|
|
Effectiveness of the decision-making process in the WTO - the Uruguay and Doha round
Jánská, Lucie ; Karlas, Jan (advisor) ; Kučerová, Irah (referee)
The study examines multilateral negotiation in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and later in the World Trade Organization. It analyses the effectiveness of the decision-making process on the liberalization of trade in agricultural products in the Uruguay and Doha rounds of negotiations. Agriculture seems to be the most problematic and the most controversial issue on the agenda during the both rounds of negotiations. The aim of the study is to analyse the negotiation processes in selected cases and compare them to identify factors explaining the difference in the effectiveness of the decision-making process between Uruguay and Doha round. The study also attempts to clarify why it is so complicated to conclude the Doha round after more than fifteen years of negotiations. Therefore, six factors with presumed influence on the effectiveness of the decision-making process are defined in the theoretical part of the study: number of actors, leadership, inclusiveness of negotiation, agenda complexity, coalitions and strategies of actors. The degree of influence of these factors is then tested in the practical part of the study. The study assumes that the efficiency of the decision-making process is increased by the reduced number of active actors in the negotiation, the willingness of the actors...
|
|
|
Caspian natural gas and its relevance for strengthening the EU energy security: challenge for the 21st century?
Binhack, Petr ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Jakš, Jaroslav (referee) ; Litera, Bohuslav (referee)
This thesis focuses on the discussion of the diversifying natural gas imports into the European Union and the role played by the Caspian region in this respect. The aim of the thesis is to describe the European Union's energy policy in the natural gas sector and to analyze the role of Caspian natural gas and the project of the Southern Gas Corridor. The question of relevance of the Caspian natural gas for strengthening the European Union's energy security comes along at the right time in the current debate on the further development of climate and energy policy. The policy, along with the draft framework for the creation of the Energy Union of 2015, integrates previously parallel European policies related to fight against climate change, energy security, internal energy market and external energy relations with third countries. The thesis is based on the hypothesis that the Caspian region is an alternative resource region capable of providing a diversification of natural gas imports to the European Union. The basic research questions are the following; "Is the European Union capable of influencing the conditions under which Caspian gas will be transported to Europe?" and "Is the Southern Gas Corridor capable of meeting the expectations of its planned volume of 60-120 billion cubic meters of natural...
|
|
|
Reception of Strategic Economic Narratives: Case Study of the Kenyan News Discourse.
Řehák, Vilém ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Horáková, Hana (referee) ; Záhořík, Jan (referee)
Strategic narrative is a communicative tool for political elites to construct a shared meaning to the international politics, to articulate state's interests, to change the discursive environment, and to shape the behaviour of other actors. It has three different dynamics, which proceed simultaneously and reinforce each other: formation of the narrative within the given state, its projection in the international arena, and its reception in other states. Theory of strategic narratives fits well into the framework of new regionalism, which tries to analyse relations between the processes of globalization, globalism, regionalization, and regionalism. Until recently, such analyses were conducted from state-level and positivist perspective. As a result, the dimension of reception remained understudied. The presented thesis is an attempt to fill this gap. It analyses global political economy from the interpretivist constructivist perspective: it uses the leading local newspaper as a data sources and analyses media (news) discourse as one form of a broad societal discourse. Such an analysis can help us to analyse how local society assesses and reacts to strategic narratives and their internalization or rejection by local elites. In my thesis, I focus on narratives of the three superpowers (the US, the EU,...
|
|
|
Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Korea - success or missed opportunity?
Haas, Václav ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Plechanovová, Běla (referee)
This thesis addresses the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Korea, which is the first one of the new generation free trade agreements for EU. First, the issue is explained in the theoretical framework of the theory of international systems and the theory of neoliberal institutionalism, which allows to grasp it adequately in the international political context. Then, the work presents the development of the legislative environment concerning the common trade policy and the transformation of strategic thinking in this area. Further, it defines the scope of economic interactions between the two participants and their common interests leading to the conclusion of the agreement. Subsequently, the thesis analyses the existing contractual relationships of both participants and defines the main aspects of the newly accepted agreement. Lastly, the current effect of the efficiency of the agreement on the trade with goods and services is analysed.
|
|
|
A Comparative Analysis of South American Integration: Cases of CAN and UNASUR
Husáková, Gabriela ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Karlas, Jan (referee)
This thesis deals with the issue of different efficiency between two integrational organizations in Latin America: Andean Community, and Union of South American Nations, by using neoliberal theory of international relations to examine he causes as to why the Andean Community is more efficient than the Union of South American Nations. First, the theoretical definition of neoliberal theory and the concept of cooperation problems are discussed. Then, follow chapters describing integration in Latin America, in general with all its characteristics, and a chapter describing history and basic institutional settings of the two organizations. In the practical part, each cooperation problem is either applied to the organizations and a relation between these problems and institutional setting, number of member states, and homogeneity between member states is examined. In the conclusion, the all three cooperational problems are brought together to determine, whether the main cause of different efficiency is the institutional setting and number of member states, or the homogeneity between members.
