The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s human rights record is among the worst in the world and has been globally condemned — especially by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the...Show moreThe Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s human rights record is among the worst in the world and has been globally condemned — especially by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the European Union and the United Nations. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the source of mysteries and fantasies on the international stage when it comes to the topic of human rights. This thesis is an attempt to give a critical outlook on the situation in order to understand the major issues raised by the case of North Korean human rights. It will try show what causes this biased perception of North Korean human rights that we have in Occident by setting a theoretical framework, giving an overview of the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and analysing some of the main sources used to deal with human rights in North Korea. This study will conclude by saying that human rights in North Korea are indeed unique in many aspects and that they are not to be taken lightly. But the view that Occidental countries have on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is twisted by a Western perspective that is the source of many fantasies and approximations regarding this country. Finally, we will see that the North Korean case echoes to a much broader problem in the international community.Show less
This thesis is a comparative case study on the reasons behind the negative European attitudes toward refugees in both the post-WWII European Refugee Crisis and the 21st-Century European Refugee...Show moreThis thesis is a comparative case study on the reasons behind the negative European attitudes toward refugees in both the post-WWII European Refugee Crisis and the 21st-Century European Refugee Crisis. By comparing the two crises it needs to become clear whether there is continuity in the negative European attitude toward refugees. The comparison mainly focusses on three real-world concerns: national security, national identity, and economic livelihood.Show less
States have used different justifications for acceding to the WTO, mostly through economic or security terms (or both). Considering the existing debates on economic interdependence, this thesis...Show moreStates have used different justifications for acceding to the WTO, mostly through economic or security terms (or both). Considering the existing debates on economic interdependence, this thesis seeks to explore to what extent Latvia and Yemen invoked security as a justification for joining the WTO. This question becomes relevant as we assess the existing positions regarding free trade. Proponents of free trade, either in academia or in government, have mostly mentioned and based their case upon economic gains, but many of those proponents have also put forward the importance of trade regarding economic interdependence and security. Indeed, a great part of the current literature in international political economy (IPE), as well as in security and conflict studies, argues that trade between countries is beneficial for security reasons, as it disincentives countries to go to war with a country with whom they benefit from through economic gains. To analyse state justifications, I am using Discourse Analysis (DA), which aims to inquire whether liberal and/or realist claims about the relationship between economic interdependence and security are in fact present in discursive and textual justifications made by states. Through the analysis of the discourse of foreign policy executives of Latvia and Yemen, this thesis has found that, indeed, FPEs and States often frame their discourse in terms of security when joining the GATT/WTO.Show less
Since the end of the Cold War, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has transformed to expand its membership, bilateral relations, and operations across the globe, spearheaded by the U.S. As...Show moreSince the end of the Cold War, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has transformed to expand its membership, bilateral relations, and operations across the globe, spearheaded by the U.S. As China has historically opposed military alliances and actions taken by the U.S. to contain its rise, this thesis seeks to establish the impact NATO's transformation has had on China.Show less
This thesis researches the rise of China from a US political discourse perspective by taking a post-structuralist approach. It employs a critical discourse analysis to analyze elitist political...Show moreThis thesis researches the rise of China from a US political discourse perspective by taking a post-structuralist approach. It employs a critical discourse analysis to analyze elitist political discourse of the Obama administration for securitization moves of the rise of China. This research provides a unique perspective on the US-China security relationship and adds to the understanding how language shapes the meaning of security as well as foreign policy. This thesis shows that in discourse of the foreign policy executives of the Obama administration between May and October 2015 there are substantial instances in which the rise of China is being discussed as a threat to US economic and military securities. In line of this threat discourse, security measures are promoted and legitimized. These are among others: investing in military technology development, supporting the Trans-Pacific Partnership, promoting Chinese economic reforms, and investment in developing cyber capabilities.Show less
