While crises accumulate in the developing countries, major donors decrease their aid budget. Consequently, understanding determinants of aid effectiveness is crucial to improving health around the...Show moreWhile crises accumulate in the developing countries, major donors decrease their aid budget. Consequently, understanding determinants of aid effectiveness is crucial to improving health around the World. Previous research has put forward the positive influence of democratic regimes on health improvements. Nonetheless, little is known about the role of recipients' political regimes on the success of aid project implementation. This paper seeks to clarify this relationship by answering the question “What is the effect of regime type on the effective implementation of project-aid targeted to health?”. The study focuses on the World Bank projects in the health sector in Africa. An OLS approach is chosen to investigate democratic mechanisms, data is retrieved through the Independent Evaluation Group and Freedom House. The results show a positive but weak non-significant effect of democracy on aid effectiveness. Hence, findings do not provide evidence that democracies are better at implementing health aid projects. Using a larger sample is recommended for future studies.Show less
This thesis compares the archaeobotanical remains from two Roman-era, Egyptian port sites: Berenike and Myos Hormos. A focus is put on the origin of the discovered materials, particularly in the...Show moreThis thesis compares the archaeobotanical remains from two Roman-era, Egyptian port sites: Berenike and Myos Hormos. A focus is put on the origin of the discovered materials, particularly in the context of the Silk Routes trade network of which these ports were a part. It concludes that Berenike seemingly had a larger focus on trade with Africa than Myos Hormos. Also, while both ports had Indian goods in their record, none seemed to have had a more pronounced focus on that subcontinent, although that was hypothesized beforehand. Furthermore, Berenike shows a decrease in the variety of goods traded after its period of inactivity in the 2nd and 3rd century, especially in regards to Indian goods. However, the variety and amount of local and African goods increased. The concurrent demise of Myos Hormos in this period did not seem to have an effect on the traded goods. Finally, this thesis served as a good example of how comparitive research beyond the level of the individual site could benefit the field of Silk Routes research, and which challenges this approach faces.Show less
This thesis is concerned with economic development in Gabon and how it relates to the large oil industry in Gabon. The thesis will discuss how oil effected politics in Gabon and discuss why the...Show moreThis thesis is concerned with economic development in Gabon and how it relates to the large oil industry in Gabon. The thesis will discuss how oil effected politics in Gabon and discuss why the presence of large oil reserves that resulted in high revenues did not result in broad economic development. Through a historical analysis this thesis will explore how current economic conditions were shaped by politics, governmental policy, and Gabon's history of colonialism. The thesis concludes that the unique relations with France, bad public policy and a volatile commodities market resulted in limited economic growth.Show less
This paper researches Burkina Faso, an African country that is known for its performance of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a form of violence against women and girls. Does a higher level of...Show moreThis paper researches Burkina Faso, an African country that is known for its performance of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a form of violence against women and girls. Does a higher level of education for women decrease the performance of FGM in developing countries? The research is about FGM in Burkina Faso which eventually allows us to say more about the influence of educational levels on the performance of FGM in general. In Burkina Faso, we have seen a decrease in the prevalence of FGM over the last 10 years. Even though FGM has been banned since 1996 the practice is still very common. Even now more than 70% of girls and women underwent this operation (Equality Now, 2021). We will do a statistical analysis to show the relationship between education and the prevalence of FGM. We also highlight the social norms and convention theory that lay behind this causation. The findings indicate that a higher level of education increases the chance that a woman is uncircumcised, controlling for Type of Place of Residence, Religion, Worked in the Last 12 Months, Ever Heard of Female Cutting, Wealth, and Husbands/Partner’s Education. We also found that the odds of being uncircumcised rise when women have educated partners. When educated men become more willing to marry an uncircumcised woman it suggests a break, caused by education, from the social norms and beliefs that form the traditional practice of FGM within Burkina Faso.Show less
