Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Small state security'
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Adelwerth, Shawn. "Security of a Small State: Case of Kuwait." Honors in the Major Thesis, University of Central Florida, 2004. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETH/id/694.
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Arts and Sciences
Political Science
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Hwang, In Soo. "The United States-Republic of Korea security relationship, 1953-1960 : great power and small state." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 1999. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1318002/.
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This study investigates South Korea's security behaviour vis-a-vis the United States and that of the U.S. towards Korea. The significance of this study lies in its emphasis upon relations between South Korea and the United States during the 1953- 1960 period from the perspective of the patron-client state relationship. This study analyses the issues and historical events in order to trace the development of each nation's strategy, leverages, and tactics towards the other. Each chapter is related to the U.S. security commitment policy to South Korea, and South Korea's response in the frame work of the big power and small state relationship. The Introduction explains the purpose and importance of the research and the analytical framework. Chapter 1 analyses U.S. -South Korean diplomatic seesawing and Korean President Rhee's bargaining position during the Korean armistice negotiations. Chapter 2 traces the post-armistice period and the Korean Political Conference at Geneva during 1953-1954. As the Korean Armistice Agreement was a temporary measure to secure a complete cessation of hostilities, the Geneva Conference of 1954, intended to establish a political settlement, was a significant issue in the post-armistice period. Chapter 3 analyses U.S. security and military policy following the Korean War. The question of the proposed reduction of ROK forces and the redeployment of U.S. forces in Korea in connection with the 'New Look' policy were troublesome issues between Seoul and Washington, over which the two governments exerted their bargaining power. Chapter 4 deals with Rhee's conflicts with the U.S. concerning the normalisation of South Korea-Japan relations, U.S. economic policy towards Korea and its negative effects on Rhee's Government, and Rhee's undemocratic rule and dispute with the U.S. concerning Korean political affairs. Chapter 5, the conclusion of this study, summarises the research findings. As power and administration in South Korea were highly centralised under Rhee, it is important to ask to what extent did he, as the leader of the weaker state, manage and manipulate a bargaining position in Korea's relations with the United States.
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Foth, Marcus. "Backing up the Smart State: E-Security in Queensland's Small and Medium Enterprises." Thesis, Furtwangen University, Germany, 2002. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/1901/1/smart.pdf.
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The vulnerability of today's information economy is still not sufficiently realised: The economic structure of Queensland is to a great extent made up of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). Across all industry sectors, these businesses rapidly approach a similar level of information technology take-up than large enterprises and thus depend to an increasing degree on IT efficiency and security.
The findings of this study, which has been conducted in partnership with the Information Industries Bureau and the Gold Coast City Council, are drawn from an online survey in order to provide an indication of the present e-security situation in SMEs of Queensland's Gold Coast region.
The data shows that the installation and maintenance of e-business technology requires significant time, staff and money resources as well as a constant learning and updating process in order to be on top of the IT development, which is why most SMEs rely to a substantial degree on the expertise and competence of external IT service providers and consultants.
E-Business technology is subject to various vulnerabilities. It is necessary to conduct proper risk analysis to gauge the impact and likelihood of any potential business threats. The risks identified in this process have then to be treated with appropriate backup plans. SMEs seem to be overstrained to handle this burden by themselves without the availability of support programs to reasonable charges, for specialised e-security service providers do not target SMEs. Their solutions are too pricey and are not designed to be applied in the setting of a SME.
The Queensland Government shows a high level of interest in issues surrounding e-business and their usage. However, e-security issues in SMEs are rarely addressed. Many public funding and assistance schemes seem to be unknown, unattractive, or unsuitable to SMEs.
There is an obvious lack of awareness for security issues among SMEs which has to be addressed by developing new and rethinking existing public programs and strategies. To stimulate awareness and appropriate action, it is desirable to provide certain incentives and rewards to enterprises that pass security audits and fulfil Australian security standards. These are essential steps towards the protection against and preparedness for any e-security incidents which both the public and private sector have to take in order to survive something Sam Nunn calls an "electronic Pearl Harbor".
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Lundberg, Karl Johan. "Investigating the current state of securityfor small sized web applications." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Databas och informationsteknik, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-89160.
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It is not uncommon to read about hacker attacks in the newspaper today. The hackers are targeting governments and enterprises, and motives vary. It may be political or economic reasons, or just to gain reputation. News about smaller systems is, unsurprisingly, not as common. Does this mean that security is less relevant of smaller systems? This report investigates the threat model of smaller web applications, to answer that very question.Different attacks are described in the detail needed for explaining their threat but the intention is not to teach the reader to write secure code. The report does, however, provide the reader with a rich source of references for that purpose. After describing some of the worst threats, the general cloud threat model is analyzed. This is followed by a practical analysis of a cloud system, and the report is closed with general strategies for countering threats.The severe destruction that a successful attack may cause and the high prevalence of those attacks motivates some security practices to be performed whenever software is produced. Attacks against smaller companies are more common now than ever before
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Khan, Kashif Nizam. "State-of-the-art Study and Design of a Small Footprint Version of the COOS Plugin Framework." Thesis, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Telematics, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-10904.
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GSM and UMTS technologies have already gained a huge market penetrationresulting in millions of customers. Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Communicationis promising to be the next big technology that is going to hit themass market with numerous essential services. Telemetry systems, whichwere thought once as the domain of big industrial companies, are now beingavailable to larger and wider customers because of the advances in M2Mcommunication. Thanks to mobile technologies, millions of small handhelddevices are now available in the mass market which can be used to communicatereal time information to the customers. Telenor Objects (a smallbusiness unit of Telenor Group) has defined a new Connected Object Operatingsystem (COOS) which aims to provide a common platform for thedevices to communicate real time data and to provide value added servicesto the customers. COOS is a modular and flexible platform, and includes aplugin framework offered to device and service developers for easy connectingservices and devices to the platform. The current version of COOS pluginframework is based on Java Standard Edition and OSGI, with some supportfor development on J2ME. This thesis research work aims to provide a briefoverview of the Connected Object concept and the COOS platform architecture.The main goal of this thesis is to design a small footprint version ofthe COOS plugin framework for Windows-based handheld devices. It willalso provide a state-of- the art study on mobile device programming focusingon Windows-based services. This thesis research can serve as a startingdocument to provide a full functioning plugin framework for Windows-baseddevices and services.
