https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/72968 2026-04-15T05:58:03Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101498 Title: Communication, revolutions and conflict resolution : ICTs as instruments of the democratization process Abstract: When thinking about communication in the field of conflicts, peace building and peace enforcing, the shared awareness is that any further development in the field of communication technologies, particularly for the societies that are in the condition to use these new media effectively, will have many and relevant implications compared to past discoveries. The media revolutions that are affecting our daily interaction with the external world have implications on all the fields related to the study on the human being. From anthropology and psychology, to social studies, politic sciences and economy studies, many theories are dealing with the spread of technological tools as a means for a new type of communications. Therefore, also the Conflict Resolution and the Peace studies have been recently involved in this topic. The hypothesis underlying the thesis is that populations involved in conflicts, and specifically people of developing countries, can strengthen their social and political expectations and make them effective, thanks to the contribution of these new technological media, specifically if considered with their three attributes of communication, information, and participation (CIP). This disse1iation will be focused on these three elements, and from the result of the analysis on the relation between these elements and the conflict resolution's field, several projects will be presented in the effort to frame where and how these media have been included. Two main guidelines will follow the presentation of this dissertation, two movements that have been distinguished between bottom-up and top-down directions of the participatory inclusion of civil societies in the decision-making processes. The implications about the ICTs in the broad field of Conflict Resolutions (CR) are many and these are often related to the different branches on which CR's studies are divided. One of these 'branches' is the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR). This field has been developed in recent years on disputes that can be quickly resolved through the web. Compared to the uses of ICTs on broader and more meaningful levels, ODR is however a start from which analyze the relations between these new media and the CR field. Considering a dispute between two individuals, an exemplificative case is the one offered by eBay, which allows users to overcome issues related to payments and shipping of objects without involving instruments other than virtual spaces. This example has been studied by Colin Rule, former director for the Online Dispute Resolution at eBay and PayPal, now CEO at Modria.com, an online website that follows the classical steps of Conflict Resolution (diagnosis, negotiation, mediation, and arbitration) to resolve web-based disputes. [...] Description: Dual Masters; M.SC.CONFLICT ANALYSIS&RES.; M.A.CONFLICT RES.&MED.STUD. 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101495 Title: From national security to environmental security : a historical overview Abstract: The study attempts to provide a historical approach to the role of the environment in security studies. Contemporary security challenges have shown that the narrow definition given to national security is no longer adequate. Instead, there was the emergence of newer security conceptual frameworks, such as human security, to account for transnational security challenges. In this scenario, the role of the environment in security changed as well. As a non-military threat, environmental degradation comes with its own challenges. These challenges include overcoming the ambiguous nature of the concepts of human security or environmental security and finding ways to scientifically measure these concepts, in order to propel policy and legislative changes to protect environmental security. In this respect, further debate should revolve around the task of operationalizing environmental security. Description: Dual Masters; M.SC.CONFLICT ANALYSIS&RES.; M.A.CONFLICT RES.&MED.STUD. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101492 Title: Citadel Malta : effects of EU integration on veiled perceptions of refugee and asylum seekers in Malta Abstract: This thesis illustrates the profound impact of refugee regimes and asylum policy within the broader context of European Union rules and regulations. Further underpinning the social framework of Malta within the confines of those legal instruments and the effect it has on the Maltese society as well as the refugee and asylum seeking population. What is discussed is a variable Who's who of the many programs, institutions, and groups all striving to bring some semblance of balance to an archaic system which disrupts families, creates migration dilemmas and furthers division through false perception problematic integration procedures. This thesis was the culmination of a new and impressive one year program which seeks to incorporate two masters while providing knowledge from experts throughout the world. The location is also pinnacle and give the recent "Arab spring" much more critical that this program remains situated within the Mediterranean. During the process of researching and writing this thesis, the author conducted interviews with high profile people in positions of both Maltese government and human rights NGO's with regards to the refugee question. The author also reviewed literature and government reports detailing both a rational and theoretical framework. This thesis is a reference and resource for anyone who has a keen passion for human rights and willing to delve deeper into issues of migration and the plight of refugees and asylum seekers. Description: Dual Masters; M.SC.CONFLICT ANALYSIS&RES.; M.A.CONFLICT RES.&MED.STUD. 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101415 Title: Exploring commonalities and triggers that influence revolution Abstract: This thesis explores commonalities between theories concerning revolution crossing the boundaries of various academic domains. A careful observation of bias, including a portion detailing the perils of engaging in a dialectic analysis of theory concerning the matter, is exhaustively plotted within this thesis in an attempt to delineate the attention to detail and considerations of attribution error and analyst bias unde1iaken by the author. Since this thesis is contingent on being able to appropriately situate, take into account, and synthesize information from various domains of academia in an attempt to plot out and engage with a discourse concerning revolution, acknowledging the possible limitations as such was imperative to establishing an ethic to maintain consideration over. The specific theory clusters and conceptions engaged with may be perused through in more detail in the "Operational Definitions" section of the thesis, but some of the more salient ones include theory derived from Theda Skocpol concerning structuralist epistemology, more granular and philosophical considerations iterated upon through work done by Hannah Arendt concerning revolutions, some work done by Ted Robert Gurr concerning civil strife and social mobilization, an examination of a broader typology provided by Jack A. Goldstone, and others. Other more pre-suppositional theoretical material includes basic components of conflict analysis and resolution theory including identity theory, the various forms of violence posited by Johan Gal tung, and an iteration of basic human needs shaped by John Burton. Description: Dual Masters; M.SC.CONFLICT ANALYSIS&RES.; M.A.CONFLICT RES.&MED.STUD. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z