On the 24th of February 2022, Russia undertook the largest land invasion into a sovereign state since World War II. The unprecedented move was met with a swift deployment of economic tools to deter...Show moreOn the 24th of February 2022, Russia undertook the largest land invasion into a sovereign state since World War II. The unprecedented move was met with a swift deployment of economic tools to deter the invasion and increase Russia’s costs of sustaining the military effort in the long term. As a result of this economic warfare between Russia and the Global North, sovereign assets of more than 300 Billion US Dollars belonging to the Russian Central Bank (RCB) have been frozen. This constituted the largest seizure of sovereign assets since World War II. As of June 2024, calls in the United States and the European Union to use the RCB assets for Ukraine’s military and humanitarian efforts have only been amplifying. These voices neglect international legal perspectives- specifically from the Global South- which highlight the discourses on sovereign immunity and countermeasures. These voices probe the following questions: What do the RCB sanctions mean for the existing sovereign immunity regime? What is the validity of the countermeasures doctrine with regards to the RCB? And most importantly, what do such measures mean for Western financial hegemony? This thesis encapsulates all these legal discourses by asking the question: What is the legality of the Global North states’ sanctions against the Russian Central Bank?Show less
Since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, many scholars have acknowledged its transformative effect on international relations. Notably, Southeast Asian states have been found...Show moreSince the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, many scholars have acknowledged its transformative effect on international relations. Notably, Southeast Asian states have been found to pursue a foreign policy strategy of strategic hedging between China as a rising power, and the United States (US) as their long-time ally. However, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region also plays a key role in the execution of this New Silk Road. Despite this, there is a gap in the literature regarding how these states may respond to the rise of China through this new initiative. Egypt, which holds a significant position in the transportation routes due to its dominance of the Suez Canal, is a key player in this initiative, but remains overlooked in discussion about the BRI’s role in the new world order. Therefore, this thesis aims to investigate to what extent Egypt is using the BRI and increased Chinese influence to hedge against the US. Drawing on the emerging theory of strategic hedging, this study assesses the theory’s applicability to the case study of Egypt as a secondary power in the MENA region. Through qualitative analysis of key economic and military factors, as well as expert interviews, this analysis provides two main findings. Firstly, Egypt is pursuing a hedging strategy towards the US through increased economic engagement with China. Secondly, this strategy is characterized by economic hedging, a less competitive form of hedging that allows Egypt to maintain relatively more positive relations with the US. Finally, this thesis suggests that further research should focus on detailed data regarding Egyptian domestic factors, and the applicability of hedging to other BRI participants in the MENA region, to provide a more comprehensive exploration of strategic hedging in International Relations (IR) theory.Show less
This thesis explores the the impact of U.S. foreign policy on Chinese international status, focusing on two case studies: The Paris Climate Agreement and the 2020 Trade War. The research...Show moreThis thesis explores the the impact of U.S. foreign policy on Chinese international status, focusing on two case studies: The Paris Climate Agreement and the 2020 Trade War. The research incorporates both realism and status frameworks to analyze the complex Sino-American relationship, arguing that a purely realist perspective is insufficient for understanding the current dynamics. The findings suggest that U.S. foreign policy has a significant impact on Chinese status, with cooperative policy enhancing it and competitive policy diminishing it. This study contributes to international relations research by proposing an integrated approach of realism and status to evaluate major power relations, particularly between the United States and China.Show less
This thesis explores the neomercantilist dynamics in the US-China chip war, a critical geoeconomic rivalry of the modern era where superpowers vie for dominance in semiconductor technology. By...Show moreThis thesis explores the neomercantilist dynamics in the US-China chip war, a critical geoeconomic rivalry of the modern era where superpowers vie for dominance in semiconductor technology. By analyzing the strategies and policies of both the United States and China, this study investigates the alignment of their actions with neomercantilist theory and assesses the implications for global economic and geopolitical dynamics. The research reveals that both nations employ neomercantilist strategies such as trade protectionism, industrial policy, strategic resource control, and technological nationalism to secure their economic and national security interests. The findings highlight the resurgence of protectionist policies reminiscent of the 19th century, challenging the post-Cold War principles of free trade and globalization. The thesis concludes by discussing the broader implications for the global semiconductor industry, international trade relations, and geopolitical stability, emphasizing the need for collaborative international frameworks to manage the intersection of trade, technology, and security.Show less