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Mvé, ebang Bruno. "Politique étrangère et sécurité nationale d'un petit État : analyse de l'action du Gabon pour la paix et la sécurité en Afrique Centrale, une politique extérieure au service de la construction et de la préservation de l'intérieur." Thesis, Lyon 3, 2014. http://www.theses.fr/2014LYO30018.
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L’Afrique est la région du monde, dans laquelle, existe le plus grand nombre de crises armées sanglantes. Depuis les indépendances, cette région n’a jamais véritablement connu de paix et de sécurité dans toutes ses entités régionales. Dans ce sombre tableau africain, l’Afrique centrale occupe une place peu enviable. Abandonnée à son triste sort à la fin de la Guerre Froide, des pays, tel que le Gabon, décidèrent de particulièrement orienter leur politique étrangère dans le but d’aider les États en crises, de son environnement immédiat, à recouvrir une certaine stabilité mais surtout dans une logique de sécurisation nationale. Petit pays d’Afrique centrale, le Gabon ressent les effets de l’instabilité régionale persistante. Cet engagement gabonais pour la paix n’est pas né avec son accession à la souveraineté. Il s’est construit au fil des années. Son action pour sa construction et sa sécurité nationale n’a jamais eu pour but de reproduire, exactement, le même modèle de stabilité qu’il connait mais, uniquement, d’arriver aux silences des armes. Il est évident que comme tout engagement politique, l’action r gabonaise présente certaines limites et l’État devrait prendre des mesures pour que l’objectif de sécurité nationale soit atteint sans ambages. Néanmoins, l’action de tel pays est importante car en priorisant le dialogue, ils fournissent un travail de fourmis qui arrive, tout de même, à mettre un terme aux effusions de sang et à leur tendance au débordementAfrica is the region of the world, in which, exists the largest number of bloody armed crises. Since the independences, this region has never really known peace and security in all its regional entities. In this somber african board, Central Africa occupies an unenviable place. Abandoned in its sad fate at the end of the Cold War, countries, such as the Gabon, decided to direct particularly their foreign policy with the aim of helping states in crises, of its immediate environment, to cover a certain stability But especially in a logic of national reassurance. Small country of Central Africa, the Gabon feels the effects of the persistent regional instability. This Gabonese commitment for the peace was not born with its entry in the sovereignty. It built itself over the years. Its action for its building and national security has never aimed at reproducing exactly the same model of stability which it can but only arrive at the silence of weapons. It is obvious that as any political commitment, the gabonese regional action presents certain limits and the state should take measures aiming at a better international assertion. Nevertheless, the action of such country is important because by prioritizing the dialogue, they supply a painstaking job which manages, all the same, to put an end to the bloodsheds and to their tendency to the overflowing
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Gubb, Matthew. "Foreign military intervention in response to microstate security crises : a study in vulnerability and dependence." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2000. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:98efc23c-a17e-4ca6-9328-41d88366234a.
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The thesis explores political-security aspects of a late twentieth century phenomenon: the existence of many diminutive and weak, yet ostensibly sovereign and independent, states. The thesis addresses two main questions concerning these "microstates" (with a population of less than one million). What are the principal sources of microstate vulnerability? How best can we conceptualize microstates' security dependence on larger powers? Foreign military intervention in response to microstate security crises throws these dual issues into sharp relief. The study covers all 55 independent microstates during the years 1960 to 1989, from the conventional beginning of decolonization to the end of the Cold War. Particular attention is paid to four representative case studies: Vanuatu (Papua New Guinea's 1980 intervention to quell a secessionist rebellion); The Gambia (Senegal's 1981 suppression of a coup attempt); Grenada (Cuba's role in respect of the 1983 American invasion); and the Maldives (India's thwarting of a 1988 mercenary attack). The thesis draws on an original data base of microstate security crises, a wide range of academic literature covering International Relations theory and small states, and field work. It tests the propositions that certain typical political, geographical and economic characteristics of microstates played a key role in determining vulnerability to security threats, and that microstates' dependent relationships with larger powers are in keeping with the patron-client model of such unequal associations. The thesis concludes that a mix of typical microstate features heightened their vulnerability, notably disadvantageous colonial legacies; tendencies towards "exaggerated personalism", "leadership longevity", and unrestrained executive power; remote insularity; and extreme government resource constraints. The patron-client model was found to be a useful conceptualization of dependent security relationships with larger powers, in terms of the pervasiveness of the latter's engagement in the microstates, conformity in foreign policy and mutual benefit, but the criterion of informality was frequently not met.
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Faizal, Farahanaz. "Security problems of small island developing states (SIDS) : with particular reference to the Indian Ocean." Thesis, University of Hull, 1996. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:3948.
