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Tracing Kybele’s Cult(ure) -A Multimodal Study on the Mother of Gods’ Worship in Ptolemaic Egypt-
No full textThis thesis focuses on a set of archaeological artefacts and literary sources from Hellenistic to early Roman Egypt which are linked to the Phrygian goddess Kybele and her cult. Kybele, a mother goddess known under many names, developed a complex iconography and was venerated across a vast temporal and geographical scope. While her influence in Ptolemaic Egyptian culture and religious practices is often considered minimal, this study reassesses this view by examining what these artefacts, when analysed collectively, reveal about the introduction and dissemination of Kybele’s cult in Ptolemaic Egypt. A holistic, bottom-up approach is applied, integrating four key concepts from the theories of Lived Ancient Religion (LAR) -‘Mediality’, ‘Agency’, ‘Situational Meaning’ and ‘Appropriation’- along with Multimodality to incorporate both textual and non-textual sources into the analysis. The artefacts and texts are compared to other Mediterranean artefacts associated with Kybele, focusing on iconography, function and co-references to other deities. Additionally, the archaeological find contexts are examined alongside socio-historical contexts to determine how these objects were created, owned and used. This study suggests that, while Kybele’s cult may have first reached Egypt via the Greek settlement Naukratis before or during the Achaemenid period, its more widespread introduction into the Nile Delta and possibly beyond (reaching as far as the eastern desert), can only be supported by Ptolemaic-era evidence. This aligns with the theory that Greeks settlers imported cultic practices following Alexander the Great’s conquests. The presence of the toponym Ἄγδιστις in Egypt –a name for Kybele attested in the Athenian Piraeus and Hellenistic Anatolia- may indicate the cultural and religious background of the Greek worshippers who settled in Egypt. The Egyptian artefacts suggest that Kybele’s cultic was practices in both public and private contexts. Evidence of Ptolemaic patronage in dedicatory inscriptions raises the possibility of an official religious status, while figurines depicting Kybele alongside Isis indicate that her worship at times merged with and Egyptian traditions. Even though a priest of Kybele is documented in the Fayyūm, the presence of the Γάλλοι (the goddess’s eunuch priests) in Egypt remains uncertain. Meanwhile, familiarity with Attis, Kybele’s consort, is attested through literary works from Alexandria, which echo themes found in a bronze figurine, hinting at his potential role in ritual practices. In spite of the varied expressions of Kybele’s worship in Egypt, gaps in archaeological metadata and objects of unknown provenance complicate efforts to fully trace the development of her cult over time. Nevertheless, this study challenges established assumptions about Kybele’s limited presence and influence in Ptolemaic Egypt, offering new perspectives on her role in its religious landscape
Een leven lang verlies
No full textDeze masterscriptie, getiteld ‘Een leven lang verlies’, onderzoekt de rol van zingeving in de ervaringen van levend verlies bij ouders van een kind met een beperking en/of extra zorgbehoefte. Het onderzoek richt zich op hoe zingeving geïntegreerd wordt in de betekenissen die ouders toekennen aan hun ervaringen van levend verlies. Dit is onderzocht aan de hand van zeven diepte-interviews met ouders. Hieruit blijkt dat levend verlies een complex proces is, beïnvloed door onder andere persoonlijke context en omgevingsfactoren. Meer onderzoek is echter nodig om deze verschillende dimensies beter in kaart te brengen. Zingevingsbronnen en rituelen helpen
ouders daarnaast om te gaan met gevoelens van gemis en tekortschieten en maken het verlies draaglijker
Ø pleut, ø faut, ø voyage ? Il pleut, il faut, il voyage ? Une analyse de pro-drop au sein des parlers francoprovençaux
No full textDans ce mémoire, nous examinons le phénomène linguistique du pro-drop dans différents dialectes francoprovençaux à l'aide de deux atlas linguistiques. Nous examinons deux traductions francoprovençales d'une fable d'Ésope et 35 cartes de l'Atlas Linguistique de la France (ALF). À partir de ces cartes et traductions, nous pouvons établir qu'il n'existe aucun dialecte francoprovençal qui connaisse le pro-drop complet. Il semble également qu'il n'existe aucun dialecte qui connaisse le pro-drop partiel au sens traditionnel du terme. Notre analyse a montré que le pro-drop en francoprovençal semble se produire de manière très aléatoire. Des recherches supplémentaires sur les conjugaisons du francoprovençal pourraient apporter un éclairage supplémentaire sur le phénomène du pro-drop. Cela s'avère toutefois difficile, car ces langues ne sont pas décrites en détail
The EU’s shifting intervention in Darfur - Analyzing the evolution of external engagement in the case of Darfur between 2003 and 2024
