The aim of this research is to investigate how health was fostered by urban planners after the Second World War in the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Firstly, this thesis will discuss the...Show moreThe aim of this research is to investigate how health was fostered by urban planners after the Second World War in the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Firstly, this thesis will discuss the literature review that tackles urban health, the concept of health in the twentieth century, and postwar urban planning. This will be followed by a framework from secondary literature mentioned in the literature review on urban health and urban planning initiatives that impact health positively. This framework is used to analyse primary sources of postwar urban planning. The results indicated that postwar urban planners developed urban areas mostly to prevent infectious diseases and aimed for the creation of lively neighbourhoods through leisure. However, the spatial environment that was created unintentionally prospered health in different manners through the lens of the current perception of urban health.Show less
Film has the power to influence the worldview of its audience. This includes shaping the image of countries by including them on the silver screen. Through a case study of five Hollywood films from...Show moreFilm has the power to influence the worldview of its audience. This includes shaping the image of countries by including them on the silver screen. Through a case study of five Hollywood films from the 1970s and 2010s, this thesis takes a diachronic in exploring how the Netherlands is represented in American cinema. The concept of verisimilitude is used to determine how well the images of the Netherlands in the movies correspond to the perception of the country from a Dutch person’s perspective. The main points of focus in the analysis are the environment and people. In these sections, it is evident that the inclusion of traditional clothing and landmarks such as windmills is better contextualised in the older films than in the newer ones. In general, when comparing the results between the films from the different decades, it can be concluded that the degree of verisimilitude is relatively higher in the 1970s. In other words, the representation of the Netherlands in American film has become more stereotypical in recent years.Show less
The continuous urbanisation of our surroundings has led to an increase in environmental problems. In addition to the process of urbanisation negatively impacting the quality of our environment, it...Show moreThe continuous urbanisation of our surroundings has led to an increase in environmental problems. In addition to the process of urbanisation negatively impacting the quality of our environment, it also directly supports climate change. Consequently, the two major global trends lead to a notable increase in the unpredictability and magnitude of flooding hazards that can cause substantial damage to cities and their population. Though there are preliminary flood prevention strategies already in place, governments and policymakers struggle to formulate more integrated approaches and policies so as to fully prevent adverse consequences originating from extreme flooding events. This thesis studies the extreme pluvial floods that have severely affected many countries and regions in Western Europe, leading to economic decline, infrastructural damages, and loss of life. During two days in July 2021, the sudden appearance of these urban pluvial floods has left many countries such as Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands devastated by the destruction of their cities and villages as many areas were left submerged underwater. In an effort to understand the effectiveness of already existent adaptation plans and water management policies in averting potential flood events, this paper will provide a comparative analysis of said policies and plans for both the Netherlands and Belgium. Hence, their approach to water management policies will be investigated to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures implemented prior to the extreme urban floods, followed by an evaluation of the adaptations of these policies after the events.Show less
This thesis looks at how human rights activism of the Uyghur diaspora in The Netherlands and NGOs impacts Dutch foreign policy towards the People’s Republic of China. I explore academic writing on...Show moreThis thesis looks at how human rights activism of the Uyghur diaspora in The Netherlands and NGOs impacts Dutch foreign policy towards the People’s Republic of China. I explore academic writing on human rights, the construction of foreign policy and human rights activism related to the PRC. These are later looked at through the public and private actions of the Uyghur diaspora in The Netherlands. Furthermore, I will look at the influence of NGOs in Dutch foreign policy construction, as well as, their implications for supranational institutions such as the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU). Firstly, by look at existing literature on the Uyghurs in East-Turkestan. Secondly, in by blending literature with the information about the influence of the activism of the Uyghur diaspora in The Netherlands. Thirdly, by looking at the impact of the advocacy of NGOs within and outside the country and their impact on the foreign policy of the Dutch government. Through this case study, I examine the validity of the “spiral model” by Risse and Ropp in the Dutch context.Show less
