The Ottoman Empire grew increasingly accepting of European law of nations when it became clear that its survival was at stake. In a bid to appeal to their European counterparts, the Ottomans sought...Show moreThe Ottoman Empire grew increasingly accepting of European law of nations when it became clear that its survival was at stake. In a bid to appeal to their European counterparts, the Ottomans sought to reform their existing administrative practices and governmental institutions into a bureaucratic system based on the Western model. Inspired by the European state system, the Ottoman Empire broke its long and historical streak of militaristic statecraft in favor of changing its approach to foreign affairs.Show less
Canada’s history has been shaped by settler colonialism. The Indigenous populations who had lived on the territory prior to the arrival of European colonists are now marginalized groups. But how...Show moreCanada’s history has been shaped by settler colonialism. The Indigenous populations who had lived on the territory prior to the arrival of European colonists are now marginalized groups. But how did they go from being trading partners to being forced into reservations? This thesis investigates changes in notions of political authority of Indigenous Peoples in Canada in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The findings include proof for a plurality of practices between settlers and Indigenous communities in the eighteenth century. In the nineteenth century, this plurality disappeared, and was replaced by the imposition of European practices on Indigenous Peoples. This change was due to a changing political landscape in the colony, with the Canadian colonial government gaining more independence and changing the doctrine on relations with Indigenous Peoples. These changes resulted in Indigenous Peoples being stripped of their political authority and ultimately falling under the authority of the Canadian colonial government, which had gained power in the same century.Show less
This bachelor's thesis examines to what extent did growing cross-border capital flows contribute to the treaty-making revolution of the 19th century. Through a case-study approach, the thesis...Show moreThis bachelor's thesis examines to what extent did growing cross-border capital flows contribute to the treaty-making revolution of the 19th century. Through a case-study approach, the thesis analyzes two significant cases, Latin America and the German Zollverein, to understand the relationship between cross-border capital flows and treaty-making innovations. The findings demonstrate that cross-border capital flows to a large extent contributed to treaty-making innovations in these two cases. In Latin America, debt relationships between newly independent states and lender banks became the basis for signing sovereignty-recognizing treaties, even without full territorial control. In Europe, the desire for greater cross-border capital flows and German economic integration led to the creation of the Zollverein, the first-ever customs-union agreement. The Zollverein treaties not only increased in quantity but also pushed treaty-making towards a more positivist direction, introducing clauses that standardized weights and currencies. The uniqueness of these Latin America and Zollverein cases, along with subsequent similar treaties, supports the conclusion that cross-border capital flows at least to some extent contributed to the treaty-making revolution of the 19th century.Show less
This study examines the interpretation of the concept of female empowerment from two perspectives: that of local South Sudanese, both men and women, and that of Europeaid, the EU delegation in...Show moreThis study examines the interpretation of the concept of female empowerment from two perspectives: that of local South Sudanese, both men and women, and that of Europeaid, the EU delegation in charge of a female empowerment project in South Sudan. In order to conduct this research, focus group discussions were held among the local South Sudanese, both men and women, and an in-depth interview was held with Anna Dmitrijewa, the programme manager of Europeaid’s South Sudanese delegation. This research expands the literature on female empowerment, as it is a unique case study conducted in a new nation state struggling with different views on gender roles in national law and customary law. It illustrates the comparability and discrepancy between Europeaid, as an outside party, and the local South Sudanese. All parties indicated that the economic side to female empowerment is relevant, though each group focused on economics differently. The South Sudanese women focused on economic autonomy and rights to property and inheritance, the South Sudanese men focused on making resources available, while both groups stayed cautiously away from social change. Europeaid focused very much on how economics can determine women’s social value and attempts to counter that, directly linking economic and social empowerment. Furthermore, the three parties all agreed that legal empowerment was necessary as a method to defend women’s rights, even though the parties did not have the same view on women’s rights. This research therefore illustrated that female empowerment, the format it should take, and its necessity was viewed differently by each party, particularly social empowerment being viewed as necessary by Europeaid, and unnecessary or even undesirable by the local men and women. Nevertheless, economics remained in the centre position for all parties.Show less