Approximately eight people have died every single day since January 1, 2014 attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Put another way, more than 23,000 migrants have met their end in the Mediterranean while attempting to enter the European Union. Yet, it has not always been this way. Dangerous and lethal Mediterranean crossings have been on the rise since the 1990’s as a result of more restrictive EU migration policies and increasing conflict and unsettlement in the Middle East and North Africa regions. This thesis seeks to understand how and why death has become a hallmark of the Mediterranean Sea by examining the laws relevant to the Sea. To do so, this work examines three case studies: the Successful Crossing, where a migrant vessel safely crosses the Mediterranean; the Thwarted Crossing, where a vessel is intercepted while crossing; and, the Failed Crossing, where a migrant vessel sinks or is pushed back from safety. The most relevant international, EU, and state laws are then contrasted with these case studies to determine if the vessels and the government actors around the vessel behaved according to the law or not. Across all three case studies, government actors violated some level of law (international, EU, or state.) In most cases, these violations are stipulated by another level of law (e.g., state laws allow for violations of international laws,) demonstrating a mismatch between the three levels of laws. In other cases, there is absolutely no legal support for the actions that have created so many deaths in the Mediterranean. Such violations are often met with impunity for the operators. This thesis documents such violations and then reflects on why the laws are built and broken in these ways. Subsequently, this thesis then recommends pathways to reform the laws in-line with human rights norms.

Sweden continues to prioritise highly-skilled migration while restricting low-skilled migration, idealising the highly-skilled migrant as being easier to integrate into the labour market and into Swedish society at large. This project answers to these assumptions by investigating the lived experiences of highly-skilled female migrants in Sweden through the lens of social capital theory. Through qualitative analysis, this project aims to determine what barriers or privileges exist for the subject-group when accessing and utilising social capital, focusing on the aspects of social networking and relationship building.

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Speaking to the people is part of politics. But, who are the people? In populistic and nationalistic discourse, the people is constructed against either the elite or the people outside the nation, "the people" is created in opposition to those who are not the people. This thesis examines political manifestos in Sweden during the election years of 2014 and 2018 to investigate how the political parties in the Swedish Parliament construct and speak to the people, whom they exclude from the people and how the discourse changes between the two election years. During the year 2015, Sweden, together with the rest of Europe, had a socalled refugee crisis. An understanding of populism in relation to crises is that it is increasing. This thesis examines, without claiming a causal link, a potential discursive change between the two election years that took place before and after the refugee crisis.

Sammanfattning Mediers framväxt har lämnat fåtal delar av samhället orörda. Idag är olika medier närvarande i många delar av den moderna människans vardag, till exempel för kommunikation och nyhetsförmedling. Medier har kommit att användas av olika politiska organisationer för att sprida dess ideologi. Medieanvändningen har även visat sig vara effektiv för mobilisering av radikalnationalister. Tidigare forskning visar att sociala medier kan fungera som en grogrund för radikalisering och extremism, där högerradikala grupper sprider och förstärker sina antidemokratiska ideologier. Att observera dessa grupper för att förstå hur de attraherar och engagerar nya anhängare och medlemmar är viktigt för att bidra till forskningen om extremistiska miljöer i Sverige. Studien observerar den partipolitiskt oorganiserade organisationen Nordfront, som bedriver nyhetsrapportering samt innehar en inofficiell chattgrupp. Med hjälp av netnografisk observation tillika innehållsanalys utifrån teorier om digital interaktion och radikalisering identifieras hur digitala funktioner bidrar till att reproducera en stark antisemitisk och antidemokratisk diskurs. Studien visar också att ett medlemskap i gruppchatten samt att delta i dess diskussioner ökar risken för individer att radikaliseras. / Abstract  The emergence of media has left few parts of the community inviolated. A various amount of medias are present in the everyday life of the modern human, for example for communication and news. Medias has come to be used of a variety of political organizations for the spread of their ideology. Media use has appeared to be efficient for mobilization of radical nationalists. Previous research shows that social medias can operate as fertile soil for radicalization and extremism, where far right groups distribute and reenforces their anti-democratic ideologies. Observing these groups, in order to understand how they attract and engage new supporters and members is important for contributing to science regarding extremist enviroments in Sweden. The study observes the non-party organized organization Nordfront, that prosecutes reporting news and posesses a inofficial chat group. Using netnografic observations together with content analysis, and with theories concerning digital interaction and radicalization, it is shown that digital functions contributes to reproduce a strong antisemetic and antidemocratic discourse. The study also shows that a membership in the group chat and also being a part of its discussions increases the risk of radicalization of individuals.

