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Gender-Responsive DDR: Social, Economic and Political Reincorporation of Women Ex-Combatants in Colombia
Ramljak, Antonela ; Aslan, Emil (advisor) ; Kotvalová, Anna (referee)
CHARLES UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Institute of Political Studies Department of Security Studies Master's Thesis 2020 Antonela Ramljak CHARLES UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Institute of Political Studies Department of Security Studies Gender - Responsive DDR: Social, Economic and Political Reincorporation of Women Ex-combatants in Colombia Master's Thesis Author: Antonela Ramljak Study program: Master in International Security Studies (MISS) Supervisor: doc. Dr. Emil Aslan, Ph.D. Year of project submission: 2020 Declaration 1. I hereby declare that I have compiled this thesis using the listed literature and resources only. 2. I hereby declare that my thesis has not been used to gain any other academic title. 3. I fully agree to my work being used for study and scientific purposes. In Prague on Antonela Ramljak References RAMLJAK, Antonela. Gender - Responsive DDR: Social, Economic and Political Reincorporation of Women Ex-combatants in Colombia. Praha, 2020. 81 pages. Master's thesis (Mgr.). Charles University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Political Studies. Department of Security Studies. Supervisor doc. PhDr. Emil Aslan, Ph.D. Length of the thesis: 104.637 characters Abstract Discussions on women in wars have oftentimes been limited to their stories as survivors of conflict...
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The Impact of War-Related Violence on Post-Conflict Electoral Violence - A Disaggregated Analysis
Küsel, Evita ; Aslan, Emil (advisor) ; Kocmanová, Markéta (referee)
The international community frequently advocates elections in conflict-ridden societies as an integral part of peacekeeping strategies. However, elections themselves often become the focal point of contention and violence, potentially resulting in conflict recurrence. Given the severe consequences of electoral violence, scholars have increasingly focused on analysing its causes. While significant progress has been made in explaining the occurrence of electoral violence at the country level, these studies fail to account for the substantial intra-country variation of electoral violence. The present thesis fills this research gap by examining the spatial distribution of electoral violence within post-conflict countries. Specifically, the hypothesis proposes that areas within a country that have previously experienced war-related violence are more likely to witness electoral violence in the first post-conflict election. Through analysing spatially disaggregated data from the UCDP GED and ECAV datasets, this thesis conducts a country- fixed effects regression and finds a positive and statistically significant relationship between conflict-related violence and post-conflict electoral violence at the level below the state.
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Role of Pro-State Militias in the Political System in Ukraine
Bartoň, Teodor ; Laryš, Martin (advisor) ; Aslan, Emil (referee)
This diploma thesis examines the impact of ultra-nationalist pro-state militias with a radical political ideology on the stability and functioning of democratic systems. The observed cases encompass the Ukrainian Azov Battalion and Right Sector, as well as the Croatian Defense Forces (HOS) and the United-Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). Through qualitative analysis and multiple case studies, the research investigates the consequences of these militias' activities, their integration into the state apparatus, and their potential threats to democratic processes. The findings reveal a complex relationship between militias and the state, characterized by ideological differences and simultaneous integration within the political sphere. The study highlights the militias' role in defending the state during civil conflicts, while also noting the gradual loss of autonomy as they collaborate more closely with official military structures. The research emphasizes the significance of popular support garnered by these militias during wartime, yet it highlights the limitations in their political influence within the democratic system. The thesis also introduces the concept of the "Militia-State Ambivalence Nexus" as a framework of understanding the strategies employed by governments to harness militias'...
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The Wagner Group's counterinsurgency operations in Mali
Murgia, Nicolò ; Ludvík, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Aslan, Emil (referee)
This research focuses on analyzing the Wagner Group's counterinsurgency operations in Mali. First, it reviews existing literature on the use of Private Military Companies (PMCs) in counterinsurgency campaigns. Then, it examines the dynamics of the Wagner Group's activities in Mali, particularly its relationship with the Russian state, the services it provides, and the impact of these services on Mali's security crisis. The study thoroughly analyzes the specific modus operandi of the Wagner Group and its relationships with local armed forces to understand the implications and outcomes of their counterinsurgency operations. The research findings reveal that the PMC's efforts were ineffective in mitigating the crisis caused by Islamist armed groups. Moreover, the Wagner Group's presence in Mali led to an increase in violence, resulting in severe consequences for civilians. On a broader scale, the research demonstrates how the Wagner Group serves as a tool used by Russia to exert influence in Mali. The close ties between the Russian state and the PMC have enabled the manipulation of the local population through disinformation campaigns, targeting previous Western partners such as France and the U.S. As a consequence of these actions, Mali, which experienced a military junta rising to power through a...
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Patron-Client Relations and Ethnic Cleansing: An Analysis of Third-Party Influence in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War
Tentler, Matthew ; Aslan, Emil (advisor) ; Myftari, Kledian (referee)
How does the presence of a patron-client relation contribute the onset of ethnic cleansing? There has been a growing body of literature examining the complexities of ethnic cleansing as a concept and the various determinants that contribute to the onset of such phenomenon. Michael Mann's theorization that ethnic cleansing occurs when the democratization process is weaponized by political elites seeking to maintain their power, resulting in the egalitarian and inclusive principals of democracy being supplanted by an exclusionary, ethno-nationalist conception of the nation-state. I argue that the incorporation of the patron-client model of international relations would build upon Mann's theorization of ethnic cleansing by providing a more in-depth understanding of how military aid and ideological legitimacy from a patron state contributes to a state adopting the violent and exclusionary policy of ethnic cleansing. A case study of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988-1994) confirms the importance of analyzing existing patron-client relations, as the Armenian political elite, intelligentsia, and military aid played a significant role in the escalation of the conflict into ethnic cleansing.
