The following thesis aims at drawing a connection or lack thereof between the public discourse held by the British conservative party towards the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the...Show moreThe following thesis aims at drawing a connection or lack thereof between the public discourse held by the British conservative party towards the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the cinematic representation of IRA members. The thesis takes into account the last two decades of the Troubles, namely between 1969 and 1998.Show less
Recent trends within contemporary terrorism studies indicate that the right-wing is widely understood as a growing security concern. Germany’s political spectrum comprises an extensive right-wing,...Show moreRecent trends within contemporary terrorism studies indicate that the right-wing is widely understood as a growing security concern. Germany’s political spectrum comprises an extensive right-wing, causing the country to be among the largest targets of extreme right terrorism within Europe. This study aims to examine the nature of this developing trend of terrorism within Germany between 2015 and 2019. This research will analyse two terrorism datasets to explore the common characteristics of German right-wing extremists, as well as shortly examining the overall terrorism landscape in the country. This thesis argues that the right-wing is the leading source for terrorism in the country. The results add that Germany’s right-wing terrorism experiences an initial spark due to societal changes, and is still predominantly preoccupied with anti-refugee sentiments, a trend which emerged in the mid-1990s. Even though certain right-wing groups are more active than others, there seems to be overlap regarding the motives, targets, and objectives. The nationalist and xenophobic components of the right-wing are also clearly highlighted in the country.Show less
Guatemala and El Salvador experienced instances of destructive political violence in the 1980s that affected the population and the judicial and political systems. Research has shown that...Show moreGuatemala and El Salvador experienced instances of destructive political violence in the 1980s that affected the population and the judicial and political systems. Research has shown that international interventions in post-conflict countries have a positive influence in restructuring a long-lasting peace through legal empowerment and reduction of violence. This thesis aims to determine whether postconflict international involvement can be successful in establishing just legal and political systems in a context of culture of impunity. Building on existing literature and on UN reports, it answers the following research question: to what extent has the culture of impunity influenced the degree of success of the post-conflict UN interventions in Guatemala and El Salvador? In this context, culture of impunity is defined as a deep-rooted tradition of political injustice that manifests itself with the incapacity to prosecute perpetrators of atrocities. The analysis of historical facts and their comparison to the recommendations by the UN Commissions indicate that, despite the cultural-specific approach used, international interventions resulted partly successful in Guatemala, yet unsuccessful in El Salvador. The culture of impunity affected both countries in the implementation of recommendations, yet with divergent developments in the two cases. On this basis, it is highlighted the importance of avoiding generalisations when suggesting recommendations in post-conflict settings; considering that all countries have a different degree of responsiveness to international aid as well as unique socio-cultural and political features.Show less
Research master thesis | Literary Studies (research) (MA)
closed access
This thesis explores the way in which governmental and non-governmental political entities legitimize and deligitimize the use of violence by means of historiography. Through the analysis of...Show moreThis thesis explores the way in which governmental and non-governmental political entities legitimize and deligitimize the use of violence by means of historiography. Through the analysis of various politically motivated violent actions and campaigns this thesis investigates the way in which the use of politically motivated violence can be retroactively (de)legitimized through the use of historical narrative.Show less
