With an average age of 45 years old and a population where one third of people is over the age of 65, Japan has one of the oldest populations on earth. This is due to two factors: one of the...Show moreWith an average age of 45 years old and a population where one third of people is over the age of 65, Japan has one of the oldest populations on earth. This is due to two factors: one of the highest life-expectancies on earth, and one of the lowest birth-rates on earth. As a result of this Japan's demographic pyramid has been flipped on its head, figuratively and literally. A demographic imbalance like this comes with many challenges, such as disappearing towns, pressure on health and pension funds, and the closure of schools across the country. There are many challenges to overcome, but arguably the key one's are two questions: how to increase the birth-rate, and how to take care of the elderly population. In this thesis we will look at how Japan has tried to tackle these two challenges, see what has been effective, and see what we can learn from it for a future where more and more developed countries are faced with aging populations and low birth ratesShow less
Bachelor thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (BSc)
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A global narrative has emerged in which the West are selfless, compassionate givers in times of crisis for their poor, "third-world" neighbours. This thesis critically examines the aid response in...Show moreA global narrative has emerged in which the West are selfless, compassionate givers in times of crisis for their poor, "third-world" neighbours. This thesis critically examines the aid response in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake to assess how much of its ensuing consequences were not exceptions to the rule, but in fact, direct and predictable results of the aid policies themselves that call this narrative into question.Show less
Ever since the rise of computers, society has undergone a massive transition with the introduction of cyberspace. This new domain brought many opportunities, but also many new threats to...Show moreEver since the rise of computers, society has undergone a massive transition with the introduction of cyberspace. This new domain brought many opportunities, but also many new threats to governments and citizens worldwide. This paper focusses on one of the main cyber threats of this time: cyber espionage. This research discusses how the official position of the Dutch government regarding cyber espionage has evolved from 2011 onwards. As a heavily digitalized country that greatly contributes to the regulation of cyberspace and cyber espionage in international fora, the Netherlands is the ideal country to analyse. This is done by looking at policy documents and official statements of Dutch government officials at international fora. Two case studies – the DigiNotar hack in 2011 and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons hack in 2018 – illustrate how policy is put to practice.Show less
This thesis looks at The People’s Republic of China’s Foreign Policy, Investment and Development into the Caribbean and will explore, based on research and information gathered, to what extent a...Show moreThis thesis looks at The People’s Republic of China’s Foreign Policy, Investment and Development into the Caribbean and will explore, based on research and information gathered, to what extent a mutually beneficial relationship between China and the Caribbean has or is being formed. While the thesis looks at China’s relationships within Caribbean countries as a whole, specific focus will be on countries such as Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago.Show less
“Will you marry me? (I need a European passport” is a quote written on a wall in London which shows a specific type regarding migration. Migration, a term that is greatly covered in academic...Show more“Will you marry me? (I need a European passport” is a quote written on a wall in London which shows a specific type regarding migration. Migration, a term that is greatly covered in academic research. There are many theories that attempt to define migration, as it appeared to be a complex study as no theory in itself explains the motivations behind migration. However, in contemporary literature on migration, labour migration is often prioritised over marriage migration, which is a subject that has received a lesser amount of attention when it comes to migration studies. This thesis deals with the phenomenon of marriage migration focussing on Cuban men with foreign women. Cuba’s history since the revolution of 1959 has shaped the island to its contemporary situation where tourism has been booming in the last three decades. This happened after the collapse of the Soviet Union and gave rise to migration through marriage, a phenomenon that has become well-known on the island throughout the years.Show less
This thesis explores the recent success of the severely under-analysed notion of transhistoricity in contemporary curatorial practice. Up until now, the phenomenon was characterized as either a...Show moreThis thesis explores the recent success of the severely under-analysed notion of transhistoricity in contemporary curatorial practice. Up until now, the phenomenon was characterized as either a clever marketing strategy or a substantial ideology-critical instrument. In this thesis, both perspectives are highlighted in order to clarify the notion of contemporary transhistorical curating and to extend and enrich the existing academic discourse on this notion. This thesis can be seen as a first attempt to distinguish the ways in which the concept is used and to make explicit what needs the concept meets.Show less
