Public security in the city of Rio de Janeiro has been characterized by military intervention in an attempt to contain urban violence and recently, this military intervention model has been...Show morePublic security in the city of Rio de Janeiro has been characterized by military intervention in an attempt to contain urban violence and recently, this military intervention model has been proposed to address urban violence in other Brazilian cities, Latin American countries and in the United States (Hoelscher, Norheim-Martinsen 2014, 957)(Fenizola 2018.) To compliment research in the academic field of violence in conflict areas, this paper aims to explore to what extent the potential relation between educational opportunities and violence can enforce or debilitate conflict in the case of Rio de Janeiro's favelas. To analyse this, an innovative theoretical framework is used that combines insights from fhi360's research on the causal relation between educational opportunities and violent conflict, critical race/post colonial theory, John Galtung's Conflict triangle and sustainable peace. Through a multidisciplinary approach and qualitative data analysis, the findings reveal that underlying the visible direct and structural violence shaping public security, is the mechanism of cultural violence that works to justify the direct and structural expressions of violence and indirectly, the militarization of public security. In regards to education, this entail that marginalized youth generally end up in a negative spiral of exclusion that enforces pacification, repression, more violence and eventually less educational opportunities. In response to this model, the paper proposes a method that can reverse the causal cycle of violent conflict and educational opportunities so that sustainable peace may be achieved.Show less
Bachelor thesis about the effects of Chinese FDI on Brazil´s economic development with representative case studies from Brazil´s petrochemical, - electric power transmission,- and telecommunication...Show moreBachelor thesis about the effects of Chinese FDI on Brazil´s economic development with representative case studies from Brazil´s petrochemical, - electric power transmission,- and telecommunication industry. Based on a multidisciplinary approach grounded in business, economics, public policy and political economy the hypothesis that Chinese FDI leads to deindustrialization in Brazil via (1) facilitating commodity exports through infrastructure provision and (2) incentivizing the import of manufactured Chinese goods by creating technological dependencies. Key findings include that even though Chinese investment is mostly resource-seeking and conducted by Chinese SOEs in the Brazilian energy sector, the presence of national Champions such as Eletrobras and Petrobras with high innovative capacities might still lead to technological spillovers. So, do complementary technological expertise and Brazilian capital needs. However, a conservative industrial policy paired with an expansionary fiscal policy enabled rent-seeking behavior and culminated in the Lava Jato scandal, which substantially hampered Brazilian absorptive capacities. Especially in the telecommunication sector a clear link between Chinese FDI and Brazilian deindustrialization was evident, as investment incentivized technology imports from China. Nonetheless, the outlook is mixed as academics predict a shift from resource-seeking to efficiency-, and asset-seeking investment, which has yet to materialize but might yield more positive externalities in the future.Show less
Heerdt tot Eversberg, Robert Paul Victor Louis van 2018
chapter 1 aims to provide an academic framework through which the Antarctic geopolitical strategies can be understood. Building upon the academic contextualization of the first chapter, chapter 2...Show morechapter 1 aims to provide an academic framework through which the Antarctic geopolitical strategies can be understood. Building upon the academic contextualization of the first chapter, chapter 2 explores the conditions of the current geopolitical strategies of Chile, Argentina and Great Britain. Insights into the potential of the region, its legal regime, and its uncertain political future, provide an understanding of the circumstances in which Antarctic strategy has been formed. In Chapter 3, the official geopolitical strategies of Chile and its direct territorial rivals in Antarctica are scrutinized and finally compared using the previously established conditions. By following this structure, I aim to provide the academic scholarship with a framework for future geopolitical research on how these countries have changed their strategies in the run up to 2048 and for future comparisons with the strategies of other claimant, non-claimant, or third party statesShow less