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In succeeding chapters it will be argued that the characteristics of SIDS results in their security problems being substantially different to those of larger states. Chapter one seeks to provide the background information about international interest in small states in general and deals with the difficult issue of defining 'smallness'. It also reviews the existing theories of security and applies these theories to SIDS. Although no attempt will be made to give an alternative 'definition' of security it nevertheless attempts to outline security in relation to SIDS. Chapter two examines the concept of vulnerability and seeks to identify the different areas where SIDS are vulnerable. It also strives to identify the special attributes of SIDS pertaining to these states that makes their security environment different to small continental states. This is followed by Chapter three in which the threats confronting the SIDS are presented drawing insights from the Caribbean and the Pacific. Using examples from these two regions various types of threats are identified in the following: areas: military, political, economical, societal and environmental. Chapter four is devoted to the security scenario of the Indian Ocean. It analyses how the Indian Ocean geopolitics affect the Indian Ocean SIDS, especially the regional security scenario and in the various sub-systems in which the Indian Ocean SIDS are located. It also attempts to identify the changing security pattern of the Indian Ocean from the Cold War setting to the present day. Chapters five, six and seven are case studies of the Maldives, the Seychelles and Mauritius respectively. They attempt to give an in-depth analysis of the security problems of these states. Each chapter starts with a brief insight into the physical, historical and socio-cultural background of the countries. Next, it analyses the security problems as perceived by the leadership of these countries. It goes on to identify the security capabilities that exist in these countries. Finally, it attempts to identify the current security problems while differentiating security threats into real, potential and latent threats. Chapter eight is divided into two parts. The first part is a comparative analysis of the security problems faced by the three Indian Ocean SIDS. It deals with national, regional and international dimensions of the problems and tries to draw out the similarities and the differences between the three states and why they are so. The second part deals with the responses to the security problems of the SIDS. It identifies existing strategies and responses at various levels: Domestic, Regional and International. It also attempts to identify measures that the SIDS could undertake to enhance their security. Chapter Nine is a brief summary of the findings of this research. With regard to the Indian Ocean SIDS (IOS), the result of the research shows that these SIDS have security problems that are considerably different to those of larger states; and that these problems are attributable to the characteristics arising out of their smallness and their islandness. Furthermore, the research clearly strengthens the view that there is very little that the SIDS can do to enhance their security. While the geo-politics of the Indian Ocean did influence the security problems faced by these SIDS in the past and still does so to a certain extent, the majority of the problems faced by the Indian Ocean SIDS are due to the fact that they are small and island developing states rather than SIDS located in the Indian Ocean. As such there does not seem to be a common Indian Ocean security problem. On the basis of this, there is very little ground for an Indian Ocean response to the security problems faced by these IOS.
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Murphy, Martin N. "Small boats, weak states and dirty money : contemporary piracy and maritime terrorism's threat to international security." Thesis, University of Reading, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.493960.
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The sea is a restless realm, In part that restlessness is timeless: the action of wind and waves. In part it is ancient: the direct threat of pirates. In part it is very modern: the threat of terrorism that has been felt acutely since the events of 11th September 2001. he reaction to these events has had a profound and continuing impact in the maritime domain. In particular it has been suggested that pirates and maritime terrorists present a largely common threat to international maritime security. This thesis examines this hypothesis by reviewing each phenomenon separately before asking how and under what circumstances pirates and maritime terrorists might come together.
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Nygren, Max. "Sveriges säkerhetspolitiska strategi: Balancing, bandwagoning eller hedging?" Thesis, Örebro universitet, Institutionen för humaniora, utbildnings- och samhällsvetenskap, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-85644.
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Small states tend to use different security strategies to increase and gain influence over their own level of security. Sweden is a small Nordic state with a long history of proclaimed neutrality when it comes to security policy. But in the last couple of decades the country has increased its contributions to, and participations in, numerous EU and NATO security projects and exercises. In 2009, Sweden adopted a declaration of solidarity towards the member countries of the EU. In 2014, Sweden also signed a memorandum of understanding with NATO. This has ignited bothan internal and an external debate among political scientists and security experts about what the Swedish security strategy is. This paper seeks to describe and clarify the Swedish security strategy by analyzing documents on security policy from the Swedish government. The study also examines the level of continuity in the Swedish security strategy. Based on a theoretical framework of security strategies of small states, the study utilizes three ideal types of the small state security strategies balancing , bandwagoning and hedging to analyze and describe the Swedish security strategy. The study concludes that the Swedish security strategy as it is presented in two official documents on security policy ranging from 2009 to 2015 mostly indicates balancing . The willingness to strengthen the Swedish military capacity and theeagerness for cooperation with the EU, NATO and USA clearly indicates balancing towardsRussia, a state which is described as a security threat in both documents. However, there are also tendencies towards hedging due to the insistence of armed neutrality in both documents. The study also shows that while there is a high degree of continuity in Sweden’s security strategy there has been a small shift in strategy towards more balancing from 2009 to 2015.
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Chand, Bibek. "Buffer States in Sub-Systemic Rivalries: Analyzing Nepal's Role in Sino-Indian Security Dynamics." FIU Digital Commons, 2018. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3779.
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This dissertation analyzes the relevance and importance of small buffer states for contemporary International Relations. It argues that sub-systemic interactions reinvigorate the role of buffer states in regional security. Using the case study of the triadic relationship among India, Nepal, and China, this study explains the evolving role of buffer states. The technological innovations in weapons systems, transportation, and communication have extended the reach of potential adversaries, rendering intermediate territorial space less significant than in the past. Thus, it is hypothesized in this dissertation that increased sub-systemic rivalry reinvigorates differently the relevance and significance of buffer states. The role of such states has evolved from an overwhelmingly geographic concept based on spatial discontinuity between larger rival powers to that of a fluid political space in which Great/Middle Power rivalry and competition play out.
The research utilizes a mixed research design, specifically called the convergent parallel design. Data was collected based on specific critical junctures between 1990-2017. For quantitative analysis, data on trade, foreign direct investment, and foreign aid were collected; for the qualitative data analysis, foreign policy statements, press releases, and media briefs were used. Incorporating the Kruskal-Wallis Test and content analysis, both the results of the qualitative and quantitative analyses were collectively interpreted. Results demonstrate that during critical historical junctures, material and rhetorical engagements of both China and India invigorate within the buffer state of Nepal. In periods that India increases its material and rhetorical engagements, China concomitantly decreases its material engagement all the while increasing its rhetorical engagement. In essence, buffer states maintain relevance through the externalization of interactions between larger powers in the form of dynamic rhetorical and material engagements. In this case, Nepal maintains its relevance as a dynamic political space for interactions between its neighbors, India and China.
