National Repository of Grey Literature 220 records found  beginprevious21 - 30nextend  jump to record: Search took 0.01 seconds. 
NATO Membership: Changing Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Preference in Sweden and Finland during the RussiaUkraine War
Phan, Quang Nghia ; Michaels, Jeffrey (advisor) ; Weiss, Tomáš (referee)
The academic community has not yet reached a consensus on the role of public opinion in shaping foreign policy. To contribute to this theoretical debate, this research investigates how public opinion influenced Sweden and Finland's foreign policy preferences, especially security policy, in response to the increasing security tension following the 2022 Russia-Ukraine war. After Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, both Sweden and Finland witnessed gradually deteriorating relationships with Russia, with many efforts to improve their security arrangements through both domestic empowerment and international cooperation. Nevertheless, both countries, well-known for their longstanding military neutrality and non-alignment traditions, remained consistent in opting out of military alliances, most significantly NATO, until 2022. The 2022 war between Russia and Ukraine fundamentally changed this strategic atmosphere, most significantly with the increase in domestic public support for NATO membership. Both countries seriously considered and eventually pursued NATO membership as not only a viable but also a necessary decision to ensure their national security. Though the past pattern was strategically favourable to both Sweden and Finland, why did they embrace a seemingly riskier direction (embracing NATO...
The impact of international linkages on the behaviour of environmental non-governmental organisations
Suchá, Magdaléna ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Tomalová, Eliška (referee)
Master's Thesis Magdaléna Suchá Summer 2021/2022 Abstract The growing number of NGOs has also resulted in the growing interest of academics in them. However, the available literature on NGOs suffers from several weaknesses. For example, researchers do not substantially reflect the influence of international linkages on organizational behavior. The theory of sociological institutionalism, which is the theoretical framework of this thesis, assumes that through contacts and the influence of exposure to international structures, the institution changes and with it its behavior. The aim of this thesis is therefore to find an answer to the question of whether it is indeed the different degrees of institutionalization of organizations that manifest themselves externally in different behavior. The answer to the question is sought through an analysis of the behavior of two differently internationally institutionalized NGOs linked by their subject of interest - the environment. The first organization is the Greenpeace Czech Republic, the Czech branch of the international NGO, while the second NGO is Hnutí DUHA, which has its roots purely in the Czech Republic. The first part of the thesis introduces the theory of new institutionalism with a focus on its concrete form - sociological institutionalism, followed by a...
Modernization of agricultural drainage as a new trend in improving the quality of drainage water
Mrázková, Simona ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Zajíček, Antonín (referee)
Agricultural drainage is a frequent feature of the landscape, which significantly affects its water regime, when it drains water from land according to pre-set parameters. As a result of not only due to climate change, its modernization to controlled drainage with sub-irrigation is being researched, which would allow for greater control over water management and increase the quality of drainage waters. The aim of the bachelor's thesis is to assess the influence of controlled drainage on reducing nitrate nitrogen (N-NO3) in drainage waters. Based on the literature, the thesis evaluates the changes that the outflow regulation will cause in the reduction of N-NO3. The evaluation of the research showed that the effect of controlled drainage through the prevention of runoff does reduce losses of N-NO3, but its effect on reducing N-NO3 concentrations in drainage waters is not demonstrable. However, limitation of drainage runoff brings an additional risk regarding the spread of N-NO3 to the environment through increased percolation and surface runoff. The location of the site and its environmental conditions (soil type, meteorological situation, agricultural management, etc.) are essential factors for N-NO3 reduction. Future research should focus more on the other runoff pathways (percoation, surface...
De-escalation nuclear strike in the military strategy of the Russian Federation
Karel, Karel ; Šír, Jan (advisor) ; Weiss, Tomáš (referee)
This bachelor thesis deals with the concept of a de-escalation nuclear strike in the strategy of the Russian Federation. Unlike the United States of America, the Russian Federation has retained part of its non-strategic arsenal. Furthermore, the delivery systems have been modernized in the last decade. The essence of a de-escalation strike is based on the deployment of non-strategic, lower-yield nuclear weapons, even in the early phase of an armed conflict. This way, a conflict could be ended under more favourable conditions for Russia. The aim of this thesis is to answer a question whether a de-escalation strike is real part of the Russian military strategy. To answer this question, the de-escalation strike is framed within the theoretical framework of limited nuclear war and escalation. The research part of this thesis examines Russian strategic document and missiles capable of delivering lower yield nuclear weapons. Based on the examination of the strategic documents, I have concluded that although the documents do not mention a de-escalation strike, they contain aggressive nuclear signalling. Moreover, the documents show that the threshold for deployment of nuclear weapons by the Russian Federation is very low. The Russian Federation possesses a wide range of ballistic and cruise missiles...
