While the European Union’s Global Gateway project aspires to promote employment and the creation of “decent”, that is stable, safe, and sustainable jobs around the world, its prospects for success...Show moreWhile the European Union’s Global Gateway project aspires to promote employment and the creation of “decent”, that is stable, safe, and sustainable jobs around the world, its prospects for success are hardly assured, particularly as past experience shows similar initiatives' outcomes to be profoundly mixed and highly contingent on conditions across sectors and countries. The global cocoa industry is a particularly significant arena in this regard, as it has been seen as both an engine for growth and employment and as a site of widespread labor violations. Written against the backdrop of the Global Gateway project, this thesis examines the experience of the EU's involvement in similar initiatives in Africa in the period 2016-2021, through a case study of the EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in Ghana.Show less
This study explores the fundamental causes of the Afghan Republic's demise and considers how it affected numerous facets of internal and foreign affairs. The study utilizes a range of sources,...Show moreThis study explores the fundamental causes of the Afghan Republic's demise and considers how it affected numerous facets of internal and foreign affairs. The study utilizes a range of sources, including scholarly articles, policy papers and news articles to test four key hypotheses. These theories look at the possible effects of different variables on political legitimacy and economic growth, including the use of power, diversity, historical conflicts, socioeconomic disparity, and geographical differences. In-depth case studies and comparative analysis are used in the research to examine the relationships between these factors and how they contribute to state disintegration. The findings suggest that various internal and external factors that played a part in the collapse of the Afghan republic government. This includes issues, like corruption, eroding state institutions tensions exacerbating disputes, and socioeconomic inequalities undermining government legitimacy. The implications of this study are significant as they enhance our understanding of the mechanisms that determine state stability or collapse.Show less
This paper explores the corporate food regime in Qatar. Existing discussions on food regimes have primarily focused on analysing corporations, the regime's neoliberal features and limitations....Show moreThis paper explores the corporate food regime in Qatar. Existing discussions on food regimes have primarily focused on analysing corporations, the regime's neoliberal features and limitations. However, they have largely overlooked the influence of state-led capital, particularly in the Gulf, where it is gaining prominence. Qatar is developing as a prominent state actor in a multipolar global food system, challenging traditional Northern actors with considerable capital influence and supporting agribusiness acquisitions, new trade flows and innovation. This research argues that following the 2017 diplomatic crisis, the government strategically used the private sector to ensure food security in its arid country and reduce reliance on imports. These measures enabled Qatar to establish itself as a strong, innovative and legitimate state. This research aims to understand the changing relationship in the corporate food regime in light of state-led capitalism, agro-security mercantilism, and the role of agribusinesses. It analyses various dynamics, such as the Gulf region's geopolitical context, agribusiness political economy, and food consumption's social dimensions. It aims to shed light on how these factors shape the Qatari corporate food regime and its implications for food security.Show less
This thesis focusses on the relation between Singapore’s economic development and US geopolitical interests. Problematically, Singapore’s economic development has been predominantly analysed...Show moreThis thesis focusses on the relation between Singapore’s economic development and US geopolitical interests. Problematically, Singapore’s economic development has been predominantly analysed through an inward-centric and economically-oriented lens, which has prescribed a neglect of external geopolitical drivers. This thesis aims to fill this gap by researching Singapore’s post-war industrialization from an approach that considers external geopolitical influences as an important driver of economic development. In line with this approach, I focus on the relation between US geopolitical interests and Singapore’s post-war industrialization by building on the main theoretical insights from hegemonic stability theory and economic statecraft. Interestingly, the empirical findings of this thesis establish a substantive relation between US geopolitical interests, channelled through capital support to the city-state, and Singapore’s economic development. This is based on the empirical finding that Singapore received economic aid in the late-1960s when US geopolitical interests were threatened by suddenly emerging Singaporean instability. Accordingly, by having connected Singapore’s economic development to US Cold War interests, this thesis has complemented the contemporary state of the literature.Show less
Online sex work is often cited as a way to liberate sex workers by giving sex workers more control. But does the movement to digital spaces and the formal financial sector simply trade of one form...Show moreOnline sex work is often cited as a way to liberate sex workers by giving sex workers more control. But does the movement to digital spaces and the formal financial sector simply trade of one form of dependency and vulnerability for another? This paper seeks to understand the specific mechanisms employed by financial actors to target sex work and the relationship between state and private actors in the development of exclusionary policies. Furthermore, in light of the global dominance of the American financial sector, this paper examines the transboundary influence of US corporate financial regulation through its impact on sex workers outside the United States. The influence of government pressure on the corporate policies is examined through the policies of three financial service providers (Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal) in the context of two state policy changes: the Obama Administration’s Operation Choke Point and the 2018 FOSTA/SESTA law. The international influence of these policies is explored through the experiences of Pornhub performers operating outside of the United States following the 2019/2020 suspension of services to the platform by PayPal, Visa, and MasterCard. This paper identifies two mechanisms employed by financial service providers which result in the exclusion of online sex workers: 1) direct prohibition of adult-related industries and 2) indirect exclusion through the incentive structure created to by financial service providers to monitor and regulate merchants which disincentivizes businesses to work with merchants involved in adult-related industries. This paper also finds that the dominance enjoyed by the US in the global financial system and its subsequent influence in foreign markets creates a system through which the problematic and exclusionary policies of US-based corporations are exported to countries regardless of their own legal frameworks governing sex work.Show less
