In recent years the use of network analysis has seen an increase across multiple fields. Using features derived from network analysis in a random forest model has already shown promising results in...Show moreIn recent years the use of network analysis has seen an increase across multiple fields. Using features derived from network analysis in a random forest model has already shown promising results in an experiment of the Netherlands Labour Inspection to predict risk scores of violating Dutch labour laws for Dutch companies. In order to see if this is the best way for the NLA to use network analysis this method has been compared with using node classification, a deep learning method that uses sampling and aggregation to label nodes of a network based on its neighbours and the network structure. In this study node classification has shown to perform better at predicting risk scores for Dutch companies than a random forest model with network features does. A simulation study was done on the node classification method to test its robustness and has shown that it is important that there are enough labels in the training set in order for the method to perform well and that the quality of these labels influences the extent to which the model overfits. If the data scientist of the NLA choose to use node classification in future projects it is important that they make an ethical selection of the variables to use for prediction and that they ensure that there are enough labels in the dataset for the node classification model to perform well.Show less
As Japan is suffering from labour shortages due to it's decreasing demographics and ageing population, foreign workers should present themselves to be a solution to the labour problems in Japan....Show moreAs Japan is suffering from labour shortages due to it's decreasing demographics and ageing population, foreign workers should present themselves to be a solution to the labour problems in Japan. However Japan has not been freely accepting all sorts of foreign labour, and has been mostly restricting itself to skilled foreign labour. This paper is trying to uncover the reasoning behind this preference for skilled foreign workers, while unskilled foreign workers are also required to solve the labour shortages. This will be done by researching the stance of the labour unions, the government, the companies, and how the language might influence the interaction between the two parties of the Japanese and the foreign workers.Show less
The Japanese video game industry used to be a leading force in the world. During the 90’s and the early 2000’s, Japanese video games dominated the international market. Recently, however, during...Show moreThe Japanese video game industry used to be a leading force in the world. During the 90’s and the early 2000’s, Japanese video games dominated the international market. Recently, however, during the end of the last decade and the start of the current decade, Japanese video games experienced a huge dip in their sales. Japan has been attempting to use the ‘Soft Power’, the concept of influence generated by its popular culture overseas, to its advantage. The link between the Japanese video game industry and the concept of Soft Power have not been sufficiently examined as of now, hence why it was the focus of this study. The aim of this study was to come to an understanding of why these fluctuations in the market occurred, as well as look for the potential influence of Japanese video games and their popularity overseas on Japan’s Soft Power. By asking questions, in the form of a survey, to experts from the Dutch video game industry, the objective was to come to new insights on the matter and open up possibilities for further research. Results from the survey showed that previously underrepresented factors contributed to the fall in popularity of Japanese video games in the West. Elements like ease of use, lingual nuances, as well as intrinsic differences in preferences of the Japanese domestic audience and the Western audience, were identified. The link between the performance of Japanese video games overseas and Japan’s Soft Power was also confirmed. Respondents acknowledge the capability of Japanese video games to influence the consumer’s image of Japan, albeit not always in a purely positive way. Arguments were also raised that the Japan portrayed in video games is often not the real Japan. This holds true, but in order to make a target audience think more positively about Japan, the ‘real’ Japan does not need to be represented accurately. Thus, it can be argued that popularity of Japanese video games overseas does indeed correlate to an increase in Japan’s Soft Power.Show less
Corruption is an epidemic that prevails in all different layers of societies and governments around the world. While there have been continuous attempts aimed at ridding of the phenomenon, yet the...Show moreCorruption is an epidemic that prevails in all different layers of societies and governments around the world. While there have been continuous attempts aimed at ridding of the phenomenon, yet the war against corruption is yet to be a triumphed one. None of the traditional methods of tackling corruption that were applied by governments, nongovernment actors, or even global institutions such as the World Bank and Transparency International, have ever truly succeeded. Arguably, this can be due to the lack of innovation and the mere following of the traditional steps for battling corruption. Therefore, the paper will aim to illustrate that a new solution can arise from moving towards digitalised governance, in an attempt to reduce corruption in the public sector. Particular focus will be directed towards blockchain technology, as the thesis will contend that the adoption thereof offers the promise of significantly improving the Egyptian land registry, and curbing the corruption that is embedded within it. To verify this hypothesis, the thesis will look at Brazil’s blockchain-based solution and will examine the technology through a diffusion-of-innovation perspective.Show less
