This thesis compares the effects of NATO’s out-of-area operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan to analyze what effect geographical distance of operations have on Alliance Cohesion through the method...Show moreThis thesis compares the effects of NATO’s out-of-area operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan to analyze what effect geographical distance of operations have on Alliance Cohesion through the method of process tracing. Mainly because of the current geopolitical shift, it is important to evaluate what NATO should look out for policy-wise moving forward. The main variable of analysis in this was the changing threat-perception of the five largest contributors to both operations. The threat-perception was determined by analyzing national security reports and other primary sources from the countries involved in the analysis, focusing on elite-level policy making. What was found in the comparison was the threat-perceptions of all analyzed states were more aligned in the operations in Kosovo, while the lack of regional/national interests for the analyzed states in Afghanistan made it hard for the states to securitize the operations, damaging Alliance Cohesion. National interests and geopolitical interests were combined in the case of Kosovo, and led to the same end-goal. Meanwhile the operations in Afghanistan led to a larger discrepancy between national interests and geopolitical interests, making Alliance commitment tougher to define, and follow through on.Show less
This research examines the relevance of the left-right distinction and possibly newly emerging dimensions in contemporary Western politics. The research question is: To what extent does the...Show moreThis research examines the relevance of the left-right distinction and possibly newly emerging dimensions in contemporary Western politics. The research question is: To what extent does the populist – cosmopolitan liberalist dimension replace the traditional left-right dimension in contemporary politics as the core currency of political exchange in times of changing narratives? It draws upon current developments as a growing political dissatisfaction and the inability of political parties or movements to engage the audience, as well as a universal debate about the intellectual discourse of the traditional meaning and relevance of left and right. Three recent events are analyzed through critical discourse analysis and content analysis: Brexit, the election of Trump and the French presidential elections. The analysis shows that the left-right distinction cannot be replaced by the populist – cosmopolitan liberalist dimension, however that the populist – cosmopolitan narrative seems more engaging for the audience, differing per case in terms of intensity and focus. A new terminology that is entirely able to cover the current debate is yet to be defined.Show less
