Search results

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 examines how different colonial governance systems have shaped the institutional foundations of democracy in postcolonial states, focusing on the cases of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, former colonies of Britain and France, respectively. Through a qualitative comparative case study, the analysis explores how the British model of indirect rule and the French centralized, assimilationist

This thesis explores how Swedish civil society organisations (CSOs) navigate transnational partnerships under civic space restrictions in India. Against the backdrop of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and shrinking Swedish aid, the study analyses how CSOs adapt to legal, political, and relational constraints. Drawing on four semi-structured interviews and guided by the concepts of

With rising powers on the global scene, foreign policy decisions are shaped by multiple theories of rationality. Culture and national identity are increasingly essential in actors’ decisions and play a significant role in foreign policy. This paper examines foreign policy rationality through the lenses of realism and constructivism, applying Mearsheimer and Rosato’s process-oriented definition of

Uppsatsen syftar till att synliggöra och problematisera hur omfattningen av domens negativa rättskraft förhåller sig till konsumentens rättigheter härrö-rande ur EU-rätten. Efter en jämförelse mellan HD:s rättspraxis och EU-domstolens avgöranden i konsumenträttsliga mål är min slutsats att den rätts-kraftslära HD utvecklat kan försämra konsumenträttens genomslag och såle-des strida mot den EU-rättThis essay aims to illustrate and problematize how the extent of res judicata rules relates to EU-regulated consumer rights. After a comparison between case law from the Swedish High Court (HD) and the European Court of Jus-tice (ECJ), I’ve concluded that the HD-created jurisprudence regarding res judicata might be incompatible with the EU principle of effectiveness. This is due to its potential i

This thesis explores how the European Union, through the East StratCom Task Force’s Disinformation Reviews, discursively frames Russia in its response to disinformation, and how this constructs the Union’s identity. Drawing on Thomas Diez operationalisation of Normative Power Europe as well as Strategic Narrative Theory, this study applies a critical discourse analysis of all reviews published wit

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

The health and well-being of women and girls is vital and is reflected in various indicators of the sustainable development goal three. An agreement between Tanzania and the UN has influenced Tanzanian health policies and plans for women. The health and well-being of women and girls is also a global health challenge, particularly in developing countries such as Tanzania, resulting in several healt

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

This thesis is a study into how discourses of environmental justice are created in campaigns in a contemporary movement. Using the case of the Norwegian environmental and climate organisation Natur og Ungdom, and more specifically their campaign against illegally set wind turbines on Fosen, Norway, where Sámi reindeer herding has been practices for generations. As a theoretical framework Schlosbe

Uppsatsens huvudfrågeställning lyder som följer: hur har Socialdemokraternas välfärdspolitik förändrats mellan åren 1975 och 2025? Denna bryts sedan ner i två delfrågor som etablerar eventuella skillnader i meningsskapande inom ramen för kollektivt välbefinnande respektive makt-relaterade begrepp. Det i syfte att identifiera och analysera skillnader och likheter mellan årtalen. För att komma åt de

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

Eating and drinking evoke complex sensory experiences and articulating them through language is often challenging. Differences between laypeople and sensory experts may offer valuable insights into how gustatory experiences are communicated. This is important because describing flavor in clear and shared terms is essential when experts and non-experts need to understand each other, whether in food