This research evaluates the framing of Nazi Germany in Turkish newspapers, Cumhuriyet and Tan, from 1939 to 1945. The articles from the historical newspaper archives were collected from a database...Show moreThis research evaluates the framing of Nazi Germany in Turkish newspapers, Cumhuriyet and Tan, from 1939 to 1945. The articles from the historical newspaper archives were collected from a database and a website which was then analyzed with Pan and Kosicki’s four categories for determining frames. There were two main reasons for choosing Cumhuriyet and Tan: because they were the two of the most published newspapers during the Second World War and second was that a clear distinction was identified between the two. By using a qualitative analysis method, the study investigates how these media outlets view Nazi Germany within the broader themes of Turkish neutrality, German propaganda, and the Rise and Fall of the Second World War-era Germany. It was found that Cumhuriyet maintained a generally positive attitude towards Nazi Germany while occasionally expressing criticism which is characterized by a measured and balanced approach. In contrast, Tan's framing was marked by a consistent and unyielding critique of the Nazi nation approaching it with a negative approach. The findings aim to contribute to the broader discussion on the role of media framing in shaping perceptions, particularly the Turks.Show less
There is a constant rise of populism spreading around the world. This can be observed in Latin America, North America and Europe among others. Europe is a continent which has for years stood for...Show moreThere is a constant rise of populism spreading around the world. This can be observed in Latin America, North America and Europe among others. Europe is a continent which has for years stood for democracy, human rights, liberalism and the idea of a common people with a common market and a common history. However, today more than ever before, these ideas are being challenged by the growing trend of right-wing populism. This thesis will therefore explain and assess the following question: “What factors determine the success of right-wing populism?”. The focus, of this thesis, is on two European countries specifically, Italy and Germany, where populist parties have had different success.Show less
Public support for the EU in Turkey has been widely recognised as one of the main drivers of the improvement in EU-Turkey relations, especially in the early 2000s. Although the existing literature...Show morePublic support for the EU in Turkey has been widely recognised as one of the main drivers of the improvement in EU-Turkey relations, especially in the early 2000s. Although the existing literature mostly focuses on the individual-level determinants of the public support for EU, it somewhat fails to provide a comprehensive analysis of one of the most notable features of this support: its volatility. This volatility has been qualitatively associated with the oscillations in EU-Turkey relations, however the formal evidence is lacking in this direction. In this thesis, using both qualitative and quantitative research methods, we provide a unified framework to examine the support levels for the EU both in the cross section and over time. We first put forward the most notable individual-level determinants of public support by leveraging on the existing literature. Then, we present an overview of the EU-Turkey relations in order to identify the milestones in the last decade, which may have affected the support levels. Finally, we conduct a regression analysis on a pooled sample of Standard Eurobarometer surveys between 2012-2019, which enables us to disentangle the effect of time factor from individual characteristics. Our results reveal that the revitalisation efforts of EU-Turkey relations and increasing cooperation did not translate into an increase in the Turkish public support. However, the public opinion took a positive turn after the constitutional referendum in 2017. On the determinant level, utilitarian considerations remain one of the most important determinants for support, with a growing importance of political stances (left-right).Show less
The thesis explores the different opinions of three different EU institutions (The European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union) about the future of the...Show moreThe thesis explores the different opinions of three different EU institutions (The European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union) about the future of the European Stability Mechanism.Show less
Public opinion has become increasingly important when it comes to furthering European integration. This thesis looks into the dichotomy of public opinion in Bulgaria, in which support for the EU...Show morePublic opinion has become increasingly important when it comes to furthering European integration. This thesis looks into the dichotomy of public opinion in Bulgaria, in which support for the EU has remained relatively high for the period since the country’s accession to the EU, while support for the euro has become relatively low. By employing a benchmarking theory, which posits that people’s attitudes towards the EU and its policies are formed in comparison to national contexts, this thesis seeks to explain this dichotomy. The analysis of Eurobarometer data from the past 13 years combined with analysis of online news media data provides an insight into why Bulgarians support the EU (as a regime) more than the euro (a specific policy). This thesis finds that while distrust in national institutions and the bleak economic performance boosts support for the EU, the same distrust might play a role in the negative perceptions towards the euro. While Bulgarians tend to trust the EU’s institutions and evaluate the EU economy better than the national one, they fear price increase, loss of control over economic policies, and even losing a part of their national identity when it comes to euro adoption.Show less
The thesis examines the factors (experience of communism, secret police, government post-1989 and lustration) that led to the post-1989 transitional justice methods utilised in both Hungary and...Show moreThe thesis examines the factors (experience of communism, secret police, government post-1989 and lustration) that led to the post-1989 transitional justice methods utilised in both Hungary and Estonia.Show less
