3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item The impact of the United States (US) and South Africa's (SA) trade relationship on Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS) [1999-2013](2015-08-27) Saule, AsandaThis study set out to interrogate the impact of the U.S. - S.A. trade relationship on Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS). A qualitative method of study was chosen and the literature review method was used. South Africa’s foreign policy making was analysed and it was found that in 1994, the country, sought international standing and economic growth. As such, it chose foreign policy that met the stringent criteria of Brenton Woods institutions and liberalised markets, privatised and had a stringent tax regime. The country also carved out a niche as an agent for peace on the African continent and a champion of the global South. South Africa’s post-democratic relationship with the United States was analysed and found to have been negatively impacted by the hangover of Cold War politics and the U.S.’s relationship with the apartheid government. The new government also considered Russia and other American enemies like Cuba, Iran and Lybia allies. The South African government never fully trusted the U.S.’s intentions and was wary of agreeing too often with the country for fear of being called a puppet of the U.S. However, the two countries managed to find common ground and continue to trade with each other successfully. The relationship between BLNS and S.A. in SACU was found to be unequal with BLNS still economically and geographically dependent on S.A. This is in spite numerous changes meant to bring about equality in SACU. The study concluded that there was no real impact on BLNS as a result of the relationship between U.S. and S.A.BLNS suffered a negative impact when the European Union and S.A. signed an agreement but they ensured they were not victims of the U.S. – S.A. trade relationship.Item The representation of extremists in Western media(2015-08-20) Kapelari, LauraAs radicalised Muslim converts gain ever greater attention within the War on Terror (WoT) and the media, an investigation into their portrayal and the associated discourses becomes ever more relevant. This study aims to shed more light on the representation of these extremist individuals in the Western media, specifically white converts to Islam who become radicalised, exploring whether there is indeed a difference between the portrayal of female and male extremists, at the same time seeking to reveal any related social or national anxieties. The findings indicate that there is indeed a difference: while women extremists are stripped bare of all political agency, the men, though exposed to rhetoric condemning their treachery as well as often depicted as capitulating to mental illness, remain largely intact as agents. This comes down to men being located in the international sphere, while women are fixed within the domestic equivalent. In terms of the link to social and national anxieties, it becomes evident that not only has the domestic fear surrounding the “homogenous Islamist terrorist enemy” (Samiei 2010, 1149) led to the terrorist (and by extension the white Muslim convert) being equated with the foreigner, but that as a result, terrorism/extremism and immigration have come to be situated within the same framework, where the slippery slopes of counter-terrorism and anti-immigration meld together.Item The impact of the TOMS shoes cause-related marketing campaign on GenY consumers in the United States(2014-08-21) Nkwanyana, Nkosinathi TrevorThis study evaluates the impact of the TOMS Shoes one-for-one campaign on the perceptions, attitudes and purchase intentions of Generation Y (GenY) consumers in the United States. The theoretical framework of the study is based on the CRM Response Model, which integrates several psychological and behavioural measures in describing GenYs‘ response to campaign messages (Waters 2006, Hyllegard 2009). The model was operationalised by a hypothetico-deductive research design and data was analysed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The strongest determinant of the model‘s outcome variable (i.e. ‗purchase intentions') is brand motivation or ‗attitude towards the brand‘. Consequently the causes chosen must have affinity with the company‘s products for GenY to respond favourably to the campaign messages. Combining emotionally evocative stimuli/imagery with a cause that GenY consumers care about or are ‗involved‘ is bound to make them like or believe (accept) the campaign. The ‗emotional‘ reactions of GenY determine whether they will pay ‗attention‘ and/or 'like the campaign message' or not. The cohort‘s ‗involvement‘ in the shoe cause is partially mediated by ‗attention‘ and has a weak but significant influence on ‗attitude towards the brand‘. Likeable and/or memorable ads tend to be more effective in persuading consumers than neutral advertisements. ‗Attention‘ has a direct influence on ‗attitude towards the advertisement‘ or liking the campaign message, with communications effects in essence minimal without ‗attention‘.Item Fighting terrorism without terrorizing : A discussion of non-military options for confronting international terrorism(2008-10-22T08:14:11Z) Rutherford, ChristinaThis paper discusses non-military options for confronting international terrorism. It investigates the non-military discourse contained in United Nations and United States policy documents. It then compares the principles in the discourse to the reality of the counter-terrorism policies of the last five years. Finally it looks at what alternative options are being presented in the academic and think-tank literature, to current counterterrorism practices.