This thesis sought to explore factors resulting in EU foreign policy reform through Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework. Using the literature on EU foreign policy change and the EU’s sanctions...Show moreThis thesis sought to explore factors resulting in EU foreign policy reform through Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework. Using the literature on EU foreign policy change and the EU’s sanctions policy as a fundamental basis, the expectations were that framing in a particular way would result in EU foreign policy reform, that policy entrepreneurs contributed to EU foreign policy reform, and that think tanks and swings of European mood contributed to EU foreign policy reform. Within this thesis, the imposition of sanctions against Russia represents the policy reform and window of opportunity through which policy reform can be realized. The cases of the annexations of Crimea and four Ukrainian regions were selected. To identify the factors at play, European news outlets, EU policy documents and meeting results, think tank reports and opinion polls have been consulted. The results revealed that policy entrepreneurs within the policy stream were responsible for the imposition of sanctions, despite continuous expression of dissatisfaction and use of the window of opportunity by think tanks. The discoveries within this thesis offer insights into the significant influence of factors found in the Multiple Streams Framework, contributing to existing literature on policymaking and opening avenues for further research.Show less
There are relatively few case studies on the role of think tanks in the Dutch policy advisory system. In this exploratory case study, I will address the role of The Netherlands Scientific Council...Show moreThere are relatively few case studies on the role of think tanks in the Dutch policy advisory system. In this exploratory case study, I will address the role of The Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) in the Dutch policy advisory system. Specifically, I will lay out which factors have contributed to the impact of the advisory report ‘Security in an Interconnected World. A Strategic Vision for Defence Policy’ (2017) on The Integrated International Security Strategy 2018- 2022 (IISS). Theoretically motivated by Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework, I will elaborate on the problem stream, the policy stream and the political stream as factors that are expected to be partly responsible for the influence of the advisory report on the policy change under investigation. In the problem stream, I will investigate a combination of three focusing events, namely the MH17 airplane crash, the return of foreign fighters to the Netherlands and the failed coup d’etat in Turkey. In the policy stream, I will investigate whether an available policy alternative was formulated that received sufficient recognition among government officials and other advisory actors. In the political stream, I will investigate the swings of national mood and government turnover. Based on these findings, I will conclude to which extent these factors have contributed to the influence of the WRR on the formulation of the IISS (2018-2022).Show less
The rationale of a government’s decision to dispatch troops in order to participate in peacekeeping operations has already been at the centre of attention in the academic field of Public...Show moreThe rationale of a government’s decision to dispatch troops in order to participate in peacekeeping operations has already been at the centre of attention in the academic field of Public Administration and the study on Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) for a couple of decades. Many scholars investigated the impact of certain domestic factors on foreign policy decisions. On the contrary, the rationale of a government’s decision to withdraw its troops from a peacekeeping operation is still a destination unknown in academic literature, due to the more societal character. In order to detect what led to such a policy decision, more extensive research is needed on the role of domestic factors that exercised their influence on the policy-making process. The aim of this research is to retrospectively detect what domestic factors affected the outcome of the government’s decision to withdraw its troops from a peacekeeping operation. Much of the attention in academic literature is focussed on e.g. the role of coalition politics and the impact on a country’s foreign policy. However, not much is known yet about that role on the decision to withdraw. Therefore, the following research question is addressed: ‘To what extent does coalition politics affect a government’s decision to withdraw troops from peacekeeping operations?’ In order to answer the research question, a qualitative research design with a document-analysis method was used. Due to the societal character of the research question I chose a comparative case-study to analyse the participation and withdrawal of Dutch troops in two peacekeeping operations: The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan 2006-2010 and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). The societal character of a government’s decision to withdraw warrants a more comprehensive approach rather than investigating the influence of only one domestic factor on its own. Therefore, the Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) was used as a theoretical lens to analyse other domestic factors next to the political context. The conclusion is that the impact depends on whether the dynamics within the Cabinet are characterized by consensus or dispute at the time of the mission. When the Cabinet finds itself in consensus on the purpose and the execution of the mission, it is more likely that if troops are withdrawn, this is due to shifting political interests and decreased added value. On the contrary, when the Cabinet finds itself in a situation of highly political disputes amongst its coalition parties, it is likely the opposition rejects further work relations in which the only option is to announce their resignation.Show less
