371, 971 ex-combatants are to be disarmed, demobilised, and reintegrated in Ethiopia. This makes it the largest Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) process globally. However, Ethiopia is still experiencing armed conflict in its two biggest regions, Amhara and Oromia. The aim of this thesis is to examine the challenges of implementing a DDR-programme amidst ongoing conflict in Ethi

Conflict-related sexual violence against men occurs more frequently than often assumed, yet academic research and policy papers from international organizations tend to overlook male victims. The purpose of this study is to contribute to this limited knowledge by analyzing the effects of conflict-related sexual violence against men through a case study of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a co

Throughout history, rape and sexual violence has been regarded as a “spoil of war”, an unfortunate consequence of conflict. It was not until the 1990s that this notion was challenged by the emergence of the “rape as a weapon of war” framing of sexual violence, through which there was a global outcry to stop systematic violence against women in conflict. After having been recognised judicially thro

Since Sweden's historic decision to join NATO in 2022, much attention has been given to the political decision-making process. However, less attention has focused on external influences in the non-political policy analysis. This thesis purpose has therefore been to investigate how Washington-based think tanks contributed to Sweden’s security policy analysis during the NATO accession process be

This study examines how small states construct and perform diplomatic roles in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), focusing on the 2023 tenures of Albania, Malta, and Switzerland. Using a theory-driven content analysis informed by constructivism, role theory, and the concept of niche diplomacy, the study explores how these states advanced national interests and projected identity within a

This thesis examines the relationship between state-led security deployments and electoral violence during Nigeria’s federal elections from 2011 to 2023. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines subnational quantitative data with qualitative document analysis. It assesses whether the presence of military and police forces reduces or exacerbates violence. While officially justified as preventiv

The following paper investigates the varying degrees of separatism in the Moldovan regions of Transnistria and Gagauzia. Through a comparative analysis it tries to answer the question of why Transnistria have not followed the Gagauzian way to a peaceful solution with the parent state of Moldova. By analysing and comparing both cases through four different variables it tries to find the most likely

Sweden’s security policy has shifted significantly in recent years, prompting new ways of legitimizing military engagement. This study explores how the Swedish Armed Forces use language and narrative to manage this transformation by analysing two editions of their “soldier manuals” from 2005 and 2023. Drawing on theories of strategic narratives and ontological security, the study examines how thes

Ukraine is a war-torn society polarised by language, among other things. Examining Ukrainian civilians through the scope of everyday peace, a post-liberal local agency is given to people whose identity is threatened. This thesis researches everyday peace across the Ukrainian language divide during war to determine how the war impacts everyday actions, explanations, and the applicability of the the

This thesis examines how offensive realism can explain China’s violations of international law in the South China Sea (SCS). Drawing on John Mearsheimer’s five bedrock assumptions: anarchy, offensive capability, uncertainty of intentions, survival as a primary goal, and rationality, the study uses the congruence method within a qualitative case study framework. It assesses whether China’s violatio

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a protracted dispute between the states Armenia and Azerbaijan. This study develops a framework for how dependence on Russia affected the conflict outcome in 2020-2023. The framework explains the possible effects of an asymmetric relationship between the great power Russia and two weaker powers in Armenia and Azerbaijan while in a violent conflict. In the quantitat

Recent years have seen a declining role of Western actors and international organisations in peace processes. Meanwhile, emerging powers have increasingly engaged as mediators in contemporary conflicts. This dynamic is particularly evident in the Ukraine war, where several emerging powers have launched a variety of peacemaking initiatives. Among these, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have assumed the lea

This study examines how the differing transitional justice approaches in Argentina and Chile after the military dictatorships in the late 20th century affected the possibility for reconciliation between the state and its citizens. Despite similar histories of authoritarian rule, widespread human rights abuses and the use of truth commissions, these countries chose different paths during the transi

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February of 2024 TikTok has become an integral platform for sharing news about the war. The rise of TikTok has created an environment where everybody with an account can access, post and share content they deem to be news, fundamentally altering the news-landscape of conflict. These unprecedented changes to war reporting raise several questions: how is news

This study examines the role of small state soft power in shaping relations with external actors, using Rwanda as a case study. Rwanda’s military involvement in the escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) stands in contrasts with the positive international image it has cultivated since the 1994 genocide. The country has positioned itself as an economic hub and enhance

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 significantly changed the Swedish security environment and prompted Sweden to apply for membership in NATO. The military budget has since doubled, and procurement of military equipment has increased by three times. Thereby Sweden had begun its most extensive military build-up since the 1950s and its policy of non-alignment that had persisted for over 200 yea

This thesis examines how the Swedish climate activist group Rebellmammorna perform nonviolent resistance through the lens of micro-sociology and the concept of maternal activism. As a branch of Extinction Rebellion (XR), Rebellmammorna mobilize around a maternalist frame, using peaceful protest tactics such as silent sit-ins, slow marches, and symbolic acts to demand urgent climate action. While c

This thesis examines how the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) in Myanmar has employed nonviolent acts of resistance to challenge the military regime following the 2021 coup. It does so by departing from the micro-sociology of peace and conflict, with specific attention to the micro-sociology of nonviolent resistance. Guided by qualitative content analysis, supported by both visual and textual mat

This thesis investigates the motivations behind women’s support for Donald Trump in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, despite his widely criticized stance on gender equality. Drawing on Feminist Security Studies (FSS) and Intersectionality, it explores how women articulate political allegiance in relation to insecurity, identity and protection. Using qualitative content analysis, the thesis ana

This thesis investigates how audiences express participatory diplomacy in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, focusing on Israel’s participation amid the Israel-Hamas war. Using a single-case study design, the analysis applies mixed methods drawing on observations of quantitative data such as voting results and betting odds, alongside a qualitative reflexive thematic analysis of online fan discussio