The international community was startled by the 2016 US presidential election as it appeared disruptive for international order. The Republican candidate, Donald Trump, who was elected as President...Show moreThe international community was startled by the 2016 US presidential election as it appeared disruptive for international order. The Republican candidate, Donald Trump, who was elected as President, surprised friend and foe with his explicit rhetoric regarding the role of the US in world politics. The foreign policy ideas of the Democratic candidate, Hilary Clinton, are generally perceive as more in line with the status quo. Consequently, this research aims to analyze how the concept of American exceptionalism was framed to legitimization these foreign policies suggestions. The American exceptionalism narrative is in academia generally understood as an ongoing narrative in US identity that frames foreign policy discourse. Therefore, analyzing how the candidates frame this concept, allows to gain understanding in the development of this discourse. The exact research question this study addresses is: How was American exceptionalism framed differently by candidates to legitimize ideas of US foreign policy in the 2016 presidential campaign discourse? This study performs a quantitative discourse analysis of campaigns speeches by Trump and Clinton from the 2016 presidential election. In total 100 official speeches are studied, 50 from Trump’s campaign and 50 from Clinton’s campaign, ranging from three different time periods in the election. The concept of American exceptionalism is operationalized on two levels. The primary level concentrates on US identity in general and eventually entailed two frames: Superior (better) and Singular (unique). The secondary level emphasizes the role of the US in world politics and ultimately encompassed also two frames: Exemplarism (exemplar) and Expansionism (leader). Based on this operationalization, the findings signify that Trump refers more to the concept of American exceptionalism, and also increasingly during the election, but at the same time undermines it many times more than Clinton. How the candidates frame the concept to discuss particular foreign policy topics is surprisingly similar, as both utilizes the Expansionism frame for the topic of terrorism while generally preferring the Exemplarism frame for other foreign policy areas. All in all, Trump appears more explicit and outspoken in how he frames the concept, yet not per se very distinct compared to the framing by Clinton. This study therefore indicates homogeneity in the belief in American exceptionalism and how it is framed to legitimize foreign policy. Based on these findings limitations and avenues for future research are discussed.Show less
The battle of ideologies during the Cold War produced many theories dedicated to spreading one ideology or another to states which had yet to feature it. Liberal engagement theory is just such a...Show moreThe battle of ideologies during the Cold War produced many theories dedicated to spreading one ideology or another to states which had yet to feature it. Liberal engagement theory is just such a theory, and claims that a liberal state can transform a non-liberal state from the inside, causing it to liberalize itself. This is said to be achieved through economic and social influences. To test liberal engagement theory, this thesis employs an in-depth comparative analysis of two cases which feature a liberal state engaging or not engaging a state whose ideology the liberal state may want to change. The cases chosen were that of US-Cuba and US-China relations from 1960-1989 (the height of the Cold War). To measure liberalization in these cases, economic and political data was drawn from multiple sources. Through this research, it was concluded that in neither case was the liberal state able to liberalize the non-liberal state, either through engagement or attempts at isolation of the non-liberal regime. Still, engagement policies with non-liberal states should typically be pursued for the benefits and increased options that trade, communication, and diplomatic engagement can provide for a state.Show less
The Trans-Pacific Partnership has been hailed as a “21st century trade agreement” which aims to establish a regional regulatory framework. This thesis will explore how the TPP effects the "sticky...Show moreThe Trans-Pacific Partnership has been hailed as a “21st century trade agreement” which aims to establish a regional regulatory framework. This thesis will explore how the TPP effects the "sticky power" of the United States in the Asia Pacific.Show less
The questions that remain in academia and the aim to conduct research on policymakers’ interests bring forth the following research question to better explain and understand U.S. foreign policy:...Show moreThe questions that remain in academia and the aim to conduct research on policymakers’ interests bring forth the following research question to better explain and understand U.S. foreign policy: Under the Obama administration, why did the U.S. not lead from behind in Egypt but did so in Libya and Syria, despite the similarities between the countries’ humanitarian crises and the U.S.’s broader interests in the Middle East? The research is structured as follows. The first chapter explores the extant literature and theories regarding U.S. military involvement. From this literature review, the subsequent chapter explains the factors that influence U.S. foreign policy and creates several models to steer the research at hand. After this, the research design addresses the data collection and analysis. This produces a tool upon which three chapters will be based that describe what led to the decision to lead from behind in Libya and Syria but not in Egypt. Following this, a comparative analysis is conducted to examine the differences in U.S. decision-making in regard to the three cases and is linked further to the academic literature. Upon this, several concluding remarks are provided, which pave the way for a discussion.Show less
