Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
The thesis is based on empirical fieldwork that investigated a disaster-induced relocation project in eastern Indonesia. Choosing an actor-focused approach that followed development brokers of a...Show moreThe thesis is based on empirical fieldwork that investigated a disaster-induced relocation project in eastern Indonesia. Choosing an actor-focused approach that followed development brokers of a Christian NGO in the course of the project, enabled the author to expose multiple conflicting interests and agendas between and within government, the NGO and the 'host-community'. In this complex and contested discursive arena, brokers were strategically translating and shifting interests to create common realities and alliances from heterogeneous networks. By adapting and transforming objectives of the 'good governance' discourse, they were able to unify groups and win over supporters, despite the poor implementation of the project. How these translations competed with interpretations of other actors and how they influenced the brokers' positioning towards the goverment was of particular interest within this research. Applying visual methods has shed light on the performative and emotional dimensions of these translation processes. The ethnographic film 'Fighting for Nothing to Happen', which is the main part of the thesis, is accompanied by the multi-media pdf file that employs different interacting media and provides historical, political and socioeconomic background to selected sequences of the film. The different media inform and contest each other in a rhizomatic structure that produces a multi-layered and comprehensive understanding of the complexity of brokerage and development in Indonesia.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
In Taiwan, as the land is scarce and confined, the need for transferring the land into either building sites or industry use now aims at private lands. However, the thirst of obtaining excessive...Show moreIn Taiwan, as the land is scarce and confined, the need for transferring the land into either building sites or industry use now aims at private lands. However, the thirst of obtaining excessive lands and the whole expropriation process have now been questioned. In the research, I aim to focus on the aftermath that land grabbing has brought to the locals in their daily lives. In my findings, I’ve found out that for both cases, for those who win and those who lose their lands, the impacts are there in the environment they live in and the networks they had before, and therefore, I argue that people’s emotional bonds to their lands and homes should also be taken into consideration when major projects are considered. The outcome of this research is presented in both written and audio-visual components. For the video, please refer to the following link: http://youtu.be/pyaMvMKWkscShow less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
The Veerhuis is a hospice that has been founded on humanistic principles. Whereas many hospices have a religious base, the foundation of a hospice on humanistic principles is a fairly unique...Show moreThe Veerhuis is a hospice that has been founded on humanistic principles. Whereas many hospices have a religious base, the foundation of a hospice on humanistic principles is a fairly unique phenomenon. The intended purpose of the humanistic base is to make everyone, both residents and volunteers, feel welcome in this hospice. However, the term humanism implies, from a philosophical point of view, a critical stance towards religious beliefs. Since Hospice Veerhuis does not make any value judgements regarding religion, it can be concluded that humanism merely serves as a method to create a neutral environment in which everyone can feel comfortable according to their own moral principles. The result is a highly diverse team of volunteers. The data demonstrate that the team of volunteers is made up of people with different motivations to become a hospice volunteer, varying ideas on death and dying, and religious and spiritual beliefs. Four volunteers serve as archetypes to demonstrate the high degree of diversity that exists within this hospice.Show less
