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The role of enlargement in the relations between the Russian Federation and NATO
Laru, Dmitry ; Karásek, Tomáš (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
This particular work deals with the process of expansion by the North Atlantic Alliance in view of the theory of balance of power and the relationship between Russia and NATO. The author of the work draws on assumption that NATO's expansions, that have followed the end of the cold war, strengthen NATO's might, to which Russia must react to counter the growing power of the potential adversary. This work is divided into two main thematic parts. The first part regards the three waves of the expansion which followed the breakup of the Soviet Union (1999, 2004, and 2009); therein, the author analyzes NATO's strengthening on the military, political and geopolitical levels. The second part of the work is devoted to unveiling of Russia's potential counterbalancing steps. The Russian attempt to counterbalance the NATO's moves, of course, has also been analyzed within three frames - military, political and geopolitical. The analysis of the counterbalancing by Russia, as well as the strengthening of NATO is presented within the frame defined by five year periods. To facilitate the theoretical view, the power counterbalancing analyses has been divided into, so called, "Hard balancing" and "Soft balancing". Because the end of the bipolar conflict contributed to substantial changes in international political...
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NATO and post-conflict reconstruction: the case of Afghanistan
Žilka, Jakub ; Karásek, Tomáš (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
This paper deals with the post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan after the NATO-invasion at the end of 2001 and its success. To ensure the stability of the country, the NATO-led coalition had not only to overthrow the Taliban regime, but also to create basic government structures and help them perform. Reconstruction is of course very common and necessary after conflict, it is however usually operated by strictly civilian measures, e. g. government institutions and humanitarian organisations. In this case, however, such approach was not possible due to volatile security situation, which in some areas grew to such intensity, it essentially became a war-conflict again. This paper focuses on the Herat province and NATO units, especially under ISAF command. It seeks to define the process of post-conflict reconstruction and using the process-tracing method, it then ascertains the extent to which ISAF units dedicated themselves to post-conflict reconstruction and made a positive progress in this area. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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Factors of Success of FARC and ETA Terrorist Groups: A Comparative Analysis
Kopečný, Ondřej ; Ditrych, Ondřej (advisor) ; Svitková, Katarína (referee)
This work elaborates on historiographical contextual analysis of establishment and consolidation of terrorist groups ETA and FARC, while focusing on identifying and analysis of set of factors, which led to the respective groups constitution. These factors are then examined and compared in the thesis presented. Author then concludes generalness or alternatively contextual character of findings on factors. Examined groups emerged from extensively differing contexts, which contributes to the posibility of following a linking to possible general validit of the factors. Emphasis is being put especially on political, social, economical and identitary premises of the groups establishment.
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Terrorism in Popular Culture: A Discourse Analysis of the Portrayal of IRA-Terrorism in Films
Prateepjinda, Kan ; Plechanovová, Běla (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
Kan Prateepjinda Terrorism in Popular Culture: A Discourse Analysis of the Portrayal of IRA Terrorism in Films Abstract The paper begins by asserting that -terrorism‖ is a social construct based on discourse from a particular historical context, and that our understanding of terrorism is fashioned by that discourse. It goes on to argue that film, as a powerful medium of popular culture, generates meaning of social events and gives filmgoers a feeling of reality; film functions as a second view on the world, guiding audiences from reel to real. The study shows how the forty-year long (1968-2008) history of IRA terrorism is portrayed through a selection of eight films, and the -articulation‖ and -interpellation‖ are studied empirically through the portrayal of terrorism in these films. The discourse on terrorism is analyzed in terms of discourse productivity, and the study uses Foucault's genealogy to trace the -history of present-day IRA terrorism.‖ The findings show that discursive formations are displayed as four different features of IRA terrorism constructed by film language and textual language. These different features reveal the discontinuity of the discourse that is framed by particular time periods. The paper concludes that IRA terrorism (and the acts of IRA terrorists), as portrayed in the eight...
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Between Securitization and Secularisation: A Political Discourse Analysis on Members of Parliament in the British House of Commons and the Securitization of Islam and British Muslims.
Gordon, Ewan ; Ditrych, Ondřej (advisor) ; von Bulow, Mathilde (referee)
Dissertation Abstract Ewan Gordon 20163085 The recent wave of Islamist-inspired terrorism throughout Britain, Europe, and the Western world, as well as the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, has meant that the British Government has needed to respond to this security threat. One aspect of formulating a successful and effective security strategy is the political discourse which takes place amongst members of the elected Government when formulating the strategy to combat jihadist violence. This political discourse seeks to explain the current security context and to justify future security decisions. Thus, by understanding the foundational theoretical, philosophical, and political ideologies which underlie and influence this political discourse, future policy decisions can be better implemented. This dissertation examines the political discourse of British Members of Parliament in the House of Commons relating to the securitization of British Muslims and Islam between 2014-2017 in the context of both the recent wave of Islamist-inspired terrorism within Europe and the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The Parliamentary discourse of MPs is analysed through the political discourse framework advocated by Fairclough and influenced by Michal Foucault's concept of hegemonic "regimes of truth"....
