University of Twente Student Theses
As of Friday, 8 August 2025, the current Student Theses repository is no longer available for thesis uploads. A new Student Theses repository will be available starting Friday, 15 August 2025.
Sinking Sovereignty? : How do Small Island Developing States navigate climate-induced migration through international agreements and domestic governance strategies? : The Case of Tuvalu.
Rieper, S.M. (2025) Sinking Sovereignty? : How do Small Island Developing States navigate climate-induced migration through international agreements and domestic governance strategies? : The Case of Tuvalu.
|
PDF
548kB |
| Abstract: | This bachelor’s thesis examines how international agreements and domestic governance strategies collectively enhance the capacity of Small Island Developing States to manage climate-induced migration and preserve their sovereignty. To answer this, the study uses a qualitative research approach focusing on a single case study, namely that of Tuvalu, a Small Island Developing State of just 11,800 inhabitants in the Pacific Ocean. Two theoretical frameworks guide this analysis: Multi-Level Governance and Collaborative Governance. These frameworks assess how actors at different levels interact and how inclusive governance processes shape migration policy. The data collection draws on two main methods: i) a literature and policy analysis of scholarly articles and legal documents, for example, the Falepili Union Treaty, and ii) semi-structured interviews with experts who work within the Australian Government and the Tuvaluan Government. The findings show that both international agreements and domestic governance strategies can effectively enhance the capacity of Small Island Developing States to manage and plan for long-term sovereignty in the face of the existential threat of climate change. Nevertheless, these frameworks must adopt a dignity-, community- and participatory-based approach to mobility. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Programme: | Management Society and Technology BSc (56654) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/107605 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
Show download statistics for this publication
Show download statistics for this publicationRepository Staff Only: item control page