The thesis seeks to provide an explanation regarding the decision of the European Union to impose economic sanctions against the Russian Federation, after the latter’s involvement in Ukraine with...Show moreThe thesis seeks to provide an explanation regarding the decision of the European Union to impose economic sanctions against the Russian Federation, after the latter’s involvement in Ukraine with the annexation of Crimea, by using a constructivist approach. The argument of this thesis for the constructivist interpretation of EU sanctions against Russia lies on the notions of EU Identity and EU Shared Values. The analysis of the purpose of the sanctions, their relation with the international legal order and the decision making process leading to their adoption, results in an interpretation that can be satisfactory under the constructivist approach. This approach is useful in order to explain EU’s imposition of economic sanctions against the Russian Federation as part of its broader foreign policy. Furthermore, by employing the method of Congruence Analysis the thesis draws inferences between normative predictions deriving from the given theory and empirical observations. Moreover, the argument of this thesis concludes that the special character of the EU, the notions of its Identity and Shared Values affected its collective decision to impose economic sanctions. Ultimately, the thesis renders the European Union to fit the constructivist assertions regarding the functions of the international system.Show less
In this thesis I aim to critically examine how the European Union (EU) liberal economic discourse towards Cuba is (re)produced and how the discourse enables policy actions. Furthermore, I aim to go...Show moreIn this thesis I aim to critically examine how the European Union (EU) liberal economic discourse towards Cuba is (re)produced and how the discourse enables policy actions. Furthermore, I aim to go beyond the question of how the liberal economic discourse enables policy actions. I will do so by asking how alternative policy actions are disabled through the discourse. This critical understanding of the (re)production of liberal economic discourse, enabling and disabling policies, aims to make it possible to question the dominant liberal economic development thinking. The research uses discourse analysis within a post structural approach, wishing to contribute to critical insights in the field of foreign policy discourse analysis. The analysis of the construction of the Self and the Other, through spatial, temporal and ethical dimensions, aims to shed light on the underlying taken for granted notions embedded in EU discourse. These taken for granted notions are understood to enable and limit policy actions. The goal of the thesis is to destabilize dominant liberal economic discourse and to open up room for plurality.Show less
The announcement of US president Barack Obama of the rebalance towards East Asia in 2011 was projected as a pivotal moment in US foreign policy in order to bring peace and prosperity to the region...Show moreThe announcement of US president Barack Obama of the rebalance towards East Asia in 2011 was projected as a pivotal moment in US foreign policy in order to bring peace and prosperity to the region and led to a discussion among scholars wherein the causes for the rebalance were debated. This thesis researched both domestic and international causes of this change in US foreign policy to add to this discussion. This study analyzed whether the shift in the distribution of capabilities within the international structure from the US to China could properly explain Obama’s rebalance towards East Asia in 2011, or if intervening domestic factors could more precisely determine what led Obama’s decision making towards the rebalance at that specific moment in time.Show less
The purpose of this thesis is to examine the extent to which hybrid governance structures can be formed between weak or fragile states and non-state actors and how it can result in a challenge to...Show moreThe purpose of this thesis is to examine the extent to which hybrid governance structures can be formed between weak or fragile states and non-state actors and how it can result in a challenge to the Mexican and the Jamaican state. This study undertakes this using a literature review, looking at the approach of realism to the topic and two case studies on Mexico and Jamaica. The case studies put the theoretical approaches of the literature review into a real-world context in order to get a complete understanding of the issues at hand. With the ever increasing influence of NSAs in the political system, it is important to understand these actors and how they relate to states that are weak or fragile. By doing so we can see if alternative forms of governance can be made in particularly lawless areas and what, if any, is the realist response. The level of the erosion of state sovereignty is important in influencing the relationship between the state and any NSAs in a hybrid governance structure.Show less
