This thesis looks at the late Linearbandkeramik site of Herxheim, southern Germany, dated to c. 5300 – 4950 BCE. At the site, 15,552 bone fragments of c. 1350 individuals have been deposited in a...Show moreThis thesis looks at the late Linearbandkeramik site of Herxheim, southern Germany, dated to c. 5300 – 4950 BCE. At the site, 15,552 bone fragments of c. 1350 individuals have been deposited in a ring enclosure of overlapping pits. The heavily fragmented bone assemblage is interpreted as the remains of multiple human cannibalism episodes in a period of less than 50 years. Some researchers have interpreted the site as a peaceful funerary ritual. However, this thesis argues for the occurrence of cannibalism based on the osteological evidence. The fracturing of the long bones and marrow-rich elements, the underrepresentation of free vertebrae, the presence of cut marks that are consistent with faunal butchering techniques and other sites associated with cannibalism, as well as the presence of chew marks on hand and foot bones are given as indicators for cannibalism. Herxheim is interpreted as a combination of exocannibalism and ritual cannibalism. A postcolonial interpretation of a “civilized” Self as opposed to a “barbarous” Other can explain why cannibalism in archaeology remains controversial.Show less
Previous studies suggested that Spanish colonisers imposed their northern-based beliefs and ideas, including the Christian religion and cisnormativity, on their occupied territories under colonial...Show morePrevious studies suggested that Spanish colonisers imposed their northern-based beliefs and ideas, including the Christian religion and cisnormativity, on their occupied territories under colonial rule. This thesis aims to determine whether colonial legacies still influence the perceptions among present-day Mexican Twitter users. Specifically, it addresses the ways in which the muxe, a third gender among the Zapotec community, are perceived. To test the hypothesis, 112 tweets, including 37 visual objects, were examined using a mixed-methods approach. All tweets were written in Spanish and published between January 1, 2021, and April 30, 2022. The sample (n=112) has been coded and analysed with the software program ATLAS.ti. The results showed that the majority (59.82%) of the authors demonstrated cisnormativity by misgendering the muxe, and little more than one-fifth (20.54%) exercised epistemological colonisation through the misusage of northern-based terminology. Correspondingly, 40.18% of the authors correctly adopted non-biased muxe descriptions, such as third gender. Interestingly, three of the six videos explicitly touched upon how colonialism altered Mexican attitudes towards the muxe. Considering previous literature, the results of this thesis suggest that colonial legacies affect to some extent the ways in which contemporary Mexican Twitter users perceive muxes as gender identity. However, since the results demonstrated no definitive agreement, no firm conclusion can be drawn about the hypothesis. By applying statistics, further research might be conducted to confirm the significance of these results.Show less
In this paper the relationships that existed between the Bolivian state, women’s-focused civil organisations and international NGOs between 2006 and 2019 will be explored. Whilst political networks...Show moreIn this paper the relationships that existed between the Bolivian state, women’s-focused civil organisations and international NGOs between 2006 and 2019 will be explored. Whilst political networks during the 1980s and 1990s have been the subject of much academic interest, the period 2006 - 2019 has been less well researched and therefore this dissertation will seek to fill a gap in the existing academia. There will be a particular emphasis on women’s issues. Instances where the actors’ interests aligned and instances where they did not will be highlighted and it will be considered which internal and external factors influenced this.Show less
In 2017 the exhibition The Birth of the Indonesian youth movement travelled between the Dutch National Archive and the Indonesian National Archive. Part of the exhibition are photographs...Show moreIn 2017 the exhibition The Birth of the Indonesian youth movement travelled between the Dutch National Archive and the Indonesian National Archive. Part of the exhibition are photographs documenting the rise of these movements. This thesis seeks to analyze the narrative at work in the photographs and the framing of the exhibition and how these relate to one another. The photographs are analyzed in the context of the growing independence movement in the Dutch East Indies. This thesis argues that a shift in agency of the people in the Indies realizes a transcultural narrative in the photographs. Moreover, it argues that, by isolating the photographs from further historical context, the photographs are reduced to only one object and therefore largely loose their political importance. Ultimately, this thesis acknowledges the complexity in the depiction of a contested colonial past and analyzes the ways in which this is exhibited.Show less
