Radboud Educational Repository (Radboud Univ.)
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Tradwives or Tradnormalizers? A case study of the normalization of radical right rhetoric through tradwife content
No full textA relatively new online community that has been connected to the far-right, is the tradwife community. Women that believe in traditional family values and gender roles gather in this online space. As tradwives become more popular online, the influence that they can exert grows. This thesis is interested in the influence that they can have on the growth of the radical right. To examine this, the research question posed in this thesis is how tradwives help normalize radical right rhetoric. This question was answered through a case study design utilizing qualitative content analysis. The analysis exists out of two parts: first an examination of tradwife content for the presence of radical right rhetoric took place. Then, the content that included radical right rhetoric was examined for mainstreaming factors. The results of the study found that while radical right characteristics are not an essential feature of tradwife content, tradwives can help in the normalization of radical right rhetoric. These findings are relevant as the radical right has gained significant ground in democracies all over the world. This case study portrays how an online community can contribute to the growth of the radical right
“When Matter Begins to Understand Itself”: Tracing Metamodernism in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials
No full textThis thesis aims to create thematic links between the emerging theoretical framework of metamodernism – the cultural epoch said to take place after postmodernism – and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials – a renowned trilogy of fantasy novels. Drawing primarily on what is now seen as the foundational text of metamodern scholarship, namely, “Notes on metamodernism” by Timotheus Vermeulen and Robin van den Akker, the thesis seeks to broaden the preexisting, already elusive definitions of the field, while still anchoring metamodernism within the constant flux between modern and postmodern sentiments, structures of feeling. By examining how the novels rearticulate narratives of (post)modernity, the implicit metamodern ethos of the books, not anchored in stylistic choices, aesthetics, or chronotopes, emerges as an oscillation between the interior and exterior struggles of the trilogy.
Two chapters, each linked to a specific narrative structure that is of great importance in Pullman’s books, form the basis of this argument. The first chapter focuses on the absolutist religious myths of HDM, and the vehement opposition they encounter at the hands of deconstructing, free-thinking figures; the external part of the metamodern struggle, akin to the political and cultural battles of the past century. The second chapter shifts the attention to the internal growth of Pullman’s protagonists as they mature from children into young adults, a process of personal development that is as important to the metamodern oscillation as the bombastic, overtly visible parts of metamodernity. By supplementing the seminal “Notes on metamodernism” with writings that connect each of the themes with metamodernism, as well as texts linking the very same themes with the trilogy, the thesis applies critical discourse analysis to bridge the gap between previously unrelated lines of academic inquiry. Furthermore, as a way of buttressing the tripartite connection of metamodernism – His Dark Materials – religion & adolescence, the theoretical framework already draws direct parallels between the metaphysical makeup of Pullman’s diegesis and some of the most pivotal metamodern concepts; an approach that diffuses the rigid boundary between secondary literature and case study, inviting the reader to approach the entire thesis through a metamodern lens as if it were already there, and allowing for great detail in the reading of HDM in lieu of repetitive explanations of how the theoretical framework resurfaces in specific aspects within the novels.
Keywords: metamodernism, His Dark Materials, religion, adolescence, oscillation
Beelden van ‘Afgoderij’ - Tekeningen als kennisproductie in de correspondentie tussen Nicolaas Witsen en Gisbert Cuper (1713-1716)
No full textThis thesis investigates the role of drawings of so-called ‘idol images’ from South Asia in the early
eighteenth-century correspondence between Dutch scholars Nicolaas Witsen and Gisbert Cuper. These
images, depicting Hindu and Buddhist deities, circulated as part of a broader visual and intellectual
exchange, facilitated by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and the Republic of Letters. In this
study, these drawings are examined not as mere illustrations, but as visual agents in early modern
knowledge production.
The study begins by positioning Witsen and Cuper within the context of the Republic of Letters, a
virtual, European community of intellectuals that exchanged letters and scientific information. Placing
their correspondence at the intersection of scientific discourse and broad networks of (colonial)
connections, together they carried out a major study. This can largely be reduced to a study in the
fields of linguistics, criticism of religion and ethnography, in which a perceived common origin was
sought. Special attention is given to the influence of Protestantism in framing of South-Asian religious
images, as well as the European frameworks through which they were interpreted and classified.
