Economic sanctions are as old as history itself. In recent times, economic sanctions are more and more used as a foreign policy tool. Recent research has shown that comprehensive, as well as...Show moreEconomic sanctions are as old as history itself. In recent times, economic sanctions are more and more used as a foreign policy tool. Recent research has shown that comprehensive, as well as targeted sanctions economic sanction have a negative effect on civil liberties. The causal mechanism between targeted sanctions and the deterioration of civil liberties is however only theorized and not empirically studied. This thesis aims at discovering this causal chain in order to provide a better understanding of how to use targeted sanctions as a foreign policy tool. To achieve this, two case studies are conducted on Sierra Leone and Rwanda. The methods used in this thesis are of a qualitative nature and are aimed at process-tracing. The data that is used comes from non-governmental organisations and other datasets. The documents are studied using in-dept document analysis. The results suggest that support exists for the last part of the causal chain. However, by because no support exists for the first part of the causal chain, it cannot be said with certainty that the evidence indeed points at the existence of the second part of the causal mechanism. However, this thesis provides a valuable stepping stone for further research on this subject.Show less
This thesis explores the potential of multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) to improve mining governance in Sub-Saharan Africa for inclusive and sustainable growth and development. It examines the...Show moreThis thesis explores the potential of multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) to improve mining governance in Sub-Saharan Africa for inclusive and sustainable growth and development. It examines the challenges and opportunities of contemporary mining, highlighting the importance of accountability, transparency and representation in decision-making processes. Transformative governance is found to necessitate multi-stakeholder collaboration and mining-engaged MSPs are proposed as holistic initiatives to this end. The 5-2-3 model is introduced to guide mining-engaged platforms in conflict mitigation through trust-building and continuous reflection. Findings from a stakeholder-informed case study of Sierra Leone show that mining-engaged MSPs can promote inclusive and sustainable mining governance.Show less
The Ebola outbreak revealed that despite decades of restructuring, fundamental problems still exist within African (public) healthcare sectors. Several actors are now engaged in the African health...Show moreThe Ebola outbreak revealed that despite decades of restructuring, fundamental problems still exist within African (public) healthcare sectors. Several actors are now engaged in the African health sector, including traditional partners from the Global North, the private sector and increasingly more partners from the Global South. This thesis examines in what ways Cuba's and China's development cooperation with Ebola-affected states in the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic reflect an approach to leverage sustainable donor-driven health interventions in crisis settings. Based on a review of the literature on the sustainability of health interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a tailored framework was developed for short-term health interventions in crisis settings. This framework revolves around four aspects of analysis: 1. intervention of development partners and organisational setting, 2. stakeholder involvement and context awareness, 3. performance and flexibility and 4. sustainability. A between-case analysis of Cuba's and China's health interventions in the Ebola-affected states suggests that their interventions can be considered semi-sustainable. The analysis confirms that any intervention intended for the short-term in a public health crisis should be beneficial for the long-term. This thesis further discusses the benefits and challenges encountered by both development partners in SSA. The results also suggest that health systems strengthening in SSA require better coordination of aid towards the direct health needs of African people and a more holistic approach to health.Show less
Research master thesis | African Studies (research) (MA)
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This thesis examines the lives of two prominent artisan trade union organisers active in late-nineteenth century Sierra Leone: S.H.A. Case (1845-1901) and J.T. Ojukutu-Macauley (1846-1904). It...Show moreThis thesis examines the lives of two prominent artisan trade union organisers active in late-nineteenth century Sierra Leone: S.H.A. Case (1845-1901) and J.T. Ojukutu-Macauley (1846-1904). It argues that both men were deeply involved in the colony's middle-class social and religious life. This small and tightly-knit community transmitted a particular set of norms - an emphasis on self-improvement through education, a desire for social prestige- through informal networks, which Abner Cohen called the 'cult of eliteness'. These connnections provided both men with support for their endeavours to improve the social and economic position of the colony's artisans. While both men emphasised a distinct artisan identity and class consciousness, they also aspired to middle class status. This thesis shows how both men navigated the complex position of artisans vis-a-vis other wage workers and the white-collar middle class of the colony.Show less
