The production of political legitimacy is an open-ended process that is created by the continuous reproduction and negotiations between the ruling regime and its citizens. This thesis aims to...Show moreThe production of political legitimacy is an open-ended process that is created by the continuous reproduction and negotiations between the ruling regime and its citizens. This thesis aims to answer the research question How has insecurity and the role of inefficient institutions affected the political legitimacy of Felipe Calderón's 2006-2012 presidential terms? The research paper first explores the parameters of political legitimacy and utilises the normative approach as a theoretical framework of political legitimacy in combination with Hansen's definition of political legitimacy as components to measure Felipe Calderón's regime legitimacy. Thereafter, the text analyses the utilization of electoral legitimacy and revolutionary legitimacy as a tool to maintain and re-assert power and legitimacy during the PRI era, Vincente Fox's administration and its continual use during Calderón's presidential term. Furthermore, the thesis also examines the effects of the three minor variables: criminal violence, media, and public perception on (in)security and (in)efficient institutions on three specific events: the 2006 Mexican presidential election; Felipe Calderón's war on drugs; and the opening event of the monument Coloso and have founded that the insecurity and the role of inefficient institutions have largely decreased the political legitimacy of Felipe Calderóns 2006-2012 presidential term. The paper concludes that Calderón's presidential term was deemed as intially legitimate by the public during electoral process. However, the increase in insecurity and the inefficiency within state institutions greatly decreased the regime's legitimacy by the end of Felipe Calderón's presidential term.Show less
This paper examines the effect of the arrival of Venezuelan migrants in Bogotá from 2017 onwards in relation to the perception of security of the city’s inhabitants. This study has been performed...Show moreThis paper examines the effect of the arrival of Venezuelan migrants in Bogotá from 2017 onwards in relation to the perception of security of the city’s inhabitants. This study has been performed succeeding extensive reporting of Colombian media in which Venezuelan migrants were held responsible for what had been named ‘a security crisis’. The results of this study show that the arrival of Venezuelan migrants has had a highly negative impact on the perception of security of Bogotá residents. Nevertheless, this study found that it is very unlikely, based upon official statistics, that the Venezuelan migrant population is to be held accountable for the ‘security crisis’. This study found that the security crisis, which is in essence a management crisis, is being used as an instrument by the highest political powers in order to attain personal success and slander political opponents. Venezuelan migrants are the victim of this internal power battle, exemplified by the presence of xenophobic and stigmatizing acts and tendencies present in both the political and public domain.Show less
This research analysed the migration policy and humanitarian implications regarding Venezuelan immigrants arriving in Colombia and Peru. The central question guiding the study is: what are the...Show moreThis research analysed the migration policy and humanitarian implications regarding Venezuelan immigrants arriving in Colombia and Peru. The central question guiding the study is: what are the humanitarian implications of Venezuelan immigrants of migration policies in Colombia and Peru since the 2015 economic crisis in Venezuela? The research has been carried out through the analysis of academic literature, media articles, government documents from migration departments, law and migration journals, and finally reports from international organizations involved in migration. The increase in the Venezuelan migratory flow and the successive problems that have arisen due to the margins of interpretation in the initial migration policy led to a lack of protection among Venezuelan migrants. However, the application of the new exceptional measures destined for the Venezuelan migrants has a more humanitarian element, but with a protectionist design. This again led to lack of protection and irregular immigration status, but on a lesser scale.Show less
This research analyses how effective have been the counterterrorism measurements and security policies of the Peruvian governments of the twenty-first century to combat the increasing violent...Show moreThis research analyses how effective have been the counterterrorism measurements and security policies of the Peruvian governments of the twenty-first century to combat the increasing violent activities and insecurity in Peru organised by Sendero Luminoso. Political violence by insurgent armed groups has been a major problem which many Latin American governments have had to deal with since the Cold War, and Peru has not been an exception with the significant presence of Sendero Luminoso between 1980 and 2000. However, since the turn of the twenty-first century, several Peruvian regimes and installed security forces, the national police, intelligence services and even civilians express concern that the brutal and violent past due to political violence must not be repeated. The research is performed on the basis of an analysis of the counterterrorism measurements and its strategies, and the security policies installed by the Peruvian governments of 2001 until 2018 as a reaction on the violent activities of Sendero Luminoso in the named period and to maintain security in the country.Show less
This thesis aims to analyze the extent to which agency of unaccompanied children in transit is fostered at the US-Mexico border between 2009-2020. Firstly, the concept of agency in child migration...Show moreThis thesis aims to analyze the extent to which agency of unaccompanied children in transit is fostered at the US-Mexico border between 2009-2020. Firstly, the concept of agency in child migration will be defined. Secondly, an analysis of the social, political, and legal context will provide insight into the current situation of unaccompanied children at the border. Finally, a thematic analysis of a corpus of Mexican and US case law, state policy reviews and NGO reports will reveal the experiences of unaccompanied children at the border. These findings on agency will be supported by a small case study of an individual narrative. The results of the analysis give evidence that unaccompanied children are caught in an agency-repressive cycle. Due to the violations of children’s rights by the US and Mexico, unaccompanied children’s agency is not fostered at the border. Moreover, children’s expressions of agency lead to diminished acknowledgment of their vulnerability, which results in reduced access to rights for unaccompanied children.Show less
The wave of social protests hitting Chile since October 2019 disclosed a socio-economic reality made of inequalities, far from Chile’s ostensible façade of a stable democracy and exemplary model of...Show moreThe wave of social protests hitting Chile since October 2019 disclosed a socio-economic reality made of inequalities, far from Chile’s ostensible façade of a stable democracy and exemplary model of economic growth in Latin America. This BA thesis explores historical and contingent motivations behind the social upheaval, investigating how feelings of relative depravation triggered Chileans to take action. Specifically, the study focuses on women’s perception of their group’s socio-economic disadvantage with related resentment and complaints, and on how protests dynamics favoured or hindered female participation in protest events.Show less
In light of the Latin American neo-extractivism model of development, this thesis investigates the role Rafael Correa has fulfilled with respect to the environment and population. In doing so, it...Show moreIn light of the Latin American neo-extractivism model of development, this thesis investigates the role Rafael Correa has fulfilled with respect to the environment and population. In doing so, it questions whether Correa's views on environmental sustainability and social welfare have radically altered the neoliberal foundations of the economy, most importantly the influence of transnational companies, and whether his leadership has improved the socio-environmental circumstances of Ecuador. The thesis deals with the incorporation of Buen Vivir into the Constitution, including its controversies; Ecuador’s social indicators before and during Correa’s presidency; the treatment of Correa of an internationally prominent lawsuit against the US company Texaco; and the president’s response to social dissent and consequences for democratic representation.Show less
