The ways in which actors conceptualize and communicate about the environment-migration nexus is fundamental in world politics. The contemporary discourse on the relationship between migration and...Show moreThe ways in which actors conceptualize and communicate about the environment-migration nexus is fundamental in world politics. The contemporary discourse on the relationship between migration and the environment is predominantly manifested within an adaptation framework. The Netherlands is, because of its reputation in adaptation, a unique case to analyze the ‘politics of causal claims’ with regard to the environment-migration nexus. By conducting a critical discourse analysis on policy documents and websites, this paper contributes to the literature on political ecology by examining how and why the relationship between migration and the environment is conceptualized in the discourse of the Dutch government. This analysis reveals that in the discourse of the Dutch government, a discursive subject has been created that is deemed to migrate in the light of environmental change. Exporting Dutch expertise in adaptation is presented as the solution to the ‘future threat’ of climate-induced migration. A paradigm shift within the neoliberal framework of Dutch development policies allowed adaptation to become instrumentalized as a business case to tap into emerging economies abroad. Future research could therefore shed light on whether a ‘trade as adaptation’ narrative exist or whether the Netherlands is a sui generis entity.Show less
The thesis concerns an important practical and normative issue: why and how should we engage with development aid. It argues that states (as opposed to citizens and individuals) have a duty to do...Show moreThe thesis concerns an important practical and normative issue: why and how should we engage with development aid. It argues that states (as opposed to citizens and individuals) have a duty to do so; that the way it is often given is counter-productive, paternalistic, and unfair. The thesis concludes that an FRBA (fundamental rights-based approach) shows how states and their citizens should discharge the duties that the right to development bestows on them.Show less
This thesis examines the evolution of the relation between the Netherlands and Indonesia and in particular the development cooperation between these two countries. It is demonstrated that the...Show moreThis thesis examines the evolution of the relation between the Netherlands and Indonesia and in particular the development cooperation between these two countries. It is demonstrated that the Netherlands utilizes development cooperation in order to fulfil its moral obligation to help those in need and in order to create opportunities to realize its economic interests. The Dutch approach of development cooperation between the Netherlands and Indonesia has evolved from a predominantly multilateral one, as it wanted to be a neutral donor due to colonial sensitivity, to a bilateral approach through ODA support directly to the Indonesian government and distributed by the Dutch embassy in Jakarta. Dutch development cooperation has focused on several themes, such as education, water management, and good governance, mainly to create effectivity and efficiency as well as to utilize Dutch knowledge in and of these areas, and later also due to budgetary reasons. This thesis is set out to answer the following research question: How has Dutch development cooperation with Indonesia evolved and to what extent has Dutch official development assistance contributed to development in Indonesia in the period of 1998 to 2016? In order to answer this question, this thesis will first examine the evolution of Dutch development policies in general before turning to the practical impacts of Dutch development policies in Indonesia from 1998 to 2016.Show less
This paper offers an analysis of (1) the practices of a donor agency involved in a private-public partnership (PPP) to account for its inputs in a development project through measurement frameworks...Show moreThis paper offers an analysis of (1) the practices of a donor agency involved in a private-public partnership (PPP) to account for its inputs in a development project through measurement frameworks and progress reports, and (2) the effects of the increased focus on results on the ability of a donor agency to account for its actions. This study examines the practices of Sida engaged as a donor agency in a PPP with UNIDO and Volvo in a project called Heavy Duty Equipment and Commercial Vehicles Maintenance Training Academy (HDECoVA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The analysis of documents and interviews collected during a field trip to Ethiopia reveals that a mismatch exists between the results captured by the project’s measurement frameworks and progress reports developed by UNIDO, and the expectations of the Swedish government. The study further reveals that this mismatch can lead to tension between the different actors in the partnership and an increased vulnerability of Sida. The findings of this research lead to the conclusion that there are reasons to believe these challenges could become a constrain for donor agencies to address complex development challenges in the future or pose challenges for the collaborative process of PPPs.Show less