The status of WWII Poland as a German colony remains debated. While some scholars argue in favour of a so-called “colonial-imperial paradigm” others explicitly reject any connection between German...Show moreThe status of WWII Poland as a German colony remains debated. While some scholars argue in favour of a so-called “colonial-imperial paradigm” others explicitly reject any connection between German colonialism and Nazi-occupied Poland. Situating itself within this ongoing debate this thesis aims to provide a new perspective on German colonialism in Poland. By providing a comparative analysis of labour policies implemented in German South-West Africa (GSWA) and Nazi-occupied Poland this thesis hope to shed light on the controversial status of Poland as a German colony. Labour policies in particular pose an interesting lens through which to study the colonial-imperial paradigm as they touch upon a variety of dimensions that have been discussed at length within the wider literature. In particular, labour policy offers new insights into the role of ideology and violence in shaping economic relations in Germany’s colonies and Nazi-occupied Poland. As this thesis will show, the two cases show congruence in the fundamental motivations and structures of labour policy, however, at closer inspection, considerable differences can be observed. In particular, it will highlight the significant role of ideology in shaping Nazi labour practices and the unprecedented scale of violence experienced by Polish labourers. This research can be used as a starting point for further discussions about potential causal relations between German colonialism and the Nazi occupation of Poland as well as serving as a stepping stone to analysing the long-term economic consequences of the Nazi occupation of Poland.Show less
Considering Ecuador’s colonial legacy regarding its marginalized indigenous, this research is aimed at finding out the following: why are the indigenous people still marginalized today even during...Show moreConsidering Ecuador’s colonial legacy regarding its marginalized indigenous, this research is aimed at finding out the following: why are the indigenous people still marginalized today even during a pandemic? How can the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) be seen as a part of postcolonialism in countries like Ecuador? By demonstrating how they and which articles have been violated in four time periods – the 1990s and 2000s uprisings, Rafael Correa’s regime, Lenin Moreno’s regime, and the pandemic- I also aim at finding out why they have been violated. In addition, this research has looked at one important colonial legacy of Ecuador: racism and discrimination. This has been further elaborated in the research, where the notion of mestizaje, class and racial discrimination has been further unpacked from a postcolonial perspective. Furthermore, the research argues that the UDHR, though ambitious, is not adequate enough to protect the rights of the indigenous communities. This is because the UDHR is not legally binding. However, the UDHR has also been unpacked from the postcolonial perspective: if global governance, can be seen as troublesome due to the imperial undertone it could potentially have. Lastly, the events that are being mentioned in the time periods serve as evidence that back up these claims.Show less
Parody is generally characterised as a form of ironic imitation that seeks to make some sort of critical commentary on that which it imitates. Judith Butler’s theory of parody, described in the...Show moreParody is generally characterised as a form of ironic imitation that seeks to make some sort of critical commentary on that which it imitates. Judith Butler’s theory of parody, described in the final chapters of Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity, outlines how parody, as a disruption in repeated processes of signification, can be used as a strategy with which to subvert normalised gender identities. This thesis will take Butler’s theory on parody and reinterpret it through a postcolonial lens so that it may be used to analyse how parody is employed in the oeuvre of Wendy Red Star. This analysis will show that parody is used by Red Star to subvert stereotypes of Native American culture established during the colonial era, as well as the colonial technologies that have enabled the continued hegemony of those stereotypes. Ultimately, this thesis will consider how the ambiguity of parody makes it an effective mode of criticism in postcolonial contexts.Show less