This thesis investigates how the process of coming to an EU negotiating position for the conferences of the parties (COPs) of the UNFCCC changed between 1997 and 2015. The EU preparations for three...Show moreThis thesis investigates how the process of coming to an EU negotiating position for the conferences of the parties (COPs) of the UNFCCC changed between 1997 and 2015. The EU preparations for three of these climate conferences (Kyoto, Copenhagen, and Paris) are analysed through the content analysis of EU documents and expert interviews. This thesis argues that this negotiating process became increasingly embedded in the theoretical framework of multi-level governance. Treaty changes, shifts on the global stage of negotiations and the addition of new member states caused the European level (mainly the Commission) to play a leading role in the intra-European negotiations.Show less
This thesis looked at how political parties utilize social media platforms as part of their electoral strategies. To that end, the research explored the case study of Latvia through the center...Show moreThis thesis looked at how political parties utilize social media platforms as part of their electoral strategies. To that end, the research explored the case study of Latvia through the center-right populist party Kam pieder valsts [Who Owns the State] and center-right Jaunā konservatīvā partija [New Conservative Party] using content analysis methods on the parties’ pre-election Facebook entries. The research found that the two Latvian political parties utilized social media platforms predominantly to broadcast information, news, party stances/program, criticisms and attacks, and other content that does not utilize the interactive potential of social media. Furthermore, the populist party made extensive use of social media to advertise its on the ground activities, supplementing its offline strategy.Show less
This dissertation aimed to understand why countries who were initially against enhanced cooperation within PESCO, subsequently joined the initiative upon its establishment in 2017. In answering...Show moreThis dissertation aimed to understand why countries who were initially against enhanced cooperation within PESCO, subsequently joined the initiative upon its establishment in 2017. In answering this question, it was essential to understand what explains change over time in the security and defence policy of a state. To answer why countries change their perspectives on enhanced cooperation, this dissertation has applied the theory of neoclassical realism. Neoclassical realism understands that interaction between two actors influences international outcomes, while taking into account how domestic factors influence these outcomes. Neoclassical realism is based on a struggle for power and security between states and helps to understand foreign policy outcomes at different times. This theory was applied to the Netherlands, to analyse how changes in the external environment of the Netherlands affected its security and defence policy.Show less
This thesis aims to understand why Britain removes its restrictions on migrants from Central and Eastern Europe and not Germany. Since the EU enlargement in 2004, different attitudes towards CEE...Show moreThis thesis aims to understand why Britain removes its restrictions on migrants from Central and Eastern Europe and not Germany. Since the EU enlargement in 2004, different attitudes towards CEE migrants arise between Britain and Germany. Through the free movement of labour, Britain is more likely to accept migrants into the domestic labour market than Germany.Show less
Small states occupy a minor, yet important, aspect of the study of international relations. While large states and great powers are still accorded the lion’s share of agency in international...Show moreSmall states occupy a minor, yet important, aspect of the study of international relations. While large states and great powers are still accorded the lion’s share of agency in international politics and negotiations, scholars have long recognised that small states are not passive actors and can influence developments on the international stage despite their limited resources. This is accomplished mainly through a variety of strategies that small states apply on the international stage. The effectiveness of these strategies are subject to conditions in the wider international or institutional context, but are still the major avenue through which small state governments exercise agency outside of their national borders. These strategies have been closely examined by scholars, particularly in the context of the European Union, where the highly formalised institutional environment offers both obstacles and opportunities for small states to pursue their agendas at the supranational level. The case study of Ireland, a small state on the periphery of the EU, will be examined in order to determine how peripheral small state governments attempt to affect the development of EU policy. Irish attempts to influence EU foreign and security policy will be investigated, policies that have traditionally been dominated by analyses of large state actors. However, an increasing amount of scholarship argues that small states have the ability to affect the EU in this field as well. This thesis seeks to place the interaction between Ireland and the EU in the wider global context by examining the role a third party international organisation, the UN, has on Ireland’s influence at the EU.Show less
This thesis on the political repercussions of the Holocaust aims to contribute to the understanding of the repercussions of the Roma's genocide, and their current discrimination. It also aims at...Show moreThis thesis on the political repercussions of the Holocaust aims to contribute to the understanding of the repercussions of the Roma's genocide, and their current discrimination. It also aims at understanding the ways found by this community to deal with its marginalization, and how has the Council of Europe responded to the state of the Roma people.Show less
This thesis offers a qualitative approach to understanding the interactions between the European Parliament (EP) and the European Central Bank (ECB). The European Parliament supervises the ECB...Show moreThis thesis offers a qualitative approach to understanding the interactions between the European Parliament (EP) and the European Central Bank (ECB). The European Parliament supervises the ECB through the Banking Dialogue and the Monetary Dialogue. By doing this, the EP actively seeks to demand accountability from the ECB. The extent to which the EP does this is examined in this work. An interactionist qualitative model is used to analyse 10 hearings (1,5-3 hours) between April 2018 and June 2019. It is found that althought the European Parliament is restrained in its possibilities to demand accountability, members of the EP make effective use of the tools they have: they engage in informed and targeted dialogue, and demand accountability through scrutiny and justification requests.Show less
