|
|
Transformation of the labour markets in the United Kingdom, Germany and France in 2007-2010
Rouček, Martin ; Young, Mitchell (advisor) ; Šlosarčík, Ivo (referee)
The MA thesis called "Transformation of the labour markets in the United Kingdom, Germany and France in 2007-2010" tests the theory underlying models of capitalism in the context of the EU's Europeanization policies. The theoretical concept is analysed through labour market reforms in the UK, Germany and France between 2007 and 2010. For the purposes of this work, the United Kingdom represents a liberal market economy, Germany a coordinated market economy and France is considered a state-influenced market economy. The time span of the present study is linked to the concept of flexicurity, i.e. the EU's policy aiming to modernize and harmonize the Member States' labour markets, implemented in 2007-2010 within the Lisbon Strategy. The primary objective of the present work is to verify whether the labour market reforms introduced by the British, German and French governments corresponded to their national models of capitalism in the period from 2007 to 2010. The present thesis also explores the degree to which the national governments and socials partners of the UK, Germany and France identified with the concept of flexicurity in 2007-2010. Using the method of a comparative synchronous case study, the research shows that not all labour market reforms were in full compliance with the national models....
|
|
|
The Arctic Region - New Arena for Cooperation or Conflict? Race for Arctic Resources
Grishko, Valeria ; Svoboda, Karel (advisor) ; Young, Mitchell (referee)
Nowadays the Arctic becomes a new arena for political and economic interrelation of different states in their will to gain future benefits, which the region can bring. The aim of the thesis is to investigate the Arctic as an area of cooperation and (or) conflict between Russia and three EU states: Denmark, Finland and Sweden as well as the EU itself. This research paper looks on the problem from the perspective of rational- choice theory of international relations, which allows comparing the Arctic strategies of observed actors and their interests in the region. Despite existence of the Arctic Council as a platform for negotiations and multilateral agreements, as well as common will to solve the disputes there is still place for uncertainties in actor' view on the development of the Arctic. For this reason the question of the Arctic region is urgent for all above mentioned countries including the EU, which seeks to take its place in the debate.
|
|
|
Interdependence and Power in EU-Russian Gas Relations
Abubakirova, Evgenia ; Svoboda, Karel (advisor) ; Young, Mitchell (referee)
The aim of this thesis is to investigate gas interdependence for political relations between the European Union and the Russian Federation. Despite of the fact that relations in the gas sphere still have particular importance for both parties, after the Ukrainian crisis, sanctions and counter-sanctions applied, they have reached the lowest point of cooperation since the end of the Cold War. This thesis is based on the interdependence model of international relations theory, asymmetries in sensitivity and vulnerability of the EU and Russia were connected to their strategies as part of the political power play. Therefore, conflict situation, high level of sensitivity and vulnerability, and interest in finding alternatives of both parties lead to the situation of 'negative interdependence'. In this context, this kind of interdependence where partners would rather avoid relations logically pushes the EU and Russia apart and stimulates reconsideration of their relationship in gas sphere.
|
|
|
Industry 4.0 as an example of a top-down vs. horizontal Europeanization
Nováková, Denisa ; Young, Mitchell (advisor) ; Tomalová, Eliška (referee)
Industry 4.0 is a new generation of manufacturing based on robotics, automation and new trends in ICT. It was for the first time introduced at the Hannover Fair in 2011 and has been part of the European, German and Czech discourse since then. This Master thesis deals with the topic of Industry 4.0 in the Czech Republic and assesses to what extent the concept is coming to the Czech Republic as a result of a top-down (EU) or horizontal (Germany) Europeanization. The thesis came to the conclusion that there are two perceptions of Industry 4.0. One is narrow and deals with the industrial policy and the other is broad and deals with society wide implications of the fourth industrial revolution. The debate about Industry 4.0 in the Czech Republic is mainly a result of a horizontal Europeanization based on bilateral agreements and close cooperation between Germany and the Czech Republic in the area of R&D, innovations and business. However, the top-down Europeanization cannot be neglected as the EU provides much broader context where Industry 4.0 is taking place. Moreover, Industry 4.0 gave a new impetus to the digital economy and society in the Czech Republic. It turned into agenda 4.0 and moved forward the debate about digital skills.
|
|
|
The impact of quantitative easing on fiscal restriction of Greece government
Šanda, Jan ; Young, Mitchell (advisor) ; Karasová, Nikola (referee)
This bachalor thesis deals with quantitative easing of the European central bank and its impact on fiscal restriction of Greece government. The analysis is divided into four main parts. The first one focuses on the EMU institutional framework, especially in relation to the fiscal policies of member states. The second chapter deals with European central bank and quantitative easing on general level and also in relation with the last economic crises. Third chapter examines the interaction between monetary and fiscal policy and the last chapter is devoted to the evaluation of Greece fiscal policy and the impact which quantitative easing may have on it. Results of this thesis suggest that quantitative easing have an impact on fiscal policies of EMU member states. However, taking current situation of Greece state financing into consideration, this is not the case in Greece.
