How have the recent protest movements and widespread political discontent become prominent in contemporary Chile? This thesis attempts to illustrate how the 1980 constitution, that served to...Show moreHow have the recent protest movements and widespread political discontent become prominent in contemporary Chile? This thesis attempts to illustrate how the 1980 constitution, that served to protect the legacy of the dictatorship with a rigged voting system, has led to shortcomings in citizen participation. Consequently many Chilean citizens have chosen not to participate in the formal political sphere: expectations of a democratic, inclusive state have not been met. However, the student movements demonstrate how some citizens have adopted an alternative channel of participation. Aside from that, the concept of participative democracy, as interpreted in this thesis, will attempt to explain the cause of the current dissent, and hence why contemporary Chilean democracy is undergoing a crisis.Show less
This thesis discusses the militarization process that came along with Plan Colombia in Colombia and the promotion of the nation state. During the era of Pastrana’s government and the Clinton...Show moreThis thesis discusses the militarization process that came along with Plan Colombia in Colombia and the promotion of the nation state. During the era of Pastrana’s government and the Clinton administration in the U.S. Plan Colombia was implemented. This program should create a situation in which the Colombian State could develop itself and get out of the negative spiral of violence and killings, due to the drug industry and the rise of FARC. By intensifying the military actions, their goal was to restore the idea of a nation state. By connecting this idea with a chosen theoretical framework, it will become clear how militarization has helped to transmit ideas about statehood throughout this thesis. This research will be supported by using case studies that represent military actions during Plan Colombia.Show less
This thesis shall address the factors that influenced the development of Nicaragua’s revolutionary movement in order to assess whether the Nicaraguan case fell under the umbrella of the Domino...Show moreThis thesis shall address the factors that influenced the development of Nicaragua’s revolutionary movement in order to assess whether the Nicaraguan case fell under the umbrella of the Domino Theory, or whether it was a legitimate, autonomous national movement that sought national change. In order to best represent this, the National Nicaraguan Literacy Crusade of 1980 shall be employed as a case study, and the reasons behind its implementation and its political use shall be addressed in order to present that, despite foreign influence and the Cold War politics at the time, the revolutionary movement in Nicaragua was the result of an accumulation of national internal factors that resulted from the genuine revolutionary urge within the country.Show less
This thesis takes part in the discussion of citizenship in an age of migration and transnational identification. It argues that traditional conceptions of citizenship, that view legal and national...Show moreThis thesis takes part in the discussion of citizenship in an age of migration and transnational identification. It argues that traditional conceptions of citizenship, that view legal and national membership as singular, are becoming increasingly inadequate to reflect the the reality of our globalised world. Through transnational and migration theory, it is now understood that migrants, or transmigrants, are able to foster multiple identities and connections with the countries to which they travel, whilst maintaining ties with their countries of origin. The case of 1.5 generation Salvadoran deportees, who migrated to the U.S. as young children, provides a significant example of a group whose complex social and national identity did not correspond with their exclusive legal status as Salvadoran citizens. This group came to identify strongly with the U.S., having been socialised their from a young age, only to be later removed on the grounds of their lack of legal affiliation with the country. The contradictions inherent in the rationale behind their removal were later revealed through the groups continued identification with the U.S., and also their social alienation on return to El Salvador. Therefore, as opposed to conventional belief, this group shows that citizenship and national identity are not inextricably intwined, and can often conflict when the former is restricted to the jurisdiction of a single nation-state.Show less
This thesis analyzes transnational blogging network 'Generación Y' by Yoani Sánchez in authoritarian Cuba. The central claim of this thesis will be that by using the concept of the dictator’s...Show moreThis thesis analyzes transnational blogging network 'Generación Y' by Yoani Sánchez in authoritarian Cuba. The central claim of this thesis will be that by using the concept of the dictator’s dilemma, we can illuminate that the blog ‘Generación Y’ poses a dictator’s dilemma for the government, despite the trials to block access. Additionally, the notions of transnational advocacy networks and monitory democracy help us to understand that the blog ‘Generación Y’ poses the government for the dictator’s dilemma, because they provide the world a window on Cuba.Show less