This thesis examines the motivations of three European populist radical right (PRR) parties that have adopted Russia-friendly positions and investigates whether parties are driven by ideological or...Show moreThis thesis examines the motivations of three European populist radical right (PRR) parties that have adopted Russia-friendly positions and investigates whether parties are driven by ideological or pragmatic motivations. These linkages were brought to the fore following the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which demonstrated the necessity of mitigating the long-term risks posed by these linkages. No conclusive answer to the question of parties’ motivations can be given, as parties are driven by a combination of ideological and pragmatic motivations. In the first case study about the Dutch Party for Freedom, pragmatism prevailed; in the second case study about the Dutch Forum for Democracy, ideology dominated; and in the third, on the Belgian Flemish Interest, evidence pointed to pragmatism, but the evidence was weak as the party appeared mostly neutral. A policy recommendation is given to invest in strengthening democratic values to mitigate the long-term risks of the linkages between European PRR parties and Russia.Show less
The importance of renewable energy (RE) in the global economy is increasing. This provides great economic opportunities for developing countries with a high RE potential, but simultaneously risks...Show moreThe importance of renewable energy (RE) in the global economy is increasing. This provides great economic opportunities for developing countries with a high RE potential, but simultaneously risks exposing these countries to an unjust energy transition as a consequence of energy production. Therefore, this thesis investigates the political-economic implications of RE on extractivism, to better understand the potential costs and benefits of RE developments for developing countries. Hence, the research question is; In what ways does Morocco’s renewable energy strategy reinforce patterns of extractivism, and how does energy extractivism reproduce existing power dynamics? This is examined through a within-case study analysis of Morocco’s renewable energy strategy by developing a framework of energy extractivism. It finds that Morocco’s energy strategy reinforces patterns of extractivism at two different junctions; Firstly, the international/national level that is formed by an underlying interdependence of (financial) resources and energy that sustain neo-colonial dynamics. Secondly, the national/local level that promotes extractivism as development in peripheral zones by transferring socio-environmental costs to local communities. Energy extractivism reproduces power dynamics through these junctions as it reasserts the influence of the elite on development and maintains social hierarchies at the local and national levels. However, a similar process is not (yet) present at the international level although some patterns of extractivism are. The study is relevant to broader literature on extractivism and RE development since it addresses the roles of both national RE strategies and international structures on energy appropriation. It is critical to assess these potential risks and opportunities early in the energy transition in developing countries before any adverse extractivist effects occur.Show less
Scholars ever more agree that economic diversification is becoming a vital strategy to ensure future stability in fossil fuel-export dependent states. This is the reason why, in recent years,...Show moreScholars ever more agree that economic diversification is becoming a vital strategy to ensure future stability in fossil fuel-export dependent states. This is the reason why, in recent years, grandiose development plans and modest efforts to achieve economic diversification have been initiated by some MENA states, particularly by those in the GCC. In Algeria, neither plans nor serious efforts are undertaken by the country’s ruling elites towards achieving this goal. Traditional rentier state literature cannot explain these visible differences in approaches between rentier states. Therefore, by studying contemporary Algerian history, this paper argues that the unwillingness of Algerian elites to diversify the Algerian economy is a result of an interplay between the nature of domestic institutions, international interference and oil. This case-specific approach enables a more accurate explanation for Algeria’s persistent political economic development. Moreover, by connecting rentier state theory with insights from postcolonial studies, and statist and critical political economy, this paper also appeals to the growing demand for an internationalised conception of the rentier state.Show less
This thesis investigates the relationship between the Saudi government and Aramco, the country’s major oil and gas company and one of the world’s largest. By uncovering the historical backdrop of...Show moreThis thesis investigates the relationship between the Saudi government and Aramco, the country’s major oil and gas company and one of the world’s largest. By uncovering the historical backdrop of this relationship, from the discovery of oil to the recent initial public offering (IPO) in 2019, this research explores the evolving dynamics of governance and authority within this relationship and its far-reaching implications for the broader Saudi Arabian landscape. After unpacking the events, actors and factors that have shaped this relationship over the years, this thesis will argue that the relationship between the two parties is closer and more interlocking than what is generally depicted, with the state having substantial influence over Aramco’s operations and governance. The findings provide insights into the changes and continuity of the investigated relationship, as well as contribute to an in-depth understanding of the governance dynamics and implications to the larger Saudi Arabian landscape. Understanding the weight of this relationship is essential when analysing Aramco’s future trajectory and, to some degree, Saudi Arabia’s future.Show less
