1,720,979 research outputs found
Immigration as a Strategic Driver for Brexit: The Right-Wing Tabloid Press and the 2016 Brexit Referendum
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To cooperate or not to cooperate? The European radical right and pan-European cooperation
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The Quiet Left: Germany and the Elusive Appeal of Left-Wing Populism Amidst Europe's Right-Wing Populist Surge
No full textMaster of Arts in International Affairs -- John Cabot University, Fall 2025.This thesis endeavours to investigate why left-wing populist movements fail to achieve the broad and durable electoral resonance enjoyed by their right-wing counterparts. Using a mixed-methods approach to the research design, the thesis integrates historical analysis, theoretical synthesis, demographic data, media text-mining and elite survey responses to identify structural, cultural and communicative factors that constrain the appeal of parties such as Die Linke and Bundnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW). Historically, Germany’s encounter with fascism, state-socialism and post-reunification socioeconomic and cultural divergence, produced a political culture that is wary of ideological extremity, yet frag mented along East-West lines. These divisions continue to shape trust in institutions, attitudes toward migration, and the salience of economic versus cultural grievances. Theoretically, the thesis draws on ideational, strategic, and relational approaches to populism to demon strate that left-wing populists struggle to mobilise emotion around identity-driven issues. Whereas right wing populist actors effectively frame migration as an exogenous threat and dominate media agenda setting, left-wing populist actors anchor their rhetoric to socio-economic critique that resonates less within emotive contemporary communication. Quantitative analysis of YouGov, Statista, and GESIS datasets show that left-wing populist support is concentrated among younger, highereducated, and disproportionately Eastern voters, with limited pen etration across older or less educated groups. Social media corpus analysis further finds that right-wing narrative receives greater amplification and sharper moral framing—advantages that left-wing actors rarely match. Overall, the thesis argues that the asymmetry between left-wing and rightwing populism in Germany stems from differences in demographic reach, media resonance and the structural makeup of the Ger man political system vis-à-vis the 5% threshold hurdle. 2 Ultimately, left-wing populism in Germany is weakened not by a lack of adequate policy but by history, identity, and message misalignment
The European Union as Democratizing Actor Through Conditionality: A Comparative Perspective on Hungary and Romania’s Accessions
No full textThesis (B.A. in International Affairs, Minor in Legal Studies)--John Cabot University, Fall 2024.From travel freedom to economic integration, the European Union has shaped the European way of life reinforcing democratic values. This dissertation will analyse the democratizing role of the European Union through political conditionality. In adhering to democratic principles, the rule of law, human rights, and good governance, conditionality acts as leverage through which the European Union acts as a democratising actor. In analysing the correlation between democracy and EU conditionality, this thesis will tackle the following research question: how does EU conditionality address the democratisation process in Europe? The thesis is developed on the idea that the EU exerted conditionality throughout the pre-accession and the negotiation process through which the countries examined. In this case, the Eastern European countries (EEC), in particular Romania and Hungary, strengthened the quality of their democratic institutions to qualify for EU membership, resulting in enhanced democracies between 1990s and 2000s. By analyzing this process, the thesis aims to contribute to the broader academic literature on the role of EU conditionality in fostering democratization, offering insights into the relationship between external incentives and domestic political reforms in transitioning democracies
Climate Change as a Threat Multiplier: Transboundary Natural Resources, Institutions, and Interstate Tensions in the Indus, Nile, and Arctic
No full textMaster of Arts in International Affairs -- John Cabot University, Fall 2025.Climate change is changing the foundations of the world's political environment. Climate Change will be a factor that affects both the quantity and strategic significance of the natural resource base, as well as the average temperature, precipitation, and rate of melting for glaciers and sea ice (IPCC, 2023). Climate Change does not generate conflict, but changes how countries analyze and evaluate the actions of other States and the effectiveness of the current system of governance. The strains produced by climate change may create distrust in regions with sensitive inter-state relationships, reduce opportunities for collaboration, and generate new sources of conflict. This dissertation examines how climate change affects the creation and escalation of disputes over natural resources. Unlike many previous studies that treat the environment as a separate variable in conflict, this study examines the mechanisms through which climate change interacts with political tensions, power differences, and institutional structures. Research has been conducted on the relationship between climate change and security, but most of this work has focused on intra-state conflicts or has made general assumptions about the political context without adequately addressing the role of the political context. Additionally, fewer studies have investigated the effects of climate change on state-to-state interactions, particularly on treaties, diplomatic processes, and managing shared resources. This dissertation fills this gap by investigating the institutional characteristics that either facilitate or mitigate the likelihood of climate-related stresses leading to conflict versus collaborative responses. Data used in this thesis were collected as a result of an investigation of three geographic regions (the Indus River Basin, the Nile River Basin, and the Arctic) due to their differing ways in which Climate Change changes the Strategic Value of Resources. For instance, the effects