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Coca eradication programs and environmental detriment in Colombia
Bregante, Camilla ; Březinová, Kateřina (advisor) ; Hynek, Nikola (referee)
Camilla Bregante Coca eradication programs and environmental detriment in Colombia Abstract Conceived as U.S. assistance to Bogotá in combating Colombian drug cartels, Plan Colombia imposed the eradication of coca plants mainly through the fumigation with glyphosate. In the accusations against the Plan, human health issues largely surpassed discourses over environmental preservation. This thesis argued that the protection of biodiversity-rich Colombian ecosystems should be prioritized, hypothesizing harmful effects of Plan's implementation on flora and fauna. Building on the securitization theory, Colombian environmental detriment was proved to constitute a security issue. First, indeed, critical review of main toxicologists' studies on the matter revealed that the mixture used in fumigations deeply affects the ecosystems. Notably, a case study on Putumayo department emphasized damages on non-target vegetation and animals, which reduced to poverty the locals. Secondly, elaborating the data collected by the Integrated Illicit Crops Monitoring System (SIMCI) between 2001 and 2015, a comparative analysis between Putumayo and the Pacific region detected major crops displacement along the years, and, therefore, more and more forests cleared to grow coca. Finally, the last chapter described how, in the same...
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NATO's Deterrence strategy: causes of shortcomings when facing Russian hybrid strategy
Ellis, Joseph ; Ludvík, Jan (advisor) ; Hynek, Nikola (referee)
The Relationship between Russia and NATO is a subject which finds itself continuously popular and relevant throughout discussion of international security. Yet, there is relatively large disagreements on how a conflict between the two actors would play out and how strong their given strategies are, in this case being how successful or strong should NATO's deterrence strategy be considered. Due to this, this paper will explore the main point of: What are the causes or reasonings behind the shortcomings of NATO deterrence strategy when facing a Russian Hybrid Strategy? In order to explore this, a deeper look is undertaken into the strengths of weaknesses behind both Russian and NATO capabilities and credibility within their given strategies. Furthermore, the primary region which will be explored within the relationship between Russia and NATO is that of the Baltic states, as this is the most likely area which NATO's deterrence strategy will be tested by Russian hybrid Warfare. This exploration will use qualitative studies along with wargaming scenarios which take into account the joint hybrid and conventional nature of Russia's hybrid strategy. Through this analysis, several causes of shortcomings are identified. These causes are the weakness derived from the chosen deterrence theory model undertaken...
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Securitization within a frame of republican order: A case study of Marseille's banlieues
Hurtík, Ondřej ; Karásek, Tomáš (advisor) ; Hynek, Nikola (referee)
This case study explores the securitization of Marseille's banlieues during the era of the Frame of Republican order that in the last decade of the twentieth century and first years of the new millennium significantly influenced intensive securitization of French banlieues with a high concentration of ethnic minorities and countless overlapping social and economic problems. In 2005, in reaction to the era of intensive securitization, unprecedently violent riots and social unrest broke out in banlieues across France, yet banlieues in Marseille remained calm. This thesis, therefore, aims to describe the securitization process and at the same time expose causes that lowered the intensity of securitization, mitigated the influence of the Frame of Republican order and alleviated its adverse effects on the local population. For this purpose, the thesis builds on a combined theoretical framework of securitization theory and framing theory that enables to put the securitization process into the broader context and considers specific historical background. This thesis also interprets findings on the securitization process and offers a critical evaluation of recent development in Marseille that puts into danger Marseille's resistance to securitization and exposes the city to adverse consequences.
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An analysis of EU strategic culture and the role of the autonomous projection of hard power therein
Revie, Alasdair ; Hynek, Nikola (advisor) ; Hardman, Helen (referee)
This project attempts to analyse the role of the autonomous projection of hard power as tool of EU strategic culture through investigation into three case studies. These case studies constitute several EU military operations including: EUFOR BiH (Operation Althea), EUFOR DRC (Operation Artemis) and a joint investigation into EUNAVFOR MED (Operation Sophia) and EUNAVFOR MED (Operation Irini). The case selection of these operations is justified through the application of strategic culture theory as well as discourse and documentary analysis of the literature surrounding each of these missions. Further documentary, discourse and empirical analyses are undertaken during the case studies, as well as contextual factors being taken into consideration, in order to come to conclusions regarding the consequences of the strategic actions taken by the EU and other allied or aligned actors in each case upon the strategic culture of the EU. The extent of the relative autonomy ODF the actions of the EU from other aligned actors is also investigated in order to make determinations about the extent to which the EU was fully strategically responsible for a given military operation and, therefore, how consequential the outcomes of a given mission are upon the strategic culture of the EU. The core actors which were...
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Framing operation Barkhane: Moral rhetoric and symbolism in presidential speeches
Nobili, Arthur ; McDonagh, Ken (advisor) ; Hynek, Nikola (referee)
Democratic political leaders often use strategic narratives as a strategy of communication about oversees military operations. It is well- established that politicians use moral frames, symbols and emotional appeals to mobilize public support. This dissertation aimed at understanding the French President Emmanuel Macron's strategy of communication about the oversees military operation Barkhane. Specifically, it analysed whether Macron's communicative strategy employed a moral frame, symbols, and emotional appeals as part of a strategic narrative to mobilize the French public support of Operation Barkhane. To test the hypothesis that Macron used a moral frame, symbols and emotional appeals in his strategic narrative, a discourse analysis of nine of Macron's public speeches about Operation Barkhane was realised. The analysis was divided in three themes: the Just War frame; the symbols hero-protector, coward-villain, victim, and its emotional appeals; and lastly, the overall structure as a strategic narrative. The results show that Emmanuel Macron's strategy of communication about Operation Barkhane employed the Just War frame, symbols, emotional appeals, and his discourses were part of an overall strategic narrative. These results suggest that democratic leaders aim at influencing the public's...
