The rise of populism within the European Union (EU) threatens the protection of human rights, including gender-equality. Although several studies tried to explain the effect of populism on gender...Show moreThe rise of populism within the European Union (EU) threatens the protection of human rights, including gender-equality. Although several studies tried to explain the effect of populism on gender-equality, they do so by using case study analyses focusing mainly on populist rhetoric. To deepen the understanding of previous research, this study reanalyzes the effect of populism on gender-equality. I add to the existing literature by taking a quantitative approach studying the effect of right-wing populism on gender-equality within the EU. Using an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis, I combine several datasets to explore the relationship between 2010 and 2021 within all EU member states. I hypothesize that countries which contain a higher share of right-wing populist posts as part of the total cabinet posts, show lower levels of gender-equality. To test this hypothesis, I identify right-wing populist parties within the EU by using data of the Supplement to the Comparative Political Data Set – Government Composition 1960-2021 dataset (CPDS). Moreover, I operationalize gender-equality consulting the Gender Equality Index (GEI) measured by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). The results illustrate the effect of populism on gender-equality is context-dependent, meaning that populism only influences some areas of gender-equality.Show less
Vietnamese modern history has always been in opposition to China’s economic and geopolitical interests, rejecting further encroachment upon their economy for their geopolitical independence. In...Show moreVietnamese modern history has always been in opposition to China’s economic and geopolitical interests, rejecting further encroachment upon their economy for their geopolitical independence. In spite of this opposition, Vietnam joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s development project that serves as their geoeconomic tool to gain further influence upon its members. I theorise that Vietnam was coerced into entering the BRI against its interest by two main factors: Chinese firms’ economic dominance over Vietnam, and Vietnam's unreliable trade partners. With a focus on the causal mechanisms and the causal link that drove this event to happen, this paper will use process tracing as the method of research. Through this research, I seek to expand upon the underexplored academic gap of a least likely case against Chinese geoeconomic encroachment.Show less
This thesis aims to assess the impact of the European Union's normative power in promoting human rights and democratic norms in Mexico between 2000 and 2015. Manners' (2002) introduction of the...Show moreThis thesis aims to assess the impact of the European Union's normative power in promoting human rights and democratic norms in Mexico between 2000 and 2015. Manners' (2002) introduction of the concept of ‘normative power Europe’ (NPE) has raised increasing interest among scholars, especially those concerned about how the European Union (EU) shapes the world’s conception of what is ‘normal’. Nevertheless, extensive research focuses on the NPE’s ontological conceptualisation and its effectiveness in EU candidate countries, while fewer studies explore the EU’s normative power implications in countries with no possibility of joining the Union. This research addresses this gap by focusing on the EU’s normative power impact in Mexico, a country with no prospect of membership. In 1997, Mexico became the first Latin American country to sign a free trade, political and cooperation agreement with the EU, also known as the Global Agreement. This qualitative study shows that the EU has positively impacted the Mexican norms in democracy and human rights by implementing political conditionality in the Global Agreement. The study's broader implications reflect the EU's growing international role and its effectiveness in promoting its constitutive norms around the world.Show less
This research investigates the continuity of European Union (EU) sanctions against Russia in the aftermath of the 2014 Crimea annexation, highlighting the diversity of member state attitudes...Show moreThis research investigates the continuity of European Union (EU) sanctions against Russia in the aftermath of the 2014 Crimea annexation, highlighting the diversity of member state attitudes towards Russia. The research question that will be answered is: How does the interaction between domestic- and EU-level, within both conciliatory and hardline member states, influence the continuity of EU sanctions against Russia? Putnam's two-level game theory is employed, providing a framework to analyze the interaction between domestic political considerations and international negotiations. This study formulates two hypotheses: Hypothesis 1 posits that dissatisfaction with a larger sanction package among hardline states facilitates agreement in the European Council, and Hypothesis 2 suggests that satisfaction with a larger sanction package among conciliatory states similarly facilitates agreement. A qualitative comparative analysis between Hungary and Poland tests these hypotheses. It utilizes national policy papers, position tracing through secondary literature, and public opinion polls to examine the rationale behind each country's approach, the satisfaction among political leaders, public opinion, and business elites on the EU sanction package against Russia. The analysis finds evidence in support of both hypotheses, demonstrating the ways in which the domestic public can influence negotiations within the European Council, particularly concerning sanctions against Russia.Show less