Feminicidal violence continues to plague Latin America. In Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, most cases of feminicide have gone unsolved, and the authorities/state officials have insisted that the crimes are...Show moreFeminicidal violence continues to plague Latin America. In Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, most cases of feminicide have gone unsolved, and the authorities/state officials have insisted that the crimes are merely a result of domestic violence, or, more recently, the war on drugs. This narrative is one of many which seek to obscure the systemic nature of feminicide, and to discredit the idea that is is a symptom of much larger and deeply ingrained structural issues. Neoliberalism connects these issues. Though It cannot be stated precisely to what extent neoliberalism has exacerbated, or facilitated the occurrence of feminicide in Ciudad Juarez, it is clear that neoliberal policies, and their effects on society and culture, created the conditions in which feminicide was able to flourish in Ciudad Juarez from the mid 1990s through the early 2000s.Show less
The discrimination of women is still a current topic around the world and specifically in the favelas in Rio de Janeiro. Furthermore, women are silenced and ignored in the work of NGOs and even...Show moreThe discrimination of women is still a current topic around the world and specifically in the favelas in Rio de Janeiro. Furthermore, women are silenced and ignored in the work of NGOs and even academic texts are often focused on the point of view of men in the region. In the following essay, the work of a local NGO AfroReggae Cultural Group is examined by discussing the respresentation and self- representation of women through the website, lyrics, and videos. Doing so, critical discourse analysis will be used, exploring the feminist theory of different scholars, such as Judith Butler and Joan Scott.Show less
Famous tango dancer Carlos Gavito once said, “If you dance your life, you dance better”. This quote beautifully reflects the main motive in of this thesis, namely the existence and development of...Show moreFamous tango dancer Carlos Gavito once said, “If you dance your life, you dance better”. This quote beautifully reflects the main motive in of this thesis, namely the existence and development of the tango. The Argentine tango can be considered to be Argentina’s addition to the world’s experiences of dance. Over the past few decades, the tango transformed from a indecent form of dance straight out of the brothels with men and women rubbing their bodies together to a classy and elegant dance inducing an image of upper class, with both men and women dressed in proper evening dress (Trio Garufa). As the tango develops throughout the years, so does Lunfardo. Lunfardo is considered to be the slang of the outer skirts of Buenos Aires, and frequently used within the lyrics of the tango. How did these two phenomena connect? The purpose of this thesis is to research and understand the development of tango and the use of Lunfardo within the lyrics of the tango. By use of a theoretical framework and an implementation of these findings in the comparison of different tango lyrics, I will try to answer the question “What function did Lunfardo serve within the Tango?”. To understand what function Lunfardo served within the tango, it is needed to have thorough analysis into different literature is needed. The theoretical framework will give an overview of the history of tango and Lunfardo, and the following case study will function as an example of the two trends in the history of tango lyrics writing.Show less
Street art and graffiti are global movements enjoying an increasingly amount of attention in public forums. The same can be said for Costa Rica, where the street art movement is currently thriving....Show moreStreet art and graffiti are global movements enjoying an increasingly amount of attention in public forums. The same can be said for Costa Rica, where the street art movement is currently thriving. Because street art is able to combine global and local experiences, it, therefore, makes every urban space unique. This thesis investigates how street art in the urban spaces of Costa Rica represents concerns of the public by analyzing murals in the cities of Jacó and San José. With the theory of activism and a close analysis of these murals, it is revealed that global themes are incorporated into the murals using local representations, furthermore, street art is a form of activism. Murals found in the tourist city of Jacó relies heavily on environmental themes, which mirror and romanticize the local nature, animals, and indigenous peoples. The street art in the capital city, San José, is, in contrast, less romanticized and more confrontational in its nature. In both cities the themes of the murals are closely related to local experiences and perceptions of issues and concerns. Ultimately, the street art in Jacó and San José actively address concerns in two different manners giving an indication of the diversity and versatility of representations in street art in Costa Rica.Show less