In this thesis the question is posed to what extent White Father missionaries can be seen as a medium of technology. To answer this question, the White Father Johannes Brouwer (1915-1988) is used...Show moreIn this thesis the question is posed to what extent White Father missionaries can be seen as a medium of technology. To answer this question, the White Father Johannes Brouwer (1915-1988) is used as the topic of research. Brouwer wrote extensive diaries during his stay in Tanzania (1963-1980s), and additionally there has been a very extensive interview conducted with father Brouwer in 1982. As it turned out, the White Fathers did indeed have an impact on the independence of Tanzania, albeit indirectly. This impact has been most clearly defined through the so called seminars with the local population. As such it can indeed be argued that the missionaries in Tanzania were in fact mediums of technology.Show less
The Western media’s representation of Africa has primarily consisted of Afro-pessimistic portrayals, though the emergence of Afro-optimistic portrayals is arguably increasing. Black is King is an...Show moreThe Western media’s representation of Africa has primarily consisted of Afro-pessimistic portrayals, though the emergence of Afro-optimistic portrayals is arguably increasing. Black is King is an example of the attempt to increase Afro-optimistic depictions of Africa in Western media. This BA International Studies thesis evaluates how Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s visual album contributed towards the representation of the African continent in Western media. The literature review discussed five processes of African representation that have been identified in the academic discourse. Literary and film analyses were the primary methods used to examine the case study Black is King. The theoretical frameworks of wakandification and anti-antiessentialism were also used to highlight the film’s role in African representation. This BA thesis paper concludes that Black is King primarily misrepresents the African continent through depending on the stereotypical descriptions of Africa, the hyper-emphasis on royalty and social status, and on the primary observation of Africa through an African American perspective.Show less
This thesis examines the evolution of the constructs of gender and sexuality in precolonial, colonial, and independent Zimbabwe and Botswana, with focus on the Shona, Ndebele, and Tswana during the...Show moreThis thesis examines the evolution of the constructs of gender and sexuality in precolonial, colonial, and independent Zimbabwe and Botswana, with focus on the Shona, Ndebele, and Tswana during the (pre)colonial era, and the BDP (Botswana Democratic Party) and ZANU(PF) (Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front) in the late colonial and postcolonial period, to identify what particularities in Botswana’s and Zimbabwe’s historical trajectories explain the divergence between the stance of BDP and ZANU(PF) leadership on the decriminalization of same-sex relations (SSR). The Shona, Ndebele, and Tswana started with a similar outlook on SSR, and in both countries, the British colonial administration imposed penal codes that criminalize(d) SSR. Yet, while BDP leadership grew gradually more supportive of the eventual decriminalization of SSR in 2019, ZANU(PF) leadership has strongly opposed to repealing the colonial-era penal codes. The different (de)colonization process and degree of colonial domination in each country appear to have the strongest explanatory power for these diverging outcomes. Many scholars have linked homophobia to masculinity and patriarchy. At the same time, colonial rule is widely believed to have undermined African masculinities and destabilized existing gender roles, and scholars have argued that misogyny, hyper-masculinity, and homophobia in African nationalist movements can be seen as a reaction to feelings of emasculation among African men. Colonial rule was significantly less invasive in Botswana, and the transition to independence mostly peaceful. Resultantly, there was no strong feeling of colonial domination among Botswanans, and anti-(neo)colonial rhetoric had little value as a source of political support. Thus, homosexuality never became conflated with (neo)colonialism in BDP nationalism, because it never centered on anti-(neo)colonialism to begin with. In contrast, Zimbabwe’s invasive colonial experience and arduous independence struggle created a strong sense of colonial domination among male independence leaders, who experienced it as ‘emasculation,’ and used misogyny and homophobia in attempt to restore a position of patriarchal power. At the same time, the rejection of homosexuality became a way to challenge colonial narratives about African sexuality and masculinity that were used to justify their abasement. Resultantly, the conflation of emasculation and homosexuality with colonial subjugation featured prominently in ZANU(PF)’s anti-colonial nationalism. The influence of Fanonesque and Marxist-Leninist thought further deepened homophobic sentiments in ZANU(PF) nationalism, while these schools of thought were absent from BDP nationalism. There is