In light of creating more mutual understanding between South Korea and the Netherlands, this thesis studies and compares the general organizational cultures of South Korean and Dutch businesses by...Show moreIn light of creating more mutual understanding between South Korea and the Netherlands, this thesis studies and compares the general organizational cultures of South Korean and Dutch businesses by focusing on the view of a sample population of employees from each country. Consequently, the question this thesis attempts to answer is: ‘How do the organizational cultures of South Korean and Dutch businesses compare, as viewed through the eyes of the general employee?’ This thesis consideres every organization that employs people as a business. Furthermore, this thesis defines organizational culture as ‘values, norms, behaviors and work practices of the members in an organization’. To test the hypothesis that the two current organizational cultures of businesses in South Korea and the Netherlands are similar to each other, despite the different ways in which the organizational cultures of the two countries have been shaped, this thesis made use of a survey method to research how employees viewed their organizational culture. The survey combined qualitative and quantitative approaches through close-ended answers and deeper delving, open-ended answers. Subsequently, the survey was distributed to employees from all different kinds of job positions and workplaces within both South Korea and the Netherlands. The results of this study show that there are many similarities between the organizational cultures of South Korean and Dutch businesses, such as an occasional need to work overtime, after-work gatherings initiated by colleagues, a feeling of being heard by their boss and colleagues and a generally decent job satisfaction. Differences between the countries include a difference in flexibility of working hours, different views on obedience towards people in higher positions and different views on the need for strong personal bonds with collegues. Overall, the organizational cultures of businesses in South Korea and the Netherlands were found to contain more similarities than differences.Show less
The critical infrastructure is at the core of a well-functioning society (Mussington, 2021). Through technological developments, the critical infrastructure is increasingly regulated through the...Show moreThe critical infrastructure is at the core of a well-functioning society (Mussington, 2021). Through technological developments, the critical infrastructure is increasingly regulated through the internet. However, digitalization has made the critical infrastructure more vulnerable to digital disruptions (OECD, 2012). Therefore, it is a vital interest for national governments to protect the critical infrastructure from digital threats (Mussington, 2021). Within this cybersecurity domain, a multitude of stakeholders is collaborating to carry out the governance of cybersecurity. However, yet little attention has been designated to the organizational structure of the cybersecurity governance domain, according to Kuerbis & Baldiei (2017). While zooming in on the organizational aspect, this research aims to fill this gap in academic knowledge by gaining insight into the cybersecurity governance approaches of Spain and the Netherlands regarding critical infrastructure protection. The findings of the research indicate that public-private partnerships are more prominent in the Dutch context. The Spanish cybersecurity governance approach revolves around the security services present in the country. Moreover, the study concludes that the Spanish approach is characterized by a market governance structure, whereas the Dutch are following a networked governance structure. The research framework and findings have offered the foundations to unpack the organizational structure within the cybersecurity domain. Applying other lenses on this matter will increase the academic confidence in the organizational aspect within the cybersecurity domain.Show less
Based on the Alt-Right Movement in the United States, Study Association Erkenbrand was established in the Netherlands in 2016. Their ideology is based on the notion of White supremacy and therefore...Show moreBased on the Alt-Right Movement in the United States, Study Association Erkenbrand was established in the Netherlands in 2016. Their ideology is based on the notion of White supremacy and therefore they are against ethnic and racial blending. Ultimately, Erkenbrand wants to create a White ethnostate free from (minority) groups, such as migrants, Jews and Muslims. Therefore, Erkenbrand has their own website where they post propaganda articles about current social developments, events and other topics related to their different values within their ideology. This study aims to explore the themes within Erkenbrand’s propaganda articles in 2021 to analyze the nature of their content and which themes occur most often. Combining grounded theory with framing theory, 92 propaganda articles were analyzed to also investigate how Erkenbrand frames those key themes within their ideology to its followers as this could possibly radicalize them and/or stimulate them to use violence. Findings showed that key themes within Erkenbrand’s propaganda are nationalism, White supremacy, degradation of culture, anti-migration, and anti-left/liberal and anti-government sentiments. Furthermore, Erkenbrand argues that the White race is declining and being replaced by other ethnic groups due to mass immigration. According to Erkenbrand, the (leftist and/or liberal) government is to blame for not protecting the Western culture, tradition and White race by making secret agreements and conspiring against the ‘real’ Dutch citizens.Show less