The Sino-Russian relationship has been the topic of much interest, especially with regard to Central Asia. Much analysis studies it in terms of hard power resources, positing an axis-of-convenience...Show moreThe Sino-Russian relationship has been the topic of much interest, especially with regard to Central Asia. Much analysis studies it in terms of hard power resources, positing an axis-of-convenience. This research challenges that view by looking at an area of competing influence: educational diplomacy. The Russo-Kazakh and Sino-Kazakh relationships are chosen to compare the resources, strategies, and outcomes. Analysis of official discourse and foreign policy are synthesized with previous research and surveys on Kazakhstani perceptions, and data on students studying in China and Russia. The varying approaches of Russia and China are compared to ascertain their success in soft power projection via educational diplomacy, and how it provides insight into the balance of power in Central Asia.Show less
There has been a surge in ethnic conflicts in recent decades, coinciding with a rise in foreign development aid targeted at post-conflict reconstruction in the affected states. While extant...Show moreThere has been a surge in ethnic conflicts in recent decades, coinciding with a rise in foreign development aid targeted at post-conflict reconstruction in the affected states. While extant literature highlights contradictions in the desired outcomes of foreign aid in recipient states, fewer studies address these outcomes in post-ethnic conflict contexts. This project addresses this gap, focusing on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and argues that foreign development aid plays a crucial role in sustaining peace through its capacity to bolster democracy and stimulate economic growth, thereby mitigating ethnic tensions and fostering cooperation. Since the end of the Bosnian War in 1995, the three ethnic factions continue to co-exist within BiH, and the country is today on the path to European Union membership, making it an interesting case to study regarding the evaluation of foreign development aid’s contributions in sustaining the peace there. However, the findings of this study yield ambiguous results, shedding light on the complexities of aid's impact in such contexts. While foreign development aid has prevented another war, ethnic and political tensions still linger. The broader implications of this study inform the future of conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and foreign development aid implementation strategies.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
This thesis explores the relationship between humans and non-humans within a sea turtle conservation organization in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. Through eleven weeks of in-depth visual ethnographic...Show moreThis thesis explores the relationship between humans and non-humans within a sea turtle conservation organization in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. Through eleven weeks of in-depth visual ethnographic fieldwork, I investigate the influence these human/non-human relationships have on scientific knowledge production. The output of this research consists of an ethnographic film ‘The Turtle Team’ and this article. This research underscores the necessity of adopting transdisciplinary methodologies in which non-humans are integrated, which is crucial in the era of the Anthropocene. It provides a nuanced understanding of how human/non-human relationships shape the production of scientific knowledge in this team of conservationists and emphasizes the interwovenness of humans and non-humans. This research contributes to the existing literature on the Anthropocene and the nature-culture debate and I argue that the interwovenness of humans and non-humans should be discussed more within scientific research, especially in conservation biology.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
