Since the turn of the 20th century, the United States has consistently seen lower voter turnout compared to other developed democracies. Initially, during the 1920s, this was viewed as a serious...Show moreSince the turn of the 20th century, the United States has consistently seen lower voter turnout compared to other developed democracies. Initially, during the 1920s, this was viewed as a serious social problem and produced widespread panic. By the 1990s, however, comparable rates of non-voting generated a more muted and even accepting response. This thesis thus argues that non-voting underwent a process of socio-cultural normalization during the 20th century. This process is historicized by tracing four distinct shifts in attitudes toward non-voting which ended up normalizing this American peculiarity.Show less
This thesis examines the functionality of early modern Amsterdam as a diplomatic city. (Entities in) The Hague nominally held the political and geographical prerogative to diplomatic relations in...Show moreThis thesis examines the functionality of early modern Amsterdam as a diplomatic city. (Entities in) The Hague nominally held the political and geographical prerogative to diplomatic relations in the Dutch Republic, but Amsterdam was a significant challenger to this position due to its economic and financial agency. Various aspects, such as Amsterdam's interfence with diplomatic policy, its contacts with Dutch envoys abroad and the diplomatic community within Amsterdam itself, are elucidated. In particular, it explores the functionality of lesser envoys, such as consuls and agents, and the way they integrated themselves into urban society.Show less
By applying the concept of "anchoring innovation" to multiple synchronic sources, this study shows how much similarity there is in "anchor-shaping" amongst different members of the sixth-century...Show moreBy applying the concept of "anchoring innovation" to multiple synchronic sources, this study shows how much similarity there is in "anchor-shaping" amongst different members of the sixth-century Roman elite. Roman law and education were important markers of romanness around the traditionalist court of the Ostrogothic king Theoderic. Cassiodorus, Ennodius and the anonymous author of the Edictum Theoderici all used these traditional concepts as weapons in their struggle for social power. Education (including juridical skills) led to a self-made form of nobility, which implied worldly power. Further research on the social functioning of normative texts could increase our understanding of the power of tradition in rhetorical communication and the possibilities of this "prescriptive negotiation" for social networks.Show less
De Armenen van Tbilisi vormen in het Russische rijk een vreemde eend in de bijt. Enerzijds een 'oriëntale' minderheid, anderzijds waren Armenen sterk verstedelijkt en actief in niet-agrarische...Show moreDe Armenen van Tbilisi vormen in het Russische rijk een vreemde eend in de bijt. Enerzijds een 'oriëntale' minderheid, anderzijds waren Armenen sterk verstedelijkt en actief in niet-agrarische beroepen als koopman, industrieel en zakenman. Volgens enkele historici, onder andere G.R. Suny, vormden deze Armenen van Tbilisi in het late Russische keizerrijk (2e helft 19e eeuw) een bourgeoisie. De vraag is of de Armenen dit waren, aangezien de algemene historiografische aanname is dat tsaristisch Rusland geen middenklasse, bourgeoisie of burgerij had. In dit onderzoek wordt gekeken naar de ontwikkelingen in de Russische geschiedenis die geleid hebben tot de af- of aanwezigheid van een burgerij. Daarnaast is het de vraag of de Armenen zichzelf als burgers zagen en burgerzin of burgerschap toonden. Ten slotte wordt naar de activiteiten van de Armenen die actief waren in het stadsbestuur van Tiblisi door middel van een bronnenonderzoek. Aan de hand van primaire (Russischtalige) bronnen uit Tbilisi in het laatste kwart van de 19e eeuw wordt gezocht naar aanwijzingen voor burgerschap en wordt getracht een beeld te scheppen van Tbilisi in die tijd.Show less
In this thesis, I examine the interaction between the business strategy of the Amsterdam banking house Hope & Co. from 1756-1780 and the credit crisis of 1772-1773. Hope & Co. played a...Show moreIn this thesis, I examine the interaction between the business strategy of the Amsterdam banking house Hope & Co. from 1756-1780 and the credit crisis of 1772-1773. Hope & Co. played a central role in the unfolding of this historical event, whereas on the other hand, the crisis had a decisive impact on the Hopes’ business strategy. Before the credit crisis, the Hopes operated prudently and consistently, and the firm acted as a market-regulating institution. However, in the runup to the crisis, Hope & Co. became increasingly involved in large-scale financial speculation in London and Amsterdam. Subsequently, in the aftermath of the crisis, the Hopes returned to a strategy of caution. They diversified their business portfolio by investing in the loan sector and gradually shifted from mercantile activities to financial services. Moreover, as the last major family firm in Amsterdam, Hope & Co. affirmed its market-regulating role, henceforth becoming the banker’s banker. This thesis emphasises the importance of credit governance structures for the resilience of markets and merchant communities. The fact that Hope & Co. established itself as a market-regulating institution poses a challenge to new institutional economics. It raises questions on the role of family firms in (the governance of) early modern credit structures.Show less
This thesis examines the entrepreneurial reasons for establishing the Ostend Company (1722-1727) in the context of socio-political developments in the aftermath of the War of the Spanish Succession...Show moreThis thesis examines the entrepreneurial reasons for establishing the Ostend Company (1722-1727) in the context of socio-political developments in the aftermath of the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713). The thesis concludes that the Ostend Company could be established because: internal competition in the Southern Netherlands had to be eliminated to restore profitability of the Chinese tea trade; merchants from the Southern Netherlands could not gain trading concessions in Bengal without the institutional protection of a Company (under the Habsburg Emperor); the Habsburg administration judged that overseas trade was instrumental for the economic development of the Southern Netherlands, in turn strengthening Habsburg authority there; and the Dutch and English threat of waging war against the commercial initiatives in the Southern Netherlands turned out to be a hollow one.Show less