For a long time there has been this profound sense of uncertainty, questioning whether the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) actually fell in line with the national interests of the...Show moreFor a long time there has been this profound sense of uncertainty, questioning whether the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) actually fell in line with the national interests of the United States. Following the election of President Donald Trump in 2016, Trump strongly opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement, calling it “the worst trade deal in history,” promising to reevaluate the trade agreement and alter the existing economic model. This reevaluated trade agreement would later be known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The United States played a crucial role in the transition from NAFTA to the USMCA to advance its national interests. The national interests of the United States’ include addressing trade imbalances, protecting domestic objectives, and lastly by modernizing trade provisions. By renegotiating the agreement, the US aimed to correct unfavorable trade imbalances with Canada and Mexico, safeguard American industries and jobs through enhanced labor and environmental standards and, modernize trade provisions to reflect modern economic realities, including digital trade and intellectual property. Changing the terms of NAFTA in this way allowed US officials more latitude and control over the terms of trade, enhancing its position/power on a regional and global scale.Show less
In this thesis, research has been done into the role that the US Radio broadcast played before and during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. The overarching research question was: Does the United...Show moreIn this thesis, research has been done into the role that the US Radio broadcast played before and during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. The overarching research question was: Does the United States share part of the blame for the Hungarian Revolution because of the anti-communistic radio propaganda they send to the Hungarian people before and during the Revolution in 1956? Two methods were used to find an answer to this question. Firstly, a wide variety of literature to determine the state of the historiographical field and a stand in the discussion if the US shares part of the blame. With this literature, the essential background information was provided to be able to understand the historical setting of the primary sources. Secondly, a case study was carried out while reviewing a good amount of primary material (93 interviews with Hungarian Refugees in the U.S. provided by the Columbia University Research Project on Hungary (CURPH) in 1957 and 1958) in a qualitative way. With this combination, new information about the thoughts and views of the Hungarian people on the Western radio broadcast and their influence embedded in the existing debate was provided. The final conclusion of this thesis is that the Hungarian people enjoyed listening to the radio programs that were sent to them by the U.S. It gave them news and entertainment from the outside world and therefore a sense of freedom. Yet, they did not believe everything they heard and remained critical, especially on the RFE. The influence of the anti-communistic propaganda was that most people expected help from the western world, especially the U.S., if a revolt were to take place. During the Revolution, the U.S. radio broadcast kept giving the Hungarian people this hope, but the U.S. did not intervene in the Revolution. Therefore, many Hungarians were rightly disappointed in the U.S. It can therefore be stated that the U.S. does indeed share part of the blame for the Hungarian Revolution.Show less
The world changed rapidly when the Covid-19 virus spread around the globe in early 2020. This led many proponents of degrowth, a post-capitalist ideology that wants to prioritize human and...Show moreThe world changed rapidly when the Covid-19 virus spread around the globe in early 2020. This led many proponents of degrowth, a post-capitalist ideology that wants to prioritize human and planetary wellbeing over economic growth, to believe that the pandemic had opened a window of opportunity to fundamentally transform economies and societies to align with planetary boundaries. In 2023, it is conspicuous that the eco-socialist revolution has not (yet) arrived. This does, however, not mean that the pandemic did not have any effect on attitudes towards degrowth. This thesis examines the prevalence of degrowth as well as the tone and attitudes towards degrowth in the public discourse in the US, based on online articles published between 2017 and 2023 in American news media and finds an increase in coverage, particularly after mid-2022, in which the pandemic likely played a role. After the outbreak, prestigious outlets started writing about degrowth, but overall coverage remained limited. Outlets on the political left were found to be more receptive to the idea. The coverage of the US version of The Guardian stood out due to its high volume of positive articles about degrowth, particularly after the outbreak. The few outlets on the political right that wrote about the topic took a negative tone towards the idea and described it as dangerous.Show less
Despite the scientifically proved inexistence of human races, racism yet exists as a result of the social construction and institutionalization of human races in societies. In the United States,...Show moreDespite the scientifically proved inexistence of human races, racism yet exists as a result of the social construction and institutionalization of human races in societies. In the United States, anti-Asian racism exists and is exceedingly problematic. At the same time, for the past thirty years United States power is relatively declining, and China is a rising power and changing the international world order. The Obama administration and the Trump administration dealt differently with the relative decline of United States power. In this paper, the United States government narrative of China and its effect on national anti-Asian racism in the United States is researched. First, existing literature on government policy tools, racism and narratives is critically analyzed. Thereafter, a narrative analysis is performed on the narratives used by the Obama administration and the Trump administration in a comparative case study. The results demonstrate that during the Trump presidency, the narrative of China was relatively more negative and anti-Asian racism levels were relatively higher. This implies that a more negative narrative of China causes more anti-Asian racism in the United States. Hence, this paper contributes to the academic field of political science by exposing the relation between governmental discursive power and citizen behavior.Show less