Sierra Leone is the perfect example of the resource curse. Despite 80 years of diamond, gold and gemstone mining, the country ranks low on global development. This thesis examines the main...Show moreSierra Leone is the perfect example of the resource curse. Despite 80 years of diamond, gold and gemstone mining, the country ranks low on global development. This thesis examines the main recommendations in the World Bank's Strategy for Africa Mining paper (1992) in order to determine how they affected the (informal) ASM sector in Sierra Leone and therefore shaped its political, social and economic structures in the long-run. In the literature review, topics on the distinctive features of ASM in sub-Saharan Africa, informality, formality, hierarchy, gender- and power relations are discussed. Using thematic analysis (deductive approach), this thesis identified four themes on economic growth, African agency, modernisation and formalisation in the strategy report. These re-occuring themes and the focus on LSM gave an incomplete understanding of ASM. This resulted in Sierra Leonean authority grouping all types of illicit mining activities altogether. Economic liberalisation policies and formalisation efforts implemented in the African mining sector paradoxically led to mass unemployment and the proliferation of informal ASM in Sierra Leone. Several trends and patterns in the contemporary (informal) Sierra Leonean ASM sector are examined and linked back to the main recommendations in the strategy report.Show less
The right to health is vital. Therefore, its promotion should be in the best interest of all governments. Yet, not all health provision is the same, even amongst similar countries. Senegal and...Show moreThe right to health is vital. Therefore, its promotion should be in the best interest of all governments. Yet, not all health provision is the same, even amongst similar countries. Senegal and Sierra Leone are two West African countries with low levels of Human Development, and high levels of poverty. Nevertheless, Senegal has, according to the World Health Organisation’s Ranking of Health Systems, the 58th best health system worldwide, while Sierra Leone has the worst, at 191st. By asking the following question: Why did Senegal Perform Better than Sierra Leone in the World Health Organisation’s Latest Health Systems Rankings? This thesis aims to discover the factors leading to two countries with several similarities between them having such a stark difference in terms of their health systems. Through a review of theory and literature, this research explores the long-term effects of direct and indirect colonial rule. The goal here is to discover if the institutions built by the colonial powers affect the way modern-day states operate. The results indicate that indirect rule has led to Sierra Leone’s state fragmentation and institutional inefficiencies, while direct rule established ties between France and Senegal which undermine Senegal’s sovereignty. As a result, this thesis concludes that colonial institutions are a factor in the operations of modern-day governments and could therefore explain the difference in the results of Senegal and Sierra Leone’s positions in the WHO Rankings of Health Systems.Show less
“With growing numbers of public health emergencies in recent years, effective emergency response has become of central importance for national and international actors. Public health emergencies...Show more“With growing numbers of public health emergencies in recent years, effective emergency response has become of central importance for national and international actors. Public health emergencies such as the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Western Africa have demonstrated flaws in existing emergency response mechanisms of organizations such as the World Health Organization. One of the factors that hindered the timely containment of the outbreak was communities’ social resistance towards health authorities and health workers. In this context, this thesis examines to what extent the World Health Organization and health authorities have incorporated the voices of affected communities in Sierra Leone and Liberia from 2014 to 2016. Through the comparison of these two case studies, it thus aims to contribute to the field of public health emergency response by enhancing the understanding of communities’ critical role in epidemic emergencies such as the Ebola outbreak.”Show less
This article investigates rebel opportunity structures in non-ethnic civil wars. It argues rebel leaders act rationally and decide on war and peace on the basis of security and economic...Show moreThis article investigates rebel opportunity structures in non-ethnic civil wars. It argues rebel leaders act rationally and decide on war and peace on the basis of security and economic considerations. Rebel leaders only demobilize if the net benefits of peace are greater than the net benefits of war. Third-party interventions, such as United Nations peacekeeping operations, are only able to end civil war when it offers credible security guarantees to the rebel group and sufficiently alters the incentives rebel leaders face through the disruption of the rebel war economy. Only if an outside intervention manages to curb profits emanating from autonomous rebel financing, such as illicit resource extraction and trade or outside state support, will war no longer pay and will rebels comply with provisions offered in a negotiated peace settlement. The theory is supported by case studies of United Nations peacekeeping efforts during the Sierra Leone civil war (1991-2002) and the Second Congo War (1998-2003) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Show less
