This thesis researched the extent to which Bush and Obama used different conceptual metaphorical frames in their rhetoric concerning the Iraq War, and to what extent these frames helped them create...Show moreThis thesis researched the extent to which Bush and Obama used different conceptual metaphorical frames in their rhetoric concerning the Iraq War, and to what extent these frames helped them create a worldview that justified or opposed the Iraq War. The thesis argued that Bush and Obama both use the same metaphorical model, in which they create a hero, villain, and a victim, to justify or oppose the Iraq War. Whereas the existing literature mainly focused on the use of metaphorical framing in a political context, this thesis looks at the political context concerning war. The thesis specifically contributes to the existing literature on metaphorical framing in a war context, and the "Fairytale of a Just War theory" by George Lakoff, because it shows that telling a story in which there is a hero, villain, and a victim can be used to tell a different story than the story in which war is justifiedShow less
On the 15th of March 2019, the Linwood Islamic Church centre and the Al-Noor Mosque in Christchurch had been the target of a terrorist attack. The perpetrator of this attack, Brenton Tarrant, had...Show moreOn the 15th of March 2019, the Linwood Islamic Church centre and the Al-Noor Mosque in Christchurch had been the target of a terrorist attack. The perpetrator of this attack, Brenton Tarrant, had released a manifesto in which he cited NATO`s intervention of Kosovo in 1999 as one of the motives behind his attacks. However, this was not the sole instance in which Tarrant referred to the Yugoslav wars, as he was listening to the song ""Karadžić, Lead your Serbs!"" (also known as God is a Serb) prior to his arrival to the Al-Noor Mosque. Additionally, the guns used by Tarrant were brandishing the names of several individuals including those of that the Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović and Miloš Obilić. These references to Prince Lazar and Milos Obilic are significant, as they are part of the Kosovo Myth and by extension the Heavenly Serbia discourse which are linked to violence within the region, especially towards Muslims. In light of this, the purpose of this paper is to assess to what extent the discourse of the Christchurch shooter is inspired and or connected to the Heavenly Serbia discourse. In order to explore this relationship, this paper applies a critical discourse analysis on The Great Replacement written by Tarrant.Show less
Maritime security is vital for many states, and it is undermined by many acts, one of which is piracy. This threat is acknowledged by the extensive anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, in...Show moreMaritime security is vital for many states, and it is undermined by many acts, one of which is piracy. This threat is acknowledged by the extensive anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, in which China partakes. Even though piracy occurs in the South China Sea as well, China does not have a military anti-piracy operation in this area. Nonetheless, this area is vital for the operation of its economy. It is, therefore, important to analyze how the differences in these policies can be explained. By using different theoretical explanations (realism, liberal institutionalism, and constructivism), the objective of this thesis is to analyze which theory carries the most explanatory power, or if a combination of explanations could provide a better explanation to the seemingly contradictory policy. This is done through a method of congruence analysis, combined with process-tracing. After tracing China’s actions and developments in the Western Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, this thesis finds that constructivism provides the best explanation for China’s different approaches, as anti-piracy cooperation merely served as a tool of statecraft.Show less
According to the Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria’s Boko Haram is one of the worlds most deadly insurgencies. Even though there have been national as well as international efforts to try and halt...Show moreAccording to the Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria’s Boko Haram is one of the worlds most deadly insurgencies. Even though there have been national as well as international efforts to try and halt the sect, with the latest attack on June 16th 2018, they can still be seen as claiming many lives today. Looking at genocide according to the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime Genocide, it can be argued that Boko Haram is committing a genocide under international law. No definition of genocide is as internationally recognised and legally binding as the United Nations definition in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime Genocide. Despite this, throughout history the United Nations and the international community have been reluctant to name various crimes a genocide, as this would result to the increased legal and moral pressure for the international community to respond. An example is during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Since this genocide, the United Nations has continuously claimed that genocides can never ‘happen again’. However, looking at Nigeria and Boko Haram there has been no claim of a genocide according to the United Nations. If the United Nations would officially recognise Boko Haram as committing a genocide under international law, the international community would legally be pressured to respond to the violence.Show less