The Arctic region is often portrayed as consisting of pristine, unspoiled nature, small settlements with indigenous communities detached culturally from the rest of the world. In Greenland, and in...Show moreThe Arctic region is often portrayed as consisting of pristine, unspoiled nature, small settlements with indigenous communities detached culturally from the rest of the world. In Greenland, and in other Arctic regions, the opposite is closer to reality. Greenland has been transformed and is transforming into an urban society, not without problems. Post-WII policies that sought to industrialise and modernise Greenlandic societies employed urbanisation as a key method, but left behind a history of trauma related to the forced relocation out of settlements, into an alienating urban society. This thesis argues, that there is a similar pattern unfolding at the moment and that the rationale behind urbanisation in Greenland did not change: it is the economic promise of affluence cities are considered to hold that drives politics of relocation. More lights need to be shed on urbanisation in Greenland, including its drivers and societal implications, as it can pave the way for full independence and could thus initiate the final state of decolonisation.Show less
This thesis examines the trajectories for climate and gender justice in Bangladesh, in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 (BDP 2100). The study...Show moreThis thesis examines the trajectories for climate and gender justice in Bangladesh, in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 (BDP 2100). The study is based on a case study approach, using qualitative text analysis as a method of analysis. The theoretical framework builds on theories of postcolonial feminism, primarily by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak and Chandra Talpade Mohanty, intersectional theories and previous research examining the links between climate and gender in Bangladesh. The selected material, the SDGs and the BDP 2100 is analysed through four themes; ‘Discursive Marginalization’, ‘Consciousness and Subject’, ‘Intersecting Challenges’ and ‘Sustainability and GDP’. What are the trajectories for climate and gender justice in Bangladesh, in relation to the SDGs and the BDP 2100? This research finds that although gendered vulnerabilities linked to climate change are acknowledged, it lacks representation and agency from a postcolonial perspective. Moreover, it finds that BDP 2100 does not acknowledge gendered (or social) dimensions in how Bangladesh is impacted by climate change, which poses a problem for how to formulate sound and inclusive policies.Show less
This thesis explores the theory of ecological imperialism. The term eco-imperialism refers to a postcolonialist critique of environmentalist initiatives, as they are argued to portray imperialist...Show moreThis thesis explores the theory of ecological imperialism. The term eco-imperialism refers to a postcolonialist critique of environmentalist initiatives, as they are argued to portray imperialist characteristics. It claims that ideas from the Global North are imposed on the Global South, reinforcing their political and economic dominance. This thesis aims to test this theory on the case of the fires in the Brazilian Amazonian rainforest. Deforestation can be portrayed as a devasting process internationally, but at the same time, as progress and economic development locally. This discrepancy between local and international perspectives possibly portrays imperialist patterns. A critical discourse analysis is performed on international governmental and non-governmental sources covering these fires. This analysis aims to find proof of imperialist rhetoric. In addition, the Brazilian reaction to such discourse will be analyzed to strengthen this argument and find possible implications of current environmentalist discourse and counter-productive effects. The analysis finds numerous instances of discourse that point toward imperialist power relations in both governmental and non-governmental sources. However, especially NGOs repeatedly described the Amazon as being theirs and excluded local perspectives. With increasing international environmental attention and cooperation, it is important to ensure that initiatives are not counterproductive, and that equal agency is provided globally in order to guard itself from past mistakes in international interventions.Show less
Race in fantasy offers a ‘safe space’ to engage with racial discourse, but races are often narrowed down to one dimensional stereotypes. Guild Wars 2 is a Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing...Show moreRace in fantasy offers a ‘safe space’ to engage with racial discourse, but races are often narrowed down to one dimensional stereotypes. Guild Wars 2 is a Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game that features race in a similar way, but offers insight in various themes regarding racial discourse, postcolonialism and International Relations. Videogames more so than other popular media, have the power to be political because they allow for interactive engagement with the medium. This thesis presents the argument that engagement with fantasy games featuring racial discourse can open up valuable and critical discussions of multiculturalism, the meaning of race, Orientalism and postcolonialism in our real life societies.Show less