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Human security and the Nigerian counterterrorism policy: Is the Nigerian counterterrorism policy human security centred?
Delfour, Marie ; Dowd, Caitriona (advisor) ; Hynek, Nikola (referee)
In 2014, the Nigerian government released the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST). This comprehensive strategy aims to tackle the root causes of terrorism. It combines elements of hard and soft approaches but it emphasis soft powers. The root causes of terrorism are grouped in the seven key elements of human security. It is essential to take into account all the aspects of human security because they are intrinsically linked.Therefore a human security centred counterterrorism policy is an effective way to tackle the leading factors to terrorism. This dissertation aims to establish whether the Nigerian counterterrorism policy is human security centred both in paper and in practice. This dissertation demonstrates that the counterterrorism policy is human security centred in the policy paper but not in practice. The author argues that the lack of human security in the policy conducted in the ground explains the failure of the government to eradicate Boko Haram.
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Non-Western Approaches to Statehood
Karmazin, Aleš ; Hynek, Nikola (advisor) ; Pšeja, Pavel (referee) ; Ogden, Chris (referee)
This thesis studies the variation of sovereignty in the international order by analysing how the general model of sovereignty is localised in the political practice of two major non-Western rising powers - China and India. I argue that their sovereignty should be understood as liquid despite the fact that these two countries are very often seen as strong defenders of 'conservative', 'absolutist' or 'Westphalian' sovereignty. The empirical core of the thesis investigates China's approach to sovereignty in relation to Hong Kong and Taiwan and India's approach to sovereignty in relation to Bhutan and Kashmir. Based on theoretical eclecticism and pluralism, I develop a theoretical and analytical framework that accounts for constitution (construction) of the sovereignty of China and India but that also have potential for being applied more broadly. It is calibrated to elucidate that sovereignty is a liquid and fluid phenomenon. It is based on the debate between Hans Kelsen and Carl Schmitt and analytically enhanced by including the perspective of scaling (derived from Human Geography) and temporal positioning (inspired by International Relations debates on the role of time). I propose three key argument. First, I show that each of the analysed states simultaneously pursues two different modes of...
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Control of territory as a factor for the effective implementation of a political objective of an Islamist violent non-state actor
Ludvík, Zdeněk ; Hynek, Nikola (advisor) ; Bureš, Oldřich (referee) ; Eichler, Jan (referee)
This thesis wants to make clear the theoretical concept in the form of a testable hypothesis on the relationship between the political control of the territory by a Violent Non-State Actor (VNSA) and the effectiveness of realization of its political objective (policies). Since in the literature there is no explicit theory or theorization that would reflect the varying degree of effectiveness with regard to the varying degree of territorial penetration, and there are no explicit parametric indicators and values that may be necessary for effective achievement of the political objective in relation to the territory, the purpose of the research will be to answer the question whether, how and to what extent the intensity of the physical penetration of the territory is related to the ability to more easily and efficiently achieve the goals for which the VNSA has been established and has strived. A general definition of threshold values of the penetration can also provide partial piece of knowledge for practical policies and approaches to territorial VNSA on the part of states (counterinsurgency actors). Although there is no explicit use of any of the theories of international relations in the research, the used theoretical framework is inspired by a) approaches to political geography and outlines of...
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Securing cities: 'Urban resilience' as a technology of government
Svitková, Katarína ; Hynek, Nikola (advisor) ; Hájek, Martin (referee) ; Chandler, David (referee)
Svitková, K. 2019. Securing cities: 'Urban resilience' as a technology of government, 282 pp. Doctoral thesis (PhD) Charles University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Political Studies. Department of Security Studies. Academic supervisor: doc. PhDr. PNDr. Nikola Hynek, M. A., PgDip Res, PhD Abstract Resilience has become a buzzword in policy and practice of 'securing' and 'developing' cities and urban populations. This study discusses the use of this concept in the context of governance of subjectivities. More specifically, reflecting its empirical focus, it poses critical questions about constructing and promoting 'urban resilience subjects', and scrutinizes the process of internalization of resilience as a self-governance technique, self-imposed on and by citizens for their own good. The purpose is to problematize resilience as a universal tool or strategy to govern cities and their inhabitants, be it in ordinary or extreme circumstances. The study ventures beyond the traditional critique of neoliberalism to ask questions about what resilience does in terms of a performative governance, exploring the disciplinary and biopolitical nature of this process. Keywords resilience, governmentality, urban, cities, power, biopolitics
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"Sinking Islands" and the United Nations Security Council
Bruner, Tomáš ; Hynek, Nikola (advisor) ; Bílková, Veronika (referee) ; Karlas, Jan (referee)
Certain Small Island Developing States (hereinafter the "SIDS") such as Kiribati or Tuvalu are often incorrectly called "sinking islands" because their highest points are located just a few meters above the sea level. Sea level rise may turn their territories to uninhabitable land gradually disappearing beneath the tide. Worsening of the environmental conditions causes internal displacement, migration and other problems. SIDS repeatedly brought their plight to the United Nations Security Council (the "UNSC") during its meetings in 2007, 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2019. They demanded that the UNSC should deal with their situation as a potential security issue and safeguard more equal distribution of environmental security risks and costs. During the UNSC negotiations, various states attempted to interpret and re-interpreted the UNSC mandate in order to suit their interests. The representatives of SIDS suggested that the UNSC should be a body based on the principles of distributive justice decision-making and thus safeguard fairer sharing of threats and burdens, including those of environmental character. The rapidly developing states strongly opposed; they implicitly claimed that the UNSC should be based rather on the principles of commutative justice, i.e. decide in strictly given situations of violations of...
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