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How think tanks shape discourse: An analysis of China's Belt and Road Initiative in the European Union through a case study of Greece
Fike, Eliza Kathleen ; Schottli, Jivanta (vedoucí práce) ; Fracasso, Andrea (oponent)
Following the Belt and Road Initiative's debut in 2013, member states of the European Union have not agreed on a single approach to handling it. Skepticism can be felt throughout Europe on the topic and especially through think tanks, as Greece becomes a pivotal partner in the Chinese venture. The role of these think tanks is somewhat ambiguous in nature when it comes to examining political discourse. It is established that think tanks are important in the policy- making process for research and recommending strategies. As the world becomes increasingly more complex and uncertain, think tanks have the ability to provide well-analyzed solutions. However, how they shape discourse is up for debate and to what extent they do so. Therefore, in this thesis, think tanks are assumed as functional actors under the securitization theory from a framing perspective that influences topics of debate, such as the Belt and Road Initiative. Although their discourse heavily corresponds with Europe's mistrust of China's economic intentions, as seen with the port of Piraeus, think tanks act as facilitators rather than independent actors for policy change. Thus, this paper will be of interest to students, academics, and political science practitioners.
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Increasing fiscal integration in the EU and its potential effects on Austrian economic security
Hatch, Luke ; Hardman, Helen (vedoucí práce) ; Fracasso, Andrea (oponent)
Increasing fiscal integration in the EU and its potential effects on Austrian economic security Abstract The objectives of this dissertation are threefold. Firstly, it aims to understand what the term "economic security" means to Austrian policymakers. Secondly, it aimed to discern Austrian motivations for their "frugal" approach to EU debt mutualisation. Thirdly, it focuses on grasping whether a fear of economic insecurity was seen as a credible motivation for Austrian attitudes in the EU debt mutualisation field. Finally, it aims to ascertain whether policymakers and experts do, in fact, consider debt mutualisation to be a threat to Austrian economic security. The methodologies used in this research project were semi-structured elite interviews and content analysis. The four interviewees were either Austrian policymakers or experts in the realm of Austria's economic relationship with Europe. They were asked to give opinions on their interpretations of economic security, their take on the Frugal Four, and their views on debt mutualisation as a threat to Austrian national security. These interviews were supplemented by general documentary research but also by content analyses of the Stenographisches Protokoll, the Austrian parliamentary record, which were used to understand the use of the German equivalent...
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