The nature of diplomacy has evolved during time and world political situation. The focus in this thesis lies on change in the nature of diplomacy and the explanatory capacity of two different views; namely the actor-centered and the structure-centered perspectives. The starting point is a theory presented by Susan Strange, focusing on globalization as a structural cause for change in the nature of

How effective is consumer power? Can consumers regulate corporate behavior? And if so is the case, could the mechanisms where consumers regulate corporate behavior have any democratic value to contribute with? These are the questions that this master's thesis comprehends with. The purpose of this writing is to construct a theory of consumer power that is compatible with democratic theory,

The aim of this thesis is to analyze and examine India's economic reforms which the country introduced on the government's own initiative in the early 1990s after decades of practicing isolationism. The analysis entails a thorough systematic examination of possible factors that determined the decision to implement the reforms. These factors are derived from two models developed by scholars

In this paper we discuss and analyse participatory methods in development programs. The concept of participation has changed during the last decades in the development discourse towards an empowering approach. In participatory programs participation is considered as a means to empower communities. We find the potential for these programs depend on whether they can ensure an empowering participatio

This thesis analyses the 2005 UK presidency of the Council, and more particularly the negotiations on the future financing of the European Union. The purpose of the study is to discuss whether the holding of the presidency implies political influence for the member state. To analyse the power of the country holding the chair the thesis focuses on the presidency functions of brokering and leadershi

The purpose of this thesis is to explore and analyze the processes and efforts involved in rebuilding the war-torn state of Afghanistan. The examined period span from the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, to the elections in 2005. This period, commonly known as the Bonn-process, sets out the initial time for the reconstruction of the state. A theoretical framework, which considers the necessary

Det råder brist på transparens och ansvarsutkrävande i många afrikanska förvaltningar. Dessa demokrativärden är centrala för utveckling och de bör institutionaliseras. Denna uppsats analyserar hur stigberoende och historiska faktorer har varit avgörande för denna institutionaliserings framgång. Fyra faktorers påverkan på transparens och ansvarsutkrävande undersöks. Dessa är reformer och inter

Vid närmare undersökning upptäckte jag ett fält som inte tidigare hade utforskats. Forskning kring förhandlingar mellan olika nationaliteter med olika kulturer är utbredd men väldigt lite finns kring förhandlingar mellan samma nationalitet fast med olika kulturer. Inget fanns kring förhandlingar mellan arbetarkulturen och tjänstemannakulturen inom Sverige vilket fick mig att skriva denna pilotstud

In this thesis, the introduction of smoke-free restaurants and bars in several EU Member States in a policy convergence perspective is studied. The thesis sets out to explain whether policy convergence has occurred and the possible explanations connected with it. It is stated that 15 out of 25 EU Member States had introduced or decided to introduce smoke-free restaurants and bars up to April, 2006

In this paper I have tried to find out the reason the medieval town of Vä was created. I have studied several different areas in witch all, in one way or another, have had an effect on the making of Vä. This areas includes topography, iron production, mill handling, religious effects, royal affliction and also if the name Vä could tell something about Väs history as a religious cult. I have also l

Youth unemployement in Sweden is at an all-time high, a fifth of all university and college students live in poverty and the number of young on welfare is increasing. This study attempts to answer the question of how youth deprivation has been made possible as a consequence of political action, focusing on youth unemployment. I critically examine the role of the Swedish government, the Swedish La

This essay discusses the development of swords in the southern region of Sweden, Skåne. It attempts to locate the areas in Europe where the swords were first made and, in doing so, trace the communication routes by which people traveled. The essay deals with a period of a few hundred years, from the late eighth century to sometime around 1300. In that sense, it is therefore also a time study trac

The first purpose of this thesis is to investigate if, how, and why the perceived collective identity in the town of Karlskrona has changed. Collective identities can due to their socially constructed nature change rapidly in light of new collective experiences. The reason for suspecting such a change in Karlskrona is the immense impact that the change in the global economy, according to Saskia Sa

This essay concerns the notion of how immigration politics, defined as a political discursive structure that explains and justifies how and why the movement of people into a state's territory is restricted and controlled, has come to present its purpose not as solidarity with the 'immigrants' wanting to enter the state but as a protective measure for the state's citizens. By using

Vi har gjort en utvärdering av FN:s insatser i Kongo 1960-1964. Vi har analyserat utifrån en konflikthanteringsmodell som vi har hämtat ur Contemporary Conflict Resolution av bland annat Oliver Ramsbotham. I denna modell är peacekeeping och peace enforcement centrala inslag. Med dessa begrepp åsyftas fredsbevarande respektive fredsframtvingande åtgärder för att nå fred eller förhindra krig. R

Vid invigningscermonin till den internationella brottmålsdomstolen, ICC, lovordades den av FN:s Generalsekreterare, trots att den är uppbyggd på en multilateral traktat och inte är en FN-inrättning. Enligt vår mening, finns det dock faktorer som påverkar ICC:s möjlighet att verka som en effektiv och oberoende domstol. I Romstadgan regleras relativt komplicerade jurisdiktionsgrunder för ICC, vilket

The overarching goal of this paper is to explain the intensive occurrence of partnerships ? regarded as a specific organizational structure ? in the formulation and implementation of Regional Growth Programs. By using theoretical concepts from new institutionalism, the paper tries to examine the explanatory capacity of this theory in the specific case of partnerships. The basis is a skeptical sta

Can deterrence work against a rogue state? The following analysis is done in order to test the validity of deterrence theory upon a rogue actor, and if necessary, to try and develop it further. Whereas the security strategy proved successful against the Soviet Union because of mutual assumptions of rationality, it is questionable if it works towards new challenges today. The behavior of rogue stat

Uppsatsen behandlar EU:s utvidgningspolitik och dess underliggande krafter. Syftet är att förklara Turkiets långa väg mot EU-medlemskap med hjälp av en jämförelse med Polen. Vårt teoretiska ramverk är en tredelad modell som förklarar individers och organisationers handlande. Modellen består av konsekvenslogik som rör rationella kalkyler om nytta, regellogik som behandlar situationsspecifika regler

The aim of this study is to get a better understanding of the Iranian regime. My theory is that the Iranian regime is a semi-dictatorship, based on the soul fact that semi-competetive elections take place. The main question this thesis tries to answer is what characterizes the political construction of the Iranian regime and by what means does it implement its political goals. In trying to answer