Hugo Chavez Frías’ virulent discourse has until his death fed the appetite of media, politicians and academics. Mostly known for his social and anti-imperialist program as well as the success of...Show moreHugo Chavez Frías’ virulent discourse has until his death fed the appetite of media, politicians and academics. Mostly known for his social and anti-imperialist program as well as the success of his leftist movement across the Latin American region, the former Venezuelan President has also attracted attention with his denunciation of the Bush administration, the neoliberal system, and more generally the United States’ foreign policy. Publicly shaming the American government for the invasion, bombing, and killing of thousands of civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq at the 2006 United Nations Assembly, there were no doubts for the international community that Chavez’s anti-imperialist ideology had definitely shifted into an anti-American one following the 9/11 attacks and the launching of the War on Terror. That popular thinking was however challenged in the last decade by academics who passionately debated on the origins of Chavez’s anti-Americanism, some advocating a definite shift -yet unrelated to the events of 9/11, others defending the linearity of his discourse. For years, three theories have thus evolved around the figure of Hugo Chavez and the nature of his discourse. With the support of a strong theoretical framework, historical reflection and Political Discourse Analysis, this thesis ultimately aims to solve this discussion.Show less
The thesis addresses the phenomenon of volunteer tourism and tries to evaluate its impact on the African development discourse. The question is addressed by analysing the use of images and phrases...Show moreThe thesis addresses the phenomenon of volunteer tourism and tries to evaluate its impact on the African development discourse. The question is addressed by analysing the use of images and phrases on two volunteer organizations’ Facebook timelines, Go Volunteer Africa and Volunteer Uganda, to investigate the ways in which they aid in constructing a narrative about the African development discourse.The analysis suggests that the discourse of need plays a crucial role in the organizations' approach to development. The images and phrases integrated in Facebook posts can also be traced back to a colonial as well as a racist discourse based upon which social realities of the volunteers and the host communities are being influenced.Show less
Jan Jacob Maria de Groot (1854 – 1921) was an important scientist who worked as a sinologist for the Dutch government and taught at the university of Leiden and Berlin. During his life, he studied...Show moreJan Jacob Maria de Groot (1854 – 1921) was an important scientist who worked as a sinologist for the Dutch government and taught at the university of Leiden and Berlin. During his life, he studied the religious customs of Chinese people in Indonesia as well as elsewhere. He was one of the great curators of the Leiden collection and also curated in Berlin, but his work was removed after his death. In this thesis, the progressive development of his works will be sketched; an attempt will be made to understand his relevance and function within the history of sinology in Leiden; and finally, his relationship to the Dutch colonial government will be put in a post-colonial perspective. Ultimately, the goal of the work is find out what Jan Jacob Maria de Groot’s goals and ambitions meant for the Dutch colonial government, and why his relevance in the history of sinology is often understated.Show less
As the first of its kind, this paper evaluates the UNHCR's construction of refugees in its annual campaigns between 2011 and 2016. First establishing the complex nature of anti-refugee sentiment in...Show moreAs the first of its kind, this paper evaluates the UNHCR's construction of refugees in its annual campaigns between 2011 and 2016. First establishing the complex nature of anti-refugee sentiment in the United Kingdom using Integrated Threat Theory and the trinity of policy, politics and media, the paper identifies the instances in which UNHCR has offset, overlooked or encouraged public hostility and protectionism. It is concluded that UNHCR’s campaigns before 2014 did not internalise local social and historical hierarchies and anti-refugee discourse. It was only with the ‘I Belong’ campaign of 2014 that UNHCR fulfilled its role as the global guardian of refugee protection norms, addressing UK anti-refugee sentiment directly and effectively.Show less
This thesis compares two modern adaptations of Shakespeare's The Tempest to the original play and argues that Indigo and Hag-Seed problematise and expand on The Tempest by providing different...Show moreThis thesis compares two modern adaptations of Shakespeare's The Tempest to the original play and argues that Indigo and Hag-Seed problematise and expand on The Tempest by providing different perspectives and filling in gaps that are not explored in the classic play.Show less
