Project
Exploring Policymakers' Responses to Farmers' Protests and the Impact on Environmental Legislation: A Historical Analysis
The winter of 2024 witnessed widespread farmers' protests across Europe, resulting in concessions by national and European politicians. Interestingly, these concessions often led to the watering down of environmental regulations, raising questions about the historical patterns and implications of such responses.
Description
The Public Administration and Policy group invites applications for an MSc thesis vacancy that critically examines policymakers' responses to farmers' protests and their implications for environmental legislation. The successful candidate will delve into the historical context of farmers' protests in Europe, analyzing how policymakers have traditionally responded to these movements. Through a comparative analysis of past protests and policy outcomes, the thesis will assess the strategies employed by policymakers to address farmers' grievances and the extent to which environmental legislation has been affected.
Furthermore, the thesis will investigate whether the scaling back of environmental regulations in response to farmers' protests is a recurring pattern or a unique phenomenon of the winter of 2024. By examining case studies and conducting in-depth policy analysis, the candidate will explore the underlying political, economic, and social factors driving policymakers' decisions and their impact on environmental sustainability.
Requirements
Applicants should demonstrate a strong background in political sciences, with a focus on policy analysis, comparative politics, or environmental governance. Proficiency in qualitative research methods and the ability to critically evaluate policy documents and historical data are highly desirable.
This thesis vacancy offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to scholarly debates on environmental politics and policy responses to social movements. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a short research proposal outlining their approach to addressing the research questions outlined above. For further inquiries, please contact dr. Jeroen Candel.