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The spillover effects of quantitative easing on major emerging economies: the case of South Africa
Kaulinge, Ndilimeke Nelao Mbabyona
In this study, I analyse the potential spillover effects of large-scale asset purchases (LSAP) or quantitative easing (QE) implemented by the US Federal Reserve Bank (US Fed) and European Central Bank (ECB) on the South African economy. To start, I survey the literature and summarize the general themes that arise. The two main themes that I focused on for my research were that QE depreciated global currency rates and raised sovereign bond rates and that strong country fundamentals mitigated against the spillover effects of QE. I highlight the importance of macroeconomic and financial variables in determining the effects of QE, therefore the chosen model incorporates interest rates, credit default swap spreads, debt to GDP ratio, GDP growth, inflation, market capitalization to GDP and credit ratings. I quantify the effects of QE on South African long-term government bond yields and foreign exchange rates using a vector autoregressive (VAR) model, while making use of monthly data from March 2009 to December 2021. I measure the shock of QE using impulse response functions with a 24-month horizon. I found that QE implemented by the US Fed and the ECB significantly affected long-term government bond yields and foreign exchange rates in South Africa, and that they responded more to US QE than to ECB QE. While acknowledging that the model does not account for certain structural and socio-economic issues prevalent in South Africa today, I recommend that policymakers take steps toward developing domestic policies and institutions, maintaining a robust current account balance, reducing energy shortages, and maintaining political stability.
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Aggressor and Victim: Main characters and their psychological development in J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace
Čechurová, Markéta ; Chalupský, Petr (advisor) ; Ženíšek, Jakub (referee)
This thesis aims to analyze characters of Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee from a psychological point of view, suggest possible motives and interpretations of their behaviour as well as to discuss their development, and analyze the environment they are set in. First, the thesis focuses on providing theoretical background of the novel and its author, as well as on a brief introduction to the historical development of the Republic of South Africa in which the plot of Disgrace is set. The theoretical part also defines terms relevant to the practical part, such as rape, corrective rape, and sexual violence, and provides a brief psychological typology of its victims and perpetrators. The practical part is focused on a psychological analysis of the main characters, David and Lucy, as well as an analysis of Melanie, Petrus, and Pollux. Using the theoretical background, the thesis explores their psychological development, and the reasons behind their behaviour, and further discusses, whether they could be considered victims or perpetrators of sexual violence. KEYWORDS Coetzee, Disgrace, South Africa, psychological development of characters, sexual violence
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Hybrid Governance in Post-Apartheid South Africa
Voloskyi, Glib Artemovich ; Berg, Julie (advisor) ; Kazharski, Aliaksei (referee) ; Dowd, Caitriona (referee)
The hybrid governance theory has facilitated the shift beyond the state-centric perspective on security governance. Yet the theory has never been tested under the conditions absent from an active or recent military conflict. It tends to neglect the relations between the state and non- state security actors and superfluously praises non-state and hybrid security orders. The paper elaborates on these academic gaps. Based on secondary data, it investigates hybrid security governance in South Africa. The paper demonstrates that hybrid security governance can exist in a non-conflict setting. It discusses the patterns of the emergence of non-state security actors, their relations with the population and the state. The findings are found to be consistent with the hybrid governance theory, though there are a number of peculiar features. Additional studies on hybrid governance in a non-conflict setting will help to distinguish the features of South African hybrid security from the general logic of hybrid security governance in a non-conflict setting.
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The power of the General: Which factors influence the level of authoritarianism in the Southern African context?
Wordsworth, Ronan Peter ; Riegl, Martin (advisor) ; Doboš, Bohumil (referee)
1 Abstract This paper sets out to answer the central question on the causes of authoritarianism within the regional context of Southern Africa. The hypothesises of the article are that there are several factors that contribute to authoritarian levels within the South African Development Community (SADC). The research aims to adequately define the concept of authoritarianism, and then investigate the relationship between authoritarianism and five different indicators. The links are explored for level of authoritarianism against the level of military expenditure of the government, the threat perception of the government, whether there is a single dominant-party system of government, whether the country has a history of coup d'états, and finally, the dominant party in the civil-military relations. This leads to an investigation into the role that the military plays within authoritarian regimes, and which factors lead to increased authoritarianism. Due to the unique post-colonial context whereby many liberation movements and fighters were then installed as leaders of the country, there is a 'special relationship' between many leaders in the Southern African Development Community and the respective military and defence leadership and this paper will seek to explore these links. It is hypothesised that...