This thesis analyzes the trends in Japan’s policy vis-à-vis the South China Sea territorial disputes. It does so by ordering among others speeches and statements of the Prime Ministers of Japan in...Show moreThis thesis analyzes the trends in Japan’s policy vis-à-vis the South China Sea territorial disputes. It does so by ordering among others speeches and statements of the Prime Ministers of Japan in a systematic way to recognize changes in trends. It concludes that although there is a slight shift towards a more bilateral oriented policy, there is no break with previous policy.Show less
There are many forms and types of culture - violent cultures, peaceful ones, democracy, authoritarian, civilian and military orientated ones among many more. This paper will pay attention to German...Show moreThere are many forms and types of culture - violent cultures, peaceful ones, democracy, authoritarian, civilian and military orientated ones among many more. This paper will pay attention to German military culture and how it shifted from an aggressive culture to a pacifistic one to a ‘defensive’ military culture since the 1990s. In particular, the text will focus on changes in recent time, studying the political incentives in the 1990s. Upon it, a new case study will be made looking at the 2010s and how the new White Papers in 2006 and 2016 have changed the official military culture.Show less
Does the European Union accession process foster democracy in EU candidate countries? Using the theory of external anchoring, the process of democratization in candidate countries has been examined...Show moreDoes the European Union accession process foster democracy in EU candidate countries? Using the theory of external anchoring, the process of democratization in candidate countries has been examined. The case of Turkey was used to show the EU’s democratization effects throughout the accession process. The European Union accession process does foster democratization in EU candidate countries. However, there are several reasons why the EU’s efforts are not as effective as intended. The appeal of EU membership requires consistency to be effective. But the accession process is subject to changing favoritism by EU member states. The inconsistency of the EU on demands in previous accession cases also undermines its effectiveness in more recent cases. Democratization requires both time to be anchored in a country, and incentive for the states to engage in it. For the candidate country’s decision-makers, the accession needs to be reachable in the short-term in order for it to have value. For the EU, accession is a process which requires time and certainty that the country has fulfilled all demands. A problem arises when the part of short-term benefits conflicts with the EU’s inclination for open-ended duration.Show less
Er wordt een vergelijking gemaakt tussen het denken van het CDU en het CDU met betrekking tot het denken over de energietransitie. Hierbij wordt gekeken naar de rol van fossiele en hernieuwbare...Show moreEr wordt een vergelijking gemaakt tussen het denken van het CDU en het CDU met betrekking tot het denken over de energietransitie. Hierbij wordt gekeken naar de rol van fossiele en hernieuwbare brandstoffen, ook kernenergie komt aan bod.Show less
A comparative study comparing regional and minority language policies in Spain, Italy and the European Union. Particular focus on language policies in Italian and Spanish regions, regarding French,...Show moreA comparative study comparing regional and minority language policies in Spain, Italy and the European Union. Particular focus on language policies in Italian and Spanish regions, regarding French, German, Galician, Catalan and Basque. Topics include historical Spanish and Italian language policies, European language policies and frameworks.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
In this thesis, I discuss about the existence of an art theory in current Chinese policies to answer the main research question: what is Xi’s art theory and how does the Communist Chinese Party ...Show moreIn this thesis, I discuss about the existence of an art theory in current Chinese policies to answer the main research question: what is Xi’s art theory and how does the Communist Chinese Party (CCP) conceive of arts and literature (wenyi文艺)? Since arts and literature have been called upon to support and accelerate the achievement of the country’s goals, I will analyze the current Chinese situation from the perspective of art. Moreover, I will suggest that the formulation of an art theory by Xi, during the Beijing Forum on Literature and Art in 2014 , might be referring to the past to stress the element of continuity as legitimacy for the CCP’s rule and relevance.Show less
This dissertation explains why the British government, in 1979, resettled Sino-Vietnamese refugees regardless of Margaret Thatcher’s initial inhospitableness towards them. Based on original...Show moreThis dissertation explains why the British government, in 1979, resettled Sino-Vietnamese refugees regardless of Margaret Thatcher’s initial inhospitableness towards them. Based on original research conducted in the United Kingdom’s National Archives, the dissertation’s findings are used to engage with academic debate on who and what directs refugee policy change. Thatcher’s hostility towards the Sino-Vietnamese refugees is uncovered to be due to personal racism and a fear of restrictive public opinion. Her views were formed by decades of animosity towards black and minority ethnic immigration in Britain by politicians and parts of the public. Meanwhile, Britain’s decision to relocate the refugees is discovered to be a consequence of territoriality. Hong Kong was, at the time, a British colony and Britain’s eventual involvement in the Indochinese crisis was to aid Hong Kong’s own refugee crisis. After the analysis, case studies of other refugee groups are used to make comparisons with the Sino-Vietnamese. These studies prove that legislation can influence refugee policy whilst international pressure and politics are proven to only guarantee success to nation-states that have strong international powers.Show less
