The following paper will examine the period of time between 2006-2012, when Felipe Calderón took presidential power in Mexico. Due to the fact that Mexico is a transit country for many criminal...Show moreThe following paper will examine the period of time between 2006-2012, when Felipe Calderón took presidential power in Mexico. Due to the fact that Mexico is a transit country for many criminal organizations, crime and violence are rampant throughout the country. Calderón's solution to combat this increase in violence, was to implement the military into daily affairs and to militarize the Mexican police force. The reasons that led to such a tactic and the effects that have been produced as such will be analyzed.Show less
This research looks at the emerging phenomenon of data collaboratives, specifically in the ‘crisis response’ sector, with which the private sector assists the public sector’s data-driven efforts to...Show moreThis research looks at the emerging phenomenon of data collaboratives, specifically in the ‘crisis response’ sector, with which the private sector assists the public sector’s data-driven efforts to prevent or respond to humanitarian emergencies. This research explores and explains why the private sector participates in crisis response data collaboratives. Through secondary literature analysis, and primary survey and interview analysis of three case studies, this research provides new insights into data collaborative objectives, the private sector’s activities, the incentives and risks these collaboratives present for the private sector, and how it mitigates such risks. The research concludes that the private sector enters crisis response data collaboratives to help the public sector address one or more of its obstacles to creating data-driven solutions to societal problems, and occasionally to achieve additional objectives for the public good. Although the private sector is motivated by various incentives, sufficient mitigation of presented risks, especially risks to data subjects’ privacy and security, is a precondition to joining a crisis response data collaborative.Show less
The question addressed in this thesis is: What can explain the significant changes in Russian Foreign Policy in Putin’s third term as president compared to his first and second term? The theory...Show moreThe question addressed in this thesis is: What can explain the significant changes in Russian Foreign Policy in Putin’s third term as president compared to his first and second term? The theory that functions as the theoretical framework is Charles F. Hermann’s theory of “change agents”, which this thesis addresses in chapter 1. In chapter 2, a historical overview will be provided of Putin’s presidential terms with regard to Foreign Policy. This chapter will chronologically divide Putin’s presidential terms in phases that are in alignment with the most substantial Foreign Policy changes that took place in the Russian Federation. This will provide the platform upon which Hermann’s theory will be applied and analysed. Furthermore, in Chapter 3, this thesis will analyse the Foreign Policy change that was most significant in every phase and determine which change agents most influenced which Foreign Policy change.Show less
The question of historical revisionism has long been a subject of discussion especially during the Soviet period of Russian history. In recent years, after the Russian annexation of Crimea and the...Show moreThe question of historical revisionism has long been a subject of discussion especially during the Soviet period of Russian history. In recent years, after the Russian annexation of Crimea and the civil war that is raging in the eastern parts of Ukraine, the issue has gained new interest. Within the cultural domain, a reflection of the politics of the Russian government can be perceived. The purpose of this thesis is to determine the presence of historical revisionism in the cinema of modern day Russia. Film has risen to be one of the leading art forms of the last century, in terms of its influence and popularity, and has remained this position until the present day. This paper establishes the presence of historical revisionism in of two recently produced Russian films, and indicates elements of revisionism in the other. Purposeful falsification of historical facts and the reinforcements of false narratives are shown to serve the political goals of the Kremlin, and are designed to influence public opinion domestically and abroad. This sadly indicates a broader problem in the Russian film industry, a fact that may warrant the need to further study and test the narratives that are presented to us by Russian film.Show less
In light of the democratization process in Myanmar, new prospects for ending the ongoing ethnic tensions have emerged. However, there remain cases of ethnic outbursts and minority oppression in...Show moreIn light of the democratization process in Myanmar, new prospects for ending the ongoing ethnic tensions have emerged. However, there remain cases of ethnic outbursts and minority oppression in contemporary Myanmar.This thesis will examine to what extent the current situation regarding minority oppression and ongoing ethnic conflict reflects its complex political climate of authoritarian rule and the new political transition, democratization. British colonial rule left the modern nation faced with challenges of creating unity within an ethnically diverse population arbitrary borders. Followed by decades of military rule, the imagining of a Burmese nation at the cost of ethnic minority identities left its mark on the current political climate. An extensive literary analysis reveals that the current situation regarding ethnic tensions and minority oppression in contemporary Myanmar is a reflection of its (post-)colonial history, complex political climate, and the democratization process. The case study of the Karen farmer suggests an economical relevance in the debate on democratization and ethnic minority issues.Show less
