Investigating Historical Abuses: An Applied History Perspective on intercountry Adoption in the Netherlands, 1950s-Present

This article investigates the phenomenon and practice of intercountry adoption from a historical perspective by using applied history methods. In particular, we employed the method of historicizing current concerns, such as the notion of abuses, and contextualizing them in history. With these methods, we contributed to the Dutch governmental assessment and evaluation of intercountry adoption, indicating that our findings (as laid down in the official report) need to be translated into revised governmental policies. In this paper, we describe how we applied our historicizing methods to intercountry adoption abuses by providing a narrative and genealogy of the topic. We also discuss the pitfalls and merits of conducting historical research into practices that are now considered immoral or unjust, but were long standard practice after intercountry adoption started in the Netherlands. In this way, we also contribute to the ongoing discussion on doing historical research in highly politicized contexts, where the danger of contributing to the ‘blame game’ often lies in wait

EU engagement with Sri Lanka: Dealing with wars and governments

This desk review of case studies was produced as part of the project “Whole-of-Society Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding” (WOSCAP). In order to complement the other in-depth research cases with a broader view of EU interventions regarding conflict prevention and peacebuilding, this report focuses on the case of Sri Lanka. This goes beyond the field research in Georgia, Ukraine, Mali, and Yemen, and the desk reviews in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Central America (Honduras and Guatemala). The EU has played a substantive role in Kosovo and Afghanistan, while it has played an important role in Sri Lanka and Central America

Exploring the plexus of context and consequences : An empirical test of a theory of disaster vulnerability

What determines the disaster vulnerability of countries? In this study a theoretical model was tested, linking disaster vulnerability to physical hazards and cultural and historical factors. Associations between the World Vulnerability Index and Hofstede's cultural dimensions scores were explored using quantitative methods, while taking exposure to natural hazards into account. Data of 60 countries could be matched. Less exposed countries in this sample are significantly less vulnerable. Culturally, particularly countries with a lower power balance and a higher level of individualism are less vulnerable as well; two features linked to higher levels of wealth. Approximately 70% of the variance in vulnerability could be explained in this way. These results should, however, be interpreted with some caution as longitudinal data were unavailable and disaster vulnerability itself may be seen as a cultural derivate, making it impossible to clarify causal mechanisms. Despite these and other limitations, the study points at interesting associations that, firstly, should be expanded and replicated in larger samples, allowing more advanced analysis, and secondly, encourage a more thorough examination of different local contexts and cross-level interactions than was possible in this exploratory endeavor.</p

Exploring the plexus of context and consequences : An empirical test of a theory of disaster vulnerability

What determines the disaster vulnerability of countries? In this study a theoretical model was tested, linking disaster vulnerability to physical hazards and cultural and historical factors. Associations between the World Vulnerability Index and Hofstede's cultural dimensions scores were explored using quantitative methods, while taking exposure to natural hazards into account. Data of 60 countries could be matched. Less exposed countries in this sample are significantly less vulnerable. Culturally, particularly countries with a lower power balance and a higher level of individualism are less vulnerable as well; two features linked to higher levels of wealth. Approximately 70% of the variance in vulnerability could be explained in this way. These results should, however, be interpreted with some caution as longitudinal data were unavailable and disaster vulnerability itself may be seen as a cultural derivate, making it impossible to clarify causal mechanisms. Despite these and other limitations, the study points at interesting associations that, firstly, should be expanded and replicated in larger samples, allowing more advanced analysis, and secondly, encourage a more thorough examination of different local contexts and cross-level interactions than was possible in this exploratory endeavor

Rethinking Gender and Conflict: Embodiments, Discourses and Symbolic Practices

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the empirical studies are closely related to interpretative anthropology and its ethnographic methodology. Ethnographic research uses meticulous descriptions as a method to interpret human behaviour and the related symbols. It shows how, even in the context of significant power differentials, cognition and behaviour, agency and victimisation are gendered in a way that goes beyond the popular stereotypes. Conflict not only produces and reconfirms social hierarchies and power relations, but it also motivates people to transgress cultural boundaries and reconsider their self-images and identity constructions. Recent developments in discourse analysis have linked the concept explicitly to social action. Fairclough demonstrates how discourses, narratives and imaginaries help constitute and consolidate economic and political systems, including their institutional materiality. It deals explicitly with the body can be viewed as part of what some analysts call the corporeal turn in social theory

Exploring the plexus of context and consequences: An empirical test of a theory of disaster vulnerability

What determines the disaster vulnerability of countries? In this study a theoretical model was tested, linking disaster vulnerability to physical hazards and cultural and historical factors. Associations between the World Vulnerability Index and Hofstede's cultural dimensions scores were explored using quantitative methods, while taking exposure to natural hazards into account. Data of 60 countries could be matched. Less exposed countries in this sample are significantly less vulnerable. Culturally, particularly countries with a lower power balance and a higher level of individualism are less vulnerable as well; two features linked to higher levels of wealth. Approximately 70% of the variance in vulnerability could be explained in this way. These results should, however, be interpreted with some caution as longitudinal data were unavailable and disaster vulnerability itself may be seen as a cultural derivate, making it impossible to clarify causal mechanisms. Despite these and other limitations, the study points at interesting associations that, firstly, should be expanded and replicated in larger samples, allowing more advanced analysis, and secondly, encourage a more thorough examination of different local contexts and cross-level interactions than was possible in this exploratory endeavor