This study is an ethnographic research of the procedure and accommodation of asylum seekers in Leiden and Leiderdorp. In a period of three months, I examined the differences between people’s...Show moreThis study is an ethnographic research of the procedure and accommodation of asylum seekers in Leiden and Leiderdorp. In a period of three months, I examined the differences between people’s individual experiences with asylum accommodations locally (in Leiden and Leiderdorp) and how their experiences and views are influenced by people's positions, contexts, types of involvement, and the general existing social-cultural image of asylum seekers, their accommodation, and the ‘migration crisis’. Thereby, I examined the perspectives of different stakeholders, such as the residents of the centres, local Dutch residents, local authorities, staff members of the centres, migrant support organisations, and volunteers, using data from interviews, observations, and text analyses. Although the centres in Leiden and Leiderdorp do not resemble a crisis situation like Ter Apel, the perceptions and daily life experiences of those involved were still shaped by the crisis narrative. To understand how local asylum accommodations operate and are experienced by different stakeholders, it is therefore essential to delve into the broader political and social dynamics of those accommodations, including the role of the claim of crisis, (in)visibility, information provision, and processes of categorization, stigmatization, and othering.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
This research is the result collaborative multimodal ethnography project conducted in early 2024 on the island of Parem, in the Chuuk Lagoon. The project explored the relationship between chon...Show moreThis research is the result collaborative multimodal ethnography project conducted in early 2024 on the island of Parem, in the Chuuk Lagoon. The project explored the relationship between chon Chuuk and their land through film, photography, drawings, and storytelling. The study revealed that islanders consistently aimed to engage with the chon Chuuk diaspora abroad while reflecting on their relationship with their land during emigration. This research has two primary objectives. First, it advocates for the integration of collaborative multimodal outputs in ethnographic research. Secondly, it suggests that to understand chon Chuuk relationship to their land it is necessary to look at it as dynamic, and relational, produced by the interaction between broader political structures and internal social ties, particularly kinship relationship. The project produced both physical and digital works to connect with Chon Chuuk families on the islands and overseas. This book features photographs, drawings, and brief texts co-produced by the author and the family of the village of Epinun. Additionally, a short fictional film, co-written with islander Deejay Welle, portrays the memories of a young boy leaving the island. These outputs serve as transnational objects and artifacts, bridging the geographical and emotional gaps between those who have left and those who remain. A reflective article combines a discussion of relevant literature on place, emigration, and transnationalism to analyze the process, result, and diffusion of the multimodal output.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Anthropological writing on the Dutch context has long evidenced the dissonance between the white Dutch identity and the realities of racial tolerance and inclusion in Dutch society. This dissonance...Show moreAnthropological writing on the Dutch context has long evidenced the dissonance between the white Dutch identity and the realities of racial tolerance and inclusion in Dutch society. This dissonance is palpable in the social scene and is reflected in historical, political and cultural discourses alike. The purpose of this thesis is to ethnographically examine the concept of the cultural archive in Rotterdam’s interracial dating scene from the perspective of white Dutch men in their early to mid-twenties. In a diverse social context such as Rotterdam, characterized by its historic tolerance, fierceness and multiculturalism, interracial sexuality forms amongst the remnants of unacknowledged colonial legacies and complex constructions of white masculine identity. Through ethnography, I demonstrate how the dating practices of white Dutch Rotterdammers reflect a lack of racial/cultural awareness and reenforce legacies that exclude and exoticize the colonial Other. The complexities behind these dating practices, white Dutch masculinity and the formation of interracial sexuality are explored through different qualitative methods and film analysis.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Research indicates that men are less inclined to seek help for mental health issues compared to women, often displaying lower therapy adherence and harbouring more negative perceptions about...Show moreResearch indicates that men are less inclined to seek help for mental health issues compared to women, often displaying lower therapy adherence and harbouring more negative perceptions about seeking assistance. Existing studies predominantly focus on white, heterosexual, and middle- to upper-class men, underscoring the necessity for an intersectional approach. As an alternative to traditional therapy, man may turn to other forms of mental healing, such as music. This thesis argues that rap and Hip Hop impact the mental healing of men. This thesis explores masculine identities within rap through Critical Realism and intersectional perspectives. It addresses the underexplored facets of Hip Hop and gender studies by examining the paradox of vulnerability in rap masculinity. Men experience a form of masculine identity through being though enough to be emotional vulnerable and open, finding a space for mental healing in rap, though they feel that they must adhere to prevailing masculine identities while doing so. The primary goal of this thesis is to investigate how young men navigate mental healing, vulnerability, and masculinity through the creative processes of writing and performing rap. Furthermore, it aims to contribute to ongoing discussions on implementing critical theory, reflexive methods, and intersectional lenses in gender studies. Combining written text with audio-visual ethnography enhances the thesis by synthesizing existing frameworks, highlighting fieldwork contributions, and capturing nuanced experiences that facilitate comparative analysis, thereby enriching overall comprehension.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
