What are the implications of recognising ethnic groups and granting them specific rights for peace? This thesis examines the ongoing debate on ethnic recognition, highlighting that while it can...Show moreWhat are the implications of recognising ethnic groups and granting them specific rights for peace? This thesis examines the ongoing debate on ethnic recognition, highlighting that while it can address minority exclusion and foster trust, it may also institutionalise ethnic cleavages and promote antagonism. To assess its effects across different institutional and political contexts, the study further focuses on ethnic party bans as crucial institutions that complicate the relationship between ethnic recognition and peace. It is argued that these bans promote political inclusion of minority groups in situations where the state has implemented ethnic recognition, and prevent the politicisation of ethnicity where the state does recognise ethnic groups. Additionally, it introduces an improved operationalization of ethnic recognition, assessing its implementation across various governance domains in constitutions and peace agreements. Using panel data and Difference-in-Differences models, the study finds that ethnic recognition generally promotes peace, particularly in countries with ethnic party bans. However, it also reveals that ethnic recognition can undermine peace in the short term, increasing political violence in countries without prior ethnic conflicts.Show less
This study examined how the film industry, Israeli and Palestinian in particular, can be used to promote intergroup dialogue and foster peace in the context of the long-lasting intractable conflict...Show moreThis study examined how the film industry, Israeli and Palestinian in particular, can be used to promote intergroup dialogue and foster peace in the context of the long-lasting intractable conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. I focused on content analysis of two films, one produced by Israeli and the other by Palestinian filmmakers. The reason for choosing these films is that both films were released after the Oslo Accords during a dynamic period. The analysis is based on the way each group represented each other, whether they encourage intergroup dialogue within the films, and what their view was on the ongoing peace negotiations. These questions paved the way for answering the question of whether the film industry can promote peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The analysis was grounded on Gordon Allport’s concept of Contact Hypothesis – further advanced by Ilfaz Maoz – which designates that intergroup contact can be effective in reducing negative stereotypes between groups in conflict and mutual prejudices. My findings reveal that the Israeli film contributed to creating one of the necessary conditions to reach peace. Although, the Palestinian focus is still on forming a national identity and longing for the past. This investigation adds to our understanding that film industries can serve as a platform that can provoke dialogue and contact among conflicting groups. Nevertheless, Israeli and Palestinian films released within the Oslo Process failed in choosing for this opportunity. Based on these examples, it is possible to conclude that changing conflict-driven narratives and stereotypes of the Other is a major challenge that societies face if they are willing to work towards peacemaking.Show less
The UK's decision to leave the EU has been a salient event in Europe over the last three years, often dominating the headlines. Ireland has more to lose from the UK leaving the EU than other member...Show moreThe UK's decision to leave the EU has been a salient event in Europe over the last three years, often dominating the headlines. Ireland has more to lose from the UK leaving the EU than other member states. This thesis examines Ireland's vulnerabilities with the implications of a possible return of a hard border in Northern Ireland. In particular, it examines how Ireland has managed to get the issue of the Irish border as a top priority on the EU agenda in the context of the Brexit negotiations. This is achieved using agenda-setting theory and examining the Irish Government use of framing the border issue to EU counterparts. The thesis finds that the Irish Government was extremely proactive, organized and consistent with discourse which resonated with the values of the EU. This discourse was used at a high politics level by Irish politicians in their engagement with officials of EU intuitions and member states. This persistent engagement and discourse with the EU was instrumental in turning the Irish border into a priority for the EU in the Brexit negotiations.Show less
This investigation analyzes the plan for reincorporation of the former combatants of FARC as a result of the 2016 Peace Agreement. By analyzing the past efforts of reintegration in Colombia, for...Show moreThis investigation analyzes the plan for reincorporation of the former combatants of FARC as a result of the 2016 Peace Agreement. By analyzing the past efforts of reintegration in Colombia, for example, by the Colombian Agency for Reintegration (Agencia Colombiana para la Reintegración, ACR, now ARN), and their successes and failures, a reflection can be made for the current plan for reintegration. With this analysis an effort will be made to improve the process of reintegration in Colombia and take possible risks into account.The three main themes throughout the thesis are reincorporation policies related to gender topics, individual versus collective reintegration, and the politicization of former combatant groups.Show less
In the past decades, the government of the Republic of Colombia was doomed to face various impediments during attempts to catalyze socio-economic progress. The attempts succeeded on various fields...Show moreIn the past decades, the government of the Republic of Colombia was doomed to face various impediments during attempts to catalyze socio-economic progress. The attempts succeeded on various fields as the drug industry and guerrilla violence. Notwithstanding, while the Republic of Colombia gains entrée to economic growth and stability, impediments to a distinct field are faced, it regards the offer of qualitative public education to the citizens of the Republic of Colombia. To explain, in the intertwined unequal dimensions of education across many nations, the public education of the Republic of Colombia is known to be falling short of funds, enrolment, quality, access, and even adequate labor conditions. Due to inadequate government spending, corruption and complex to reach rural zones in Colombia. Which resulted in the development of a clear gap between public and private education in Colombia. Therefore, the thesis will consider the conditions of public and private primary education in terms of quality, financing, and quality before the implementation of neo-liberal policies in the 1990’s (Blasco 2010, 37) and the current conditions of public and private primary education in terms of financing, enrolment and quality after the implementation of the neoliberal policies (decentralization) from 1990 to 2018.Show less
This thesis researches whether the Women, Peace and Security agenda was successfully implemented by the Dutch troops in Afghanistan using interviews with ten members of the Dutch armed forces.
The Colombian case is an unique one to study. Classified as a middle-income country, its GDP is considerably higher than that of most countries receiving Official Development Assistance (ODA)....Show moreThe Colombian case is an unique one to study. Classified as a middle-income country, its GDP is considerably higher than that of most countries receiving Official Development Assistance (ODA). However, Colombia has been severely taunted by political violence, civil war, and problems related to drug trafficking throughout modern history. After Syria, it is the country with the largest amount of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the world. As recently as 2016, a Peace Agreement has been signed to end the civil war between Colombia’s government, various insurgent groups, and the paramilitaries. Therefore, effective ODA is now more vital than ever to rebuild the country and make sure everyone gets equal opportunities to improve themselves and their livelihoods. This thesis will assess the development process in Colombia in a context of civil war and drug-related violence, and will attempt to make valid recommendations regarding how to make the implementation of ODA more effective.Show less
The literature on women’s inclusion in peacebuilding has not only raised much criticism about women’s poor involvement, but also hopes for what their inclusion could entail. This research aims to...Show moreThe literature on women’s inclusion in peacebuilding has not only raised much criticism about women’s poor involvement, but also hopes for what their inclusion could entail. This research aims to unravel the question of whether involving local women's groups in the official peace process will lead to women's political, legal and economic emancipation in post-conflict societies. This is done with a case study of Liberia, as it has become well-known for its active women’s peace movement, and election of the first woman president in Africa. The 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement was somewhat gender-sensitive, and also involved a regional women’s organization— MARWOPNET— as one of the signatories. Yet, while the gender agenda has been present in several programs and policies in Liberia’s reconstruction, the results so far have been moderate. This thesis argues that local women’s involvement in official peace processes will lead to gender issues being more present in countries’ post-conflict reconstruction. However, to achieve their goals, women’s organizations need support from other actors, and the focus should be on their involvement both in quality and quantity.Show less