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Lefebvre, Thomas R. "Small European union member states and the construction of the common foreign and security policy shapin and adapting." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 2011. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.534657.
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Baek, Kwang-Il. "Korea and the United States : a study of the ROK-U.S. security relationship within the conceptual framework of alliances between great and small powers /." Seoul : Research center for peace and unification of Korea, 1988. http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb355305796.
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Henriksen, Helene Elvira Berg. "Big Goals - Small Island: Will Fiji achieve sustainable food security? : Comparing the plans and policies built by the Fijian government under the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Statsvetenskapliga institutionen, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-353071.
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This thesis examines how global development goals affect Fijian plans and policy strategies to achieve food security. The concept of food security is vast and complex, as several development issues contribute to the difficulty in achieving such security. It is therefore relevant to look at some of the dominating and underlying causes that challenge the possibility for Fiji to achieve food security. Built on previous theoretical and empirical evidence, this thesis identifies poverty and vulnerability as two dominant causes that hinder food security on Fiji. However, other causes, both internal and external, are recognised. Global development goals such as the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals have highly influenced the strategies built within Fijian plans and policies. Millennium Development Goal 1 and 7, and Sustainable Development Goal 1 and 2, are of particular interest to this study, as the different goals target the issues of poverty, vulnerability and hunger. Although the different goals all target the underlying causes of food insecurity, this thesis finds that they differ in influencing a focus on achieving sustainable food security. Therefore, as the aspects of poverty, vulnerability and food security are highly intertwined, this thesis examines how strategies tackling poverty and vulnerability reduction have influenced strategies on food security on Fiji. By comparing the plans and policies built in consistency with the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals, it has been possible to analyse whether such global goals have had an influence on addressing the underlying causes of food security on Fiji. Using the method of structured focused comparison in combination with an in-depth text analysis, structured questions have been built in order to analyse the chosen materials. The analysis has been conducted using information from different national plans found to be of relevance to the purpose of this study. The results show that goals with greater focus on social and environmental vulnerability, as well as long-term targets to eradicate poverty, provide a greater success in influencing a focus on food security in Fijian plans and policies. However, additional factors such as political instability, climate change and globalization need to be integrated into further studies on the chosen subject, in order to provide a greater understanding of how to achieve food security in a Pacific Small Island Developing State such as Fiji.
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Lind, Patrik. "In Search for Influence? : A Neoclassical Realist Study of the Reformation of the Swedish Armed Forces in a New Security Environment." Thesis, Södertörns högskola, Institutionen för samhällsvetenskaper, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-10932.
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Between 1999 and 2009 the Swedish Armed Forces underwent an immense reformation. This thesis aims to contribute to the discussion on small state foreign policy behaviour within the wider field of international relations by explaining why Sweden decided to reform their national defence from an invasion-based defence to a mission-based defence. Using a neoclassical realist approach and a process tracing methodology, two hypotheses are tested to analyze a predicted causal relationship between systemic imperatives, the search for influence, and the decision to reform the Armed Forces. The first hypothesis is that when a state’s relative power rises it will initially seek, but ultimately attempt to gain, more influence abroad. The second hypothesis is that the search for influence is the driving force behind the reformation of the Armed Forces. The analysis corroborates both hypotheses, although the former with a relative amount of uncertainty, and argues that both system and intervening unit-level variables matter. The main conclusion is that the favourable situation in the international system has permitted an increased search for influence. This search for influence has in turn been the driving force behind the reformation. Since the first hypothesis has a relative amount of uncertainty connected to it, the certainty of the conclusions in this thesis can be discussed, and must therefore be subject to further empirical research.
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Žáková, Alice. "Malé státy v mezinárodních vztazích a otázky mezinárodní bezpečnosti." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2012. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-164776.
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With the collapse of the bipolar system and increasing number and importance of small states, the emphasis is not placed only on the great powers anymore. In the globalizing world states have to face new threats and adapt its security and foreign policy tools. The aim of the thesis is to find out which steps two small countries - Czech Republic and Norway, undertake to ensure their safety and minimize their threats. The first chapter analyzes foreign policies of the selected countries, and decides whether they are really small states. After defining the major threats as terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, an analysis of counter-terrorism actions based on the official counter-terrorism strategies of the UN, the OSCE, the NATO, and the EU follows. From this analysis the thesis then concludes that Czech Republic and Norway are small, but not weak states and they may contribute to minimizing global threats.
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Chowdhury, Afrida. "Do Small States Matter? : A comparative analysis of the discourses by three of the non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council on the crisis in Libya and Syria between 2011 and 2012." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Statsvetenskapliga institutionen, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-317147.
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A new era of wars and instability have left the world shaken with the civil wars in Syria and Libya. Although there are many similarities with Syria and Libya, the two states did not have the same end due to actions by the United Nations Security Council. Libya resulted in a military humanitarian intervention, while Syria did not. Studies about the Security Council usually focuses on the actions of the Permanent Five members who holds institutional power and influence over the council, mostly due to their quantitative economic and military power, leaving smaller states, the non-permanent members out of research. The point of this study is to fill in the lacuna of the studies on the non-permanent members to see they behave in the council by how they problematize the crisis in Syria and Libya. This paper compares the discourses of Colombia, Portugal and South Africa, three of the non-permanent members of the Security Council between 2011-2012 in how they speak about the decision to intervene in Libya and not in Syria. To conduct my normative study I use Tal Dingott Alkopher’s study on Military Humanitarian Intervention Norms by analysing speeches found in UNSC meeting protocols that regarded Syria and Libya. I do this to find evidence for how these non-permanent members argue for or against norms of intervention. My results show that the non-permanent members are more aligned with intervention norms for Libya rather than Syria.