Social organization is an important part of life in Micronesia, and so the water system(s) in Epinun village is managed with care through customs of role division. Based on age, gender and place in...Show moreSocial organization is an important part of life in Micronesia, and so the water system(s) in Epinun village is managed with care through customs of role division. Based on age, gender and place in one’s line of siblings, residents of Epinun all have their own tasks, a division that ensures that all roles are fulfilled. The strong social organization in the village was foundational in the forming of my film; it both impacted my interactions in the field dictating who I could engage with for specific topics or information as well as the structure of the film in which each interlocutor plays a role that reflects their position in the village such as ‘the voice’, the guide and ‘muscles’ or youth. In this article I discuss how and argue that modes of filmmaking and montage can be used to actively engage, reflect and convey structures found in the field onto the screen.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
This thesis is an ethnographic exploration of Dominican women’s hair choices. My ethnography makes use of beauty, the body, and hair to understand the hair culture on the island. I have spent three...Show moreThis thesis is an ethnographic exploration of Dominican women’s hair choices. My ethnography makes use of beauty, the body, and hair to understand the hair culture on the island. I have spent three months in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic and visited traditional and curly hair salons to create a real-life image of why and how women wear their hair the way they wear it. Class, race, dominating beauty ideals all influence how Dominican women perceive themselves, and per extension their hair as beautiful. The curly hair boom, mostly promulgated through the growing use of social media has started a hairy revolution, destabilising the tradition of the Dominican blowout, for which the Dominican salon is so known for. While curly hair and straightened hair paradoxically, and fluently coexist in the Dominican Republic, the tensions of spending money on hair care continue to persist for both hair practices. This thesis offers a fluid perspective of women’s body choices, by addressing the agentic, oppressive and liberating aspects of Dominican women’s hair practices.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
This thesis explores the multispecies relationships within community gardens, focusing on how the continuously negotiated interactions among humans, plants, and animals shape a sense of community....Show moreThis thesis explores the multispecies relationships within community gardens, focusing on how the continuously negotiated interactions among humans, plants, and animals shape a sense of community. Drawing on concepts of interdependence, community, and spatiality, it examines plants, animals, and spaces as agents of co-becoming. The research includes ethnographic studies from community gardens in Leiden and Utrecht, integrating literature review and multi-modal methodologies to deepen the understanding of these dynamic interspecies relationships.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
This article traces the connections between failure and masculinity at Dean Lane skatepark. My research is based on 10-weeks of ethnographic research at a skatepark in Bristol, U.K., where I used...Show moreThis article traces the connections between failure and masculinity at Dean Lane skatepark. My research is based on 10-weeks of ethnographic research at a skatepark in Bristol, U.K., where I used audiovisual means and sensory participant observation to produce an ethnographic film, a scrapbook, and a textual thesis. In this thesis, I explore how skaters would narrate experiences of failure and negotiate their masculinity within these stories. I build on Geckle & Shaw (2020) study on queer failure, by using the concept of ‘sticky’ masculinity to show how stories of failure often celebrate masculine values of hardness and bodily sacrifice. Moreover, I draw connections between ‘sticky’ masculinity and the neoliberal idea of the self-made man to argue that the celebration of failure can take place through meritocratic ways of thinking. Finally, the interviews highlight what is expected of skaters within the environment, what cultural norms become the ‘stickiest’ and how they relate to larger structures.Show less
