This thesis applies collective action theory from a historical institutionalist perspective. With applying collective action theory on an international level, the boundaries of collective action...Show moreThis thesis applies collective action theory from a historical institutionalist perspective. With applying collective action theory on an international level, the boundaries of collective action theory are pushed further than before. Collective action theory from a historical perspective is used to investigate the scope of regime complexity intergovernmental organizations experience and the development of state membership of intergovernmental organizations.Show less
This thesis takes a comparative approach to understanding the impact of TAN populist executives on the asylum systems of Hungary and Italy following the 2015/16 migration crisis. The interlinking...Show moreThis thesis takes a comparative approach to understanding the impact of TAN populist executives on the asylum systems of Hungary and Italy following the 2015/16 migration crisis. The interlinking concepts of TAN populism, autocratization, and their relationship with judicial control and the asylum seeker are first expanded upon in the Literature Review. Then, the Theoretical Framework chapter delves into the applicability of the path dependence approach for understanding the links between these concepts and hypothesises that the degree to which a TAN populist executive can inflict Asylum System Assault (ASA) depends on its ability to reshape judicial control. This hypothesis is tested using a research design based on MSSD-I which is discussed in the Methodological Approach chapter. The comparative part of the thesis begins with a chapter on the case study of Hungary. In this case we see how the drafting of a new constitution by the Fidesz party in 2010 severely weakened judicial independence, allowing for a path dependent trajectory of further autocratization and, following the migration crisis, of ASA. In turn, this led to the structural death of asylum in the country by 2020. Meanwhile, the next chapter on the Italian case shows how an independent judiciary can act as a lifebuoy for migrant rights by stopping the successful implementation of key TAN populist executive ASA policies. This being the case both during the Conte I government, and in the current Meloni-led government.Show less
Although they had been on the rise for the last few decades, Radical right parties (RRPs) across Europe enjoyed a significant surge in popularity following the refugee crisis of 2015 that saw...Show moreAlthough they had been on the rise for the last few decades, Radical right parties (RRPs) across Europe enjoyed a significant surge in popularity following the refugee crisis of 2015 that saw millions of refugees pour into Europe. While these parties traditionally tend to contest elections on their distinct positions on socio-cultural issues such as immigration and religious polarization, their attitudes and preferences on socio-economic issues such as the welfare state have received little scholarly attention until recently. This paper aims to contribute to the growing literature in this domain by examining the changes in welfare attitudes of two RRPs: Germany’s AfD and United Kingdom’s UKIP, in light of the 2015 refugee. Analysis of the two parties’ election manifestos for general elections held before and after the crisis shows that the radical-right ideology of nativism and xenophobia is more pronounced in the socio-cultural dimension for both parties in the post-crisis period. But when it comes to the socio-economic dimension and their attitudes towards the welfare state, radical-right behaviour of welfare chauvinism is more pronounced in AfD’s post-crisis manifesto compared to UKIP’s. The paper concludes by suggesting that this disparity in welfare attitudes may possibly be a result of the two countries having different types of welfare regimes more than due to their different experience with the refugee crisis itself.Show less
The aim of this thesis is to analyse the differences between the Netherlands and Germany in their attitudes towards the EU corona rescue package. Both countries are similar in characteristics such...Show moreThe aim of this thesis is to analyse the differences between the Netherlands and Germany in their attitudes towards the EU corona rescue package. Both countries are similar in characteristics such as economic and political system, geographical position in the EU, culture and fiscal policies. Nonetheless, during the negotiation rounds for the corona rescue package both countries had taken opposite positions. Whereas the Netherlands became known as the leader of ‘the frugal four’, Germany proposed the largest economic support programme ever seen in the EU. Questions can be raised why countries that are similar in characteristics and used to be on the same line in previous EU crisis are now taking such different stances. The literature on international decision-making has identified three important factors that can influence international decision making. These are the role of national interests, the role of institutions, and the role of ideas. This thesis will focus on these three explanatory factors in order to get a better understanding of the differences in outcome by the Netherlands and Germany. It has been found that in both countries national interests can be considered an important factor. However, in the Netherlands national interests have been portrayed differently as compared to Germany. Furthermore, the role of institutional factors can be identified as a second explanatory variable for the outcome. In the case of the Netherlands it became clear that the government had to align itself with the principles and values that are part of the EU as an institution. For Germany, it became clear that institutional factors have led to an alignment of German national interests with those of the EU. Lastly, the explanatory variable of ideas can be considered important since it has been found that both governments acted according to the ideas that where present in the Dutch and German societies. However, it is not clear if it was the government that has influenced society or that it was the other way around. This thesis will continue with an introduction consisting of essential context and the research question, followed by a literature review, a detailed chapter on the research design, the empirical data, and an analysis of the results.Show less