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Dorjjugder, Munkh-Ochir. "Correlation of identity and interest in foreign policy : implications for Mongolia." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 2003. http://library.nps.navy.mil/uhtbin/hyperion-image/03sep%5FDorjjugder.pdf.
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Thesis (M.A. in National Security Affairs)--Naval Postgraduate School, September 2003.Thesis advisor(s): Edward A. Olsen, Jeffrey Knopf. Includes bibliographical references (p. 141-148). Also available online.
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Sabino, Magali. "Bioaccumulation of trace elements in Seychelles marine food webs." Thesis, La Rochelle, 2021. http://www.theses.fr/2021LAROS026.
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La sécurité alimentaire, qui est la garantie de l’approvisionnement et de la qualité des aliments tout en gérant les ressources de manière durable, est intrinsèquement liée à la connaissance de la biologie et l’écologie des espèces consommées. Dans un contexte de dérèglement climatique menaçant la salubrité des produits de la mer, il est donc nécessaire d’établir un référentiel sur le fonctionnement des systèmes marins, ainsi que sur l’occurrence des nutriments et des contaminants dans les produits de la mer. C’est d’autant plus important pour les Petits Etats Insulaires en Développement (PEID), qui dépendent des ressources marines pour leur subsistance, et où les produits de la pêche sont la première source de protéines et micronutriments (éléments traces essentiels) pour les populations locales. Malgré l’importance des systèmes tropicaux pour la sécurité alimentaire, ces systèmes sont peu étudiés comparés aux systèmes polaires et tempérés. Cette thèse vise à mieux comprendre le fonctionnement des systèmes marins tropicaux, et à établir un référentiel sur l’occurrence des micronutriments et des contaminants métalliques dans les produits de la pêche aux Seychelles (Océan Indien), un PEID tropical. En étudiant les concentrations en éléments traces aux niveaux inter- et intraspécifique, nous avons identifié différents facteurs intrinsèques et extrinsèques influençant la bioaccumulation de ces éléments dans les ressources marines tropicales. Nous avons aussi montré l’importance de considérer différentes échelles (individu, espèce et écosystème) pour mieux comprendre l’occurrence des éléments traces essentiels et non-essentiels dans les produits de la merFood security, that is guarantying food supply and quality while sustainably managing resources, is closely linked to knowing the biology and ecology of consumed species. In a context of global changes that are threatening seafood safety, it is thus necessary to establish baselines on marine ecosystem functioning, as well as nutrient availability and contamination occurrence in seafood. This is all the more important in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), where populations rely on marine resources for their subsistence, and where capture fisheries resources are the main sources of proteins and micronutrients (i.e. essential trace elements) in local populations’ diet. In spite of the importance of tropical systems in ensuring food security, they remain largely understudied compared to polar and temperate systems. This thesis thus aims to better understand the functioning of tropical marine systems, and to establish a baseline on micronutrient availability and metal(loid) contamination in a wide diversity of capture fisheries resources from the Seychelles (Western Indian Ocean), a tropical SIDS. By investigating trace element concentration patterns at the inter- and intraspecific levels, it was possible to identify intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing trace element bioaccumulation in tropical capture fisheries resources. We thus highlighted the importance of considering different scales (individual, species, and ecosystem) to better understand essential trace element availability and non-essential trace element occurrence in seafood
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Cheunboran, Chanborey. "Security Dilemmas of a Small State: Cambodia's Foreign Policy towards China." Phd thesis, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/164008.
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This author of research argues that Cambodia's relations with China have been driven by three deterministic factors: (1) the revival of perceived security threats from its bigger and historically antagonistic neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam; (2) Phnom Penh's anticipation of a future Sino-centric regional order in Asia; and (3) China's increasingly important political and economic roles in the Kingdom. These three factors are crucial not only for the security and prosperity of Cambodia but also for the survival of the Hun Sen regime.
Moreover, Cambodia's strategic options are limited. ASEAN was once the cornerstone of Cambodia's foreign policy. Recently, however, Phnom Penh's confidence in ASEAN has gradually diminished due to the perception among Cambodian foreign policymakers that ASEAN has not been effective enough to help Cambodia address its security challenges, particularly during the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute from 2008 to 2011. As far as Cambodia's alignment with the great powers is concerned, options are also limited. Among the US, Russia, France and Japan, Cambodian policymakers consider only Japan to be an important strategic partner in Cambodia's foreign policy diversification. Having said that, Phnom Penh's alignments with China and Japan have different values in favour of the former due to the perception that Tokyo's military and strategic role in the region is limited.
Cambodia's strategic direction towards China can be categorized as an increasingly tight alignment. Cambodia might experience risks and vulnerabilities from such a relationship. There has been growing public resentment over China's political and economic clout in Cambodia. Within the public debate, many point out that there are correlations between China's growing influence in Cambodia and the regression of democracy, depletion of natural resources and the erosion of foreign policy autonomy in the Kingdom. There is also increasing concern that Cambodia might face a possible abandonment or entrapment in the great powers' conflicts. Worse still, Phnom Penh's increasingly tight alignment with Beijing has alienated other powers and Cambodia's neighbouring countries, which might invite them to interfere into the Kingdom's domestic affairs in order to protect and promote their interests. Therefore, the author of this research claims that it is too risky for Cambodia to have a tight alignment with China and that Cambodia should restrain its close relations with China in the form of a 'loose alignment'.
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Yeni, Sithandiwe. "Ideologies and discourses underpinning paradigms of small-scale farmer development: a critical analysis of state and non-governmental extension support programmes in uPhongolo, KwaZulu-Natal." 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/3803.
