The Zeitenwende has come with major developments in world order. Along with that, the image of global powers has changed. Media play a huge role in shaping the perceived identities of these actors....Show moreThe Zeitenwende has come with major developments in world order. Along with that, the image of global powers has changed. Media play a huge role in shaping the perceived identities of these actors. This thesis delves into the presentation of Russia and the European Union (EU) on the basis of the European sanctions against Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. It aims to answer the following research question: how do contemporary German and Russian media discourses on the EU sanctions frame the identity of the EU compared to Russia? Russian and German media are compared to provide insights into the way the identity of Russia and the EU are created in opposition to each other. As the media paint a picture of Russia and the EU as global actors, they rely on the interpretation of political events and foreign policy decisions, such as the implementation of sanctions. A mixed-methods approach of a quantitative content analysis and Critical Discourse Analysis reveals that the sanctions are appropriated to contribute to the dominant narrative in both Russia and the EU. In particular, Russian media create an image of Russia as smart and strong by othering the EU as stupid and irresponsible. In this light, the sanctions are casted as meaningless political activity. Meanwhile in the German media, the identity of the EU as capable actor is contingent on the impact of sanctions on Russia. Since the media contain a debate on the effectiveness on the sanctions, major disruptions of the Russian economy reflect a competent actor. Alternatively, when the effect of the sanctions is evaluated negatively the identity of the EU as capable is weakened. Furthermore, both the Russian and German media utilise legitimisation strategies to strengthen their narrative. First, the Russian media rely on authorisation to depict Russia as resilient actor. By referring to comments made by experts, it is stated that the Russian economy is not harmed by the sanctions. On the contrary, it is maintained that the sanctions damage the EU economy more. This way, it is emphasised that the EU is an irresponsible actor. Second, the German media employ rationalisation strategies to create an image of the EU as defensive actor. This means that the EU response is justified by providing a reason, in this case the attempt to contain Russia’s aggressive behaviour. Therefore, German media frame the EU as a capable actor with a set of instruments at its disposal to influence Russia. All in all, this thesis demonstrates that the identities of Russia and the EU are evolving in opposite directions.Show less
This thesis tries to research the JCPOA and the German / French official and medial reaction to it and to establish a connection of this with the state of European foreign policy.
This thesis aims to discuss how modern-day sanctions came to be. It argues that sanctions are a direct result of World War One Entente economic and financial policies towards the central powers,...Show moreThis thesis aims to discuss how modern-day sanctions came to be. It argues that sanctions are a direct result of World War One Entente economic and financial policies towards the central powers, which were then repurposed to be used in peace time after the war as an instrument to enforce the will of the newly established League of Nations.Show less
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
In 2015, the Sino-ROK bilateral relations were the strongest they had been since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992. Due to increasing North Korean nuclear provocations in the...Show moreIn 2015, the Sino-ROK bilateral relations were the strongest they had been since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992. Due to increasing North Korean nuclear provocations in the following year, the United States and South Korea decided to deploy THAAD, a US missile defense system. China felt that the presence of THAAD on the Korean peninsula infringed on Chinese national security and decided to impose informal sanctions on South Korea. The sanctions damaged the Sino-ROK ties, and Korean people’s opinion on China worsened drastically. This thesis examines the change in sentiment during the THAAD conflict and analyzes whether sentiments have improved since the normalization of the Sino-ROK relations since October of 2017 by performing a comment sentiment analysis on responses to newspaper articles that were published on South Korean online platform Naver during key events in the THAAD dispute. After the evaluation, sentiment analysis proved itself to be a good substitute of survey-based research methods as the results reflected existing polling data. Furthermore, this thesis finds that South Korean commenters’ sentiments in regard to China worsened steadily during the conflict and did not improve in the following years due to new issues and disputes arising between the two countries. The increase in anti-Chinese sentiment in the Korean population could make it more difficult to conduct diplomacy with China in the future.Show less