This paper focusses on the construction of the political identity of Venezuela’s middle and upper class based on their critique of the Hugo Chávez regime. Hereby, I argue that liberal democracy and...Show moreThis paper focusses on the construction of the political identity of Venezuela’s middle and upper class based on their critique of the Hugo Chávez regime. Hereby, I argue that liberal democracy and neoliberalism, two systems that promote global integration on the economic and political level, have found support particularly among the middle and upper class. Simultaneously, Venezuela’s previous experiences with neoliberalism in the twentieth century evoked growing animosity against globalization among the lower classes, evoking a change in the political system towards socialism, the election of Hugo Chávez, and the radicalization towards socialism. While the impact of globalization has divided the nation along its class lines, Chávez’s regime has aggravated this polarization of the population on a political level. I claim that the identity of Chávez’s opposition has become politicized based on two major aspects of criticism: First, the political critique rejects the regime’s radicalization, democratic antagonism, and centralization of power. Second, the economic critique denounced Chávez protectionism, the nationalization of the oil industry and unjust management of the state budget that favoured the popular masses.Show less
This research tries to answer how the influence of labour unions can have a positive or negative effect on inequality during and after the neoliberal era. Neoliberalism is a broad concept referring...Show moreThis research tries to answer how the influence of labour unions can have a positive or negative effect on inequality during and after the neoliberal era. Neoliberalism is a broad concept referring to an economic paradigm that rose in the 1980s. It is built upon classical liberal thoughts on self-regulating markets. The best way to conceptualize it is to split neoliberalism into three intertwined categories: As an ideology, a mode of governance and as a policy package. It can be seen as an ideology, because decision-makers and economists see neoliberalism as the only way to achieve economic growth. The second category refers to certain modes of governance. Neoliberal modes of governance include the transformation of bureaucratic mentalities to entrepreneurial mentalities. The last category, neoliberalism embodies itself as a set of public policies in deregulation of the economy, liberalization of trade and industry and privatization of state-owned companies (Steger & Roy 2010: 11-14). Neoliberalism had positive effects such as economic growth. However, a striking effect is that it increased the gap between the rich and the poor. This was possible because neoliberal organisations possessed extensive resources, they had alliances with key elites, and had strong personal networks outside the government (Andrain 2014: 23). Consequently due to privatization the state provided less welfare and safety nets. Labour unions are one of the best social groups to defend the rights of the labourers and to advocate a more equal society. As Mcguire (1999) shows in his research it appears that great influence of labour unions have a negative effect on equality. In this research a comparative study will be made of Brazil and South Korea regarding the role of labour unions in the reduction of inequality.Show less
This thesis discusses the phenomenon of social service provision by Mexican drug cartels in the state of Michoacán. It does so by analyzing state building theory according to Gramsci and Weber and...Show moreThis thesis discusses the phenomenon of social service provision by Mexican drug cartels in the state of Michoacán. It does so by analyzing state building theory according to Gramsci and Weber and applies it to parallel governance provided by these drug cartels.Show less
This thesis assesses the enforcement mechanisms of the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and its...Show moreThis thesis assesses the enforcement mechanisms of the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and its consequences for children in Colombia.Show less
An examination of the shift in solidarity flows within the Zapatista network.The Zapatistas originally received humanitarian solidarity as receivers of altruism from the North. Their anti...Show moreAn examination of the shift in solidarity flows within the Zapatista network.The Zapatistas originally received humanitarian solidarity as receivers of altruism from the North. Their anti-neoliberal, anti-globalisation discourse facilitated a shift towards the South becoming the dominant actor in these solidarity exchanges by providing inspiration for First World movements and events.Show less
The thesis argues that Buen Vivir (good living) proves to be a viable new form of environmental governance in Ecuador, which has undergone a significant process of norms socialization and shaped...Show moreThe thesis argues that Buen Vivir (good living) proves to be a viable new form of environmental governance in Ecuador, which has undergone a significant process of norms socialization and shaped environmental governance on a national and global level. The thesis brings together discusses on development, sustainable development and on environmental governance, as well as works that have looked at the topic of Buen Vivir. Methodologically, a constructivist transnational approach has been taken, which enables the view at environmental governance across spatial and institutional borders. Theoretically, it draws on concepts of transnational networks, including epistemic communities and advocacy networks, to explain the transfer of ideas. In addition to these concepts, the theoretical model of norm socialization from Risse and Sikkink is applied. After giving a historical background, which highlights the emergence of indigenous movements during the neoliberal 1980s and 1990s, the second chapter shows how the environmental values of these local movements became embedded in national policy under the concept of Buen Vivir, which can be seen in Ecuador’s constitution from 2008 and its National Development Plan. Chapter 3 is a detailed investigation of the transnational networks involved in the Ecuadorian Yasuni-ITT initiative, which set the start for a norm socialization process of Ecuadorian environmental governance from a national to a global level.Show less