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Magister Scientiae - MScAs a means to reduce poverty particularly in rural areas, the South African government has placed great emphasis on the development of small-scale farmers into becoming commercial farmers. Central to this effort is the provision of agricultural extension support, as reflected in the 1995 White Paper on Agriculture (DOA, 1995), African National Congress (ANC) policy resolutions of 2007 (ANC, 2007) and a 2011 extension recovery plan (DAFF, 2011). Parallel to this policy process, a growing role of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in supporting small-scale farmers, and criticising the governmental approach is observed. Biowatch is one example of this kind of NGO that, aside from its direct support to farmers, advocates for an alternative approach that embraces ‘subsistence’ farming. The academic literature suggests that existing agricultural policies are too generic and therefore fail to accommodate the different types of small-scale farmers that are found in rural areas, resulting in poor policy impact. This thesis seeks to establish the ideological thinking underpinning two paradigms of small-scale farmer development in South Africa and explores what they look like in practice, while analysing how they produce and reproduce class differentiation, and the emergence of various livelihood trajectories. Through qualitative research conducted in one case study site (the village Emagengeni in Northern KwaZulu- Natal) the views of farmers (beneficiaries of extension support as well as non-receivers) have been elicited and so contribute to a clear picture of what is happening there. In addition, experiences and perceptions of government extension officers, provincial officials and a Biowatch official are taken into account. Theoretically, the study is framed using Cousins’ (2011) class analytical perspectives on smallscale farming in South Africa which distinguish between three types of ‘petty commodity producers’, i.e. (i) petty commodity producers that produce to meet most of their social reproduction needs, (ii) petty commodity producers producing to partially meet their social reproduction needs and (iii) petty commodity producers producing enough to sell and make profit and start to accumulate capital. In addition, the categories described by Dorward et al (2009) in the ‘stepping up’, ‘hanging in’ ‘stepping out’ and ‘dropping out’ theory, are used to analyse the broad types of strategies pursued by poor people. The sustainable livelihoods framework is used to classify the various types of farming households observed. The main argument is that since 1994 the nature of public agricultural support has not met the needs of the majority of farmers in the country, i.e. poorly resourced farmers mostly located in the former homelands. This is because it is trying to make them into something they are not, i.e. commercial farmers and is focused on on-farm productivity and does not address wider market conditions. Although Biowatch demonstrates a more effective response to farmers’ needs, it is limited in its approach to agrarian transformation. The conclusion is that government’s fixation on the commercialisation of small-scale farmers perpetuates the existing and already problematic dualism within the agricultural sector.
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Mokgomo, M. N. "The effects of government agricultural development support on the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in South Africa." Diss., 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/26919.
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Over the past couple of years, the South African government has been offering varied
support to households that are engaged in small-scale farming, with the objectives of
improving their livelihoods, income and food security. Although the various rounds of
the General Household Survey (GHS) gathered information on the type of agricultural
support received by the farmers, their production, agricultural income and food security
status, there is limited empirical evidence on the extent to which the agricultural
support programme is yielding the intended results. Very little is also known about how
the beneficiary households perceive the agricultural support programme as either
relevant or otherwise. This study fills these gaps in the literature using the GHS data
spanning the period 2013 to 2016 to assess how government agricultural development
support influences the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in South Africa. This broad
objective is divided into two specific objectives: (1) to assess the effects of government
agricultural development support on agricultural income, production and food security
of beneficiary small-scale farmers in South Africa; and (2) to assess the usefulness of
the government agricultural development support for the beneficiary small-scale the government agricultural development support for the beneficiary small-scale
farmers in South Africa. By combining descriptive analysis with Propensity Score
Matching (PSM) and logistic estimation techniques to address these objectives, the
results indicate that from the year 2013 to the 2016 survey years, the proportion of
households who have access to agricultural development support has decreased
marginally by about two percent. Access to support has remained higher among males
than females; farmers who have low levels of education than those with high levels of
education. Across provinces access to agricultural support is high in the Eastern Cape,
KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, North -West and Mpumalanga, but very low in the
Free State, Limpopo, Gauteng and Western Cape. The agricultural development
assistance given by the South African government is effective in reducing food
insecurity, as well as in improving the production and income of the beneficiary smallscale
farmers. However, the results suggest that the agricultural support system is
having a heterogeneous impact on beneficiary small-scale farmers, depending on their
gender and geographical locations.Agriculture and Animal Health
M. Sc. (Agriculture)
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Suárez, II Gómez William. "Cabotage as an external non-tariff measure on the competitiveness on SIDS's agribusinesses: The case of Puerto Rico." 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/16904.
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YesThis paper explores the multidimensional effects of an external non-tariff measure (NTM) on maritime transportation between the United States (US) and Puerto Rico (PR) trades. In particular, this research addresses the vulnerability level of PR’s agrifood sector in relation to sustainability as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) highly influenced by a larger economy. Due to the high potential of climate changes in the Caribbean, this study reviewed the effects of a maritime cabotage policy on a SIDS agribusinesses’ logistic. Could a NTM affect the supply chain capabilities and the food security of a SIDS? What challenges and opportunities does the US Cabotage policy present for PR’s agricultural sector’s competitiveness? Based on mixing empirical analysis in an exploratory convergent design, the research categorizes the cabotage policy in relation to the effects on PR’s agrifood supply chain, its port infrastructure, and its native agribusinesses’ competitiveness. Results show the maritime cabotage itself is a constraint. However, the interactions with others NTMs, indirectly related to the cabotage but inherent to the political status and business relationship between PR and the US, add other limits. In addition, it revealed that internal factors have an impact on the efficiency and competitiveness of PR’s agro-industrial sector.
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Koh, Desmond Chee Hing. "The security of small states : Singapore's case." Thesis, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/144421.
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"Strategic Culture of Small States: The Case of ASEAN." Doctoral diss., 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.9345.
