|
|
Democratic Peace in Theory and Practice
Olejníková, Lenka Barbora ; Karlas, Jan (advisor) ; Rychnovská, Dagmar (referee)
The thesis "Democratic Peace in Theory and Practice" aims to present the Democratic Peace Theory as an international relations theory with a practical significance for the political practice. The Democratic Peace Theory will be first analysed as a part of a broad liberal tradition of International Relations Theory, and then particular ways of how the theory is empirically related to the practices of international politics will be examined. The main objective of the thesis is the analysis of the complex nature of the Democratic Peace Theory with the emphasis on the potentiality of the theory to have larger political impact.
|
|
|
Realist theories and the causes of the US invasion to Iraq
Klincová, Lucia ; Karlas, Jan (advisor) ; Rychnovská, Dagmar (referee)
The bachelor thesis called "The realist theories and the causes of the US invasion in Iraq" discusses the motivations that led the representatives of the United States of America to the decision to invade Iraq. These causes are analyzed based on the theoretical approaches of the offensive and defensive realism. We focus directly on the theories by which we create hypotheses suggestive of the possible causes which could have led the United States to this decision. Every hypothesis then takes into account the public debate of the presented causes. This thesis mainly focuses on the effort to gain the access to the Iraqi oil resources, the strengthening of the U.S. currency, the weakening of the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein and the tendency to eliminate the potential threats caused by the weapons of mass destruction. After defining the theories, taking into account the public debate and formulating the hypotheses, we are trying to confirm or refute them and thus highlight the real causes of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, which is the essential purpose of this bachelor thesis.
|
|
|
Armed Forces and Identity: A Constructivist Analysis of the Role of the Czech Airforce Figters
Chromý, Marek ; Ludvík, Jan (advisor) ; Rychnovská, Dagmar (referee)
The study examines the arguments raised for or against possessing supersonic aircrafts of the Army of the Czech Republic. The aim is to identify the arguments primarily during deciding on the acquisition of new aircrafts, because the old ones were retired in 2005. In the first part, the author analyzes various approaches to purchasing and possessing weapons systems (nuclear weapons, supersonic aircrafts and tanks) and defines three approaches, which he expects in discourse and which he will examine. The main part of the study deals with analysis of the arguments for and against the acquisition of supersonic aircrafts through discourse analysis. As a frame of reference author establishes the deputies and senators of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, the professional public and official documents of the Ministry of Defense and Army of the Czech Republic. By analyzing the discourse the author concludes that the official documents of the Army of the Czech Republic looks at supersonic aircrafts as a means of national defense strictly, professional public also looks at supersonic aircrafts this way in most of times. MPs and senators argue for acquiring supersonic aircrafts not only by defense purposes, they argue that supersonic aircrafts is mandatory purchase, because loss of the supersonic...
|
|
|
Seek Russians behind everything: Critical research of "Russian disinformation campaign" discourse in the Czech republic
Čech, Adam ; Rychnovská, Dagmar (advisor) ; Záhora, Jakub (referee)
of diploma thesis ‚Seek Russians behind everything: Critical research of "Russian disinformation campaign" discourse in the Czech republic'. Author: Bc. Adam Čech Supervised by: Dagmar Rychnovská, M.A., LL.M., Ph.D. Study programme: International relations Year of work defence: 2019 This study researches the "Russian disinformation campaign threat" discourse, that was established in the Czech republic since 2014. The study utilizes a method termed for the purpose of this work as "lesser discourse analysis". It explores the origins and influences that played a role in creation of a specific understanding of the topic. Subsequently it engages in a critical analysis of the discourse and assesses whether the understanding of the Russian hybrid threat, especially regarding the disinformation, is legitimate and based on known facts and correct interpretation of them, or whether it is not (partially) based on delusions, myths, logical shortcuts, misinformation (or possibly disinformation) on part of the creators and active participators of the discourse. The study also presents a set of recommendations to "straighten" the discourse on this important topic. The study engages in analysing of the process of the agenda-setting regarding the topic through the lenses of "securitization theory ". It identifies...
|
|
|
Seek Russians behind everything: Critical research of "Russian disinformation campaign" discourse in the Czech republic
Čech, Adam ; Rychnovská, Dagmar (advisor) ; Záhora, Jakub (referee)
of diploma thesis ‚Seek Russians behind everything: Critical research of "Russian disinformation campaign" discourse in the Czech republic'. Author: Bc. Adam Čech Supervised by: Dagmar Rychnovská, M.A., LL.M., Ph.D. Study programme: International relations Year of work defence: 2019 This study researches the "Russian disinformation campaign threat" discourse, that was established in the Czech republic since 2014. The study utilizes a method termed for the purpose of this work as "lesser discourse analysis". It explores the origins and influences that played a role in creation of a specific understanding of the topic. Subsequently it engages in a critical analysis of the discourse and assesses whether the understanding of the Russian hybrid threat, especially regarding the disinformation, is legitimate and based on known facts and correct interpretation of them, or whether it is not (partially) based on delusions, myths, logical shortcuts, misinformation (or possibly disinformation) on part of the creators and active participators of the discourse. The study also presents a set of recommendations to "straighten" the discourse on this important topic. The study engages in analysing of the process of the agenda-setting regarding the topic through the lenses of "securitization theory ". It identifies...