Surface and ground water of the Libický floodplain forest
Bašta Spinali, Izabela ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Slavík, Martin (referee)
In the Quaternary, the area of the Libický floodplain forest was shaped mostly by the action of the Elbe river. The river generated a structure of oxbow lakes, pools, wetlands, floodplain forests or wet grasslands. These are connected by shallow groundwater of the Quaternary aquifer. During the Upper Cretaceous period, the area of Libický forest was flooded by the sea, which resulted in the formation of the bedrock of Libický forest - now the Cenomanian aquifer of the Poděbrady mineral spring structure. This aquifer is part of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. This thesis provides an overview about the waters in the area of the Libický forest, especially about: the development of the structures of surface water during the last ~2k years, groundwater of the quaternary aquifer and mineral water of the Poděbrady mineral spring structure. Finally, this thesis contextualizes this knowledge into climatic, geological, pedologic and also to ecological conditions of the area of Libický luh which is an important ecosystem in terms of biodiversity in otherwise relatively densely populated agricultural landscape. Key words: Libický luh, surface water, hydrology, Elbe, groundwater, hydrogeology, Cenomanian aquifer, Bohemian Cretaceous Basin, Poděbrady mineral spring structure, floodplain forest
Methods of moisture measurement in the historical masonry of archaeological site under the III. courtyard of Prague Castle
Kalianková, Kateřina ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Sněhota, Michal (referee)
This work deals with determining the humidity of historical masonry in the archeological area under III. courtyard of Prague Castle. The area is endangered especially by salt weathering, which is supported by increased humidity of the masonry. The moisture content of marl masonry was determined at the site of the early modern bridge pillar and at other selected walls in the archeological area. The aim of this work is to analyze selected methods of measuring moisture in historic building materials and evaluate their advantages and cons. The suitability of methods for application to historically valuable materials and buildings is also evaluated. Another goal of this work is to analyze the state of humidity in the monitored localities and to determine the source of humidity in the archeological area under III. courtyard of Prague Castle and based on the results propose a procedure for monitoring the future development of humidity. Non-invasive methods of infrared surface imaging, electromagnetic method (MOIST 210B and EM 100), and resistance method (GMR 110) were chosen for humidity monitoring, subsurface resistance measurement, electromagnetic method (TDR), and uranine-probe was chosen from invasive methods of humidity monitoring. Simultaneously with the measurement of humidity, air and masonry...
A changing security environment and hybrid threats: the use of shelter theory in Maltese security
Ellul, Mark ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Bureš, Oldřich (referee)
In recent years, the security environment of the European Union has changed with security threats and concerns obscuring the traditional boundaries of internal and external security matters. This poses a challenge for Member States by way of being required to necessarily adapt and create structures which address such a new reality. A small southern littoral Member State, Malta has traditionally taken a security approach which emphasizes military guarantees and security assurances. The changing security environment and the rise of hybrid threats may alter this approach. Hybrid threats are actions conducted by state and non-state actors through military and non-military means with the goal of undermining a target. These threats have been present in the past. However, their effectiveness has significantly increased through their proliferation into several domains and the use of innovative technologies in recent years. A specificity of hybrid threats is their use to obscure internal and external security concerns undermining democratic institutions, targeting critical infrastructures, and influencing entire populations. Small state literature considers that because such states have been exposed to non-conventional threats, hybrid threats that impact cybersecurity and critical infrastructures are...
EU democracy promotion in contemporary sub- Saharan Africa: the case study of South Sudan
Husák, Jim ; Hornát, Jan (advisor) ; Weiss, Tomáš (referee)
Democracy promotion aims to force or encourage a foreign state to become more democratic. This includes direct democracy assistance, or direct financial aid or training to the electoral arena, government and civil society, but also rhetorical commitments, political gestures, information dissemination, sanctions, conditionality and through "soft power" - cultural ties and their significance in promoting European values. The Diploma Thesis EU democracy promotion in contemporary sub-Saharan Africa: the case study of South Sudan examines these strategies as they were used by EU actors in democracy promotion in South Sudan. South Sudan is the youngest country in the world, and the EU, both in terms of EU institutions and member states has aided the country in its uneasy development to become a democratic state. How EU actors attempted to accomplish this, and how have these strategies changed between 2011 and 2020 is the focus of the research. The thesis comes to the conclusion, that the EU used a top- down approach, engaging more with government and other state institutions than with civil society. It also focused on developing good governance and rule of law, together with enhancing socio-economic sectors. The EU also promoted democracy in South Sudan through regional organisations, the IGAD, and the...
Application of Article 7 of the TEU: the cases of Poland, Hungary and Romania
Sechovcová, Anežka ; Šlosarčík, Ivo (advisor) ; Weiss, Tomáš (referee)
Some of the member states of the European Union are currently facing a rule of law crisis characterized by threats to the independence of the judiciary, to the media or to the freedom of speech. The situation is most critical in Hungary and Poland where these values are being systematically violated. However, Romania is also among the member states facing a crisis of the rule of law,mainly because of the threatsto the independence of judiciary and the limitation of anti-corruption measures. Since the value of the rule of law is enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, its violation is a reason for sanctioning the member state. The European Union has several instruments at its disposal to sanction these states and as well protect European values. One of the most important is the mechanism under the Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union which can cause a member state to lose its voting rights in the Council of the European Union. Using the process tracing method, the thesis traces the steps taken by the European institutions to apply this mechanism in the cases of Poland, Hungary, and Romania. The aim of the thesis is to determine whether there are interdependencies among the three cases. Based on the research, it can be concluded that there are significant differences among the...

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