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abstract: This dissertation seeks to theorize small state strategic culture with special reference to the attitude of the ASEAN states toward institutionalizing regional cooperative security architectures. The quantitative case studies show that in small states where historically rooted strategic preferences may be limited, material influences and situational considerations take precedence over ideational factors in the making of the state's strategic culture. Second, the content of small state strategic culture focuses primarily on foreign and security policy issues that originate in their neighborhood. Lastly, Small states' threat perceptions from the neighborhood over time dictate the formation of strategic culture (provocative vs. cooperative). The qualitative case studies demonstrate that small Southeast Asian states (Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia) exhibit a higher tendency for conflict. Multilateral cooperation is at best selective. Bilateral means is still the preferred policy approach when dealing with other states. This dissertation concludes with a pessimistic remark on the prospects for the development and maturation of the ASEAN Political-Security Community. At its current stage, the APSC appears to be a policy instrument created only to reinforce ASEAN's centrality in charting the region's security architecture. This is no small accomplishment in itself nonetheless.Dissertation/Thesis
Ph.D. Political Science 2011
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Bokeria, Levan. "Bezpečnostní strategie malých států v sousedství velmocí." Master's thesis, 2017. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-357948.
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The following master`s thesis focuses on small states security strategy choices, namely the case of Georgia. According to neorealist assumptions small states choose their security strategy to minimalize the potential threat to their existence. The case of Georgia is anomalous, as it has increased the security risk by choosing its alliance strategy. This work analyses the factors influencing the preferences in choosing a security strategy by neorealist and constructivist approach. The aim of this work is to research whether the selection of the security strategy is a rational choice and if so what other factors influence this choice
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Szentpetery, Dalma. "Defence cooperation in the small states of Central Europe : a discourse analysis of reality through the neorealist paradigm." Master's thesis, 2011. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-298898.
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In the following dissertation I seek to highlight some of the key aspects to defence cooperation in the region of Central Europe. The neorealist paradigm will be the guiding foundation through which I will explore the present circumstances and the potential for further alignment on cooperation. I aim to explore whether aspects of reality correspond to the expectations of neorealist paradigm in the small states of Central Europe. I have chosen to focus my dissertation on small state security because of its unique nature. Cooperation is a way for small states to be heard, and a way for them to shape policy. By working together, small states could increase the relative power they have within the system. They would also be able to avoid some of the expensive and potentially ineffective overlapping of military resources which exist in the European context. Budget cuts in the last few years have reduced the resources allocation of most military operations and therefore countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, already operating under limited resources, are faced with even more restrictions. Despite factors which encourage the creation of joint-military structures, the small states of Central Europe continue to maintain their own military presence. The sovereignty of the state is tied in...
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Dlamini, Thulile Rejoice. "Collective farming : elements constituting an effective agricultural co-operative, the case of three co-operatives in the Umgungundlovu district." Thesis, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/745.
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Collective smallholder farming has been widely promoted as a vehicle for smallholder agricultural development in South Africa. As a result, agricultural co-operative registrations in South Africa are increasing. However, research suggests that South African co-operatives have generally not been effective, successful and functional. This study investigated the elements constituting an effective and functional primary agricultural co-operative among three smallholder agricultural co-operatives. It is expected that identification of these elements may enable institutions that offer support to co-operatives make better decisions to improve smallholder farming through primary agricultural co-operatives. Understanding of these elements could inform the efforts for members of co-operatives to achieve their set objectives and thus improve smallholder agriculture profitability. Three rural agricultural co-operatives in the Local Municipalities of Mooi-Mpofana, Mkhambathini, and Richmond in the Umgungundlovu District Municipality were purposively selected for the study because they were registered agricultural co-operatives. Inyamvubu Co-operative (from Mooi-Mpofana) was larger in membership, and well established compared to Umphumela (from Mkhambathini) and Ingwe-Mndeni (from Richmond). The sample included the purposively selected members and non-members of agricultural co-operatives to explore the differences and provide insight to the knowledge, opinions and perceptions of collective farming. A framework for analysing the effectiveness of agricultural co-operatives was developed using literature of objectives of agricultural co-operatives, success factors of smallholder agriculture and organisational effectiveness. This framework was used to analyse the effectiveness of the three co-operatives. Focus group discussions, Force Field Analysis and a survey were used for data collection. The study revealed that the three co-operatives have clearly defined group objectives aligned to those set out by the South African government. The main identified objectives of farming for the three co-operatives included; creation of employment and income generating activities, improving access to funding, strengthening market access and strengthening human and community development. Activities carried out by the three co-operatives took advantage of opportunities in the value chain including production, marketing, and transportation of produce to markets. However, farmers’ activities were hampered by a number of constraints. Production capability of the three co-operatives was hampered by resource constraints such as lack of access to land, machinery and equipment, finances and information relevant to production. Marketing, transportation and financial management capability of the three co-operatives was hampered by poor networking skills, poor infrastructure and low literacy levels. Management capability in the three co-operatives was challenged by complex group dynamics characterised by conflict of opinions and issues related to free-rider, horizon, and portfolio problems. Low capability of the three co-operatives to mobilise resources, use the limited resources available and low capability to manage institutional arrangements rendered the co-operatives ineffective in achieving their set objectives. The study recommends strategies for ensuring the effectiveness of agricultural co-operatives. These include strategies for addressing internal and external issues affecting the co-operatives. Direct intervention from government was recommended to improve production through revising land allocation systems, improving extension services and strict monitoring of effective use of government resources provided to farmers. Government should improve access and training to relevant technologies to improve the processing and packaging capabilities of co-operatives. Marketing and management activities should be supported through provision of improved infrastructure and relevant training. Farmers themselves should consider pooling resources for market rental of crop land, engage in value added activities, and develop informed marketing programs and cost-effective distributing mechanisms. Farmers should elect an effective board of members that will ensure enforcement of agreements and constitution.Thesis (M.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.
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Mthembu, Nonkululeko. "Perceptions of barriers to market participation among three farmer groups in rural KwaZulu-Natal." Thesis, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/766.