The Syrian civil war caused an enormous refugee flow towards Europe, especially in the years 2015 and 2016. Although the Netherlands and Germany are strongly interconnected, their response to the...Show moreThe Syrian civil war caused an enormous refugee flow towards Europe, especially in the years 2015 and 2016. Although the Netherlands and Germany are strongly interconnected, their response to the refugee crisis differed. Germany accepted a lot more refugees than the Netherlands. To investigate where this difference could come from, this research has endeavoured to answer the question: To which extent can the difference of policy in the 2015 refugee crisis between Germany and The Netherlands be explained by Kingdon's stream model?. Kingdon (1995) recognized three flowing streams that, at the moment they come together, create a policy window in which policy can be implemented. Qualitative content analysis has been performed on newspaper articles containing specific terms, regarding the crisis, in Germany and the Netherlands in the years 2015 and 2016. On the basis of a code tree the articles were analysed to examine Kingdon's multiple stream theory and their role in policy implementation in the Netherlands and Germany. The countries did not differ on many concepts, but on some they did. The influence of international partnerships affected the political stream. The pressure from other countries turned out to be more on Germany than on the Netherlands. This pressure led to the opening of the German borders for refugees via Hungary. Kingdon's theory turned out to be suitable for the case analysis. Yet, the adaption of the theory to the time and location of the case was useful. This research focussed on German and Dutch articles, for which precise translations in the data collection are used. Nevertheless, the possibility of proverbial differences between languages can lead to disproportional data collection. For further research cooperation with German researcher could be a solution to perform further analysis.Show less
The hierarchical vertical structures of security networks are increasingly making way for horizontal networked structures. One of these security networks is the Neighbourhood Watch group of...Show moreThe hierarchical vertical structures of security networks are increasingly making way for horizontal networked structures. One of these security networks is the Neighbourhood Watch group of Schipluiden, which strives for less crime and a better quality of life within their municipality. It is aimed at reducing crimes such as robberies, burglaries, violence, vandalism and destruction of property. Even though these initiatives gained quite some popularity in the Netherlands, they remain prone to several challenges. Therefore, this thesis examines what challenges are affecting the effectiveness and legitimacy of the Dutch Neighbourhood Watch group of Schipluiden. Through qualitative research methods, this thesis combined several criteria in order to evaluate the effectiveness and legitimacy of the Neighbourhood Watch group of Schipluiden at different levels of analysis. After using a combination of content analysis and expert interviews, this thesis concludes that the NHWS is a legitimate security network that is currently effective, yet prone to several challenges that could affect the effectiveness in the future.Show less
As civil war broke out in Spain the entire world watched. The deeply ideological nature of the conflict ensured it spurred public interest worldwide. In the Netherlands too the public took sides, a...Show moreAs civil war broke out in Spain the entire world watched. The deeply ideological nature of the conflict ensured it spurred public interest worldwide. In the Netherlands too the public took sides, a process regulated by the existing pillarisation. Most Dutch catholics supported Franco, though the pillar also knew some dissidents. This paper looks at the argumentation used by Dutch catholics for their position in the civil war, using newspapers and books as sources. Through this research it tries to add to the existing views on the interwar Netherlands and to the corpus of research on how the civil war was perceived outside of Spain.Show less
Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
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This thesis researches in what ways the practices of Ayurveda in Ayurvedic practices in the Netherlands are diverging from their Indian prototypes and counterparts, and why.
