The European Central Bank (ECB) is an important institute of the European Union that has been perceived as becoming more political. To analyze this, this paper looks at the concept of...Show moreThe European Central Bank (ECB) is an important institute of the European Union that has been perceived as becoming more political. To analyze this, this paper looks at the concept of politicization and how it can be related to the European Central Bank in the period from 2003 to 2019. In this research there will be a focus on institutional politicization, meaning that it will look at institutional aspects of the ECB itself to see if they are politicized. To measure the relevance of politicization within this case study, four dimensions will be looked into: (1) the voting behavior, on recommendations for candidates for the ECB executive board, of the European parliament; (2) the questionnaires that the three candidates for ECB president received from the European parliament; (3) the communication strategy of the ECB; and (4) the centralization within the ECB. The findings suggest that the dimensions demonstrate potentially politicized aspects.Show less
Previous studies found that inclusion is a necessary condition for managing a diverse work group and tapping into its positive performance potential and that organizational leaders can play an...Show morePrevious studies found that inclusion is a necessary condition for managing a diverse work group and tapping into its positive performance potential and that organizational leaders can play an important role in cultivating inclusion in the workplace, but the context in which organizational leaders exercise inclusive leadership remains understudied. This study aims to create a better understanding of how the situational opportunities and constraints arising from the environment of public organizations affect the extent to which public managers can develop inclusive leadership. To this end, this study examined the direct and indirect effects of politicization on inclusive leadership through centralization and formalization. This study uses data collected from a survey of employees of public managers working within the core ministries of the Dutch central government (N = 1,029). The results of the quantitative data study showed that centralization and formalization partially mediate the positive relationship between politicization and inclusive leadership in public organizations. However, additional data from two focus groups with public managers (total N = 7) also support the theoretical expectation that politicization is negatively related to inclusive leadership. These findings suggest that the organizational context factors of politicization, centralization, and formalization can affect inclusive leadership in competing ways, reflecting the complex context in which public managers operate. As such, this study contributes to theory building in the field of inclusive leadership by examining inclusive leadership as a dependent variable.Show less
Since WWII, the influence of IOs has increased where virtually all issue of global concern is administered by an IO. However, this influence has not come without its hazards. As the Global ...Show moreSince WWII, the influence of IOs has increased where virtually all issue of global concern is administered by an IO. However, this influence has not come without its hazards. As the Global “Governance Dilemma” theorizes, it is because of it that member states wish to ‘capture’ their decision-making and power-distribution apparatuses —their voting systems— to better realize their agendas. The case studies of two prominent IOs, the IMF and the UNSC, provide support that it is often true that these systems favor powerful member states due to a politicization of their voting systems. To address the potential causes and shortcomings of this phenomenon, this thesis conducted an in-depth case study of the institutional designs —Virtue Cultivation, Political Autonomy, and Meritocracy— of the Colombian Political Party MIRA that were born out of their unique theoretical framework of Miraísm. Through the implementation of these designs, this party successfully overcame obstacles akin to the ones that IOs face, despite their small size and the prevalence of corruption in Colombia. Building from this, the thesis followed a standard method of theory generation to create a novel framework regarding how to better resolve the core issue at hand: The Aligned Interests-Goals (AIG) Theory. In essence, this theory postulates that through specific institutional designs that tie A (self-interests) and B (goals) together by offering C (incentives) that provide the obtainment of A in exchange for proven efforts regarding B can effectively nudge behavior towards a virtuous cycle of positive competition for their mutual satisfaction. Based on the logic of this theory, the thesis delivered its main institutional proposal of Incentives-based Meritocratic Voting Systems as an alternative design to avoid the adverse consequences of politicized voting systems in IOs, while leaving prospect for the avoidance of absolute insulation from powerful member states, therefore increasing the probability for effective results regarding IO goals of intergovernmental cooperation, sacrifice, and change.Show less