|
|
|
Framing Terrorism and the Consequences of it in Counterterrorist Policy: Spain as a Case Study
Barco, María ; Rychnovská, Dagmar (advisor) ; Střítecký, Vít (referee)
With the aim of going into depth of the critical perspective on terrorism, this project analyses how the term terrorism has been framed in Spain, and which consequences this has had in the counterterrorist response implemented by the Government. Spain is an interesting case study due to its wide experience in dealing with terrorism, both old (separatist) and new (transnational), which might help to reflect the different approaches to this term. Spain was affected by the independentist terrorist organization Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) for more than 40 years. Furthermore, it was targeted by an Islamist cell, pertaining to Al-Qaeda, 11th March 2004. More recently, 18th August 2017, a group of young radicalised Islamist accomplished an attack in the centre of Barcelona under the umbrella of the Islamic State (ISIS). Following a critical perspective, the objective of this research is to analyse how terrorism has been framed in Spain and the by-product consequences of it in the counterterrorist measures applied by the government. Due to the vast material available about terrorism in Spain, I focus on three cases studies that changed the way terrorism was framed in this country: The Madrid attacks in 2004, The Madrid-Airport attack in 2006, and The Catalonia attacks in 2017. Therefore, the aims of this...
|
|
|
A Renewed Focus on the Economic Security Sector: The 2008 Financial Crisis and its Effect on the Securitisation of Migration in the UK
Davis, Lara May ; Rychnovská, Dagmar (advisor) ; Střítecký, Vít (referee)
The securitisation of migration is a topic that has been researched in depth, especially in relation to events such as 9/11 or the so-called Migrant Crisis. These events connect migration to traditional security threats, such as terrorism and transnational crime. However, migration has also (traditionally) occurred for economic reasons. Between 9/11 and the Migrant Crisis, a major event happened in the field of economics: the 2008 Financial Crisis. This event is yet to be discussed in relation to the securitisation of migration. The United Kingdom (UK) was one of the European countries that experienced a large flow of immigrants after the 2004 A10 EU accession, which continued throughout the Financial Crisis.1 It is also one of the countries in which there was a clear and ongoing anti-migrant rhetoric present in the media. This dissertation will examine the securitising discourse on immigrants, in the UK, from the 2004 EU accession to 2007, and from the 2008 Financial Crisis to 2012. These discourses will be compared to uncover how the Financial Crisis changed the securitisation of migration. A special focus will be on the economic, societal and traditional security sectors and how the Financial Crisis shifted the focus between these sectors. Within the broader framework of securitisation theory, it has...
|
|
| |
|
|
Performative Power and Terrorism in Europe in the 2010's
Smit, Roeland Pieter ; Rychnovská, Dagmar (advisor) ; Aslan, Emil (referee)
This diploma thesis called 'Performative Power and Terrorism in Europe in the 2010s', deals with the evolution of terrorism, counterterrorism and the use of the theory of performative power, as coined by Beatrice de Graaf in 2010. Since the recent attacks in Paris (13th of November 2015) and Nice (14th of July 2016), terrorism has become a hot topic again for both scholars and policymakers. De Graaf has provided a schedule of fourteen signifiers in order to measure the performativity of authorities, and the extent to which they are capable of influencing public fears and opinion when it comes to terrorism. A schedule that should concretise the way in which theory can be 'translated' to practice. By means of two case studies, regarding the terrorist attacks mentioned above, the theory and its signifiers will be analysed. The result of this analysis was stunning. This paper argues the theory and the signifiers are partially flawed and anachronistic. Although De Graaf considers her theory to be universal, the research conducted in this document reveals shortcomings and proves it does not stand the test of time. In order to make performative power and the signifiers time-resistant it has to be altered. Recommendations are therefore provided at the end of this paper.
|
|
|
Climate expertise and security politics: the case of the Czech Republic
Pokorná, Viktória ; Rychnovská, Dagmar (advisor) ; Svitková, Katarína (referee)
This Master's Thesis called "Climate expertise and security politics: the case of the Czech Republic" deals with engagement of climatologists in politics and society. Nowadays, certain actors (politicians, activists, celebrities, etc.) perceive climate change as dangerous threat to humanity, and so, they try to securitize this issue. They endeavor to inform ordinary people and make politicians to adopt extraordinary measures. Among these securitizing actors, we could find several climatologists who can fulfil role of security experts. However, such a trend is not present in the Czech Republic. Czech climatologists are not so active publicly and in politics compared to their foreign colleagues. This Thesis would like to analyze what are structural conditions of this trend. It is focused on various influential elements - society, politics, media and scientific field itself. It is based on concept of co-production that is about mutual relationship between these elements. It shows that society, politics and media are rather discouraging Czech scientists from engagement. However, also scientific community as such is not coherent, but there are several different epistemic communities. This Thesis would also like to connect science with Security Studies, mainly securitization theory and security...
|
guest ::