This thesis analyses the potential reasons for the failure of a Syrian opposition coalition formation between the Syrian National Council and the National Bureau for the Forces of Democratic Change...Show moreThis thesis analyses the potential reasons for the failure of a Syrian opposition coalition formation between the Syrian National Council and the National Bureau for the Forces of Democratic Change during the first years of the Arab Spring (2011-2013). Literature on opposition coalition formation often argues that oppositions are likely to coalesce in times of regime weakness, but the case of Syria provides a puzzling situation: whereas Syrian opposition parties have coalesced in the past during the Damascus Spring, they failed to successfully coalesce at the start of the Arab Spring. This thesis therefore analyses two alternative explanations for this failure: inter- and intra-opposition rivalry. By discussing both opposition coalition formation during the Damascus Spring and the start of the Arab Spring, as well as the extent to which elements of inter- and intra-opposition rivalry could be witnessed during the Arab Spring, the thesis attempts to provide an answer to the above mentioned puzzle. It finds that none of these theories can explain the failure of opposition coalition formation in Syria (2011-2013) on their own, as the failure can be explained by elements linked to both inter- and intra-opposition rivalry which fuelled each other. This interlinkage in the end made a successful opposition coalition formation highly difficult.Show less
A research into the failure of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Both local actors as well as Russia will be researched in order to understand in what way these actors have obstructed a peaceful...Show moreA research into the failure of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Both local actors as well as Russia will be researched in order to understand in what way these actors have obstructed a peaceful solution to the peace process in Nagorno-Karabakh. The period that is researched is from approximately 1988 to 2016. The final conclusion of this master thesis is that non of the actors involved are genuinely interested in finding a peaceful solution. All the actors involved have obstructed a peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process over the years.Show less
This thesis explores the high level of persistent inequality that is experienced by the majority of the South African population, by closely examining three socio-historical determinants: land,...Show moreThis thesis explores the high level of persistent inequality that is experienced by the majority of the South African population, by closely examining three socio-historical determinants: land, education and the labour market. By doing so, a critical analysis of the post-apartheid government is carried out, and evidence points to the several legacies of apartheid that are still negatively affecting many people in South Africa, a quarter century after the end of apartheid.Show less
The main aim of this research will be to analyse the factors, presented theoretically, which have made the United Nations one of the prime actor responsible for democratization globally. Through...Show moreThe main aim of this research will be to analyse the factors, presented theoretically, which have made the United Nations one of the prime actor responsible for democratization globally. Through the use of Madhav Joshi’s theory on post-civil war democratization and the election analysis framework provided by the United Nations Development Program, this research will seek to answer the question: how has the UN favoured the ground for democratization in post-civil war situations? It hypothesises, by applying Joshi’s theory, that the UN presence is fundamental for the creation of post-civil war democratization, because of the various, positive incentives it gives to the warring parties and the population. Furthermore, it seeks to prove how the absence of the UN in a country, which theoretically would have the factors to democratize, tends to bring that country to autocracy. The research will first lay an extensive analysis of the literature present in academia surrounding the subjects of civil war, post-civil war elections, and democratization. By doing so, it provides an overall understanding of the situation in the present of intra-state conflict and subsequent missions. The methodology proposed is a single-case study, with the UN at its centre. This is because a single case study gives the opportunity to seek to explain numerous different theories connected to one single unit, and, in doing so, would prevent confusion and overexplanation. Narrowing the scope in this way will provide a thorough understanding of the UN practice and the theory surrounding its actions. However, to prevent over-narrowing the scope, without therefore giving any meaningful contribution to academia, this research will apply the theory explained in the methodology to two sub-units in which the UN led different interventions: Sierra Leone and Angola. Subsequently, it will give a more case-based analysis which will provide, in greater detail, an answer to the research question. The importance of such a question lies in the necessity to analyse intra-state conflict, which has become the deadliest form of large-scale violence. Further, it is important to understand how issues in a post-conflict situation, which is an extremely volatile environment, can be addressed best and expand the knowledge on the ways in which to implement democratization in war ravaged countries. The hope of this thesis is to provide new ground to analyse UN missions and, in the future, possibly understanding the importance of such actors in the face of post-intrastate violence.Show less
