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An Assessment of Energy Security Performance in the Context of European Integrations
Hodžić, Nadina ; Butler, Eamonn (vedoucí práce) ; Schiavo, Stefano (oponent)
As a result of an ongoing energy crisis, energy security became a focal point of political debates across Europe. This paper aims to evaluate Serbian approach to protection of energy security relating to the process of European integrations. The thesis conducts a content analysis, evaluating the developments in Serbia's energy sector in the context of obligations and commitments made to the European Union and examines whether the adherence to the EU energy standards promulgates or challenges energy security performance in the country. The study concludes that Serbia observance of the EU energy-related policies is higher when the Union's approach is not detrimental for Serbia's security of supply. Further, the thesis finds that characteristics of Serbian energy security are inherently incompatible with the EU energy strategy and thereby the national energy security performance would be unfavourably impacted during the period of energy transition and adequate implementation of reforms. Keywords: energy security, Serbia, European Union, European integrations
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From Environmental Discourses to Environmental Policies
Cacre, Marta ; Casaglia, Anna (vedoucí práce) ; Butler, Eamonn (oponent)
From Environmental Discourses to Environmental Policies August 2023 2713415C (Glasgow) 233471 (Trento) 99522802 (Prague) Presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of International Master in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies Word Count: 22,359 Supervisor: Anna Casaglia Date of Submission: 10/08/2023 2 Abstract This study investigates the impact of discourse on the formulation of environmental policies and their potential implications for tackling the challenges posed by climate change. Discourse analysis is utilised to examine the conceptualization of climate change and proposed solutions within the framework of municipal environmental policy in Barcelona. The investigation is guided by two fundamental research inquiries: firstly, how is the notion of climate change portrayed in these policies, and secondly, what types of environmental discourse are utilised? Furthermore, what impact does the selected discourse have on the determination of particular solutions aimed at addressing the issue? The primary subject of examination pertains to the Barcelona Energy, Climate Change, and Air Quality Plan for the period of 2011-2020, as well as the Climate Emergency Action Plan for the year 2030. This study illustrates the evolution of our comprehension of climate change over time,...
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Cults in Nigeria: Unravelling the Distinct Security Challenges and Contrasts with the West
Thierry d'Argenlieu, Eléonore Philippine Marie-Elisabeth ; Butler, Eamonn (vedoucí práce) ; Parks, Louisa Rosemary (oponent)
CULTS IN NIGERIA: UNRAVELLING THE DISTINCT SECURITY CHALLENGES AND CONTRASTS WITH THE WEST - July 2023 [UoG] 2685776T | [DCU] 21109699 | [CU] 19955423 Presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of International Master in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies Word Count: 23,881 Supervisor: Dr Eamonn Butler McIntosh Date of Submission: 26 July 2023 Abstract The macabre discovery of the Shakahola Forest massacre brought back the issue of religious extremism, sectarian drift and the complexity of regulating such groups. Cults still pertain to a grey zone in both the academic and legal realms; they are at the crossroads of freedoms and restrictions, exist in various structures and ideologies, and have diverse implications for stability and security. Cultism touches all levels of society and there is not one typical profile of a recruit. However, sectarian groups have the common characteristic of deeply affecting individuals. To this end, the analysis focuses on Nigeria where cults have been active within society for decades, and continue to grow their influence. Cultism in Nigeria reaches most spheres of the country, from politics to the economy including education. The implications for development and security in each of these aspects are multiple and interlinked, even mutually...
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Resilient Horizons: Unpacking Governance in Romania
Moody, Emma ; Butler, Eamonn (vedoucí práce) ; Kilroy, Walt (oponent)
Student 2717298M 03/08/22 Motivation letter to attend the EDEN conference "It's the End of the World as We Know It - Data Protection & Law Enforcement in a Shifting World Order." EUROPOL's new mandate hinders the right to privacy and securitises individuals' personal data. Individual data with no link to criminal activity will be treated similarly to criminal records. I understand the consequences of limited oversight on BIGData. I wrote about the UK's NDNAD and its use of genetic data from websites like ancestry.com in their research predicting criminal characteristics, including the role of ethnicity. I strongly believe that such technology targets ethnic minorities and would be excited to develop a more critical perspective from Böing's VR goggles in reducing ethnic profiling talk. I also recently published an article which reviews the new Kinetic Cyber and emerging technologies in the context of UK law and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The EDEN Conference's focus on policy and law as well as cyber and COVID-19 is also central to my dissertation. I would like to use this opportunity to ask industry experts questions and potentially make contacts to aid my dissertation research. My policy recommendations regarding COVID-19 and disinformation would help me to engage and debate in several talks too....