The objective of this thesis is to explain and explore the reasons why China agreed to the sanctions put on Iran by the United Nations in 2006. The premise of the of this thesis is that the main...Show moreThe objective of this thesis is to explain and explore the reasons why China agreed to the sanctions put on Iran by the United Nations in 2006. The premise of the of this thesis is that the main reason China agreed is based around China’s relationship with the United States and China’s role in the international community. These are however, not the only reasons. International politics is very complex and decisions often do not rest on one reason alone. Other reasons briefly explained are the relationship between China and Iran that in 2006 was based around oil, Iran’s influence on the Western Chinese province of Xinjiang and the importance of regional stability for both China as well as the world as a whole.Show less
This thesis is analysing the main linguistic and visual characteristics of refugees and migrants represented in a selected number of printed media from France and Greece in the context of the...Show moreThis thesis is analysing the main linguistic and visual characteristics of refugees and migrants represented in a selected number of printed media from France and Greece in the context of the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe which started in 2015. Based on the postulates of Multimodal Critical Discourse analysis and van Leeuwen’s (2008) model of visual and verbal representation of social actors, news items will be deconstructed in order to demonstrate to what extent their discourse on migration is constructed in a negative way around the theme of otherness. Finally similarities and differences between the selected news outlets and the countries will be discussedShow less
Contemporary development studies needs a 'processual shift' from development to developing in order to transcend the static problematisation of African underdevelopment. The Washington Consensus...Show moreContemporary development studies needs a 'processual shift' from development to developing in order to transcend the static problematisation of African underdevelopment. The Washington Consensus and the Beijing Consensus still approach African underdevelopment according to a teleological view that is rooted in the belief that economic growth is necessary for achieving prosperity. By applying complexity science to the economy, this research fills the lack within International Relations (IR) of critically revising African development in contemporary, changing contexts. A model of economic evolution is employed to conduct a transformative analysis of Kenya's developing within the twenty-first century New Silk Road (NSR). Utilising the process tracing method to examine combined data sets, the researcher explores manifestations of the interdependence between evolutionary technological, institutional, and strategic forces. The analysis provides an innovative account of how and why economic evolution has emerged in Kenya. Future research should refine the model, but not define it: evolution is an endless process from which the economy as a complex adaptive system emerges.Show less
In October 2000, the United Nations Security Council passed the resolution 1325 on gender mainstreaming. Several resolutions on this topic have followed and together these resolutions form the...Show moreIn October 2000, the United Nations Security Council passed the resolution 1325 on gender mainstreaming. Several resolutions on this topic have followed and together these resolutions form the Women, Peace and Security agenda. This agenda encompasses all aspects of gender mainstreaming such as the protection of women’s rights in conflict and post-conflict, the prevention of sexual abuse against women and the enhancement of women in United Nations peacekeeping operations. This thesis particularly studies the latter issue, urging the Member States to deploy more women peacekeepers in peacekeeping missions. The larger deployment of women in missions is of high importance since the inclusion of women peacekeepers has advantages for conflict and post-conflict societies. Therefore, the United Nations advises the Member States to adopt a National Action Plan and aims to fully support national governments to implement gender mainstreaming in their policies and guidelines. This thesis hypothesises that there is a gap between the increasing policies established by the Dutch government in favour of gender mainstreaming and the reality of vast under-representation of Dutch women peacekeepers in peacekeeping operations. An analysis of the Dutch National Action Plans and Defence Action Plan demonstrates how the official Dutch governmental discourse fails to increase the participation of Dutch women in peacekeeping operations. The three main observations, resulting from this analysis, are the lack of internal focus within the national policies and the Dutch society on gender mainstreaming, the use of the word ‘women’ instead of ‘gender’ and the fact that the Dutch government treats the implementation of the policies as a final goal, while these policies are merely a sub-part of a larger effort. Therefore, it can be concluded that the official Dutch government discourse on the Security Council resolution 1325 shows the gap between the little change in Dutch women’s participation in peacekeeping operations and the adoption of policies in favour of gender mainstreaming.Show less
