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Influence of Violent Non-State Actors on Corporations in the Sahel
Dziak, Adam ; Doboš, Bohumil (advisor) ; Riegl, Martin (referee)
West Africa's Sahel is one of the most unstable regions in the world. Despite its turbulent security situation and high amounts of political risk, foreign corporations dominate the region's extractive industry. Violent non-state actors and their activities present tangible physical risk to operations and employees of these corporations. Since extractive corporations present an important source of foreign direct investment in the region, if the risk far outweighs the costs for corporations they could be expected to pull out leaving the region in a worse economic state. Despite the salience of the topic, it is academically severely underdeveloped, with the majority of scholarship focusing on the region's broader geopolitical situation or specifically at the act of kidnapping with the intent to ransom. Aim of the research is to study the dynamics between violent non-state actors and corporations in order to identify security risks they face and how they react to them. This is accomplished through qualitative analysis of specific incidents, with special attention paid to countries of origin in order to determine whether non-western or western corporations are more risk averse. Findings indicate that corporations tend to halt their operations temporarily if attacked directly by violent non-state actors,...
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French Foreign Policy In The Middle East, And North Africa, Through Neoclassical Realism
Pochat, Aymeric ; Doboš, Bohumil (advisor) ; Riegl, Martin (referee)
The Mediterranean Sea binds the future of two worlds: Europe and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). France has long been involved in the region as a foreign power promoting security and stability. French foreign policy follows two guidelines: national independence and multilateralism. The objective is to remain an autonomous actor and secure French interests. To study its foreign policy, the cases of Libya, Lebanon, and Iran since 2011 were selected. In a world where power has fragmented, greater competition between multiple nations has accentuated insecurity. Adding to that socio-economic grievances that sparked the Arab Spring, the MENA region became a geopolitical battleground. The French responded to the growing restrictive and dangerous environment by further emphasising the need for security. Structural factors, such as its position within the system, create opportunities for formulating foreign policy; however, domestic issues, such as its weakened economy, also impedes the freedom with which it can pursue its objectives. Multilateralism has varying purposes; its variable nature can benefit immediate national interests but also hinder French efforts for greater influence, cooperation, and integration.
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Comparison of Successfulness of China's and Taiwan's Mask Diplomacy in the Case of the Czech Republic
Svatoňová, Kateřina ; Bahenský, Vojtěch (advisor) ; Riegl, Martin (referee)
This bachelor's thesis examines the perceptions of Chinese and Taiwanese mask diplomacy (deliveries of medical supplies and related events) in the Czech Republic. The thesis aims to answer the research question "How and why did the perception of Chinese and Taiwanese mask diplomacy differ in the Czech Republic" through the analysis and interpretation of data obtained using qualitative content analysis of articles focused on medical supply deliveries, and semi- structured interviews with selected journalists who published some of these articles. Findings from content analysis and interviews with journalists are interpreted through the theories of public diplomacy and soft power by American political scientist and international relations theorist Joseph Nye. The thesis also discusses the limitations of applying these theories to Asian countries with different political systems compared to Western countries.
