The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 marked a turning point for Eastern European nations, triggering a wave of democratic revolutions. This shift from communist governance to democracy was...Show moreThe collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 marked a turning point for Eastern European nations, triggering a wave of democratic revolutions. This shift from communist governance to democracy was marked by numerous obstacles, notably the influence wielded by former communist elites, commonly referred to as the nomenklatura. This thesis examines the impact of the nomenklatura on the post-communist political environments and privatization processes of Bulgaria and Poland between 1989 and 2001. Both countries, influenced to varying extents by Soviet ideology, embarked on divergent paths toward democracy and economic liberalization. The thesis investigates how the nomenklatura, entrenched in positions of power, sought to maintain their political relevance and exploit state resources. Through a multidisciplinary analysis drawing from academic literature and primary sources, the study evaluates the strategies employed by the nomenklatura to adapt to democratic structures, their influence on post-communist political systems, and their role in the privatization of public resources. The results provide a deeper understanding of the lasting impact of the nomenklatura on Bulgaria and Poland's political and economic trajectories during the pivotal transitional period. This analysis offers valuable perspectives on the challenges encountered during democratization and economic reform in post-communist societies.Show less
This thesis examinates the role of PMCs in international intervention and in what ways this can explain the differences in reconciliation efforts in instances of misconduct by PMCs and regular...Show moreThis thesis examinates the role of PMCs in international intervention and in what ways this can explain the differences in reconciliation efforts in instances of misconduct by PMCs and regular troops. In order to do this, this paper's analysis is focused on the reconciliation efforts made by the U.S. government in cases of misconduct that took place during the Iraq War between 2003-2011.Show less
This thesis has investigated the role of the American private space industry in the ongoing securitization of outer space within the United States context. Whereas scholars have thoroughly examined...Show moreThis thesis has investigated the role of the American private space industry in the ongoing securitization of outer space within the United States context. Whereas scholars have thoroughly examined the role of the state in the securitization of outer space, it has thus far predominantly overlooked possible securitizing moves performed by the private space industry, as well as the role of the novel NewSpace industry within that process. Therefore, this investigation aims to examine the private space companies SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) building upon securitization theory. Specifically, it will provide a discourse analysis on those companies’ webpages, uncovering four discourses possessing either or both securitizing speech acts and performative securitization. This thesis finds that the private space industry took on a facilitating role regarding the securitization of outer space by proliferating and enhancing space launching capabilities and engaging with the U.S. military and national security services. Furthermore, it might have contributed to the securitization of outer space by performing speech acts, but this investigation refrains from drawing that conclusion, as it has not investigated the audience involved and thus cannot estimate whether the speech acts were performed successfully. Nevertheless, these findings combined with the academic literature on PMSCs, suggest that private space companies sometimes can look and act like PMSCs, explaining why private space companies might be incentivized to contribute to outer space securitization.Show less
Master thesis | Crisis and Security Management (MSc)
open access
This thesis investigates the effectiveness of the legal accountability mechanisms that govern the marketization of intelligence agencies. The current scholarly debate focuses primarily on...Show moreThis thesis investigates the effectiveness of the legal accountability mechanisms that govern the marketization of intelligence agencies. The current scholarly debate focuses primarily on accountability issues related to privatization of military functions, failing to provide a similar discussion of the conduct of private intelligence actors. Within this research, four types of legal accountability mechanisms are identified: international law, extended jurisdiction of national law, public law values and contractual law, and soft law. Subsequently, three case studies, to which one or more of these mechanisms apply, are evaluated regarding the effectiveness of the legal accountability mechanism or mechanisms in place. The findings show that there are four reasons why legal accountability mechanisms fail to properly hold Private Intelligence Companies and their employees to account. First, there is no clear and legally binding definition of the ground rules of privatization. Second, there is legal asymmetry between the government and the private sector. Third, political interference in legal processes problematizes the establishment of accountability. And lastly, there is a clear reluctance to enforce laws in place that should contribute to good behavior.Show less
This thesis examines water privatization in Bolivia. It evaluates an episode in which privatized utilities failed to perform as expected by advocates of market reform. Consequently, they were taken...Show moreThis thesis examines water privatization in Bolivia. It evaluates an episode in which privatized utilities failed to perform as expected by advocates of market reform. Consequently, they were taken back into public ownership. Bolivia. What went wrong in Bolivia’s water sector? The private enterprises were not able to meet the mandates of the contract. The concessionaires had not been able to improve efficiency of water services. Subsequently, they imposed an extreme tariffs hike to cover the costs of investments. The promises of privatisation failed to materialize, and regretfully, the consumers of water services were the one’s suffering the most from it.Show less
In this thesis an answer will be given to the question what the effects are of privatization on the access to education and whether it is desirable that education is privatized – and if so, in what...Show moreIn this thesis an answer will be given to the question what the effects are of privatization on the access to education and whether it is desirable that education is privatized – and if so, in what way. To determine an answer to this question this thesis will first present different arguments in favor and against privatization in general and then introduce four different forms of provision. Consequently, the earlier presented arguments will be applied to the four different ideal types of provision for the case of education. In the end this thesis will conclude that some form of privatization is desirable, as it generates a higher degree of efficiency and therefore reduces the cost of educational provision. However, since a purely privatized provision of education is subject to undesirable consequences - such as problems with equality of opportunity - this thesis states that a privatized supply side is the best form of educational provision, because it entails efficiency and equality of opportunity.Show less
The thesis centers in the analysis of what would be the consequences or influences on the Brazilian state and the Brazilian society would be, by the privatization of security. It first analyzes the...Show moreThe thesis centers in the analysis of what would be the consequences or influences on the Brazilian state and the Brazilian society would be, by the privatization of security. It first analyzes the different elements of Private security. Elaborating on what Private Security involves, the difference between private and public security and illustrating the different factors that could stimulate the growth of Private Security. Moreover,it looks on the consumption of Private security. It analyzes the role of Private Security in Latin America, starting with the analysis of criminality and the falling of security, continuously looking at the influence of neoliberalism and the further expansion of Private security in the Latin American region. Lastly, it introduces the example of Brazil. It starts by elaborating on the actual Brazilian situation towards security ,then it analyzes the current debate on Private security in Brazil. The analysis of this debate is done by going through all of these before mentioned points.Show less