No full textOn April 11, 2024, human rights organizations such as HRW and Amnesty International urged increased attention to the escalating violence in Darfur, Sudan. This call to action criticizes the EU’s limited response, despite its historical engagement since 2003. This research explores why the EU’s involvement has declined and how geopolitical factors have shaped this shift, drawing on post-colonial theory and Edward Said’s Orientalism. The central question is: Why has the EU's response to the Darfur crisis changed since 2003? Through Critical Discourse Analysis of policy documents, media, and expert interviews, the study identifies three key reasons: a shift in dominant narratives prioritizing EU self-interest over human rights, increased involvement of global actors like Russia, China, and the UAE pursuing regional resources, and the persistence of post-colonial structures and “Othering.” The findings suggest that the EU often acts out of strategic rather than normative motives. The study recommends acknowledging colonial legacies, supporting local initiatives, and aligning actions with human rights principles. It also calls for further research into the role of climate change, the far-right’s rise in EU politics, and regional implications in the Sahel and Horn of Africa
Language Modality-Dependent Attention Behaviours in Bimodal Bilingual Children of Dutch and Sign Language of The Netherlands (NGT)
No full textThis exploratory eye-tracking study investigates attention behaviours in two bimodal bilingual children over two sessions: one with their Dutch-speaking caregiver and one with their caregiver who uses NGT. A second set of sessions was conducted two months later. This thesis explores how attentional behaviours (e.g. pointing, tapping, waving) differ between bimodal bilinguals’ sessions with a Dutch-speaking caregiver and with an NGT-signing caregiver. We found that more attention behaviours were used in sign language sessions than in spoken Dutch sessions, and that more attention behaviours were used in the second sessions than in the first. Pointing was the most frequently used attention behaviour in both modalities. Other behaviours, such as waving and banging, were modality dependent: in this case, they occurred more often in the signed modality. Displacing signs did not occur, and acoustic behaviours were more common in Dutch sessions. The findings suggest the possibility of cross-modality language transfer
Governing the Energy Commons. Addressing Grid Congestion Using Ostrom’s Design Principles in Energy Hubs
No full textThe Dutch electricity grid is under increasing pressure due to the rapid pace of the energy transition and the unpreparedness of grid infrastructure. In response, affected parties are organizing themselves in collectives to address grid congestion. These ‘energy hubs’ collectively govern energy generation, consumption, distribution and storage, in cooperation and coordination with local and supralocal actors such as system operators.
Building on prior research by the Elinor Ostrom Workshop of governing common pool resources and polycentric governance theory, this thesis explores how Dutch energy hubs manage aspects of a decentralizing electricity grid.
This thesis adopts a multiple case study design. Data is collected through semi-structured interviews and is triangulated with document analysis and spatial analysis.
Main findings include:
I. Empirical practices in the studied cases generally align with Ostrom’s design principles. Social capital or ‘naoberschap’ formed through the initiation process of the energy hub, can replace formal mechanisms.
II. Autonomy within polycentric governance appears crucial for the establishment of energy hubs. However, energy hubs can impose an insider-outsider distinction.
III. The current quantity and magnitude of energy hubs is not sufficient yet to reduce grid stress beyond the energy hub. This requires a dense and meshed network of local flexibility
Thesis Political Representation
No full textThe systematic under-representation of practically educated individuals in Dutch political institutions is examined in this thesis, along with its theoretical and moral ramifications. While theoretically educated people, especially university graduates, are disproportionately over-represented in political decision-making, these citizens are consistently less likely to have their opinions represented despite making up a sizable portion of the population. This thesis highlights a notable discrepancy between the demographics of the electorate and those in power, citing empirical research by Bovens and Wille (2014) and Schakel (2020). This discrepancy results in unequal influence over policy outcomes and raises important questions about justice and democratic legitimacy.
In order to address the main research question, “How can people be treated as equal citizens if they are unevenly represented in government institutions and parliament?” First, the thesis examines both traditional and modern ideas of political representation. While distinguishing between formal, descriptive, symbolic, and substantive representation, it engages with founding theorists like Edmund Burke and Hanna Pitkin to clarify fundamental concepts like trustee and delegate models. Mansbridge, Saward, Dovi, Rehfeld, Young, and others explore alternative models like gyroscopic, anticipatory, surrogate, discursive, and constructivist representation, further developing the conceptual tools.
The normative concerns of representation, particularly about marginalisation, are covered in Chapters 4 and 5. In addition to analysing the divergent opinions of Mill, Williams, Young, Mansbridge, Phillips, and Dovi regarding the fairness of representation and the rationale for unequal representation, this thesis looks at how representative institutions structurally exclude particular citizens. While Williams and Young support identity-based mediation and distinct group representation to include historically marginalised perspectives, Mill's multiple voting upholds aristocratic ideas of political competence. Dovi elaborates on this by outlining the moral requirements for "good representatives" who uphold autonomy, give those they represent more authority, and lessen the elite's power.