This thesis asks the question whether dependence on fossil fuels from Russia for domestic energy supply influenced the support for sanctions against Russia of EU member states following the Russian...Show moreThis thesis asks the question whether dependence on fossil fuels from Russia for domestic energy supply influenced the support for sanctions against Russia of EU member states following the Russian annexation of Crimea and activities in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Support for sanctions is measured using data from previous research by Silva II and Selden (2020). Using multiple regression analysis, several other explanatory factors are accounted for, including expected trade change, FDI stock and former membership of the Eastern Bloc. A small, significant, positive relation between fossil fuel dependence and support for sanctions is found. This leads to three main conclusions: First, energy dependence does not seem to negatively influence the support for sanctions against Russia by EU member states. Second, the analysis suggest a positive relation between these variables might exist. Third, the other explanatory factors accounted for each have no significant influence on support for sanctions. In this time when the EU-Russia energy relations are being reconsidered, this sheds an important light on the debate on energy security and interdependence theory in EU-Russia context.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (LUC) (BA/BSc)
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On 16 November 2012, the United States passed the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012, followed by the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act in 2016. This act allows...Show moreOn 16 November 2012, the United States passed the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012, followed by the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act in 2016. This act allows the US to employ targeted sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses and corruption. The European Union created a similar regime, the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, in 2020, which also targets individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses but does not target those accused of corruption. While targeted sanctions avoid collateral damage to entire countries, they often lack safeguards for the listed individuals. This study is a comparative, doctrinal analysis that looks at the effectiveness of the due process mechanisms in the US Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. Both of the sanction regimes have several due process mechanisms in place which protect the rights of individuals yet in some areas, such as specific delisting criteria, they are lacking. In general, the EU regime has more effective due process mechanisms than the US act, though even the EU regime is still not perfect.Show less
Through recent decades, Iran has consistently been faced with economic sanctions by the United States. Due to the hegemony the United States has over international monetary systems, sanctions can...Show moreThrough recent decades, Iran has consistently been faced with economic sanctions by the United States. Due to the hegemony the United States has over international monetary systems, sanctions can be detrimental. This was displayed in 2012 when Iran was sanctioned by The Society for Worldwide Interbank Telecommunication (SWIFT), an interbank messaging platform which can be influenced by the United States. SWIFT is responsible for facilitating $5 trillion USD in settlements daily. As a result, the Iranian economy suffered greatly as they could not facilitate their oil sales with international partners without SWIFT. This thesis seeks to find alternative payment and messaging platforms which may compete with SWIFT and assist in sanctioned countries to avoid the current hegemonic nature of payment and messaging platforms. In finding alternatives, two stand at the forefront of this economic discourse for sanctioned states. One being the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System which was established as a result of the internationalization of the RMB. And the rise of RippleNet, a blockchain based messaging and payment platform which has emerged due to the technological advances in the finance industry. In doing so, the paper analyzes shifts in global finance and its subsequent impact on sanctioned countries.Show less
The thesis seeks to provide an explanation regarding the decision of the European Union to impose economic sanctions against the Russian Federation, after the latter’s involvement in Ukraine with...Show moreThe thesis seeks to provide an explanation regarding the decision of the European Union to impose economic sanctions against the Russian Federation, after the latter’s involvement in Ukraine with the annexation of Crimea, by using a constructivist approach. The argument of this thesis for the constructivist interpretation of EU sanctions against Russia lies on the notions of EU Identity and EU Shared Values. The analysis of the purpose of the sanctions, their relation with the international legal order and the decision making process leading to their adoption, results in an interpretation that can be satisfactory under the constructivist approach. This approach is useful in order to explain EU’s imposition of economic sanctions against the Russian Federation as part of its broader foreign policy. Furthermore, by employing the method of Congruence Analysis the thesis draws inferences between normative predictions deriving from the given theory and empirical observations. Moreover, the argument of this thesis concludes that the special character of the EU, the notions of its Identity and Shared Values affected its collective decision to impose economic sanctions. Ultimately, the thesis renders the European Union to fit the constructivist assertions regarding the functions of the international system.Show less
