Exploring economic growth of the WAEMU based on labour costs, unemployment, inflation rates and exchanges rates from the implementation of the euro till 2011.
This thesis adopts a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the role played by droughts in Mozambique to try and assess their impact on the society. More precisely, it reviews the evolution of...Show moreThis thesis adopts a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the role played by droughts in Mozambique to try and assess their impact on the society. More precisely, it reviews the evolution of natural resource management practices in the country from the pre-colonial times to the contemporary period, it analyses actual testimonies coming from inhabitants of Maputo, and it investigates the political and environmental framework set in place by the government. In the end, it is found that there still is a significant gap between the actions which the government plans to implement and the actual social outcome generated by droughts.Show less
In light of recent events and discussions regarding France’s lack of engagement in processes of cultural restitution with Francophone West Africa, this thesis explores whether this noncompliance...Show moreIn light of recent events and discussions regarding France’s lack of engagement in processes of cultural restitution with Francophone West Africa, this thesis explores whether this noncompliance reflects the persistence of French neocolonial relations, notably cultural imperialism. Through the qualitative study of three institutions (namely France’s heritage laws, political sphere and museums), this thesis seeks to call attention to France’s complex apparatus of cultural imperialism. It is argued that these three institutions support the country in maintaining a monopoly over West African cultural heritage, and perpetuate a neocolonial status-quo with the latter region. This paper supplements previous literature on the topic by using postcolonial theory as a common thread throughout the analysis, and inscribes itself in a broader effort to restore a balance between French and West African cultural institutions.Show less
“The maintenance of colonial borders after independence, discriminatory policies and lack of autonomy, are all factors that threaten minorities. Minorities’ cultures, traditions, religions, and...Show more“The maintenance of colonial borders after independence, discriminatory policies and lack of autonomy, are all factors that threaten minorities. Minorities’ cultures, traditions, religions, and languages are endangered within a state where the majority imposes cultural hegemony and implements domestic policies meant to oppress a minority. When its identity is threatened, a minority starts seeking self-determination. The sovereign state can recognize the issue and grant autonomy to the region that seeks for it, through federalism, or it can deny it, increasing the conflict. As a consequence, the last resort for the minority is secession. One example is the case of Zanzibar, the archipelago part of Tanzania. For years Zanzibari have been treated as a minority and as a consequence formed the secessionist movement Uamsho.”Show less
In light of the emerging emphasis within migration studies on how aspirations inform migration trajectories and the integration prospects of migrants, this paper examines how rural-urban migrants’...Show moreIn light of the emerging emphasis within migration studies on how aspirations inform migration trajectories and the integration prospects of migrants, this paper examines how rural-urban migrants’ aspirations relate to integration in contemporary Windhoek, Namibia. The aspirations of five male rural-urban migrants in Windhoek are discussed in semistructured qualitative interviews. Through the application of Paolo Boccagni’s categorization of migrant aspirations into ‘contents,’ ‘relational references,’ and ‘space-time horizons,’ and following the definition of ‘societal integration’ as used by Richard Bränström et al., this paper finds that a significant aspect of Namibian rural-urban migrants’ aspirations is the wish for societal integration. These findings indicate that it is valid to consider issues of integration as relevant for rural-urban migrants in Namibia, and that studying their aspirations can make the identification of different approaches for fostering societal integration possible.Show less
In a time of ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), rape is frequently mentioned as a weapon of war, a tool strategically employed by armed groups to scatter communities...Show moreIn a time of ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), rape is frequently mentioned as a weapon of war, a tool strategically employed by armed groups to scatter communities and access natural resources. Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) is often framed as a Congolese crisis, yet the unrest in the DRC has obvious links to the exploitation of conflict minerals serving a global supply-chain. The brutality and high incidence of SGBV in the DRC is horrifying and appears not to lessen. However, in the midst of corruption, exploitation and inhumane violence, the DRC is marked by people standing up against injustice. This study addresses humanitarian peacebuilding efforts and academic discussions regarding the (in)effective response of local, national and international communities. It goes against a popular discourse depicting women as victims and will examine how women are empowered by bottom-up strategies, focusing on one Grassroots Women’s Initiative in Bukavu: The City of Joy. Two levels of analysis, program-level (organizational structure) and image-level (representation), are used to address the research question: How does City of Joy empower women in the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo?Show less
Climate change is becoming an increasingly significant global issue. One part of the world has become a particular focus of the possible impacts of this issue : The Sahel. Whilst the contribution...Show moreClimate change is becoming an increasingly significant global issue. One part of the world has become a particular focus of the possible impacts of this issue : The Sahel. Whilst the contribution of the Sahel to climate change is extremely limited, it will nevertheless be the area most impacted by climatic variations. Rising temperatures, longer droughts, more frequent floods and extremer storms are predicted to increasingly jeopardize the security and livelihood of millions of people living in the Sahel. Along with this is the fear that climate change will foster conflict. This thesis will argue that climate change does not directly cause conflict but instead functions as a ‘threat multiplier.’ Mali is used as the specific area of research and the conflicts between the Dogon farmers and Fulani herders will be used as a case study. This research will show how political exclusion, jihadism, forced sedentarism, a corrupt justice system and heavy-handed practices introduced by the colonial regime have been exacerbated by climate change and have consequently led to violent armed conflicts.Show less
The Responsibility to Protect principle assigns states individually and the international community as a whole the duty to protect all peoples against the atrocity crimes: genocide, ethnic...Show moreThe Responsibility to Protect principle assigns states individually and the international community as a whole the duty to protect all peoples against the atrocity crimes: genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity. To best fulfil this duty, it is important to consider what factors increase the potential for these crimes. In order to examine whether climate change increases the potential for atrocity crimes, this thesis aims to answer the following question: should addressing climate change be regarded as part of the State’s Responsibility to Protect? To this end, it explores how climate change influences the risk for atrocity crimes in Mali and Nigeria. It does so through applying the relevant risk factors and indicators from the United Nations Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes to the current situations in these countries. The analysis shows that climate change does indeed increase the risk for atrocity crimes. It does so indirectly, especially through inducing more resource scarcity and economic hardships. Consequently, this thesis concludes that climate change should be addressed as part of the State’s Responsibility to Protect. It encourages states and the international community to include climate change in their strategies to adhere to this duty.Show less