Through an object-based analysis of the drawings themselves and their accompanying letters, this
thesis demonstrates how the images were transformed from devotional objects into scientific study
material. In a collective search for a common origin, these drawings were put into a classificatory
system that blended Protestant suspicion of visual devotion with colonial impulses and ideological
motivations to catalogue and master the unknown. This research shows that these drawings were not
passive representations but active instruments of knowledge construction. As such, they played an
important role in shaping both the image of the ‘Other’ as well as of the self. This thesis has examined
a largely overlooked corpus of drawings, shedding light on material that has received little scholarly
attention. By shifting the focus beyond Cuper and Witsen to consider the drawings themselves as
active agents, it contributes to the discourse on the role of visual culture in religious framing and the
construction of knowledge in the early modern Dutch Republic
Why persons with disabilities are still left behind: Research in humanitarian action and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2475
No full textDespite the World Health Organization's estimate that 15% of the global population lives with a disability, individuals with disabilities are frequently excluded from academic research. This exclusion extends to conflict studies, even though the number of persons with disabilities in conflict-affected areas is often significantly higher due to violence. This study aims to enhance knowledge and raise awareness about this community by examining the perceived effectiveness of the United Nations Security Council's implementation of Resolution 2475 by organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and other humanitarian organisations that work with person with disabilities.
Resolution 2475, created in 2019, is groundbreaking as it is the first Security Council resolution specifically addressing the situation of people with disabilities living in conflict-affected areas. The resolution seeks to raise awareness about their circumstances and urges all parties in conflict to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, including them in peacebuilding processes and humanitarian projects. However, OPDs have generally responded negatively to the implementation of this resolution, citing several criticisms: 1) lack of representation, 2) lack of inclusion of local and grassroot organisations, 3) lack of capacity building, 4) lack of proper data collection, 5) (dis)ableism, and 6) lack of an intersectional humanitarian lens, as is concluded from the data analysis in this study.
This evidence was gathered through content analysis of reports, website materials, transcripts, and interviews with OPDs. Additionally, the study utilized two theoretical frameworks—neoliberal humanitarianism and subaltern studies—to explain the inadequate implementation of Resolution 2475 and its impact on the humanitarian efforts of OPDs. Strong correlations were identified between these theories and the analysed content. In conclusion, the persistent influence of neoliberal humanitarianism and subaltern studies on the Security Council has resulted in the inadequate creation and implementation of resolution 2475, which has, in turn, failed to positively impact the humanitarian efforts of OPDs
The influence of Mainstreaming ‘Sustainability’ into Policies in a Decentralised Multi-level Governance System - A case study of the Dutch municipality of Nieuwegein
No full textThis thesis dives into the implications for municipalities on mainstreaming sustainability into policies. The thesis is a case study of the Dutch municipality of Nieuwegein. The study focusses on the multi-level governance framework and looks into new policy developments. The current state of academic literature is discussed, and a research gap is identified; the gap consists of municipal case studies in which the current situation is ineffective and inefficient. It's unrealistic to expect them to have all expertise in-house, which can lead to unprofessional decisions and result in ineffective and inefficient policies. The data was gathered by interviewing municipal employees, and the politically responsible person for sustainability. The data served as a basis to use frameworks by Wamsler et al (2020) and Fenton (2016). The data uncovered the reasons behind the difficulties that the municipalities faced, which had both internal and external reasons. Using municipal case studies of successful situations within mainstreaming sustainability and combining them with the difficulties identified within the data, the study will sketch possible, tailor-made solutions. These solutions are called the three C’s; Cooperation, Coordination, and Clarity. Lastly, the study will conclude with a general conclusion, and a discussion in which limitations are also stated
Battleground for Business – The Moderating Effect of Financial Munificence in Strategic Restructuring: Evidence from the Defense Industry.
