This thesis analysed the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in terms of its legitimacy and effectiveness. First, it outlines why the OSCE can be defined as a security network and...Show moreThis thesis analysed the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in terms of its legitimacy and effectiveness. First, it outlines why the OSCE can be defined as a security network and provides a literature review on both topics. The theoretical framework concludes that the OSCE is analysed in terms of its legitimacy using the criteria of transparency, independent monitoring, public involvement and consensus. Structural, cultural, political, technological and relational dimensions were identified as criteria for effectiveness. The analysis revealed two main challenges. The first challenge is the consequences of a system based on consent. The second challenge is building and maintaining trust among the 57 participating states. Due to its size, a lack of trust makes it difficult to reach consesnus on matters discussed and can have severe consequences. The scope of this work is limited and further research is needed on these issues.Show less
The Taskforce RIEC Brabant – Zeeland covers the south of the Netherlands in tackling subversive crime. The security network combines forces of the police, public prosecution, tax authorities and...Show moreThe Taskforce RIEC Brabant – Zeeland covers the south of the Netherlands in tackling subversive crime. The security network combines forces of the police, public prosecution, tax authorities and other societal instances to share information and expertise on issues as real estate and financial fraud, motor gangs and drug- and human trafficking. The horizontal network structure is fighting a wicked issue which calls for a cautious attitude towards information sharing. The careful handling of information creates issues of legitimacy and openness of their processes. This research aims to learn where these issues come from and how these challenges can possibly be solved. After diving deeper into theory of challenges, legitimacy and effectiveness of security networks, appropriate theories can be applied to the case study of the Taskforce RIEC to see their current state of affairs and how they plan to tackle their organizational barriers, as well as diving deeper into the ins- and outs of the network and how it maintains its legitimacy. In addition, two in-depth interviews with employees of the Taskforce RIEC give a more detailed view of the organization. The main issues for the Taskforce RIEC are the wickedness of subversive crime, which calls for broad resourcing and stamina. With pre-existing capacity issues at the network members, this issue only grows bigger. Secondly, effectiveness is hard to define in this case, since numbers are not telling much about under-the-radar-crime. Thirdly their legitimacy faces difficulties in transparency, but which can be justified through the necessity to keep information about the cases form the public for confidentiality reasons. The network faces issues since it is young and developing, yet making promising progress and is aware of its difficulties as stated in their internal reports.Show less
In December 2019, the first case of the SARS-Cov-2 virus was identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China (Lavazza & Farina, 2021). In the next few months, the virus spread rapidly across Asia,...Show moreIn December 2019, the first case of the SARS-Cov-2 virus was identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China (Lavazza & Farina, 2021). In the next few months, the virus spread rapidly across Asia, Europe and North America, many countries responding with far reaching COVID-19 measures: closing shops, travel bans and lockdowns (Taylor, 2021). In order to avoid social unrest and to create trust among the people, many governments appealed to experts to advise and justify unpopular and strict COVID-19 measures such as quarantine and lockdowns (Lavazza & Farina, 2020). In The Netherlands, the Outbreak Management Team (OMT) took on this role, by advising the Dutch government, as part of the RIVM, in case of a cross-regional/national outbreak of an infectious disease, like the COVID-19 virus (RIVM, 2021). In this thesis, the author analyses twelve press conferences by Dutch government officials during the first COVID-19 wave in the Netherlands. The aim of this research is to demonstrate how the Dutch cabinet used the OMT to gain legitimacy for the build up and reduction of COVID-19 measures. A Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is used to analyse linguistic aspects and identify discourses and themes wherein the Dutch government gains public support and justifies different actions taken (Van Dijk, 1993). This research will specifically compare how the role of OMT is portrayed differently between the build up and reduction of COVID-19 measures. The author hypothesized that the OMT is more often and strongly referred to in the build up of measures compared to the reduction of measures. This study sheds light on the broader topic of experts in the COVID-19 crisis, crisis communication and the broader tension between the role of experts and creating legitimacy in decision making.Show less
