Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
The world of football is constantly changing and is now a global industry with employers, employees, investors, and consumers, and the football shirt can be seen as the commodity par excellence of...Show moreThe world of football is constantly changing and is now a global industry with employers, employees, investors, and consumers, and the football shirt can be seen as the commodity par excellence of this industry. However, both in professional and amateur football, the football shirt and other elements of football material culture, acquire meanings and value that exceed the consumeristic and capitalistic dynamics. Through Photo and Video Elicitation Interviews and Oral and Life History Interviews, the participants of this research project, who are six members of the Liberi Nantes amateur football club based in Rome, Italy, demonstrate how the club’ shirt is more than just a football shirt as it is something that reinforces their sense of belonging towards each other and towards the team, how this shirt becomes a lens through which it is possible to think about broader issues and questions such as migration flows and the movement of people, how elements of football material culture become the glue that connects the world of amateur football to the one of professional football, and how amateurs’ perspectives and opinions become interesting prompts for further discussions and reflections about the recent economic and financial changes in this sport and about a possible switch towards a non-Eurocentric football.Show less
This thesis examines the contribution of the Moroccan Diaspora to the development of Morocco, focusing on factors beyond economic remittances. Provided that economic remittances have received large...Show moreThis thesis examines the contribution of the Moroccan Diaspora to the development of Morocco, focusing on factors beyond economic remittances. Provided that economic remittances have received large attention from academia, this work aims to narrow the research gap by looking at other factors influencing the developmental potential of Moroccan migration, including “brain drain” (highly skilled human capital flight), the Moroccan government’s ‘Diaspora engagement policy’, and the case study of Moroccans in the Netherlands. The thesis draws upon a mix of primary and secondary sources to emphasise the active role of the Moroccan government in maximising the developmental potential of migration through a comprehensive Diaspora engagement policy. Continuing, it discusses the role of economic remittances on the development of housing, which has triggered economic growth and the emergence of new urban centres in historically isolated regions of Morocco, thus, raising living standards and expanding educational opportunities in rural areas of Morocco. Finally, this thesis demonstrates that Morocco is taking serious steps towards reducing the negative effects of the “brain drain” through programmes specifically aimed at increasing cooperation with and incentivizing the return of highly skilled Moroccan migrants. By exploring the implications of Moroccan migration beyond economic remittances, this thesis provides an overall picture of the various migration-related factors at play in the development of Morocco. It aims to highlight the significance of other factors often overshadowed by an overwhelmingly large focus on economic remittances alone in academia.Show less
After Suharto stepped down in 1998, buried grievances between natives and migrants, and Christians and Muslims, came to light. During this post-Suharto period, large-scale communal and separatist...Show moreAfter Suharto stepped down in 1998, buried grievances between natives and migrants, and Christians and Muslims, came to light. During this post-Suharto period, large-scale communal and separatist conflicts broke out across the archipelago. This thesis analyses three of these conflicts and questions why the indigenous populations of West Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, and Papua resorted to collective violence against internal labour migrants in post- Suharto Indonesia, and asks under what historical and socio-economic conditions group boundaries were made, maintained and defended. By answering these questions, this study aims to contribute to a better understanding of what drives collective violence against labour migrants, and looks to identify general mechanisms of collective violence by analysing the erosion of intergroup boundaries.Show less
This work starts with two interrogatives, asking whether Zimbabwean immigrants in Botswana contribute to the economy, and to what extent they are integrated in the country. To understand these...Show moreThis work starts with two interrogatives, asking whether Zimbabwean immigrants in Botswana contribute to the economy, and to what extent they are integrated in the country. To understand these issues, a historical framework is outlined to understand the Zimbabwean migratory flows to Botswana. Therefore, an analysis of the economic movements created by Zimbabwean immigrants in Botswana, both documented and undocumented ones, is conducted on the basis of quantitive and qualitative data collected during fieldwork research in Gaborone at the beginning of 2023. Overall, this work shows that Zimbabwean immigrants generate enormous amounts of money yearly in Botswana. On the other hand, it cannot be easily said that Zimbabweans are integrated into the country. While they are now a normalized presence in it and feel so accordingly, they do not enjoy structural integration.Show less