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There has long been evidence that many smallholder farmers can benefit from marketoriented agriculture. However, smallholder farmers often face a number of barriers to accessing the markets. Smallholder market access is often cited as a factor that exacerbates the smallholder situation, but is little researched. This study investigated barriers to market participation among three smallholder farmer groups in rural KwaZulu-Natal. It is hypothesised that identification of these barriers could assist in institutional innovation to alleviate market constraints and challenges faced by smallholder farmers. It is also expected that addressing such barriers may create enabling conditions that would encourage smallholder farmers to access and participate more effectively in markets. Such efforts could improve the ability of smallholder farmers to become part of the mainstream or commercial agricultural economy. Three farmer groups from rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (Centocow, Mbumbulu and Muden) were selected to participate in the study because they had interests in marketing fresh produce. One group (Mbumbulu) was a certified organic producer and was supplying a formal market. The other two groups (Centocow and Muden) were not organically certified and sold produce to informal markets. A three way comparison that included agricultural Policy Reform, Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) from Local Municipalities and focus group discussions was used to check and validate farmers’ responses to questions asked. Agricultural policy reforms relevant to these groups were reviewed. IDPs were analysed to evaluate service delivery and provision of infrastructure (enabling conditions for market participation). Focus group discussions were conducted to investigate farmer experiences in marketing and perceptions of agricultural policy constraints. The study revealed that access to resources, market information, infrastructure and farmer support services were barriers to market participation. Efforts to incorporate smallholder farmers through agricultural policy reforms in large scale agriculture have failed. Programmes to create enabling conditions (e.g. infrastructural development and telecommunications) were either not budgeted for or not implemented by local municipalities. Local economic development programmes focused on developing tourist attractions, although communal areas (Centocow and Mbumbulu) have the potential for agricultural growth. Local municipalities also faced challenges, such as lack of capacity to plan, implement, budget for planned projects, lack of service provider commitment and municipal funds. The results showed that despite barriers to market participation, smallholder farmers still marketed limited amounts of produce. If identified barriers are addressed, the issues raised in this study might improve market participation. Some barriers require direct intervention by government, as in the case of support services, extension service, credit and training. Investment in good infrastructure may encourage smallholder farmers to participate effectively in markets. This may be done by establishing a market infrastructure that includes collection points, transportation and market deposits in order to address the problems of proximity to markets. Such intervention should require the involvement of the private sector.Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.
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Masker, John Scott. "International security regimes and small states a study of the Nordic and South Pacific nuclear-free zone proposals /." 1994. http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/34674581.html.
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Dornan, Matthew. "Renewable technologies for energy security: institutions and investment in Fiji's electricity sector." Phd thesis, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/10298.
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Renewable energy technologies have been advocated in Fiji's electricity sector on the basis that they improve energy security and serve as a risk-mitigation measure against oil price increases. This follows a decade of significant oil price volatility and historically high oil prices, which negatively affected the oil-dependent electricity sector in Fiji and other Small Island Developing States in the Pacific. This dissertation examines the extent to which renewable technologies can improve energy security in the electricity grid and in rural off-grid areas of Fiji. The main contributions from the research are a novel empirical analysis of generation cost-risk in the electricity grid; an analysis of institutions governing power sector investment; a survey, interview and focus group-based analysis of rural electricity supply; and an evaluation of implications of the research findings for policy.
In Fiji's electricity grid, threats to energy security are primarily the result of increased generation costs and their impact on electricity prices. Risk is therefore financial. In this thesis, it is assessed using portfolio theory. Detailed data on costs and variability is fed into a stochastic portfolio model, which is developed to analyse the impact of renewable technologies on generation costs and financial risk in Fiji's electricity grid looking forward to 2025. The analysis demonstrates that renewable technologies can be expected to significantly improve the security of electricity supply through diversification, as the cost streams of renewable technologies are neither correlated with those of oil-based power generation, nor strongly correlated with each other. Importantly, investment in hydro, geothermal, biomass and bagasse-based power generation is found to lower expected average generation costs in the electricity grid. The implementation of energy efficiency measures also lowers generation costs and risk in the electricity grid.
Renewable technology investment that is forecast in Fiji's electricity grid is found to fall short of what would be desirable based on the analysis, despite being significant. This investment deficit can be explained by institutional arrangements in the power sector. The research shows that barriers to investment in renewable technologies include political uncertainty, lack of available finance, and historically low feed-in and retail tariff rates. Regulatory reform now occurring is found to be promising in this regard, and is likely to attract increased investment in renewable technologies. Continuing political uncertainty nonetheless remains a barrier to investment, given the regulatory risk it entails.
In rural off-grid areas of Fiji, energy security needs to be understood differently, with fuels such as kerosene commonly used as substitutes for electricity in the provision of services. This dissertation examines energy security and power generation in four rural communities in Vanua Levu (in northern Fiji), where there is widespread use of village diesel generators and household solar photovoltaic systems installed under government rural electrification programs. A survey, interviews and focus group discussions conducted for this dissertation show that un-electrified households were disproportionately impacted by oil price volatility in recent years, due to their reliance on fossil fuels. Power outages in electrified households were also found to be common. For village diesel systems, collective responsibility for financing fuel and maintenance is problematic. Informal norms and governance arrangements at the village level only partially resolve these issues. Solar photovoltaic systems in these communities also commonly perform poorly, primarily as a result of inadequate arrangements for maintenance established by government. A number of policy implications are identified in the dissertation. Forecast renewable technology investments in the electricity grid are worthwhile in light of their financial and risk mitigation benefits. Regulatory reform now underway and high retail and feed-in tariff rates already in place are facilitating such investment. Policy measures that could further encourage investment in renewable technologies include those designed to strengthen political and regulatory certainty; improve access to finance, land, and renewable energy resources; reform the sugar industry; and support research on renewable energy resources. Mechanisms designed to encourage the use of energy efficiency technologies should also be adopted. In rural off-grid areas, there are strong financial and social benefits from electricity provision, but reform of rural electrification programs is needed.