of climate change on both the Indus and Nile River Basins will decrease available water; thus, climate change may increase risk to the functioning (current or disputed) of present-day water sharing agreements. Conversely, in the Arctic, climate change is creating new opportunities for accessing resources and establishing new shipping lanes; as such, it increases the incentive for competing parties to establish rights to certain areas of the Arctic. The three case study areas were chosen to enable an examination of how different climate change impacts interact with their respective political and institutional environments. A major finding of this dissertation is that climate change acts as a threat multiplier by creating uncertainty, exposing vulnerabilities within governance systems, and increasing the risk associated with resource management (Homer-Dixon, 1999) when there is turmoil resulting from climatic stressors. However, it is not just the pressure created by climate stressors that causes the turmoil. Rather, it is also dependent upon the robustness of institutions, the presence of a commonly agreed-upon vision among stakeholders, and the overall strategic dynamics among those who are engaged. In addition, if institutions in a particular region adapt to new information (are "fact-based") then, the stress caused by climate change can be managed through collaborative efforts; conversely, if they are weak, divisive or nonexistent, climate change will likely exacerbate pre-existing levels of conflict. The dissertation examines three regions and analyzes the conditions in which climate change creates additional tensions; and policy options that help build resilience in areas in which cooperative efforts may be difficult to achieve
Does Having Different Information Receiving Habits Impact Generational Cohorts on Their Perceptions of Free and Fair Elections in the United States?
No full textThesis (B.A. in Art History)--John Cabot University, Spring 2024.: In recent years, the American public has witnessed an increasingly widening divide along partisan lines. At the same time, political media continues to permeate further into our private lives through our dependence on cellular devices, bringing along the rise of “Fake News” exposure. It is becoming evident that not all generations have equal experience for navigating such a media rich environment, and therefore, are unequally prepared to be exposed to and engage with political media to the extent we are. Such a disparity has caused different generational cohorts of Americans to consume political media in their own distinct ways, sometimes deliberately, such as turning on the news on the home television and sometimes incidentally, while scrolling through social media or while messaging people. This contrasts with the past when previous generations of Americans were exposed to the same and consistent levels of traditional media, thanks to scheduled news programs or the morning news paper. Given that political media and “Fake News” are now omnipresent in our lives and considering that not all generations are equally used to and prepared for this actuality, the question arises on to what extent attitudes towards political media, democracy and perceptions of free and fair elections vary between different generational cohorts. To what extent have political media outlets influenced these trends? Is the political divide within the United States more aligned to political affiliation, does it reflect the growing political cleavages that distinguish and identify members to a political party, or is the political divide rooted in different habits and interests cross generationally
Reversed Populism: A Strategic Response to Right-Wing Populism
No full textThesis (B.A. in International Affairs, Minor in Legal Studies)--John Cabot University, Fall 2024.Populism, traditionally associated with divisive right-wing rhetoric, has evolved to include progressive and inclusive adaptations. This study examines the shifting paradigms of populist rhetoric by contrasting right-wing populism, as exemplified by leaders like Giorgia Meloni and Donald Trump, with a new wave of “Reversed Populism” championed by figures such as Kamala Harris, Pedro Sánchez, Emmanuel Macron, and Donald Tusk. While right-wing populists use nationalism, cultural nostalgia, and binary narratives to galvanize support at times through disinformation and emotive appeal, reversed populists reclaim those very same tools to speak out in the name of fairness, social justice, and democratic participation. Showcasing speeches, social media strategies, and policy designs, this study highlights the transformative potential when facing modern challenges as a unifying force for the protection of democratic integrity
Social media as a form of political communication: The case study of Meloni, Salvini and Conte
No full textThesis (B.A. in Political Science, Minor in History)--John Cabot University, Spring 2024.Social media are not just used to connect online anymore but have become powerful weapons that trigger political storylines and public opinion. Politics is now shifting to social media and other virtual platforms, often marginalizing traditional public spaces. It appears sensitive and proactive to its existing electoral base and seeks to engage undecided voters. It is possible to notice this tendency in Italian politics, as figures like Giuseppe Conte, Matteo Salvini, and Giorgia Meloni effectively use these platforms. All these leaders have addressed the public through social media, avoiding traditional context filters and building their image. Giorgia Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy, uses social media to reinvigorate nationalist feelings and mobilize conservatives. Salvini, a member of the League, attracts followers, and interacts directly with them, often sparking a buzz in public debate. Conversely, Giuseppe Conte, formerly identified with the Five Star Movement, uses social media to present a calmer more collaborative image, that appeals to a larger audience looking for unity. This research examines how these leaders’ use of social media reflects broader patterns of digital political communication. It raises questions about the authenticity of mediated political communication, the impact of direct digital interaction on traditional politics, and the potential of social media in Italy
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