In February 2022, the worst humanitarian and refugee crisis since 1940 unfolded in Europe, following the Russian war against Ukraine (OECD International Migration Outlook 2022, 4). In 2015 already,...Show moreIn February 2022, the worst humanitarian and refugee crisis since 1940 unfolded in Europe, following the Russian war against Ukraine (OECD International Migration Outlook 2022, 4). In 2015 already, Europe had faced a sharp increase in demands for asylum, following the Syrian civil war. Immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers have been generally marginalized in recent years in Europe, through an ‘us and them’ rhetoric. The welcoming of Ukrainian refugees however, demonstrated a never seen before impetus for support and integration, proving the European ability to set up effective and quick responses to humanitarian crisis. Why then, were such means never deployed before? Why did European member-states never demonstrate a similar level of cohesion before? And what does that say about the ways in which the European Commission sets its migration policies? This thesis will shed light on the European Commission’s setting of policy- responses on migration, through a comparative study of the Syrian and Ukrainian migration crises, to explore the potential ‘double-standard’ on refugees.Show less
This thesis aims to further refine the existing academic knowledge about the framing of refugees by conducting a critical discourse analysis focused on the portrayal of Ukrainian refugees at a...Show moreThis thesis aims to further refine the existing academic knowledge about the framing of refugees by conducting a critical discourse analysis focused on the portrayal of Ukrainian refugees at a subnational level in East and West German newspapers utilizing securitization theory as a theoretical framework (n=48). The analysis found that Ukrainians are framed from a German-centric perspective. On the one hand, they are framed as vulnerable, requiring German aid. On the other hand, their mass migration into Germany is associated with challenges and threats utilized in securitizing moves. This suggests that the frequently cited victim and threat frames are not as mutually exclusive as previous academic literature suggests. Moreover, the threats utilized in securitizing moves are nonexistential, supporting calls for broadening the securitization framework. Contrary to what the initial hypothesis would suggest, no significant differences in the portrayal of Ukrainian refugees between Eastern and Western German newspapers were observed.Show less
France and Germany suffered from terrorist attacks and had an increase flow of migrants fleeing from Syria and Iraq in 2015 and 2016 (Helbling & Meierrieks, 2020). This caused many people to...Show moreFrance and Germany suffered from terrorist attacks and had an increase flow of migrants fleeing from Syria and Iraq in 2015 and 2016 (Helbling & Meierrieks, 2020). This caused many people to believe that migrants needed to be blamed for the terrorist attacks happening in both countries. However, many attacks against migrants or their accommodations occurred in Germany and France in 2015 and 2016 that could have provoked migrants to radicalize (Schmid, 2016). Furthermore, not all migrants are potential terrorists, and some want to live a better life in another country (Schmid, 2016). In addition, in both countries there was a rise of right-wing parties that were known for their anti-immigration stance (Jäckle & König, 2018). Therefore, this thesis is going to compare the political situation, the migration flow, the increase of terrorist attacks and the rise of right-wing attacks against migrants to understand if migration led to the rise of terrorist attacks in Germany and France in 2015 and 2016. Furthermore, this thesis will also focus on migrants as victims and not only as potential terrorists. Several databases and academic papers were used to find out if migration caused the increase in terrorism in Germany and France. After doing extensive research, the result was that migration did not lead to the increase in terrorist attacks in Germany and France in 2015 and 2016. However, the right-wing attacks against migrants could provoke them to radicalize and execute terrorist attacks in their host state.Show less
This thesis examines the difficulties Islamic guest workers encountered integrating into Dutch society through five key factors; housing, subsidies, migrant women and family reunification,...Show moreThis thesis examines the difficulties Islamic guest workers encountered integrating into Dutch society through five key factors; housing, subsidies, migrant women and family reunification, education and finally the participation of guest workers in Dutch society.Show less
This thesis discusses the concept of cultural identity in relation to three literary works. It argues that Kiran Desai’s novel, The Inheritance of Loss, highlights the postcolonial structure of its...Show moreThis thesis discusses the concept of cultural identity in relation to three literary works. It argues that Kiran Desai’s novel, The Inheritance of Loss, highlights the postcolonial structure of its characters’ identities, Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel, The Namesake, focuses on the concept of diaspora identities, as defined by Stuart Hall; her short stories collection, Interpreter of Maladies, on the other hand, centres around the interplay between social and personal identities, as put forward by Margarita Azmitia. Instead of portraying cultural identity as a monolithic construct, all three literary works make a case for the fact that cultural identity is ever-changing and dynamic.Show less
