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This paper aims to show how identity can be of importance to issues relating to development. More specifically, it deals with how the Kosovar Albanians perception of their collective identity have affected Kosovo’s economic development. The study draws primarily from the theories of Identity Economics and Orientalism and presents a hypothesis which is then tested empirically through the analysis of the in-depth interviews and participant observation carried out in Kosovo. The results show that Kosovar Albanians have, to a degree, internalized the Orientalist discourse, which often portrayed them in racist terms as the ’other’, in their view of their collective identity and that this has had a negative effect on how they perceive their potential in the global economic system, which in turn has undermined the country’s economic development. Thus, identity seems to be of significance when it comes to issues relating to development.

Participation is often seen as fundamental in development studies and for development projects. There are also critical ideas claiming that there are power relations which should be taken into account before embracing participation as good in itself. From the basis of the critical ideas found in the book Participation: The New Tyranny? this paper examines the cases of ‘Integrated Water Resources Management’ and ‘Integrated Approach for Mitigation of Arsenic Contamination of Drinking Water in Bangladesh’ in order to determine whether the critical ideas in the book are applicable when analysing texts about these cases. After determining that there are indications of power imbalances between the facilitators and the local population in the two cases, this paper finally argues that the critical ideas are applicable and that there is a need for more and broader discussions and dialogues between various actors involved in development projects. Also mentioned in this paper is the importance of raising awareness of power relations and incorporating different views when planning and implementing development projects.

This master thesis is a case study on the remittance corridor between South Africa and Zimbabwe. The purpose of the study was to explore and evaluate the dilemmas the remittances senders face in the migration process and how they are dealt with. This was further investigated in the connection to what possibilities the remittances sender have in the host country to increase both the own, as well as the family’s, level of development. Research about the remittance process from the remittances sender’s perspective suffers from shortcomings, a problem this study addresses. A collection of life stories helped to identify the dilemmas and trade-offs the remittances sender faces. The results show that dilemmas exist in every phase of the migration process. How well the remittances senders cope with these dilemmas, seems to be connected to their socio-economic background to a large extent. The pressure to remit affects the available possibilities in the host country to improve the remittances sender’s level of development. An exciting finding and contribution of this study is the remittances senders’ perspective on their future, whether to stay or return home. This complex dilemma, that lacks research, is so interesting that it calls for more investigation.

Education is one of the main priorities for both past and present global development goals, and making sure access is granted to all children is vital. However, when looking at education for children with disabilities, access is not as easily provided as for their non-disabled peers. In Cambodia, children with disabilities have a strong legislative protection despite low enrolment rates. This thesis looks further into how, and why children with disabilities in Cambodia are not in school. The empirical results based on an ethnographic study suggest that structural violence, which is violence operating indirectly through institutions and structures in society, obstructs access to education through the mechanisms of social exclusion, oppression and lack of agency. The obstructing forces are deeply rooted in the structures of the Cambodian society and physical barriers are linked to attitudinal barriers where the presence of disability causes stigmatisation that breed discrimination and exclusion. This thesis adds violence as a variable of interest when it comes to looking at development from the perspective of disability studies.

This thesis aims to critically review and interpret the media debate concerning the mining project at Norra Kärr. The aim is also to bring forth and analyze the difficulties and problems that lie hidden in the arguments that outline the debate. The method used for the investigation is a contextual idea analysis. The method aims to examine the main concepts of the argument, if there are unspoken premises and investigate whether there are contradictory arguments. There is also room for an investigation of the validity of arguments. The scientific foundation and theory is based on ecological modernization, which addresses the relationship between ecology and technology and economic growth. The mining project in Norra Kärr is a very complicated and problematic matter. The debate imbued with arguments that are illogical. The major problematical issues are based in arguments that are deficient and every now and then paradoxical.

Almost two years have passed since the strongest typhoon (Haiyan) ever to make landfall ripped through the Philippines. The typhoon left no one untouched, and many people are still struggling to recover. To pinpoint the specific mechanisms affecting a person’s ability to recover is not an easy task as all individual experiences are different. Previous studies have eloquently introduced variables that may affect the speed of post-disaster recovery, but some are still unknown or underexplored. With this thesis, I strive to contribute in filling this gap by suggesting that land tenure could be added as a variable of importance. Based on a field study, constituted by 441 surveys answered by people affected by the typhoon, as well as interviews conducted with relevant stakeholders of the recovery process, this thesis will propose to argue that even though there is no statistical evidence connecting tenure security with a speedy recovery, the lack of land delimits and delays recovery projects. The results do also indicate that the current buzzword of post-disaster recovery, social capital, yet again confirms its alleged role among the already established variables affecting the speed of recovery.

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Denna uppsats behandlar den ideologiska konflikt som dök upp på Göteborgspostens ledarredaktion i samband med ledningens utnämnande av en ny politisk redaktör. Fredrik Tenfält, som nått pensionsålder, ersattes av Alice Teodorescu. Skribenterna på ledarredaktionen menade att de som socialliberala inte kunde arbeta under en chef som själv tillskrev sig som liberalkonservativ, vilket är fallet med Teodorescu. I uppsatsen görs en kvalitativ idéanalys med hjälp av idealtyper på signerade och osignerade ledare i Göteborgsposten under perioden 8-14 september 2014, det vill säga veckan före det svenska riksdagsvalet. Analysens mål är att undersöka om ledarskribenternas kritik mot ledningen är befogad och om de verkligen är så ideologiskt principfasta som de utger sig för att vara. Det resultat vi når i undersökningen är att Göteborgsposten har en klar socialliberal prägel i sina ledartexter men att det finns betydande inslag i vissa frågor också av konservativa och nyliberala idéer. Det förekommer även relativt stor partikritik mot det socialdemokratiska partiet.