|
|
Energy policy of the Federal republic of Germany towards the Russian Federation during the Angela Merkel era
Kavan, Vilém ; Jeřábek, Martin (advisor) ; Karlas, Jan (referee)
This thesis focuses on German energy policy towards the Russian federation during Angela Merkel's leadership as Chancellor of Germany (2005-2021). The primary focus is the import of Russian natural gas to Germany and related projects such as Nord Stream and Nord Stream II. The aim of this thesis is to answer the research question of whether the energy interests of the Federal Republic of Germany have led to an increase in its dependence on the Russian Federation. The thesis analyses the German approach towards both their own energy policy and the policy of the Russian Federation and aims to contextualise this with data connected with Russian gas exports to Germany. The analysis shows that the Federal Republic of Germany ran its energy policy towards the Russian Federation independently of Russian policy actions and the wider criticism received from various German partners. The conclusion of the thesis is that the energy policy of the Federal Republic of Germany conclusively led to an increase in its dependence on the Russian Federation.
|
|
|
A model of two-level politics: the case of I.R. Iran's nuclear program
Habibpour Moghaddam, Ehsan ; Tesař, Jakub (advisor) ; Karlas, Jan (referee)
This research undertakes an exploration of the intricate dynamics in foreign policy strategies between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic of Iran (I.R.), primarily focusing on the I.R.'s nuclear program. A game theory framework forms the basis of this study, helping to elucidate the complex interplay between international diplomacy, domestic political forces, and strategic decision-making mechanisms. After conducting a chronological examination of the nuclear issue, from its origins through to the ongoing negotiations, this study introduces several models. These are built upon the theoretical pillars established by De Mesquita's (2010) work on modeling I.R.-U.S. nuclear controversy and Putnam's (1988) analysis of the interplay between domestic and international politics. These models capture two significant elements: 1) the substantial influence of domestic politics within both countries on foreign policy outcomes, and 2) how shifts in each influential parameter within the model affect the outcome of the game. The study underscores how the dynamics of factors such as potential for military action, perceived power status of the involved players, and domestic political pressures critically influence each country's negotiation strategies and potential outcomes within the game's structure. Additionally,...
|
|
|
European Union and the cooperation within the NPT/nuclear disarmament
Wágner, Henrik Noah ; Karlas, Jan (advisor) ; Vlček, Václav (referee)
This diploma thesis focuses on the position of the European Union (EU) towards the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), in the period from 1994 to the present. In 1994, the Council of the EU agreed on joint action in connection with the upcoming NPT Review Conference in 1995, and joint action was the decision that for the first time imposed a binding obligation on EU member states to coordinate and cooperate in relation to the NPT. Since then, the EU has tried to enter the NPT review conferences, held every five years, with a common position each time. The work describes the development of the EU's common position towards the NPT, and focuses on assessing the different emphasis which was placed in the EU's common positions on individual pillars of the NPT. These pillars are: ensure the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, promote the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and achieve nuclear disarmament. The work also applies two theories of international relations, namely neorealism and liberal intergovernmentalism. On the basis of these theories were formulated hypotheses, that tried to explain the reasons for the different emphasis of the EU's common position on the individual pillars of the NPT. In the final chapter, relevant data were presented that served to...
|
|
| |
|
|
Prioritization of the Chairman's Roles in the European Union: A Comparison of the Behaviour of the 2022 French and Czech Presidencies in the Field of Environmental Policy
Moserová, Natálie ; Karlas, Jan (advisor) ; Kučerová, Irah (referee)
The roles played by Council presidencies are a pertinent area to study, yet it has been insufficiently explored. The Czech Republic has recently experienced its second presidency in the Council which ended in December 2022. It has followed the French presidency, the first state of the same trio. This gives us a unique occasion to study the prioritization of chairman's roles by comparing the behaviour of these two members of one trio presidency presidencies at all levels of the Council for Environment. The legislative files in environmental area were intensively negotiated during the French and Czech presidencies, especially the "Fit for 55" package. Based on the theories on specific activities connected to each role of presidency (political leader, mediator, manager and representant), we analyse these roles and the way by which the consecutive French and Czech presidencies have played them in environmental field. We compare the role prioritization of these chairmen based on the weight attached to individual roles (except for the representant role) by the presidencies. A complementary part of the thesis investigates diverse factors derived from the rationalist approach (the power of the country, the approach to environmental policy, French presidential elections) and sociological approach...