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The position of nuclear power within European energy security following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Bracken, Stephen ; Ludvík, Jan (vedoucí práce) ; Butler, Eamonn (oponent)
This paper examines the contemporary position of nuclear energy within the wider European energy security framework in the shadow of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. This unprecedented event has thrown the international relations status quo off balance. The paper discusses the role that nuclear power carries out and whether there is potential for it to grow into a more commonly used source of energy generation. Supposed benefits from its utilisation are a strengthening of energy security across the EU, lower carbon emissions and reduced dependency from Russian imports. Further to this, the reasonings behind its feared image will be looked into while analysing proposed methods to soften its perception as we reach a turning point in deciding how best Europe can protect and maintain a secure and sustainable way of life. Incorporating collated groups of data and information from discourse and other forms of textual analysis, it is found that we are now witnessing a surge of interest in nuclear power. What was so recently seen as a fading industry of the past by some, appears to be on the rise due to successful results in countries that have prioritised the energy source, by those planning to build and extend the lifetimes of existing reactors and the work being done by individuals creating next...
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Influencing peace: The impact of ethnocentrism in United Nations peacekeeping operations
Maclean, Margot ; Butler, Eamonn (vedoucí práce) ; Bureš, Oldřich (oponent)
Since the end of the Cold War, the United Nations has been working to adapt its peacekeeping missions to the changing conflict environment. However, it still faces several key challenges in its approach to its peacekeeping missions. As the UN operates within increasingly complex conflict environments, it requires greater funding, more resources, and further commitment from its member states. The UN Security Council, which controls the design and implementation of peacekeeping operations, is dominated by the P5 nations of the US, the UK, France, China, and Russia. While the UNSC's failings are often discussed, this dissertation attempts to address a gap in the literature by exploring the foundational influences on the UN within the context of ethnocentrism. The concept of ethnocentrism is fundamental to the functioning of global society, as it influences international relations and structure. The presence of ethnocentrism promotes exploitative practices and the belief in dominance over other groups. This study addresses the UN's political challenges in its capability to engage in peacekeeping operations, within an ethnocentric framework, by focusing on UN documents, independent reports, secondary literature, and analysing voting patterns, mandate structure, and financial contributions. The findings...
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Allison in Austral Africa: The organizational process of oil security
Milo, Yann ; Butler, Eamonn (vedoucí práce) ; Pertile, Marco (oponent)
This paper aims to uncover and examine some of the strategies used by states to secure their oil needs by opening the black box of government and considering how these needs are built and constructed within an organisational process. To explore oil security strategies used by states, the paper employs the case study of South Africa's liquid fuel policy from 2007 until 2022, studied through documentary research and qualitative analysis. The analysis aims to consider the impact of private & public enterprises, political organisations and government departments on the framing of the issue and the fault lines regarding energy security. Through a SWOT analysis of South Africa's liquid fuel policy, it uncovers that there is a continued influence and presence of an informal industrial, mining and energy elite in South Africa built around the issue of the place of coal and renewable energy in the country. Illustrating the role of development as a security issue, South Africa questions the function and use of energy as a factor for labour control as it exemplifies the triple role of energy as a 'carrot', a 'stick' and an element which determines the structure of the labour market. This case study exemplifies the challenges ahead regarding the construction of energy security discourse to fight climate change...
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Institutional organization of the European space program: Ensuring the security of the Union
Avrat, František ; Doboš, Bohumil (vedoucí práce) ; Butler, Eamonn (oponent)
This dissertation is looking into the question of what would be the optimal institutional organizational structure of the European space programme with regard to the EU member states' security. To do so this dissertation is defining the realities of today's space domain as contested and congested, thus there is a need to be prepared for new security challenges. This is to be done under the theoretical framework of strategic autonomy. This dissertation operates with official documents of the EU and ESA that are defining the current organizational structure, their relationships, as well as organizational structure of the two European space flagship, projects Galileo and Secure Connectivity. Together with data collected through anonymous interviews with European space security experts this dissertation through thematic analysis defines four key areas that need to be improved in order to increase the member states' security and provides relevant recommendations. The areas to be improved are those of internal convergence on the basic topics, defining new industrial space policy, building domestic capacities, and improving the external messaging. Keywords: Space programme, European Union, European Space Agency, Strategic Autonomy
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Deterring cyberthreats - The Baltic States and the search for a theory of cyberdeterrence
Herzog, Fabian ; Pili, Giangiuseppe (vedoucí práce) ; Butler, Eamonn (oponent) ; Střítecký, Vít (oponent)
This dissertation consists of three parts and has a twofold research interest. The research interest lies in finding a theory of cyberdeterrence as well as the pragmatic challenge of unconventional warfare at NATO's Eastern front and cyberattacks in general. The first part is a theoretical analysis considering the literature review on cyber, deterrence theory and their combination. The resulting identified crucial factors are incorporated in the game theory model of the second part of the thesis. The research question of the model is directed at the gap in the academic literature when a defender should retaliate after a cyberattack. The model predicts that conflict in cyber is dominated by offense not defence on the lower spectrum of intensity which is influenced by the factors impact and attribution. The higher the degree of impact and attribution of a cyberattack, the more useful becomes deterrence by punishment with a high retaliation. In the third part the model is tested against the case study of cyberattacks against Estonia in 2007. The test identifies adaptions and shortcomings of the theory of cyberdeterrence. Cyberattacks with lower impact are not deterrable with punishment because the defender is unable to portray credible threats of retaliation. This has implications for deterring...
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