After the influx of Central American unaccompanied child migrants to the U.S. southern border in 2014, the Northern Triangle governments of, Honduras, and Guatemala, and El Salvador, partnered with...Show moreAfter the influx of Central American unaccompanied child migrants to the U.S. southern border in 2014, the Northern Triangle governments of, Honduras, and Guatemala, and El Salvador, partnered with the Obama administration to implement the Alliance for Prosperity plan, a development initiative introduced by Northern Triangle governments to stem irregular migration through promoting regional economic growth and security. To support the Plan, the U.S. financed $1 billion in foreign aid assistance and programming. In reality, the Alliance for Prosperity plan was a continuation of the same neoliberal economic model in existence between the U.S. and Northern Triangle region for decades, which has been found to secure national security and business interests over that of inclusive growth among Central American societies. Considering President Biden’s $4 billion commitment to build on this model, the case study that follows seeks to explore through qualitative analysis the hypothesis that the previous Alliance for Prosperity plan was used to perpetuate neocolonial mechanisms of economic dependency, resource extraction, and territorial control, to undermine the Plan’s objective to inspire inclusive growth among the Central American people. The findings reveal that the Plan perpetuates neocolonialism by consistently implementing policies that exacerbate local inequalities and neglecting to enforce measures of transparency and accountability. Maintaining the status quo affords the U.S. favorable economic and security interests while at the same time ensuring the dominance of a Central American elitist class. Both partners lack an incentive to change development approaches, serving as an explanation to why foreign aid to address the Central American migrant crisis has undermined its own efforts.Show less
At the end of the Late Bronze Age, around 1200 BCE, a wave of destructions raged over the eastern-Mediterranean. Many theories argue that migrant populations, mainly from the Aegean sphere, are...Show moreAt the end of the Late Bronze Age, around 1200 BCE, a wave of destructions raged over the eastern-Mediterranean. Many theories argue that migrant populations, mainly from the Aegean sphere, are responsible for the devastations. In their journey, Cyprus was an important stop en route, making the island an important location to test these theories. However, in recent research the role that indigenous populations played in the destruction events is being emphasized. In this research, it is investigated whether the indigenous populations of Cyprus might in fact be responsible for many, if not all of the events of destruction on the island at the end of the Late Bronze Age. To investigate this hypothesis, Enkomi, Hala Sultan Tekke and Pyla-Kokkinokremos were studied diachronically. In the tumultuous period of the LBA Collapse, these sites were continuous, destroyed and newly founded respectfully. From their excavation reports, the presence of foreign elements is analysed using the concept of deep change to see whether the elements sufficiently constitute to a foreign presence or are merely the result of other modes of interaction (trade, raids). Additionally, a settlement model analysis of site development was applied to see whether internal dynamics, such as competition and rivalry, could have played a part in the destruction episode. From the analyses, it is clear that no large-scale migration to Cyprus had taken place. Aegean people were most likely present in the Cypriot sites, but this concerns small-scale populations and is unrelated to a large-scale migration event whatsoever. The events at Hala Sultan Tekke and Pyla might be better explained in relation to the nearby economically competing site of Kition. At Enkomi the evidence is ambiguous, neither being explained by the previously proposed migration theory, nor by internal dynamics. It is concluded that based on the evidence from the three sites, a large-scale Aegean migration is insufficiently supported. Rather, the workings of intra-insular dynamics between settlement systems appear more plausible as explanation. The Aegean traces, then, are the result of trade interaction and the presence of small groups of Aegean descent.Show less
Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
open access
Diaspora is an interesting, unique ,and widespread phenomenon, always bringing into question ideas of culture, identity and belonging. The Indian Diaspora is one of the largest in the world, and...Show moreDiaspora is an interesting, unique ,and widespread phenomenon, always bringing into question ideas of culture, identity and belonging. The Indian Diaspora is one of the largest in the world, and has been extensively researched. However, in both daily conversation and in academic literature, there seems to be a surprising relative lack of knowledge on the Indian Diaspora of East Africa, this is bewildering given its intrigue and importance in the region. Equally under emphasised are the cultural roles and experiences of women, often seen as symbols and carriers of culture; through dress, family making, cooking, ideas of honour and more. Diasporas often have a tendency towards remaining conservative, while the homeland often evolves, as a way to hold on to tradition and identity. This has changed in recent decades, either in the direction of new more modern ideas or blended identities with an even further drive to traditionalism by the contemporary generation. These various trajectories will be included in this paper.Show less
