The contemporary Russian invasion of Ukraine requires a reassessment of the European Union’s foreign policy tools as the threat of war has not been so high in recent history. As the EU’s sanction...Show moreThe contemporary Russian invasion of Ukraine requires a reassessment of the European Union’s foreign policy tools as the threat of war has not been so high in recent history. As the EU’s sanction regime is one of the most important tools for the union outside influence on that is important to be evaluated. For that Kingdon’s stream model is used, together with policy advisory systems theory, to analyse the influence of think tanks in the European Unions sanction regime. In this combined model a most similar system’s design is applied to analyse the influence of think tanks in similar cases. A relation is found between think tank publications and the implementation of sanctions, from which is inferred that the influence of think tanks is primarily in the political stream. Consequently, as the political stream is influenced that is the weakest spot of the EU’s sanction regime. As the EU consists of democratic states this is not a major issue because within the members states the decision-makers are held accountable. Moreover, the members of the European parliament are also held accountable so there are two manners that compensate this weakness.Show less
This thesis sought to explore factors resulting in EU foreign policy reform through Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework. Using the literature on EU foreign policy change and the EU’s sanctions...Show moreThis thesis sought to explore factors resulting in EU foreign policy reform through Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework. Using the literature on EU foreign policy change and the EU’s sanctions policy as a fundamental basis, the expectations were that framing in a particular way would result in EU foreign policy reform, that policy entrepreneurs contributed to EU foreign policy reform, and that think tanks and swings of European mood contributed to EU foreign policy reform. Within this thesis, the imposition of sanctions against Russia represents the policy reform and window of opportunity through which policy reform can be realized. The cases of the annexations of Crimea and four Ukrainian regions were selected. To identify the factors at play, European news outlets, EU policy documents and meeting results, think tank reports and opinion polls have been consulted. The results revealed that policy entrepreneurs within the policy stream were responsible for the imposition of sanctions, despite continuous expression of dissatisfaction and use of the window of opportunity by think tanks. The discoveries within this thesis offer insights into the significant influence of factors found in the Multiple Streams Framework, contributing to existing literature on policymaking and opening avenues for further research.Show less
In the summer of 2023, the Dutch Ministry will launch a feminist foreign policy. We expect this to be a mainly liberal feminist foreign policy. This is comparable to current efforts in name of...Show moreIn the summer of 2023, the Dutch Ministry will launch a feminist foreign policy. We expect this to be a mainly liberal feminist foreign policy. This is comparable to current efforts in name of feminism in Dutch foreign policy, as well as the feminist foreign policies of Sweden, Canada and France. In this thesis, we explore if and how such a liberal feminist foreign policy aligns with stakeholder perspectives on what a feminist foreign policy should entail. By using Q-methodology, we ask respondents to rank statements on foreign policy from perspectives rooted in liberal-, cultural-, socialist-, intersectional- and postcolonial feminist theory. We conclude that respondents rank liberal feminist statements the lowest. Rather, respondents argue for a Dutch feminist foreign policy that prioritizes perspectives rooted in intersectional- and postcolonial feminism.Show less
This thesis examines the influence of Brexit on British foreign policymaking by making use of the concept of strategic culture. In 2016, a general referendum in the United Kingdom was held asking...Show moreThis thesis examines the influence of Brexit on British foreign policymaking by making use of the concept of strategic culture. In 2016, a general referendum in the United Kingdom was held asking the question whether the country should remain a member of, or leave, the European Union. A majority vote in favour of ‘leave’ transformed both the foreign policy outlook of Britain, as well as the reigning Conservative Party government. These changes are embodied in the defence review published under Johnson’s Conservative government, named as Global Britain in a Competitive Age. By combining foregoing academic research with an analysis of British defence reviews since the end of the Cold War, this thesis articulates the defining characteristics of British strategic culture. By comparing this with an analysis of the defence review published under Johnson’s government, this thesis shows that Brexit has brought about a change in strategic culture on several accounts and has thereby considerably affected British foreign policymaking.Show less
This thesis discusses the potential larger role of domestic actors playing a role in the creation of military agreements or alliances. Previous literature has mostly focused on states or the...Show moreThis thesis discusses the potential larger role of domestic actors playing a role in the creation of military agreements or alliances. Previous literature has mostly focused on states or the potential economic transaction of the alliance formation process, and under-analysed the role of domestic actors. This thesis attempted to add to that debate by using the Kingdon model of policy change to assess the role of domestic actors.Show less
