This thesis studies the factors that have influenced Taiwanese cyberse- curity governance, starting with the conception of cybersecurity. The theo- retical frameworks of securitization and threat...Show moreThis thesis studies the factors that have influenced Taiwanese cyberse- curity governance, starting with the conception of cybersecurity. The theo- retical frameworks of securitization and threat politics are employed for this purpose. A collection of 66 policy papers, government reports, and speeches by Taiwanese officials on cybersecurity was compiled for this purpose. Dis- course analysis was done through several rounds of coding, leading to the creation of two frames that represent Taiwanese policy makers’ conception of cybersecurity: the Digital Development Frame and the National Defense Frame. The Digital Development Frame views cybersecurity as an oppor- tunity for innovation and growth in Taiwan, with cybersecurity serving as its foundation. The National Defense Frame emphasizes the security threat posed by cyberattacks to Taiwanese society. These two frameworks high- light how the conception of cybersecurity by policy makers change which factors are relevant, and what policies are implemented. Relevant external factors were found to be: the threat landscape, local political and economic context, and the positioning of the state towards the private sector.Show less
This paper analyses the depiction of migration in the Dutch and German media from two dissimilar but dominant perspectives; securitization and aspirations-capabilities. Securitization of migration...Show moreThis paper analyses the depiction of migration in the Dutch and German media from two dissimilar but dominant perspectives; securitization and aspirations-capabilities. Securitization of migration frames this phenomenon as a security threat for a referent object, most often the state, through securitizing language. Associating migrants with increasing levels of criminal activity or decreasing work opportunities, endangering citizens' financial stability, enables the enactment of extraordinary measures, such as tighter border controls. For European Union member states this is a shaky subject. Securitization has been popular for years, which led me to inquire about a new perspective: the aspirations-capabilities framework, which contrarily sees migration as an innate social process. Migration does not simply occur due to economic push-pull factors, but rather due to macro-structural changes in a states’ infrastructure for example, influencing a (potential) migrants’ desires for a better life and their abilities to achieve this. Whether newspapers - an essential communication pathway used everyday - represent migrants as a security threat or a natural occurrence is the main dilemma. After conducting deductive thematic analysis of 34 newspaper articles from various German and Dutch news agencies, migration was found to mainly be depicted through securitization. Nonetheless, the aspirations-capabilities framework was evident, particularly in Germany. Main themes that recurred was the dichotomy between needing workers but not wanting to accommodate migrants, othering of intra-EU migrants and third-country national migrants, and focussing on controlling migration through restricting positive and negative liberties to diminish migrant aspirations. The overarching finding was that regardless of how migrants were depicted, the economic impact of it on the host-states’ economic welfare was the most important, taking precedence over any humanitarian needs.Show less
This thesis explores how the AKP’s discourse on national security constructed Turkey’s national identity and defined threats during two major domestic crises: the Gezi Protests and the Peace...Show moreThis thesis explores how the AKP’s discourse on national security constructed Turkey’s national identity and defined threats during two major domestic crises: the Gezi Protests and the Peace Process between Turkey and the PKK. Through a theoretical framework drawing from securitization and ontological security theory, it provides a discourse analysis in order to determine how AKP officials constructed these events as a threat, identified them as a national emergency, legitimized the application of extraordinary measures against them, and rejected legitimate alternatives. Further, it studies the implications of this construction of identity and (in)security on ontological security, and argues that an appreciation of these implications helps provide significant insights on the nexus of identity and (in)security in contemporary Turkey.Show less
Abstract; This research is about the role of Secretary-General Stoltenberg, and how his speeches securitise Putin and Russia. The focus will be on transcripts of speeches, done by means of using...Show moreAbstract; This research is about the role of Secretary-General Stoltenberg, and how his speeches securitise Putin and Russia. The focus will be on transcripts of speeches, done by means of using critical discourse analysis. The main question of this research is; To what extent does Stoltenberg securitise Putin and Russia as an extension in his public speeches and statements around the invasion of Ukraine in 2022? The key components of this question are the securitisation, the role of Stoltenberg, the role of Putin, the extent to which Putin and Russia are generalised as the same and the timeframe. A literary review has shown that securitisation allows for many different outcomes, and has a significant effect on power dynamics. Securitisation is defined as framing a situation, event, object or person as a security issue that needs to be addressed, often to achieve an underlying goal. By analysing 5 different speeches given by Stoltenberg in the year around the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it can be said that Stoltenberg has in fact securitised Putin, and Russia as an extension of Putin. This paper defined 3 ways in which Putin was securitised; Putin's aggression, the Interchangeability of Putin and Russia and Stoltenberg’s tone before and after the invasion. All three aspects showed the securitisation and partially the effect of securitising Putin. This leads to the definitive answer that yes, Stoltenberg has in fact securitised Putin around the invasion of Ukraine.Show less
