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The power of politics in Central Africa on the backgroung of kongo war
Michalek, Tomáš ; Werkman, Kateřina (advisor) ; Ujfaluši, Marcel (referee)
The aim of this paper is to describe power in Central Africa in terms of actors and aspects. In order to find out who has the power and what it is like, the matrix of aims, strategies and results is used. The argument is that the state which is able to change aims into results has the power. Herein, it should be mentioned that the Congo conflict is not just one war; it is a complex of interrelated wars and disputes. Nevertheless, the analysis is centred at the state level of the conflict. The aspects of civil and local wars are neglected here; however, they cannot be totally ignored. At first, theoretical and historical backgrounds to the conflict are described. Here, the clientelism is central to very African system of power. Then, the politico-military, economic and diplomatic/intemational aspects of the second Congo war are analysed. The findings are that Angola due to its military strength and pragmatic aims is the main power in Central Africa. The second most powerful country in the region is Rwanda, whose military aims and strategies were, however, unfitted to its potential resources. These two states are able to control the African clientelism most accurately. On the other side, Uganda and Zimbabwe were not. In terms of other states, no one was able to influence the course of the second Congo war....
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The causes of systemic sexual violence in the armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Svobodová, Karolina ; Karásek, Tomáš (advisor) ; Bílková, Veronika (referee) ; Werkman, Kateřina (referee)
Karolina Svobodová The Causes of Sexual Violence in the Armed Conflict in the DRC abstract My dissertation thesis (The Motivations of Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) is a case study of sexual violence in armed conflict in the DRC examining and analysing the causes of its intensity and extent. The main research questions of the study are: - What are the causes of the systematic sexual violence in the armed conflict in the DRC? - Why sexual violence in the armed conflict in the DRC occurs in the large extent and with high intensity? The research theoretically stems from the constructivism as one of the three main scientific approaches to sexual violence in armed conflicts. Since the constructivism presents male and female identities as social constructs, it seems as the best approach to sexual violence where gender of victims and perpetrators is often generalized by supporters of essentialism. Hence, the inherent neutralism of constructivism makes it very suitable instrument for an empirical research. Further, the study works with combination of feminism, cultural anthropology, and feminist evolutionary psychology in the construtivist framework. This blend may seem incoherent but it allows a complex insight into the issue of sexual violence in the DRC and an interpretation of its...
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Mungiki in Kenya: From Religious Movement to Militia
Hausvater, Ervín ; Werkman, Kateřina (advisor) ; Ludvík, Zdeněk (referee)
Violent non-state actors have represented a significant challenge for both national and international security in recent decades. One of the many countries that have experienced extensive violence perpetrated by these entities is also Kenya. Particularly armed group called Mungiki managed to become influential security, political, criminal and religious actor. Considering frequent transformations of the group making it difficult to determine what type of violent non-state actor Mungiki is, the group still represents a challenging case for researchers to fully comprehend. To contribute to the understanding of this entity and extend contemporary knowledge of violent non-state actors, this study aims to conceptualize individual phases of Mungiki development and discover mechanisms behind its recurrent metamorphoses from one type of violent actor to another. Based on the review of existing literature focused on violent non-state actors, their conceptualization, emergence, and transformations, the thesis uses a case-centric process- tracing method aimed at explaining particular outcomes of individual transformations. The study consists of an in-depth analysis of Mungiki development in the context of Kenyan security and political environment. The results indicate that Mungiki represented different types...
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Securitization of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, 2000-2018
Roudnická, Zuzana ; Werkman, Kateřina (advisor) ; Svitková, Katarína (referee)
HIV/AIDS is for many decades one of the major global health issues. It has, therefore, attracted attention of scholars from different fields of study, including security studies. This Master's Thesis seeks to contribute to debates surrounding the issue of securitizing the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The main aim of this thesis is to apply the Copenhagen School's theoretical framework on the case of HIV/AIDS, evaluate the possibility of explaining the international reaction to the pandemic through securitization, and assess whether or not the HIV/AIDS was successfully securitized in South Africa, mainly through effort of the relevant international actors. The case of the Republic of South Africa was chosen because it is one of the worst affected countries by the disease in the world. After discussing the Copenhagen School's securitization theory and its critics, the origins, progression and nature of the disease is explained. The thesis then proceeds with the description and examination of the current state of the epidemic in South Africa as well as the negative influence the segregation and apartheid policy had on the perception of the disease and its spread. The thesis looks at possible securitizing actors of the issue and analysis their discourse in the search for securitizing moves associated with...