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The Dissolution of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia - A Comparative Case Study
Kaplan, Petr ; Ditrych, Ondřej (advisor) ; Karlas, Jan (referee)
The thesis compares two different modes of state disintegration of post-communist federations. Yugoslavia is an example of a violent breakup, Czechoslovakia stands for a peaceful way, how to split a state. Using the Level of Analysis concept the study looks for differences at five levels focusing mainly on the change caused by the process of democratic transition in both states that removed the old regime and brought a competitive atmosphere among the old and new elites representing various ethnic groups. The outcome of the analysis is that the role of the army, the length of the liberalization process and the different historical experience are factors that matter most.
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Nuclear Iran Oversecuritized? The Politics of Benjamin Netanyahu's Speeches
Orossová, Eva ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
The thesis "Nuclear Iran Oversecuritized? The Politics of Benjamin Netanyahu's Speeches" is concerned with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speeches held in front of the UN, American Congress, Jewish lobby in the US AIPAC and foreign audience by several special occasions. It is based on the assumption that language is not only a neutral communication tool, but also a political tool serving the aim of achieving political goals. The aim of the thesis is to identify the linguistic tools of categorization, legitimization and securitization which Netanyahu used in order to persuade the international audience about the imminence and existential character of the threat posed by Iranian nuclear programme, and finally to achieve its elimination or at least tough punishment for Iranian non-compliance. Moreover, the thesis provides the reader with the overall context, namely the effect of Netanyahu's speeches, the nature of Iranian nuclear programme and its consequences for the situation in the Middle East.
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Iran as a Case of a State Supporting Terrorism
Krausová, Hana ; Makariusová, Radana (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
The master's theses, which examines the phenomenon of state-sponsored terrorism giving the example of Islamic Republic of Iran, consists of two sections, general and specific. In the first part main theoretical concepts and definitions are be introduced. The author gives priority to differentiation between the terms of terrorism, state-sponsored terrorism and marginally also to the problematic definition of state terrorism. Detailed description of the concept of state-sponsored terrorism follow. Last but not least the author provides an insight into the history of the occurrence of this form of terrorism. The merit of the work, however, remains in particular case study of the state- sponsored terrorism, the Islamic Republic of Iran. To understand the context and causes of supporting terrorism, it is necessary to become familiar with the history of Iran (especially since 1979), its political system and the current situation in the country. This thesis will examine the reasons that led Iran to support terrorism on domestic and foreign soil, and specifically focusing on the terrorist organization Hezbollah, which Iran founded and have significantly sponsored for a long time. The intention of the thesis is to identify the main causes of Iranian support for terrorism, to determine how the relationship...
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A Discourse Analysis of the Relations between Russia and the United States of America
Pitoňáková, Andrea ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
The diploma thesis analyses U.S.-Russian bilateral relationship based on the interpretation of discourses, interviews and speeches of the American and Russian presidents since September 2001 till December 2013. Using Critical Discourse Analysis, and more specifically Membership Categorization Analysis, as a theoretical and methodological basis of the analysis, the thesis categorizes specific periods of the U.S.-Russian bilateral relationship into three categories - positive, neutral and negative. Each category is defined by two basic concepts of the Membership Categorization Analysis - by the collections of positive, neutral and negative categories, which were addressed by the presidents to their counterparts, and by the category-tied predicates related to the particular categories. The final categorization of the U.S.-Russian relations is contrasted with conventional political affairs aiming to highlight the parallels between the categorization changes based on the discourses and the changes in the conventional political context. The diploma thesis offers an alternative view on the U.S.-Russian relations.
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Molotov - Ribbentrop pact in 70. anniversary of the end of WWII.
Suchodolinský, Michal ; Romancov, Michael (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
The paper is divided into two main parts. First two chapters are foccused on events in 1939. Specifically, signing non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, named by the Foreign Ministers of both countries, who have signed it. Also, the events that preceded this pact and that followed afterwards. In this paper foccusinf on history, I will also look at the relationship between ideologies of Germany and the USSR. While I want to point out the fact that the two schemes, such as German and Soviet, were ready to expand not only at the expense of third countries, but also at the expense of one another. Next section will be foccused on the interpretation of these events, in two chapters. First I will offer a view at how historians differ in opinions on the problems and how they explain these events. Futhermore, I will continue with another interpretation of the events from the perspective of Vladimir Putin in the official statements. Moreover, I will monitor changes its expression at the time. By the end , I will summarize the information that were identified and evaluated.
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