Young adults consistently show lower levels of political participation compared to older citizens which is a pattern that threatens democratic inclusiveness. While there exists research that has emphasized structural and resource-based explanations, this study aims to investigate whether Self-Determination Theory (SDT) can offer additional insights into this gap. Using survey data from the Europea

This thesis investigates whether corruption levels in European Union (EU) member states have changed following their accession, with a particular focus on countries joining after the establishment of the Copenhagen Criteria in 1993. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study first conducts a quantitative analysis of corruption trends on a year-by-year basis across all post-1993 accession countr

This thesis investigates how Swedish municipalities perceive and interpret their responsibilities within crisis management, specifically regarding the provision of food to schools and care facilities. In the context of Sweden's civil defense there is considerable uncertainty about the division of responsibilities between governing actors. By analyzing how they perceive and try to fulfill their

This study examines how young people are discursively constructed in Swedish policy documents addressing the proposed lowering of the criminal responsibility age from 15 to 14 years, amid ongoing criminal policy debates. Using Fairclough's critical discourse analysis supplemented by responsibility theory and critical age studies, the research analyzes government directive "Skärpta straff

This essay aims to study how Vladimir Putin's view of Russia and Ukraine, presented in his interview with far-right journalist Tucker Carlson from 2024, can be understood from a nationalist perspective. Further, this essay also aims to understand Putin’s aim with the interview. The chosen theoretical perspective is Ernest Gellner’s theory of nationalism. To examine this view Seymour Chatman’s

The World Bank Group (WB) has often faced critique due to their inconsistency in keeping to their stated humanitarian or environmental goals in their efforts to promote economic development and the world-economy. Their practices are known and their stated goals. That leaves the question: What are their actual goals? In a time of increased mineral extraction due to the energy transition, facing the

This thesis explores how the Swedish system of regulated prostitution and the Inspection Bureau (Besiktningsbyrån) were legitimized during the late 19th century, with a focus on the 1880s. Using David Beetham’s theory of legitimacy - which includes legality, normative justification, and consent - the study conducts a qualitative content analysis of historical texts that defended the Bureau’s role

Why do some states shame norm-violating states when others remain silent? Inter-state “naming and shaming” is typically viewed as a political tool and a calculated act to shame rivals and highlight allies. In this study I investigate why countries shame conflict related sexual violence in the Universal Periodic Review, based on domestic factors. This study explicitly seeks to answer the following

The recent years spread of misinformation and the rise of post-truth politics have challenged the role of public service media in democratic societies. This thesis explores how the Nordic public service broadcasters – SVT, NRK, DR, RÚV and Yle – position themselves in relation to disinformation, misinformation, and post-truth. Through a qualitative, thematic analysis of their annual reports from 2

Within the scientific community, research increasingly states that the forest is an important factor in the climate crisis. However, since the forest is an asset that is utilized for various purposes (economic, ecological and recreation), it has sparked debate about how the forest should be valued and used. Therefore the debate has divided into a predominantly economic as well as an environmental

Trafficking in human beings (THB) is internationally recognized as a security threat and one of the most severe violations of the individual’s right to freedom. The European Union (EU) has adopted this definition and acknowledges the need for transnational coordination. In 2011, the EU introduced Directive 2011/36/EU, committing Member States to a common legal framework against human trafficking.

This paper analyses how international status aspiration influences the foreign policy decisions of two emerging powers, India and Brazil. Drawing on status theory, specifically social identity theory, the research examines how the two countries pursue similar global and regional recognition goals despite significantly different geopolitical environments, histories, and populations. Further, they a

This paper aims to examine the values and interests that Swedish export control expresses. Two research questions form the basis of the paper: (1) What importance is given to a country's respect for human rights when making decisions about Swedish arms exports? and (2) What alternative values and interests are expressed in Swedish export control? A multi-methodological approach is used, consis

This study explores how young people's presence on social media can increase their risk of being recruited into criminal networks. It focuses on digital vulnerability, the normalization of crime, and challenges in preventive efforts. The research is based on semi-structured interviews with professionals from the police, social services, and civil society. It also includes an analysis of two ke

This thesis explores why Western intelligence systematically misjudged regime fragility in Afghanistan and Iraq during the War on Terror. It argues that the key failures arose not from missing information but from deeply embedded Weberian assumptions about statehood, which framed these regimes as coherent, institutional, and sovereign despite their fragmented and externally supported realities. Em

This thesis investigates how authoritarian leaders justify the restructuring of state institutions and the dismissal of bureaucratic officials, with a focus on the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under President Trump's second administration. By applying a critical discourse analysis of two policy documents: an executive order and a memorandum, the study ex

This thesis investigates the potential role of informal breaks within Scandinavian peace diplomacy, with a particular focus on the tradition of fika - a social coffee-break, put simply. While formal diplomatic processes are often the focus, we argue that informal moments such as fika can offer valuable opportunities for fostering additional trust, ease tensions, and encourage open dialogue in ways

Agonistic peace is an emerging approach in peace studies that advocates for non-violent and political continuation of conflict through transformation of inter-groups relationships so that former antagonists recognize each other as legitimate actors. As of yet, the practical implications of agonistic peace for ending violence and promoting durable peace have been relatively understudied, especially

This thesis investigates the guiding principles underpinning the Swedish parliament's narrative during the energy crisis, with a particular focus on how these align with established universal principles of the Swedish welfare state and the moral framework of deservingness. The study draws on the Swedish welfare state with the use of critical discourse analysis, as well the dimensions of deserv

Since ascending the French presidency in 2017, Emmanuel Macron has been faced with numerous foreign policy challenges. Two of his most puzzling challenges have been the relationships with Russia and the United States. Accordingly, the aim of this paper was to study the ways in which Macron rhetorically has navigated France vis-à-vis Russia 2017-2025 and the United States under Donald Trump, in lig