Ever since their elections in 2003 and 2006 respectively, Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva and Michelle Bachelet have been dominant figures within their national politics and have also been influential...Show moreEver since their elections in 2003 and 2006 respectively, Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva and Michelle Bachelet have been dominant figures within their national politics and have also been influential at a regional level. Their individual dominance can be viewed through the wider phenomenon of increasingly personalised leadership throughout the world. Politics is viewed and covered through the lens of individual politicians, instead of political parties. Headlines are dominated by Trump and May, not by the Republicans or the Conservatives respectively. Furthermore, populism has also been a key aspect in modern politics, especially in Latin America where the rise of leftist-populist governments, often called the “Pink Tide”, has dramatically reshaped regional politics (Remmer 2012, 949). Similar populist movements have only come to the US and Europe far more recently. This essay will analyse the wider context of the left in Latin America, both Lula and Bachelet individually, their respective political parties, and populism as a theory. This will be done through a critical literature review and comparative analysis. The aim is to answer the question, to what extent have individual leaders replaced political parties as the dominant force within politics.Show less
The following thesis is an in-depth analysis of the extent to which the male gaze constructs female identity in 21st century Brazilian society. In the light of post-modern discourse, the concept of...Show moreThe following thesis is an in-depth analysis of the extent to which the male gaze constructs female identity in 21st century Brazilian society. In the light of post-modern discourse, the concept of gender identity has been hotly debated and deconstructed, leading to the conclusion that there is nothing inherently natural about gender; it is instead the byproduct of social, cultural, political, and economic factors. The following thesis analyzes the ways in which feminine identity is crafted through the powerful impact of the male gaze, biopower through the media, and voyeuristic desire. Through an in-depth analysis of two case studies − one focusing on the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, and another one on Brazilian magazine covers − the thesis assesses the extent to which the male gaze impacts feminine identity in 21st century Brazilian society. The main findings suggest that feminine identity in Brazil is created and reaffirmed through the male gaze and voyeuristic pleasure, as exemplified by events such as the carnival in Rio as well as an analysis of Brazilian magazine covers. The thesis concludes that the male gaze and biopower have repercussions on gender norms in Brazilian society, as they present feminine and masculine identities in oppositional terms, thus reinforcing them as separate categories: masculine as active and feminine as passive.Show less
By conducting a comparative analysis between Argentina and Chile this thesis examines the experiences of neoliberalism between 1980 and 2016 in relation to the development of the political economy...Show moreBy conducting a comparative analysis between Argentina and Chile this thesis examines the experiences of neoliberalism between 1980 and 2016 in relation to the development of the political economy of those counties. Additionally, this thesis analysis whether market-oriented reforms have improve the reduction of unemployment, poverty, and income inequality. By comparing the experiences of neoliberalism in Argentina and Chile over time, this thesis observes different results of the premises of the processes. While Argentina improves its GDP as well as its reduction in unemployment, poverty and income inequality, in times of state-oriented reforms, Chile continuously implements neoliberal market policies and decreases its level of poverty, while income inequality remains stable.Show less
In the past decades, the government of the Republic of Colombia was doomed to face various impediments during attempts to catalyze socio-economic progress. The attempts succeeded on various fields...Show moreIn the past decades, the government of the Republic of Colombia was doomed to face various impediments during attempts to catalyze socio-economic progress. The attempts succeeded on various fields as the drug industry and guerrilla violence. Notwithstanding, while the Republic of Colombia gains entrée to economic growth and stability, impediments to a distinct field are faced, it regards the offer of qualitative public education to the citizens of the Republic of Colombia. To explain, in the intertwined unequal dimensions of education across many nations, the public education of the Republic of Colombia is known to be falling short of funds, enrolment, quality, access, and even adequate labor conditions. Due to inadequate government spending, corruption and complex to reach rural zones in Colombia. Which resulted in the development of a clear gap between public and private education in Colombia. Therefore, the thesis will consider the conditions of public and private primary education in terms of quality, financing, and quality before the implementation of neo-liberal policies in the 1990’s (Blasco 2010, 37) and the current conditions of public and private primary education in terms of financing, enrolment and quality after the implementation of the neoliberal policies (decentralization) from 1990 to 2018.Show less