In 2013, the small Latin American republic of Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalise the production, distribution and possession of cannabis, whether it be for recreational,...Show moreIn 2013, the small Latin American republic of Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalise the production, distribution and possession of cannabis, whether it be for recreational, medical or scientific research purposes. This move has received harsh criticism and at the same time was hailed as ‘the tipping point in the War on Drugs’. This thesis will assess the origins of the policies as put forward by the Uruguayan state. The thesis is divided in three chapters. The first chapter will provide the academic debate surrounding legalisation of drugs in general and cannabis legalisation in particular, and the most important arguments in favour of, as well as against legalisation. The second chapter will provide the historical and international context of the Uruguayan drug policies up to legalisation in 2013. In the third chapter a case study will be presented and this will answer the question as to why the Uruguayan Government of José Mujica chose to legalise cannabis, as well as present the results of the policies up until today. It will be argued that questions and concerns about security lay at the heart of the policies and their justification, but that the impact on the security situation in the country will be limited. The thesis will also contend that other objectives of the regulations, primarily aimed at ‘harm reduction’, the reduction of the negative social and health consequences of drug policies, are only limitedly achieved.Show less
The Nation-building Operation in Libya: A Two-sided Critique on Incapable Nation-builders and on the Claims of Postmodern Imperialism that Surround the Intervention
In 2013 Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced their readiness to renew the dialogue on the Kuril Islands – the disputed territory that kept the Japan...Show moreIn 2013 Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced their readiness to renew the dialogue on the Kuril Islands – the disputed territory that kept the Japan-Russia bilateral relationship frozen for almost 70 years. Due to the territorial dispute, the Japan-Russia economic and diplomatic cooperation remained relatively underdeveloped, which provided a great opportunity for both to benefit from the improved bilateral cooperation. However, the breakthrough has never happened, since the Japan-Russia relationship deteriorated after Japan joined US sanctions against Russia due to Russian involvement in the Ukrainian Crisis. Conventional explanations cite that the United States pressured Japan into imposing sanctions against its national interest. In this paper I provide an analysis of Japanese sanctions against Russia to answer the question of whether US pressure on Japan resulted in reactive Japan’s foreign policy sanctions against Russia. Therefore this paper will put forward a case to answer the question of whether Japan’s foreign policy was influenced by it being a reactive state. For the purpose of this research, I analysed the three rounds of sanctions from March 2014 to July 2016 by using a process tracing method combined with attributed influence and preference attainment to identify and measure US pressure on Japan. Drawing the concept of a reactive state model I will demonstrate how the United States pressured Japan against Japanese national interest. By focusing on the extent of Japanese sanctions, I put forward the case that Japan was able to implement low-key yet independent policy in case of sanctions.Show less
This thesis examines the effectiveness of EU initiated education programs in the discourse of EU identity building. Through an analysis of what constitutes a EU identity as well as which challenges...Show moreThis thesis examines the effectiveness of EU initiated education programs in the discourse of EU identity building. Through an analysis of what constitutes a EU identity as well as which challenges it faces, three main factors are isolated. These are the issue of nationalism, the notion of EU elitism, and the lack of shared common history, language and culture. After reviewing the historical progress which the EU has made in the field of educational policy, a case study is made of the current EU education initiative Erasmus+. An assessment of Erasmus+ based on its capacity of combatting the three identified challenges ultimately reveals that while the EU has extensive education frame works in place and funds these sufficiently, the emphasize on content is missing.Show less