|
|
|
Current diversification scenarios of the Russian Federation on one side and the V4 countries on the other with respect to the interdependence theory
Záhradníková, Lea ; Holubcová, Jitka (advisor) ; Kučerová, Irah (referee)
The thesis focuses on current diversification scenarios in the field of gas supply the Visegrad Group (V4) and the Russian Federation relying on the model of asymmetrical interdependence. Russian Federation, the main supplier of natural gas to this region, has lost its status of a reliable partner due to the gas wars with Ukraine in 2006 and 2009, which have negatively affected the supply of natural gas to the EU countries. The research focuses on the current diversification options of V4 countries related to their suppliers and supply routes with respect to their relationship with the Russian Federation; the diversification options for the purchasing markets of the Russian Federation are also analyzed. The author validates the hypothesis that energy relations among the Visegrad countries and the Russian Federation in the field of gas supply are largely controlled by the asymmetric interdependence that is currently exacerbating tensions among the set actors. Current diversification scenarios are presented and evaluated, with the aim of assessing the importance of the projects with regard to actors' energy security. Keywords: interdependence, energy security, diversification, gas supply, gas interconnector, V4, Energy Union, Russian Federation, Nord Stream II, LNG
|
|
|
Comparing Climate Change Adaptation Measures: The Cases of the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland
Skupa, Marek ; Ditrych, Ondřej (advisor) ; Kučerová, Irah (referee)
The diploma thesis "Comparing Climate Change Adaptation Measures: The Cases of the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland" compares national adaptation strategies on climate change of the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland. These strategies represents general politics of selected states on the field of climate change adaptation and the author compares them regarding the adaptation measures they contain. For this comparison, framework based on options and recommendations provided by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the EU is used. Author also analyses mitigation policies of selected states and examines similarities and differences in both approaches. In conclusion author relates his findings towards existing research and using both, he introduces limited theoretical findings about possible relationship between mitigation and adaptation policies of states.
|
|
|
Energy security of the Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
Havel, Zdeněk ; Zájedová, Iivi (advisor) ; Kučerová, Irah (referee)
Energy security is currently a favourite topic. It is being talked about in the context of several conflicts in Third World countries that, due to the supply of energy raw materials such as oil and gas, affect the rest of the world. For some states, however, the issue of ensuring energy security is a more vital. Some states, such as the Baltic countries - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, are dependent on supplies of fossil fuels from neighbouring countries. Moreover, up until recently their energy markets have not been liberalized, nor connected to the rest of the Europe. It is a well-known fact that the Russian Federation is the main supplier of these raw materials to them. Therefore, the Baltic states have been trying to reduce the influence of the Russian Federation in the Baltic region since they regained independence 26 years ago. This diploma thesis deals with the analysis of the energy security of all three Baltic countries. The thesis carefully analyses all aspects of their energy sector. It examines the historical development of the region, thanks to which we can understand the influence of the Russian Federation on the Baltics energy sector, as well as the level of international cooperation of the Baltic states with the EU in ensuring energy security. The analysis also focus on the...
|
|
|
The role of Azerbaijan in the context of EU energy security
Aliyev, Abdul ; Petříček, Tomáš (advisor) ; Kučerová, Irah (referee)
The thesis deals with the issue of energy security in the European Union, and the role played by Azerbaijan in the provision of the EU's energy independence and long-term stability. The author investigates the current issues of the European Union's energy policy, and the main threats impairing the EU's energy independence. Countries of the Caspian Basin, and particularly Azerbaijan, are investigated as the main alternative suppliers of energy resources for the European Union to increase its energy security. The author justifies and forecasts the future development of the EU-Azerbaijani relations in the energy sector taking into account the current policies implemented by the European Union in the field of energy security.
|
|
|
Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements (DCFTA) as a tool of EU trade policy
Žiga, Matúš ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Plechanovová, Běla (referee)
Presented master's thesis deals with comprehensive free trade agreements (CFTA) and deep and comprehensive free trade agreements (DCFTA) concluded or proposed by the European Union. Its objective is to identify necessary conditions for initiation of (D)CFTA negotiation, determine areas covered by (D)CFTAs and contemplate an effect of (D)CFTAs on EU's position. In the first part of master's thesis, theoretical framework needed for research is introduced. The concept of soft power as defined by Joseph Nye is presented. The inductive method is applied to scrutinize comprehensive free trade agreements between the EU and Canada, Colombia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Tunisia, respectively. The research proved that the EU has never started DCFTA negotiation with an authoritarian regime. However, it is not a single condition for initiation of DCFTA negotiation, and four more conditions are defined. A broad scope of (D)CFTAs beyond tariff-related issues is demonstrated. DCFTA and CFTA differ about their relation to EU acquis. Approximation in selected areas is compulsory under DCFTA. Trough CFTAs, the EU was able to uphold EU and international standards and promote fundamental rights. Consequently, the EU's soft power has been enhanced thanks to (D)CFTAs.
|
guest ::
RSS feed.