|
|
|
Swedish education system and education of immigrants
Vosejpková, Tereza ; Svobodný, Petr (advisor) ; Young, Mitchell (referee)
Due to open immigration policy Sweden is often target destination of non-European immigrants. Because of that Sweden has to force high share number of immigrants in composition of inhabitants and try to make as homogeneous population as possible, which can be noticeably supported by compulsory education. By way of analysis of education system and its documents as well as insight into contemporary situation, this study should help to understand not only the basic ideas of immigrant education, but also consequences, which are brought by dissimilar education of pupils without knowledge of Swedish language, and consider whether all components of that education are of integration or not.
|
|
|
Russian investments in European oil refining industry
Pejřimovský, Martin ; Svoboda, Karel (advisor) ; Young, Mitchell (referee)
Europe suffers from a new form of dependence. Not only does it need to import natural gas, crude oil, and nuclear fuel, but it also cannot meet its own demand for crude oil products such as the jet fuel and the diesel fuel, most of which comes from Russia. Furthermore, Russian state owned and private companies have been steadily extending their influence in the refining sector of the European Union. They possess a complete control over the refining sector of Bulgaria, and have a significant position in Romania, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Italy. The leverage of Russian companies in European oil refining sector is set to rise, because Europe will inevitably experience further closures of refineries in the future. The overall level of risks associated with Russian control of European refineries is significant, and policy makers should see it in context with other tools of Moscow's influence such as the dependence on natural gas or the anti-EU and the anti-US propaganda, disinformation campaigns and financial support for the extremist parties.
|
|
|
Financial Crisis in Economies with External Imbalances: A Comparative Analysis of Ireland and Spain
Semerák, Ondřej ; Váška, Jan (advisor) ; Young, Mitchell (referee)
The financial crisis of 2007-08 has had momentous consequences for most developed countries and triggered recession on the global financial markets. Consequently, economies with pre- existing deficiencies were hit in particular. In the European Union, especially two groups of member states with specific imbalances could be discerned. This thesis is intended to discuss the impacts on economies with external imbalances, where the crisis was not rooted in public finance profligacy. The main protagonists, Ireland and Spain, experienced resembling economic boom prior to the crisis, later accompanied by accumulation of foreign debt and real estate bubbles. Nonetheless, despite the strong similarities in their economic development their paths diverged after the bust, and Ireland has been given as an example for successful austerity. This thesis presents key determinative factors which differentiated Spain from Ireland in the reviving processes to discuss the hypothesis that the Irish recovery was generated solely by the implemented countermeasures and that it can therefore be considered a model for future crisis management. The objective of this thesis is to address this assertion and to evaluate its correctness using a detailed overview of structural specificities of the economies, as well as of the...
|
|
|
A Legitimacy Analysis of EU Sanctions
Šaturová, Gabriela ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Young, Mitchell (referee)
Political legitimacy has often been addressed in terms of the legitimacy of actors, while the legitimacy of policies as such is relatively neglected. This thesis argues that an analytical distinction between the categories of the actor and its action is necessary, since an actor's legitimacy does not automatically imply the legitimacy of its behaviour; furthermore, in real social discourse, actions are not exempt from legitimacy judgments. The ambition of the thesis is to make use of this research gap and to examine one of the most important tools of the EU's foreign policy by means of an analytical framework of political legitimacy. The selected cases are the current episode of CFSP sanctions against Russia; "appropriate measures" under the ACP Partnership agreement against Zimbabwe; and the informal arms embargo against China. Sanctions dealt with in the first two cases are deemed legitimate, while the arms embargo on China failed to meet the legitimacy criteria. Apart from the findings on legitimacy, two major conclusions can be drawn from the analysis: The lack of internal coherence is impairing the legitimacy of the EU's political measures; and the imposition of sanctions through an institutionalised political framework enhances their transparency in contrast to informal measures.
|
|
|
NEW TOOLS OF RESEARCH GOVERNANCE: Cases of research policy implementation in the Czech Republic, Sweden and the European Union
Young, Mitchell ; Rovná, Lenka (advisor) ; Šlosarčík, Ivo (referee) ; Lacina, Lubor (referee)
Research policy has become increasingly important for policymakers in Europe as it is considered to be a driving force behind the global knowledge-based economy. An array of new tools for the evaluation and funding of research have been implemented both by the European Union and its Member States; particularly distinctive are those that have been developed in the Czech Republic and Sweden. This dissertation, through four cases studies, investigates why these tools have appeared and what effects they have on the practice of research. Using a conceptual framework of public administration ideal-type narratives, the dissertation shows that these new tools can be considered as New Public Management type reforms. Further, the dissertation creates a theoretical model in which institutional theories are operationalized and used to reveal the politics behind the policy tools and the way that they affect individual behavior in the academic environment. The results demonstrate that strong influences are exerted by the rational choice logics embedded in New Public Management tools, which do distort the practice of research, yet these influences are also tempered by other historically and normatively-based logics within the complex system of research in higher education institutions. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
|
guest ::
RSS feed.