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Development aid and the need for exit strategies: Case of the Czech Republic and Serbia
Leškovská, Ludmila ; Werkman, Kateřina (advisor) ; Bruner, Tomáš (referee)
The aim of this thesis is to provide a deeper understanding of exit strategies within the development studies and the development community. The exit of financial aid by donors from developing countries have large effects on the recipients. Modern donors are facing the challenge of how to effectively exit a partner country without affecting the sustainability of their intervention, their relationship with the partner and the economic and social impact on the beneficiaries. For this purpose, modern donors establish exit strategies to guide their processes. Czech Republic as a new modern donor is aiming to increase its effectivity of development cooperation. However, when exiting partner countries such as Serbia, it does not follow an exit strategy. This thesis tries to analyse how the process of exit of the Czech Republic can be used to argue for the need of exit strategies, and what lessons can be learned from past exits.
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The impact of natural resources on the intrastate conflicts in international relations - sale of booty futures in the African civil wars
Pazderník, Martin ; Kučerová, Irah (advisor) ; Werkman, Kateřina (referee)
This master's thesis deals with the potential impact of natural resources on intrastate conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa. The major aim is to investigate the general validity of the resource curse theory and of Ross's hypothesis about selling booty futures in civil wars. The presumed negative influence of both theories is tested on the cases of recent intrastate conflicts in the region, namely in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone. However, the main contribution of the thesis is probably the analysis of another case, namely Botswana, which, unlike other countries, appears to be out of the generally valid standards of the resource curse theory, as the only one experiencing long-term positive economic growth. The partial aim of the thesis is also to analyze the Botswana's success in managing natural resources and then to suggest some possible recommendations for other states in the region. The thesis is written in the qualitative approach, particularly in the form of thorough work with academic literature. The research method is the Method of Difference by John Stuart Mill, in its revised form of the Most Similar Systems Design.
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Transforming conflict at the local level: Women peace mediators in Burundi
Vodičková, Anna ; Werkman, Kateřina (advisor) ; Plechanovová, Běla (referee)
Armed conflict affects men and women differently due to their previous roles in the society. For instance, it often crucially changes the status of women and enhances their emancipation. Therefore, women should be included in conflict resolution as well as in peace negotiations and post-conflict reconstruction, to ensure sustainable peace. Examples from many African countries driven by conflict denote that women are not automatically included in these processes. This single intrinsic case study documents the work of women peace mediators in Burundi. At the theoretical level, the study argues for an elicitive endogenous approach to peacebuilding, embedded in the conflict transformation theory by John Paul Lederach. Nevertheless, theoretical concepts are not emphasized because they tend to limit the mediators' agenda which actually involves a wide range of conflict handling mechanisms. The main part of the study is based on semi-formal questionnaires filled out by women peace mediators in Bujumbura. The goal of the research is twofold: First, it is aimed to introduce the mediators and to understand their motivations to mediate. Second, it documents their everyday work by analysing official reports. The findings show that an "average" mediator is a married woman, with children, with at least secondary...
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The power of politics in Central Africa on the backgroung of kongo war
Michalek, Tomáš ; Werkman, Kateřina (advisor) ; Ujfaluši, Marcel (referee)
The aim of this paper is to describe power in Central Africa in terms of actors and aspects. In order to find out who has the power and what it is like, the matrix of aims, strategies and results is used. The argument is that the state which is able to change aims into results has the power. Herein, it should be mentioned that the Congo conflict is not just one war; it is a complex of interrelated wars and disputes. Nevertheless, the analysis is centred at the state level of the conflict. The aspects of civil and local wars are neglected here; however, they cannot be totally ignored. At first, theoretical and historical backgrounds to the conflict are described. Here, the clientelism is central to very African system of power. Then, the politico-military, economic and diplomatic/intemational aspects of the second Congo war are analysed. The findings are that Angola due to its military strength and pragmatic aims is the main power in Central Africa. The second most powerful country in the region is Rwanda, whose military aims and strategies were, however, unfitted to its potential resources. These two states are able to control the African clientelism most accurately. On the other side, Uganda and Zimbabwe were not. In terms of other states, no one was able to influence the course of the second Congo war....
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