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Russian patronage to unrecognized states since the annexation of Crimea: A cross case study of the Republic of Abkhazia and the PMR
Koelle, Heidi ; Riegl, Martin (advisor) ; Doboš, Bohumil (referee)
This Master's thesis focuses on the relationship of the Russian Federation with Post Soviet De Facto States since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The purpose is to give a cross-case comparison of factors of the two cases:the PMR and Abkhazia. Both of the case studies have their unique sets of challenges and common obstacles towards their respective state-building. The central focus and aim will be to examine any key developments in their relationships with the Russian Federation since 2014. Russia's role as a patron state and their soft power tactics towards their compatriots will also be examined in this study.Various concepts ofthe patron state relationship are going to be point of focus as well. The issue of whether or not the patron state hinders or helps de facto states in their state- building comes into question.Key words: De facto state,PMR, Abhazia, State Patronage
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The Belt Tightens: China's Learning Curve on Employing Soft Power in Sri Lanka
Tizard, Will ; Riegl, Martin (advisor) ; Romancov, Michael (referee)
As China's ascendency in the geopolitical order accelerates, lesser powers are increasingly critical to the growth of its economy, trade relationships and international prestige. Sri Lanka, long a useful entity for the Middle Kingdom, has benefited substantially from Chinese investment and cordial relations. During the hardline Rajapaksa regime and 26-year civil war in Sri Lanka, Chinese largesse allowed the island nation's power structure not just to sustain itself but to consolidate and to stand astride impressive development projects even as it faced sanctions from the West over its human rights record and authoritarian rule. Nine years on from the end of the destabilizing civil war, I examine how the Eastern embrace evolved from soft power into increasingly strategic hard power in Sri Lanka. I also consider the limitations of this success: Although it was clearly more effective than the more traditional hard-power economic sanctions from the West in achieving its goals, the still-evolving skills of China and Sri Lanka in converting resources into effective soft power have resulted in behaviors that are hardly projecting a glowing, attractive image of the City on the Hill.
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In between peacebuilding and counterterrorism. Critical evaluation of external interventionism in Mali in the context of lessons learned from Afghanistan
Anton, Lea Sophie ; Riegl, Martin (advisor) ; Doboš, Bohumil (referee)
Bibliographic note Anton, L. S. (2021). In between peacebuilding and counterterrorism. Critical evaluation of external interventionism in Mali in the context of lessons learned from Afghanistan. [Unpublished master's thesis]. Charles University. Abstract This thesis is concerned with the core question of how to promote sustainable stability and peace through interventions in Mali. To limit the scope, the actors focused on are limited to the UN and EU. To answer the question, the learnings and insights form the intervention in Afghanistan are elaborated and applied to Mali to improve future intervention design. A small-n case study approach has been chosen to provide a thorough analysis of the development of peace and stability in each country. A Key Performance Indicators (KPI) based meta data analysis has been applied considering different theories of peace as well as stability. For the data relevant reports and indices are used. The analysis demonstrates that even though temporary and small-scale military goals are achieved over the duration of interventions, no sustainable or efficient progress towards peace and stability could be observed. Consequently, policies need to be adapted. Established hypotheses could be proven throughout the thesis. After the analysis, the international engagement in...
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The role of the Coalition for the Sahel against violent non-state actors in the region
Schwanitz, Paulina Sophie ; Riegl, Martin (advisor) ; Doboš, Bohumil (referee)
This paper focuses on the Coalition for the Sahel, primarily in its efforts against violent non-state actors. The central point of the research is the achievements attained between the years 2020-2022 and the work the Coalition still has ahead of them. The Coalition was introduced in 2020; its base is built upon four main goals, referred to as the 'four pillars.' The Coalition for the Sahel involves the countries of France, Mauritania, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and Mali. All, excluding France, make up the Group of 5 for the Sahel. By the conclusion, this paper will have answered the research question: What was the extent of the success of the Coalition for the Sahel? In the past two years, the G5S has successfully undertaken several projects, yet, it has also had to withdraw from others. The next possible steps for the Coalition will be identifiable through the analytical approach taken to answer the abovementioned question.
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The GIUK's gap Geopolitical Importance
Prášil, Matěj ; Riegl, Martin (advisor)
The following thesis is focusing on the geopolitical as well as geostrategic significance of the GIUK Gap. In addition to an overview of the realist theories of international relations used in the analysis as such, the thesis includes a section devoted to the historical development of the geopolitical and geostrategic significance of the GIUK Gap, but above all an analysis of the current geopolitical and geostrategic significance of the once mentioned specific North Atlantic region. The analysis of the current geopolitical situation is written with an emphasis on the increasing importance of the area for NATO and the Russian Federation, whose interests have increasingly clashed in recent years, not only in this region. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate a causal relationship between the generally deteriorating relations between NATO and the Russian Federation following the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the growing importance of the GIUK Gap.
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