This thesis examines how states try to evade accountability through denying accusations of human rights violations. It aims to fill the gap in the existing literature by analysing which stigma...Show moreThis thesis examines how states try to evade accountability through denying accusations of human rights violations. It aims to fill the gap in the existing literature by analysing which stigma rejection strategies are most applied by states, and how successful these strategies are for evading accountability. This research project consists of an in-depth discourse analysis of the case of Israel and their response to human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories. It does so according to a threefold analysis focussed on identifying (1) the accusations towards Israel, (2) Israel’s response to those accusations and (3) the outcome of that response. The analysis shows a consistent engagement of Israel with various forms of denial, which indicates that they do not have a clear preference on which stigma rejection strategies to adopt. The outcome of Israel’s response is unsuccessful in the sense that Israel does not manage to change the narrative of other states and persuade them of their innocence. The use of stigma rejection strategies can thus not be seen as a leading or direct cause for evading accountability.Show less
The killings of Armenians by the government of the Young Turks in the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923 fit all the given definitions of genocide. However, many states from the international...Show moreThe killings of Armenians by the government of the Young Turks in the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923 fit all the given definitions of genocide. However, many states from the international community have not recognized the Armenian genocide, and few have explicitly expressed recognition. This paper will analyze the revisionary processes within two countries (Argentina and Spain) that have come to different outcomes (recognition and non-recognition, respectively) and will provide preliminary evidence in response to this main puzzle: “Why has Argentina recognized the Armenian genocide, while Spain has not?” This research´s main argument revolves around the concept of realpolitik, specifically around the interests and powers that this paper will demonstrate to have a direct relation to the outcomes of the revisionary processes of the Armenian Genocide by different states.Show less