Right-wing populism is becoming increasingly popular in Western Europe, this is also evident when looking at the Netherlands. Geert Wilders, party leader of the Partij Voor de Vrijheid (PVV), has...Show moreRight-wing populism is becoming increasingly popular in Western Europe, this is also evident when looking at the Netherlands. Geert Wilders, party leader of the Partij Voor de Vrijheid (PVV), has been the face of right-wing populism in the Netherlands for a long time, however, it seems that he has now been replaced by Thierry Baudet. Baudet is the party leader of the Forum voor Democratie (FvD), the two-year-old party has managed to win the provincial elections back in March of this year. With the rise of right-wing populist rhetoric, also the exclusion of people has become prominent. This thesis aims to research and analyse how the rhetoric of contemporary right-wing parties contributes to discrimination and xenophobia in the Netherlands.Show less
My Thesis deals with the difference in the acculturation processes of Syrians in exile in Morocco and the Netherlands. The main analysis is based on interviews which have been conducted in Morocco...Show moreMy Thesis deals with the difference in the acculturation processes of Syrians in exile in Morocco and the Netherlands. The main analysis is based on interviews which have been conducted in Morocco and the Netherlands with Syrians who sought refuge in the respective countries to compare the personal experiences while taking into consideration different policy matters, legal questions, and cultural differences. These interviews were then analysed through the theoretical framework of acculturation to answer the research question. Acculturation as theoretical framework is composed of four different strategies for intercultural contact. The core of the acculturation strategies is based on how much of the cultural heritage an individual is willing or forced to leave behind to achieve the desired acculturation strategy. The first presented strategy is termed separation, which applies when an individual holds on to the heritage culture and avoids intercultural contact. Secondly, the assimilation strategy applies when the individual seeks daily contact with new cultures and does not maintain the culture of origin. The third strategy is called marginalization which applies when the maintenance of the original culture does not apply and desire to maintain relations with others is missing. The final and most desired acculturation strategy is termed integration and applies when an individual seeks intercultural contact but also maintains the culture of origin. Morocco and The Netherlands were chosen because of a great difference in geopolitics which influence the process of acculturation for the Syrians residing in these two countries.Show less
“Processes of globalisation, new migratory patterns and the creation of transnational entities have altered political dynamics. Crossing geographic, cultural and political borders, diaspora...Show more“Processes of globalisation, new migratory patterns and the creation of transnational entities have altered political dynamics. Crossing geographic, cultural and political borders, diaspora communities have become more numerous gaining political significance. With the end of the Cold War and the opening of new political spaces, diasporas have been increasingly recognised as emerging non-state actors in the international arena. While the importance of studying diaspora politics and their impact has generally been acknowledged, there remains an active debate on the nature and scope of diaspora politics and their actual influence on the global political arena. In this context, this thesis examines how diaspora communities exert influence on foreign policy making towards their home countries. Through an in-depth case study of the Rwandan diaspora living in the Netherlands, it will contribute to the broader field of diaspora politics by generating insights that enhance the understanding of diaspora’s critical roles and political engagement with their host countries. Examining conditions – both attribute-based and contextual factors in the host country – which limit or enhance the diaspora’s ability to exert political agency, provides an understanding of the diaspora’s potential in influencing foreign policy formulation, contextualising them as actors in the global arena. “Show less
After the Liberation of the Southern Nederlands in late 1944, the head of the Philips company contacted the American religious and anticommunist organization the Moral Rearmament. Throughout the...Show moreAfter the Liberation of the Southern Nederlands in late 1944, the head of the Philips company contacted the American religious and anticommunist organization the Moral Rearmament. Throughout the 50s, the Philips family played a major role in facilitating the American organization in the Netherlands, propagating Cold War rhetoric in politics, culture and industry. What in historiography has been called a 'postwar consensus', a period of a supposed 'ideological vacuum' and labour harmony, is problematized by the activity in the Netherlands of this highly ideological network of international industrialists. This thesis tries to research how the Moral Rearmament politicized the fundaments of the 'postwar consensus' by various tactics, and simultaneously traces the dissemination of its political ideas in Dutch society and key industries.Show less
Since the end of the Second World War the discussion on the defensibility of democracies has become gradually more prevalent. This thesis sought to answer the question; To what extent are parties...Show moreSince the end of the Second World War the discussion on the defensibility of democracies has become gradually more prevalent. This thesis sought to answer the question; To what extent are parties in Europe banned on basis of the concept of a militant democracy? First, the concept “militant democracy” was defined. This was done by analysing the aim, definition, measures and enemies of a militant democracy as outlined by five renowned academics in the field. Namely, Loewenstein (1937), Sajó (2004), Giovanni (2005), Thiel (2009) and Müller (2016/2018). Secondly, party ban cases in Germany, The Czech Republic, Latvia, The Netherlands and Spain were considered. First it was considered whether there were laws in place that aimed at protecting the democracy by targeting enemies of a militant democracy. Secondly, jurisprudence was analysed to see whether these laws were applied with the aim of protecting the democracy and targeting enemies of a militant democracy. If both were found to be the case; a party ban could be considered an act of a militant democracy. Thirdly, the political discourse around the party proscription was scrutinized to gather more information about the reasons for the ban. This was done by reviewing newspaper articles. The German and Czech cases were found to be examples of a militant democracy. Latvia indirectly acted as a militant democracy. The Dutch and Spanish cases were no examples of militant democracy. The political reasons for the party ban fell in line with the judicial reasons. In case of the Dutch and Spanish party ban, the government had additional motives for banning the party concerning the country’s future.Show less
