and collective memory - within an account of the dispute’s beginning, development, and end. Ultimately, the findings of this study enable a series of broader conclusions about the usefulness of oral history, and the importance of concepts such as emotion, identity, and memory to the field of industrial relations more widely.Show less
Dit onderzoek richt zich op het interstedelijke aspect van de Provo-beweging, tussen 1965 en 1967. Het historisch beeld van Provo gaat vooral over Amsterdam. Door heel Nederland ontstonden echter...Show moreDit onderzoek richt zich op het interstedelijke aspect van de Provo-beweging, tussen 1965 en 1967. Het historisch beeld van Provo gaat vooral over Amsterdam. Door heel Nederland ontstonden echter Provo-groepen, van redelijk geslaagd tot minder geslaagd. Dit onderzoek gaat grotendeels over Provo’s buiten Amsterdam die weinig teweegbrachten met hun acties. Hierdoor wordt duidelijk met welke interactie de groep actief werd in en buiten Amsterdam en waarom de groep elders niet bereikte wat ze wilde bereiken. Dit onderzoek maakt aan de hand van Provo in Amsterdam, Groningen, Rotterdam en Maastricht duidelijk door welke elementen de Provo-groepen elders zich lieten inspireren door Provo Amsterdam, maar ook op welke elementen ze kritiek hadden, wat hun acties inhielden, hoe ze op hun eigen beweging reflecteerden en hoe hun zelfbeeld zich verhield tot de daadwerkelijke ontwikkeling van de groep. Provo in Groningen en Rotterdam mislukte, in tegenstelling tot Provo in Maastricht. Groningse en Rotterdamse Provo’s hadden geen zicht op wat in Amsterdam precies gebeurde, omdat die groepen niet over de goede informatiebronnen beschikten. Het ontbrak in Groningen en Rotterdam om verschillende redenen aan kennis en ervaring. Dit had te maken met de Provo’s in Amsterdam en de lokale Provo’s. Vanuit Maastricht deed een Provo-groep precieze kennis en ervaring op in Amsterdam, waardoor er meer deskundigheid was bij die groep in Maastricht. De andere Provo-groep in Maastricht, de groep van Ontbijt op Bed, profileerde zich ondanks de kennis vanuit Amsterdam juist als een volledig losstaande groep. Ze werden geassocieerd met Provo, maar waren meer een meer zelfstandige groep dan de Provo’s in Groningen en Rotterdam.Show less
