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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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Kurdistan Regional Government: Internal Constrains and Failed Quest for Independence
Hussein, Nuha ; Doboš, Bohumil (advisor) ; Riegl, Martin (referee)
Since 2003, Iraq went into a significant shift of political authority in which many political parties fighting for leadership failed to keep peace in the region; however, for many - like ruling parties in Kurdistan Region of Iraq - a golden compass was in the pot to gain more authority high political positions in the region. The new Iraqi Constitution recognized KRG as an autonomous entity of Iraq, and Kurdish politicians were taking high political positions within the new Iraqi government. Despite these achievements, the political instability post-Iraq War remained and was shaped by internal factors like security, economy, and unresolved issues over disputed territories. Regional and international interventions also had a hand in these internal conflicts. For Kurdistan Regional Government, the question of Kurdish statehood never dissipated. The internal political setting post-2010 provided an environment of possible Kurdish statehood - or at least as the Kurdish leaders anticipated. In 2017, the KRG went for an unsupported referendum of independence that soon shifted the political dynamic between Kurdish parties and Baghdad into a turmoil of power struggle. The thesis builds a comprehensive discussion of factors of internal conflict in the KRG and analyzes how these internal disputes affected...
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Nagorno-Karabakh: 2020 war and the new geopolitical reality.
Vantsyan, Tatevik ; Riegl, Martin (advisor) ; Doboš, Bohumil (referee)
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which erupted in the end of 1980s, entered its most dangerous phase after the 1994 ceasefire agreement. The 2020 war totally changed the geopolitical situation of the South Caucasus region. After the victory and preservation of the status quo for 26 years, Armenia suffered huge losses and is left defeated and humiliated. Russian influence enhanced due to deployment of peacekeepers into Nagorno-Karabakh, while Turkey actively engaged in the war, openly supported Azerbaijan, and took a position of a more active player. Clash of conflicts between the reality and the narratives and rhetoric, which have been an inseparable part of this conflict, reached its culmination during the war. Even though the military actions were halted, and Russian-brokered trilateral ceasefire agreement was signed, long-term peace and reaching a final conflict solution seem quite farfetched.
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