The objective of this single-case exploratory study is to investigate the annexation of Kashmir by India in 2019. The research question in this thesis is how domestic factors have played a role in...Show moreThe objective of this single-case exploratory study is to investigate the annexation of Kashmir by India in 2019. The research question in this thesis is how domestic factors have played a role in the decision of the Modi administration to annex Kashmir. Kingdon’s (1995) Multiple Streams Framework has been applied to the annexation of Kashmir in order to investigate what domestic factors led to the window of opportunity, the annexation of Kashmir. By study of the problem, political and policy stream, an explanation of the course of events leading up to the window of opportunity has been formed. Each stream has been separately analyzed according to Kingdon’s (1995) parameters and indicators in order to select the information relevant to this thesis. This thesis recognizes that there might have been limitations regarding other parameters such as e.g. psychological/leadership parameters, which could not have been taken into consideration. However, Kingdon’s model (1995) has proven useful to understand the annexation of Kashmir by India through a public policy perspective.Show less
The influence of the EU or ‘top-down Europeanization’ on the convergence of Member States has been a popular area of research. This study will take it a step further and address the following...Show moreThe influence of the EU or ‘top-down Europeanization’ on the convergence of Member States has been a popular area of research. This study will take it a step further and address the following research question: ‘What effect has Europeanization posed on the shaping of the Counter-Terrorism strategy of France and the Netherlands?’. This specific research will take a look at which terrorism related events happened in both countries before 9/11, how the process of counter-terrorism strategies developed after 9/11, and how (top-down) Europeanization had influenced the shaping of these counter-terrorism strategies.Show less
Why did neighboring countries respond differently to the same disaster? To formulate an answer, this research analyses the opposing responses of Germany and France to the Fukushima nuclear disaster...Show moreWhy did neighboring countries respond differently to the same disaster? To formulate an answer, this research analyses the opposing responses of Germany and France to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. This focusing event triggered responses from governments around the world about their own nuclear sector. The Event-related Policy Framework by Birkland (1998) allows to explain the different responses by analyzing the media coverage and group mobilization, in the form of protests, in both countries. The framework shows that several aspects of the media coverage can influence people’s perceptions on an issue. When their perception does not align with the policy, people are likely to protest and these protests put pressure on the government to change policy. This research argues that the volume of coverage on the event, the use of harmed nuclear plant images and the amount of (negative) references to the domestic nuclear sector can explain why the governments of France and Germany responded differently, or even opposingly.Show less
In this research the movement of the foster parent shortage on and off the political and public agenda was analyzed using Downs’ issue-attention cycle. By applying this theory to a media and policy...Show moreIn this research the movement of the foster parent shortage on and off the political and public agenda was analyzed using Downs’ issue-attention cycle. By applying this theory to a media and policy analysis this paper tried to answer the question: To what extend does the complex nature of the foster parent shortage influence it’s movement from and onto the agenda without durable improvement? What was found is that the foster parent shortage seems to go through the cycle at some points in the past fifteen years, but that there are also moments where there is media attention or policy change outside of the issue-attention cycle. This suggest the pattern with which the problem moves on and off the agenda is more eclectic than the issue-attention cycle Downs describes.Show less
The Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement was perceived as a blow for the environmental movement. The decision to withdraw was justified by the Trump administration...Show moreThe Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement was perceived as a blow for the environmental movement. The decision to withdraw was justified by the Trump administration on the premise that it would protect US jobs and its economy. In the span of eight years the US went from extensively regulating the fossil-fuel industry to deregulating and withdrawing from the most comprehensive international climate agreement. This drastic policy change will be explored in this thesis. More specifically, the factors that contributed to the decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement by the Trump administration. By using Kingdon’s (1995) Multiple Streams Framework, it will explore how the problem, political and policy stream contributed to this decision to withdraw. Furthermore, the role of the politicisation of the policy advisory systems will be explored in the policy stream. Every stream has different indicators/concepts which will be analysed. In doing so, it will strive to explore which factors did contribute to the decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement by the Trump administration.Show less