Combining these theoretical perspectives, the conclusion claims that democratic equality demands inclusive and responsive representation that tackles power disparities and structural exclusion, rather than just procedural fairness. The final chapter's analysis of the Dutch case serves as a valuable case of these ideas. To maintain the idea of equality among all citizens, a liberal representative democracy must adapt its institutions to better represent people with realistic levels of education. Suggestions include expanding participation, embracing broader representation definitions, and recognising the legitimacy of socioeconomic-based and non-elective claims.
This thesis examines the existing representational gaps and offers a normative framework for democratic behaviours that are more inclusive and equitable
Does Demand-Responsive Transport contribute to a more Equitable Transport System?
No full textDemand-Responsive Transport is increasingly recognized as a viable solution to accessibility problems in areas with limited public transport, thereby contributing to a more equitable transport system. This study builds on the frameworks by Martens, and Geurs and Van Wee, and therefore this study defines an equitable transport system as a system in which the perceived accessibility of its residents is high.
To investigate the impact of Demand-Responsive Transport on perceived accessibility, a mixed-methods approach was employed, including a survey and semi-structured interviews with both inhabitants and experts. The survey and interviews with inhabitants were conducted in the municipality of Loon op Zand, Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands, location of a pilot for the DRT-system Bravoflex.
This research shows that Demand-Responsive Transport increases the perceived accessibility; however, this effect is very low, due to low recognition of the system among residents. DRT-systems are particularly beneficial in low-demand areas, suggesting that user numbers are an insufficient indicator to measure its success. Instead, the value of Demand-Responsive Transport lies in providing a crucial transport option for individuals with limited mobility (options), thereby promoting a more equitable transport system
‘’From Law to Language: Framing responsibility under the UK Modern Slavery Act in the garment sector’’ Author: Despoina Kerasidou - s1108746 - International Business Email: [email protected] Supervisor: Dr. Nora Lohmeyer 2nd Examiner: Dr. A.U. Saka-Helmhout Date: 16-06-2025 Word count:
No full textThis thesis examines how two major UK garment retailers, ASOS and M&S, have framed their responsibilities for addressing modern slavery in response to the UK Modern Slavery Act (2015). Using framing theory and the Gioia methodology, it explores how these firms construct narratives across fifteen modern slavery statements published between 2015 and 2024. The analysis traces how diagnostic, prognostic and motivational framings evolved over time, from early moral appeals and externalized risk descriptions to more structured, procedural and strategically positioned accounts. While the companies expanded their disclosures and adopted formal governance tools, they continued to sidestep commercial drivers of exploitation. The findings suggest that responsibility was not simply reported but actively negotiated through language, allowing firms to adapt to shifting regulatory and reputational pressures. The study contributes to research on corporate transparency, framing and symbolic compliance by showing how modern slavery statements function as both ethical discourse and legitimacy work under disclosure-based regulation
Thuis in jouw stad. Een onderzoek naar digitale informatie- en participatieplatforms
No full textDeze masterthesis onderzoekt hoe digitale informatie- en participatieplatforms, met Thuis in Maastricht als casus, kunnen bijdragen aan het vergroten van de betrokkenheid van inwoners bij gemeentelijke besluitvorming. De centrale onderzoeksvraag luidt: Hoe kunnen digitale platforms, zoals Thuis in Maastricht, de participatie van inwoners vergroten? Het onderzoek is uitgevoerd met een gemengde methodologische aanpak, bestaande uit een enquête onder 1121 inwoners van Maastricht en interviews met medewerkers van vergelijkbare platforms in Nijmegen, Groningen en Zwolle. De resultaten laten zien dat transparantie, gebruiksgemak, terugkoppeling en relevantie van het onderwerp van belang zijn voor actieve participatie. Hoewel Thuis in Maastricht een stevige basis heeft, ontbreken interactieve en motiverende elementen die participatie stimuleren. Inwoners willen vooral weten wat er met hun input gebeurt, zelf kunnen bepalen wanneer ze reageren en participeren op een manier die aansluit bij hun leefwereld. De conclusie luidt dat digitale platforms participatie kunnen vergroten door laagdrempelige, toegankelijke en transparante participatievormen aan te bieden, gecombineerd met fysieke alternatieven. Aanbevelingen zijn onder andere het versterken van communicatie op kleine schaal, het toevoegen van interactieve functies en het verbeteren van visuele aantrekkelijkheid. Vervolgonderzoek wordt aanbevolen in de vorm van focusgroepen en breder onderzoek naar vergelijkende platforms, gericht op het versterken van vertrouwen in participatieprocessen