Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
In the past 34 years since independence, Namibia has undergone a process of reconciling the many different people within its borders due to its history of colonialism, genocide and apartheid....Show moreIn the past 34 years since independence, Namibia has undergone a process of reconciling the many different people within its borders due to its history of colonialism, genocide and apartheid. Redistributing land from white owners to previously disadvantaged groups is part of this process. This research is a case study of Krumhuk farm, a commercial farm which is no longer owned by a single family but by a non-profit Section-21 company. Through multimodal methods, I have researched the inhabitants’ sense of belonging to the land and community. As a result, I argue that taking land ownership as the benchmark for reconciliation does not suffice because (1) it remains within the colonial legacy that dictates that land can be owned and (2) it does not always address what people underlyingly long for; a place to belong. Because, as seen at Krumhuk which restructured their legal ownership, people’s sense of belonging to the community and the land can be obstructed by (a) alienation through the underlying anthroposophical philosophy, (b) a disbalance in interdependencies and (c) remaining insecurity concerning future displacement. The research’s relevance is bestowed by its outcome on these factors which can hinder reconciliation.Show less
The understanding of life as a complex system is becoming more and more prominent in many academic disciplines. This study applies this systems’ perspective to understand how transitional justice ...Show moreThe understanding of life as a complex system is becoming more and more prominent in many academic disciplines. This study applies this systems’ perspective to understand how transitional justice (TJ) practice contributes to reconciliation. Based on existing literature, a theoretical framework is constructed which theorizes that in the social network of TJ society, there is an emergent process towards reconciliation. This process is based on the value of interconnectedness. TJ practices emerge as part of this process and can serve as a catalysator. This emergent process is impacted by formal TJ structure and the TJ governance network. Consequently, this study applies this theoretical framework to the case of the post-genocide gacaca trials in Rwanda. The findings demonstrate that the model provides insights into the case. However, further research is needed to validate the theoretical framework.Show less
Media has often been neglected as a potential asset for peacebuilding due to certain framing tendencies which are deemed to promote polarization and conflict, namely partiality, sensationalism and...Show moreMedia has often been neglected as a potential asset for peacebuilding due to certain framing tendencies which are deemed to promote polarization and conflict, namely partiality, sensationalism and simplification. Combining framing and reconciliation theories, this thesis explores whether this is indeed the case for Colombia’s reconciliation process following their 50-year long civil war. This qualitative content analysis demonstrates the capability of mainstream media to act as a friend for peace, choosing to employ the abovementioned techniques in manners that actually promote truth-telling, rule of law, and the development of mutual understanding and respect. A sole major pitfall is identified in the newspapers’ reporting approach, as they often overlook the importance of relating current developments to the root causes of the conflict. The consequent limitation of their truth-telling function produces spill-overs to other reconciliation aspects, thereby partially restricting the otherwise positive impact of media. Overall, this thesis challenges conventional narratives depicting media framing tendencies as inherently negative, and therefore opens up new possibilities for peacebuilders, transitional justice institutions, governments and the population to regard media as an ally to peace.Show less
Born in the wake of the Second World War, moulded by the polarisation of the Cold War and diametrically opposed to its Northern counterpart, South Korea’s domestic history and the arising memory...Show moreBorn in the wake of the Second World War, moulded by the polarisation of the Cold War and diametrically opposed to its Northern counterpart, South Korea’s domestic history and the arising memory issues are among the issues that were deemed worthy of addressing by the conception of the 2005 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Korea (TRCK). The truth-seeking activities of a truth and reconciliation commission tap into the larger debate on transitional versus punitive justice. This thesis will argue that South Korean politics are polarised along the same moral issues as the debate around the merits of a truth and reconciliation commission and that in the crossroads of the goals of a truth and reconciliation commission and the South Korean political context it tried to operate in lies a reflection of the structural problems of a truth and reconciliation commission.Show less
Deze scriptie onderzoekt het multimediale museumproject Het Museum van Nederland, dat resulteerde in een gelijknamige expositie over Nederland in de Kunsthal in Rotterdam. Er wordt beargumenteerd...Show moreDeze scriptie onderzoekt het multimediale museumproject Het Museum van Nederland, dat resulteerde in een gelijknamige expositie over Nederland in de Kunsthal in Rotterdam. Er wordt beargumenteerd dat Het Museum van Nederland culturele diversiteit celebreert in dienst van het samenbrengen van een divers museumpubliek in de tentoonstelling. Hierbij wordt specifiek gekeken naar de rol van objecten die verwijzen naar intercultureel contact tussen de Nederlandse cultuur en andere culturen. Deze scriptie onderscheidt drie aspecten, die naar voren komen uit de manier waarop Het Museum van Nederland het exposeren van Nederland benadert. Allereerst wordt gesteld dat de tentoonstellingsmakers in hun blik op de Nederlandse geschiedenis, intercultureel contact positioneren als verrijking van de Nederlandse cultuur. Ten tweede blijkt de tentoonstelling een contactmoment tussen verschillende culturele bevolkingsgroepen onder het museumpubliek te faciliteren. Tenslotte blijkt hoe Het Museum door middel van een tweeledige benadering van de Nederlandse geschiedenis de mogelijkheid voor reconciliatie tussen verschillende culturele groepen creëert.Show less
Recently, scholarly debate on peacebuilding and reconciliation is making a “local-turn”, pointing towards local actors, such as civil society organizations, to achieve inclusive and locally...Show moreRecently, scholarly debate on peacebuilding and reconciliation is making a “local-turn”, pointing towards local actors, such as civil society organizations, to achieve inclusive and locally grounded peace and reconciliation. Despite this interest, little studies have examined if, and how, these local actors make a contribution to these goals. Such a case is Lebanon, characterized by protracted, sectarian conflict, but where a group of CSOs is active within this contentious nexus between conflict and peace. How does the work of these CSOs fit in the paradigm of reconciliation? Can they contribute to reconciliation in Lebanon? Following these questions, this research suggests that these CSOs can be understood through the framework of political reconciliation of Schaap (2005). Furthermore, they exhibit various functions to a reconciliation process: They advocate new narratives on identity, conflict and history, and the rights of victims. It arises that participatory and grassroot approaches are most conducive to successes of the CSOs. At the same time, the strategy and goals of the CSOs are negotiated by constraining factors. In what I call a ‘negotiated reconciliation process’ sectarian and corrupt structures on the one hand, and resource-based problems and international donor wishes on the other, mitigate the level of success of the CSOs.Show less
This study looks at the paradoxical interplay of decolonization and reconciliation in IR, bringing attention to the continuities of empire in international politics. I aim to show that Emmanuel...Show moreThis study looks at the paradoxical interplay of decolonization and reconciliation in IR, bringing attention to the continuities of empire in international politics. I aim to show that Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to return cultural artifacts to Africa is part of a reconciliation strategy aiming to reaffirm French symbolic power in Africa and beyond. Moreover, the French state can re-center itself on the moral grounds of its republican values, which reinforce the unitary state narrative. The overarching questions which drive this research include whether or not the former colonizer is able to sincerely relate to the Other and when an apology is genuine.Show less
This thesis argues that the story about Melibeus must be read as a call for peace, and that each version was written to comment on specific events. The versions of Jan van Boendale and Dirc Potter...Show moreThis thesis argues that the story about Melibeus must be read as a call for peace, and that each version was written to comment on specific events. The versions of Jan van Boendale and Dirc Potter are compared and examined against the political and cultural background of their writers.Show less