This study investigates how the European normative intent influences political stability. This impact is to be assessed by analysing the European Neighbourhood Policy, based upon the European...Show moreThis study investigates how the European normative intent influences political stability. This impact is to be assessed by analysing the European Neighbourhood Policy, based upon the European Normative Power theory. The European Normative Power theory is inherently linked to the European Union and is therefore about the persuasion of the European core principles towards third states. The literature contends that normative power is about transferring ideas, principles and values without any harmful means. Additionally, the literature also indicates that political stability is determined by factors that reflect the European core principles. Based on the literature, this would imply that the European normative intent increases political stability. To research this theoretical expectation, this study uses the typology of a comparative case study. This research aims to touch upon the two regions where the European Neighbourhood Policy is pursued by conducting a comparative case study. The European Neighbourhood Policy is divided into two distinct demographical subdivisions, namely the Eastern Partnership and the Euro-Mediterranean Strategy. To draw upon the contextual characteristics of the European Neighbourhood Policy recipient countries, this study focuses on Belarus as being part of the Eastern Partnership and Egypt as part of the Euro-Mediterranean Strategy. The influence of the European Neighbourhood Policy is assessed through document analysis of EU official documents regarding the European Neighbourhood Policy. Besides, the Annual Freedom in the World index by the Freedom House is used to quantify this document analysis. To draw upon the influence of the European Neighbourhood Policy, this study compares the pre-ENP period with a focal point of the year 2003, whilst the year 2020 is used to analyse where the ENP brought the recipient counties studied. As an outcome of the analysis, this study contends that the state and non-state actors play an essential role in pursuing the European normative intent. That is when the state restricts the enhancement of non-state actors such as CSOs, the normative intent of the EU decreases. By that, I put that when recipient states restrict opposition through CSO activities, the EU as a donor through the ENP is forced to express its normative intent through involvement at the governmental level. The lack of ENP presence at the CSO level is not necessarily disastrous for the EU per se. Indeed, strong relations with third countries allow the European Union to ensure security and stability in the regions, which is ultimately one of the main goals of the ENP.Show less
This paper examines the way in which political leaders influence the trust of citizens in their political leader by using certain framing strategies during speeches and press conferences....Show moreThis paper examines the way in which political leaders influence the trust of citizens in their political leader by using certain framing strategies during speeches and press conferences. Specifically, it focuses on the political leaders of the United States and the Netherlands during the first half of the corona pandemic in 2020.Show less
Parsimonious system-based theories take center stage within the scholarly field of International Relations. Assuming the international system to be the key determinant of international politics,...Show moreParsimonious system-based theories take center stage within the scholarly field of International Relations. Assuming the international system to be the key determinant of international politics, they aim to explain any geopolitical event. Utilizing 60 speeches from United States presidents Obama and Trump, and employing China’s Belt and Road Initiative as an important divide, this thesis will examine the role of agency, through the individual leadership of both Obama and Trump, within the realm of international politics.Show less
Leading up to the secession vote in Crimea in March 2014, a shift in the monopoly on violence led to shift in the information available, the popular demand, and the future options and costs to the...Show moreLeading up to the secession vote in Crimea in March 2014, a shift in the monopoly on violence led to shift in the information available, the popular demand, and the future options and costs to the local decision makers. Having demonstrated these shifts by analyzing news paper articles written during the crisis, and using Hirschmann's theory of Exit, Voice, and Loyalty we can conclude the change in circumstances led to local parliamentarians to support the secession measures.Show less
This article is aimed at developing our understanding of ethnic conflict and war which is needed to be able to build new theories about resolving these conflicts what is up until now barely covered...Show moreThis article is aimed at developing our understanding of ethnic conflict and war which is needed to be able to build new theories about resolving these conflicts what is up until now barely covered within the literature. This is executed by testing the theory of Tang, Xiong and Li about the ethnogeographical location of the oil. This theory states that when the oil is located within the core territory of a subordinate minority group it has a positive effect on the onset and escalation of an ethnic conflict. By performing case studies on conflicts between the Kurds and the Iraq state and Cabinda and Angola we found this theory to be true. There is also found that each case has a high degree of specificity which makes it very difficult to establish a universal model to accommodate ethnical conflicts caused by the ethnogeographical location of the oil. It is therefore logical to suggest further research which aims at establishing a framework for resolving ethnical conflict to perform a case study and develop a case specific solution while attempts of establishing a universal one are likely to fail.Show less
