Media framing, säkerhetisering och geopolitisk diskurs: En komparativ studie av amerikansk nyhetsmedias uppmärksammande

Since the beginning of the 21st century there has been a nine-fold increase in the number of deaths from terrorism, rising from 3,329 in 2000 to 32,685 in 2014. Terrorism remains highly concentrated with most of the activity occurring in just five countries – Iraq, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria. The two terrorist groups accountably for the highest numbers of deaths in 2014 are the Islamic State (IS) and Boko Haram. In American news media these two groups are potrayed very differently and the goal of this study is to reveal the differences and how a connection between the political elite and media can explain these. Our article uses Entman’s framing theory, Buzan’s securitization theory and Tuathail’s geopolitical discourse theory to conclude how and why these connections exist

‘Low-salt’ bread as an important component of a pragmatic reduced-salt diet for lowering blood pressure in adults with elevated blood pressure

Reformulation of bread in terms of salt content remains an important measure to help achieve a reduction in salt intake in the population and for the prevention of hypertension and elevated blood pressure (BP). Our fundamental studies on the reduction of salt on dough and bread characteristics showed that wheat breads produced with 0.3 g salt/100 g (“low-salt”) were found to be comparable quality to that produced with the typical level of salt (1.2%). This food-based intervention trial examined, using a 5 week cross-over design, the potential for inclusion of “low-salt” bread as part of a pragmatic reduced-salt diet on BP, markers of bone metabolism, and plasma lipids in 97 adults with slightly to moderately elevated BP. Assuming all sodium from dietary intake was excreted through the urine, the intake of salt decreased by 1.7 g/day, on average, during the reduced-salt dietary period. Systolic BP was significantly lower (by 3.3 mmHg on average; p 0.12, in all cases) in any of the urinary- or serum-based biochemical indices of calcium or bone metabolism or in plasma lipids between the two periods. In conclusion, a modest reduction in dietary salt intake, in which the use of “low-salt” (i.e., 0.3 g/100g) bread played a key role along with dietary advice, and led to a significant, and clinically meaningful, decrease in systolic, but not diastolic, BP in adults with mildly to moderately elevated BP

Securing the society - a woman's risk to take? : A field study on how women’s perception of safety is impacted by engaging in prevention of violent extremism

This study explores how women’s perceptions of safety is impacted by participating in a program aimed at preventing violent extremism (PVE). The theoretical framework mainly draws on literature on women and conflict prevention, sacred values and human security studies. In combining theoretical arguments from these fields, I hypothesize that women’s perception of safety will be negatively impacted by participating in PVE-programs. That is because their participation will challenge sacred gender norms by taking up leadership roles in the community that usually belong to men. As a result, hostile reactions from community members will follow, i.e. from those whose sacred values are challenged, which in turn is expected to impact women’s perception of safety negatively. This thesis applies qualitative methods and to compare between two groups of women who participate in a PVE-program through different roles, and one group of non-PVE-participating women. Semi-structured interviews were held with two PVE-participating groups (female religious leaders and female economic leaders) as well as with non-PVE-participating women in Indonesia. The purpose of this case selection is twofold. First, to examine whether the PVE-participation in itself has an effect on women’s perceptions of safety. Second, to explore whether to explore whether certain roles that women take in a PVE-program challenge sacred gender norms more than others, and as such, leads to more negative perceptions of safety. The results indicate that PVE-participants challenge sacred norms, however, these norms do not always have a gendered underpinning, but are more religious in nature than anticipated. Contrary to my hypotheses, women’s perception of safety is not necessarily negatively impacted by participating in PVE-programs. The results rather indicate that women’s perception of safety can be both positively and negatively impacted by their participation, mainly depending on how their participation is understood by others. Additionally, PVE-participating women mainly challenge gender norms before they begin their participation, instead of during its active phase. As such, the results suggest that time aspects are important to fully understand women’s perception of safety

Gender equality and international peacebuilding

This paper seeks to understand the different progress of gender equality between Myanmar and Nepal, which is examined through a comparative case study of UN Women’s actions in each case. The material contains of reports and documents from UN Women’s missions, which will be analyzed through a qualitative content analysis. The analysis is guided by the analytical framework Gender Dimensions in Post Conflict Societies, which dimensions on gender equality, will be applied on UN Women’s actions. The purpose is to provide with an explanation to why the progress of gender equality has been better in Nepal compared to Myanmar. Thus, this study is not only for providing new case studies - but also for examining two cases on depth, which will contribute to the existing research on international peacebuilding and gender equality. The empirical findings indicate that UN Women’s actions probably have had impact on the progress of gender equality in Nepal, while not having the same opportunity to contribute to a better progress of gender equality in Nepal

The European Migrant Crisis and the fortune of right-wing populist parties

In 2015, Europe faced one of the most extensive refugee flows since the Second World War. The situation forced European Governments to take actions on immigration issues to handle the increasing inflows of asylum seekers. We draw on Meguid’s theory on party strategies to examine whether mainstream parties policies of immigration affects the public support of right-wing populist parties. Simultaneously, we include theories claiming that the amount of asylum seekers is crucial to public support of right-wing populist parties. These theories are the basis of our study when examining what may be fueling the success of right-wing populist parties in Sweden, Denmark, France and Italy. Our empirical findings concludes that there are no monocausal connection between mainstream parties’ strategies and the amount of asylum seekers. The outcomes are variating between the examined countries. However, levels of immigration are in most cases more essential than strategies used by mainstream parties to affront with migration issues. Mainstream parties policies seemingly plays a more insignificant role when the asylum reception is extensive. Accordingly, our conclusion is that multiple variables need to be included to completely determine what impacts of right-wing populist parties public support.In 2015, Europe faced one of the most extensive refugee flows since the Second World War. The situation forced European Governments to take actions on immigration issues to handle the increasing inflows of asylum seekers. We draw on Meguid’s theory on party strategies to examine whether mainstream parties policies of immigration affects the public support of right-wing populist parties. Simultaneously, we include theories claiming that the amount of asylum seekers is crucial to public support of right-wing populist parties. These theories are the basis of our study when examining what may be fueling the success of right-wing populist parties in Sweden, Denmark, France and Italy. Our empirical findings concludes that there are no monocausal connection between mainstream parties’ strategies and the amount of asylum seekers. The outcomes are variating between the examined countries. However, levels of immigration are in most cases more essential than strategies used by mainstream parties to affront with migration issues. Mainstream parties policies seemingly plays a more insignificant role when the asylum reception is extensive. Accordingly, our conclusion is that multiple variables need to be included to completely determine what impacts of right-wing populist parties public support