Abstract.  The purpose of this study is to investigate connections between Andrew Tate and right-wing extreme ideologies through fascist and feminist theories and how they spread in a digitalized globalization. The material is gathered from interviews and podcasts on YouTube where Andrew Tate shares his opinions. I have used theories and concepts that discuss sex, gender and heteronormativity as a social construction, as well as a theoretical framework that identifies tactics used by fascist movements to spread their ideas and increase their influence. The result of my study shows that there are distinct connections between Andrew Tate opinions and right-wing extreme ideologies. Tate uses the same tactical method as fascism to spread his message and gain followers. They also share the traditional conservative view on gender and gender roles where everything is based on masculinity and femininity in relation to one's biology. Both ideologies are based on a heteronormativity that lacks intersectional analysis and stigmatizes those who break the norm.

La digestion enzymatique des protéines est une méthode de base pour les études protéomiques ainsi que pour le séquençage en mode « bottom-up ». Les enzymes sont ajoutées soit en solution (phase homogène), soit directement sur le gel polyacrylamide selon la méthode déjà utilisée pour l’isolation de la protéine. Les enzymes protéolytiques immobilisées, c’est-à-dire insolubles, offrent plusieurs avantages tels que la réutilisation de l’enzyme, un rapport élevé d’enzyme-sur-substrat, et une intégration facile avec les systèmes fluidiques. Dans cette étude, la chymotrypsine (CT) a été immobilisée par réticulation avec le glutaraldehyde (GA), ce qui crée des particules insolubles. L’efficacité d’immobilisation, déterminée par spectrophotométrie d’absorbance, était de 96% de la masse totale de la CT ajouté. Plusieurs différentes conditions d’immobilisation (i.e., réticulation) tels que la composition/pH du tampon et la masse de CT durant la réticulation ainsi que les différentes conditions d’entreposage tels que la température, durée et humidité pour les particules GA-CT ont été évaluées par comparaison des cartes peptidiques en électrophorèse capillaire (CE) des protéines standards digérées par les particules. Les particules de GA-CT ont été utilisés pour digérer la BSA comme exemple d’une protéine repliée large qui requit une dénaturation préalable à la digestion, et pour digérer la caséine marquée avec de l’isothiocyanate de fluorescéine (FITC) comme exemple d’un substrat dérivé afin de vérifier l’activité enzymatique du GA-CT dans la présence des groupements fluorescents liés au substrat. La cartographie peptidique des digestions par les particules GA-CT a été réalisée par CE avec la détection par absorbance ultraviolet (UV) ou fluorescence induite par laser. La caséine-FITC a été, en effet, digérée par GA-CT au même degré que par la CT libre (i.e., soluble). Un microréacteur enzymatique (IMER) a été fabriqué par immobilisation de la CT dans un capillaire de silice fondu du diamètre interne de 250 µm prétraité avec du 3-aminopropyltriéthoxysilane afin de fonctionnaliser la paroi interne avec les groupements amines. Le GA a été réagit avec les groupements amine puis la CT a été immobilisée par réticulation avec le GA. Les IMERs à base de GA-CT étaient préparé à l’aide d’un système CE automatisé puis utilisé pour digérer la BSA, la myoglobine, un peptide ayant 9 résidus et un dipeptide comme exemples des substrats ayant taille large, moyenne et petite, respectivement. La comparaison des cartes peptidiques des digestats obtenues par CE-UV ou CE-spectrométrie de masse nous permettent d’étudier les conditions d’immobilisation en fonction de la composition et le pH du tampon et le temps de réaction de la réticulation. Une étude par microscopie de fluorescence, un outil utilisé pour examiner l’étendue et les endroits d’immobilisation GA-CT dans l’IMER, ont montré que l’immobilisation a eu lieu majoritairement sur la paroi et que la réticulation ne s’est étendue pas si loin au centre du capillaire qu’anticipée. / Digesting proteins using proteolytic enzymes is a standard method in proteomic studies and bottom-up protein sequencing. Enzymes can be added in solution or gel phase depending on how the protein has been isolated. Immobilized, i.e., insoluble, proteolytic enzymes offer several advantages such as reusability of enzyme, high enzyme-to-substrate ratio, and integration with fluidic systems. In this study, we prepared glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chymotrypsin (GA-CT), which creates insoluble particles. The immobilization efficiency was determined by absorbance spectrophotometry and found to be 96% of the total amount of chymotrypsin added. Different immobilization (i.e., crosslinking) conditions such as buffer composition/pH and initial mass of CT during crosslinking as well as different storage conditions such as temperature, time and humidity for the GA-CT particles were evaluated by comparing capillary electrophoretic (CE) peptide maps of protein standards digested with the particles. The GA-CT particles were used to digest BSA as an example of a large folded protein that needs denaturation prior to digestion, and casein-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) as an example of a small, labeled substrate to test enzyme activity in the presence of substrate-bound fluorescent groups. Peptide mapping of digests from GA-CT particles was achieved by CE with ultraviolet (UV) absorbance or laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. FITC-labeled casein was digested by GA-CT to the same extent as with free (i.e., soluble) CT. An immobilized enzyme microreactor (IMER) was fabricated by immobilizing CT inside a 250 µm i.d. fused-silica capillary tube pre-treated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to functionalize the inner walls with amine groups. Glutaraldehyde was reacted with the amine groups and then CT was immobilized by crosslinking to the GA. IMERs based on GA-CT were fabricated using an automated CE system and used to digest BSA, myoglobin, a 9-residue peptide and a dipeptide as examples of large, medium and small substrates. Digests were studied by comparing peptide maps obtained by CE coupled to either UV or mass spectrometric (MS) detection in order to evaluate immobilization conditions as a function of buffer composition/pH and reaction times. A separate study, which used fluorescence microscopy to investigate the extent and location of GA-CT immobilization in the IMER, showed that immobilization only takes place primarily near the capillary walls and that crosslinking does not extend as far into the center of the IMER as had been expected.