Since 2009, northeastern states in Nigeria have been heavily plagued by the insurgency group Boko Haram. Additionally, an upsurge in recruitment and radicalization among Nigerian youth can be...Show moreSince 2009, northeastern states in Nigeria have been heavily plagued by the insurgency group Boko Haram. Additionally, an upsurge in recruitment and radicalization among Nigerian youth can be observed. Subsequently, fear and distrust in youth among communities arise, where young Nigerians are perceived as inherently dangerous, feared to be involved with Boko Haram. The emergence this stereotype has profound implications for the position of youth in society and prompts questions regarding the factors that contribute to the perpetuation of this stereotype. Therefore, this research aims to explore how youth in northeast Nigeria are portrayed through public and policy discourse, especially in regards to Boko Haram. Employing Critical Discourse Analysis as the methodological framework, this research critically scrutinizesif the Nigerian media, politicians and policymakers depict youth as a threat to society. Findings of the discourse analysis reveal a prevailing negative rhetoric surrounding youth in northeast Nigeria. They are presented as a demographic who are often unemployed and excluded from society. Additionally, young Nigerians are consistently associated with recruitment, radicalization, crimes and involvement in violent extremist groups such as Boko Haram. All these components appear interconnected, revealing a vicious cycle of stigmatization and violence. Drawing upon securitization theory, this research concludes that media, policymakers and politicians wield their influence to portray youth as a threatening actor to society, contributing to the perpetuation of a detrimental narrative that further fuels stigmatization and marginalization of youth in northeast Nigeria.Show less
This research examines how political discourses, frequently characterized by increased securitization ideologies and shaped by popular media, have played a role in the development of Libya’s and...Show moreThis research examines how political discourses, frequently characterized by increased securitization ideologies and shaped by popular media, have played a role in the development of Libya’s and Italy’s migration policies and inter-state agreements. Specifically since the emergence of the European migration crisis in 2015, discourse has produced a negative (influence on) societal perception on migration, both in Italy and Libya. Despite large amounts of research on migration narratives and politives, few analyze the exlusionary effects of political and media discourse on migration. This research aims to fill this game through frameworks of Necropolitics and Existentialism, presenting Italian and Libyan application of power through migration policies and media narratives as a (inter-)national Chess Game. The states are players who control the chess game and the chess pieces: the migrants.Show less
Terrorism has been a highly salient issue in Europe for the past decades and is treated as an immediate threat to the states and citizens. This study focuses on the 2015-2019 terrorism wave and...Show moreTerrorism has been a highly salient issue in Europe for the past decades and is treated as an immediate threat to the states and citizens. This study focuses on the 2015-2019 terrorism wave and seeks to identify why states with similar characteristics respond differently to a common threat; through a comparative analysis of the cases of France and the United Kingdom. A securitization framework is applied to examine what ultimately leads to the variation of the actions in the two cases. The expectation is that intense securitization leads to a militaristic response, while low securitization levels lead to a criminal justice approach. The empirical analysis lends support to this argument; however, this study finds it possible that other explanatory factors might be interrelated to the proposed mechanism, influencing the result. This thesis, uses a framework of analysis that links the aspects of security and terrorism and endeavors to further contribute to the study of these topics.Show less
Framing a societal issue as a matter of national security is a powerful motivator that, when used strategically, can elicit unprecedented outcomes. Recently, the EU adopted a novel regulation aimed...Show moreFraming a societal issue as a matter of national security is a powerful motivator that, when used strategically, can elicit unprecedented outcomes. Recently, the EU adopted a novel regulation aimed at establishing rules upon one of the most unrestrained areas: online platforms. The adoption of the Digital Services Act, marked a shift within two of the most regarded values in democratic societies: freedom and security, leaning heavily towards the latter due to the restrictive notions that are now being promoted upon a previously unregulated realm. This situation leads to wonder, how does the EU justify the tradeoff between freedom and security? Through a discourse analysis methodology, that studied the preeminence of a securitizing discourse, versus two other rival frames: Novelty, understood as seeking to hold a first mover advantage at regulating a sector and Equity, as a yearning to promote EU values through regulation, it was found that the negotiation process of the DSA showed strong indications of a securitizing discourse, which frames the adverse effects of online platforms as a matter of national security. This leads to conclude that EU policymakers securitized the discourse around online platforms to succeed where others failed at regulating the internet.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