also scholarly consensus that European missionaries played an active role in codifying homosexuality as ‘immoral’ in Africa, and scholars argue that as Christianity became heavily politicized in the region, so did homosexuality. In that sense, homophobia, much like Christianity, is a political tool in contemporary Africa. Limited imposition of colonial rule and Tswana-controlled integration of Christianity may have further limited the inculcation of European (missionary) notions of sexuality and immorality in BDP nationalism. Moreover, unlike BDP nationalism, ZANU(PF) nationalism was organized around anti-colonialism, and this social glue lost its power once independence was achieved. This necessitated the creation of a new common enemy, while socioeconomic underperformance and declining public support incentivized the creation of a scapegoat to deflect criticism. Political homophobia became part of the creation of this new common enemy and scapegoat, and gained its legitimacy from Zimbabwe’s (de)colonization experience. With steady economic development and widespread public support after independence, there was less of an incentive for the BDP to use sexual minorities as a scapegoat.Show less
In 2015, all UN member states adopted the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. In this agenda, a blueprint was created which outlined a pathway for planetary peace and prosperity consisting of...Show moreIn 2015, all UN member states adopted the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. In this agenda, a blueprint was created which outlined a pathway for planetary peace and prosperity consisting of 17 goals named the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG three (3), Good Health and Wellbeing, seeks to “Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all ages”. The SDGs are of global relevance, however nowhere more so than the emerging markets where they are used by countless international organizations, development finance institutes, NGO’s, and more, to justify and measure the success of investments, programs, and projects, at the human level. One widely discussed and key barrier between SDGs being achieved and the current position, is the availability of the capital and technical skills required to fund and build hospitals, solar farms, water treatment plants, and the myriad of other large-scale infrastructure upon which the health and wellbeing of a nation rests. This issue has been dubbed the infrastructure deficit, and according to the UN, reducing both the technical shortfalls and the USD 67.9 billion per annum financial shortfall which underly it is key to securing Africa’s long term sustainable growth. Using a case study approach focussed on two counties in Kenya, this paper evaluates a potential solution to Africa's infrastructure problem in the form of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).Show less
Microfinance is considered one of the most important financial tools for the inclusion of the informal sector of developing countries in global finance. However, its empirical implications on the...Show moreMicrofinance is considered one of the most important financial tools for the inclusion of the informal sector of developing countries in global finance. However, its empirical implications on the financial, economic and social level of society are often under-researched, especially in Cameroon, a developing country in West-Central Africa. Therefore, this thesis will show that the financialization of the informal economy, especially in Cameroon, undergoes three steps: firstly the financial one, in which communities living in informal economies are approached by financial institutions offering microcredit, secondly through the economic one, in which microcredit is invested in informal business activities to regulate and formalize them, and finally through the social one, in which the economic power gained through the enhanced businesses is reflected on an empowerment of under-promoted categories, and on an improvement in education and healthcare, given the increased accessibility of funds to afford them.Show less
Johannesburg the “city of creativity” is known for its modernity and its cultivation of a postApartheid urban identity that remains central to its profile as a contemporary South African city....Show moreJohannesburg the “city of creativity” is known for its modernity and its cultivation of a postApartheid urban identity that remains central to its profile as a contemporary South African city. However, South Africa as a nation is troubled by high levels of unemployment that disproportionally affect Black South African women. This thesis paper intends to analyse Johannesburg’s fashion and textile industry as a means to promote development through the inclusivity of women. It analyses their current roles in creative industries and the ways in which the fashion and textile industries can increase their accessibility for further inclusion of women. Additionally, this thesis looks at ways in which the fashion and textile industries can expand to promote increased income generation for the women already involved.Show less