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British Colonisation of South Africa during the First Half of the 19th Century
Miler, Pavel ; Skřivan, Aleš (advisor) ; Valkoun, Jaroslav (referee)
In 1796, the first time the British occupied the Cape, a former Dutch colony in 1806 then definitely. British colonial policy in South Africa was initially influenced by the former practice of the Dutch East India Company. Problems inherited from the past involving government, law and the institution of slavery. Very thorny questions were slave trade and land ownership. In 1807 a law was adopted to ban the import of slaves in the colonies of the British Empire. In 1809 was issued collection of laws by Lord Calendon called Calendon code. In 1811 Governor John Cradock established circulation courts. In 1820 arrived in the Cape Colony of British settlers in 4000 to increase proportion of the white population of British origin. In 1828 was issued Ordinance 50, in 1833 Britain abolished slavery law with effect from 1838. These government actions led to disputes with the Boer population, which peaked in 1836, leaving Boers in the so-called Great Trek, which had a significant impact on indigenous communities strains disrupted at the time mfecane and led to the establishment of the independent Boer republics. Key words: Africans - Boers - Cape of Good Hope - colonial policy - emancipation - Great Britain - Great Trek - South Africa - slavery
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Traveler Čeněk Paclt (1813-1887) - the first Czech that has ever been to all five continents in respect to historical anthropology
Kříž, Jaroslav ; Opatrný, Josef (advisor) ; Binková, Simona (referee)
This dissertation analyzes the life of Czech traveler Čeněk Paclt (1813 - 1887), who was born in the town of Turnov. Čeněk Paclt belongs to the most famous Czech travelers. He is also the first Czech, who has provably traveled through all five inhabited continents and has left written evidence about his journeys. Fundamental part of this thesis is focusing on his life and describes his adventures, which he had come across on the five continents. The thesis is written in historical, and employs historical anthropology, which focuses on a single individual in the course of human events, as one of the main methodological approaches. Secondarily, this thesis elaborates Paclt's personality and his view on aboriginal cultures, which he encountered during his travels, and Paclt's relationship towards his hometown is also mentioned. Furthermore, the dissertation touches upon traveling background in Czech nation during 19th century.
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Boer Wars and the Perception of them in Czech Society
Kadlecová, Markéta ; Hnilica, Jiří (advisor) ; Pokorný, Jiří (referee)
This bachelor's thesis deals with the topic of the Boer wars and their relation to Czech society. Its aim is to find out whether this conflict initiated any reaction from the Czech nation. Based on research of contemporary Czech journals and Czech literature, it shows the perception of war and mediates the attitude toward both sides involved. The Boer wars were the conflict between Great Britain and the Boer republics (the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State) which took place between the years 1880-1881 and 1899-1902. This thesis concentrates mainly on the second war which gained certain public note throughout the world. The Boer wars earned not only considerable attention from Czech journals but became an inspiration for literary works in the Czech lands as well. Moreover, certain Czech volunteers could be found as participants of the war.
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The Rhethoric of Justification of Political Parties in South Africa
Bílá, Lucie ; Císař, Ondřej (advisor) ; Slačálek, Ondřej (referee)
The aim of the bachelor thesis is mainly to make an analysis of political speeches and oficial documents of two South African political parties, National Party and Economic Freedom Fighters, with a discoursive analysis as a methodology. The focus of the thesis is on the discourse of justification which concentrates on justification of own existence and claim on representation. This claim on representation is then analysed with regards to a declared group which the party claims to represent and to which, at least, these politics are supposed to serve. The part of the analysis is also a matter of consistence of the rhetoric.
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Changes of the natural environment in southern Africa
Píšová, Šárka ; Kliment, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Romportl, Dušan (referee)
The diverse region of southern Africa is affected by several changes of the natural environment. This thesis characterizes the region of southern Africa and evaluates the state and development of these natural conditions and environmental problems in four main categories of physical geography - climate, vegetation, soils and water. A literature review is compiled and processed focusing on studies by field experts, which describe the main issues in these categories. Particular problems which the region encounters are described on a global, regional and local scale. The main problems are: changes in temperature and precipitation, land cover change, deforestation, desertification, threats to biodiversity, soil erosion and water availability. Overall, changes of the natural environment in southern Africa are caused by climate change and anthropogenic activity. However, human activities cause a greater impact as a result of their "indirect influence" on climate conditions and "direct influence" on vegetation conditions. Key words: Africa, southern Africa, natural environment, climate, vegetation, soils, water
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The Rhethoric of Justification of Political Parties in South Africa
Bílá, Lucie ; Císař, Ondřej (advisor) ; Slačálek, Ondřej (referee)
The aim of the bachelor thesis is mainly to make an analysis of political speeches and oficial documents of two South African political parties, National Party and Economic Freedom Fighters, with a discoursive analysis as a methodology. The focus of the thesis is on the discourse of justification which concentrates on justification of own existence and claim on representation. This claim on representation is then analysed with regards to a declared group which the party claims to represent and to which, at least, these politics are supposed to serve. The part of the analysis is also a matter of consistence of the rhetoric.
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