In this Master thesis, I examine the role of the business sector in sustainable development. I study the extent to which we can rely on companies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)...Show moreIn this Master thesis, I examine the role of the business sector in sustainable development. I study the extent to which we can rely on companies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established by the 2030 agenda, by examining the efficiency of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). I will examine an alternative way for companies to conduct business responsibly by joining voluntary initiatives such as the Global Compact (GC). My analysis conforms with the belief that sustainable development cannot happen without the business sector, and that for optimal results the business sector must make beyond CSR and enter in partnerships with other actors in society such as governments, UN agencies, and civil society. However, as this thesis will show, from the data that we have so far, the role of the business sector in sustainable development has been limited and not sufficient to achieve the SDGs by 2030. Therefore, I argue that more government regulation of the business sector is necessary if sustainable development is to be achieved; the regulation should promote business activity that is conducive to economic growth while at the same time it should ensure that this business activity will not have negative spill-over effects on society. The achievement of sustainable development necessitates the appropriate mix between government regulations, CSR and partnerships.Show less
The Qing government made at the end of its reign far-reaching changes in regard to its emigration policy. By establishing diplomatic relations, offering education and reforming emigration policies,...Show moreThe Qing government made at the end of its reign far-reaching changes in regard to its emigration policy. By establishing diplomatic relations, offering education and reforming emigration policies, the late Qing strengthened ties with overseas Chinese.The changes made by the Qing led to a new kind of relationship between the state and its overseas subjects. I argue that the Qing government established a shift in the representation of emigrations as they were previously stateless outlaws but now represented as overseas Chinese citizens. Furthermore, I argue that the Qing state started policy changes and strategies that further developed during the Republican era.Under the Republican governments, generating support from the overseas Chinese became increasingly important.Show less
Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
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"Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest number of social media users. However, social media is mainly used in Indonesia (even by politicians) to spread defamation, rumors, and gossip....Show more"Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest number of social media users. However, social media is mainly used in Indonesia (even by politicians) to spread defamation, rumors, and gossip. This is inter alia confirmed by the many anonymous social media accounts only spreading defamation. Rumors and gossip, as well as technology such as mobile phones with cameras and social media, can be seen as means to bridge the gulf between the private practice and the public discourse. With the rise of technological developments available in Indonesia - such as phones with cameras, smartphones, Web 2.0 and thus social media - there appeared an increase of cases in which Indonesian politicians are discredited with their private (sexual) behavior. In this thesis of mine, I will elaborate on this trend of discrediting politicians with sex scandals via social media in Indonesia. What does this trend tell us about Indonesian society? What does it say about democracy, law, morality and Islam in Indonesia’s society? With an eye to answering these questions, with the first being my main question, I would first like to introduce and elaborate a bit upon a few topics that I will be using in my thesis when answering my main question, such as social media. Then I will continue with a chapter in which I will introduce a few case studies of sex scandals that happened in Indonesia. The subsequent chapters will be about topics concerning aspects of the Indonesian society: one chapter about democracy, one about law, and one about morality and Islam. Lastly, I will conclude and answer the main question in the conclusion."Show less
The French anti-nuclear movement finds itself in a difficult position. With a government that is known to be one of the most pro-nuclear governments in the world and a debate on nuclear energy that...Show moreThe French anti-nuclear movement finds itself in a difficult position. With a government that is known to be one of the most pro-nuclear governments in the world and a debate on nuclear energy that is greatly avoided by politicians from both right and left, anti-nuclear activist have to work hard to reach their goals. Meanwhile, Europeanization seems to offer social movements a new stage for activities. Social movements that are not successful ‘at home’ can attempt to bypass the national level by influencing the sub-national organization that is the European Union. Such a tactic is also referred to as the boomerang effect. This method requires an open political opportunity structure at the EU level, to offer receptivity to social movements’ claims. The political opportunity structure of the EU regarding nuclear energy, however, is determined as closed and thus gives no space for anti-nuclear movements. A study of the French anti-nuclear movement Sortir du Nucléaire offers insight in the adaptation of a movement to a combined closed opportunity structure from both the national government, France, and the sub-national government, the European Union. Using Tarrow’s theory of processes enhancing transnationalism in social movements, it shall be attempted to determine whether the French anti-nuclear movement has experienced the process of scale shift, which would indicate a transistion towards a more transnational focus. A qualitative research of the yearly reports of Sortir du Nucléaire will show that the movement has indeed shifted its attention for a great deal across the border and put much effort into creating new foreign contacts. Although Europeanization might indicate a shift towards EU-partners, a more global focus is also very much present.Show less
