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Construction and Linguistic Portrayal of Climate Change Phenomenon in Right-Wing Populist Parties' Political Discourse
Zindović, Milica ; Arregui Moreno, Francisco Javier (advisor) ; Mejstřík, Martin (referee)
The main goal of this paper is to examine the construction and linguistic portrayal of the climate change phenomenon in the right-wing populist parties' discourse. The literature has so far mainly assumed automatic relationship between right- wing ideology and climate-refusal and did not go beyond analysis of specific climate-skeptical parties. We aim to fill this gap in the literature by analyzing both climate-supportive and disengaged RWP parties, as well their communication strategies on the matter. In order to disentangle inconsistencies, paradoxes and contradictions in text and discourse-internal structures, as well as to demystify the possible persuasive or manipulative tendencies of RWP parties, this paper employs a Discourse- Historical Approach in order to examine how these actors transform, translate and modify the meaning and role of a climate change in their texts. Moreover, the focus of our paper is on the three strategies within DHA - nomination, predication and argumentation. The analysis included three RWP parties - Alternative for Germany; Hungarian Fidesz and French National Rally, We found that the three examined parties with different climate policy preferences tend to deploy markedly different manipulative or persuasive strategies, and utilize different rhetorical and...
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How NGOs influence the process of policymaking: is direct lobbying a crucial determinant of success?
Memoli, Francesca ; Arregui Moreno, Francisco Javier (advisor) ; Zubek, Marcin (referee)
The relevance of NGOs' lobbying activity is rising within the EU institutional sphere, and the power of these actors in influencing political outcomes is generally related to their ability to mobilize public opinion; however, the recent shift in institutional political interests, as well as the NGOs' need for credibility and legitimacy, has demonstrated the advantages of developing punctual and long-term contacts with policymakers. This poses questions about the effectiveness of direct strategies used by these actors to obtain success. Through the understanding of the resources-dependency theory rooted in pluralist studies, interest groups are essential actors within a democratic institutional system building relations based on reciprocity. Measured through a quantitative approach and utilizing a regression analysis on data from 41 legislative proposals submitted by the EU between 2008 and 2010 as part of the INTEREURO project, this research paper demonstrates empirically the relevance of direct lobbying for NGOs. Through a continuous measure of success that considers the reversion point, the study shows that this is expected to be higher for more resourceful organizations and when lobbying on ordinary legislative processes. Results have implications for studies on EU decision-making and the role...
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Defining Europe: Cultural Heritage Policy and Identity
Ochoa Uriostegui, Jorge ; Arregui Moreno, Francisco Javier (advisor) ; Kocián, Jiří (referee)
Constructivist theories from International Relations have long been interested in the European Union and its identity. There is a lack of studies from the critical constructivist strand which, unlike its conventional counterpart, tries to explain how identities are created by discourse. This study seeks to explain how European identity is constructed and reinforced by the EU's cultural heritage policy, using The European Heritage Label as case study. This initiative's 48 selection panel reports, 38 promotional videos, and 10 site descriptions are used as data. The methodological approach was qualitative, since Topoi Analysis, a sub-category of Critical Discourse Analysis, was used. The results show that the EU's cultural heritage policy reinforces the categories of inclusive identity. while at the same time, but with less frequency, also constructs a more exclusive European identity. These findings bring implications for theory, future research, and the EU itself.
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Federalism, Frozen Conflict, or Inner Neighbor: Combining Post-Conflict Peace Efforts with Ukraine's European Integration
Romandash, Anna ; Arregui Moreno, Francisco Javier (advisor) ; Mach, Zdzisław (referee)
Recent conflicts in Europe - such as Balkan wars in the nineties and tensions in post-Soviet countries after the USSR's collapse - were addressed, among others, through federalization, freezing the conflict, or de facto divide within de jure one country solution. As stability across Europe remains fragile, the applicability and benefit of each of these methods needs to be reevaluated. This paper addresses federalization process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, frozen conflict in Moldova, and an inner neighbor/divided country scenario in Cyprus; further, it analyzes the key features in each of the post- conflict scenarios and compares them with Ukraine's current conflict and its EU integration process. The aim of the paper is to determine the essential components for different conflict resolution approaches, and their applicability in achieving stability and improving foreign relations. Ukraine's government is engaged in peace talks over occupied territories while also maintaining its efforts for strengthening its partnership with the EU. The negotiations have not managed to reach a sustainable solution to the conflict, but they highlight the potential of following various models for stabilizing the country while pursuing Ukraine's EU-oriented foreign policy. The paper analyses keys conflict-resolution...
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European fiscal integration in euro absentia. Budgetary compliance as a step stone to a fiscal union.
Pavel, Stefania-Felicia ; Young, Mitchell (advisor) ; Arregui Moreno, Francisco Javier (referee)
European fiscal integration in euro absentia. Budgetary compliance as a step stone to a fiscal union Author: Ștefania-Felicia Pavel Student ID: 31195144 Degree: Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programme European Politics and Society Supervisor: Mitchell Young, PhD. Institution: Charles University, Faculty of Social Sciences Institute of International Studies Submission: June 2020 Defence: September 2020 English abstract This research investigates fiscal convergence via disciplined budgets in non-euro Member States. The thesis hypothesizes that 1) post-2010 enhanced macroeconomic governance is conducive to a fiscal union and 2) fiscal stance of non-euro Member States is not correlated with their attitude to euro adoption. The fiscal convergence in euro absentia is dually tested through theory application and intensive case studies. The results show that countries can be fiscally compliant, but reject the euro or be euro enthusiast, yet fiscally deviant. Thus, the single currency can be either backstop or driver of more integration, nonetheless, European integration continues. The findings substantiate the proposition that a fiscal union is building up even in euro absentia.
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The effects of economic crisis in rise and political success of right-wing populist parties in southern countries of EU
Brisku, Inxhi ; Mejstřík, Martin (advisor) ; Arregui Moreno, Francisco Javier (referee)
This thesis tests one of the approaches that analyzes the rise of right-wing populist parties, "the economic crisis" approach. The core idea of this theory is that during an economic crisis, there is a rise of electoral support for the right-wing populist parties. The two case studies which are studied are the (Northern) League in Italy and the National Front/Rally in France. These analyses include a brief history of the said parties, their political profile, and the results in elections after the 2008-2009 financial crisis. As well as data on the profile of supporters of these parties and the reasons why they support these parties, and their views on some of the main political and social issues. From the data confrontation it is shown that there is no correlation between times of economic hardship, and the electoral success of these parties. And what is more important supporters of these parties also emphasize reasons related with identity rather than economic problems for supporting these parties. For economic issues they have a similar perception to the rest of the population. Keywords Populism, right-wing populism, populist parties, economic crisis, elections, identity.
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Negotiations between the EU and Mercosur: motivations behind the relaunch in 2010
Ellis de Lucía, Martina ; Broad, Matthew (advisor) ; Arregui Moreno, Francisco Javier (referee)
This thesis examines the relaunch of the negotiations for an Association Agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) in order to understand new trends towards interregionalism after the failure of the Doha Round and the motivations of the EU in resuming the talks. The research question leading this work is: What explains the decision of the EU to relaunch negotiations with Mercosur in 2010? Moreover, two hypotheses are presented related to need of EU to re- think their economic integration strategies after the stagnation in Doha and the aim of the bloc of maintaining and strengthening its commercial and regulatory power vis-à-vis China and the United States in Latin America. Knowing the fact that in 2010 negotiations between the two blocs were relaunched, this thesis aims to prove the plausibility of the two hypotheses presented vis-à-vis other possible factors by means of process tracing. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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