This thesis studies Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451 using Critical Discourse Analysis as the primary tool. It argues that the narrative develops through the supporting characters’ actions, and the different societal discourses of hegemony, otherness and class struggle they represent. Basing the analysis on Althusserian and Gramscian ideas and discussing citizen’s transformation from subjects to individuals, this study concludes that although a subject may be power-less and wary, it is by learning to act through being given information through discourse that personal development occurs.

This thesis investigates the underexplored relationship between water allocation inequalities in agriculture and power distributions in the context of a recent water drought in the Western Cape province in South Africa. The thesis focused on the Municipality of Stellenbosch. The methods for the thesis consisted of online interviews and analysis of documents. Interview data were combined with the analysis of secondary source material. The theoretical framework is based on the theory of hegemony after Antonio Gramsci which is used to approach and analyze power distributions in water allocation inequalities in agriculture. The results of the thesis show a hegemonial form of power that manifests itself in three ways, namely through material prerequisites for maintaining inequalities, force and consent in political and civil society, and common sense. While the identified form of hegemony manifests the interests of commercial agriculture; it suppresses water allocations to other forms of agricultural production in the study area. The thesis contents that for future research, in the context of future water droughts in South Africa, the analysis of counter-hegemonies is required.

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Orientalism was a term developed by post-colonial theorist Edward Said to describe the ways in which Europeans, or the West, portrayed the Orient as inferior, uncivilized, and wholly anti-Western. Netflix Inc., the world’s largest subscription-based streaming service, which as of 2018, expanded its streaming venue to over 190 countries globally, is the wellspring of knowledge for many people. Through the multimodal critical discourse analysis of 6 Netflix films and television programmes (Stateless, Gods of Egypt, Messiah, Al Hayba, Sand Castle, and Fauda) the study examines the extent to which the streaming giant is culpable in the reproduction of Orientalist discourses of power, i.e., discourses which facilitate the construction of the stereotyped Other. The results have shown that Netflix strengthens, through the dissemination and distribution of symbols and messages to the general population, the domination and authority over society and its political, economic, cultural, and ideological domains. Using Norman Fairclough’s approach to critical discourse analysis combined with a social semiotic perspective, this study endeavours to design a comprehensive methodological and theoretical framework which can be utilized by future researchers to analyse and critique particular power dynamics within society by exposing the dominant ideological world-view distortions which reinforce oppressive structures and institutional practices.

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between state and civil society. The last decades there has been major changes across state, market and civil society. During these changes, civil society has become an important part of the welfare service. In this study an idea-driven public partnership (IOP) in Malmö is examine. My theoretical starting point is Gramsci’s concept of hegemony, integral state, consent-coercion and Jonathan Davies concept of creeping managerialism. Using interviews and document studies I am able to deepen the understanding of state-civil society relationships. The result of the analysis shows that the case study is an example of when civil society is compliant to the hegemonic order. This can be understood on the basis that civil society is also part of the hegemonic order. The strong actors in civil society, together with the state and capital, are all part of the historical bloc that governs society. Lastly, the study indicates managerialism in the partnership.

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(in English) The author tries to describe the transformation of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia in relation to itself and the surrounding environment, especially in the period from 17th November to 21st December 1989. He will use primarily the articles from Rudé právo and a stenographic record of the unscheduled session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia on 24th and 26th November 1989 which was published under the name Poslední hurá. He considers it appropriate to put into context the events of November and December 1989, with political development in Czechoslovakia in January, at the turn of June and July, and in October 1989. This analysis attempt will be based on the principles of general linguistics of Ferdinand de Saussure and discourse theory of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe. The combination of hegemonic analysis and deconstruction will be used as a method of workflow. When analyzing the transformation of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, the author attempts to rely primarily on three principles deriving from discourse theory. The identity is not a fixed essence but it is created in the political struggles of the content of specific concepts. There have been attempts to fully fixate the identity of individuals, groups, society. But the identity is...

This thesis concerns subject of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), ritual commonly - but inaccurately - named female circumcision. In the thesis I analyze two autobiographical texts written by women who got through the FGM/C - Mutilated written by Senegal author Khady and Desert Flower by Somali author Waris Dirie. Aim of this thesis is to analyze view point of two women who have direct experience with FGM/C, to add more information to research of this ritual and to strengthen effort to understand structural reasons for its existence and continuance. I attach myself to the side of opponents to FGM/C and by this thesis I'd wish to help to banish this ritual. My effort is connected with my feminist conviction but also with human rights discourse. ABSTRAKT Tato diplomová práce zkoumá problematiku Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), rituálu u nás běžně - avšak nepřesně - nazývaného ženská obřízka. V diplomové práci analyzuji dva autobiografické příběhy žen, které prožily FGM/C. Jedná se o knihy Zmrzačená od senegalské autorky Khady a Květ pouště od somálské autorky Waris Dirie. Cílem tohoto výzkumu je analyzovat pohled dvou žen na rituál FGM/C, připojit další informace ke zkoumané problematice FGM/C, a tak rozšířit nejen znalosti týkající se rituálu samotného, ale zejména podpořit snahu...

In the aftermath the 25th January Revolution of 2011, two Egyptian dystopian novels stand out as particularly relevant: Utopia (2008) by Ahmed Khaled Towfik, and The Queue (2013), by Basma Abdel Aziz. Due to the absence of studies that pay attention to how gender relations are portrayed in Arabic dystopian novels, this study focuses on the literary representation of men and masculinities in Utopia and The Queue. This thesis uses narratology and content analysis in order to show that, although patterns of local masculinities are different in both novels, regional and global models of masculinity clearly point out men as controlling, violent and hypersexual, which is supported by multiple institutions, such as the state, media, and the religious establishment. The inclusion of relevant ethnological studies of masculinities in Egypt confirms that the social criticism of the novels include gender relations, and refers to the time in which the novels were written. This study points out the need for recognizing Arabic dystopian fiction as a valuable instrument that carries meaningful and intricate social criticism, as well as the need for the inclusion of gender as a category of literary analysis.

This study concerns the urban development of the former industrial district Sofielund, Malmö. The area is widely know for it’s mix of cultures, activity and grass root culture, which provides the city of Malmö with a large social and culture arena. Sofielund’s central location makes it highly attractive in a planning perspective and a group of property owners, along with the municipality of Malmö, have created a BID-constellation to further develop the district. The BID-association, Fastighetsägare Sofielund, is the areas most influential development actor today and it’s also the outsourcer of two planning documents, which intends to ensure sustainable development in the area. This thesis questions the everyday use of sustainable development and critically analyze the two planning documents discursively, as well as in relation to common planning ideals. The study examine what values and assumptions the reports are based on and how they correlate with the social and cultural values Fastighetsägare Sofielund, with Malmö stad, claim to strive for in the development of Sofielund.