Lack of water access and inequality are deeply interrelated, particularly in developing countries such as Bolivia, where the poor often pay more money for less water. Simultaneously, continuous...Show moreLack of water access and inequality are deeply interrelated, particularly in developing countries such as Bolivia, where the poor often pay more money for less water. Simultaneously, continuous population growth and water scarcity prompting the rising demand for water, illustrates the necessity for large capital investments in infrastructure to ensure universal water access. For this reason, water management and regulation play a crucial role in water provision, as well as, in achieving sufficient profits for the water system’s economic sustainability. The main focus of this thesis is whether both, social equity and economic efficiency, can be achieved by water utility systems. This thesis studies the social and economic performance of six different water utility services in Bolivia, as well as, the effects of certain public policies on social equity and economic efficiency. Finally, it argues that the six cases of private, public, and cooperative water utility services analysed, show deficiencies in either one of the two criteria.Show less
The recently signed peace-agreement with the FARC poses many opportunities to the Colombian state, as well as new challenges. Even though the biggest guerrilla organisation in the country has now...Show moreThe recently signed peace-agreement with the FARC poses many opportunities to the Colombian state, as well as new challenges. Even though the biggest guerrilla organisation in the country has now been demobilised, organised crime seems to be taking over power in former FARC-territory for interests connected to the illegal drug trade. This paper analyses the ways in which organised crime undermines the possibility of the Colombian government to re-establish rule of law in these regions. It concludes that the magnitude and structure of crime is in Colombia problematic, that the recent visibility of crime undermines the state’s legitimacy, and that the penetration of organised crime into the political sphere, which is vulnerable to corruption, decreases the effectiveness of policies against organised crime.Show less
Stereotypes are powerful constructs embedded in humans’ minds that are difficult to be changed. Furthermore, in the region of Latin America, machismo and marianismo beliefs dictate the proper...Show moreStereotypes are powerful constructs embedded in humans’ minds that are difficult to be changed. Furthermore, in the region of Latin America, machismo and marianismo beliefs dictate the proper behaviour of men and women and establish norms of conduct. Hence, existing cultural expectations regarding the role of females in the society translate into concrete realities that limit females’ availability for professional development. This Bachelor Thesis studies the influence of gender stereotypes, machismo and marianismo beliefs in Guatemala on the outcome of the 2015 general elections in the country and the defeat of Sandra Torres. To this end, articles from both national and international newspapers are analysed through critical discourse analysis. Since media conveys knowledge and reinforces meaning regarding the position of males and females in the society, it is discovered to be a powerful influencer on the way the Guatemalan population votes. Therefore, this Bachelor Thesis provides an explanation about the relationship between media representation of Sandra Torres and her loss in the 2015 general elections. Additionally, the results of the analysis of the case study in Guatemala illustrate how media strengthens existing cultural norms and expectations regarding the role and the behaviour of females, which in turn impact people’s attitudes towards women in a certain manner; thus, obstruct females to engage with politics and to develop a professional career in the field.Show less
This thesis discusses the impact of cultural memory and local transitional justice mechanisms on national, regional, and international transitional justice mechanisms. Through analysing the impact...Show moreThis thesis discusses the impact of cultural memory and local transitional justice mechanisms on national, regional, and international transitional justice mechanisms. Through analysing the impact of murals and memorials that emerged after the exhumations of mass graves in Plan de Sánchez, Guatemala on local activism, this thesis finds that active memory during transition can lead to local actors taking charge of their transition. This occurred in Plan de Sánchez through taking legal issues that weren't being addressed on the national level to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, a court case that fuelled changes to both regional and international approaches to transitional justice.Show less