|
|
| |
|
|
The Czech priorities for the Council Presidency - 2009 and 2022
Samec, Petr ; Martinková, Viera (advisor) ; Karlas, Jan (referee)
Although the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and its agenda have been affected by the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, it is still a useful tool that Member States can use, for example, for self-presentation within the EU. The evaluation of individual presidencies assesses, in particular, the success in promoting the priorities set by the presiding countries themselves. The aim of this thesis was to find out what factors influenced the choice of these final presidency priorities during the Czech Presidency in 2009 and 2022. To test the hypotheses based on the new institutionalism, an extensive qualitative analysis of EU legislative acts, Czech national strategies and Eurobarometer surveys was conducted. From these documents, the main themes that appeared most frequently in them were selected, which then allowed comparison with the resulting priorities of the Czech presidencies. These were always documents presented in the periods preceding each Presidency. This comparison showed that the priorities of the Czech presidencies were influenced by the progress in the given policy, the success rate for enforcement, the Commission's work program, the current situation in the European and global arena, and partially also its national strategic interests.
|
|
|
States' Compliance with Human Rights Provisions and Recommendations Stemming from UN Human Rights Mechanisms
Nevřivý, Zdeněk ; Karlas, Jan (advisor) ; Parízek, Michal (referee)
The master's thesis examines states' compliance with the UPR and UN treaty bodies by exploring pre-selected factors influencing states' compliance with human rights provisions and recommendations stemming from UN human rights mechanisms over ten years (2011-2021). The first two parts describe UN human rights mechanisms and include a literature review that provides an overview of sources focusing on the UN treaty body system and the UPR. Findings from the literature review are used to define the two opposing theories: rationalist theory and theory emphasizing states' administrative capacities and two complementing theories. Based on these theories, four hypotheses are formulated and operationalized to perform four case studies focused on the Netherlands, South Africa, Bahrain, and Honduras. Recommendations given to states are assessed from the perspective of human rights provision or recommendation per se by two sets of criteria for the UPR and UN treaty bodies. To indicate the level of compliance, assessments are assigned with five values. Afterward, findings are interpreted to answer the research question, verify, or refute hypotheses, and compare states' compliance with human rights provisions and recommendations stemming from UN human rights mechanisms.
|
|
|
The Status of Nuclear Weapons under International Law
Maier Tolic, Gabriela Maria ; Lipovský, Milan (advisor) ; Karlas, Jan (referee)
Bibliographic Note MAIER TOLIC, Gabriela Maria. The Status of Nuclear Weapons under International Law. Prague, 2023. 99 pages. Political Studies. Department of International Relations. Supervisor JUDr. Milan Lipovský, Ph.D. Abstract Both the complex system of international law and the disputed interpretation thereof in the realm of nuclear weapons create challenges when making a clear assessment of when and whether the possession, threat and use of nuclear weapons are legal. This research aims to provide clarity on these issues by completing an analysis on the current state of international law and by outlining which conditions need to be fulfilled by states for the legal possession, threat and use of nuclear weapons. The presented study finds that the system of international law is set out in such a manner which aims to eliminate nuclear weapons completely. The obligation for disarmament in the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons conditions the possession of nuclear weapons and places two requirements on nuclear weapon states: to pursue negotiations on disarmement in good faith and to bring them to a conclusion. This research finds that there is a strong argument that this twofold obligation is of customary nature and is therefore also binding upon states which are not party to the treaty....
|
|
|
UN Mission in Kosovo: The Causes of Its Long-Term Ineffectiveness
Doležal, Jan ; Karlas, Jan (advisor) ; Földes, Kristián (referee)
The United Nations Mission in Kosovo presented the most complex UN peace mission to date. With its four-pillar structure, consisting of the UN, EU, and OSCE, with security support from NATO, UNMIK was mandated to assume full interim administrative control responsibility over Kosovo following the end of the Kosovo War. While the UNMIK administration (1999-2008) achieved most of its short-term objectives and goals related to negative stability, it was largely ineffective in fulfilling its long-term goals related to statebuilding and positive stability. This case study aims to determine which factors contributed to UNMIK's long-term ineffectiveness. This is achieved through an analysis of the impact of three factors identified as potentially detrimental to UNMIK's long-term effectiveness. While the analysis confirms the negative impact of the lack of local ownership and the prioritization of short-term negative stability, the findings related to the impact of the pillar design on the degree of coordination within the mission are mixed. While the performance of the integrated pillar design was far from perfect, it was still an improvement on the previous regional operations and overall contributed to a higher degree of coordination of the mission. Especially the division of responsibilities between the...
|
guest ::