In recent years, especially after the ‘refugee crisis’ in 2015, a trend can be figured out whereby migrants and refugees that try to reach the EU are no longer met with a humanitarian approach and...Show moreIn recent years, especially after the ‘refugee crisis’ in 2015, a trend can be figured out whereby migrants and refugees that try to reach the EU are no longer met with a humanitarian approach and policies that secure their rights but are increasingly perceived as a security problem and accordingly treated by the European agencies. This also finds expression in the externalization of European borders to North Africa in the form of third country agreements. However, since these migration management policies that are guided by a security concept are at the same time justified by the protection of human rights, this reveals a clear paradox the thesis will bring to light. Among the cooperation of the Frontex mission ‘Sophia’ with the Libyan coastguard, it is shown that a humanitarian legitimization is used for its implementation. This differs from th actual practices that are characterized by violations of migrants’ rights. Frontex uses surveillance technologies and encounters migrants as a ‘security threat’, whereby a securitization of migrants takes place through the actual practices in the Mediterranean. Thereby, private military and security companies (PMSCs) play a crucial role in lobbying Frontex, shaping policies towards a security nexus. In this study, it is argued that the securitization of human rights can explain this paradox. With the externalization policies and outsourcing of migration management tasks, human rights are used strategically to implement a security agenda that aims to keep migrants out of the EU.Show less
The EU currently faces a challenge to adopt a unified approach to control Chinese IFDI in the CEE region. It is commonly assumed that the securitization of Chinese influence and the measures in...Show moreThe EU currently faces a challenge to adopt a unified approach to control Chinese IFDI in the CEE region. It is commonly assumed that the securitization of Chinese influence and the measures in place obstruct efficient regulation of (Chinese) IFDI. This thesis aims to determine to what extent the EU can respond in a uniform way to protect European strategic infrastructure assets from China’s investment ambitions in the CEE region. More specifically, this research will analyse the effectiveness of the current measures adopted by the EU to control Chinese IFDI and it will examine the possible obstruction of a uniform approach towards regulation by considering the West-European bias, in particular the Franco-German dominance. To answer the research question, the research will make use of an in-depth case study on the Budapest-Belgrade railway project and will use neoliberal institutionalism as the theoretical framework. The results revealed weaknesses in the EU measures and shortcomings in the EU’s effectiveness as the result of a fragmented Union and a biased approach to regulate Chinese IFDI. The results suggest a re-evaluation of the EU’s strategy to ensure an effective and unified approach.Show less
This thesis aims to add to the understanding of the relationship between the WHO and the Netherlands in the securitization of a PHEIC declaration. As the debate in global health governance centres...Show moreThis thesis aims to add to the understanding of the relationship between the WHO and the Netherlands in the securitization of a PHEIC declaration. As the debate in global health governance centres on the question whether the West and WHO align on their preferences to securitize infectious diseases, this thesis provides a country-level analysis of the securitization of the 2014 Ebola and 2016 Zika PHEIC declarations by the Dutch government. The findings of this research indicate that the Dutch government does not unconditionally follow the WHO’s preference in securitizing global health crises. The Dutch government’s decision-making process toward securitization was not guided by the WHO’s PHEIC declaration. It was primarily guided by national considerations, such as its own public health, and regional or national actors, such as its national health institute - the RIVM - and the European health institute - the ECDC. It opposed the WHO, because it lacks a policy or strategy toward global health and global health governance. The research showed the Dutch government is sceptical of the WHO because of its lack in transparency, causing the government to react in a self-serving manner when faced by a global health crisis.Show less
The market for private military and security companies (PMSCs) has expanded drastically since the end of the Cold War. Although PMSCs are highly controversial security providers (with Blackwater as...Show moreThe market for private military and security companies (PMSCs) has expanded drastically since the end of the Cold War. Although PMSCs are highly controversial security providers (with Blackwater as the best-known example), these companies have become increasingly involved in UN peacebuilding. This prompts the question: Does the widespread use of PMSCs in UN peacebuilding enhance or undermine the effectiveness of peacebuilding missions? This study maintains that PMSCs have an innate tendency to harden (i.e. militarize) security risk management. They encourage humanitarian organizations to protect their personnel with barbed wired fences, security guards, protected convoys, and secure aid compounds, even if security risks are relatively low. This needlessly militarizes humanitarian space. Not only does it create a threatening environment around peace programs, it also increases physical and psychological barriers between humanitarian personnel and local communities. This disrupts the integration of interveners with their local environments and undermines some of the key requirements for effective peacebuilding.Show less