No full textThis thesis explores the impact of strategic restructuring, particularly acquisitions and divestitures, on long-term firm performance in highly regulated and capital-intensive industries. Based in the Resource-Based View (RBV) and its extension using resource orchestration theory, it is used to assess whether these restructuring activities, in response to external pressure and uncertainty, result in long-term performance gains. Additionally, the thesis also examines how financial munificence, the accessibility of external financial capital, credit, and funding sources, directly impacts performance and moderates the performance effect of such restructuring efforts. Using a 20-year panel data set (2000-2020) of 663 public firms in the global defense industry. The defense industry is characterized by regulatory complexity and financial dependence, making it a particularly relevant context for studying these dynamics. The results find that acquisitions and divestitures have no statistically significant direct effect on long-term performance. Conversely, financial munificence has a positive direct impact, highlighting its function as a structural enabler while the moderating effect remains insignificant. By combining restructuring strategies with external capital dynamics, this thesis adds to strategic management literature, while offering practical insights into how firms in highly regulated and capital-intensive industries can better maintain performanc
Geestelijke verzorging in het licht van Tefvīznāme
No full textOnverwachte en onbegrijpelijke gebeurtenissen die levensvragen oproepen komen dagelijks voor. De ervaring die mensen in zulke situaties opdoen wordt ervaring van contingentie genoemd. Het verzorgen van levensvragen en omgaan met ervaringen van contingentie valt onder de deskundigheid van geestelijk verzorgers. Wegens de vragen aan de onderzoeker (islamitische geestelijk verzorger en imam) naar omgangsvormen met moslimcliënten binnen de geestelijke verzorging, is er onderzoek gedaan naar een potentiële omgangsvorm met ervaringen van contingentie. Het gedicht Tefvīznāme uit het boek Marifetnāme van Ibrāhīm Hakkı ErzurumĪ (gest. 1780) is ten eerste wetenschappelijk vertaald naar het Nederlands en vervolgens onderworpen aan een vergelijkende analyse met de aspecten en dimensies van contingente levenservaringen. Hiermee is het repertoire van Nederlandse geestelijk verzorgers vanuit islamitische oogpunt aanzienlijk verrijkt
Perceived Inequality in Refugee Reception: University Stu-dents on the 'Double Standard'
No full textThis thesis explores how university students perceive the ‘double standard’ in refugee reception, particularly the differing treatment of Ukrainian refugees compared to those from the Global South. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, European countries offered generous support to Ukrainian refugees, which strongly contrasted with more restrictive responses to refugees from countries like Syria or Eritrea. This study investigates how young, educated individuals interpret this difference and what factors shape their views.
Using a qualitative approach, twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with Radboud University students from diverse academic backgrounds. The data was analyzed through thematic analysis, by use of the Framing Theory (Dennison, 2021), Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1986), and McCloskey’s (2022) “Hierarchy of Victims.” Three key themes emerged: student perspectives on fairness and cultural proximity, perceptions of public opinion shaped by misinformation and bias and the media’s role in framing refugee narratives.
Findings reveal that students are critically aware of unequal treatment and often experience internal conflict between moral ideals and implicit cultural biases. This study contributes to migration and public opinion research by highlighting the self-awareness and emotional engagement of future societal actors in shaping inclusive refugee policies
Punish the bad, reward the good? The effect of corporate environmental performance on cost of debt.
No full textStudies looking at the relation between environmental performance and cost of debt mainly focus on the US and Asia, while work for European listed firms is sparse and yields contradictory results. As such, this thesis aims to add to sustainable finance literature by extending the work on European listed firms with regard to the effect of environmental performance on cost of debt, while also zooming in on the specific driving effects behind environmental performance and different firm characteristics. The panel consists of 499 firms that have been listed on the STOXX Europe 600 between 2020-2023. Using pooled OLS, fixed effects, random effects, system GMM and propensity score matching models, the results turn out to be inconsistent. While some models show a significant effect, the models that account for unobservable firm specific characteristics do not. Omitted variable bias seems most likely to be the driver behind these differing results. The findings refute all seven hypotheses as there seems to be no effect of environmental performance on cost of debt. I argue that the absence of a relation between the two is most likely due to the short time span of the data or interest starting to shift away from sustainability