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Exploring the Election Fraud Conspiracy Theory: A Qualitative Comparison of Selected U.S. and German QAnon Telegram Channels
Wittmann, Anastasia ; Aslan, Emil (advisor) ; Collins, Jonathan (referee)
This thesis delves into the far-right extremist movement QAnon, known for its affinity for Donald Trump and continuous propagation of conspiracy theories. The movement has gained notoriety through violent outbursts, with the attempted insurrection on January 6th , 2021, acting as a symbol of violent and anti-democratic activity. The objective of this thesis is to take an explorative and qualitative snapshot of the movement in order to understand its activity, beliefs, dynamics, and potential for future implications. The thesis focuses on QAnon's reproduction of the election fraud theory, a central element of the extensive conspiracy nexus. For this, the textual content disseminated through QAnon channels on Telegram, which constitutes a popular platform in the scene, is collected for this purpose. Additionally, in light of the movement's international expansion, a transnational comparison of the election fraud theory is undertaken. Germany, next to the United States, presents itself as a suitable country for comparison due to QAnon's extensive activity and presence. A qualitative content analysis is employed in order to identify concepts and categories in the QAnon U.S. and German textual corpus, which are then compared transnationally for similarities, differences, and patterns. The results...
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The impact of the Turkish economic crisis on Turkey's foreign policy and the Turkish-Israeli relations
Rodrigues Soares Barbosa Silva, Pedro Gonçalo ; Kazharski, Aliaksei (advisor) ; Aslan, Emil (referee)
This thesis aims to evaluate the impact of Turkey's economic crisis on its foreign policy and analyse the subsequent developments in the relationship between Turkey and Israel. Supporting the analysis, a theoretical framework based on Economic Realism was utilised, wherein the analytical portion of the thesis will focus first on Economic dimension of the Turkish-Israeli relationship, and later its Security dimension. The Economic Analysis section focuses mainly on the 2018 economic crisis in Turkey, and the characteristics of the Turkish economy, as well as the trade/economic relationship between Ankara and related recent regional developments. The thesis delves into the Turkish-Israeli rapprochement of 2022, combining a political analysis of recent developments with a historical study of the bilateral relationship. The security dimension of the relationship is also explored, particularly in relation to the shared concern of Iran. The thesis analyses more deeply the Turco-Iranian, as well as Israeli-Iranian rivalry in Syria and Iraq, in order to evaluate the potential Security-driven calculations in the Turkish foreign policy shift. The thesis concludes that Turkey's post-crisis foreign policy shift aligns with Economic Realism. The Turkish-Israeli rapprochement is positive but not unique in the...
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Rise of illiberal peace? Russian perspective on the sustainability of post-conflict arrangements
Žilka, Peter ; Karásek, Tomáš (advisor) ; Aslan, Emil (referee)
The central idea of this master thesis is based on the recent normative contestation of the rules-based international order by authoritarian great powers such as Russia or China, whose activities are becoming more and more alarming. As the Western community since the end of the Cold War decided to take a big share of responsibility for the worldwide prevention and resolution of conflicts, their promotion of liberal values within peacebuilding frameworks nevertheless did not meet the set goals. Hence, academic debates recently engaged in the inquiry of alternative peacebuilding frameworks, including those that involved practices of illiberal actors. Consequently, this thesis focus on a qualitative analysis of Russian peacebuilding practices throughout its involvement in Tajikistan, Chechnya, Nagorno- Karabakh, and Syria. While looking for some possible overlapping with liberal practices, the analysis will primarily focus on technical processes of peacebuilding such as institution building and governance; security sector reform; and economic recovery. The overall finding demonstrate a fragile post-conflict environment based on dependency, ineffective governance, occasional re-emergence of violence or economic stagnation.
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Economic prospects of Kyrgyzstan from a geopolitical perspective
Loboda, Aleksandra ; Romancov, Michael (advisor) ; Aslan, Emil (referee)
This thesis will analyze the economic and political prospects of Kyrgyzstan based on the geopolitics of the country. This thesis will provide data on Kyrgyzstan's political, economic, and diplomatic relations over the past thirty years with the following countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China, Russia, and the United States. Imports and exports between the countries will also be provided and analyzed in the second half of the paper. Using the method of comparing qualitative and quantitative data, conclusions will be drawn as to which direction Kyrgyzstan should take as a small developing country. It is not about minute-by-minute actions, but rather long-term actions that will have a tremendous weight on the economic development of the country in the future. The paper essentially comes to the conclusion that the best development for Kyrgyzstan will be if the country manages to reduce its dependence on Russia and explore other trade routes and other trade partners.
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The impact of radical Islam on the North Caucasuss insurgency movements
Časnocha, Tomáš ; Kazharski, Aliaksei (advisor) ; Aslan, Emil (referee)
This master thesis examines the impact that radical Islamic ideas had on the ideological and motivational narratives of North Caucasus insurgency groups. It aims to shed light on how radical religious notions interacted with nationalistic goals of originally separatist Chechen movement and Dagestani Wahabi movement. The thesis is focusing on examining legal documents such as constitutions and its changes, presidential decrees, or news outlets. It also examines in detail considerable number of interviews given publicly by leaders of insurgencies but also by foot soldiers. The analytical segment examines in detail the political and societal development within the movements at question focusing on the role of religious ideas within these domains. Subsequent chapter provides a discussion on these findings as well as comparison of Dagestani and Chechen cases. The final segment of the thesis then provides concluding thoughts and ideas for further research in the field.
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