Minority representation is a hot topic in U.S. politics. This paper will explore the effects of racial redistricting on minority representation by focusing on the Black and Hispanic minority in the...Show moreMinority representation is a hot topic in U.S. politics. This paper will explore the effects of racial redistricting on minority representation by focusing on the Black and Hispanic minority in the United States. Using quantitative analysis, this paper will use nationwide data on electoral districts and their representatives in the House of Representatives to test four hypotheses. It will underline the importance of majority-minority districts to ensure equal representation for minority groups.Show less
This thesis focusses on the relation between Singapore’s economic development and US geopolitical interests. Problematically, Singapore’s economic development has been predominantly analysed...Show moreThis thesis focusses on the relation between Singapore’s economic development and US geopolitical interests. Problematically, Singapore’s economic development has been predominantly analysed through an inward-centric and economically-oriented lens, which has prescribed a neglect of external geopolitical drivers. This thesis aims to fill this gap by researching Singapore’s post-war industrialization from an approach that considers external geopolitical influences as an important driver of economic development. In line with this approach, I focus on the relation between US geopolitical interests and Singapore’s post-war industrialization by building on the main theoretical insights from hegemonic stability theory and economic statecraft. Interestingly, the empirical findings of this thesis establish a substantive relation between US geopolitical interests, channelled through capital support to the city-state, and Singapore’s economic development. This is based on the empirical finding that Singapore received economic aid in the late-1960s when US geopolitical interests were threatened by suddenly emerging Singaporean instability. Accordingly, by having connected Singapore’s economic development to US Cold War interests, this thesis has complemented the contemporary state of the literature.Show less
MA thesis on American internationalism at the dawn of the 20th century, revisited through a comparison with the Netherlands, showing a pattern of morallegalistic means to pursue economic goals in...Show moreMA thesis on American internationalism at the dawn of the 20th century, revisited through a comparison with the Netherlands, showing a pattern of morallegalistic means to pursue economic goals in international politics.Show less
The United States has a long record of racial inequality that has been perpetuated over time. It is well established that this has had a significant influence on the way in which the American...Show moreThe United States has a long record of racial inequality that has been perpetuated over time. It is well established that this has had a significant influence on the way in which the American justice system operates, resulting in the diverging treatment of different races. This thesis will be looking at the treatment of one such racial group and aims to determine how black men are disproportionately targeted by the American Prison Industrial Complex (PIC). To ascertain in what specific ways the PIC has disparaged black men, this thesis first supplies an overview of the already existing academic literature surrounding the PIC and America’s history concerning racism. Finally, this thesis conducts a comparison of the treatment of two Capitol rioters; a black man called Emanuel Jackson and a white man called Eric Gavelek Munchel. The results indicate that America has much work that remains to be done in order to constitute a justice system based on impartiality and equality.Show less
Industrial policy has become one of the most pressing issues in contemporary policymaking. State intervention in the market has long been considered irrelevant, irreprehensible, or unsuccessful,...Show moreIndustrial policy has become one of the most pressing issues in contemporary policymaking. State intervention in the market has long been considered irrelevant, irreprehensible, or unsuccessful, but the recent crises, including the pandemic, have boosted its name amongst policymakers across the world. However, the academic literature on industrial policies within comparative political policy literature is still lacking, and would benefit from more research. Taking an exploratory comparative approach, this thesis research variations of industrial policies related to the management of lithium-ion battery value chains in the United States and the European Union. Several researchers have observed different types policies that have been put forward by policymakers to strengthen global value chains, but these analyses have been lacking a strong link with theoretical frameworks on industrial policy and policy instrument literature. This research fills the gap by linking academic literature on industrial policy, value chain resilience, and policy instruments analysis to provide constructive insights into existing policy proposals and documents. This thesis finds a strong link between the historical preferences of governments in industrial policy mixes and the specific policies put forward to strengthen lithium-ion value chains. It indicates that, although resilience policies of the United States and the European Union are in line with industrial policy in other areas, there are shifts in the instrument mix that warrant future research to improve our understanding of industrial policy in the twenty-first century.Show less