The approach of this study is that conversion to Islam leads to stigmatization. Based on that the aim of this study is to examine what reactions and treatment Swedish Muslim converts have experienced from their families regarding their conversion to Islam, how they prepare for revealing their conversion, what strategies they use to handle their families’ reactions and whether this has any significance in their self-perception. The study is qualitative and was made with semi-structured interviews with five Swedish female converts. The theories used are Erving Goffman’s stigma and the concepts of Islamophobia and Swedishness. The results show that the converts prepare the revealing of their conversion by speaking openly and positively about Islam a long time before the revealing. The reactions received indicate reproduced Islamophobic prejudices and aversions and take form of grief, shame, and despair to more far-reaching reactions such as negative violations, distancing, lack of support and exclusion from the family unity and from Swedishness. The women explain that they hide the fact that they pray, and, in some cases, they take off their headscarves when visiting their families. Furthermore, they wear a turban or put on headscarves and clothes with bright colors to look more ‘normal’. Finally, their self-perception is affected by all the negative reactions and treatment, and they clarify that they feel ambiguities about how to perceive themselves: as ‘real’ Swedes or not since their families tell them they areno longer considered as such

This bachelor’s thesis is an effort to understand how black women in Sweden experience 'race' and racism in everyday life. The theoretical framework includes a postcolonial theory from Sara Ahmed, with the concept of 'race' as a key element. Additional to that, Judith Butler’s gender performativity theory contributes to a broader understanding of the informants’ situation. The material consisting of interviews with four young black women implies that everyday racism is present in Swedish society to that extent that 'race' is a major aspect of these women’s life. In everyday encounters with the white majority of the society, they often feel different, marginalized, objectified and exotified. Furthermore, the informants experience that their skin color and phenotypic markers are a magnet for white people’s fetish and fantasies, but also an obstacle to obtain legitimacy in interactions with them. To those reasons, the informants are considering migrating to a country where black people are forming a larger minority in society than it is the case in Sweden. That opens up the possibility to interact with more black people who have similar experiences of being exposed to everyday racism.

When people flee armed conflict, they often end up in refugee settlements in neighboring countries. In the case of South Sudanese refugees, they will often find themselves living next to people from the opposite side of the conflict. Although tensions and conflicts have been seen in many of these settlements, other settlements remain relatively calm. This case study seeks to understand how different South Sudanese tribes in Maaji II settlement in Northern Uganda relate to each other, and how these relations can be assessed using Johan Galtung’s theory of positive and negative peace. Using qualitative research methods, e.g. participant observation and interview data gathered in Maaji II settlement, this study seeks to understand the refugees' own definitions of tribe, tribalism, and peace, and to analyze their experiences in the settlement using Galtung’s concepts. The analysis showed that although positive developments had led to low levels of physical violence, tensions remained among the tribes, which were further exacerbated by communication barriers. Moreover, efforts by refugee leaders to promote peace focused on creating a peaceful and non-violent present and future, and no attention was paid to healing past violence. Nevertheless, deliberate actions and natural developments had led to increasing interactions among different tribes. The refugees’ own definitions of peace resembled Galtung’s concept of positive peace. Furthermore, the refugees all agreed that the settlement was peaceful, in spite of the analysis finding that the settlement can at best be explained as being in a state of negative peace. Thus, the intertribal relations in Maaji II settlement are largely free from direct physical violence, but the presence of cultural violence remains a hindrance for sustainable positive peace. These findings show that there is a need for a deeper understanding of intertribal relations among refugee populations in order to create more effective peacebuilding interventions.