This thesis discusses the humorous interpretations of integration which figured in Dutch humorous television programmes between 1975 and 2010. It uncovers the importance and meanings ascribed to...Show moreThis thesis discusses the humorous interpretations of integration which figured in Dutch humorous television programmes between 1975 and 2010. It uncovers the importance and meanings ascribed to integration in Dutch society at large.Show less
In recent decades, historians have become increasingly aware of the role of tourism in regional identity formation in Europe. The influence of tourism on borderland identity is, however, still...Show moreIn recent decades, historians have become increasingly aware of the role of tourism in regional identity formation in Europe. The influence of tourism on borderland identity is, however, still largely uncharted territory. This thesis investigates the impact of tourism on processes of regional identity formation in Zeelandic Flanders between 1970 and 1985. In this period, the Dutch maritime borderland expanded its reputation as an authentic beach destination with a unique Flemish hinterland. Tourist organizations, such as the VVV, emphasized the region's cross-border Flemish character, both in culture and landscape. The image of a ‘boundlessly Flemish’ borderland was, however, not as unproblematic as promotional material might suggest. In the same period, the border stimulated particular types of tourism that were considered negative and immoral: sex shop tourism in Sluis and nudism on the beach near Cadzand. The local impact of these types of ‘tourism of vice’ was a topic of heated debate within the local community. This thesis demonstrates that the impact of tourism on borderlands cannot be simplified to the construction of a single ‘cross-border identity’. Instead, multiple understandings of regionhood and nationhood were developed in borderland tourism, that overlapped and sometimes even contradicted each other.Show less
This thesis deals with binary gender roles in Revolutionary Nationalism in Post-Revolutionary Mexico. By analyzing the first 20 number of the Comic book Adelita y las Guerrillas, the thesis argues...Show moreThis thesis deals with binary gender roles in Revolutionary Nationalism in Post-Revolutionary Mexico. By analyzing the first 20 number of the Comic book Adelita y las Guerrillas, the thesis argues that masculine and feminine gender roles are created in tandem, primarily through the characters Adelita and Juan sin miedo. The thesis argues that whilst portraying progressive gender roles on a superficial level, at its core, the comic book reproduces conservative gender ideology as a part of Revolutionary Nationalism.Show less
This thesis looks at changes in landholding patterns in the age of Sulla. While most studies on landholding patterns focus on the second century B.C., the author argues that the first century B.C....Show moreThis thesis looks at changes in landholding patterns in the age of Sulla. While most studies on landholding patterns focus on the second century B.C., the author argues that the first century B.C. is deserving of more scholarly attention since many big changes occur in this period. The author discusses Sulla’s colonization programme and the proscriptions in order to determine the effect of these measures on landholding patterns in Italy. Specifically, this thesis seeks to help illuminate the reasons behind the veritable explosion of villa-buildings after the age of Sulla. This study offers up a reassessment of the colonization programme and argues that the programme was conducted on a much smaller scale than is often thought. The overall impact of the programme is also far less significant than often assumed. It is argued that the proscriptions had a far larger impact on landholding patterns. The author argues that it was the proscriptions, and not the colonization programme, that is likely to have led to an increase in villa-buildings.Show less
Between 1945 and 2001 possibilities for homosexual men to move to the Netherlands improved considerably. This thesis examines how and why this development took place. In 1967 for the first time men...Show moreBetween 1945 and 2001 possibilities for homosexual men to move to the Netherlands improved considerably. This thesis examines how and why this development took place. In 1967 for the first time men were allowed to stay in the Netherlands officially, despite their sexuality. From 1974 partner migration became possible, allowing the foreign partner to stay 'because' of his sexuality. In 1981 the Netherlands was the first country that allowed asylum seekers to be granted refugee status on the basis of their sexuality. Main reasons for this change are the secularisation of the Netherlands, a liberalisation of family law, progressive politics in the 1970s because of the social (and sexual) revolutions in the 1960s. Also very important was the emergence of the gay emancipation movement in the Netherlands which became politically active in the 1970s. Nevertheless, implementation of these novel opportunities to settle in the Netherlands proved more difficult. Local police forces applied their own moral judgments on immigrants and it took until the 1990s before a homosexual asylum seeker was granted refugee status for his sexuality. This thesis therefore argues that the Netherlands wanted to show abroad how progressive its policies were, while practically, the results of the policies were not so progressive at all. Nevertheless, the Netherlands became to be known abroad as a safe haven for homosexual men. This was an image that the Dutch government tried to avoid in the 1960s, while it embraced the image in the 1990s. This thesis adds to the debate of policy change, as well as to the debate around the difference between policy and practice, taking immigration of homosexual men as a case study.Show less