This research firstly analyses mainstream centre-right party manifestos in order to establish variation in their support for European Integration. Afterwards the study aims at explaining the...Show moreThis research firstly analyses mainstream centre-right party manifestos in order to establish variation in their support for European Integration. Afterwards the study aims at explaining the observed variation by looking at four explanatory variables.Show less
Objectives: Top civil servants have an important position within governments. They need to be competent in their jobs, and balance between neutrality and responsiveness. While theoretical arguments...Show moreObjectives: Top civil servants have an important position within governments. They need to be competent in their jobs, and balance between neutrality and responsiveness. While theoretical arguments about the need for certain merit-based competencies (managerial skills, policy expertise and political craft) are substantial, empirical data about the actual possession of these competencies is lacking. Furthermore, knowledge about the role of political ideology on appointment criteria, and the extent of the politicization of the civil service, is limited. The merit-based competencies and political criteria that are desired of top civil servants are, therefore, the focus of this study. This thesis aims to gain a better understanding of the extent of politicization in the appointments of top civil servants, as well as to describe the merit-based competencies that are desired from top civil servants. Theoretical arguments will be applied to the case of the Dutch secretaries-general, the highest-ranking civil servants in the Netherlands. The following question is central in this thesis. “Which competencies did Dutch secretaries-general possess in the period 1994-2020, and how did party-political considerations play a role in the appointment of these secretaries-general?” Methods: This thesis uses quantitative methods to answer the research question. Through a descriptive statistical analysis, the competencies of the secretaries-general are identified. In addition, through logistic regression analysis, hypotheses concerning the role of ideology in appointments are tested. Results: In terms of competencies, almost all secretaries-general (94%) have managerial skills, followed by professional policy expertise (65%) and, to a lesser extent, political craft (25%). However, based on this research, there is no evidence that party-political considerations play a substantial role in the appointments of secretaries-general. Merit-based competencies are central, and the political influence of ministers in the appointment process seems to be small at best.Show less
After an era in which Hugo Chávez was the leader of one of the wealthiest countries of Latin America, a country that adored their president due to his charisma and background, Venezuela got itself...Show moreAfter an era in which Hugo Chávez was the leader of one of the wealthiest countries of Latin America, a country that adored their president due to his charisma and background, Venezuela got itself into one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. How is it possible that a country that was once so wealthy, envied by its neighbouring countries because of their stable democracy, now experiences hyperinflation, migration, and hunger? This thesis analyses the nutrition crisis in Venezuela through the concepts of crisis management and politicization.Show less
On the 12th of February 2019 the European Council adopted the Gas Directive Amendment consisting of common rules for the European gas market. The Amendment added that the rules of the original Gas...Show moreOn the 12th of February 2019 the European Council adopted the Gas Directive Amendment consisting of common rules for the European gas market. The Amendment added that the rules of the original Gas Directive of 2009 were not merely applicable to the internal European gas market, but also applicable for pipelines going from, and to third countries (non-member states) making the Directive contain common rules for the external energy policy of member states. This is a big step for a more integrated Europe, because external energy policy has never been a topic where member states were willing to share interests about. This rather special area gives theories like Neofunctionalism a new challenge to explain the process of integration in the EU. Three concepts of Neofunctionalism (spillover, loyalty shift and politicization) are tested on the Gas Directive Amendment and explain the strengths and weaknesses of Neofunctionalism as integration theory.Show less
This thesis offers a historical and political analysis of the recurring pattern of polarized political advocacy found among print and online newspapers in the Republic of Korea (ROK). It argues...Show moreThis thesis offers a historical and political analysis of the recurring pattern of polarized political advocacy found among print and online newspapers in the Republic of Korea (ROK). It argues that the authoritarian imprint left on the political system’s institutional features by democratic transition has contributed to the politicization of print newspapers initially, and that of online newspapers subsequently. It also provides a critical reading of the methodological framework found in D. Hallin and P. Mancini’s Comparing Media Systems from the viewpoint of the ROK democratization experience.Show less
